Common Water Damage Cleanup Mistakes
Water damage is one of the most common and destructive things that can happen to any homeowner. The stress that accompanies dealing with the damage and getting your home restored back to its original condition can be overwhelming at times. The last thing you want to do on top of that is to make mistakes during the restoration process that could put you in danger or just make the situation worse overall. The best thing you can do to avoid these classic mistakes in water damage restoration is to contact a professional cleaning and restoration company. In the Rochester area, ICC is here to help!
Mistake #1- Waiting Too Long
This is arguably the worst mistake you can make after a flood. When it comes to water damage, every minute counts. The longer your home remains filled with floodwater or wet from excess moisture, the more likely your home is to be structurally damaged and mold is to grow throughout your home. Mold can begin to grow within 24-48 hours of the initial flood. That doesn’t necessarily mean if you remove the floodwater that mold still won’t grow. The remaining moisture from the flood that takes longer to get rid of can still spawn mold growth. Call a restoration as soon as you possibly can after a flood so the flood restoration process can get started immediately.
Mistake #2- Not Accounting For Hidden Dangers
If standing water has submerged the floor of your property, there could be hazards waiting beneath the surface. These hazards may include potential electrical shock, sanitation issues from broken plumbing lines or contamination from bacteria and/or mold, unstable flooring, unseen debris such as broken glass or metal objects, and ruptured gas lines. Before re-entering any property that has sustained significant flood damage, you should contact a professional restoration company that will inspect the property for you to ensure its safety.
Mistake #3- Missing The Details
Motivational speakers might tell you not to sweat the small stuff, but when it comes to flood cleanup, small details matter. When a property experiences flood damage, the water seeps into everything and can destroy everything it touches. Sometimes, water damage may not show itself until weeks after a flood, when you notice an odd smell or find that toxic black mold has grown in an area you thought had been cleaned in totality. A restoration professional knows to look for water damage that may not be visible to the naked eye, such as subflooring or damage to the interior of furniture.
Mistake #4- Not Calling The Pros
People attempt DIY water damage restoration all the time. It normally doesn’t end well. Water damage restoration is a complex process that requires industrial grade equipment and the manpower and time only had a professional restoration contractor. Not to mention, there are safety concerns that come with water damage cleanup that only professional contractors have the proper equipment and experience necessary to get the job done safely.
Hopefully, this helps to prevent you from ever making any of these classic mistakes, putting yourself in danger and your home at unnecessary risk. Please don’t wait to call our certified cleaning and restoration contractors at ICC in Rochester so we can help you get your home back to normal with as little stress and hassle for you as possible.