How to Treat Water Damage

While fire can be a devastating source of damage, water is actually much worse. Water is almost impossible to completely contain and it can silently sit and destroy household items and areas with no notice at all. Water damage can also lead to rot and mold growth if left unchecked. While it can be expensive, treating water damage is a necessary chore to returning a house or building back to normal.

Things You'll Need

• Flashlight
• Bleach
• Pine-Sol

Instructions

1. Fix the source of water. Dealing with water damage will be impossible to start if the source of the water is not dealt with first. Check for leaking pipes, open sources of water from outdoors or dripping sinks. If the water damage is from a storm or flood, identifying the source is much easier but identify any breaches in walls or doors where water can through.

2. Find the extent of water damage. Take a flashlight and closely observe how badly damaged the area is. Look for permanent stains, rot, mold growth and malfunctioning equipment. Knowing how bad the water damage is will set the path for how much drying, cleaning and repair may be needed.

3. Drying soaked items. Items that have been submerged will need to be dried out. Use of sponges, mops or towels are recommended to dry walls, floors and ceilings that may be suffering from water damage. Items that can be moved should be placed in a dry environment where they can leak out, such as in a tub, a shower stall or even outside in the sun if fading is not a worry.

4. Clean and disinfect. Water damage can bring dirt and sand into an area with the in-flow of water. Inspect the areas of water damage and begin to use disinfectant. Use bleach and water to disinfect (make sure fading is not a concern.) Consider use of Pine-Sol or ammonia to remove any growth of mold in the water-damaged areas.

5. Remove items. Water-damaged areas may be beyond repair. Drywall, carpet and metal can be left in conditions that are no longer usable or stable for holding up parts of a house or supporting room structure. Carefully remove damaged areas on walls, ceilings and flooring if rot has begun to weaken the structure.

6. Replace items. Treating water damage is finalized with the replacement of the beyond-repair items. Wall- and ceiling-damaged areas can be patched and repaired with tile and drywall. Metal that has rusted from water damage can be replaced with identical pipes, and items that have been damaged (e.g. shoes, clothes, bags) may have to be completely replaced.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider taking photos of the damage before treating for insurance purposes.

• Make sure electricity is off when dealing with water damage. Wear protective clothing when dealing with dirt and mold. Consider wearing a respirator. Avoid mixing household cleaners while cleaning.