What You Should Do After Water or Fire Damage

Cleaning up after a flood or fire isn't as simple as pumping water out of a basement or opening the windows for a while to get rid of the smell of smoke. Rather than eliminating the problem, these strategies serve only to hide underlying damage. Over time, this coverup can damage your home-and your family’s heath. If you do experience a flood or fire, have a professional service restore your home safely. Proper damage removal must include the following:

Water damage

Water can damage every area in your home. After a flood, water needs to be pumped out of your home quickly, accompanied by rapid dehumidification. During this process, it is important to make sure that all water is out of your home because excess water can lead to the formation of mold, mildew, and bacteria-all of which can harm your family. Excess water can also damage your home’s electrical system, furniture, or even structure of your home.

Getting all the water out is tough because during a flood, water can drip into hidden areas of your house; just because you can’t see it doesn't mean it’s not there. Professional clean up services use thermal imaging devices to make sure that all water is removed. Professional services also pull up your carpet and carpet pad and inspect it for excess water; if they do find any, a professional damage mitigation service will attempt to clean and disinfect your carpet. If this isn't possible, they will haul your carpet and carpet pad away for you.

Fire damage

Areas with visible burn damage are easy to spot, but damage you can see is just the tip of the iceberg. When a fire is extinguished, it leaves harmful chemicals behind which need to be removed to keep your family safe. This involves pressure washing every surface in your home and a thorough carpet cleaning. In addition, your duct work has to be cleaned and inspected so that lingering ash and soot doesn't circulate throughout your home.

During a fire, smoke permeates everywhere in your home-even in rooms not directly damaged by fire. This means that every surface in every room of your home must be cleaned with pressurized water. Your clothing and other possessions must also be cleaned in order to eliminate the smell of smoke.

After a fire or flood, you have other matters to worry about. And let’s face it, these are traumatic events; you don’t want to be stuck cleaning up. Furthermore, cleanup needs to happen fast, meaning you might not be able to devote time to your other responsibilities. Even if you do try to clean up yourself, you might not get everything which can lead to further home damage or even damage your family’s health. If you do experience one of these terrible events, make sure to call a professional to clean your home quickly and efficiently so you can get back to your normal life as soon as possible.  Visit Apex Disaster Management today for help and advice...