There are many different ways your home can suffer water damage, including leaking pipes, natural disasters, and burst sewer lines. When your property has suffered significant water damage, you need to quickly identify the immediate cause and deal with the problem to avoid a major home renovation disaster.
Theres no denying that water damage inside your home can be extremely stressful to deal with, and most times, you will need to rely on the expertise of professionals to solve the problem. However, most people have no problems fixing water damage in their homes by themselves, and if you are worried about the cost of water damage restoration, we can identify a few DIY tricks to help you.
What Does Water Damage Affect?
The first thing that you need to do is identify all the areas in your home where water damage can lead to catastrophic problems down the line. Water is essential for life, but it can leave a wave of destruction in its path if it is not dealt with suitably.
So, as a homeowner, you must understand what areas of your home are most at risk of water damage. To be on the safe side, you should always inspect the following areas for water damage:
- The drywall
- The plaster
- The insulation
- The wood
- The framing
- Any floor coverings
- All electrical wirings
- All the pipes
- All of your appliances
- The HVAC system
Water damage can also wreak havoc on the foundations of your home, and if it is left unattended, it could lead to an expensive water damage restoration bill. Therefore, it is in your best interest to act fast and deal with water damage as quickly as possible.
DIY Water Damage Restoration Tips for Your Home
Once youve assessed the water damage situation in your home and identified the source, it is best to act fast and ensure that all the repairs are done on time. You should note that mold can develop within 24 hours on all wet surfaces and materials, so you have no time to waste. Here are some DIY water damage restoration tips that will allow you to restore your home quickly:
1. Disconnect All Outlets
When you notice the first signs of water damage in your home, you should immediately disconnect all the outlets and unplug your electronics. This will eliminate the possibilities of any accidental electrocution or an unwarranted explosion in your home. You dont want to risk your electrical appliances getting damaged from the water, so it is better to disconnect all of them.
2. Check for Mold Damage
Some mold strains pose serious health risks and are toxic to humans, which is why you shouldnt waste any time checking for mold growth in your home. Mold can grow incredibly quickly once it infests an area, and because it poses a health risk, you need to be careful when dealing with it.
If the mold damage isnt extensive, you can cut it out from the affected areas and bag the mold to dispose of it immediately. That will ensure that the problem doesnt escalate in your home, and you have a mold-free home. However, if there is a serious mold infestation, youll need to close any airflow to the affected area and then call a mold damage specialist to deal with the problem.
Mold can also appear on the floors and inside the walls, so you should be vigilant with your inspection throughout the water damage restoration project.
3. Dry Out the Water
Once youve identified the water damage, your best bet is to dry out the water as quickly as possible to prevent further damage inside your home. You must eliminate all moisture to dry out the affected area as quickly as possible. To do this, you can use a large-capacity dehumidifier or large fans to circulate the air and dry out the wood, the carpets, and the surrounding areas.
It is important that you properly dry out the water damaged area before you continue further, and even though it wont prevent mold growth entirely, it will ensure that the damage in your home isnt extensive. So make sure that you properly dry out your home from any leaking water.
4. Remove Damaged Materials from Your Home
Once youve dried out the water from its source and have checked for mold growth, you should then begin identifying and disposing of any material or furniture that has been damaged by the water. That will mean checking for damage to the carpets and the insulation, and if they have been soaked with water, you must quickly remove them from your home.
You should focus all of your attention on the ceilings and the floorings, as these areas are the ones that are most at risk of water damage. That will mean addressing any wood, drywall, and unsealed cement that has been damaged so that the houses structure doesnt weaken any further.
5. Disinfect the Remaining Areas
Once youve removed all the damaged materials from your home, it is time that you start disinfecting the area to ensure that there are no health hazards posed from the water. There can be bacteria or other chemical hazards in the water that can pose serious health concerns for you. Thats why you should disinfect the entire area before you start the water damage restoration process. That will mean spraying and wiping down all the areas affected by water damage with bleach so that there is no chance of mold spores growing there before you can begin your repairs.