When a home or business suffers from flood damage, it is often more than just cleaning up the water and redecorating. The property owner is facing structural issues, potential environmental, chemical or biological contaminants and other problems that may require professional repair and remediation to make the property livable again. A full assessment of the damage and a plan to restore it should be done as soon as possible, before the water rises again.
The first step in repairing flood damage is shutting off the water, gas and electricity until a qualified plumber, electrician and gas engineer can check them. Flood water may contain sewage and other waste, and the longer it sits, the more serious the damage. It is also important to shut off the power to avoid a dangerous electric shock.
After all the power and water are off, the next steps Fort Lauderdale Flood Repair in repairing flood damage include pumping out the water. Decontaminating the building is also important to remove environmental, chemical or biological contaminants that may be present in the water.
It is vital to do this before the weather turns cold, as wet materials can start developing very serious problems such as mold in as little as 24 hours. In addition, all items that have absorbed the water and cannot be cleaned or disinfected should be removed from the building, including mattresses, carpeting, cosmetics, stuffed animals and baby toys.
A flooded car can also have severe problems. The most common problem is short-circuiting in the electrical components and this can be very difficult to fix. The water can also corrode metal parts, especially those that are exposed to air or sun.
While some of these problems can be repaired with a little time, it is crucial to contact a professional to determine the extent of the flood damage and the cost to repair it. The insurance company will weigh the costs to repair versus the cost to replace, and sometimes the vehicle will be considered a total loss.
Even a car that appears beyond repair after being in a flood can be restored with the right help. In most cases, it will not be the same as it was before, but if it is safe to drive and the interior can be cleaned, it is worth trying to salvage it. The most common way to do this is with a phosphate cleaning solution such as powdered automatic dishwashing detergent or trisodium phosphate (4 to 6 tablespoons per gallon of water), available at hardware stores.