Natural disasters, burst sewer lines, and leaking pipes can leave a home severely water-damaged, which is why every homeowner should know a few water damage restoration tips. Water damage can cause toxic mold growth in your home, leading to nose, lung, and throat irritation. For people with asthma, mold can cause severe and long-lasting complications.

Time is of the essence once your home is water-damaged ⁠— the sooner you act on the problem, the better chances you’ll have at controlling it. Acting immediately will also prevent the problem from worsening and causing severe health issues to the people in your home.

The moment you notice signs of water damage in your home, follow these tips ASAP:

1. Disconnect Outlets

Water and electricity are a deadly combination, so make sure to disconnect all outlets the moment you discover water damage in your home. Your DIY restoration process should start with this step, even if you may not see the severity of the damage.

Immediately going into the water-damaged area in your home without disconnecting the outlets can cause electrical shocks and explosions. Therefore, always prioritize your safety when repairing water damage at home to prevent injuries and accidents.

2. Check For Mold

As mentioned, mold is toxic to humans because it poses serious health risks. Since mold thrives in moist environments, take the time to inspect your home for its presence immediately after determining your home has water damage. Mold can spread quickly once it grows in one area.

Some of the most common signs of mold at home are:

The prevalence of a musty, earthy smell
Darkening of the grout in your shower tiles
Wallpaper peeling
Dark or colored spots on your walls

Feeling sick whenever you’re indoors is also a tell-tale sign of mold infestation at home.

For minor mold problems, you can easily remove the affected area, put it in a sealed bag, and dispose of it immediately. However, for bigger and more severe mold infestations, you might need to shut down any airflow at home and call a mold specialist.

3. Dry the Water Out

As part of your DIY water damage repair, always dry the water out to prevent the water damage from worsening. Leaving standing water for long periods can attract germs and bacteria and weaken the structure of your home.

There are several ways to eliminate moisture from water-damaged areas. You can use fans or large-capacity dehumidifiers to circulate the air indoors. Don’t forget to dry out your carpets and other surrounding materials as well.

4. Remove Any Damaged Materials

Often, water damage will not only affect the condition of your home, but also the longevity of the valuables inside it. For instance, if your basement is water-damaged, expect that the carpets and pieces of furniture in the area are also damaged.

When fixing water damage at home, take the time to remove any affected materials. Porous materials, like carpet and insulation, will likely absorb a great amount of water, and keeping them indoors will only encourage the growth of mold and mildew.

Another important thing to focus on is the condition of your ceiling and floor materials. If you notice any damaged cement, wood, or drywall, repair or replace them immediately. This will improve the structural integrity of your home and prevent the spread of moisture.

5. Disinfect Remaining Areas

Even if your basement was the only water-damaged area in your house, you can’t be too sure that other spaces in your home are safe and unaffected. Remember, a moist environment is all it takes for germs and bacteria to thrive and spread diseases.

Regardless of how minor you think the water damage is at home, prioritize disinfecting all areas. Ideally, you should start sanitizing your property once you remove everything that was compromised. Spray and wipe down all surfaces using bleach so mold spores don’t grow and multiply.

Work With the Best Jacksonville Water Damage Restoration Company!

As a homeowner, there’s only so much you can do to fix water damage at home. Often, DIY water damage repair hacks aren’t enough to get the job done. This is especially true if you don’t have the experience or tools to fix extensive water damage at home.

If you tried countless DIY water damage cleanup tips to no avail, type in “water damage cleanup near me” in your browser and hire professionals instead. If you live in Jacksonville, we are an experienced Jacksonville water damage restoration company that can fix any water damage in your home in no time.

We at The Best Restoration pride ourselves on being the best emergency restoration services provider. We have the experience and equipment to fix water-damaged properties, no matter the scale of the problem, so call us today at (904) 675-1305 or fill out this form to schedule our services!

Water Damage Restoration Tips: DIY Water Damage Cleanup