Water has an important role in quenching thirst and keeping all living beings alive. However, it can also bring expensive damage to a house. This is a common situation when the hurricane brings a large volume of water to flood your house. When it happens, you must know how to stop the water from entering your house and take the necessary actions to fix the water damage.
1. Locate the Source of the Water Flow
First, you must find out the source of the water flow. Check all your appliances, showers, and water heaters, it may be necessary to contact a local plumber to help identify any leaks. Close one by one and see which one affects the water level of the flood in your home. Next, you must determine the type of water. Clean water which comes from rain, and leaky pipes are harmless and can be cleaned easily on your own.
Gray water is water that comes from appliances like washing machine and dishwasher contains contaminants but you can clean it up yourself. Black water is filthy water from the river that may contain bacteria and other harmful contaminants. Black water can cause health problems so you should contact the professional to carry out the cleaning chores.
2. Eliminate the Standing Water
The second step is to eliminate the standing water. The standing water should be pumped out as soon as possible as it. The pump should be placed in the lowest level of the floor. A wet and dry vacuum can be used to suck out the water if it is just a small amount of flooding. Next, you can clean up the debris such as nails, mud, and etc.
The floor is still dirty at this point and you can use a cleaning solution to disinfect the surfaces. Clean all porous materials like books, bedding, and rugs that can be salvaged. If it is too dirty, you can throw it away. After the water is pumped out, you can use an industrial air blower to dry the location. You will also have to inspect the area for mold and mildew. Mold growth on a large area require professionals to remove.
3. Install Water Resistant Building Materials
To prevent future problems, you can install water resistant building materials in your house. Also, don’t forget to check the area for any crack that can possibly let the water enter. Sometimes, water comes from the mis-positioned shingles on the roof.
Therefore, if you have shingles that are loose, promptly hire a professional to replace with new shingles. You will also want to seal any crack that appear in the foundation. Faulty plumbing such as clogged drain and burst pipes should be fixed promptly. You should check the appliances like washing machine and dishwasher and make sure the hose is not burst.
