Having an accident involving water inside of your home can leave some devastating consequences. The most important thing to do if it happens is to act quickly and to know exactly what to do. The most common mistake people make is not being prepared for such an event. It’s something that always happens when we least expect it, so it’s important to be ready if it does.
So how do you repair water damage in your house? Where to start? Who to call?
In this article, we will answer all of your questions about water damage repairs, and we’ll give you our top 6 tips for doing it safely and efficiently!
So without further ado, let’s get started, shall we?
Page Contents
Prevention is better than cure
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While a water leak is usually hard to predict there are ways to minimize the risks of it happening at all. First of all, make sure to frequently check hoses and faucets around your house, especially those connected to your dishwasher and other similar appliances. Don’t forget to examine your showers and toilets, and look for cracks that could ultimately lead to leakage. This will only take about ten minutes of your time and it could save you from a huge headache in the future.
Other than that, you have to learn where your water supply can be shut off if something goes wrong. Try to do it at least once so you can act quickly if you need to.
Lastly, you can always invest in a monitoring device or a water alarm to give you some additional peace of mind.
Know how to recognize the types of leakage
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There are three main types of water you might be dealing with: clean, grey, and black water. Clean water is the water that comes from cracked pipes, rain, and other „clean“ sources of leakage. It’s called clean water because it’s free of any contaminants and it looks like drinkable water. It’s completely safe to clean it by yourself if you know how to do it properly. Of course, if the flooding is too severe, it’s better to call professionals to minimize damages to your property.
The greywater type is slightly dirtier. The most common source of leakage for this type of water is the washing machine. It does contain some chemicals, but it’s usually safe to clean by yourself.
And finally, there’s the black water type. Whatever you do, don’t try to clean it up on your own, as it comes from sewage and other similar sources that contain substances that could be harmful to your health.
Dry it out
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Drying it out as quickly as possible is essential to minimizing damage to your property. Make sure to do it efficiently as you don’t want to leave any moisture behind. Leaving traces of water inside of your floors can lead to their ruin in the long run.
Also, you want to avoid the possibility of any mold forming inside of your home. A good way to do this is to purchase a large dehumidifier and keep it on for some time after you’ve soaked up all the watery mess. This can help you remove moisture not only from your floors but also from your walls and ceilings.
Of course, after you dry the affected area, checking for signs of mold is of the utmost importance. Mold can be pretty toxic to humans, so if you notice any traces of it inside of your house make sure to consult a professional immediately.
All in all, the drying process is very simple and straightforward: you just need to make sure to do it thoroughly, and always inspect the area for mold afterward.
Check for insurance claims
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If you’ve suffered water damage inside of your home, make sure to immediately call your insurance company. Having a flood in your living room can end up being extremely expensive! Also, you have to act quickly if you want to save your home from ruin, and sometimes there are simply not enough funds around to do it properly. This is why it’s absolutely essential to promptly call your insurance company after the leakage has taken place.
Of course, insurance doesn’t consider every type of water damage to be the same. There are things that they do cover and the things that they don’t. Luckily, you can find all the necessary info online at places like plumbingsolved.com, so make sure to do your research in time.
All things considered, it’s important to inform yourself in time so you can make use of your insurance and save yourself from unnecessary financial damage.
Disinfection
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It’s extremely important to properly disinfect the area after you’ve done with the cleanup. The bacteria left from the leakage can lead to some serious health issues! So, always make sure to disinfect everything that has been affected by the water leakage. This will also prevent any mold from growing and ruining your home.
You can use a simple homemade cleaning solution or bleach to do the job. Still, if your house was damaged by the previously mentioned „black water“, it’s much safer to call the professionals. They will have all the necessary equipment to do it safely and efficiently, and it will ease any worries you might have over harmful bacteria infesting your home.
Whatever you do, make sure to scrub and clean as much as you can, and ensure there’s no space for bacteria and mold to grow. These can be extremely toxic to you and your loved ones, so you have to make sure to completely remove them from your home.
Make necessary replacements
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Some things may be damaged beyond repair after the water leakage has happened. These include your flooring, drywall, and wooden furniture. Of course, make sure to repair what can be repaired, like for example your roof or your pipes.
Still, when it comes to wooden objects they’re usually better off replaced. Make sure to replace them with waterproof materials if you can, since these will prevent the same thing from happening again.
Other than that, make sure to repaint the affected area, and try polishing your furniture. This will kill off any left-over bacteria and it will give your home a fresh new look.
The conclusion
Repairing water damage in your house can be a daunting task. The most important thing to do is to act quickly and be informed. Getting some professional plumbing help is one of the best ways to ensure that your house is moisture and bacteria-free.
All in all, if you act quickly and use the knowledge you acquired in this short article, you can be certain to repair and clean your home from leaking water in no time.
