If your Atlanta home has flooded, it can be overwhelming. Many homeowners have no idea that there are things they can do to mitigate the damage and prevent mold growth. The following steps, when done quickly, can help prevent or slow the growth of mold after a flood.
Get the Water Out
Depending on the size of your flood you may be able to soak up or pump out the water. A wet vac or shop vac is able to suction water out of sodden carpets. There are, however, a few instances when you should not attempt to extract the water yourself. For example, if your basement has flooded to the extent that you may have submerged fuse boxes or if you experience sewage flooding. These are hazardous conditions and should be handled by professionals.
Get Your Things Out
Move anything you can out of the flooded space into an area where they can begin drying. Upholstered furniture, curtains, pillows or other plush and absorbent items are going to be more difficult to save, but your best chance is moving them somewhere dry first.
Get the Air Moving
Fans are a good choice to start getting air over the wet areas to circulate, but you will likely need more than just fans. A dehumidifier can manage the moisture level in the room. While you can rent or buy a dehumidifier, a professional disaster repair specialist, like Parker Young, will have commercial fans and dehumidification units that are far more effective than what you can get at your local hardware store.
No one ever plans for a flood. But if it does happen, these four steps can help you prevent mold growth and allow Atlanta disaster recovery services to be more successful once they arrive. If your Atlanta home has flooded, contact us today so we can clean up and remove any mold right away.
