There are a lot of different things that can leave your home or commercial space severely water-damaged, starting from natural disaster, leaking pipes and all the way to sewage backup. When this happens, it’s always best to contact a professional water damage restoration service. However, until they arrive, you could try some of these DIY water damage restoration tips.
Water damage is not a joke. It can lead to mold growth and some types of molds can be highly toxic. The health impact can be severe, leading to irritation of your lungs, nose and throat. And if you’re also suffering from asthma, then this could have even more severe consequences.
When it comes to water damage and restoration, time is of essence. So the sooner you fix the problem the better. Applying some of these DIY water damage restoration techniques could prevent the problem from worsening and causing more health problems not just for you but your family members as well.
The moment you notice some of the usual signs of water damage, we recommend that you do these following DIY water damage restoration steps.
Disconnect All Your Outlets
Water and electricity don’t mix. It’s a very dangerous, even deadly combination. The moment you notice that there might be water damage in your home or commercial space, do this first (and most important) DIY water damage restoration tip – disconnect all power outlets. Regardless whether you know the extent of the water damage or not, you should absolutely do this.
Going into the water-damage area without first disconnecting all power outlets is extremely dangerous. You’re risking getting shocked and even explosion of appliances. So before you do any of the other DIY water damage restoration steps, make sure that you disconnect all power outlets. This will prevent injuries and possible accidents.
DIY Water Damage Restoration Tip #2 – Check for Mold
We mentioned earlier that there are some mold types that can be extremely toxic and dangerous to your health. Especially if you have a sensitive immune system or suffer from diseases like asthma.
Mold needs a damp, humid and warm environment to thrive. Once it starts growing, it can spread pretty fast so make sure that you check for signs of mold infestation immediately after you’ve determined that you have water damage in your home or commercial space.
This DIY water damage restoration step should include:
- You checking for musty or earthy smell
- Checking if there’s darkening of the group between your tiles
- See if any of the wallpapers in your home started to peel
- Checking if there are any dark or colored spots on the walls or ceiling
If you or your family members notice that you’re feeling sick whenever you’re indoors, can also be a tell-tale signs that there is mold infestation in your home.
If you notice mold growth, you can try and remove the affected area and dispose of it immediately (this might not be 100% effective) or you can contact a professional mold cleaning service and let the pros do the job.
In our next post, we will continue to share with you other, useful DIY water damage restoration tips so that you could temporarily minimize the damage it has on your home, until the professionals take care of it.
