When large amounts of water enter a structure, such as a building or home, all kinds of things can happen. Depending on the amount of water and how much time has elapsed before the drying process begins, mold and mildew can begin to grow and cause damage to walls and other areas that cannot be repaired. This problem is solved through water damage restoration. Read on to learn more about the process.
Water Extraction
The water damage cleanup process usually begins with water extraction. Then follows the drying process, which involves removing as much water as possible from the structure using dehumidifiers and air movers. If your carpet flooring is wet, you need to remove it. If it is made of wood, you can also sand it, and then it can be refinished.
Next, you must remove all the wet materials in the structure, including carpets, padding, and drywall. Then, use a dehumidifier to remove the rest of the water. You can use fans to speed things along, and dehumidifiers suck water out of the air. Finally, you must dry out the structure.
Vacuum Out the Water
Vacuuming out the water is the best way to remove it. First, start in the wet places. Work your way from the basement or wherever water is. But be careful because basements are usually full of stuff. Use the vacuum cleaner to suck out water, then suck out the hidden pockets of moisture that are difficult to get to.
Be prepared to suck up lots of stuff. Often we think of the water as being water, but it's water mixed with other stuff. If you suck up the water and other debris, don't be alarmed and clean it all up. Try to remove as much moisture and debris as possible.
Dehumidify Your Home
The next step is to dehumidify. Once the water is removed, the next task is to remove the moisture. You can do this by heating the room. A dehumidifier is a good start, but it won't remove all the moisture. At times, a dehumidifier in a home is necessary, but it may not be easy to find. Homeowners should contact a company that specializes in water damage restoration for help getting one.
In some cases, it may be possible to use fans to move the air around. If the furniture is wet, for example, fans can be used to move the moisture out of the room. Fans can also be used to dry carpets and walls, both of which can cause problems if they remain wet. Also, open windows allow the affected spaces to ventilate to help remove all the moisture.
Water damage restoration requires special equipment for drying out your home. Water damage can cause mold, which is harmful to your health. A professional should be called in to fix the damage after water extraction and dehumidification is complete.