The Importance of Cleaning Items Properly After Water Damage

2/14/2021 (Permalink)

You can feel almost as victimized by an onslaught of water in your home as you would a masked intruder. The dangers are both immediate and potentially long-term when you are dealing with a broken pipe, backed up sewer or other water damage situation. The specific dangers involved depend on the type of water damage you are facing:

• Clean water
• Gray or black water

The process and dangers for pipe burst cleanup, which usually involves clean water, are different than what you’d need a sewer cleanup company to do.

Clean Water Cleanup

The main focus when dealing with clean water cleanup is getting the water out as quickly as possible. This means addressing the flooring, but also wet walls, furniture and belongings. It takes just 24 hours for mold to begin growing on drywall, carpeting, upholstery and other material. Mold can be damaging and a hazard, so it is important to look at each item and restore it properly. Hidden damp areas invite mold and insects as easily as areas you can see.

Another problem with delaying pipe burst cleanup is elevated humidity levels in your home. You could end up with mold far from the broken pipe. The humidity will also make the HVAC system run harder, which can be costly.

Black Water Cleanup

Dealing with black water is infinitely worse. Not only do you have the same potential dangers as you would with clean water cleanup, but you also face contaminants and microorganisms that could prove deadly. These contaminants will remain present until everything is thoroughly cleaned and dried. It is important to note that not all materials can be cleaned satisfactorily and should be disposed of. A trained and qualified sewer cleanup company can be your best bet for restoring what can be and advising you what should be thrown away.

If you are dealing with a broken pipe and need pipe burst cleanup or sewer cleanup company services, the most important thing is to get started right away. Time is not on your side, and delaying can result in more serious problems that may affect your home.