Water damage is a common problem in every house. Water damage can be caused due to a number of reasons. Pipe bursts, floods, high humidity and even a leakage can be the cause of water damage. A flood can also create standing water which is quite damaging for a house.
Standing water will not only damage your belongings but will also damage your health. Steps for water damage restoration must be taken in an emergency basis. After the water is removed it is essential to take up water damage drying methods.
The water should be removed within 24 hours and the water damage drying process should be started within 48 hours of the water damage. Unless you do this, there will be high chances of mold growth in the affected area.
The water damage drying process might seem a little tough. It is always a better option to hire water damage experts. The experts usually carry high power equipment which help them dry out the area successfully.
Home Remedies for Water Damage Drying
The process of water damage drying can even be taken up by the homeowners before the experts arrive. This can speed up the entire process. Here are some tips for water damage drying.
- The first and foremost thing you need to do is, open the door and windows. This natural process will help in drying the wet materials present in the house. You should also open the doors of the cabinets and closets to help drying. Proper ventilation during water damage will also save you from the attack of harmful bacteria. This natural method works best if the humidity inside the affected area is low.
- After this, you can use mechanical method of drying. The fans with high speed can help in the drying process. These fans usually increase the speed of air circulation. You can either buy these fans or can even bring them on rent. Always remember not to use your central air conditioning system, if the water damage has affected the HVAC system of your house.
- Standing water is a common problem during floods. Sump pumps can be used to extract the excessive water from the affected area. These pumps can move out the water continuously and hence there will be no standing water. You can rent the sump pumps. But if you get a sump pump installed in your house, it will be a good investment.
- Dehumidifiers can be used to dry out the extra moisture from the air. A dehumidifier can also extract the excess moisture from the materials present in the affected area. Dehumidifiers are always a good option for the basement, kitchen and bathroom where doors and windows do not serve the purpose. The dehumidifiers are available in various sizes. A portable machine is the best choice for household use.
- The other equipment that can help you in water damage drying is shop vacs. This equipment is perfect for removing water from organic materials like rugs and carpets. You cannot use a normal vacuum cleaner to remove water from these materials.
- The next step is to remove all the materials that have been soaked in water. You need to get those items out of the room and put them under the sun. This will help the extra water evaporate from the materials. It is also advised to remove vinyl flooring from the affected area and put them under the sun. This will also help in killing the harmful bacteria that might have grown due to the moisture.
- There are certain materials that can help in absorbing moisture from the wet items. Materials like calcium oxide, clay and silica gel can be kept inside air tight containers along with the wet items to absorb excess water.
These methods can surely be helpful in water damage drying.