Five ways to deal with water damage in the home

No one wants to deal with a flood, but most of us will at some point in our lives. Here are the basics on what to do when water damage strikes.

– Shut off the power or turn off the main breaker if possible and ensure that it is not turned back on.

– If you have substantial flooding, remember that electricity and water don’t mix! Flooding can cause short circuits which could send sparks flying from light switches and cause electrocution.

– Emergency services should be called regardless, but if you suspect electrical problems then emergency services should be contacted immediately at 911 . The longer electricity runs through standing water; the more likely there will be an issue since wires corrode over time creating the potential for a short circuit.

– Water damage is never clean and can cause illness, especially if it sits on a surface where there are mold spores present. The best way to stop the spread of this is to start a hot air fan that will blow or suck any remaining water from your home or office. This will help to ensure that all of the standing water has been removed before beginning repairs.

– It’s important not to strip out cabinets, remove drywall, etc. until the source of the leak has been identified and repaired so as not to add additional water damage at a later date.

Check for water damage by looking for wet spots on the floor or ceiling

Water damage is one of the hardest losses to fix because it can happen without notice. Water leaks are sometimes silent and hidden behind walls or under flooring for days before anyone notices; exposing your belongings to extensive damage by seeping into carpets, subflooring, insulation, drywall and other surfaces that absorb water like sponges.

WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION VS. LOSS MITIGATION
Water damage restoration restores items to the way they were before an event happened, while loss mitigation reduces or eliminates a loss from occurring at all. Water damage restoration is needed once a property has been damaged by penetrant moisture, whereas loss mitigation is necessary for elements that can be saved and put back into function versus those that are beyond saving and need to be replaced.

LOSS MITIGATION MEANS PREVENTION
It’s important to both prevent water from entering your home as well as preventing water from exiting your home in order to avoid any type of water damage. Prevention means controlling what goes into your house as much as possible, such as purchasing humidifiers for indoor plants or practicing good housekeeping by removing leaves that could fall into your gutters during the autumn months. Water Damage Restoration in Houston

WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION IN HOUSTON IN TEXAS
Water damage restoration is an important process for residents in the Houston, Texas area where flooding is common during the spring and summer seasons. Many homes are damaged due to leaky pipes or appliances, malfunctioning HVAC systems, natural disasters like hurricanes and tropical storms, or man-made disasters such as burst water mains. If you’ve experienced any of these types of situations—as well as less extreme problems like leaks from bedrooms, bathrooms or crawl spaces—you should consider hiring a professional to do water damage restoration in Houston after it has been dried out to avoid further damage.

Turn off all power and gas to the home

If you cannot shut off the power and gas, turn on all fans and open doorways and windows to allow the water to dry more quickly.
Clean-up spills immediately. Be sure that everyone is wearing rubber gloves when handling contaminated materials or cleaning surfaces. Rinse spilled liquids from countertops, carpets, upholstery, and hardwood floors with clean water. Soak up any remaining liquid with paper towels or rags; discard in a covered trash container.
Materials such as dirt, sand, ceiling tiles, wood flooring and sheet rock can be disposed of using any regular garbage pick-up service or taken to one of the city’s four landfill sites:
Do not attempt to salvage household items that were damaged by flood water.
Throw away food exposed to flood water or any container that contains flood water. Discard cardboard boxes, books and magazines that have been wet. Inspect all items carefully before throwing them away; discard anything that has come into contact with flood waters.
Throw away damaged boxes and cartons that have not been exposed to flood waters; these items can be used again after cleaning and disinfecting.
There is no standard procedure for disposing of contaminated materials generated by water damage restoration activities such as vacuuming, mopping and laundering. To determine if any special disposal methods are necessary, consult your local health department or waste management agency. Contact them in advance about proper procedures for handling hazardous wastes generated in home clean-up operations .
It may take several months for mold spores to die off naturally indoors , especially when strong concentrations of molds and moisture exist in a home ( flooding) and weather conditions prevent adequate ventilation and drying (cool, windless days and nights).

Keep your pets away from any standing water.

Pets are naturally drawn to water sources, but they can fall ill or hurt themselves if they play in the water.
Watch your children closely when you have a flooded home. Keep them out of any standing water and ensure that they don’t play with toys that have been soaked in floodwater. If their toys have become wet, discard them as the materials might be toxic now.

Even if something doesn’t appear to be moving, it may still be able to bite or sting you . Assume dangerous creatures like snakes or spiders are near flooding areas , even if you haven’t seen them. If possible, ask someone who is familiar with dangerous wildlife to check the area for you before entering .

Do not try to remove debris piled in front of a closed door. The water may be covering broken glass or sharp objects like nails . If you move the object, you risk injury.

If your home has flooded and it is uninhabitable, make arrangements for alternative accommodations with family or friends before the storm is over . Don’t return home until officials declare that it’s safe to do so.
Before entering your house to check for damage, don wearing rubber gloves and waterproof boots/shoes that cover your entire leg if possible . You can also wear clothing that covers most of your skin (long pants and long sleeves) if you’d prefer.

Do not use a vacuum cleaner – this will spread mold spores throughout the house

Do not scrub the mold – this will encourage it to spread and is ineffective in removing its spores.
Do not allow children, pregnant women or persons with respiratory problems into the house until after remediation.
Do not paint over the mold – this will seal spores in place and they can resurface later on.
Finally, do avoid throwing porous materials away which have been exposed to moisture without first treating them properly because mold can grow underneath their surface.
Houston Water Damage Restoration Companies. The first thing that you would need to do is decide how much damage was done to your home by flooding or leaks. If there are just some minor issues like water on the floors or on some of the carpet, you can easily fix it yourself. However, if the problem is more serious, then you would need to hire a water damage restoration company in Houston TX.
Houston Water Damage Restoration Services. A quick search online will yield dozens of local companies that offer water damage restoration services. Before you go with just anyone though, find out what they have to offer and compare your options. You should also check their pricing before hiring anyone. Sometimes getting quotes from several companies can help you save money without compromising too much on the quality of service rendered by them for water damage repair problems in your home or office.

Contact a professional restoration company as soon as possible after noticing any signs of water damage in your home.

Even if you are unsure of the source, it is important to call in order to assess your home for potential damage, prevent mold growth and save your property.
The following signs may indicate water damage has occurred in your home:
– Moldy or musty odors
– Visible dampness on carpets, walls or ceiling tiles
– Darkened or warped drywall or paneling
– Streaking on paint above the floor line where moisture has traveled up the wall from flooding below.
– Peeling wallpaper near wet areas
– Cracked paint along floors, window sills and baseboards that have been exposed to prolonged moisture exposure.
What You Need To Do For Water Damage Restoration In Houston?
1) Shut the water supply off
2) If you know where the damage is coming from, it’s important to turn off the water supply to that area of your home. This can be done by closing a valve behind or under sinks and tubs and toilet tanks.
3) Take photos
It’s helpful to take before and after photos so you can document existing damage and note any changes during restoration efforts.