If you experience any sort of flooding or other water damage to your home, you probably already know that you have to call for professional water damage restoration assistance, but did you know that there are some things you should not do while waiting for that help to arrive?
It is natural instinct for many homeowners to attempt fixing problems in their home by themselves, especially if they realize the importance of quick action. This can be good in some circumstances, but there are some things that should not be done by homeowners waiting for more experienced water damage restoration guidance, whether it be the case of a flood, sewage backup, or leaky plumbing.
*If you have a wet vacuum it is a good idea to go ahead and try to suck up as much of the excess water as you can, especially if your water damage restoration service will not be arriving for a longer period of time. It only takes a matter of hours for bacteria and mold to begin growth so getting the moisture up is important, but not so important that you should ever try sucking it up with a regular vacuum cleaner. This can be extremely dangerous and can even spread mold into the air of your home.
*If an entire floor is wet, do not plug in or use electrical appliances while you are in that area. If the electricity is turned on in a room where the floor is soaked you may not even want to step in there without flipping the breaker to turn the electricity off in the room.
*It is true that carpeting may need to be taken up to dry properly and ensure mold does not grow beneath it, but you should not try to remove carpet that is tacked down on your own. This is one job that should be left for the water damage restoration professionals, mainly because you could cause the carpet to shrink if you do it incorrectly. The water damage restoration process can get expensive, and shrinking your own carpet so it can’t be reused will only add to the expense. Unless you are dealing with a sewage backup, most wet carpets can be salvaged by an experienced company.
*You do want to keep pets and children away from the wet area, but you do not want to completely shut it off in most cases. You want air to circulate as much as possible, and to keep the heat flowing as much as possible to ensure that it dries out as quickly as possible. The longer it sits wet the higher chances of mold and bacteria growth in your home.
Water damage restoration doesn’t have to mean ripping your home apart or creating a mess out of your living space. Especially if you call for help right away and invest in an experienced, professional water damage restoration company, it can be done quickly and in such a manner that eliminates the risk of future problems with mold or mildew.
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