You may not know where to begin if your house or apartment has started flooding due to a burst pipe or broken sprinkler system. But rest assured that a fast response will help minimise any property damage. If you notice signs of structural damage such as cracked walls or ceilings, make note of them right away.
If you experience significant loss of property due to a flood, a professional restoration service can help like Australian Advanced Carpet Care. They use special procedures and equipment which allow them to restore your property at a fraction of the cost of hiring an independent contractor.
To keep your house in top shape, you need to be prepared for various situations. You might need to repair appliances, invest in renovations, or prepare against disasters. You need to act fast if you want to avoid having a flood. However, there are some things that you can do to help prevent flooding from occurring.
Water damage causes
Finding the source of water leakage in your home may be difficult, but it can definitely happen. However, if you think there might be any damaged structure in your home, then one of them could be leaking.
Flooding can be either external (causing flooding) or internal (causing structural issues). External floods usually occur when rain enters damaged homes, causing them to overflow and flood their basements. Internal floods happen when there is an issue within the structure itself. These types of floods may cause moisture to seep into walls, ceilings, floors, etc., which can lead to mould, rot, and other forms of decay.
Here are some causes:
- Clogged gutters and downspouts
- Unsealed sills
- Roof and chimneys that are damaged
- Windows and doors that have leaks
- Issues with your plumbing
- Leaking appliances – like water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines
- Cracked tiles
- Leaking fixtures in your kitchen and bathroom
You constantly use most of these items, so it should be easier for you to detect any slight signs of water leakage in your home. If you see any tiny drops on your floor, carpeting, or furniture, don’t wait until they get bigger before calling a professional water damage restoration company like Australian Advanced Carpet Care.
How to deal with water damage
To help you understand proper water leak repair, take note of this guide on water damages. It applies to most common water leak situations, ranging from natural disasters to faulty devices.
If you’re dealing with an extremely hazardous situation. Make certain no electrical power or gas lines are damaged before proceeding into wet areas. Also make sure there aren’t any structural problems. You should also store your other household goods safely.
Keep your property safe by doing the following:
- If damage originated from your drinking and cooking facilities, contact your local utility company to determine if the drinking and cooking facilities are contaminated.
- Remove all carpets, bedding, and furnishings from the room to be cleaned, dried or thrown away.
- If you want to keep the wall from becoming infested by mould, remove any moisture sources (including paint) and allow the wall to dry completely before painting.
If you’ve been enduring continuous water damage for a significant period of time, or if you’ve just recently discovered your leaky faucet, then it might already be too late to salvage the structure entirely.
For every building type (e.g., office buildings, homes, hotels, etc.), check out these suggestions:
- Make sure to replace any subfloors whenever they start deteriorating. For example, if your subfloor starts swelling and separating from the wall, then call us so we can help you replace it.
- Your wood floors require cleaning and drying before any repair or replacement.
- For tile and sheet floors that are wet, remove them and let them air-dry for at least two hours before covering them again.
- Painted walls, floors, and woodwork are especially prone to mould because they tend to be moist and warm. To prevent mould from spreading, clean them daily and keep them dry at all times. You can use air conditioners, heaters, fans, or desiccant to speed up their curing.
- Before you start making any changes to your house, remove everything from the room.
- Remove any furniture with drawers and containers, clean them individually, use the right commercial cleaner for each piece, and then reassemble your items.
- Make sure any equipment and appliances you use are completely dried out before bringing them back into service. You may want to ask for assistance from a professional if you’re not sure.
Water damage restoration in Melbourne
A flooded home or building isn’t an easy thing to deal with, but reading the tips above will definitely help you avoid worse damage and potential disease. And carrying out extensive repairs may be even harder when there’s extensive flooding throughout different rooms in your rooms.
Water restoration professionals from Australian Advanced Carpet Cleaners are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They’re trained to ensure that everything goes smoothly during the whole process.
Contact them for emergency water damage in your house or building.
Suggested Read: Why Professional Carpet Cleaning Is a Must for Business Owners