There are only a few things that bring a more unpleasant image to the mind of a person than the idea of sewage and coming into contact with it. If the area where you live has been flooded recently, you may need to deal with that very thing as you are allowed to go back to your home after the waters have receded, since it is often the case that these very waters are contaminated with it, among other unpleasant items. Sewage, chemicals, decaying bodies, and other things may be lurking in the flood water that has overrun your home, so cleaning it out of the nooks and crannies of your home is going to be quite the task. If you are prepared, however, you can save a lot of money by doing most of the cleanup yourself.
Everything in the house needs to be taken outside, especially wet furniture. Unfortunately, your upholstered furniture will not be salvageable unless there is little padding, such as the upholstery on some dining chairs. Large items like couches and recliners will need to be thrown away 95% of the time because the padding will soak up sewage, soil, and chemicals, causing it to become a biological hazard. These items are very difficult to completely disinfect and you will waste much time and money trying to do so. Replacing them is your best bet.
Cloth items in the tops of closets that did not come into contact with the water can become molded simply because of the humidity in the house. This typically starts after about 3 or 4 days, since they were not actually soaked by the flood. Get these items out and wash them as soon as you can, but not in your home’s washer, since it was probably flooded, too. Do not use your household appliances until they have been checked for electrical damage. Take anything you need to wash to a Laundromat.
Mold can start growing on textiles and other materials within about 48 hours after they have gotten wet. You can save these items most of the time, but they may be stained. Cleaning molded items made of real leather, however, is not possible.
Scrubbing your floors can be done by taking a couple of buckets, one with cleaning water and the other with rinsing water, and being sure not to contaminate the clean water with sewage. Do not put the sponge or mop back into the clean water without rinsing it first. Replace the rinsing water as often as you need to.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors and
Orlando water Damage companies.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Dealing With Wet Front and Backyards
Standing water in the front or the back yard can be an eyesore for both the homeowner and other people in the neighborhood, but it is not typically something that cannot be remedied. Depending on the source of the problem, it can be solved usually by either installing a drainage system or by the addition of a bit of soil in the right areas.
Allowing standing water in your yard, especially around the foundation of your house, can be detrimental both to the value of the property and to the structural integrity of the home. Water collecting in pockets around the base of the house can seep down into the basement or cause the house to slowly sink into the ground due to soil displacement over time. Wet soil does not form a good foundation for a home, so you need to try and fix this problem as soon as you run across it.
Many times simply piling soil in the areas where the water collects will fix the problem, since it is usually a simple issue of elevation. Some areas of your yard may not be the same elevation as other parts and water collects in these spots. Putting soil in these and planting grass over them not only for a pleasing visual effect, but also to keep the soil well in place, is the only real way to deal with elevation issues.
Putting in a drainage system is also a good option and it is not that expensive to install. You need a shovel, some gravel, PVC pipe, and a sink strainer. You should not have to hire anyone to do this for you, since all it takes is a little common sense and a bit of effort. You do, however, need to make sure that you obtain a permit to install the drain system, depending on where you live. Some areas may require that you get a permit to install a drainage system in your yard and want you to ask permission before directing the water into a city sewer or ditch.
Dig the ditch starting at the part of the yard that you want to drain and dig it to the area you want the water to go to. This ditch should slant downhill so that the water does not simply stand inside the drain and go nowhere. To get an adequate amount of water flow, it should decline 6 inches for every 100 feet. Install the PVC pipe inside it and cover with gravel. Cover that with soil and plant grass over it. This should keep the water drained well, but if you need more than one spot in your yard drained, the construction may be a little more complicated.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
mold removal in Atlanta Georgia and
Water Damage Restoration companies.
Allowing standing water in your yard, especially around the foundation of your house, can be detrimental both to the value of the property and to the structural integrity of the home. Water collecting in pockets around the base of the house can seep down into the basement or cause the house to slowly sink into the ground due to soil displacement over time. Wet soil does not form a good foundation for a home, so you need to try and fix this problem as soon as you run across it.
