Flooding can often create dangerous conditions. People may end up fleeing their homes, and they don't know what to do once it's safe to go back. Whether you're currently dealing with flooding or you're just looking to be prepared, this blog post is for you. Keep reading to learn why flood cleanup is important for your indoor air and how to deal with flooding when it strikes.
Why Flood Clean Up Is Important For Your Indoor Air
What Are The Types Of Water Damage?
There's never a good time to find flooding or even small areas of standing water in your home. Water damage is a problem that everyone has to be concerned with, and it can have some nasty effects on you and your property. When it comes to effects, the water damage industry uses four classifications to assess the severity.
- Class 1 Water Damage: This is the lowest level of water damage that can occur. Usually, only a small area will be affected, and there will be little to no absorption of water by carpeting and other materials.
- Class 2 Water Damage: More widespread water damage affecting an entire room falls into this classification. Signs of class 2 damage include water damage to wood-grained materials like flooring, walls, and drywall. To be considered class 2 damage, the height of the water has to stay below 24 inches.
- Class 3 Water Damage: At class 3, water damage has severely affected the building itself. Causes of class 3 damage include an overhead pipe bursting or a ceiling collapsing in a storm. Class 3 is the point where damage moves from being something the homeowner can fix to a situation where an insurance company and restoration professionals may need to be involved.
- Class 4 Water Damage: The most extensive type of water damage, this is usually found in severe flooding situations, such as rivers spilling over during a hurricane or other storm. In class 4, the building has become so saturated in moisture that its structural integrity has been compromised.
What To Do If A Flood Occurs
You can deal with most minor flooding and water damage on your own unless you’re experiencing class 3 or 4 flooding; in that case, you’ll want to find a certified restoration professional. Here are a few tips to make sure your home is dry and safe to enter after flooding:
Before You Get Started
When you’re ready to start cleaning, the EPA suggests you wear the following:
- A N-95 Respirator: These masks cover your mouth and nose and are available in hardware stores. A handkerchief or cloth won’t work since mold can travel through them.
- Gloves
- Goggles: Select a set without air holes.
- Proper Clothing: The best options are long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and boots.
Step 1: Remove Wet Contents Immediately
As soon as it's safe enough for you to enter, you want to start removing the wet contents. Mold can begin growing on furniture, bedding, and other items. Remove and dry them to prevent mold issues. Clean any items that are damaged as well.
Step 2: Remove Water
Depending on how much water you have left in your home, you can either do it yourself or hire a contractor. We offer a variety of wet and dry vacuums that remove water and other debris from flooded basements or homes.
The Nilfisk Eliminator Pro II is a great option for rugged and harsh conditions. It features HEPA filtration to catch small particles and a drain hose to easily dispose of wet debris. It's important to get rid of standing water as soon as you can, and these vacuums are great options for quick water removal.
Step 3: Ventilate and Dry
Removing standing water is only half the battle when cleaning up after a flood. It's important to quickly dry out items like carpets, walls, and furniture. Use the following tools to get the job done:
Water Damage Air Movers
High-performance air movers for water damage and restoration are the best way to start the drying process. These air movers are powerful and designed for tough conditions. They're great for drying carpets, hard floors, walls, and more.
Our XPOWER 3,600 CFM Air Mover (X-830) is a featured centrifugal fan sufficient for drying out walls, ceilings, and floors where water may be present. The small design is desirable for fitting into smaller spaces and comes in a durable ABS housing. Many contractors use more than one to quickly dry large areas at one time.
Water Damage Dehumidifiers
Water damage restoration dehumidifiers also quickly reduce the humidity in your home. Dri-Eaz industrial dehumidifiers, which are made in the USA, are powerful and easy to transport. The Dri-Eaz PHD 200 eliminates up to 75-pints of mold-causing humidity per day for fast, efficient removal.
It's one of the most popular water damage dehumidifiers because it also includes an internal condensate pump, which makes getting rid of the excess moisture a breeze.
Step 4: Thoroughly Clean
Floods often leave bacteria, germs, and other harmful particles behind, even after the water is gone. Disinfecting is extremely important after a flood. We suggest using a steam cleaner to avoid adding chemicals to your space.
Floors and Other Surfaces
The Vapor Clean Desiderio Plus steam cleaner was designed for vacuuming, steaming, and hot water injection. The 1.5-liter water tank can also be transformed into a commercial-grade 2-stage vacuum for wet and dry vacuuming. The internal HEPA filter can easily trap and hold mold spores that may contaminate the air.
Cleaning the Air
Mold, bacteria, and airborne particles can harm your air as much as your household items. An air purifier or industrial-grade air scrubber is the best way to clean your air. The Dri-Eaz F284 DefendAir HEPA air scrubber is a commercial-grade appliance with a HEPA filter for removing 99.97% of the smallest airborne particles.
Check out all air purifiers with HEPA filtration for the best air filtration after a flood.
Questions?
The most important thing to consider after a flood is your safety. Don't enter your space until you feel comfortable and the flooding issues have passed. If you have any other questions about how to deal with cleaning up after a flood, feel free to contact our product experts at 1-800-934-9194.
