Water damage is a nightmare for any homeowner. Even in Nevada, the potential exists for a massive rain storm that can send water into your home and ruin your possessions. A burst pipe can cause untold thousands of dollars in damage. It’s a very real risk, and one that homeowners must face on a daily basis.
What can you do if you do suffer water damage, be it from weather or a broken pipe? Let’s check out some good advice about how to recover from water damage in your home, how to reduce its effects and how to get your possessions dried out once more.
Dry Out Water Damage
Water damage can occur for many reasons, and in dry climates like Nevada, plumbing leaks tend to be the largest risk. When you do suffer this kind of damage, your first thought needs to be mitigating the damage as much as possible, and that means getting things dried out. Many things that get wet can be salvaged if they can be dried within 48 hours, and if you can avoid rust and mold.
Get Air Flow Going
The first step is to establish solid air flow through the damaged areas. In some homes, opening windows and doors can start the process. In others, you’ll need a high-powered industrial fan to get the air moving faster. The more regular air flow you have, the faster your room will dry out.
Use a Dehumidifier
A big dehumidifier can be had for a couple hundred dollars. Set it up in the wet room and run it along with the fan. This will help to simply draw the moisture out of the area. It works best in a contained space like a rec room or bedroom, but it can be quite effective.
Suck It Up
By “suck it up,” we don’t mean “deal with it.” We mean literally suck up the water. Use a sump pump if you have flood conditions, to help move it out of your house. Use a shop vac with a wet/dry feature to suck up puddles of water and get the moisture out of carpets and the like.
Dealing with Wet Items
Any wet objects need to be removed from the room. If possible, let cloth objects hang in the sun to dry. Toss out wet insulation. Remove any linoleum or vinyl flooring to help evaporation. If you have important papers, put them into plastic bags, then into the freezer. When you have time, they can be removed and dried with a fan or air dried.
Use Desiccants
Desiccants like calcium oxide or silica gel work like a sponge to suck up moisture from the air. Often you can get these at home improvement stores in high-volume quantities. They can help to remove humidity as well.
Address Plumbing Leaks
Of course, if your water damage was caused by plumbing leaks, you’ll need to address the problem to contain the damage. That’s where Village Plumbing comes into the picture. We can take care of burst pipes, leaky faucets, old, rusty plumbing and other problems to save you from future damage. Get in touch with us for more information or to schedule an appointment today.
