Water damage can devastate your property in a short time. Heavy rain, storms, flooding, plumbing and sewer problems can all result in serious damage and loss of property and possessions. One in 45 households experience water damage each year. During harsh winter weather the risk of water damage from frozen pipes and burst pipes is high. If you have a frozen pipe or a burst pipe, you need to act quickly to minimize the water damage. In addition to sustaining damage resulting directly from water incursion, many flooded structures become ideal environments for mold. As soon as your property is flooded or damaged by water, the clock starts ticking. The sooner the location is dried, cleaned and restored, the lower the risk of hazardous mold growth.
Mesa 24 Hour Flood Clean Up has the equipment, personnel and know-how to address your water damage and safeguard your property from hazardous mold. We’ll be there when you need us!
Water Damage – Eight Ways to Dry Out and Move On; take steps to dry out quickly order to mitigate water damage and save your possessions. If you can dry items within 48 hours, you might salvage many goods, and avoid mold and rust.
- Move Air Naturally
If the humidity in the air isn’t too high, open windows and doors to start air circulating; Open closet and cabinet doors, and remove drawers.
- Move Air Mechanically
Rent or buy high-powered fans to rev up air circulation. Depending on size and power, fans cost between $50 and $500 to buy; $20 a day to rent. (Do not use your central air conditioner or furnace blower if HVAC ducts were under water.)
- Dehumidify
A portable dehumidifier can remove water vapor from the air in a contained area, like a bedroom or downstairs recreation room. Shut the room’s windows and doors to prevent more humidity from seeping in. Buy a big dehumidifier ($270) so you don’t have to empty its water drawer frequently.
- Pump Water
A sump pump is a submersible pump that continuously moves water out of the house through a hose or pipe. If you have standing water that is several inches deep, a sump pump can help. Rent a pump for about $44 a day, or purchase one for $100 or more.
- Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum Cleaner
Some shop vacuums are rated for use in wet conditions. These vacuum suck water from carpets and give you a fighting chance to save rugs and wall-to-walls. Don’t use an ordinary household vacuum whose innards are not protected from water. A 6-gallon wet/dry vacuums costs $50; a 16-gallon goes for about $170.
- Remove Sodden Objects
Haul wet rugs and furniture into the sun to reduce inside moisture level. Remove sheet vinyl or linoleum flooring to promote maximum evaporation. Throw out wet insulation under floors.
- Freeze Papers
To buy time, place wet books and photos into plastic bags and place in a frost-free freezer. This will stop additional deterioration, and prevent mold and mildew. When you have time, retrieve books from the freezer and air- or fan-dry the pages.
- Absorb Moisture
Desiccants (silica gel, clay, calcium oxide) absorb moisture like a sponge. Place water-permeable packages of desiccants and wet items in airtight containers or in sealed areas, like closets. Some desiccants change color to indicate they are saturated, which can take days or weeks, depending on how much moisture items contain.
Cleaning and Sanitation
Exposure to biological and chemical contaminants can pose serious health consequences. Failure to properly remove such substances can contribute to unhealthy and dangerous environments. Mesa Cleaning staff is trained to safely clean and remove biohazard substances and dispose of them properly in accordance with OSHA and health regulations.
We are one of the few firms certified by the State of Colorado for Meth Lab Cleanup. Equipped with the necessary safety apparatus and cleaning products, Mesa 24 Hour Flood Clean Up professionals transform unsafe environments back into clean, safe homes and offices.
The decontamination of a home or business due to trauma, sewage backups, chemical spills, hoarding, or other biohazards can be both dangerous and emotional. Specialized training and experience is key when choosing a cleanup company to resolve these circumstances. Mesa 24 Hour Flood Clean Up professionals provide the cleanup and recovery services for many biohazard situations including Meth Lab Cleanup, Hoarding / Filth Cleanup, Crime Scene Cleanup, Marijuana Growth Contamination Cleanup, Asbestos Abatement, and Lead Paint Abatement. From debris removal to blood and body fluid remediation to decontamination and sanitization and advanced odor treatments, our professionals will get your home or business back to a clean, safe environment. A Description of Typical House Flood Damages and Cleanup Requirements:
Flood waters contain many contaminants and lots of mud. High dollar items can get ruined all at once, even with just an inch of water, for example: carpeting, wallboard, appliances, and furniture. A more severe storm or deeper flood may add damage to even more expensive systems, like: ducts, the heater and air conditioner, roofing, private sewage and well systems, utilities, and the foundation.
After a flood, cleaning up is a long and hard process. Here is a list of common techniques for sanitizing and cleaning flooded items:
First things first: call your insurance agent. If your insurance covers the damage, your agent will tell you when an adjuster will contact you. List damage and take photos or videotape as you clean. You’ll need complete records for insurance claims, applications for disaster assistance and income tax deductions.
Clean and disinfect every surface. Scrub surfaces with hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. Then disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water or a product that is labeled as a disinfectant to kill germs.
In the kitchen – Immerse glass, porcelain, china, plastic dinnerware and enamelware for 10 minutes in a disinfecting solution of 2 tablespoons of chlorine bleach per gallon of hot water. Air-dry dishes. Do not use a towel.
Disinfect silverware, metal utensils, and pots and pans by boiling in water for 10 minutes. Chlorine bleach should not be used in this case because it reacts with many metals and causes them to darken.
Cupboards and counters need to be cleaned and rinsed with a chlorine bleach solution before storing dishes.
