How to dry your house after a water damage or flood?
The drying up of a building following a flood or water damage is a tedious operation. Here are some tips to help you accomplish this.
Protect yourself
In any water cleaning situation, safety should be your top priority. Prepare for work by ensuring that the power supply has been completely cut off in all flooded areas. Do not use electrical devices in rooms with standing water. Protect your hands, eyes and mouth, as flood water may be contaminated with harmful substances.
Next, determine the type of water damage. You can repair damage caused by clean water (rain, leaking pipes, etc.) and gray water (slightly dirty water from washing machines, clean toilets, etc.). However, damage resulting from black water (leakage of waste water or flooding of neighboring rivers, etc.) is too dangerous and should be managed by qualified professionals. If you are not sure of your situation, call a professional who has specialized equipment for water and flood sanitation.
Before you start, you have to know How to dry your house
Take many photos of the damage before starting work. This will help in submitting claims to insurance companies in the event of a claim. Be sure to include photos of the damaged structures, as well as objects from the affected areas.
Repair all areas where water can re-enter the building, including damage to the roof. Repairs may be temporary, but plan to last several weeks. Use tarpaulins or plywood covered with tar paper to repair a roof, for example.
Circulate air
Drying and air circulation are essential in case of water damage. Open windows as soon as weather conditions permit. If using electricity is safe, install fans to help circulate the air in the room. Plinth fans can be directed to higher places, ceiling fans and blower fans can lower air to the floor, and window fans can supply and circulate fresh air from outside.
Then open the doors of cupboards and cupboards, remove the drawers from the furniture or cupboards to allow air to move and dry the affected areas. Avoid using an air or central heating system with ducts that have been submerged, as this could blow mold, dirt or other contaminants into the living space.
Remove sources of moisture
Once the air circulates, it’s time to start taking care of the items in your rooms. For large jobs, you can rent or buy a portable dehumidifier to remove excess water vapor from the air. Empty the water drawer frequently to make sure it is operating at maximum capacity, or attach it to a hose that drains water out of the house.
Remove all soaked items and place them outside, preferably in direct sunlight, to dry or dispose of them. It is important to focus first on large items soaked in water, such as carpets and upholstered furniture. If these soft items have been affected by dirty water, they should be discarded to avoid the growth of harmful bacteria and other contaminants.
Remove the water-retaining flooring, such as vinyl or linoleum, to allow the subfloors to dry. Remove and discard wet insulation from walls and under floors. Remove drywall that was submerged in water, as it usually deteriorates, and mold develops easily on the liner.
Clean and prevent mold
If you are recovering from a major flood, it is essential that all surfaces that may have been in contact with bacteria from sewers, among other things, are fully disinfected by professionals. Disinfection is not a priority in the event of rainwater or pipe leaks, but always a safe choice.
Using a bleach or other mildew prevention solution, treat any surface that has been exposed to water leakage or flooding. Apply a special mildew remover as directed by the manufacturer, or spray and lightly wipe off a mixture of bleach to make sure mold spores do not survive.
Once you have dried your house, it is time to start the repair and reconstruction phase.
