It is vital for new and current homeowners to know what to do following a flood disaster. In case your home has flooded, the first thing that you need to do is call your insurance company or a professional to assess the damages. The experts can give you an idea about the amount of your coverage and how much it will cost to replace all your belongings. Also, they can tell you about the kind of home accessories that you will need in order to completely recover from the situation. After your insurance agent or contractor has given you a comprehensive report, it is advisable to gather all the necessary items at your home and then start rebuilding your life.
First of all, dry your house right away – If there is any water left inside your home, it is imperative that you dry it as soon as possible so that the structure does not get damaged further. You can use fans, dryers or ovens to dry your house. If you can afford it, hire an expert so that you do not have to deal with everything on your own. A professional can also provide you with tips for drying your house such as placing fans around the room to speed up the process. If there is standing water, removing it with a professional company is a priority.
Remove carpets and furniture immediately – If your home flooded because of excess water, the best thing that you can do is remove all the wet carpeting and other furniture from the rooms. You should also remove any furniture which has been affected by mold and mildew. This will make it easier for you to clean up the mold if it makes its way into other areas of your home. You should note that mold and mildew can worsen water damage and cause other more serious problems later on.
Use waterproof material to seal the walls and floors – After your water has gone, you should also consider sealing the walls and flooring of your home with waterproof materials. These waterproof materials are specially designed to withstand high levels of water pressure. For walls and floors, you should go for bricks, tiles or concrete blocks which are all good choices. Make sure that they
are all properly sealed to prevent any water seepage. This is very important so that you will not have any problems with mold and mildew later on.
Open all windows and doors – It is also important that you open all the windows and doors of your home. This will make it easier for you to get rid of water as soon as the flood waters recede. You should also make sure that there are no leaks in your roof and pipes. If you do have a leak, you can look for a plumber in Melbourne to assist you. Once the waters have gone, you should empty the contents of your cupboards and closets. You can use laundry bags, rags, clothes etc. as these items are all easily available.
Use absorbent pads – You can also take advantage of absorbent pads that can be placed in all corners and underneath the carpets. This will help to make the water wash away any excess water in your house. If you are not sure about how much absorbent material you should place in a room, you can contact a professional to do this for you.
Close off the bathroom and kitchen – You should close off all the bathroom and kitchen doors to prevent the water from getting inside and damaging the furniture. You should also try and dry out the house as much as possible before you start cleaning. This can be quite difficult, so you may need to call in professional help. You should never attempt to dry out a flooded home on your own.
Keep these tips in mind after a flood, because this will help you keep your home safe. If you do not know what to do when a flood hits your home, you should contact a home insurance company or a reputable company that specializes in flood damage to give you advice. The insurance companies will assess the damage and tell you what you should do next. Most of the time they will give you a price to cover the damage. Once they determine the cost, you should go ahead and repair whatever was damaged.
