There are many different ways a flood can occur and negatively impact the structural integrity of your home. Floods are caused by various factors, including heavy rain, malfunctions in your home plumbing system, burst pipes, and even the geographic location of your home. For example, homes located near lakes and storm drains are at high risk for flash floods. Regardless of the cause, you need to know how to keep yourself safe and who to call to address the damages your home may have incurred.
When your property has been affected by water damage, it severely compromises the level of safety it offers you. Many guides online recommend lists of how to clean up your home after a flood, but this can be dangerous to do on your own. You should not attempt to clean or remove anything from a building that has been compromised by water damage, as the consequential hazards listed below can result in illness, injury, or death.
- Electrical hazards due to shortages or a damaged main breaker.
- Damage to the structure of your home or building.
- Hazardous materials such as fuel oil, pesticides, gasoline, and other chemicals may have been washed into the building.
- Weakened or broken structural components of the property and other objects.
Biological hazards, including molds, mildew, bacteria, and viruses (The spores of molds, for example, can be widely distributed due to the influx of water, causing you to breathe them in. Additionally, you may ingest bacteria by accidentally getting water into your mouth.
Once you have ensured your safety, you must decide on a plan to clean your property of the damages caused by this event. Due to the potential presence of the hazards listed above, it is recommended to hire professional help to ensure your safety and a thorough job by the experts. Flood damage clean-up entails many things, including removing vulnerable materials like carpets and furniture and replacing high-value structural components such as shorted fuse boxes. These may have been damaged not only by the water but by biological hazards, too. Remember that, of the personal items you remove from your home, you need to keep only the things that can be thoroughly cleaned. If you are unsure whether you can perform a deep clean on items like curtains, rugs, clothing, and bedding, have McMahons Cleaning & Restoration guide you.
Our technicians will take over from there to ensure your home is thoroughly cleaned while you remain safe from the hazardous environment. Cleaning up a flood-damaged house requires experience and great attention to detail. It also requires swift action since areas that remain wet for over 48 hours are at risk of growing mold. Our experts can determine what absorbent items can be salvaged and what cannot so that you are not exposed to any bacteria or other organisms that were retained in the material. Your home will be dried, disinfected, and repaired to return it to its pre-loss condition. Our work is performed with the latest tools and technology. If you have recently experienced a flood or other water damage and need assistance,
contact the experts at McMahons Cleaning & Restoration.
