Has your home flooded due to a severe autumn storm? What happened if you had faulty plumbing somewhere in your house – a broken shower, a backed-up toilet, or a defective washing machine, for example? No matter how it happens, floods can cause an astronomical amount of damage to your home. Here are some tips for how to clear up any flood damage in your home.
Dry Out the Remaining Water
The first step is to dry out any remaining water that you find. Vacuums and sump pumps can assist you with this task. Don’t forget to wear boots if you’re going to be in ankle-deep or higher water, in order to better protect yourself. Also make sure you open all the doors and windows before you begin – this is crucial to proper ventilation. Use fans to send stale air outside.
Get Rid of Anything Too Waterlogged
Clean up flooring elements such as carpets and pads. These are unusable once they are soaked with floodwater. If there is anything in the room that got flooded, you might have to dispose of them, no matter what they are: these items could be furniture, bedding, books, keepsakes, and papers. If you see ruined drywall or other forms of insulation, you’ll have to remove these as well.
Clear Out Mold
Mold is a lingering problem after any flood, and it is one of the most disgusting and dangerous instances of flood damage. If there is less than ten square feet of mold, you can try to clear it out yourself. Hot water, soap, and bleach should be all you need to clean up and disinfect any affected surfaces.
Just remember to never mix bleach with ammonia – you’ll only create a poisonous gas. Wear all the proper protective gear, such as boots, gloves, and face masks while you clean. If anything is too heavily contaminated once you’re done, you’ll need to wash it off with plenty of hot water and strong laundry detergent.
All of Your Plumbing Needs from Master Plumbing
Give Master Plumbing a call at (301) 650-9100 or contact us online to get more information on how our expert plumbers can help you with your dripping faucet (or just about anything else plumbing related!). We have received Angie’s List Super Service Award recognition for plumbing and drain cleaning every year since 2007, in addition to the Best Plumber award from Best of Bethesda. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured and our service is unparalleled. Give us a call today—you won’t regret it! To see examples of our projects, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.