No one can deny the fact that natural disasters are unpredictable. If you live in a risk area, you should take extra precautions. It is mandatory to gather information about what sorts of steps need to be taken after facing natural flood water damage or disasters. This information will ensure you about the extra safety of your family and valuable items.
You are fortunate if you do not experience any flooding. But, you should equip yourself with accurate information so that you can take immediate action. Here is the list of ten steps that you consider after the flood.
Contact the insurance company
Initially, you must contact the insurance company sooner. Keep the one thing in mind: a standard home insurance provider does not cover this insurance. The government offers flood damage coverage, and you will have to spend too much on repairs. So, you must take all the help which does not create a hole in your pocket.
If you take any flood insurance plan, you can capture pictures of your home before commencing the cleaning process. Make the proper documents for filing the claim. Aside from it, you can contact to professional flood damage restoration service. It is because these companies have contact with insurance providers.
- Consider your safety
The flooding has been stopped, but you are still in danger. Do not waste a single moment if you have to leave your home. Additionally, do not enter your home without any protective wear after the flood. Ensure that you shut off all the electricity powers before entering the house.
If there is a wet carpet, avoid using electrical appliances. Keep the one thing in mind that floodwater is the house of germs, leading to various health problems. So, take extra precautions for your safety before entering your home.
- Hire the cleanup company
Call the pro flood damage repair service for cleaning. The floodwater and debris require removal and professional attention. Additionally, it is hard to clean sewage waste. Hence, it would help if you got in touch with a professional restoration service so that they can assess the property. After doing the complete assessment, the professional team will repair it.
Get in touch with a professional electrical contractor
If the water reaches electrical panels or switches, contact the electrical contractor. Before entering your home after flood damage, make sure that a professional electrician checks all the switches. This step will prevent a drastic situation.
- Dry out your home
Mold will take place in your home within one or two days. To avoid the development of mold, use the air conditioner or dehumidifier. If you consider dehumidifiers, close the window so that air will circulate in your room, and the air will remove all the moisture from your house.
If you do not have an electricity connection after flooding, you can consider a portable generator or contact emergency flood restoration service. The professional teams have access to various types of equipment used to remove moisture.
- Check the moisture level.
When you air out your home, give the preference to a humidity meter. You will easily get the humidity meter from the hardware store, and due to it, you will get an idea about moisture levels.
The floor and walls of your house may be dry, but there are chances of mold growth. Aside from the humidity meter, you can buy a moisture meter. With the help of this instrument, you can find out the dampness that is not visible.
- Decide what requires to be restored.
Flood water damage requires too much time for repairing. Various things require replacement, such as valuable items, walls, and floors. If your home requires major construction, you should hire an expert, and the expert will provide the best help as per your requirements.
Figure out the mold
The Sooner you clean the space, the less time it will take to dry it. Hence, the chances of developing the mold will be reduced. Once the mold starts growing in your home, you may need to remove that affected area. It is always mandatory to take extra precautions or let the professional assess your home condition.
When you figure out the water damage, it is essential to take some steps for preventing the mold. Ensure that you do not spread mold spores when you try to dry the home. In most cases, taking professional flood damage restoration is an ideal option to get rid of the problem of mold development.
- Look for furniture and carpets.
Remove all the expensive carpets and furniture outdoors for cleaning the carpets. Firstly replace the flooded carpets because flood water consists of contaminants. You can spread the rugs in the sunshine to dry. Additionally, clean the solid wood and plastic furniture to avoid excessive damage.
- Walls
Lastly, open the flooded walls if they are not damaged, and it will avoid odour and structural damage. You need to work on removing aqua from the structure as soon as possible for you. Additionally, clean the mud. If there are wall studs, you can use the disinfectant for killing mold and fungi. To boost the dry process, give the preference to dehumidifiers.
So, these are essential ten steps that you can consider after the flood water damage. Aside from it, you can take extra precautions that are mentioned below:
Extra measurements:
- Check the structural as well as electrical damage before entering the home.
- Electrical safety is essential in flood water damage. Hence do not forget to check the fire hazards, including gas leaks.
- Avoid the mixture of chlorine bleach and ammonia.
- Use sturdy shoes, eye protection, and other accessories during the inspection.
- Be careful regarding the ants, and other animals
- Use the respirator, if you find traces of mold
Final Verdicts
Consider all the steps mentioned above, or you can hire a water and flood damage restoration service. With professional service, you get satisfactory and quick work. All you need to do is find the best service and give them the liabilities of repairing your home.
Author Bio:- Karl Brown
Karl, a marketing manager at EZ Leak Detection, loves to write about plumbing and HVAC services to make the life of the reader easier. Leakages in your property can be dangerous but not all the leaks are easily accessible.