The Do's And Don'ts In Performing Water Removal

Each home has the possibility of encountering water damage at one point or another. The home does not have to be in a flood-prone area to encounter water damage. A leaky or broken pipe, clogged toilets and sinks, or broken fixtures from water-based appliances can cause extensive water damage to a home as well. In such cases, proper water removal activities should be performed to restore the home or an affected room back to original conditions.

In some cases, water removal work can be performed by the homeowners themselves, or by someone in the home who are do-it-yourself-savvy and would like to perform the task on their own. In some cases, like in severe flooding that can fill up a basement or submerge the whole house, water removal would best be done through the services of professional restoration companies. In any case, homeowners should take note of the following do's and don'ts tips in performing water removal, whether they choose to do it on their own or while waiting for professional help to arrive.

Things to do during water removal:
* Remove as much standing water as possible during water removal activities by mopping and blotting. Larger quantities may need the old bucket and pail routine before using mops to remove remaining water. Standing water that are several inches deep and affects a wider area like a basement will need the use of submersible pumps. You can do this on your own if available, or you can hire the services of a professional company.

* Furniture that has been drenched in water should be wiped dry using absorbent cloth or towels. If the furniture has removable sections like drawers and closet doors, it would be best to separate these parts to enhance drying. Do not leave out in the sun to dry but use air blowers instead.

* Area rugs and other floor coverings that have been soaked in floodwaters should be removed and placed in a separate area to dry. Draperies that are touching the wet carpet should be removed or looped through the hangar to prevent getting wet.

* Personal items such as photos, paintings and objects of art should be transferred to a separate room while the water removal services are ongoing. Damp books and magazines should be removed from the shelves and allowed to dry in a separate room. This also includes wet fabrics and clothing, as well as furs and leather goods.

* To enhance drying in the affected area, electric fans or air blowers should be introduced and directed to the damp areas. If water removal is being performed during the cold season, it would be best to leave some of the heat on to enhance drying of the place. If the work is being done during summer days, it would be best to leave the air conditioning on.

Things NOT to do during water removal:

* Do not use standard vacuum cleaning systems for water removal. There are wet-dry vacuum cleaners that are designed to perform this job.

* Unplug all electrical appliances and never turn them on particularly if standing in wet carpet or damp floorings. Do not go inside rooms with standing water if electricity is still active. Shut down the electrical supply by turning circuit breakers or fuse boxes off.

* Do not try to lift wide area carpets that are tacked down on the floors. It would be best to seek professional help for this. A wrong move and you'll end up with a deformed or damaged carpet.