When you're faced with severe water damage to your multi-room home, you need an action plan. Knowing what to do and how to minimize your losses is essential in order to get your home and belongings back as quickly as possible. In this article, we'll provide 10 steps to help you restore residential water damage and mitigate mold growth. The first step is to treat all affected surfaces with an antimicrobial product formulated to eliminate mold.
You can use a bleach and water solution on most non-porous materials, but antifungal products are a safer option. In some cases, structural material exposed to water for more than 24 hours must be torn off and replaced. Mold growth that hides deep inside walls requires specialized mitigation techniques. It's important to maintain good hygiene during flood cleanup. Minimize contact with flood water or anything that may have been in contact with it, and keep children away from contaminated areas during cleaning operations.
All insulation materials, chipboard furniture, mattresses, box springs, plush toys, pillows, quilts, cushions and furniture covers that have been exposed to flood water must be discarded. After the flood waters subside and the clean-up has been done, most people want to return to their homes or businesses and start rebuilding. However, wood that has been submerged in water has probably absorbed a large amount of water. Rebuilding too quickly after a flood can cause ongoing problems such as mold growth, insect infestations, and deterioration of wood and wall coverings. To minimize water damage from a major leak or flood in your home, the restoration process should ideally begin within 24 hours. Restoring water damage involves a lot of work such as drying and replacing floors, drywall, and insulation.
Remember that mold appears within 24 hours after water damage, and spores spread easily to parts of your home that aren't affected by water damage. If water damage occurs near the switch box, appliances, or electrical outlets, call an experienced professional to ensure safety. They will assess the level of water damage and evaluate the amount of work needed to make your home safely habitable again. For minor water damage, dry the house above your house but professionals are needed for more serious damage. The most common sources of leaks include rusty and corroded pipes, high-pressure water, extreme temperatures, broken water connectors, and more. If the professional finds any damage to your roof, make sure it's repaired right away to protect it against water damage inside. From the moment you discover water damage, speed is key to solving the problem without damaging your property in a lasting way.
The Texas Water Resources Institute provides science-based solutions to the state's pressing water quantity and quality challenges through internal expertise and external collaboration. If you're faced with severe water damage, following these 10 steps will help you restore residential water damage, mitigate mold growth, and protect your home from further destruction.
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