Flood water is full of contaminants, for the least. If allowed to sit for more than 24 hours, it poses a threat to mold growth. But have you got 24 hours on your hand before which you can safely assume that your house is free of mold? Unfortunately, no. The porous items, when soaked in water can absorb large quantities. As it is almost impossible to dry out the water in such a short time, there is always a risk of mold growth.
Issues like this and many others can cause you to panic when you see your house or commercial property submerged in floodwater. It is normal to feel the urge to restore the building as soon as possible and get back to the work. But you must follow the recommended guidelines and safety protocol.
This is an easy and comprehensive Flood Cleanup in Newton MA guide for homeowners.
Safety First!
Check the building for any electrical or structural damage before entering the building. You must determine if it’s safe for you or other residents to enter. Wear a pair of sturdy shoes, protective eyewear, and rubber gloves. It’s best to take battery-powered lights to check the house for gas or fire hazards. Look out for snakes, ants, or any other animals in the house.
Try to enter the building during daylight and follow the instructions provided by your local authorities as well.
Turn Off the Power Supply
You should only enter the building once you have turned off the power supply. Shut off the gas supply as well. It is imperative to protect yourself from fire hazards, short-circuiting, and electrocutions. If possible, shut off the water supply as well. You may never know if any damages to water pipes or other components of the plumbing system are worsening the water flooding.
Document The Damage and Contact Your Claim Adjuster
While you are initially inspecting your house, better take a camera with you. Take pictures and capture videos to document the damages. These proofs are especially helpful when you file for a flood insurance claim. Contact your public claims adjuster as soon as possible. It is recommended to wait for the adjuster to begin flood cleanup. While they arrive at our house, proceed with the following steps to minimize the damages.
Discard Wet Porous Items
You need to clear out your house of any large furniture items that can make water removal difficult. Any of the wet carpets and upholstered items are best replaced. Discard all such items to free up some space. Leave the detailed inspection for later.
Remove Flood Water, Dirt, And Debris
Now it’s time to gear up for water removal. The most effective way is to rent a water pump to remove excess water. Depending on the amount of standing water this step can take from a few minutes to some hours. Open all the windows to improve ventilation of the space. Turn on the fans to increase the circulation of indoor air.
Once you have removed the water, grab a bucket, wear your gloves and a shovel. Flood water generally leaves loads of mud and debris. Use the shovel to fill up the bucket and dump it outside your home. If the debris is a lot more for your trash can, you can also hire professional trash removal services.
Pro-tip: Mud can be pretty heavy. Fill up the bucket to half to avoid nuances of heavy lifting.
Inspect And Disinfect
It’s time to get into the details inspection and disinfection of your house. Determine a spot for salvageable items. If the days are sunny, better make this spot outside your home. Let the items dry thoroughly. If possible, take the furniture out of the house and wipe it clean with a commercial cleaner. Use a disinfectant to get rid of any germs.
Takedown the curtains, wash and bleach them. You may also need professional assistance with rug cleaning. In most cases, rugs and carpets are damaged beyond repair and best left in the dumpster. That’s because the water gets into the deeper layers of fabric and carpet backing. Drying it out takes a lot of time and even then, it’s risky to use.
If you have wooden flooring, you need to inspect all wooden boards for any damage. The fruiting bodies of mold mays start to appear underneath the planks so be thorough. Tear out the damaged planks and replace them with new ones.
Look For Signs of Mold
Mold is the biggest threat to a flooded home. Inspect your house for signs of mold such as dark spots and funky smells. If you find any, don’t wait any longer and hire a team of mold inspection and remediation professionals.
Your house can be restored with the right Water Clean Up Newton MA strategy but it takes a lot of patience and hard work.