Did a storm cause water to unexpectedly enter your home, and now you're unsure what to do? Keep the following tips in mind so that you can keep the water damage to a minimum.
Remove the Excess Water Quickly
The best thing that you can do to prevent major water damage to your home is to get rid of the excess water as soon as possible. That's because water only causes more damage the longer it is inside your home. Wood can become completely saturated with water and make it difficult to clean, and moisture can travel to places that are hard to reach, such as in between the walls of your home.
Get Air Flowing
You can get rid of moisture that is trapped in your home by getting the windows and doors open so that air can flow out of your home. This will help take out all of the moisture along with the air and help dry out your home quickly. All that moisture has to go somewhere, and you should take steps to prevent it from collecting in your home.
Measure Damaged With a Moisture Meter
Wet drywall material should be removed as soon as possible as well, but you'll need to know what should go and what should stay. You can measure the moisture content in drywall with a moisture meter. You stick it into the drywall and it will tell you a percentage of how much moisture is inside. However, know that the drywall doesn't have to have 0% moisture for it to stay. If it is up to 17% moisture content then it is still drywall that can be saved. The rest needs to be cut out.
The moisture meter can also help determine how much water is in wood and other construction materials. Moisture content in the space needs to be below that magic number of 17%, or else mold will start growing after you perform repairs. The last thing you want is for mold to grow in a place that you cannot see or reach it.
Bring In a Professional for Help
It can be a challenge to deal with water damage on your own, especially if you've never done it before. It may be worth contacting a water damage restoration company to help take care of it for you. Not only do they have the right tools to get the job done properly, but they have years of experience to do the job right the first time.
For more information, contact companies like Sahara Restoration.
