Cleaning up Flood Damage in Elizabethtown Homes

8/26/2018 (Permalink)

When flood waters rise in your home, contact SERVPRO quickly for drying out and remediation services.

Team SERVPRO Understands the Extent of the Flood Damage in Your House By the Category of the Water

Removing water from any Elizabethtown home can be a complicated process depending on the amount and how long it was in the residence. When the water comes from outside the home as part of a flood, there are additional problems for the homeowner and the restoration service.
 
Elizabethtown flood damage can involve much more than only physical destruction of property. SERVPRO restoration teams recognize that flood water is contaminated and usually falls into the Black category regarding precautions to take for safety, removal, and cleaning.
 
Flood water is determined as Black water since it contains water that has crossed over open ground, picking up what it can, and bringing it into a home. Often, this includes water and sewage from overwhelmed sewer systems, and whatever was in nearby creeks or rivers when they crest due to a storm.
 
SERVPRO technicians put on protective gear to include boots, gloves, and possibly masks, depending on the visual condition of the water as they approach it. Before entering the affected home, team members spray the surface of the water and nearby property with an anti-bacterial agent to reduce health risks.
 
Our teams do not pump out contaminated water from the home onto the nearby ground. If there is a nearby, functioning storm drain, they use commercial pumps to dispose of the flood water back into the sewer system. If there is no drain available, teams pump the water into a tank truck for disposal at a water treatment facility.
 
When there is Black water present, our team leader recommends immediate disposal of all carpeting. It is usually cheaper to dispose and replace them than attempting to clean and dry them. It is often the preferred option for many insurance companies as well.
 
With the water and carpets removed, team members spray the floors, walls, and any flooded property with the anti-bacterial agent. Since it is already difficult to dry and restore drywall, our recommendation for these panels is to remove and replace them as quickly as possible.
 
The presence of flood water also requires additional cleaning for wood flooring. Technicians check for water under the floorboards, and if they find any, spray the affected areas. They next use an air mover with a flexible hose to force warm air under the floor to dry it before splitting, cracking, or another warping can take place.
 
The goal of SERVPRO of New Hanover is to quickly restore flooded homes to a dry, safe condition after the water recedes. If you need our restoration services, call us today at (910) 762-8180 to schedule an inspection.

Click here for more information on the city of Elizabethtown.