15 Feb 8 Vital Tips for Dealing With Water Damage Repair
Large-scale water damage is one of the most terrifying nightmares homeowners can face. Water damage can quickly spread and act as a medium for mold growth. It is dangerous and costly. Water damage can cause serious problems in your home.
- Drywall and wooden Studs
- Framing
- Carpet is one of the most popular flooring materials.
- Ceiling materials such as plaster and sheetrock can be used.
- Other utility systems include piping, wiring and other connections
- The majority of appliances
- HVAC systems
- Insulation
- Plus, many other things
There are many steps you can take that will reduce the damage caused by water and help prevent it from getting worse. This blog will provide helpful information about water damage hazards and offer tips for water damage repair.
Learn the Differences in Water Types
The Natural Resource Defense Council states that there are three types of contaminated water that could cause damage to your home. These are clean water (Category 1) and greywater (Category 2), as well as blackwater (Category 3) Every kind of water comes with its own risks and hazards. Some may require a professional to be removed.
It is important to determine the type of water you are dealing with before beginning DIY water damage repairs.
Water purification
Category 1 water is also known as freshwater, clean water or snow runoff. It comes from rain, leaky pipes and condensation. Although it is not wastewater, clean water could still cause harm to your home. Water is generally safe from harmful chemicals and hazardous substances.
This type of water can cause minor damage such as a leaky pipe or a faulty seal. In some cases, however, clean water can cause severe damage, such as a bursting of a water main or a faucet left on overnight.
This water is safest and easiest for homeowners to clean up. DIY methods are also available. The average cost to remove clean water is between $3.75 and $4.50 per square feet.
Greywater
Greywater (sometimes spelled graywater or Category 2 water) is the wastewater from washing machines and sinks. Some contaminants in greywater are caused by the appliances it has been through, including food particles and less harmful chemicals such as detergents.
The source of greywater contamination can vary. The greywater produced by greywater can be cleaned in showers, tubs, washing machines, and washing machines , while greywater is cleaner for homeowners, but it requires greater safety precautions than clean water.
When handling or cleaning greywater, you should wear protective attire such as thick rubber gloves and safety glasses.
Blackwater
Blackwater is the most dangerous type of domestic wastewater. It comes from toilets and sewage systems as well as flooding from rivers or lakes. Blackwater contains dangerous contaminants such as:
- Urine
- Fecal matter
- Organisms that cause disease
- Toxic chemicals
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Molds
- Protozoans
- Other pathogens
This type of wastewater is a serious health risk. Only trained professionals should handle it with the appropriate equipment and protective gear. Blackwater is the most destructive type of water for your home. Because of its unsanitary nature, blackwater floods require porous materials such as drywall, carpeting and upholstered furniture to be removed and replaced.
Turn off the water source and disconnect the power
First, locate the source of flooding or a leak and turn it off. This is easy for appliances and sinks as there will be a water connection behind the appliance that has a shutoff valve.
For a burst pipe that is located inside a wall, ceiling, or floor, this can be difficult. You can usually see the pipe and follow it until you locate its shutoff valve . It looks something like a small red circular wheel. This wheel should be turned until the water stops flowing.
For unseen pipes and large water main leakages, you will need to shut off the water main at your house. The location of main shutoff valves is not standard. They can be found anywhere you like: outside, in a crawl space or near the water heater.
You can turn off water supply to your home by finding the valve.
If the leak doesn’t stop, it could be that there’s still water in your home’s system from which the pipe is drawing. To reduce the amount of water in the pipes, turn on all faucets and showers to stop the leak.
Take out water
It can be difficult to drain large amounts of water after a flood. For large amounts of standing water, pool pumps are the best option. However, a vacuum cleaner or a large mop bucket may be able to help. Once most of the water has been removed you can use fans and dehumidifiers in order to pull moisture from the affected areas faster.
Keep an eye out for mold
Mold can explode in a home within 24 to 48 hours if it is exposed to the right conditions (e.g. floods or severe water damage). Many homes already have minor mold problems. Mold can quickly grow if exposed to moisture from water. After you have removed all water from your house, be sure to watch for mold growth.
