Effective Tips for DIY Water Damage Cleanup

Every year, floods claim more lives than lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. They can also cause significant damage to homes and businesses, necessitating everything from new drywall and furnishings to entirely new structures.

If your home or commercial property has experienced flooding, your first priority should be safety. Stay clear of the area until government officials declare it safe to return. When you can go back, take emergency supplies and cash with you. If you can access a phone, contact your insurance company and, if necessary, a flood and water damage restoration contractor.

Then, you can begin assessing the damage. Be cautious with every step, as the risk of slips and falls is high. Also, be extremely careful around appliances, gas lines, and electrical equipment. Using them prematurely could lead to electrical shocks and even explosions. And remember, wet items can be very heavy. Don’t overexert yourself.

The Impact of Water Damage

Water is essential for life, but it can also cause destruction and ruin everything in its path. When it comes to your home or businesses, be aware of how the following items can be affected:

• Wallboard and drywall: These porous materials absorb water like a sponge and become fragile in a flood. They may remain contaminated even after they dry out.
• Plaster: This thick material may not need to be replaced, but it takes a very long time to dry. If it is severely cracked or warped, it will need to be replaced.
• Insulation: Foam sheets of insulation just need to be hosed off and dried, but muddy fiberglass batts should be thrown out. Cellulose insulation, made of blown-in treated paper, will need to be removed and replaced.
• Solid wood: Furniture and other solid wood items may warp and crack following a flood, but they can usually be saved when dried out completely.
• Particle board and laminated wood: These materials may separate and weaken after getting wet and usually need to be replaced.
• Wood studs and framing: These solid pillars are usually OK if they dry completely. They must be disinfected, but don’t usually have to be replaced. They are most often far from human contact, so risks of harm from any remaining contamination are low.
• Floor coverings: Most carpets and laminated coverings will have to be thrown out after a flood, especially any with soaked foam rubber backing. A professional cleaner may be able to save small rugs and valuable carpets, which should be removed from the site immediately.
• Pipes and electrical wiring: Floods can float or break pipes and strip electrical wiring. Unless you’re sure you know what you’re doing, work with a contractor if you see damage to these items.
• Appliances: These can be shorted out during floods and can leak harmful and explosive gases into the air. They will need to be cleaned and checked by a professional before use.
• HVAC: Heater and air conditioner units can become flooded, which can damage their internal electrical systems and douse pilot lights. They can also become muddy, and cleaning them will require professional cleaning. In addition, venting systems can flood and become contaminated. If that happens, they must be taken apart and hosed off piece by piece to prevent contamination from being blown through the air.

Guidelines for Flood and Water Damage Cleanup

Preparation

The first thing you will need to do after a flood is ensure that it’s safe for you and your family to be on the property.

• DO be aware of rodents, snakes, and insects that might have come in with flood waters.
• DO smell for gas and look for damaged power and gas lines, foundation cracks, and exterior damage.
• DO look for broken pilings, shifted stairs, slanted floorsand walls.
• DO turn off water and power (unless you would have to do so while standing in water).
• DON’T enter your home or business if you see major structural damage.
• DON’T walk on sagging floors or floors above sagging ceilings.
• DON’T use electrical appliances or turn on ceiling fans and lights if the ceilings are wet.

Initial Steps

Once you’re ready to start the cleaning process, it’s important to prioritize. At this stage:

• DO check that your running water is safe to drink and to use for cleaning.
• DO flush your toilet before you use it to check for clogs from mud and debris.
• DO check for cabinets and other items that may be ready to fall over.
• DO temporarily patch holes in the walls and roof with plastic wrap and repair floors and roof sections with 4X4s if you can do so safely.
• DO remove debris.
• DO remove water trapped in walls.
• DO open all the doors and windows to improve ventilation.
• DO use a wet vac, shop vac, fans, dehumidifiers, and desiccants (materials that absorb moisture) to start drying out the property.
• DON’T drain a flooded basement too quickly, because rapid changes in pressure could cause the foundation to collapse.
• DON’T do structural or electrical work yourself.
• DON’T connect generators to the home’s power system, but plug in fans and appliances directly.
• DON’T use generators, grills, camp stoves, or charcoal inside homes or within closed areas.
• DON’T use a household vacuum to remove water and mud.
• DON’T let garbage pile up, as it could exacerbate contamination and house pests.
• DON’T leave pools of standing water, which could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Reconstruction

Once these major issues are handled, you can start on the water damage cleanup and flood restoration itself.

• DO wear protective clothing, boots, and rubber gloves.
• DO wash your hands often with soap and water.
• DO remove all wall coverings and throw them out, as they may harbor mold.
• DO remove drywall, finished ceilings, and most insulation that’s been in contact with flood water.
• DO throw out permeable materials such as padded furniture and foam rubber.
• DO throw out all exposed food, beverages, and medicine, including canned goods.
• DO disinfect dishes and other items with soap and hot water, but throw out all soft plastics.
• DO clean hard surfaces with hot water and soap or detergent.
• DO wipe down wooden items and, if possible, take them elsewhere to dry out.
• DO preserve items such as books, documents, and photographs in re-sealable bags and freeze them to be cleaned later.
• DO place aluminum foil or wood blocks in between wet floors and the legs of furniture that can’t be moved.
• DO make a list of the damage and take photos or videos.
• DO keep a piece of damaged floor and wall coverings to show your insurance assessor.
• DO check with your mortgage holder before cashing home insurance checks, especially if the damage is extensive.

Cleaning up after a flood is a lot of work and it is possible to do much of it yourself. However, the costs in time, supplies, and machinery rental escalate quickly. Furthermore, you may need professional contractors to do the work to be eligible for home and flood insurance reimbursements or to acquire building permits. If you would like expert help with your flood cleanup or simply want a second pair of eyes for safety, call a professional! Our nationwide network of flood and water damage cleanup professionals is available 24/7.