A flood in your home is bad enough. You start thinking about the expense, inconvenience or even danger associated with water damage. But the standing water left in the aftermath is an even bigger issue
Standing water means just that – stagnant water that is a breeding ground for mold, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and even serious structural damage. Mold can quickly spread, cause allergic and respiratory reactions like asthma attacks and can cause real – and really expensive – damage to your floors, walls, and structure. Depending on the source of the water, viruses can breed, bacteria can form, and even worse, parasites like giardia can gather in grey water. Standing water also draws unwanted guests like rats, mice or mosquitoes. Additionally, depending on the location of the water, it can cause damage to wood, cabinets, carpeting and ceilings if the water damage isn’t relegated to the basement.
There are steps you can take to mitigate the damage until a professional can assess and address. First, provided the electricity is turned off, you can remove whatever standing water you can with a shop vac. If you can do it safely and with the proper protection, you will also want to remove any affected carpeting or furniture. You should also open available doors and windows to get some airflow going which can delay the development of mold. If the water is more than a couple of inches, you can use an immersion pump to move the water out. Use dehumidifiers and large fans to dry up the standing water you can see or access.
Once you’ve done whatever water removal you can, or even before you start the cleanup, it’s critical to call in a restoration team like Total Restoration Industries, to come in and assess the damage, and create a plan for getting your home back to as good as new. They will know the critical safety steps required, the process to remove and repair damage, and can work with your insurance company so you have one less thing to stress about when dealing with standing water and the damage done.
For Immediate Help with Your Standing Water Problem, Call Us Now @ 516-333-5333