Water Damage Restoration: What To Discard And What To Keep

Flooding incidents can occur suddenly, with home and business owners caught unaware. The level of severity can range from minor sewage backup, to flooded basements and kitchens, or to totally submerged homes. In any case, tremendous lose can be incurred by owners if water damage restoration activities are not performed well. Damage or deterioration to the building or structure can occur, as well as considerable damage to equipment and other properties.

On top of these problems mentioned, a flooded home can also pose several health risks to its inhabitants. This is more evident when water damage restoration is not performed immediately after flooding, or is postponed for some time. The most serious threat during water damage restoration is the risk of mold infestations. Molds release enzymes called mycotoxins that these microorganisms use to digest organic matter as their food. This includes wood, books, paper, cloth and fibers.

Electronic and electrical appliances are the most susceptible to damage after a flooding. Owners should never try to turn them on until complete water damage restoration has been performed. Never leave them under the sun to dry as this might cause cracking to the casing and internal components. The most important key in the recovery of these gadgets is to dry out each component and layer before applying electrical power. If the owner is not do-it-yourself savvy, and would find it difficult to disassemble stuff, it would be better to seek the help of qualified technicians to do the job. After disassembly, the parts like components and printed circuit boards should be dried out separately using low temperature blowers. After the parts have dried up, these can be reassembled and tested by putting a power supply back on.

Carpets are most prone to water accumulation, and with it, greater possibilities for mold infestations. Unless an adequate water damage restoration program is applied to recover the carpet, it would be advisable to just discard the item and prevent a possible health hazard. Even if drying has been completed, there is still no assurance that molds have been completely eradicated. If there were a need to restore a carpet, it would be best to have a professional restoration company do the job. If this is not possible, use effective means for water damage restoration like air movers and blowers, wet/dry vacuum cleaners, carpet shampoo and dehumidifiers. Apply disinfectants and fungicide to ensure no mold growth can occur.

Beddings and mattresses are also susceptible to water absorption. It is recommended to discard soaked pillows and beddings, particularly if these were exposed to floodwater and sewage. Water damage restoration can still be performed for mattresses. Some modern beds use synthetic foam and would be easier to restore. Just separate the foam from the outer covering and dry separately after cleaning with carpet shampoo. For old school mattresses, the stuffing should be removed and discarded. These can be replaced by new or alternative materials. After cleaning and drying, apply penetrating oil to the springs, before putting new stuffing back in. As a finishing touch, apply fungicide to these items to prevent the risk of mold infestation.

Books and paper are also prone to mold infestation. Owners should sort and quickly decide which should be discarded right away and which shall undergo water damage restoration. Single documents can be dried out in the open. Books however, are more difficult to dry and should not be placed under the sun. Doing so would result to severe deformations rendering the item useless. An effective method of restoration is to air-dry these books using low temperature blowers.

There are additional methods that can be performed to restore water-damaged items from the home or a business establishment. However, the owner should take note of the risks involved with such restoration activity. If not performed well, it could provide greater risks for the owner and his family, as well as a greater financial loss.

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