Water Damage Repair Tips: How to Fix Water Damage at Home

Discovering effective water damage repair tips is crucial, especially when facing a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Water damage spreads quickly and provides a breeding ground for mold and mildew, making it costly and hazardous. It can cause damage to almost every part of the home, including:

• Drywall and wooden studs
• Flooring materials like carpet, wood floor
• Framing
• Ceiling materials such as plaster and drywall.
• Wiring, piping, and other utility systems
• HVAC systems
• Most of appliances
• Insulation
• And much more

Water damage can be a real headache, but there are ways to minimize the damage and Preventing Water Damage for any further harm. In this article, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to repair water damage and some useful information on the hazards that water damage can cause.

Water contamination is a serious issue that can cause damage to your home. According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, there are three categories of contaminated water that can cause damage to your home: clean water (Category 1), greywater (Category 2), and blackwater (Category 3). Each type of water carries different risks and hazards, and some require professional assistance to remove. Therefore, before attempting any DIY water damage repair, it is essential to identify the type of water you are dealing with and take appropriate safety measures.

Category 1 water is also known as freshwater or clean water, and it comes from rain, leaky pipes, snow runoff, or condensation. Although not wastewater, clean water can still cause damage to your home. For the most part, clean water is free of dangerous chemicals or hazardous substances. However, it can still cause minor damage, such as from a leaky pipe, faulty seal, or overflow. In some cases, clean water can cause severe damage, such as a water main bursting or leaving a faucet on overnight. Since it is easy to clean up, most DIY methods are suitable for homeowners to use. However, if you decide to use a removal or cleanup service, expect to pay an average cost of $3.75 to $4.50 per square foot of water.

Greywater, also known as Category 2 water, is wastewater from washing machines, sinks, showers, bathtubs, and dishwashers. Greywater carries some contaminants from the appliances it has run through, such as food particles or less harmful chemicals like detergents. The contamination levels of greywater can vary depending on its source. Showers, tubs, and washing machines produce cleaner greywater, called light greywater, while kitchen sinks and dishwashers produce dirtier, dark greywater. Greywater is cleanable by homeowners in both cases but requires more safety precautions than clean water. Protective attire, such as thick rubber gloves and safety glasses, should be used when handling or cleaning it. If you decide to use a service, expect to pay $4.00 to $6.50 per square foot for greywater removal.

2. Cut Water and Power

If you discover a leak or flooding water, your first step should be to locate the source and turn it off. For appliances or sinks, this is usually easy since there is often a water connection right behind the appliance with a corresponding shutoff valve. However, for a burst pipe, especially one inside a wall, floor, or ceiling, it can be tricky. If the pipe is visible, follow it until you find its shutoff valve, which usually appears as a small, red, circular wheel. Turn the wheel until you no longer hear the water flowing.

For larger water main leaks or unseen pipes, you will need to turn off the house’s water main. Main shutoff valves do not have a standard location, but they are often located outside along the sides of a home, inside a crawl space, inside a garage, or next to the water heater. Once you locate the valve, you can use a red or green knob to shut off the water supply to your home.

If the leak does not slow down, there is still water in your house’s system, which the pipe is drawing from. In such cases, turning on all the faucets and showers in your home can help pull the water from the pipes, reducing the available water for the leak.

3. Call a Water Restoration Professional

Clearing out massive amounts of water in the case of a flood can be a significant challenge. Pool pumps are usually your best bet for large amounts of standing water, but a wet/dry vacuum or even a large mop bucket can work for small amounts.

If you are dealing with a situation where the water level is measured in feet instead of inches, it is best to seek professional help. A specialist will not only possess the necessary equipment to pump out and dry out your space more efficiently but will also be aware of how quickly the job should be done.

It may seem counterintuitive to slow down when it comes to pumping out water, but the experts will know how much water needs to be removed at a time to preserve the integrity of your home’s foundation and structure.

4. Watch for Signs of Mold

Mold can grow quickly in homes that have suffered from floods or severe water damage. It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to spread throughout the house under the right conditions. Even minor mold problems can escalate rapidly when exposed to additional moisture from water. So, after draining all the water from your house, make sure to check for any mold in areas that have been affected by water damage. Keep in mind that mold can grow in hard-to-reach places, such as under carpets, inside walls, or behind large objects and appliances.