Mold can grow in places that are difficult to spot, such as under carpets, behind appliances, and behind large objects. Some molds can cause severe long-term health problems such as asthmatic inflammations, memory loss, fatigue, memory problems, and respiratory problems.
Although small patches of mold can be managed, large-scale mold infestations should be handled by professionals. If you suspect that there is a serious mold problem, turn off the airflow and do not enter the area.
Get rid of porous and damaged materials
Porous materials must be removed in the event of flooding or other severe water damage. These materials absorb large amounts water and can become permanently damaged or harbor mold and mildew.
These materials, particularly in cases of blackwater or greywater damage, are often beyond salvaging. These porous materials are most commonly disposed of.
- Drywall
- Carpet
- Upholstered furniture
- Insulation
- Mattresses
- Rugs
If you clean small objects quickly and thoroughly, such as pillows, blankets, clothing and pillows, you can save them. Anything that is too large to fit in a washing machine will be affected by mildew and should be thrown away.
Deep Clean Surfaces
After everything has been thrown out, you can disinfect any flooded surfaces thoroughly. A good bleach solution will usually be your best option. These bleach solutions are inexpensive and easy to make. They kill bacteria, prevent mold growth, and can be used on solid surfaces.
Safety goggles, a mask and gloves are required. After you have been properly dressed, take your bleach solution and wipe each surface clean. Dry it off. It is important to act quickly. It is important to clean up surfaces quickly in order to prevent mold spores from spreading.
Assess the damage
The hard part begins after you have cleaned up everything. Now you will need to assess the extent of the damage done to the area. Water damage can vary depending on how much water was left to soak and how long it was allowed the spread. This is a critical step because water damage can cause irreparable damage to hard-to-reach areas such as floor joists.
Ceilings
When water is absorbed into porous materials, ceilings are most at risk of structural damage. Ceilings can be quickly destroyed by water absorption into porous materials.
Spots or slight sagging can be caused by small leaks. Burst pipes can cause holes, dips or complete collapses.
You must find the source of water damage to a ceiling and stop it from spreading. You will then need to remove damaged sheetsrock or tiles and paint the ceiling.
Flooring
Unfortunately, flooring is very susceptible to water damage. Sometimes the damage is minor and only requires a quick cleaning. However, it is more common to have to replace parts of the floor. Water damage can occur to almost every component of your floor, including the padding and joists.
Joists and supports can cause the most severe damage. Wood is porous and will quickly absorb moisture, which can lead to swelling, warping, cracking, and warping. You will need to take out the carpet and tear down the floorboards in order to assess the extent of the damage. You can see the damage from below if there is a ceiling.
Major flooring replacements, especially for wooden structures, can prove dangerous. You should consult a professional to determine if significant renovations are necessary.
Drywall
Water seeps into drywall and it becomes sagging. This is because drywall absorbs moisture extremely well. It is relatively easy to replace drywall.
You can remove a section of a sheet that is not covered and then replace it with another piece. In the event of flooding, however, you will need 4 feet of drywall removed. If it is more than 2.5 feet high, the entire sheet must be replaced.
Caulking and Seals
After you have installed new materials, you will need reseal everything and re-caulk it to prevent any future leakages. Flooding can cause damage to the caulking or sealing of the affected areas if they get wet enough. It is a good idea to inspect areas that have been completely replaced and to reseal those areas.
Get Homeowners Insurance
Flooding damage that is severe can prove to be too much for you to manage on your own. You should always check with your insurance company regarding severe water damage.
Major, unforeseeable events such as burst pipes and broken water mains will likely be covered. However, minor causes such as leaky pipes or damaged appliances will not. Floods that are caused by natural disasters or “acts by God”, as insurance providers refer to them, do not fall under standard policies. You can however purchase flood insurance separately. The right insurance policy can help you with water damage restoration and repair.
Home warranties don’t cover water damage and restoration services. However, they can often be used to cover the source of the damage such as a leaking pipe, a broken appliance or a faulty seal.