Finding water in your home after a vacation or a long day at work is just about the worst possible scenario outside of a devastating fire or burglary. However, a flooded home is not the end of the world. It is possible to dry out your home and restore your mold-laden carpeting, walls, and possessions. This is typically not the type of project you can handle on your own. More than likely you will need the assistance of a Florida Restoration Company to ensure your living space is truly dry, clean, and safe for you and your loved ones. However, there are a few preliminary steps you can take to dry out your living or working space after a flood. Here is a quick look at exactly what you should do after your home or business floods to reduce the chances of mold and extensive damage.
Step 1: Eliminate the Water as Quickly as Possible
Water removal might seem like mission impossible after a flood. However, the use of a wet/dry vacuum will ameliorate this task. If you do not have a wet/dry vacuum, make a beeline to a local store or knock on a neighbor’s door to borrow one. Try to vacuum up as much water as possible while you wait for our team to arrive.
Step 2: Fans Will Facilitate the Drying Process
Bring up all your fans from your basement or down from your attic. Position the fans throughout your living space to speed up the drying process. However, even if you run fans 24 hours a day for several days, your carpet and other possessions might not thoroughly dry. Even if your carpet is dry when you touch it with your hand, it is likely still wet below the surface. When in doubt, lean on our Florida Mold Restoration professionals to restore your living or working space. The primary purpose of using fans is to hasten the drying process until professional restoration can be performed.
Step 3: Add a Dehumidifier to dry Areas Compromised by Water
Dehumidifiers are engineered to eliminate excess moisture. This machine will make the air feel that much cooler while simultaneously minimizing mildew and mold growth. The drying out of the air and the carpet really will reduce the amount of time necessary to dry your damaged carpet, walls, coverings, etc.
Step 4: Steam Clean the Carpet
Steam clean your carpet to deodorize and sanitize this important part of your home or office. If the padding below your carpet has been compromised, it must be replaced promptly. Though replacing carpet padding will cost some money, it will prove much cheaper than re-carpeting the entirety of your home.
Step 5: Sanitize the Baseboards and Walls
Every single part of your home that has been contacted by water must be thoroughly sanitized. Clean the entirety of the floors, walls, and other surfaces contacted by water. Once these surfaces have been cleaned with soap and water, sanitize them with chlorine bleach. Be sure to don rubber gloves as you perform this cleaning/sanitization to ensure your skin is not harmed.
Step 6: Look for Additional Water Damage
Examine the entirety of your home for water damage. If the floor is wet beneath furniture, remove those pieces of furniture so a thorough cleaning and drying can be performed. Water damage may extend to the areas beneath carpets and rugs so be sure to perform a comprehensive inspection of the entirety of your home, office, or other space. When in doubt, ask for help from our professional restoration team. We know all the common places where mold is concealed, how to restore damaged items, and ultimately return your living or working space to its normal condition.
Step 7: Contact Our Florida Restoration Team
Lastly most important thing you can do after finding water in your home or business is ask for help. You can only do so much on your own. Our water restoration specialists are ready and willing to lend several helping hands to minimize the damage stemming from your flood. However, you must be willing to ask for help. Give us a call as soon as you find your home or office has flooded and we will prioritize your mold restoration project.
If your home has been flooded or exposed to any other moisture, the worst thing you can do is attempt to dry everything out on your own. Our restoration specialists are here to restore your living or working space and eliminate as much mold as possible. Give us a call at (561) 782-2779 to learn more about our Florida Mold and Water Restoration service.
