What Should You Do After a House Flood?
Rising floodwaters can suddenly leave your house covered with as much as six inches of water–standing water that works quickly to cause losses from mold to drywall. If this happens to you, you need to act fast.
Loss prevention experts advise that the best course of action is to abandon your home and move to higher ground. But if circumstances prevent you from doing that, flood damage restoration is critical to preventing mold that can pose a health risk to your family.
Read on to learn what you should do after a house flood.
Ensure Safety
After the devastation of a house flood, the safety of everyone near must be paramount. Everyone in the area should be aware of the damage’s potential risks and ensure they take all necessary precautions to stay safe.
It’s important to be aware of the dangers in the area, such as unstable buildings, power lines, deep water, and sewer systems. It’s essential to wear protective gear, such as goggles, boots, and gloves when handling contaminated water and debris.
It’s also important to be aware of pests and bacteria that can be present in flood areas. Homeowners should contact qualified professionals for assistance in removing hazardous materials, uprooting flooded objects, and restoring the home to its previous condition. Here are factors to consider when choosing a waterproofing company for flood prevention.
Disinfect Affected Areas
After a house flood, it is important to disinfect affected areas to prevent further water damage and control the spread of organisms. Research has shown that just one milliliter of water can contain thousands of bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it is important to use sanitizers and cleaners to kill pathogens and prevent the spreading of disease or infection.
The first step to disinfecting a flood-affected area is to dry the area as much as possible, then use a mixture of water, bleach, and detergent or a commercial disinfectant product in a spray bottle to thoroughly clean the area. It is also important to pay close attention to porous materials such as carpets, wallpaper, and furniture.
All of these materials should be sanitized and ultimately discarded if deemed necessary. It is important to take the necessary steps to disinfect a flood-affected area to reduce further risk of health issues caused by mold or bacteria.
Contact Insurance Company
It’s important to call your insurance company right away after a flood in your home. It is better to talk to them as soon as possible.
During the call, it’s important to give the company enough information about what happened so they can figure out the causes of flooding. Be ready to answer questions about when and how the flood happened, what repairs have already started, and the names and contact information of any repair contractors you have hired.
If you have any other information that will help the insurance company process the claim, make sure to have it ready for the representative to look at. Before discussing a claim, it’s best to call the customer service line and confirm the specifics of your policy if you need clarification on what they are.
Remove Water
Depending on how bad the flood is, the water in the house will vary, and different steps may need to be taken. You should pump out all standing water immediately, and all wet things should be taken out quickly and put somewhere outside to dry.
Once all the water that can be seen has been removed, you should use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out the space. Carpets and furniture should also be cleaned and left to dry.
Lastly, homeowners should look for mold and mildew and take the right steps if they find them. With these flood cleanup steps, you can get your house back to how it was before the flood and reduce the chance of long-term water damage.
Dispose of Damaged Items
When a house has been flooded, it’s important to get rid of damaged items correctly so that bacteria doesn’t spread and more damage doesn’t happen. First, get rid of wet things like carpets, wallboard, and insulation as soon as possible. Things that get wet should be cleaned and sanitized or thrown away.
If you can’t clean them, they should be in a strong bag. Dangerous things like paint cans and cleaning supplies, and you should never throw away glue in public places or trash cans.
If you can, hire a company to clean up and haul away these things. Things that aren’t dangerous should be put in bags with tight seals and thrown away.
Also, save as many of the things that can still be used or give them to a charity. Lastly, check with your local waste department to see if they have any programs for recycling materials that you can still use.
Check for Structural Damage
When a house has been flooded, it’s important to look for possible damage to the structure. First, look for damage you can see, like sagging floors or ceilings, warped walls or door frames, or cracks in the drywall. If any of these things happen, you should talk to a professional to find out how bad the damage is.
Also, check the foundation to ensure the water hasn’t damaged it. Pay close attention to any foundation shifting, as this could be a sign of more serious damage.
Also, check other parts of the house, like the roof, windows, and doors, for signs of water damage, such as mildew, discoloration, and soft spots. Lastly, if flooding has been going on for more than 24 hours, you should get professional help to ensure that any structural damage has been found and fixed.
Know What to Do After a House Flood
A house flood can cause major damage to homes, but it doesn’t have to be a complete loss. It is essential to make sure to document the damage, contact your insurer, and take the proper steps to restore your property to its pre-flood condition.
Remember to take extra care as you begin to clean up – health is paramount! To make it easy, contact your local flooding professionals today to help get your home on the road to recovery.
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