Water damage can be from a minor issue like a water leak or a major one like flooding. In either case, it is recommended to call the pros, like American Restoration Professionals, to assess and commence the water damage restoration works.
Essential water damage restoration tips
Once water floods the house, it is imperative that restoration works need to begin swiftly to avoid further decay of the premises. An essential checklist for water damage restoration is as follows:
- Find the source of water damage: Identifying the origin of the water damage and plugging it to stop any further water flow into the building is crucial to water damage restoration work. The issue could be a leaky faucet, a broken water pipeline, or even a cavity in the roofing system. The sooner the source can be zeroed in on, the sooner it can be stopped and rectified to minimize its water flow. Overflowing toilets are one of the most problematic sources of water damage, as it contains sewage-laden water, which is highly harmful to health. So, it is vital to distinguish the reason for the water damage and rectify it as quickly as possible.
- Check for mold and mildew: Once the water has been standing in the house, the various elements like walls, floor, furniture, and other things become drenched, which leads to the growth of micro-bacterial activity. The dampness allows mold and mildew to set inside the house, which has toxic effects on the health of the residents. The decay gives foul odors, reducing the house's air quality.
- Expedite drying the premises: It is crucial to dry out the premises as fast as possible since that would stop the growth of fungus and mildew in the house. Moreover, the trapped moisture leads to the instability of structural components of wood, metal, and other items in terms of rotting, sagging, corrosion, and peeling off. Mops and towels can help to soak up the excess water, while fans and dehumidifiers can be set up to dry out the dampness and bring down the home's moisture content. Air should be circulated in the entire building to aid the drying-up process. It would also help to open all the doors and windows to permit proper airflow.
- Remove and discard porous materials: Porous items like carpets, carpet padding, insulation layers, and upholstery materials should be discarded from the house immediately. These items soak up a lot of water and debris and are difficult to dry out, leading to mold and mildew setting in them. Removing them from the property would help stop mold infestation and clean the area quickly.
- Decide items to salvage: A thorough inspection of the home needs to be done to assess the damage to items like drywall, wooden flooring, fabric panels, and insulation layers. If the water damage is intense enough to cause structural and functional disability in the materials, then it would be wise to discard and replace them with new ones.
- Inspect electrical items: Electrical wiring, switches, sockets, and appliances must be handled with great care after water damage. There is a huge possibility of water entering these items, along with dirt and debris, which can create a short circuit if switched on without cleanup. It is advisable to have a professional check and clean them up before putting them to use.
- Remodel and reconstruct: Water damage can be extremely hazardous to the overall health of a building. Foundations can weaken due to it, and the toxic effects of mold can be pretty damaging, too. Once the water removal and cleanup have been done, it is time to reconstruct the house to repair its stability. It would be wise to consider remodeling the section of the house where the water damage has been the most.
Water Damage Restoration
Water damage restoration services can be a costly affair, not to mention a very time-consuming one too. It requires a lot of skill, training, and technology to undertake the cleanup and rebuilding after the water damage. That is why it is recommended to call in industry-certified experts like American Restoration Professionals in Abington, MA, for a thorough and satisfying job.
Call American Restoration Professionals at (617) 945-4510 or email them at dan@americanresotationprofessionals.com to resolve the problems quickly.
