Has your home recently been affected by a flood? Maybe heavy rains caused the creek behind your house to swell and overrun its banks. Or perhaps a frozen pipe burst in your basement, turning your laundry room into the miniature lake that you never wanted. Floods can happen to everyone no matter where they live, which is why it’s so important to take advantage of the flood protection options offered by Superior Flood Inc.
Once it’s been deemed safe to return to your house, and you’ve called your flood protection insurance provider to begin a claim, it’s time to start putting the pieces back together.
Follow the tips below for cleaning up your home after a flood, so you can get back to the life that you love.
1. Unplug Everything
Our homes are full of appliances that operate using electricity. We take this energy for granted, and rarely ever think about it’s potential danger. It’s terrifying how many people completely forget about the risk electric appliances pose after a flood, however.
Depending on the extent of the flooding damage, you may simply want to unplug electrical appliances and store them elsewhere until cleanup is complete, or you may want to disconnect your home from the larger electrical grid until remediation has progressed. In addition to protecting you from electrical shock, this will also help to protect your possessions from additional damage.
2. Remove Any Standing Water
After electrical appliances are unplugged, it’s time to evaluate the severity of the flood. If there’s standing water, this is the first task you have to tackle. Grab a sump pump, shop vac, or another tool that can siphon water out of your house and deposit it elsewhere. If you’re dealing with feet of standing water in every room, it might be necessary to enlist the services of a local flood remediation specialist. As always, be sure to contact your flood protection insurance provider before starting any repairs. It may be necessary for them to inspect the property before you make changes.
3. Evaporate Lingering Moisture
It’s going to feel really good to get all the standing water out of your house. You may think things are returning to normal, but don’t get ahead of yourself! Standing water is only the beginning. There will still be lingering moisture in walls, carpets, under cabinetry, and possibly in your belongings.
Fans, a dehumidifier, and even just opening windows can be a big help in terms of evaporation.
“If you have a finished basement and the drywall was affected, you’ll probably have to cut away the areas that were touched by water as the drywall will crumble and the paper backing is a good source of food for mold,” explains Concrobium.com.
4. Eliminate Bacteria
Once everything has been dried out, you might think that your work is done, but don’t move all your stuff back in just yet! Because there’s no way of telling what chemicals or pathogens were in the water that invaded your home, it’s necessary to give everything a thorough cleaning with a good disinfectant.
5. Dispose Of Damaged Property
Now that everything’s clean and dry, you can finally begin to put your home back together. Inspect any and all belongings that have been removed from the home. If you see serious water damage or signs of mold growth, don’t bring the item back into your home. Doing so puts your long-term health at risk. Find out which items can be recycled at your local facilities, and any other damaged items must be disposed of.
Although you may not be able to save everything, a good flood protection insurance policy will ensure that you can replace the things that were lost. Contact Superior Flood Inc. for more information on a policy that suits your needs.