How to Cleanup Water Damage?

Whether you have a leaking or broken pipe, or whether you've just experienced a flood, chances are you have water damage to clean up. And once you're cleaning up water damage, you're faced with restoring materials and repairs. In this water damage cleanup guide, we'll talk about water damage, how to clean it up, and when to call in a professional water mitigation company to get the job done right.

Damage Caused by Water Leaks and Flooding

At Rytech Restoration, when we talk about water damage to a home or business, we're usually talking about damage caused by water leaks and flooding. This can take the form of roof leaks, appliance leaks, broken pipes, plumbing leaks, backed up toilets, floods, and inclement weather like hurricanes and lightning strikes. Water is very destructive and can damage drywall, ceilings, flooring, rugs, carpet, furniture, and personal possessions. The damage caused by flooding can be extensive, costly, and cause major disruption to your normal life. 

What is Water Damage Cleanup

Water damage cleanup is a simpler term for water damage restoration. It involves removing the water, drying out the area, and putting things back once everything had dried out. The task sounds simple, but when dealing with a room—or an entire house—that needs to be cleaned up, it can be a difficult task for the non-professional cleaner.

When Water Damage Cleanup is Required

Whenever you have water damage, time is of the essence. One reason is, the longer the water has a chance to soak into things, the greater the damage can spread. The other reason is mold and mildew can start growing if it is left too long (48 hours or less). This can severely affect your health and the health of your family. And once mold starts growing, it can grow into areas you can't see and may require even costlier mold remediation services than simple cleaning after water damage.

Do and Don’ts After Water Damage

If you're dealing with flooding right now, the first step is to turn off all power to your home. You can do this by locating the fuse box to your home and switching the power off—provided that the fuse box isn't underwater or wet. If it is, contact your local power company and request that they shut off the electricity to your home until the water recedes.

Assuming standing water has subsided enough for you to enter your home, follow these dos and don'ts:

• Don't enter gray water without protection or black water. Gray water is water from dishwashers, washing machines, and rainstorms. Black water is water from major flooding, septic tanks, sewers, and other contaminated places.
• Do wear gloves, rubber boots, mask, and goggles when cleaning up after gray water to avoid possible contamination from it.
• Do contact a professional water damage restoration company to handle flooding due to black water.
• Do unplug all electrical items in rooms that are flooded. Only after you've safely unplugged all electrical items can you turn the power back on in your home, provided the fuse box wasn't compromised.
• Do remove any personal belongings from the room for cleaning.
• Don't enter an area with a sagging ceiling. It could fall on you.
• Don't use switches or try to plug in equipment in water damaged rooms.
• Don't leave furniture or other possessions in the water damaged rooms.
• Do move your possessions to a higher and dryer place.
• Don't use a regular vacuum cleaner to clean up the water. You can get severely injured or electrocuted from doing so.
• Do use have a water damage contractor use commercial grade wet/ dry vacuums to remove water.
• Do plan on removing and throwing out wet drywall, carpet, ceiling panels, and other compromised soft or porous materials.
• Do plan on using disinfectant and mold inhibitors on areas that became wet and near the wet areas such as support beams, floors, walls that hadn't become soaked, and ceilings.
• Do use industrial strength fans and dehumidifiers for drying out water damaged areas.

DIY Water Damage Cleanup vs. Professional Services

At this point, you're wondering if you can perform your own water damage restoration DIY. If you only have one room with water damage or a small leak, DIY may be an option. As long as it isn't too complicated or requires too many professional water damage restoration tools, you may be able to clean up the mess yourself.

That being said, most people aren't willing to tear out their carpet and padding, rip out drywall, and perform other water damage mitigation procedures necessary to ensure their building's structural integrity and that mold won't grow afterward. Choosing water damage cleanup professionals over do-it-yourself will most likely yield better and safer results.

Water Damage Inspection

The first step will be to identify the water damage that occurred and how far it has gone. Has the water reached the floor beneath the carpet? The subfloor? If the flooding occurred on an upper floor, has it compromised the floor and the ceiling of lower levels? Has there been any damage to load-bearing beams? Has the electrical wiring in walls been damaged? Is it safe to walk on floors or beneath ceilings? Is mold growth present?

A professional water damage cleanup company with a water damage restoration license will be able to identify hazards as well as locate hidden damage that might be overlooked by a home or business owner.

Drying Out Water Damage

Once furnishings and personal property is removed, as well as any wet carpeting, drywall, and other damaged material, drying can begin. Assuming there is no standing water which needs to be pumped out, the area will need to be dried using a commercial grade wet/ dry vacuum, a dehumidifier, and industrial grade fans. If the weather permits, opening the windows to let dry air circulate will help the area dry out faster.

Water Damage Repair

Part of cleaning up after water damage is cleaning and repairing what the water damaged. This may include:

• Replacing subflooring and flooring
• Replacing carpet
• Replacing damaged electrical wiring and fixtures
• Replacing drywall
• Repairing load-bearing beams
• Repairing roof and gutters
• Repairing or replacing ceiling
• Cleaning upholstery
• Cleaning books and papers
• Cleaning wood
• Cleaning appliances
• Cleaning floors, ceilings, and walls

Mold Growth & Indoor Air Quality

After your home or business has experienced water damage, there is a chance that mold will grow if the areas affected aren't properly treated to prevent mold. Mold can cause allergic reactions, which is actually quite common in people. It can also cause those with asthma to suffer from asthma attacks.

Mold spores are irritants as well, which is why mold causes poor air quality in homes. The best way to eliminate mold is to treat the surfaces that had water damage with disinfectants that kill mold and mold spores through professional mold removal services.

Water Damage Cleanup Process

So, what is the process when it comes to water damage cleanup? Professionals follow these steps:

• Damage assessment: determine how much water damage there is.
• Remove standing water: use pumps and commercial wet/ dry vacuums to remove the water.
• Dry out structure: use fans, dehumidifiers, and desiccants to dry out the area.
• Cleanup and decontamination: use disinfectants to clean surfaces and kill mold spores.

Who to Call For Water Damage Cleanup 

When flooding or a leak saturates the carpet or flooring, it becomes a good time to call water damage cleanup companies and promptly mitigate the damage. If you observe water entering from the ceiling or seeping down the walls, it is also advisable to call the professionals. Any situation that appears to require more than a simple mop-up warrants a call water damage restoration companies, as there could be underlying damage beneath what seems to be minor water stains.

Water Damage Cleanup Companies

When it comes to flood damage in your home or business, it can be a frightening experience. However, it's important to make an informed decision about whom to trust with your property. Seek out a professional company that has operated for several years, possesses bonding and insurance, holds licenses and water damage restoration certifications. Their technicians should maintain IICRC certifications and exhibit professionalism. Additionally, the business should be accessible and round-the-clock, every day of the year. They should also provide free consultations for damage mitigation and repairs.

Rytech Restoration Water Damage Cleanup Services

If your home or business requires water damage cleanup services, place your trust in Rytech Restoration, the professional water damage cleanup and mold remediation services. Our technicians hold IICRC certification, and we hold water damage restoration certification, establishing us as leaders in water damage restoration industry. We are licensed in water damage restoration network and actively collaborate with your water damage insurance claim to deliver top-notch mitigation service. Reach out to us today for a water damage restoration estimate and recovery plan.