Water Damage Restoration	Mold Remediation	Fire Damage Restoration	Trauma Scene Clean Up	Home

Water Removal Process After a Flood

The threat of disease from water borne bacteria, molds and viruses make it impossible to live in a flooded home until the water is removed. The furniture and carpeting must be dry and the water damage restoration of the wall and floor complete to reduce the risk of disease. As soon as possible after the flood waters recede all possible moisture must be extracted from the home and furnishings. Experienced water damage restoration and mold remediation specialists are critical to the clean up efforts.

Following a flood there is a window of twenty four to forty eight hours before mold growth accelerates. All standing water should be vacuumed up as quickly as possible to allow for faster drying. Next air movers force large volumes of air through the water damaged structure to speed drying through evaporation. By reducing humidity dehumidifiers increase the drying rate for the home and all the contents. As the home and its contents dry the chance for illness due to inhaled mold become much less.

Mold can be found everywhere there is moisture. The presence of mold in the air leads to allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory complaints. By eliminating the water, drying the air and any wet furnishings the growth of molds can be controlled. Non porous surfaces can be washed with disinfectants to remove mold but porous materials such as cloth or wall board must be discarded if they become infested with mold since drying will only increase the particle count in the air.

In addition to flooding from storms and rising flood waters a home can receive water damage by the efforts of fire fighters battling a house fire. For fire damage restoration the same precautions must be taken to prevent disease and salvage as much of the structure as possible. After a fire begin in the same manner as following a flood taking care to remember that there are more porous surfaces after they have been charred by a fire.

Another consideration after a fire is whether arson is involved. If this is a possibility care must be taken to prevent the loss of evidence in the process of a crime scene cleanup. The restoration process usually does not begin until after the investigators have finished with the scene but occasionally as the fire damage restoration is underway additional information will be uncovered.

Speed and through drying are required after a structure is flooded by whatever source. The danger from microorganisms especially mold should not be taken lightly. In order to salvage as much as possible and remain healthy experience water damage restoration experts and mold remediation specialist are needed quickly following a water leak, flood or fire.