What to Do When Your House Floods

There is usually a large “What now?” when floods occur, whether they are caused by rain, a hurricane, or a plumbing disaster. You’ll learn what to do in this post if your home floods.

The First 24 Hours After Your House Floods – Protecting Property

The most crucial time period when your home floods is the first 24 to 48 hours.

Avert further dangers. Make sure your home is safe to dwell in when you return if the house flood was bad enough to require you to leave. Inspect your home for any obvious structural issues, such as cracks, warping, or a weak foundation. And be sure to get in touch with the utility company in your area to find out if it’s okay to enter the house.
Take photos. Completely photograph and/or videotape the damage before beginning any repairs. Before you begin tearing out wet wallboard, measure the height of the water in the pictures with a tape measure.
safeguarding your health Sewage or common household pollutants might contaminate the water in your home. When leaving the house, wash with an antibacterial soap and wash your clothes in hot water. Make sure to sanitise your shoes as well.
Contact your insurance provider. Your homeowners or renters insurance may provide coverage if the water is a result of a plumbing malfunction in your home. Contact them if you have flood insurance in case of a natural disaster. The earlier you enter the line (especially if there has been widespread flooding), the quicker an adjuster will arrive at your house.
Check to see whether you are near a disaster. If widespread flooding occurs, your region can be formally designated as a disaster area. You can have access to more resources as a result to repair your house after a flood.
Remove all food from the refrigerator: If your power has been cut, avoid opening the freezer or refrigerator unless you are wearing a filter mask, ideally one that has Vicks vapour rub or lavender oil inside. Food goes bad rapidly. (You’ll be grateful to us for this!)
Drain the water. To acquire the go-ahead to remove water from your property after the disaster, check with your insurer. They might even send a flood water remediation firm if it’s a covered incident. Use a sump pump or wet vac from the nearby hardware shop if you’re doing it yourself.
Ventilate it. Open all windows and doors to encourage drying (when you are present; close when you leave for security). Especially for closets, open the internal doors. Open the bathroom vanity doors and kitchen cabinets. Dispose of any standing water in the drawers, then stack them to dry.
mould mitigation Mold can grow within 24-48 hours of a flood, according to FEMA. You might not be able to recover an item if it has been damp for more than 48 hours. All the flood-damaged goods you are throwing out should be photographed.
safeguard your papers If you don’t have time to deal with wet books, papers, or photos in the first 48 hours, wrap them in plastic bags, remove them from the house, and store them in the freezer. They will avoid mould and mildew because of this. Consider using these suggestions to save images from a flood when you have the time.

How to Remove Water from your Flooded Home

If you want to save items from your flooded home, it’s critical to remove water from the area as soon as you can. This will lessen the effects of mould damage. Here are six methods for removing water.

How to Remove Water from Your Flooded Home

Pump out the water.

A submersible pump known as a sump pumps removes water using a hose or pipe. Put the hose down your washing machine outlet or use an open door to pump the water out.

2. Remove soaked materials.

To lower indoor moisture levels and prevent mould and mildew, remove wet carpets and furniture from the house. Remove damp insulation and walls in particular. Don’t forget to check underneath floors for moist insulation.

3. Use a wet/dry vac.

Water may be extracted from carpets and flooring with these specialised shop vacs. It is better to throw away any upholstered furniture or mattresses that have been wet as you might not be able to get all of the water out, which could lead to mould growth.

4. Remove moisture.

Using a dehumidifier, you’ll want to eliminate moisture from your house. In your home, a focused region rather than the entire house works best for this.

5. Move air naturally.

Open the windows and doors to let some fresh air in if the humidity isn’t too high and there’s no chance of rain.

6. Move air mechanically.

Fans to move the air can be rented or purchased. Do not use your HVAC system if it was wet until a professional has examined it!

Working with an Insurance Adjuster After Your House Floods

Here are six suggestions for dealing with an insurance adjuster if you have flood insurance for your property.

Befriend people. Learn about the insurance adjuster you have. A close, friendly friendship will support your claim.
Get it down on paper. Before an adjuster arrives on the scene, if you need to start removing wet goods, talk with them over the phone to decide what can be removed or destroyed. Text or email all of your documentation.
Think of an activist. Think about having a public adjuster represent you. The public adjuster will ensure that you receive your property’s legal compensation. loss
Explain your contents. Make a thorough inventory of everything in each room. A spreadsheet in Excel with a tab for each area might be a good idea.
keep up with official news. If the flood was caused by a natural disaster, pay attention to what the local authorities are saying. Make a note if you are not allowed to enter your home. Damages may rise if access to your property is delayed. Adjusters must consider factors beyond your control.
Get ready. Be ready for the initial estimate from your insurance adjuster to be low. It can be beneficial to have a skilled contractor on your side. In relation to that…

Hiring a Contractor after a Flood

If a natural catastrophe has been proclaimed in your area, door knockers from across the nation will swarm into your neighbourhood. These are frequently shady contractors wanting to make a quick profit. However, they might not still be present if any post-construction warranty difficulties arose.

The following nine steps should be taken when hiring a contractor to repair your flooded house.

