Avoid costly water damage after a flood in your home. Knowing how to handle, remove, and dry your home after a flood will help you preserve your home’s structural integrity and value.
alpharettawaterdamageremoval.com answers the following questions and offers crucial tips on efficiently removing floodwater from your home and drying out.
What is Floodwater?
Floodwater is defined as water overflowing resulting from a flood or water that overflows from a river, lake, etc., during a flood.
Whether it be rising river water, storm surge, a malfunctioning household appliance, or a clogged sewer line, when water breeches and collects in your home, you are dealing with floodwater.
Why is Floodwater Toxic?
Floodwater may contain high levels of raw sewage or hazardous substances. Symptoms from any level of exposure to contaminated floodwater can begin with an upset stomach, intestinal problems, headache, or other flu-related discomforts. Anyone experiencing these and any other symptoms after floodwater exposure should immediately seek medical attention.
Is it Safe to Play in Floodwater?
No. Stay out of floodwater. Floodwaters can carry many things that may be detrimental to human health. Since you cannot know precisely what is in floodwater at any given time, it is more prudent to keep a safe distance from it.
How Do You Get Rid of Water after a Flood?
One way of removing large volumes of water is to use pumps and/or buckets, followed up with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to clear up the remainder. You can rent or buy a pump from your local home improvement store.
If the amount of floodwater appears overwhelming, call a professional water damage removal company to help you get things back to normal.
Tip: Before beginning the water removal process, ensure the floodwater’s source has been eliminated or completely stopped.
How Do You Dry Out after a Flood?
Once the bulk of the floodwater has been safely removed from your home, use fans, air blowers, window air conditioners, and dehumidifiers to dry out the structure and air.
Tip: Do not turn on a central air conditioner or heating system (HVAC) if the equipment or ductwork was infiltrated by or submerged in water. This could cause the unit to spread dirt, mold, and other harmful contaminants around your home.
How Long Does It Take for a Flooded House to Dry Out?
When flooding is severe, it can take several weeks or months to completely dry out the structure of a building. One of the most highly recommended actions is to open all windows and doors to create airflow through the building. Thus facilitating the evaporation process.
Will a Dehumidifier Remove Standing Water?
No. A dehumidifier can facilitate dry air, dry floor, and dry walls. While it can remove excessive dampness and aid in drying your home, a dehumidifier cannot drain or remove standing water.
How Long Should I Run a Dehumidifier After a Flood?
While times can vary depending on the extent of the water damage, you will need to run a dehumidifier until the porous surfaces in the space have completely dried. This process can take anywhere from 48 hours to several weeks.
Note: The extent of the water damage and the strength of the dehumidifier are significant factors in the duration of the drying process. Read on for more information about how dehumidifiers work.
Will Water Dry on Its Own?
Typically, excess water in a home will dry up in about a week or two on its own. However, the problem with leaving floodwater alone for that long is the heightened risk of structural damage, mold and mildew growth, along with other health hazards.
How Do You Clean Up Floodwater in a Basement?
As soon as conditions allow, you should clean your basement (or have it professionally cleaned) using a mixture of hot water, heavy-duty cleaner (like chlorine bleach or detergent), and a scrub brush on the walls and flooring. You can kill most of the bacteria and likely prevent any significant mold growth in your basement.
When your basement floods and is damaged, there are more concering matters. In addition to the health risks, hidden damage can cause irreversible, long-term issues to your home. Be mindful of the severity if your foundation or any load-bearing walls have been compromised. If concerned it’s best to have your basement inspected.
Note: The process of removing, repairing, or replacing water-damaged personal items can be intense and expensive, so consider hiring a company to assist in this process.
How Long Does a Concrete Floor Take to Dry After a Flood?
Depending on the extent of the floodwater damage, completely drying a concrete floor may take anywhere from 48 hours to several weeks.
Tip: Well-finished (sealed) concrete or wooden flooring can resist floodwater infiltration and damage significantly longer than flooring without this protection.
Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Flood Damage?
Yes and no. Under the typical home insurance policy, if water damage occurs suddenly or accidentally from a source within your home, like a busted pipe or malfunctioning washing machine, it will likely be covered by your homeowners insurance.
However, If the floodwater comes from outside your home, it will not be covered by your standard homeowners policy. For this type of flooding, you can seek special protection from flood-related damages with a separate flood insurance policy. For more info on homeowners insurance, read this article.
Removing Floodwater
In this article, you discovered Essential questions and answers about floodwater removal and drying out your home.
Taking swift action to remove floodwater from your home, dry it out, and repair water damage will help you maintain a safe and secure home for your loved ones.
Ignoring the urgency to clean up after a flooding event can result in catastrophic structural damages and significant loss in home value.
Sources:
cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/extreme-weather/floods-standingwater.html
epa.gov/natural-disasters/flooding
osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3471.pdf
fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Flood_FIMA_Fact_Sheet_advice_salvaging.pdf
nationwide.com/lc/resources/home/articles/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-water-damage
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