What Homeowners and Business Owners Should Understand About Water Damage

6/19/2017 (Permalink)

What Homeowners and Business Owners Should Understand About Water Damage

Water damage is the greatest destroyer of homes, especially the core holding your house, and this, not only invites carpenter ants and termites but also causes the growth of mildew and mold. Here are some highlights on the best ways to prevent water damage the next time heavy storms hit:

Ensure proper drainage

Poor drainage can weaken your house foundation leading to uneven settling of water pathways. To ensure effective drainage mitigation, ensure that you clean the gutters routinely. A cluttered guttered will send water to one side of the house, damaging the foundation and siding. Also, ensure that the drop-out fall is not less than 10 feet away from your house. Additionally, your yard should slope six inches on a ten-foot span from your house foundation, and with such a restoration measure, you reduce the risk of flood damage or water in your home.

Conduct regular sump pump tests

A sump pump is used during stormy periods. Therefore, conducting yearly checks act as a mitigation factor to flood damage. When performing the pump check, you need to fill the pump with water and take note of the "float" until the water level falls. The same procedure applies to the backup pump, but you need to ensure that it's plugged from the main pump. For those who might not have a backup pump in the case of water in business, it's important to consider those that run on water pressure.

Check for water leaks and fix them

Persistent leaks of water in homes provide a perfect environment for the growth of mildew and mold. Therefore, with effective restoration measures and proper drying procedures, you shouldn't experience a long-term damage. To ensure effective leak mitigation, start by looking for dark spots under cabinets or inside sink pipes. Also, conduct a yearly routine restoration inspection on your roof to repair cracked caulking and damaged shingles to mitigate water damage before it occurs.

Ensuring effective water cleanup

If water gets to unwanted places, it can lead to flood damage, which not only ruins your belongings but also the entire house. With effective mitigation measures such as cleanup and drying, the damage done to your prized possession can be minimized. In the business setup, water in business shouldn't be taken lightly given that it leads to mold growth which can ruin your business floors and walls. Here are some of the ways to clean after water damage:

Switch off power supply and disconnected electronics

The faster you get your items out of a flood damage resulting from water in business, the higher the chances of saving them. When undertaking water cleanup, start by moving the electrical items. Pull out the carpet, especially the wall on wall carpet and get it cleaned and disinfected. This is the first and most important restoration measure to get you up and running.

Get rid of the water

There are different ways to undertake water cleanup and drying. For instance, if you do not have power or you are worried about using power for the cleanup exercise, then the manual way will work just fine. Try using mops, buckets, and old towels, and if your sewer lines aren't blocked, then you can pour it down the drain. Also, consider using dry or wet vacuum when getting rid of water in the home, and if you do so, it should be plugged far away from any water source.

Dry the affected areas

When it comes to getting rid of water in business, consider using dehumidifiers and fans to ensure proper drying of the affected areas. Once the water cleanup exercise is done in the basement and you find out that the drywall is massively affected, you should consider cutting away areas affected by water in the home. This is because drywall can easily crumble with the paper backing and provide a perfect environment for mold growth.
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