Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Recovering from a flood
• Method 2 of 4: Killing mold and mildew
• Method 3 of 4: Preventing Future Problems
• Method 4 of 4: Filing a Claim

Water can be necessary for human life, but it can mean death for the home. Floods can lead to all kinds of headaches for the home owner, both in the immediate aftermath of a flood and in the long term. From flooding to leaking faucets, all water troubles are an important issue that can affect serious health and safety issues. Follow this guide to stop, fix, and prevent water troubles in your home.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Recovering from a flood

1. 1 Stop the flow of water. If the flood is due to a broken pipe or a malfunctioning water heater, shut off the main water supply for your home.
   • Contact a professional immediately if you cannot determine where the water is coming from.
2. 2 Disconnect electricity. If your home is flooded, shut off your gas and electricity supplies. This is not very important for small leaks or puddles, but during large floods, turn everything off for safety.
   • Do not handle electrical appliances without special insulation.
   • If you have to go into the water to turn off the main electrical switch, consult an electrician.
3. 3 Assess the damage. Before you start cleaning, first, determine if cleaning is worth it at all. Take enough photos and provide the rest of the supporting documentation to the insurance company.
4. 4 Save the most valuable things. If you can, find and remove the things that are most important to you from the flood zone, such as heirlooms, money, jewelry, etc.Don't waste too much time getting out and cleaning individual items while the water is still flooding your home.
5. 5 Get rid of standing water. The more water in the house, the more damage it does. As soon as possible, drain all such water from your home. If you are dealing with floods, the pump should run until the water flows recede below the level of your home.
   • Use appropriate protective equipment. When working in a flooded area, be sure to wear rubber boots, gloves, and a mask or respirator.
   • Keep children and pets away from the constant stream of water as it is often very dirty.
   • Install the pump at the lowest point on the flooded floor. If the water is deep, it may be necessary to reduce the pump with a nylon rope.
   • When dealing with light flooding, you can use a home wet vacuum cleaner. It is usually only rated at 4-5 liters, so you will need to drain it frequently.
6. 6 Remove the trash. Be careful as you may come across nails and other materials brought in by flood waters.
   • Mud after flooding often contains many toxins. Remove as much dirt as possible with a shovel and spray the walls with clean water. Check that no dirt remains in the air ducts, as it will be hazardous to health after drying.
   • After a flood, snakes and rats may seek shelter in your home.
7. 7 Let the technique dry. Do not use any appliance or outlet until the time has passed for it to dry. Check the recommendations for use of each manufacturer.

