A water leak or busted pipe can do plenty of damage to your home. Water accumulation, discoloration, textural change, and odor are all things that can happen as a result of water damage. Water damage can occur in just about any area of your home, including the floors, ceiling, attic and foundations. When water damage occurs, you don’t have to panic. There are some things that you can do to start remedying the problem.
- Stop Leak Immediately
It’s important to stop a leak immediately to limit the extent of the water damage. Whether it’s a gushing plumbing leak or a slow drip, more water leakage means more damage. It is essential to act fast to stop the leak by shutting off the main water valve, for example. It is also useful to turn on the lowest faucet in the house to get rid of the accumulated water held in pipes above the leak, allowing the water to drain out of the faucet and not the leaking pipe.
- Get Rid of the Water
Getting rid of the water from your home is crucial. You can employ the use of buckets, towels, and mops to soak up the water. You can either pour the water down the drain or onto your lawn or use a wet/dry vacuum if you have one in your possession. Be mindful about plugging it into outlets away from the water and out of harm’s way. You want to avoid getting shocked. In the instance the flooding is overwhelming in your basement, a sump pump would be a good option to get rid of the water. A professional restoration provider like RestorationEze can help with your water extraction needs.
- Let Air Circulate in the Affected Area
As soon as you get rid of the water, it’s time to allow air to circulate throughout the affected area. Depending on the temperature, level of moisture and surface material, microbial growth can set in within as early as 48 hours. You want to limit potential expensive remediation costs by initiating the processing of drying out space immediately. You may have to use several box fans throughout the affected area in the home and run a dehumidifier to remove humidity from the air. It’s also useful to let air in by opening the windows.
- Prevent Mold Growth
Water damage in your home can cause moisture build up and lead to mold growth. Moisture in your wall cavity, for example, should be addressed without delay. Musty odor in the affected area is a sign that moisture is present. Be sure to remove damaged materials, and in the instance that the materials are wet and can’t be cleaned or entirely dried, remove them from the home. You can also apply your choice of mold control throughout the affected area based on the guidelines.
Water damage to your home can be a pain to tackle. However, you don’t have to give in to panic. There are some things that you can do to minimize the damage and begin the restoration process. Be sure to stop the leak, extract the water, dry the affected area and prevent mold growth, to begin with.
