Don’t Forget These Things if Your Home Floods

4/27/2020 (Permalink)

Storm damage in Clifton, CO

Here Are Some Cleaning Tips To Keep In Mind

If your home has flooded, it probably feels like you’re in the middle of a nightmare. Not only do you have to get rid of the floodwater, but then you have to figure out how to clean up the mess. It’s important to do it right, for the sake of your family’s health and the safety of your home. Here are some oft-forgotten (but important) cleaning requirements and tips to keep in mind.

Before You Enter Your Home
When you return to your residence after a flood, take the following precautions:

• Make sure that electricity and gas are turned off before entering.
  
• Wear protective clothing, including eye protection.
  
• Watch out for snakes or other creatures that may have moved in with the flood waters.
  
  

Hidden Damage
While the water itself is hard to miss, it can cause destruction in unseen places. Even if tile flooring looks all right, for example, the subfloor should be checked for damage. Walls on the inside of the home should be opened up, and damp insulation should be removed. Any appliances that came into contact with flood waters should also be checked by a professional for damage before you use them again.

Cleaning Requirements
Once you start flood clean up, remember the following:

• Don’t hesitate! As soon as the water recedes, cleanup should begin. A reputable water damage repair company in Clifton, CO, should be contacted to ensure it is done correctly and with the proper flood disinfectant.
  
• As heartbreaking as it may be, there are some items that you won’t be able to clean and save. Whatever you are discarding, keep it until an insurance adjuster can look at it.
  
• Carpet padding cannot be cleaned and should be discarded.
  
• Exterior walls will have to be either pressure washed or replaced, depending on what they are made of.
  
  

Cleaning up after a flood can seem like a daunting task, but it is something that has to be done right. Make sure you know all the cleaning requirements so that you can get your home back to normal as soon as possible.