One of the things that can be utterly destructive to your home is water damage. Problems like broken pipes, leaking appliances, or worse, flooded floors can cause major issues. Therefore, you have to be aware of the things that need to be done once water damage occurs. If you don’t act quickly, things can get problematic, causing more issues to your interiors. Read on to learn some handy tips to help you deal with and fix water damages in your home.
Identify The Problem
The first thing you need to take care of is finding the source of the water that is causing the problem. The issue can be easily identified in cases like broken plumbing or natural causes like floods or heavy rain. However, things can be more complicated when the issue is inside a wall or ceiling. Once you identify the problem, you must take immediate action to seal the leak to avoid more issues from happening. Unless the problem is complicated enough to require a professional plumber, all you might need to do is fix the plumbing system or seal the fixture casing.
Remove Water
After figuring out what the issue is and where it is coming from, you need to remove standing water. In some severe yet common cases, you may find floods of water residing in your apartment, especially in lower areas. If you have a similar situation, you will need industrial water extractors to deal with the high volume and density of water. Additionally, ensure that any mud or debris is removed to avoid further issues. Some scenarios only require a wet-dry vacuum to remove the excess water and other debris. If you find that things are getting out of control, make sure you hire Highly Trained Water Damage Specialists who can get rid of the polluted water. A professional is experienced enough to identify the source of the problem and handle standing water.
Dehumidify The Area
Drying out the affected area is one of the most important steps you need to do to fix water damage. Ensure that you dehumidify the area from any moisture as it could result in warping and other damages. Moreover, it can lead to serious health issues once mold, bacteria, or other contaminants start to form. Use fans to dry small leaks and circulate the air in the entire area. If your fan is too small to do the job, rent a high-capacity dehumidifier to dry out carpets, wood, and other affected areas. The last thing you want when repairing water damage is to leave any moisture behind.
Disinfect and Sanitize
The next step in repairing water damage at your home is the cleaning and disinfecting the affected area after removing water and moisture. The water flood usually brings contaminants and different pollutants with it. Therefore, you need to conduct thorough cleaning by wiping down the area before working on any issues. You can find plenty of commercial cleaners and disinfectants on the market that will get the job done. Furthermore, you can even do a cleaning solution at home to get rid of any sewage or bacteria.
Repair The Issue
Finally, it is time to do some adjustments and restoration to the impacted areas. Now is the time to remove any impacted carpets or flooring and replace it. Severely warped or rotting wood needs to be replaced immediately. Installing ceramic tile or vinyl helps protect your floors from future water damages, so consider investing in one of them. Additionally, when it comes to damaged walls, you may need to replace some sections or repaint them. If your wall has a 3/8 of an inch swelling or sagginess from the baseline, the entire sheet needs to be replaced.
Water damage that results from plumbing issues or natural causes like rain is an aggravating situation. No one likes to wake up to a pool of water in their living room. However, when you face a problem like this, you need to know what to do and how to handle the situation. If you don’t take immediate action, serious problems like mold can develop in less than 24 hours. Therefore, it is important to turn off the water and electricity sources, figure out where the problem is coming from, remove excess water, dry out the area, conduct thorough cleaning, and, finally, repair the issue. If you’re unable to keep up or things start getting out of control, you should hire a water damage specialist to help you fix the issue.