How to Handle Unexpected Water Damage in Medina, OH

5/11/2019 (Permalink)

Unexpected water in your Medina, OH home or water in your business can cause a lot of problematic flood damage. It can ruin your possessions and the building you store them in. If you act quickly, you can mitigate water damage and your restoration efforts can be successful.

Don’t treat flood damage lightly. Even if the water in your Medina home is only a half an inch deep, it can be a breeding ground for unwanted mold. The growth of mold from water in your house can ruin walls, carpets, and flooring. Water damage can also cause mold that leads to poor air quality and respiratory illness like asthma. The key to keeping your house safe and mold-free is to mitigation water in your home or water in your business very quickly. Before doing any water cleanup or drying, call your insurance company and let them know what you plan to do about the flood damage. After speaking with your insurance, use these tips for mitigation and prevention any further water damage.

Disconnect Power

Remove and unplug any electronics in the vicinity of the water in your home. The quicker you do this, the more likely you can save them from being destroyed and get the water cleanup process started. If the water has risen past the level of electrical outlets, turn off power to the area of the building. Pull up carpets and underpadding that have flood damage. You can potential save carpets if you start the water cleanup, drying, and disinfectant process immediately. You probably won't be able to save the underpadding because of they act like a sponge and absorb large amounts of water.

Water Cleanup

Getting rid of the water quickly is important to mitigating the water damage. If you can't use a wet-vac because of a power issue, the old fashioned way works just fine. Grab some old towels and bucket to sop up as much water as your can. You can pour the water down the drain or out outside onto permeable surfaces. If the situation is more than you and your wet-vac can handle, consider renting a sump pump from a hardware store. The most important thing you can for water damage mitigation is to get rid of the water in your business fast and star the drying and restoration process.

Dry the area

Once the water is out of the way, it's helpful to utilize a dehumidifier and fans for drying. Open up all the windows and get the area dry as soon as possible. If drywall has been affected, you’ll need to cut away the areas that were damaged by the water to prevent mold. Take out the baseboards if they are not real wood, as they are probably not salvageable. If it was real wood, you might get lucky and be able to save them.

Disinfecting

After the water damaged area has dried out, you’ll want to use a strong disinfectant for restoration to rid the area of any bacteria that and contribute to mold growth. Make sure to include walls and furniture.

Dispose of damaged items

Rather than throwing everything into the dumpster, consider organizing the damaged goods into piles of recyclables and non-recyclables. This way, you can help alleviate pressure on landfills and do a little good for the environment. Contact your local waste management authorities to find out how to properly dispose of electronics, furniture, and drywall. Many materials can’t be thrown into the general trash for safety and environmental reasons, so find out the correct place to dispose of the water damaged items.

It’s a nightmare to have to deal with water in the home or water in at your business, but by taking quick action, you can start the mitigation process and get the restoration done fast. Whether it's a broken pipe or a natural flood water, you can minimize the damage by acting quickly. Don’t forget to let your insurance company know what happened so they can give you the go-ahead for taking action. 

If you find yourself with water damage, call us today! 330-722-4343