How to Dry Out Water Damaged Structures

When a structure gets exposed to large amounts of water, such as during a flood, it’s very important to immediately take steps to dry out the building and make repairs and plan water damage restoration. The first step to take during water damage cleanup is to turn off the power to the building. Make sure any gas services are turned off as well to prevent leaks. Also, document all damage with pictures before you clean up to help when you deal with your insurance company. For a flooded basement, first wait for the ground outside and around the basement to drain off. If you pump your basement first, uneven pressure will be created and cause damage to the walls, possibly resulting in a collapse. The best thing to do about water damage is make sure there is proper air ventilation throughout the entire structure. Open all windows and turn on ceiling fans to draw air in and around the room. In addition, find out whether you have plaster or sheetrock. If you have plaster it can probably be dried out. Sheetrock, however, will most likely require complete replacement. It’s important to consult a water damage company to find out the best method to fix water damage to your building’s walls. Any wood features in the structure should fare well after water damage. Wash down any trim or doors to remove all mud and residue. A Clorox and water solution can be used to wash off mold and mildew. Remove all wet carpeting and furniture and wash down all wood floors with fresh water. Although the floors may start to warp as they dry, keep drying. They should go back to their original shape, especially if weights are used to decrease buckling and warping. All insulation in the home should be removed. Wet insulation is useless and will cause mildew, mold, and damage to all wood and metal in the home. Check the attic, walls, and under the floorboards to be sure you get out all wet insulation. A professional water damage restoration company will probably be required to take care of many problems, including treating wallpaper, as well as paintings, photographs, and furniture that has been damaged by the water. A water removal company can help in the entire process of drying out a water damaged structure, ensuring it’s done safely and properly.

Information on Micro-organisms in Water Damaged Structures

Micro-organisms are an important aspect of water damage especially when it is caused by grey or black water. Grey water is water from sewer sources that do not contain solid waste such as feces. Black water contains solid fecal matter. Grey water that is not promptly removed in at least seventy two hours becomes classified as black water. It is easy to see the importance of clean up in preventing diseases from the micro organisms carried in water. In addition to micro organisms such as mold growing in wet wood from even clean or category one water, carpet and walls water damage from grey and black water contains bacteria that contaminate the areas damaged by water. These bacteria are frequently the coliform bacteria from the intestinal tract such as E. coli which produce deadly endotoxins in people and animals exposed to them. Another bacterium that causes devastating illness with water damage from overflowing septic systems is Vibrio cholerae. Viruses are also cared in grey water and black water. A major viral illness that becomes a problem is hepatitis A. Hepatitis B, polio and tetanus can also be transmitted in contaminated water. To prevent these diseases it is important to remove all of the water as soon as possible. A company experience in water damage cleanup and restoration is essential to this effort. Finding one in the area is the first priority. Even after the water is gone the potential for disease exists and grows greater as time passes. Anything that can be completely dried can possibly be salvaged. If it cannot be dried or is not dried out in forty eight hours then the potential for contamination and the spread of disease exists. Items such as carpet and furniture that can be dried out but that have been contaminated can be treated with micro organism killing chemicals and then dried to prevent the spread of diseases. Since large amounts of the contaminating materials can decrease the effectiveness of these chemicals it is important to clean all the surfaces first. A company experience in water damage restoration will properly salvage those items which can be saved and help prevent the spread of disease.