Water damage comes in many forms. If floodwater or sewage enters your home, you shouldn’t attempt to clean it up yourself. Water originating from weather events or the sewer system may contain dangerous pathogens or toxins that can threaten your health and safety. Such contamination is categorized as black water.
On the other hand, if the water damage in your home originates from a semi-clean source—such as a burst pipe, leaky drain, or overflowing appliance—it’s typically safe to perform DIY water damage restoration. Get to work quickly to avoid mold growth! Here are the steps to take when removing water damage from your home.
- Shut off the circuit breaker to avoid electrocution if any electrical appliances or wiring are wet.
- Take pictures of the damage and the place of origin for insurance purposes before beginning the cleanup process.
- Remove soaked rugs, furniture, and other personal property from the flooded area, and lay them out to dry. Depending on how much water these materials have absorbed and how long they’ve been wet, they may or may not be salvageable.
- Prop up any furniture you prefer not to move on small wooden blocks to prevent moisture absorption and carpet stains.
- Lift curtains off the floor to prevent damage. To do this, loop the fabric through a coat hanger and hang it on the curtain rod.
- Soak up as much water as possible with mops and towels. Rent or buy a wet-dry shop vac to remove excessive amounts of water.
- Open windows and doors, weather permitting, to bring fresh, dry air into the room.
- Set up fans and dehumidifiers to circulate air and assist with drying.
- Purchase desiccant products, such as silica gel sachets, and place them around the room to help absorb moisture.
- Know when to call a professional. Certain circumstances call for professional water damage restoration services. In addition to avoiding DIY cleanup if black water is involved, call a pro if the water has seeped into the subflooring or drywall, more than one room is damaged, or you suspect the water sat unnoticed for more than eight hours.
DKI is a water damage restoration company with nearly 50 years of experience. We utilize advanced water extraction and structural drying techniques that go far beyond DIY water cleanup methods. Once we finish drying your house, we use thermal imaging technology and moisture readers to ensure a job well done.
If your home has been damaged by a plumbing leak, floodwater, or sewer backup, trust DKI to restore the structure, carpet, and drywall to their pre-flood conditions. We also offer personal property restoration to help you salvage as many belongings as possible. Thanks to our fast response times and 24-hour emergency services, you know you can count on us when you need us most. For more information or to request a water damage restoration estimate, please call us at 877-533-0210 or contact us online today.