Furniture and household items – take furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing outside to dry as soon as possible. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to remove moisture or open at least two windows to ventilate with outdoor air. Use fans to circulate air in the house. If mold and mildew have already developed, brush off items outdoors to prevent scattering spores in the house. Vacuum floors, ceilings and walls to remove mildew, then wash with disinfectant. Wear a two-strap protective mask to prevent breathing mold spores.
Wood veneered furniture is usually not worth the cost and effort of repair. Solid wood furniture can usually be restored, unless damage is severe.
Photographs, books and important papers can be frozen and cleaned later. They should be dried carefully and slowly. Wash the mud off and store the articles in plastic bags and put them in a frost-free freezer to protect from mildew and further damage until you have time to thaw and clean them or take them to a professional.
Ceilings and walls – Wallboard acts like a sponge when wet; remove wallboard, plaster and paneling to at least the flood level. If soaked by contaminated floodwater, it can be a permanent health hazard and should be removed. If most of the wallboard was soaked by clean rainwater, consider cutting a 4- to 12-inch-high section from the bottom and top of walls. This creates a “chimney effect” of air movement for faster drying. A reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade works well, but use only the tip of the blade and watch out for pipes, ductwork and wiring.
Plaster and paneling can often be saved, but air must be circulated in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills.
The three kinds of insulation must be treated differently. Styrofoam might only need to be hosed off. Fiberglass should be thrown out if muddy but may be reused if dried thoroughly. Loose or blown-in cellulose should be replaced since it holds water for a long time and can lose its anti-fungal and fire retardant abilities.
Electrical system – The system must be shut off and repaired and inspected by an electrician before it can be turned back on. Wiring must be completely dried out- even behind walls. Switches, convenience outlets, light outlets, entrance panel, and junction boxes that have been under water may be filled with mud.
Heating and cooling systems and ducts – you will need inspection and cleaning. Flood-soaked insulation should be replaced.
Appliances – appliances will get stains, odors, silt deposits, and gritty deposits and need to be serviced, cleaned and sanitized. Running equipment before it is properly cleaned could seriously damage it and/or shock you. Professional cleaning is recommended for electronics, TVs and radios, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. The hard exterior can be hand cleaned. All metallic appliances that have been flooded should be properly grounded to prevent electric shock. Mud or dirt in a grounded outlet or adapter may prevent the grounding system from working, and you could be electrocuted.
Pump out the basement – If your basement is full or nearly full of water, pump out just 2 or 3 feet of water each day. If you drain the basement too quickly, the pressure outside the walls will be greater than the pressure inside the walls. That may make the walls and floor crack and collapse.
Floors – with wood sub flooring, the floor covering (vinyl, linoleum, carpet) must be removed so the sub flooring can dry thoroughly which may take several months. Open windows and doors to expose the boards to as much air as possible.
Carpeting – clean and dry carpets and rugs as quickly as possible. If sewage-contaminated floodwater covered your carpeting, discard it for health safety reasons. Also discard if the carpet was under water for 24 hours or more. To clean, drape carpets and rugs outdoors and hose them down. Work a disinfecting carpet cleaner into soiled spots with a broom. To discourage mildew and odors, rinse with a solution of 2 tablespoons bleach to 1 gallon water, but don’t use this solution on wool or nylon carpets. Dry the carpet and floor thoroughly before replacing the carpet. Padding is nearly impossible to clean so should be replaced. If the carpet can’t be removed, dry it as quickly as possible using a wet/dry vacuum and dehumidifier. Use a fan to circulate air above the carpet, and if possible, lift the carpet and ventilate with fans underneath.
Roof damage and leaks – Defective flashing- Flashing is the sheet metal used in waterproofing roof valleys, hips and the angle between a chimney and a roof. Wet spots near a chimney or outside wall may mean the leak is caused by defective flashing, narrow flashing or loose mortar joints. Look for corroded, loose or displaced flashing on sloping roof valleys and at junctions of dormers and roof.
Clogged downspouts – Check for choked downspouts. Accumulated water or snow on the roof above the flashing may cause a leak. Ice accumulations on eaves sometimes form ridges, which cause melting snow to back up under the shingles.
Cracks and deterioration – Roofing (especially wood or composition shingles) usually deteriorates first on southern exposures. Check southern slopes for cracking or deterioration.
Hole s- Missing shingles or holes in the roofing may be causing wet spots. To find holes, check for a drip trail or spot of light coming through in the attic. Stick a nail, straw or wire through the hole to mark the spot on the outside.
Private sewage systems – flooding of a private sewage system can be a hazardous situation for homeowners. It may lead to a back-up of sewage in the home, contaminated drinking water and lack of sanitation until the system is fixed. When flooding or saturated soil conditions persist, a private sewage system cannot function properly. Soil treatment systems for wastewater rely on aerobic (with oxygen) regions to reduce the amounts of chemicals and living organisms (viruses, bacteria and protozoa). When the soil is saturated or flooded, those hazardous materials can enter the groundwater and your drinking water supply.
Sewer Backup Restoration
Sewer backups should be considered an emergency since the water may contain viruses, bacteria, and other microbes that cause serious illnesses. Mesa 24 Hour Flood Clean Up Professionals have specialized training and equipment to quickly and safely clean contaminants like sewage.Water damage can be classified by the three types of contaminated water. Our Professionals will inspect your home or business to determine the appropriate plan of action for the type of water encountered.
24 Hour Emergency Services
Water contaminated with sewage backup should be considered an emergency situation and dealt with as quickly as possible. Our Professionals are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are water damage restoration specialists with specialized training, equipment and protective gear to safely restore your home or business.