When you have experienced flooding or general water damage within your property there are a few considerations you will face as the cleanup and remediation begins.
Flooded Flooring
To start, all carpets must be removed so that a water damage expert can inspect the subflooring and commence floor drying procedures as soon as possible.
Wooden floors should be dried gradually. Sudden drying could cause cracking or splitting. Wood drying specialists can advise on the correct procedures and timeframes. When it comes to salvaging your carpets there are three flood-water types that determine whether the carpet and underlay can be restored to their former condition:
Clean Water
Non-contaminated water that may come from a broken pipe, sink, etc. After the water has been extracted, carpets and underlay can be dried and restored in place.
Grey Water
Water That doesn’t contain any solid animal or human waste, but it has been used. An example of this would be a toilet that has overflowed or a broken washing machine that leaks a large amount of water mid-cycle. This water has potential to cause illness, even if the threat of disease usually isn’t present since there’s no solid waste. It is better to be safe and avoid the risk. The carpet underlay that’s been soaked with grey water needs to be discarded for safety reasons, the carpet itself can sometimes be saved, though it is best to have it assessed by a professional.
Black Water
Water containing dangerous contaminants that may originate from sewage and toilet backflows as well as from floods caused by natural disasters. To protect your family’s health, carpets and underlay should be removed, discarded and replaced.
Electrical hazards after water damage
All electricals within the property must be switched off and inspected by an electrician before they can be turned back on. The wiring must be completely dried out, even behind the walls. Mud can be widespread and possibly may have contaminated electrical components.
Appliances may obtain stains, odors, silt deposits, and gritty deposits and will need to be serviced, cleaned and sanitised. Running equipment before it is properly cleaned could seriously damage it and/or shock you. Professional cleaning and servicing is recommended for electronics, TVs and radios, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. The hard exterior can be hand cleaned. All metallic appliances that have been flooded should be properly grounded to prevent electric shock.
Structural hazards after water damage
When a property is flooded it can cause major problems for the structure of your home. It is always best to have your home assessed by a water damage expert to ensure that it is safe to enter structurally. Sometimes walls will need to be remediated professionally or fully replaced. It depends on the severity and depth of the flood waters and their contaminants. Once again it is best to have your building fully assessed by a flood damage expert to see what needs to be done. Sometimes if flood depths are high enough even roof insulation will need to be replaced. Sometimes it can be salvaged, depending on it’s type and the damage that has occurred. Plaster and paneling can often be saved, but air must be circulated in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills. Never turn on ceiling fans or lights if the ceiling is wet, and do not enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
Water stain removal after flooding
A common issue after experiencing water damage is water staining. The removal of water stains strongly depends on how the recent the staining is. A water damage specialist can easily assess the extent of the damage and determine the likelihood of your water stain being completely removed. A water damage expert will have many years experience removing water stains from a range of surfaces, most commonly they are asked to remove water stains from carpets, flooring and upholstery after flood damage.
Mould removal & prevention after water damage
Another frequently experienced problem arising after water and flood damage is the growth of mould. Mould can be very harmful to those in the immediate environment if left untreated over a long period of time. Mould has been directly associated with allergies, itchy eyes, sore throat, respiratory problems (asthma), rashes, lung infections and even cancer. Many people do not recognise the dangers linked with inhaling these microscopic mould spores, and often try to remove mould with home remedies such as bleach, which merely changes the colour of the mould and does not get to the root of the problem itself. A water damage expert will have many years of experience in removing mould. They only use the safest, most effective practices for mould removal to ensure that it is completely killed off and prevented from returning.
What should I do if my property has been flooded?
Water and flood damage can be truly devastating to your property and take a massive emotional and financial toll on you and your family. The last thing you want to be thinking about is how you’re going to remove the water and fix any damage that has been caused by the flooding. Disaster Restorations are also experts in water extraction for when your house is flooded and you need to remove the water before further damage occurs. Our expert technicians of flood restoration Melbourne offers 24/7 water damage restoration across Melbourne. Disaster Restorations Australia is available 24 hours 7 days a week to ensure that you have peace of mind at all times of the day, no matter what home disaster you are faced with.