In every person’s life, they will have to face trying to clean up from water. Think about it, when you were young chances are you spilled your fair share of water glasses. Or perhaps you left the sink or the bathtub running. Or, in certain circumstances, maybe you let the toilet overflow. While the old adage says, “don’t cry over spilled milk”, we want to ensure you aren’t crying over water damage. Below, are tips from the pros that can help you if you ever find yourself in a jam.
Know Your Water
This isn’t talking about brands of water, or luxury vs. tap. However, this is discussing clean, gray, and black water. Clean water is water that comes from broken pipes, rainwater, or condensation. These water sources while they may be frustrating, carry little to no risk and can be cleaned up by just about anyone using regular household equipment or rented equipment. Gray water is water that has been used to clean objects. Think about sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, clean toilets, and showers. This water source presents more of a challenge in clean up and oftentimes can need professional cleaning supplies or equipment. The final culprit, black water, is water that contains waste, bacteria, or other contaminants. This water often results from backed-up sewage lines or flooding from rivers. Due to the fact that this water often has serious health hazards present a professional is needed to not only clean but decontaminate your space as well.
Dry Out the Affected Areas
The first move to combatting water damage is to get things dry as soon as you can. Small leaks and damage can be rectified by using the following household items:
- Opening the windows for light, warmth, and air
- A box fan for circulation
- A ceiling fan for circulation
- A wet/dry shop vac
These tools can be of great use in getting your environment dry quickly.
For larger scale, water damage the equipment needed gets more specialized and much more expensive. These tools can include:
- Dehumidifiers
- Shop or Turbo fan
This equipment while expensive is designed to get rid of any and all moisture after large-scale water damage.
Inspect for Mold
Mold is fun to see in science classrooms and in experiments, not in your home. Mold is amazing in the fact that if it has the right conditions it can begin growth in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Mold loves damp, humid, and wet conditions and can easily start growing in carpets, fabric, and drywall quickly. All it needs to spread is water so it’s important to make sure that there is no mold present and that you are taking away all water sources as fast as you can. If mold is present it is important to make sure that you contain it immediately and don’t give it the chance to spread. All too often people think that they don’t have a mold issue but don’t water completely cleaned up and leave a slightly humid environment that mold loves.
Not Sure How to Handle the Problem? Call in Water Damage Professionals
If you aren’t sure if your water damage is something that you can handle or handle correctly don’t be afraid to call in the professionals. Your home is an investment and where you spend most of your time in the day. You don’t want to lose your investment or your home due to damaged materials or dangerous mold. Feel free to call or reach out to water damage Jackson Wy and have them help you figure out what you are up against and the best way to make sure your home is safe, healthy, and ready to make more memories in.
