Water damage can be a massive headache to handle. Whether the home is flooded or you have a water leak, water damage can cause permanent damage if you don’t address it quickly. Your possessions may be at risk of being ruined, and your house may be affected. This guide will be for you if you experience interior water damage. We provide a step-by-step guide on repairing water damage and restoring your home to its former glory.
What is Water Damage?
Water damage is a situation where water destroys the interior of your home. It can result from an overflowing sink, leaking appliances, a frozen pipe that bursts, and rain leaks through your room, damaging the walls and sinks. Water damage can ruin your house or property, cause electrical shortages, and affect your expensive furniture. Regardless of the reason for water damage, it would help if you had quick action water damage restoration before it causes further losses.
How to Repair Water damage?
Water damage restoration procedures are not simple. Every step has multiple complexities, from the drying phase to repairing and reconstructing the affected areas. It will take days to tackle the problem if the affected area is enormous. The process of water damage repair comprises the following steps.
- Inspect the Situation
Start by inspecting the source of water leakage. Determine whether the water damage is from a broken pipe, leaking roof, or faulty appliance. You can only address the issue once you know the source of the problem. If it’s because of a broken pipe, you need to repair it and then dry out the area, while if it’s a leak in the roof, then you will need to fix it as the first step.
Not all water damage is evidenced by pools of standing water. You can use tools to identify water infiltration in the walls, flooring, and other internal places. They can help determine the type of damage suffered and the extent of the damage. The tools also allow you to avoid over-drying as it harms your home.
- Remove Standing Water
Whether dealing with an inch or a few feet of water, you will need to remove any standing water. Start soaking up as much water as possible with towels and mops, or use a wet-dry vacuum or sump pump. You should be able to dump buckets of water down drains in your home.
The faster you remove it, the less time it has to permanently damage your home and create a breeding ground for mold and mildew. You can enlist help from your friends to ensure you remove the water quickly. Standing water can degrade the integrity of your drywalls and the structure of your home. Once you remove the pooled excess water, you start the water damage repair process.
- Begin the Drying Process
You will need to dry the area affected by water damage. This step can be difficult if you tackle the water damage repair independently because you will need some equipment to determine if the room is dry. Heavy-duty air movers and dehumidifiers can dry out the affected area quickly. Place fans in different locations to increase the air circulating the room or open windows to speed up drying.
You want to drive there as quickly as possible to prevent mold growth, especially if you live in a humid climate. Ensure the area is dry to prevent mold or mildew from forming.
- Sanitize and Clean
Once the water-damaged area is dry, sanitize and disinfect furniture, appliances, walls, baseboards, and personal equipment. Clean any item affected by water damage to ensure they don’t hold any dangerous bacteria or fungi, then disinfect to kill any bacteria.
In some water damage situations, you may encounter fungal and mold growth. The solution is applying antimicrobials to prevent mold growth and destroy existing mold spores. Disinfection and sanitization will make sure your house is safe afterward. Look for an all-purpose disinfecting cleaner and rinse with water afterward. Make sure you wear protective gear while disinfecting.
- Protect your Appliances and Valuables
The most crucial step is ensuring your family is safe by protecting yourself, your appliances, and your valuables. Ensure you turn off the power before entering or standing in wet areas, and wear protective clothing. Remove any wet items from the affected area, including furniture, carpets, drywall, and installation. You cannot dry these items while still in the affected areas as they can only absorb more water and cause further damage,
If the water damages your carpet, flooring, drywall, or wood structures, you must restore them. Start repairing or replacing any damaging items depending on the severity of the damage. You can look for professional help to salvage valuable items damaged by water. Consult with a professional restoration company that will advise you on the best course of action.
- Contact your Insurance Firm
Insurance can save you a great deal of money, so call your insurance company immediately after water damage. An adjuster will look and assess the damage and determine if it’s a covered loss. Make sure you document all the damage to help in future Insurance claims. Take plenty of photos to strengthen your insurance claim.
Bottom Line
Water damage can be a severe problem for property owners. We have provided the steps to follow in water damage repair. Since water damage happens quickly, you are better off calling a professional for water damage repair. They have the equipment and gear to get rid of excess water quickly. Let the professional know you have a water damage emergency, and they will help you avoid further damage.
