There is nothing more traumatic to a homeowner than water damage. It is overwhelming to deal with damage and restore your home to its original condition after it’s been affected by water damage. The last thing you want to do is put yourself or others at risk by making a mistake during the cleanup process. For help avoiding these classic mistakes in water damage cleanup, contact a professional.
Let’s look at these mistakes homeowners need to avoid when cleaning up water damage.
Why is Water Damage Restoration Important?
The health hazards associated with water-damaged areas can be severe without prompt restoration. The fastest you can get things dried out after your home has been flooded or has experienced another incident where water damage occurred is important.
Contaminated water is among the biggest problems. The most likely cause is a burst sewer pipe or an overflowed natural body of water. The bacteria and microorganisms in the water pose a risk to you in these situations. Viruses and bacteria on surfaces can persist for quite some time. This risk persists after the water has dried up.
Water left standing for a long time can be a threat, even if it is clean. In stagnant water, mosquitoes can breed. However, you might not be aware that they are not the only organisms that grow in stagnant water.
Moreover, when the water recedes, it leaves behind moist conditions where mold loves to grow. Those who suffer from asthma and allergies may be irritated by these, but things can get a lot worse depending on the mold type. This might lead to hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
What Does Water Damage Restoration Include?
It is a simple process that is followed by professionals who specialize in water damage restoration.
- Assessment: The technicians would begin by evaluating the situation once they arrive at your property. To determine how much damage has been done and how to prevent it from happening again, they examine the area. In the end, they will design a plan to fix the damage.
- Water Cleanup: As a natural follow-up, the next step will be to remove the excess water. Draining the water will be done without causing any further damage to the surrounding property.
- Drying: After removing all the excess water, they will thoroughly dry out the area to ensure no moisture remains.
- Sanitization: Yet, water, even when it is cooled, is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Simply removing excess water does not eliminate them. A thorough sanitization will be performed to eliminate any harmful and unhygienic substances left behind by the water.
- Restore and Repair: Though water damage restoration companies may not be able to fix everything that the water has already damaged, they will do their best to fix what they can.
Water Damage Cleanup Mistakes
1. Waiting rather than calling an expert
When dealing with water damage, time is of the essence. The longer you wait, the greater the chance of water wreaking havoc and causing more problems in the long run. Therefore, you should consult an expert if you don’t want to see your furniture float in water, have cracks and crevices, and have ongoing mold growth.
It may look small at first, but the damage can quickly snowball into a massive problem. The damage can have serious consequences for the foundations. Skilled crews can identify hidden damage and repair it.
2. Unable to determine the root cause
It’s important to remember that the obvious problem is not always the real problem. There’s a good chance that the flooding resulted from a burst pipe. If the pipe bursts, the obvious cause of the damage may be obvious. Yet, it is often necessary to address an underlying issue to prevent further flooding.
3. Water damage cleanup all by yourself
In an extremely complex process, water must be removed from your home. Some homeowners assume that cleaning up after flooding or a leak will only take a few mops and a vacuum. Do not attempt this task alone. A water damage repair job involves much more than just removing the water. With the help of professionals, you can make sure your home is restored properly without worrying about potential problems later.
4. Not using the right equipment
It feels tempting to tackle the problem yourself with a few buckets, mops, and a wet/dry vacuum when water damage occurs. Normally, this kind of equipment can’t handle messes like those left behind after a flood or a leak and can’t handle the task. It is impossible to do a thorough job with the wrong equipment.
A restoration company typically has equipment that pumps water, dehumidifies, and deodorizes large areas. Water damage can be limited and be controlled in a short timeframe if they use their professional equipment.
5. Not Taking Precautions
Water damage can include a variety of issues, including broken pipes, dirty water filled with bacteria, unstable flooring, and even the possibility of electrical shocks. It can cause personal injury. Professionals are trained to deal with any of these potential hazards. In their attempt to keep their belongings safe, homeowners can miss these dangers.
Final Thoughts
You can make many mistakes when dealing with water damage at your home that will worsen the situation. Your problems should be easily resolved and prevented from recurring if you utilize the services of a knowledgeable, professional Water restoration service like Kings Restoration.