Compare prices. Shop around and compare prices. Make sure that each contractor is assessing the project using the same assumptions if one of the prices is noticeably higher or lower.
Do your research. Examine reviews for contractors.
Check your insurance and licence. Check to see if your contractor has insurance and a licence. Verify the validity of the insurance coverage.
Learn how frequently they handle insurance claims. Exactomate is an estimation tool that is commonly used by insurance firms. The normal material cost and measurements are included in this tool. The likelihood that your contractor and insurance adjuster will agree on the costs rises if your contractor utilises the same tool. A contractor with experience working with insurance adjusters may be able to boost the value of your settlement offer by assisting them in finding missing items.
Get everything in writing, especially contracts and estimates. Establish expectations up front and meet with your contractor frequently. Record discussions and agreements.
verifying building permits It is your contractor’s responsibility to obtain all necessary permits. Verify that this has been accomplished.
Don’t ever pay in whole. Obtain a commitment to paying over time as opposed to all at once. Make sure any checks are written out in the company name rather than an individual’s name.
Request a receipt. When the project is finished, obtain a “paid in full” receipt to prevent any more lien claims.
Even once your job is finished, keep your documents. Maintain a copy of your contract in case you need to refer to it later or if a problem arises after the service is finished.

How Quickly Can I Start Reconstruction After a Flood?

After a flood, hold off on starting building for too long. Your home may get damp if proper drying time is not given prior to restoration. According to FEMA, this could result in structural damage and potential future health initiatives.

Your home must have a moisture reading of 15%, or ideally 10%, before reconstruction can start. Throughout the rebuilding process, take moisture readings to prevent problems with retained moisture.

It can take two to four weeks for exterior rooms with good airflow to dry entirely. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for interior rooms, closets, and places with poor ventilation to dry. To hasten the drying process, use fans.

Dealing with Mold after a Flood

Failure to thoroughly clean up your home after a flood might foster the growth of mould, which can be unhealthy.

For some people, mould can be unpleasant or even harmful. Mold can exacerbate allergic reactions and contribute to asthma, both of which are dangerous for young children and the elderly.

What is Mold?

Among fungi is the category of mould. Molds create spores, which are microscopic cells that float in the air and are very easy to spread. These spores serve as mold’s seeds, and when they locate the ideal damp surroundings, mould will quickly spread throughout your house.

How to Clean Mold from a Flooded Home

After a flood, you’ll need to do mould remediation to get rid of the mould in your house. You can either hire a mould cleanup specialist or do it yourself to complete this.

You can purchase commercial mould removal products online or at your neighbourhood hardware shop. These items will eradicate any existing mould and stop any further growth. These must be put on the ceiling, floors, and walls.

If you can, use plastic and duct tape to divide the areas where you are working to contain the spread of the mould.

When working in a mold-infested, flooded home, take precautions. Wear safety gear, such as rubber gloves, eye protection, a high- or medium-efficiency filter mask, and rubber gloves.

To prevent mould from being drawn into your HVAC system and spreading further throughout the house, be careful to turn off your central HVAC system. Alternate your HVAC filter frequently while the cleaning is being done.

Will Mold in my Home Make Me Sick?

You can undoubtedly become ill from mould in your home. After a flood, mould can lead to respiratory problems, especially in the young and old.

Inhaling mould spores is the typical method of mould exposure. By contacting mouldy surfaces, you can potentially become exposed through your skin.

Allergic responses are the health issues brought on by mould the most frequently.

Dealing with Mold Allergies after a Flood

One of the most typical allergens is mould. Following a flood, there is a relatively significant chance of mold-related allergy responses.

Nasal and sinus congestion, coughing, wheezing/breathing issues, sore throats, skin and eye irritation, and sinus and upper respiratory infections are all typical signs of a mould allergy.

You should try to spend as little time as possible in a mouldy house, and you should act swiftly to limit the amount of moisture there is. When performing household tasks, put on a mask to protect your face, and when you leave the house, use a neti pot to clear your sinuses. After a flood, if you must stay inside your house, think about utilising air purifiers to get rid of mould spores.

Electrical Safety Before and After Your Home Floods

Unplug all unnecessary electronic equipment and keep an eye on the situation if flooding is anticipated. You must shut off your electricity at the circuit breaker if emergency personnel advise you to do so during a hurricane.

You must determine whether water reached your home’s electrical plugs if your house floods. If so, the electrical systems might sustain harm. Prior to using the electricity in your house or place of business, speak with a licenced electrician.

Even behind walls where it can’t be seen, damaged wiring might result in a fire hazard. When it is safe to call your electrical utility provider to have your power turned back on, a licenced electrician will advise you.

Natural Gas Appliances After a flood

These valves and controls will start to corrode as soon as water gets inside of them. This damage may not be visible to you, and it can still occur even if the appliance’s exterior is immaculate. This rust damage will, at the very least, render your appliance unreliable.

On the other hand, it has been known for some highly damaged units to explode or catch fire. This is why it’s crucial to have a professional inspect each and every equipment in your home that came into contact with flood water.

This post on NaturalGasPlans.com provides more details on how to handle natural gas appliances during a flood.

Keep Your Pets Safe During a Flood or Natural Disaster

Without including our animal buddies, this post wouldn’t be complete. On how to keep your pets safe during a flood or other natural disaster, Houston Dog Mom, a local dog blog, provides some excellent advice. They go over how to prepare for storms, create a pet “go-bag,” be careful with rainwater, and create a pet first aid kit. Visit their website to learn more.