Suggestions For Safe Water Damage Repair

Even minor water damage in your Layton home can create major problems if not repaired quickly – especially if there is standing water present. To get the best results for your home, there really is only one solution: call in professional help with professional equipment. However, if there is a small, contained amount of standing water in your basement, and you want to try your hand at handling the situation here are some suggestions for safe water removal.

1. Safe standing water removal needs to be, well, safe. Do not walk blindly into standing water, no matter how minor it may appear. If there is electricity or power to the area that has standing water, be sure it is turned off. Water and electricity can create a hazardous and even lethal situation, so ensuring there is no power running to the area will keep you safe from potential shock or electrocution. You should also wear rubber-soled boots and gloves to help minimize the potential electrical hazards that may come with standing water in your home. 
2. The next thing you need to do is ensure the source of the water has been stopped. If water is still flowing into the area, damage can grow exponentially. If you are unsure what the source of the water is, proceed with caution. Water can contain different levels of contamination depending on its source, so if that source is unknown then treat all water as if it is highly contaminated (better to be safe than sorry!). IF the water is a result of severe weather, it is considered contaminated so avoid contact with water and wait until the weather has stopped before attempting to begin repairs. Shut off the water supply to your home is the source cannot be determined – this will stop the flow of water completely and give you time to do some investigative work without adding more water to the situation. You can’t remove the water when it is still coming into the area, so get the source stopped as soon as possible.
3. Now it’s time to remove the water. Without the use of commercial-grade equipment, you will have to utilize the next best thing – a wet/dry shop vacuum. Before you just take your shop vacuum to water, you need to set it up so that it can suction-up water. This requires you to remove the air filter and switch to a wide flat attachment on the end of the hose. Then you can begin to suck-up the water into the vacuum. Depending on how much water is present, you may need to empty your vacuum multiple times. Be sure to empty the water as far away from your home’s foundation as possible so there is no chance of it working its way back inside. Repeat this process until all the standing water has been removed.
4. After removing standing water, adequate drying still needs to be complete. The use of dehumidifiers and fans can ensure all moisture that has soaked into materials us removed from the area. Moisture left behind can facilitate mold and other microbial growth, creating more problems for your home. Do not skimp on the drying process.

Water Damage Repair in Layton

In summary, removing standing water from your home can become quite the process – especially if you do not have the correct equipment to get the job done quickly and correctly. The best thing you can do for your home when you have standing water is to call Swift Restoration and Remodeling. Our water damage repair services will ensure all standing water is removed , and adequate drying is achieved as quickly as possible.