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How To Get Your Home Back In Shape After Water Damage

Water can be very damaging especially when it leaks or finds its way into unwanted places. Water can ruin your possessions and it can also reduce your home into nothing in terms of value. It is advisable that you act as promptly as you possibly can as soon as you suspect water leaks to minimize the damage. Usually the length of time the water has been around is what will determine the extent of damage hence it is very possible to salvage a few items before it is too late.

Whether you are dealing with water system leaks or you have been hit by floods, you need to find a way of handling the situations and put measures in place to ensure that such does not occur again. Remember that damp areas can be breeding ground for mold and it can ruin your flooring, carpets, furniture and even walls. When you clean out the water appropriately, you will have fewer damages to show. Below are a few things that you can do to restore water damage and get your home back in shape.

1. Remove all movable items immediately. This should be done after powering off and unplugging all electronics. Remove furniture and all electronics and any other movable item you have around the house to safer dry areas. Carpets should also be pulled out for cleaning and disinfecting to save them.

2. Find ways to get rid of the water in the house. You can use buckets, towels and mops to soak up the water. In case the sewer lines backed up, then consider pouring out the collected water onto the lawn or other surfaces that are permeable instead of pouring into the drain. If using a wet-dry vacuum, then be very careful to only plug it into outlets that are away from the areas that have water. Extension cords should not be used either and for flooded basements, think about renting a sump pump.

3. Dry out all affected areas. After you have mopped the water dry, you can use dehumidifiers and fans to dry out the affected areas. If there is no rain you can open windows and allow circulation and quick drying. You can then use a disinfectant to get rid of bacteria that may have come up, especially if the water leaks are from sewer lines or toilets. The disinfection should be done on walls, floors and furniture that is not upholstered.

4. Dispose damaged items. If the water sat for long them it is inevitable that you will have damaged items. The same will be the case for sewer water on some items. If possible, organize the damaged items so they can be recycled, especially electronics, furniture and toxic liquids.

5. Hire water damage restoration services. Apart from offering repair services for your leaky pipes, water and sewer systems and unblocking drains, the experts can also help in cleaning up the water, drying home structure and contents as well as sanitizing and deodorizing your home.