The first thing to do after a flood is to determine the safety of the house. Below should be at the top of the list in ensuring safety:
* The building's structure is stable enough to be entered into. Water can weaken the structure especially in the portions made of wood.
* Power sources should be turned off to avoid shock or fire.
* Water sources should be turned off since this could be contaminated.
* If water is still standing, one should be wary of the presence of serpents and rodents on the water. Such animals may have been carried by the floodwaters
When safety has been ensured, one may carry out basic water damage restoration procedures. Below is a brief step-by-step overview of what needs to be done.
1. Divert the water to another location outside you property. It would be impossible to perform any water damage restoration activity if the house still has standing water.
2. Bring out water-sensitive possessions such as carpets, rags, and paper products such as documents, books and pictures. Carpets and rags should be spread out on a flat surface. The ground, if dry, will do but a concrete surface would be better.
Paper products can be dried in a variety of ways: air dry, use of dehumidifiers, or vacuum freezing.
3. Humidity in the house has to be brought down to speed up the drying. If humidity is not brought down, molds and mildew might develop and paper products and carpets will take time to dry.
4. Carpets will have to be brushed and shampooed. To disinfect, bleach solution may be applied using a brush.
5. Floors might have to be cleaned using shovels or brooms if mud and other debris are present. As soon as the floor is dry, a vacuum cleaner can help.
6. In most cases, the floors will have to be disinfected to prevent the growth of molds and mildew. Bleach solution or block salt can be used as a disinfectant.
7. After disinfecting, the floor may be dried using fans or dehumidifiers. Water restoration companies have specialized equipment for this purpose which are available for rent.
8. Wooden possessions such as furniture are not as easy to restore. Most of them will need the help of professionals. Attempting to restore such without the right training and water damage restoration equipment will put these possessions at a higher risk.
If one can afford a professional to do water damage restoration, it is advisable to avail of such services. These people have the right training and the appropriate equipment to get the job done correctly and quickly. In water damage restoration, time is a very important factor. Prolonged exposure to water can greatly damage certain possessions and restoration of such might be impossible.
