From thunderstorms that bring flash floods to a pipe bursting and releasing water into your basement, flooding and water damage can strike your home at any time. So what can you do? Keep reading to find out the steps to take when flooding strikes and why cleanup 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 in 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 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 with class 3 or class 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.
Once You're Ready to Clean
After you've taken the proper safety precautions, it's time to start the cleanup. Each situation is going to be a little different but some areas you should focus on include:
- Pull Out the Trashcan: Throw away any items that can’t be cleaned.
- Salvage the Dry Items: Go inside as soon as it’s safe and move dry items outside (if possible), so they don’t get contaminated.
- Eliminate Water: Remove any standing water—this is breeding ground for microorganisms which can become airborne and be inhaled.
- Clean Up: Thoroughly wash and disinfect any items affected. This includes hard surfaces, walls, floors, closets, and home contents. As always, read the labels on any household cleaners.
For more details on what to do when a flood strikes, check out our article on How to Handle a Flood.
Additional Things to Consider
If you still don’t have power, then be sure to keep portable generators outside. The exhaust from these items is dangerous in an enclosed area. You may want to consider using one of our water damage restoration products to remove heavy amounts of standing water inside your home.
If the damage is too great to handle on your own, then hire a professional that can guarantee your space is clear of any issues. To learn more about how water damage influences your health, check out our Water Damage and Your Health article.
In Summary
Flood clean up and indoor air quality are tied related. It's important to clean up after a flood to avoid mold and other moisture issues that are caused by water damage.
Still Have Questions?
No one said cleaning up after a flood or storm is fun (or pretty), but it can help save you from serious health issues down the road. If you have questions about finding the right products to help you cleanup, reach out to us at 1-800-934-9194. We'd be more than happy to help. Have you ever had to deal with a flood? Any other suggestions we don’t mention here? Let us know if the comments below or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter!
