One of the worst things about flood damage is that it can happen at any time and there’s not much that can be done to prevent it. Most times, a professional flood cleanup company is needed to fully dry out the damaged area to prevent mold growth and musty smells.

But even with the risks, some homeowners are willing to try DIY flood restoration, which can expose them to bacteria from contact with contaminated water and even electric shock. If this is a project you still wish to take on yourself, here are the common mistakes to avoid.

 

Understand the Dangers of Flood Damage

The best way to protect yourself and your home in the event of flood damage is to know and understand the risks. First, it’s important to know that water and flood damage is not always obvious.

For example, if there’s a bubble in your laminate flooring or a loose board in the floor, it may not appear to be a big deal, but there may be water that’s seeped far below the surface of the floor causing this damage. You’ll never know until you remove the flooring and check yourself.

On the other hand, flood cleanup professionals use advanced equipment to detect how far the water has seeped into the building structure and determine whether the building material needs to be replaced.

 

Not Addressing the Damage Right Away

Water damage doesn’t just go away by itself, and don’t be fooled into thinking it will just because it dries. The problem actually spreads and becomes worse over time. It can take as little as a few minutes for the wood in your flooring and furniture to start swelling or the varnish to leak into your carpet.

On the walls, you’ll see little bubbles forming under the paint and wallpaper peeling. Even the structural integrity of your home can become threatened over time as building materials absorb more water. But worst of all is the mold that can grow in as little as a day after water or flood damage invades your home.

As mold grows, the spores are spread to other areas with high moisture content, colonizing into mold growth and consuming the home’s porous materials like carpeting, wood, insulation, drywall, and more. It can also affect your health if you breathe in the spores as they trigger breathing complications and allergies.

In the cases of summer homes or even abandoned homes where the flood damage may not be addressed for months, the home can even collapse with the added weight of the water and weakening of the structural support.

In cases involving natural flooding, the water is likely contaminated with bacteria from lakes, streams, rivers, or even a sewage backup. Not addressing the issue right away will spread biohazard materials and increase the risk of sickness.

There are good reasons why emergency restoration services are available around the clock.

 

Using the Wrong Equipment

Mops and towels are good for cleaning up spills, but for flood damage, they just won’t cut it. Simply cleaning the water from your floors doesn’t mean the job is done; there is still water within the walls, floors, and even subfloors that must be dried professionally.

The professionals at ServiceMaster DAK use advanced equipment that is specialized for removing large amounts of water that has penetrated building materials.

Here is a list of some of the equipment:

• Heavy Duty Fan: A regular fan isn’t powerful enough to circulate the air within the room. One of industrial size is built for drying out large rooms and axial fans are good for drying out confined air spaces.
• Dehumidifier: Keep in mind this is not small. A dehumidifier used to restore flood damage should be purchased at a home improvement store or even department store. The higher the capacity, the better.
• Air Scrubbers: As water that contains bacteria evaporates, it will contaminate the air with musty smells. Air scrubbers will improve the air quality of the room as its drying. These are especially used in schools and hospitals to maintain healthy indoor air quality, but a home may not need one.
• Extraction Tool: Also called flood pumpers, these are like large wet vacs that can pump out up to 50 gallons of water per minute. It uses multiple, powerful blowers and a large tank for storage.
• Moisture Probe: It’s important to know the location of the moisture because there are plenty of places where it won’t be in plain sight.
• Specialized Wall and Floor Drying Systems: This equipment is designed to restore water damage to hardwood floors as well as reduce the number of walls and ceilings needing to be replaced.

Ignoring the Details During Cleanup

Another big risk with DIY water damage restoration is skipping or missing the small steps. In this situation, the small stuff matters just as much as the big stuff and can save thousands of dollars in repair costs in the future.

One such example is ignoring the small mold spot on your wall or water-damaged outlets that can shock someone or even start a fire. Even after the area has been dried out or the building materials are replaced, it doesn’t mean the home is fully restored or safe.

On the other hand, our technicians at ServiceMaster DAK are fully experienced and trained to look out for all the small details that may lead to big issues in the future. This is why it’s important to use a professional service.

 

Avoid These Mistakes by Using Professional Flood Cleanup Services

If you live in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago, such as Barrington, IL, and have experienced major flood damage to your home, don’t hesitate to contact ServiceMaster DAK. Our flood restoration services are designed to restore homes and buildings to their former conditions.

We use all the equipment listed above, understand all the possible dangers involved during the restoration process, and always look for the smallest details that may grow into larger problems over time.

Our experience has allowed us to perfect our flood restoration process, giving homeowners complete peace of mind after the service. This way they can return to a safe, dry home without having to worry about problems arising in the future.

Available 24/7

Don’t hesitate to contact ServiceMaster DAK at (847) 459-3900 in Buffalo Grove, IL and the surrounding suburbs for professional flood cleanup services.