4 Things You Need To Do After Your House Floods
Dealing with your house flooding can be an intensely stressful experience. Whether the flooding was due to natural causes or a malfunctioning toilet, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and resist the urge to panic. Here are four things you can do to get the flooding under control.
1. Don't walk through standing water.
The severity of the flooding in your house will depend on the cause. If it was severe enough that there are several inches of water in your home, avoid standing in the water if at all possible. If you have to walk through the floodwater, wear sturdy rain boots and wash your hands immediately after removing the boots. According to GoHealth Urgent Care, floodwater can be full of harmful bacteria such as E.coli, hepatitis, and leptospirosis. These bacteria can make you very sick, so steer clear until the water can be removed.
2. Document everything.
Before you start on the restoration process, use your smartphone or a camera to take pictures of the flood damage. When you make a claim with your insurance company, they will want to see proof of the flooding. Having pictures ready will make the claims process faster and more efficient so you can get your insurance money right away.
3. Get rid of the water.
The next step is to get rid of the water remaining in your home. You don't want to wait for it to drain naturally since that could take weeks and it would leave your house uninhabitable for an extended period of time. A water damage restoration company can come to remove the water for you. They'll use specialized vacuums to suck up the water in your house in conjunction with submersible pumps.
4. Protect against mold.
Once the water has been removed from your home, the last remaining danger is mold. Mold likes to grow in damp environments, so your first priority is drying out your house. After a water damage restoration team has gotten rid of standing water, they'll use industrial strength fans and dehumidifiers to dry your home. This process also helps to keep your floors and walls from warping due to the dampness left over from flooding.
Although having your house flood is far from ideal, it doesn't have to be the end of the world. Water damage restoration services are able to help you through this stressful catastrophe. These four tips will help you to get the flooding under control quickly and efficiently.
