Water Damage Restoration Tips

Water damage inside your home can quickly become a living nightmare. Water can cause serious amounts of damage to the structure of your home as well as your personal belongings. Not only can it damage your house, but it can also cause serious risks to your health. There are severe consequences that can occur if the water is not taken care of properly. Our team at Olympic Carpet always recommends contacting a professional to assess any water damage, but if you decide to handle the situation on your own, here are some tips for cleaning up after a flood.
 

Safety First!

Olympic Carpet highly recommends not entering any room or building if you are unsure of its condition. Water damage can cause hidden insecurities in a building’s structure. Without the proper knowledge, you are at risk to serious injuries.
 

Locating the Water Source

• If safe, shut off all water and power sources.
• Understand which category of water you are dealing with. If the water was from a sewer or toilet we recommend contacting a professional. Dirty, contaminated water contains a great deal of bacteria that can be extremely dangerous to everyone in your home.

Remove Wet or Contaminated Items

• Remove all items in your home that have any water damage. Place these items in a dry, well-ventilated area until they are dried out completely.
• Remember to check under beds, in closets, and in cabinets for wet items. Any items left with moisture are at risk of suffering water damage.
• If the dirty water has contaminated items inside your house there are a series of extra precautions you should take:
  • Minimize skin contact with anything that has been contaminated
  • Keep all cuts and sores covered, and all soiled objects away from your mouth, eyes, and nose.
  • Discard anything that cannot be thoroughly washed or laundered.
• To make sure all bacteria is removed, clean all dirty surfaces with warm, soapy water, and disinfect with bleach. Sewage water is very harmful to your home and health, so calling a professional is highly recommended to avoid all possible hazards.

Air Out

• Ventilation is the easiest, most cost effective way to dry out structures.
• If it is dry outside, open all windows and doors in your house to allow a natural breeze to circulate through. For a stronger ventilation, rent industrial blowers.
• Keep in mind that cleaning up only the visible water may not get rid of the whole problem. Water damage can travel both horizontally and vertically through the walls without leaving noticeable traces.
• Secondary damage is caused by hidden water under carpets, hardwood floors, and in between walls that have not been properly mitigated. Pay attention to any warning signs before the problem gets out of hand.

If you are an insurance holder, contact your agent to report all losses caused by the water damage. In the state of California you are entitled to use any contractor of your choice to make your repair as fast and simple as possible. Olympic Carpets is available to answer all of your questions about carpet or hardwood floor replacement. Don’t hesitate to call us!