Category: Mold Remediation

What to Do After a House Flood

Posted on by Michael Frey
house-flood-steamatic

Many parts of the United States are dealing with severe flooding. Floods are one of nature’s most devastating natural disasters and can potentially destroy your home. If you ever fall victim to severe flooding, it will be difficult to figure out what your first steps should be. Luckily, the experts at Steamatic are here to walk you through the first steps you should take after a house flood.

1. If Possible, Turn off the Electricity

Remember, water and electricity do not mix. At all. If you can reach it safely, find your breaker box and turn off all the power in your home. In the event of a house flood, electricity poses one of the largest dangers.

2. Put on Protective Gear

If you have waterproof boots, waders, gloves, or masks, put them on before walking through any standing water. If there is severe flooding in your area, there is a good chance there is sewage, trash, and other forms of waste in the water. This makes it very likely the water contains bacteria and other forms of dangerous pathogens.

4. Make Sure Your House is Structurally Sound

People often underestimate the destructive capabilities of water. Heavy floods have the potential to knock down walls, damage foundations, and even cause your home to collapse. If you smell gas, notice any buckled walls, dropping ceilings, or other structural flaws; get out of your house immediately. Safety is the most important thing here.

3. Stop the Water Source

If the flood is the result of heavy rains or backed-up storm drains, this may not be possible. However, if the flood resulted from a burst pipe or broken appliance, shut off the water in your home. The sooner your home stops filling up with water, the sooner you can start cleaning up

4. Document the Damage Caused by the House Flood

If it is safe to remain in your home and you plan on filing an insurance claim, make sure you document any damage in your home. Before you start the clean-up process, take photos and videos of the damage. This will make it much easier to file a claim with your insurance company.

5. Attempt to Minimize Loss

After you ensure it is safe to remain in the building, begin salvaging what you can. determine what personal belonging you can salvage and gather them in a dry location. For any items that you cannot save, be sure to take pictures, and note when they were purchased and their approximate value. This is important: If items have been exposed to flood waters for over 48 hours, they are no longer safe to keep. They most likely are contaminated with mold.

6. Attempt to increase Airflow and Call the Steamatic Restoration Experts

Start opening all the windows and doors in your home. This will start drying things out and begin draining the water. After this is done, call the water damage restoration experts at Steamatic. Our 24/7 capabilities ensure we respond immediately to stop further damage from occurring. Steamatic uses state-of-the-art drying and monitoring equipment to make sure the structure and contents are completely dry. Contact a Steamatic location near you for immediate water damage restoration services.

7 Tips for Mold Prevention

Posted on by Michael Frey
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Mold is not only a danger to one’s home but to their health as well. It’s important for all homeowners to take steps to prevent mold, as leaving it unaddressed can lead to serious problems. Below are some simple mold prevention tips homeowners can use to protect their homes.

Immediately Remove Water

Mold grows when there is moisture, meaning it’s important to address wet areas as soon as possible. Whether this is a small puddle in the basement, wet carpet from a window left open, or a leaky pipe, homeowners should work to dry up the water quickly. Other areas to watch for are wet clothes in the washing machine or the floor after a shower. Any amount of moisture left alone for too long can lead to mold.

Improve Ventilation

Good ventilation can help prevent mold. Some key areas to focus on are the bathroom and kitchen, as both can produce steam. If possible, homeowners should install ventilation fans in both rooms to push the steam outside. Another option is opening windows when cooking or showering, allowing some of the steam to escape outside.

Clear the Air Vents

Air vents play a major role in helping to keep a home ventilated properly. However, over time, these vents can become clogged. Homeowners should take some time to make sure there is nothing blocking the vents, such as furniture or other belongings. They should then look to remove dust or other debris by cleaning their vents for better efficiency.

Monitor Humidity Levels

Humidity is a common cause of mold when left untreated. A simple home humidity monitor can tell homeowners about the level of moisture within the home and help them with mold prevention. Then, if they notice that the humidity is too high, they can turn on a dehumidifier to remove some of the moisture from the air.

Take Care of the Roof

When not taken care of properly, roofs can allow water to seep into the home and eventually cause mold. One common reason for this is clogged gutters, which lead to water backing up and seeping into the house. Taking time to clean the gutters and inspect the roof for damage can help prevent water from getting inside and causing damage.

Properly Seal the Home

If the home uses an air conditioning unit in the summer, it’s important that homeowners properly seal the home. This means ensuring they closed the windows and doors completely, along with other tasks like installing door sweeps on all exterior doors. By properly sealing the home, homeowners help to keep the cool, dry air inside and the warm, humid air outside.

Prevent Seeping Water

Finally, homeowners should look to prevent seeping water in the lowest level of their homes. For some, this is a basement, for others a crawl space. If the homeowner notices small puddles on these floors, there are a few ways they can address the situation. For example, they could install a sump pump or cover the floor with a vapor barrier.

Address Mold Problems in Virginia Today

If Virginia homeowners are experiencing mold problems in their homes, Steamatic is here to help. Steamatic can quickly spot signs of mold and implement mold prevention solutions to address them. To get started, please contact Steamatic today and schedule a consultation.