Water Damage and How to Avoid Common Mistakes

If you are a homeowner looking at a home full of water damage, you've got two choices. One, you may attempt to restore the place yourself. This will be difficult, as you don't have any experience working with what can be a rather delicate situation. Your other option is to call in a specialist. The benefits of doing so are many, but it can be costly. Then again, losing the majority of your possessions (and possibly your entire home) is pricey also. Whichever path your choose (or should you decide to go somewhere in the center, doing exactly what you can then calling professionals for the remainder), here are some common mistakes you will need to avoid.

The Vacuum Cleaner

There are two important reasons to avoid using a vacuum cleaner to remove flooding from your home. One, you need to be very careful about using power of any kind when your floors are wet. Water damage specialists advise turning off the power to any rooms that are affected by the flooding. You should also wear thick rubber boots to insulate yourself from any possible consequences. But the chief reason you do not wish to do this is that it simply won't work. Vacuums are not supposed to operate in this type of situation. You require a specialty instrument, like a Shop-Vac, to pick up moisture.

Structural Problems

If folks consider water damage, they generally consider ruined furniture and books which have been waterlogged beyond salvation. These are real issues and you will most likely have to deal with them. But a far more insidious issue involves the weakening of your home's structural integrity. Be very careful that you don't put yourself at risk. Look for signs of ceiling sag. Whether there are any, remain out of this area where it's a problem. You will want to do the same to your floors. If things have reached the point at which your home is simply unsafe, stay out and call in the professionals.

Carpeting

If you intend to save your carpets, don't begin lifting it up yourself. A lot of homeowner has found that this isn't easy to do after water damage has set in. With the support of a professional team, your carpeting might be salvageable. But if you start pulling it up without the right experience, you risk tearing it and exposing it to shrinkage. Leaving it as it is and simply hoping it melts out will almost surely lead to mold growth and other assorted problems. Make sure that you get the help you want.