Water damage in Olathe, KS, can vary in severity from minor to quite severe. While some minor water damage can be cleaned up on your own, it’s important that you learn to recognize when the cleanup is better left to the professionals. If you do try to clean up the mess on your own, here are three big mistakes you need to avoid.
Ignoring a Dangerous Situation
A small amount of water on your carpet likely won’t create a dangerous situation. But several inches of standing water on your floor, while it may appear harmless, can create serious hazards in your home. If there is noticeable standing water, you should always leave the cleanup to a pro. Standing water can hide debris like nails and other sharp objects that injure you while you try to clean it up. The moisture can also damage electrical wire in the walls, turning the pool of water on the floor into a shocking hazard. Plus, if the flooring is seriously water damaged, it could give out under your weight.
Failing to ignore a dangerous situation can result in serious injury. Plus, if the water damage is severe enough to present a hazard, it’s likely serious enough that you’ll need professional cleanup anyways.
Not Having the Right Equipment
Proper water damage cleanup requires proper cleanup equipment. Many people think that mops and towels will get the job done—and, if the damage is minor, they might. However, any significant amount of standing water will need heavier equipment, such as wet-dry Shop Vacs or sump pumps. And don’t think that cleaning up the standing water means that the job is done. Everything else must be dried out quickly, including upholstery, carpets, carpet padding, rugs, and anything else that might have absorbed moisture.
This shouldn’t be done by just allowing these items to air dry; this will almost always result in mold growth. Instead, you’ll need heavy-duty fans, dehumidifiers, and blowers to dry them out quickly. You’ll need to hang up the items to allow air to flow all around them. This may also mean pulling up the carpeting to get it to dry out completely.
Ignoring the Little Things
When your home is damaged by water, you’re probably focused on drying out your flooring and walls, and getting any visible water out of your home. While this is definitely the priority, you can’t ignore the little things either. This includes drying out the smaller items—the feet of your furniture, the insides of drawers and cabinets, books, documents, photos, and so on—but it also includes the follow-up processes essential to restoring your home. Disinfection, mold mitigation, and fully drying out all areas of your home help to prevent future problems and further damage to your property.
It can be difficult to determine whether the water damage in your home is serious enough to require professional attention. However, if you have any doubts as to your ability to safely and effectively clean up and dry out your home, please contact a water cleanup company in Olathe, KS, for assistance. Emergency Mitigation Services is always available and willing to help you, so reach out to us at any time.