How To Handle Water Damage Correctly

Water damage doesn’t usually come with a warning. It can take over your home faster than you realize and can be devastating. The loss that can come from water damage is overwhelming and challenging to recover from, especially when it is vast. Whether large or small, significant issues will start to emerge rapidly, and mold will begin to grow within 24 hours and can easily take over your home. Not only that, but water creates problems within the structural integrity of your home, weakening the building itself, and can become a problem quickly if not handled properly. 

Water Damage Cleanup – Auburn AL

Taking immediate steps to handle water damage can be a matter of making or breaking the bank. The quicker water damage is handled, the lesser the damage will be, making water damage cleanup much more manageable. 

Cut Off Water Flow

If it is possible to do so, try to cut off the water flow by using the shutoff valve in your home. Ideally, you will know where this is before the disaster occurs. Typically, it will be near the water heater or in the garage. If you cannot find it in your home, look on the exterior or just inside the property, in line with the water meter on the sidewalk. Water from a burst pipe or malfunctioning appliance can be cut off by using this valve, minimizing the size of the flood in your home. 

Use Caution

Wading through water can pose a lot of issues, mainly depending on where the water is coming from. There are three types of water: clean water, gray water, and black water. Clean water is water that is safe for you to be around, such as well water, purified water, and city water. Gray and black water is where the danger lies. Gray water is untreated, used water from sinks, washing machines, and showers, while black water is wastewater from toilets or contains harsh chemicals. Both types of water can cause serious illnesses, so it is imperative to be aware of the pollution level from the source of the flood. No matter the case, both types require safety equipment and proper knowledge to be dealt with appropriately.

Be sure to ensure that the water is not charged with electricity as well. If you can safely access the circuit breaker panel, shut off the circuits in the affected areas, then unplug anything in these areas. If any of these are a concern, leave the premises and contact professionals to assist you. 

Protect Your Valuables

While in the midst of a flood, try to protect your valuables where you can. If it is safe to do so, move as much as you can out of the way of the water to minimize how much damage your home experiences. The less restoration work that needs to be done, the better off you are. Porous items in your home, such as furniture and rugs, will soak up the water and become the perfect breeding ground for mold. 

Contact Professionals

Water damage cleanup is a difficult task to undertake, especially with little to no experience in doing so. It can be incredibly overwhelming and even dangerous to your health if not handled properly. With little experience, it is hard to tell when the cleanup is complete, as water damage is very good at hiding in places you either can’t reach or wouldn’t otherwise think of.  If you are unsure of the level of pollution of the water present in your home, how bad the damage is, or just need help with the cleanup, professionals at Restoration 1 of East Alabama have the knowledge and experience to get the job done efficiently.