Water damage in your home is a very daunting thought, but repairing the damage is much more manageable than it seems. It consists of three steps: removing the water, fixing or removing damaged materials, and rebuilding.
Contents
Dry Out The Home
You want to remove the water fast so you can limit the damage. Open your doors and windows to hasten drying. Do not use fans as they may spread contaminants and mold.
Clean Up
Extract water from carpet and upholstery with a wet vac or similar equipment. Don’t drain your basement too quickly, because the pressure outside may crack the home supports. Check to see if water remains in the wall by removing the baseboard and making a tiny hole with a knife or drill. If water spills out, drill a slightly larger hole to let it drain.
Wall-coverings
Wet wallpaper must be removed, because it hampers drying and grows mildew. You can pry sections of paneling away and brace it open to let it dry.
Check Pipes And Water Tank For Damages
The water damage may have been caused by pipes or a faulty water tank. Also, your pipes and water tank could have been damaged in a flood and will cause future water damage. When it comes to the pipes and the water tank, it is usually too much for one person to repair. You may want to consider calling a professional from somewhere like Covac Tanks or your local plumber to handle this kind of damage.
Tackling Damaged Walls
Any wallboard that got wet from muddy waters will have to be removed, because it retains mud when dried. Plaster takes a long time to dry, but as long as it doesn’t lose its shape during drying, it will not have to be replaced. Wood walls should be fine unless layered wood dries unevenly and causes structural damage.
Insulation
Styrofoam insulation can be cleaned. Fiberglass insulation will need to be temporarily removed for the wall to dry properly, but if dirty water contaminated it, it may have to be replaced. Cellulose insulation will be completely ruined. Replace it.
Mold And Mildew
A musty, earthy smell means you have mildew. Clean or remove affected areas during this repair to prevent further damage.
Rebuilding And Replacing
Consider inexpensive flood-proofing when doing repairs. Repair any sagging floors, ceilings, and roof sections. Replace switches and outlets that may have been affected. Heating and air conditioning systems may have mud in them, but you can hose out the ducts. Consider water resistant materials during replacements.
If your home suffers water damage, it takes only a few steps to repair your home. This time, you can have it better prepared if water damage threatens your home again.
It sounds overwhelming to have to deal with water damage! I didn’t realize there was so much to do to get things dried and cleaned up. I think if I am ever in that situation I will call a water damage restoration service so I can make sure everything gets cleaned properly and so we don’t run into more problems down the road. Thanks for all this information!
My neighbor had minor water damage to his home, and I’ll make sure to help out as much as possible. I’ll be sure to help him replace the wallboards, and I’ll also make sure to get the insulation out. That way the dirty wallboards won’t stay and the insulation can be replaced easily.
I’m glad that my home hasn’t been hit by water damage yet. However, it’s good to know what to do if water damage does ever become a problem. I probably would have known to dry out the affected area as soon as possible, but I don’t think I would have thought to remove the baseboard and make a hole to check for any remaining water. Thanks for the information!