Removing The Moisture After Water Damage
4/25/2017 (Permalink)
Removing The Moisture After Water Damage
Water in home or water in business would mean moisture in walls and ceilings too. In the case of water damage or flood damage, all the wet material needs to be removed as a mitigation measure. This would include insulation, and wooden by-products like panels, besides anything else that is porous. This would require drying and air movement is the best method for that.
Do note that drywall is highly porous. No amount of water damage restoration can work on it. Hence it must be thrown away on seeing any signs of water damage or flood damage. The wallboard must be removed to nearly a foot above the water mark in case of water in home or water in business. Walls that cannot be dried through air movement may be drained by removing their baseboard. During water cleanup, always check the interior of the wall to look for any mold growth. Ensure ample drying to remove it completely.
Mitigation measures would require sizing up the mold growth. A significant amount of mold growth would need professional cleaners. While doing water damage restoration, ensure that the area being cleaned is well-ventilated and has a lot of air movement. This will allow drying to happen faster.
Wear gloves, along with a mask or respirator, as well as eye protection while doing water cleanup after flood damage or water damage.
Water damage restoration requires cleaning hard surfaces with soap and hot water. Hence all metal, wood, plastic, as well as glass should be cleaned well. A stiff brush can be used on rough surfaces in case of water in home or water in business.
Before water damage restoration, all standing water has to be removed in case of water in home or water in business. Then the area needs to be disinfected with a bleach solution as a mitigation measure. This solution must stay on the surface for some time. It must be rinsed off with clean water and then left for drying. This is important in the case of flood damage. Allow for ample air movement. This can be the biggest aid while doing water cleanup.
The porous material must be cleaned well. This would include upholstered furniture, clothes, bedding, carpets, books, and so on. Many of these will not be in a position to get restored after water damage or flood damage. So throw these away. All these must be disinfected with a pine-oil cleaner after water cleanup. Mitigation measures require this material to be dry completely. It must be monitored for several days after cleaning to check for any mold or odors. If it returns, discard the item.
It is quite clear that removal of moisture is of utmost importance here. Even a tiny amount can lead to mold, dirty smell, and diseases. Hence it needs to be removed completely and quickly. The house or business premises become safe only after everything is cleared and sanitized. There is a lot of visible and invisible material in flood waters. Hence nothing should be left to chance. Visit http://www.SERVPROspringvalleyjamul.com for more information on water damage.