Flooding can occur at any time, whether due to natural disasters or accidents in the home, such as an overflowing toilet or bathtub. No matter the cause of the flooding, water damage can often be avoided when the homeowner acts quickly, which is why water damage restoration tips should be adhered to. One of the first steps of water damage restoration is to dry the surface of the wet area as much as possible using tools like a mop, wet-dry vacuum, or even towels. This should be followed by using equipment like fans and air conditioning to further dry the affected area. Finally, any flooring should be lifted to ensure that the area underneath is dry in order to prevent permanent water damage, such as mold.
The first step of water damage restoration can be completed by any homeowner. If the wet surface is made of tile, hardwood, laminate, or any other hard surface, a mop can be used to get rid of the majority of the water. Carpeting often takes longer to dry, but it can be done by placing absorbent towels down and standing or jumping on them to ensure that as much water as possible is soaked up. A wet-dry vacuum can also be used to absorb much of the water. For more extreme cases, a sump pump may be necessary.
Once the majority of the excess water is soaked up, the next step is to place fans on the affected area to help it continue to dry. It should be noted that the more fans there are blowing at once, the better. Industrial strength fans are particularly good for water damage restoration, and can often be rented. Another tip is to use the air conditioning to help dry the floor during the summer; during the winter, windows can be opened to help remove moisture from the home.
Water damage restoration can be continued by ensuring that the area underneath the floor is not still soaked. This can be done by lifting up carpeting, laminate, or other surfaces. If the carpet padding is wet, it will likely have to be replaced, but the carpet itself can often be saved by being hung outside to air dry. Floorboards may also be dried out using heavy duty fans for at least a day. Renting a dehumidifier is also a good idea as well, since it can eliminate moisture from the air, especially if a fan is used to direct the moisture toward this tool.
