5 Tips for Water Damage Cleanup

Cleanup from water damage costs Cincinnati homeowners millions of dollars each year. Water damage can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. It can destroy your home, your belongings and the things you love. It can cause mold growth, mildew and other problems.

Water Damage Cleanup Cincinnati

Fortunately, water damage cleanup isn’t impossible if you know what to do. Follow these tips to get your home back to normal after a flood or water damage:

Identify the Source

Identifying the source of a leak can be challenging, particularly if it is coming from behind a wall. You may need to actually cut open the wall to check for leaks. If you find water in one part of your roof or ceiling, it does not necessarily mean the leak is above that spot. Water can travel along beams and rafters before dripping down an unexpected place. Check for stains on your roof sheathing and rafters for clues about where the leak is originating from.

If you’ve got a pipe that’s leaking, you’ll want to locate it as soon as possible and turn off water immediately. If you’re able to temporarily stop the flow of water by tightening a connection with an adjustable wrench until you’re able to get professional water damage cleanup help, do so!

Stop the Flow of Water

• Shut off the flow of water. The first thing to do before you stop the flow of water is to find where it’s coming from.
• If it’s a burst pipe, turn off your main water supply by shutting off that valve. If the leak is coming from your roof, place a bucket under the leak and if it’s raining hard, cover the leak with a tarp.
• Extract standing water. Once you’ve stopped the flow of water, you need to remove any standing water left behind. You can use buckets or an industrial wet/dry vacuum for smaller areas, or call in a professional service equipped with powerful pumps for large areas. 

Remove Excess Water

Your next step should be to remove excess water. This is where your wet vac and pumps come into play. A mop or towel will work in a pinch, but the best tools for the job are equipment that’s designed to extract water.

And, while you’re at it, turn off the main power source before handling electrical appliances. Once everything is turned off, you’ll want to remove as much water as possible.

Clean and Disinfect

Now that you’ve repaired the source of the water damage and removed your items from the flooded area, it’s time to clean. Any water damage is likely to cause mold, so it’s important to use an anti-mold cleaning product such as bleach. Be sure to clean all surfaces—walls, flooring, ceilings, etc.—where mold may have accumulated. If you have a lot of mold in your home or office space, it might be better to hire a professional to remove it before proceeding with water damage cleanup.

Dry Out the Home

• The next step is to dry out your home. This will prevent mold and odors from growing in the damp environment.
• First, you need to dehumidify the air by using a dehumidifier or a fan. This will help remove the moisture from your home.
• Next, you should open all of your windows and let fresh air into your home. This will help ventilate it and remove any lingering humidity that may still be present after using the dehumidifier or fan.
• Finally, you should keep everything as dry as possible for several days if possible so that no new water damage can occur during this time frame.

If you are in the Cincinnati area and need water damage restoration help, you can contact ICON Property Rescue. Call us at (513) 426-6911 to have a water damage cleanup company respond to your emergency within the hour! We take care of everything, from water removal and drying to repairing any damaged areas

Our team is available 24/7, so contact us if you ever need help with water damage restoration.