Water damage to homes can occur at anytime and without warning. This can happen in any location, even at urbanized cities and areas. Although water damage can result from both manmade and natural causes, more chances of occurrence can happen in flood-prone areas like communities near rivers, coastlines and other waterways. Such disasters can threaten communities and make considerable damage to homes and properties, particularly flooded basement and kitchens. Homeowners have no other option but to perform water removal activities and prevent risk of further disasters.
Water removal should be done immediately to prevent risk of further water damage. The first thing that should be done in any water removal activities is to suppress or stop the source of the water. If the cause was due to a natural incident like storms and continuous rains, it is advisable to delay action until after the storm has passed. This is to prevent risk of injury to the personnel who will perform water removal.
If the cause of the flooding is manmade, immediate action should be performed to correct and suppress the source of the flooding. Examples are burst pipes or malfunctioning sprinkler systems. Stop more water from being introduced into the area by suppressing it at the source, usually an inlet valve going into the house or the building. Repairs can be done in parallel while water removal activities are taking place.
The best way to remove flooding in a basement or large quantities of standing water is through the use of a submersible pump. As the name connotes, the hermetically sealed motor is submerged into the body of the water to be removed. Water is then lifted up by the force of the submerged motor and facilitates a fast and effective method of water removal.
There are several types of submersible pumps and the cost would depend on the power of the motor. The stronger the motor, the faster the water removal rate would be. There are quite a few affordable models available that would be suitable enough to use for basement floodings. If the owner can borrow a similar pump from friends, or can rent it from utility shops, then there will be no need to purchase a new set.
Another alternative to submersible pumps, if these are not available, is through the use of hand pumps. These water removal devices are manufactured from a variety of materials, like cast iron or plastic. Water is pumped manually from the source through a series of movements in the pump mechanism. Pumps that are more efficient can remove water at a rate that is somewhat similar to submersible pumps. The only drawback is that they are manually operated. These would easily tire out the people performing the task. Still, if the need arises as in this particular case, the manual process may be worth it. Manpower performing the water removal tasks could take turns alternately in using the pump until all the water has been removed from the basement.
Once the majority of the water has been removed, remaining moisture can be removed by mopping or with the use of super absorbent sponges and chamois cloth. The sponges and the cloth can also be used to remove water from the furnishings inside the basement. Further moisture can be removed by introducing dehumidifiers into the room. It would also be wise to ventilate the area properly by opening all doors and windows for good air circulation.
Time is the most important factor in these water damage recovery activities. The faster water can be removed from the basement, the lesser the chance for mold infestations to take place and create health hazards for the inhabitants of the house or the establishment. Molds thrive on moisture and the best way to put a stop in their growth is remove the source of their lifeblood – and that is water.
charmaine pierce distributes information on water damage issues for denver water removal and chicago water damage emergency service