Certain types of mold can be harmful to humans, causing respiratory problems, asthmatic inflammations, memory loss, fatigue, and even severe long-term health issues. While small patches of mold can be easily managed, widespread and severe mold problems should be handled by professionals. If you suspect or know of a significant mold issue, it is best to shut off airflow to the area, avoid entering it, and call a local mold removal service.

5. Call a Mold Specialist

If you were quick to remove any wet items and dry out the space within 24 hours after experiencing water damage, then there is a good chance that you were able to prevent mold growth. However, it is not safe to assume anything, and it is also not safe to assume that all mold can be seen with the naked eye. Mold spores can thrive anywhere unchecked moisture has been, including in HVAC ducts and underneath flooring.

It may not be necessary to call for a mold remediation specialist if you were able to handle the excess water with a mop or a couple of passes with a shop vac. However, if it took a long time for the water to subside and several days to dry out the space, it is highly recommended to hire a professional to conduct a mold inspection for the safety and well-being of your household.

6. Eliminate Porous and Damaged Items

In the event of flooding or significant water damage, it is crucial to remove porous materials because they absorb vast amounts of water, which can lead to irreversible damage or mold and mildew growth. It is nearly impossible to salvage these materials, particularly in the case of grey or blackwater damage. Common porous materials that may require disposal include drywall, carpets, upholstered furniture, insulation, mattresses, and rugs.

However, small objects such as stuffed animals, clothing, pillows, and blankets can be saved if cleaned thoroughly and promptly. But, anything that cannot fit into a washing machine will likely harbor mildew and must be discarded.

6. Give Affected Areas a Deep Clean

After disposing of everything that needs to be thrown away, the next step is to thoroughly disinfect every flooded surface. A good bleach solution is often the best choice as it is affordable, easy to make, effective in killing bacteria and prevents mold growth on solid surfaces. It’s important to wear gloves, a face mask, and safety goggles when disinfecting. Once you’re properly outfitted and have your bleach solution, wipe down each surface, rinse it, and allow it to dry. Remember that time is of the essence here. You need to act quickly to prevent mold spores from growing and spreading, so don’t delay in cleaning off surfaces.

7. Evaluate the Damage

After completing the cleaning process, the challenging part begins. You will need to assess the extent of the damage caused by the flooding. The damage caused by water can be severe and far-reaching, depending on the amount of water and how long it was allowed to sit and spread. It is crucial to be thorough in this process as water damage can weaken hard-to-spot areas like floor joists.

Ceilings are the most immediate location that is in danger of structural damage when affected by water. As the water seeps into the porous materials, the excess weight combined with gravity can quickly spell doom for a ceiling. Small leaks can lead to spots or minor sagging, while burst pipes can cause holes, dips, or full-on collapses. If you spot water damage on a ceiling, you will need to find the source of the water leak and put a stop to it before the damage spreads. Afterward, you will need to remove any damaged tiles, sheetrock, or drywall and apply a fresh coat of paint.

Flooring unfortunately is highly susceptible to water damage. In some cases, the damage is minimal and only requires a quick cleaning. However, more often than not, portions of the floor will need to be replaced. From the carpeting to the joists, supports, and padding, just about every part of the floor is susceptible to water damage. The most costly damage can come from the joists and supports. Since wood is a porous substance, it absorbs moisture quickly, leading to swelling, warping, and cracking.

To determine the total damage, you will need to remove the carpet and tear up the floorboards (which will also be badly damaged). However, if you have an exposed ceiling on the floor below, you will be able to see the damage clearly from there. Replacing significant flooring sections, especially wooden structures, can be dangerous, and you should consult a professional if you believe major renovations are necessary.

Drywall is as good as ruined once water seeps in, as it absorbs and holds moisture exceedingly well, leading to mold growth and sagging. Fortunately, drywall is easy and relatively cheap to replace. If only a portion of a sheet has been exposed, you can cut it out and replace it with a new section. However, in the case of flooding, if the water level is below 2.5 feet, you will need to cut out four feet of drywall, and if it is over 2.5 feet, the entire sheet needs to be replaced.

Caulking and Seal: To prevent future leaking problems, you will need to reseal and re-caulk everything once you have new materials set in place. Flooding can also damage the caulking and sealing of affected areas if they become wet enough. Therefore, it is not a bad idea to check areas you have entirely replaced and reseal them as well.

Conclusion: