James Cummings is the general manager of Servpro of Ahwatukee & South Tempe in Arizona, a branch of Servpro, the national fire and water cleanup and restoration company. Here, he explains what you should do after your home has suffered water or mold damage and before the cleanup and restoration company has arrived.
What you should do after flooding:
- If water is still leaking at the source, you can try to shut the water off at either the supply valve entering your home or at the valve at the city’s meter until a plumber arrives.
- Try to remove as much water as possible by mopping and blotting.
- Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing of lamps and tabletop items.
- Lift draperies off wet carpet, loop through a coat hanger, and place the hanger on the drapery rod.
- Remove wet upholstery and cushions.
- Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
- If damage occurs during a cool season, leave heat on; if it’s the summer, use an air conditioner if you have one for maximum drying.
- Remove wet area rugs and other carpeting.
- Remove wet fabrics and dry them as soon as possible.
- Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.
- If affected, open furniture drawers, closet doors, and luggage to enhance drying.
- Remove damp books from shelves and spread out to dry.
- Move valuables, photos, paintings, and art objects to a safe, dry location.
- Gather loose items from floors.
- If you suspect the water contains sewage, get all people and animals out as soon as possible. Close the doors to the area and shut off any central air conditioning or heating.
What you should not do after flooding:
- Do not go into rooms with standing water if the electricity is still on.
- Do not leave wet fabrics hanging around.
- Do not leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.
- Do not use an ordinary household vacuum cleaner to remove water.
- Do not use your television or other household electrical appliances while on wet carpet or wet floors.
- Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and stay out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.
- Do not lift tacked down carpet without professional help because lifting the carpet incorrectly could promote shrinkage and delamination (the separation of the carpet’s primary backing from its secondary backing, which causes wrinkling and puckering).
- If you suspect the water contains sewage, do not place any fans or air movers in the area. Placing fans or air movers into a sewage-contaminated area only increases the risk of aerosolizing (dispersing throughout the air) the bacteria and viruses that are so prevalent in raw sewage.
What you should do until the cleanup and restoration company arrives in the event of mold damage:
- It is best to keep the affected area confined as much as possible until a professional arrives. Exposure to high spore levels can cause allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections, and other respiratory problems.
What you should not do in the event of mold damage:
- Do not attempt to remove or alter the mold spores. Airborne mold spores may recolonize and grow if another food source is found.