Many times simply piling soil in the areas where the water collects will fix the problem, since it is usually a simple issue of elevation. Some areas of your yard may not be the same elevation as other parts and water collects in these spots. Putting soil in these and planting grass over them not only for a pleasing visual effect, but also to keep the soil well in place, is the only real way to deal with elevation issues.
Putting in a drainage system is also a good option and it is not that expensive to install. You need a shovel, some gravel, PVC pipe, and a sink strainer. You should not have to hire anyone to do this for you, since all it takes is a little common sense and a bit of effort. You do, however, need to make sure that you obtain a permit to install the drain system, depending on where you live. Some areas may require that you get a permit to install a drainage system in your yard and want you to ask permission before directing the water into a city sewer or ditch.
Dig the ditch starting at the part of the yard that you want to drain and dig it to the area you want the water to go to. This ditch should slant downhill so that the water does not simply stand inside the drain and go nowhere. To get an adequate amount of water flow, it should decline 6 inches for every 100 feet. Install the PVC pipe inside it and cover with gravel. Cover that with soil and plant grass over it. This should keep the water drained well, but if you need more than one spot in your yard drained, the construction may be a little more complicated.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
mold removal in Atlanta Georgia and
Water Damage Restoration companies.
Water Damaged Consumer Electronics
Spilling water or any other liquid onto a laptop or a cell phone is one of the last things most owners of these items would like to do, but a lot of times this cannot really be avoided. Whether it is a cup of coffee, soda, or just plain water, most people think that if they spill this onto any electronic item that they own, the item is irreparable. Most assume that the item is completely dead and just needs to be replaced. This is not usually the case, even if the object becomes completely submerged in water.
If the device does not have electricity running to it at the time, even if it is completely submerged in water, it can usually be saved as long as you let it dry completely before you try to use it again. The only real thing that you have to worry about when you submerge something electronic in water while it is on is just how long it stays under the water. Over 20 seconds can usually cause irreparable damage, but as long as you can get the item out in less than this time, it should be able to be repaired.
As soon as the devices comes into contact with water or another liquid while it is turned on, you need to get rid of the power source immediately. If the device is connected to a wall outlet or a car plug, unplug it from the source of the power first and DO NOT reach into the liquid to obtain the item. React quickly, but try to hold onto common sense at the same time. After you do that, dry off the surface with a paper towel and put the item into a bowl of uncooked rice or something else that will draw out the moisture. Leave it in the bowl for a day or two to be sure it is completely dry.
If you have an item that has been submerged in flood water, you might need to consult a professional on this one. Mud, silt, and other particle debris may have gotten inside the system, so even if it dries out completely, more damage can happen if you try to use it. Flood water or not, do not turn the device on before it is completely dry. This is the worst mistake that you could make while it is still wet.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Water Damage Miami and
water damage restoration in atlanta companies.
If the device does not have electricity running to it at the time, even if it is completely submerged in water, it can usually be saved as long as you let it dry completely before you try to use it again. The only real thing that you have to worry about when you submerge something electronic in water while it is on is just how long it stays under the water. Over 20 seconds can usually cause irreparable damage, but as long as you can get the item out in less than this time, it should be able to be repaired.
As soon as the devices comes into contact with water or another liquid while it is turned on, you need to get rid of the power source immediately. If the device is connected to a wall outlet or a car plug, unplug it from the source of the power first and DO NOT reach into the liquid to obtain the item. React quickly, but try to hold onto common sense at the same time. After you do that, dry off the surface with a paper towel and put the item into a bowl of uncooked rice or something else that will draw out the moisture. Leave it in the bowl for a day or two to be sure it is completely dry.
If you have an item that has been submerged in flood water, you might need to consult a professional on this one. Mud, silt, and other particle debris may have gotten inside the system, so even if it dries out completely, more damage can happen if you try to use it. Flood water or not, do not turn the device on before it is completely dry. This is the worst mistake that you could make while it is still wet.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Water Damage Miami and
water damage restoration in atlanta companies.
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