Waterflood is a problem known to many homeowners. Lots of reasons may cause a flood in the basement such as a broken water heater tank, failed hose from the washing machine, broken pipes or sump pump, and so on.
In general, damage from waterflood in the basement leads to significant repair and even replacement costs because water may be quickly absorbed by porous materials such as wood, carpeting, furniture and so on. The danger from such absorption is that bacteria may quickly breed inside your property so it will become spoiled and danger for further usage.
Different matters lead to the same result, and, fortunately, the same steps are required in order to remove the adverse effects of flood in the basement. Generally, three phases should be completed for flood effects handling: remove spilled water, cleaning and drying flood effects, sanitization of the damaged places. Excellent Plumbing prepared a little guidance on each described step, for details please refer below.
STEP 1. REMOVE SPILLED WATER
In case the amount of spilled water is insignificant the removal can be processed by a homeowner without third parties help. As sooner removal will be started as more chances to mitigate water damage will exist.
Use vacuums of wet-dry type together with pumps. Use your floor drains for collected water removal. You may also prepare your floor drains before by using plunger or cleaning wire in order to remove possible clogs to let water be removed faster.
In case there is no required type of vacuum cleaner in your property, you may rent them. But be careful and consider the type of engine installed in a vacuum cleaner. Never use diesel or gasoline ones indoors, because they produce carbon monoxide exhaust fumes that may not only injure you but cause death.
Please be aware, that water removal is only the first out of three steps. Depending on the room damaged by waterflood, type of water flooded and the amount of water spilled the approach to be used is chosen. Generally, in case of extensive waterflood just water removal and usual drying will not be enough for effects handling.
STEP 2. CLEANING AND DRYING
As was previously mentioned porous surfaces such as carpeting, walls, furniture with its upholstery may absorb lots of water, so it will not be enough just to gather spilled water and remove it. This case requires more thorough cleaning, that will include restoration works, extensive cleaning, deodorizing and even disinfection. Otherwise, bacteria that got inside of your surfaces may breed, which will lead to the appearance of unpleasant smell as well as possible illnesses. This is why it is important to care all staff damaged by water, so bacteria, mold, viruses, and fungi will not have any chances to breed.
As we concluded above any object that contacted with waterflood must be appropriately processed. Most of the cleaning things you may have at home will be good for this task, so there is no need for additional purchases. First of all, you may perform cleaning of all surfaces (including walls) with usual detergent or household cleaner. The next stage is the same cleaning but will add a disinfecting solution in order to avoid molding, bacteria breeding, and mildew appearance. As an option for disinfection, you may use bleach diluted with water in proportion half of a cup of chlorine to a water gallon. In case the large area was damaged solutions describe above may be sprayed using a tool similar to a garden spray pump.
Please note, that things processed with cleaning and sanitizing should be appropriately dried and the best place for that – outdoors.
Please note, that some things cannot be saved after water damaged, especially if they are made of paper or fabric. Of course, it depends on how valuable the thing is and how long it was contacting the water. But the general rule of throwing out in case any doubts on salvage should be considered. Such things as books, cartons, pillows and blankets and so on should be definitely removed in case they cannot be processed with bleach safely.
Documents, valuable books, and pics may be frozen using “no frost” technology placed in books that were not damaged, in order to be restored later, when a basic problem with water and damaged place drying will be resolved.
Please consider, that it is very hard to fully clean carpeting to avoid mold or mildew as well as walls made from gypsum and plywood floor. In such cases, you should be ready to remove and replace damaged objects, including insulation and baseboards if some of them were affected.
STEP 3. SANITIZING
It is natural to have willing to complete the cleaning fast and start restoration and repair works. Although, disregarding of required time for full drying may lead to undesirable results, as for example, mold, bacteria, and mildew breeding together with an unpleasant smell. So please, be patient, perform a thorough cleaning and let objects to be dried for at least a week being outdoors. In some cases, deeply hidden moisture may take more than 2 weeks to evaporate.
In case the waterflood caused significant damage and took lots of time and effort you may also call to help Excellent Plumbing specialists. We will help you with water gathering, cleaning and disinfection as well.
Although you may consider calling your insurance company in order to make an application for compensation. Excellent Plumbing can help you to communicate with the insurance company as well, providing with damage assessment information and other required data.
Excellent Plumbing may provide you with complex service starting from simple consulting and assessment with insurance issues, completing by water damage restoration services.
We are ready to help in this and other services. Just contact us 847-929-9229 and save your time and money with us!
