Clear or Contaminated...Do's and Don'ts for Your Water Restoration Needs

12/16/2019 (Permalink)

After a 2018 storm, water stood in hallways and offices of this business, our team arrived that morning to take care of the mess.

As some of you may know, there are different categories of water damage.  Those range from clean water to grossly contaminated water.  The cleanup methods differ in many ways in the restoration industry and to many home or business owners they don't always understand why.  Here are a few tips in what to do and what not to do when working on cleaning after a water loss...

Damage from clean water

• Shut off the water source if possible or contact a qualified professional to do so.
• Turn off circuit breakers from wet areas of the building if access to the power distribution panel is safe from potential electrical shock. Do not enter rooms with standing water, as electrical shock hazards may exist.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions to allow more even drying.
• Move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other valuable items that may be sensitive to moisture to a safe place.
• Do not leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors as they may cause staining.
• If using a vacuum to clean up water, make sure your vacuum is built to handle wet extraction.  
• Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet; do not enter rooms where ceilings are drooping from retained water.

Damage from contaminated water

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Wash your hands thoroughly if you come in contact with the contaminated water or contents within the water.
• Do not walk through contaminated areas, as you could spread damage to unaffected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.
• Do not use household fans to dry the structure; air flow could spread contaminants.
• Discard any food and personal hygiene products if exposed to the contaminated areas.

No matter how dirty the job, SERVPRO of Spencer & Iowa Great Lakes is here to help.  As part of our duty to you, we will help break down the restoration process every step of the way for you to understand what we are doing and why.  

When water damages your home or business, don’t leave your property to chance...Call SERVPRO of Spencer & Iowa Great Lakes at 712-262-4379.