Method 2 of 4: Killing mold and mildew

1. 1 Look for clumps of mold. Mold can be visible and can grow in ducts, crevices, rafters, and between walls. If you can't find it, but you still smell the musty smell of the earth, you most likely encountered mold invisible to the naked eye.
2. 2 After trouble with water, act quickly. Mold will begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours after being exposed to moisture. It will grow rapidly until the moisture is completely removed and the mold is destroyed.
3. 3 Disconnect electricity. If any cables and wires get wet or moldy, turn off the power before cleaning. Have an electrician check the wiring before turning on the power again.
4. 4 Dry the area. You should dry out mold or wet areas as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of the fungus. The longer the place is wet, the more likely it is to develop mold.
   • Open windows if the humidity level outside is lower than inside.
   • Use fans to dry, but only if mold hasn't started to grow. Otherwise, mold spores may spread to other areas.
   • Remove all wet items, including furniture, rugs, toys, etc.
   • Throw away moldy carpets. It is almost impossible to completely remove mold from the fibers of the carpet. All other elements can be cleaned and disinfected separately.
   • Discard any contaminated food. This means there is nothing that was not sealed during the flood.
5. 5 Remove moisture from walls and ceilings. If the wall has been damaged by flooding, you will need to remove all wet materials, including insulation, wood, and other porous layers.
   • Drywall is incredibly porous and should be replaced at the slightest sign of water damage.
   • Remove all fibreboard above the water mark.
   • You can dry the walls by removing the skirting boards and drilling holes in the floor.
   • Be sure to check the interior walls for any hidden signs of mold.
6. 6 Assess the extent of mold growth. If you encounter significant amounts of mold, consider hiring a professional cleaner. It is very dangerous to clean the mold on your own, therefore, if directly exposed, it can release spores.
   • Make sure the area you are cleaning is well ventilated.
   • Always wear gloves, mask or respirator and safety glasses.
7. 7 Clean hard-to-reach surfaces. Materials such as metal, hardwood, plastic and glass must first be washed with non-ammonia soap and hot water. Use a stiff brush to clean uneven surfaces such as concrete.
   • Use a water-based home vacuum cleaner to damp stagnant water.
   • Disinfect all surfaces with a 10% bleach solution. Leave on the surface for at least 10 minutes, then rinse with clean water or wipe off.
8. 8 Clean up porous materials. Upholstered furniture, clothing, bedding, carpets, bedding, books are the most common items. If you are not sure whether it is worth keeping the damaged item, lean more towards the choice that is not worth it.
   • Clean the item and then disinfect it with a pine oil based product. Let the material dry completely. Observe this thing for a few days after cleaning, checking for fungi or odors. If the mold comes back, surely throw it away.
9. 9 Stop cleaning if you feel any signs of mold. As soon as you start to feel negative effects, stop your actions and seek professional cleaning advice. Negative signs include:
   • Difficulty breathing, including wheezing
   • Sinus plugs
   • Harsh cough
   • Eye irritation, flushing
   • Bleeding from the nose
   • Rash or hives
   • Headaches, memory loss

Method 3 of 4: Preventing Future Problems

1. 1 Use waterproof building materials to renovate your home. Replace materials in flooded rooms such as stone, tiles, concrete blocks, waterproof wood boards.
   • Use galvanized or stainless steel, nails and hardware.
   • Place rugs at the entrance / exit to the basement.
   • Use waterproof glue.
2. 2 Check for leaks and cracks. Check all doors and windows to make sure their seals are watertight. Look for discoloration of paint and putty. Also look for drips on the frames.
   • Replace shingles that are falling off and pay special attention to the area around the chimney and vents.
   • Look for cracks in the foundation. Water in the foundation can cause serious damage to the structure of your home.
3. 3 Repair faulty plumbing. Any pipe leaks, dirty drains, and drainage problems must be corrected or replaced.
   • Check for cracks in the hoses of the washing machine and dishwasher.
4. 4 Prevent seepage. Make sure that drain pipes and gutters drain water away from the house and that no connections are leaking.
   • If your gutters are overflowing within 15 minutes of a prolonged heavy rain, install additional downpipes to help drain the water.
   • Make sure the water around the house runs downhill to prevent it from ruining the foundation and basement.
5. 5 Lift the equipment out of the water. If the basement was flooded, expose the equipment to the surface, saving from the flood.
   • Lift up all equipment that may be damaged: washing machine, tumble dryer, fireplace, water heater, electrical wiring, and any personal belongings.

Method 4 of 4: Filing a Claim

1. 1 Call your insurance agent. The sooner you connect with an insurance agent, the sooner your claims will be resolved. The compensation will depend on your insurance coverage and your insurance agent can begin the process.
2. 2 Make a list. Make a list of all of your damaged property before starting the cleaning process. Add photos and video evidence if possible.
   • Tell the authorized claims representative about health hazards such as contaminated food.They can also be taken into account in claims, so the representative should be aware of this.
   • Ask about the possibility of saving samples. Sometimes, for legal purposes, you will need to retain samples of damaged property, such as a piece of carpet.
3. 3 Save all receipts for payment. During the cleaning process, keep receipts for all your purchases and services. Consider even the bills for those many nights when you couldn't sleep in your house.