What Are the Hazards To Watch Out For During a Flood Cleaning?
The prospect of having to do flood cleaning is one that most homeowners don’t usually want to face. The reason for this is because the damages associated with flooding are usually extensive and might require a lot of time, resources, and professional expertise to restore things back to normal.
This may also create a great deal of inconvenience to the occupants of the structures, especially if it happens in the dead hours of the night. However, flooding is sometimes inevitable, and the best you could do is to ensure the safety of your family and plan for cleaning and restoration at the earliest convenient moment.
In the unfortunate event that you are faced with flood cleanup, it will always be a good idea to call for after disaster cleaning service providers to come and help out, but if you have to do it alone, then watch out for the following hazards you are likely to run into.
Propagation of mold and dew
One of the aftermaths of water damage cleaning is always the propagation of mold and dew, especially in dark places where you allowed the flood water to stay for a while. Mold and dew should never be entertained even for a single day after they are noticed owing to the deadly health consequences they usually come with.
Mold is known to cause breathing problems among other serious health conditions. It can also lead to serious allergic reactions among those suffering from asthma and other respiratory diseases. In some instances, you may notice the appearance of mold even with small leaks in the basement and not necessarily after a flood. Irrespective of when you notice them, you should always deal with them as soon as possible.
If you are not well equipped to handle proper mold removal after floods or water damage, or if you suffer from a respiratory condition that might trigger allergic reactions when you get exposed to mold, then your best bet will always be to call for professional mold removal services.
Structural damages
Just like fire, water can be a good servant but a very bad master when it comes to causing structural damages. Flooding in your home has the potential to critically damage your home’s core structural components. The components usually at risk here include the walls, the floors, and the roof. Matters become worse if the floodwaters find their way into your home’s foundation.
This will not only come with the potential of causing serious issues to the structural integrity of your home, but repairs to such areas are likely to cost you thousands of dollars, and in very rare but necessary cases, the home may be declared unsafe for human inhabitation. Consequently, you should always deal with water damages the first instance you get to avoid damages to any of the structural components of your home.
In efforts to stop your home from getting affected by water damage, start by locating the source of the water and stop the flow if at all the flooding was still in progress, remove all the items from all the affected areas, and then dry the areas as soon as possible. Remember, the longer you let the water sit within the structure, the higher the chances of ending up with more damages.
Electrical Hazards
Water and electricity will never see eye to eye, and this is one of the top hazards you will face when dealing with a flood cleanup at home. Depending on the intensity of the flooding, the water levels might reach your home’s electric outlets, and in doing so, the water will be charged, making electrocution possible if someone comes into contact with that water.
Apart from accessing the outlet levels, floods can also cause serious electrical concerns if they come into contact with electrical appliances. The water will not only cause damage to the appliances but also it can lead to short-circuiting making the appliances potentially dangerous should someone touch them with bare hands.
The first thing you need to do when dealing with flooding at home is to switch the power supply off from the main electrical distribution panel. If you don’t know where to locate the main electrical panel or you don’t know how to do it, then the most prudent thing for you to do is call for emergency cleaning professionals and they will know exactly what to do.
The proliferation of bacteria, germs, and parasites
Mold is not the only microorganism you may have to deal with during a typical water damage cleaning situation. Depending on the source of the floodwater and how long you allowed it to stay before cleaning it away, you may face the proliferation of various bacteria, germs, and parasites in your home.
This is usually the case when the flooding is caused by a sewer burst of dirty flood waters from sewer lines that gains access to your home, especially your basement. If you are faced with this kind of disaster, it may be a good idea for you to call for a professional after disaster cleaning services.
The risks involved in attempting to do the cleaning on your own are massive and while you may make the surface appear clean, you may not be very successful in getting rid of the germs, parasites, and bacteria. There are very good chances that you might end up developing serious illnesses if you attempt to do it on your own.
Coming into contact with dirty water
Floodwaters will always be dirty water, and it is imperative that you protect yourself from such as much as possible. During the cleaning, you can’t avoid coming into contact with the green or greywater, but you need to have in mind that it may contain hazardous materials, harmful chemicals, and even sewage. The best way to take care of this is to ensure that you are well dressed, complete with boots, gloves, and goggles to minimize potential contact with the water.
Do you need flood cleaning services? Get in touch with us today for immediate assistance.