Getting Your Home Back After Flooding: What You Need to Know
As homeowners, flooding is one of those devastating events that we all just wish didn’t happen. Unfortunately, nature rarely listens to our concerns and devastating floods can occur whether we like it or not.
On the bright side, there are safe and effective ways to get your home back after flooding. Whether the flooding is caused by a storm surge, pipe bursts, malfunctioning sump-pumps, or sewer back-ups, we’re here to help.
Here are the 4 things you need to know to ensure a smooth transition back into your home post-flood.
Safety in Flooded Environments
The most important aspect of recovering from home flooding is safety. Flood water can disguise tripping hazards, sharp objects, electrical hazards, and other dangers that could lead to serious injuries.
If your flooding has been caused by a pipe burst, sump-pump, sewer back-up or anything of that sort, it’s likely that your flood water is even contaminated, leaving you exposed to possible diseases and health hazards.
It is impossible to know every danger that might be waiting in a flooded environment, which is why it is so important to be prepared with the best protective equipment possible.
When entering an area that is flooded, it is important to wear protective equipment such as full length clothing, rubber boots, rubber gloves and even a respirator mask. Essentially, you want to be protected head to toe. Better yet, you should highly consider a professional flooding inspection.
Removing Flood Water & Water-Logged Furniture
Once you’ve had your home inspected for flood damages and health hazards, it’s time to ensure that all flood water and water-logged furniture is removed from your home.
Like the post-flood safety inspection, getting the remaining water removed from your home is best handled by the deep cleaning professionals. Professional cleaners will have the right safety equipment and tools to get your home cleaned and back to its original state as soon as possible.
In this step, any furniture that retains moisture from the flood likely needs to be discarded (and kept on-site for insurance purposes) or possibly salvaged. This furniture can include couches, mattresses, carpets, blankets, sheets, towels and more.
Drying Out Damp Spaces
When all of the flood water and damp furniture has been removed from your home, it’s time to ensure that everything is dry before thorough deep cleaning can begin.
Everything from floors to walls and appliances will need to be dried and assessed for damages. While walls are generally easier to dry and clean, they may be susceptible to collapsing in severe scenarios. Floors can also swell and damage from the flood, especially wooden floors and floor files.
In some extreme cases, you may be required to remove mud, dirt or silt from your home before drying can begin.
To best dry your home, dehumidifiers may be used for small areas, though external power outlets unaffected by the flood will be required. All things considered, a professional inspection and cleanup crew is the safest and smartest way to get your home back to feeling like home.
Deep Cleaning and Disinfecting
The final step of post-flooding recovery is to begin a deep cleaning and disinfecting of your home.
Whether it be a flood or pipe burst, water damage of all sorts can lead to mold and mildew which both need professional inspection and removal.
While certain kinds of molds have telltale signs, sometimes mold can be very difficult to detect and identify. Even if you don’t believe your home has mold after flooding has occurred, we recommend you take precautions to ensure health and safety in your own home.
Disaster Restoration and Flood Cleanup in Ottawa
If your home in Ottawa, Cornwall, Kingston or surrounding regions has been flooded, you can count on First Response Cleaning.
We are the local deep cleaning experts and have been trained specifically to restore any space that has been affected by a natural disaster, including floods.
We want to help make your house feel like home again. Contact our team at First Response today for disaster restoration and flood cleanup in Ottawa.
