Once you have detected water damage in your home, whether it is a house flood or a leak from a pipe that burst, time is of the essence. Your goal is to remove the water from your house, make sure the house is dry and clean and prevent mold from growing and you only have about 24 hours to do this if you want to prevent a mold outbreak!
There are different causes of house floods. One flood can be caused by a malfunctioning washing machine, while another by a leaking pipe and yet another by a rainstorm. Whatever the cause, it is important to start dealing with damage caused by the flood as quickly as possible. The first thing you should do after a flood is found the source and stop the water, which is, of course, impossible if the flood is caused by rain. Turn the electricity off, if it’s possible to do so without standing in the water. If you can’t do this, the best thing to do is evacuate the house until it’s safe to return. Once you’ve got these things under control it’s time to call for help.
Before you start cleaning everything up make sure to take pictures of the flood and the damage, which will be useful later for insurance purposes. You’ll want to dry your house out as quickly as possible and make sure that it’s ventilated in order to prevent mold from growing, which usually starts within 24 to 48 hours after a flood, and to salvage as many of your belongings as possible.
What Should I Do?
- The following are the steps you should take after your home has been damaged by water:
- Stop the water flow from its source.
- Turn off the electricity – making sure that it is safe to do so.
- Evacuate your home – make sure that everyone is accounted for and that they all get to a safe, dry shelter. If anyone is in need of medical attention make sure they get it now.
- Speak to your insurer or the landlord and explain the situation to them. Document the flood and all damage to the house and your belongings.
- Call a water damage remediation company for assistance. A reputable company will work 24/7, and they will have specialists who deal with this kind of thing who will be able to get your house clean and dry quickly, before the mold starts to develop.
- The water damage remediation company will:
- Remove all the water from the house, they have pumps to do this quickly and thoroughly.
- Dry out the house, ventilating it and using fans and dehumidifiers.
- Remove all the porous materials from your house to clean and dry them, as they are mold traps.
- Inspect for mold and remove any mold they detect.
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