4 Easy Ways to Clean Up after a Water Leak
Plumbing incidents like slab leaks and burst pipes can create messy problems. After a leak has been contained and repaired, it’s up to you to clean up most of the mess left behind. Such cleanup can seem like a harrowing job, but it’s necessary to prevent stagnant water from causing health issues and damaging your floors, baseboards, walls, and other household items. For excessive flooding, you may need to special drying equipment or water mitigation services. However, most homeowners can clean up after a water leak themselves following these tips.
Turn the Electricity Off
If the leak occurred near appliances, cut the power to the area. Don’t risk electrocution. Be safe!
Clear the Area
It’s important to work with a clean slate. To do this, you need to clean the area thoroughly. Remove items from the work area like furniture, removable appliances, and pull up water-soaked flooring (carpet, linoleum, laminate flooring, etc.).
Remove Water from Area
There are several ways to remove water from the affected area. If the flooding is minimal, sopping up the water with towels is the easiest solution. In cases when there is puddling or an exceptional amount of water, you’ll be better off using a wet-vac. Are you without a wet-vac? You can rent one at home improvement stores and plumbing supply stores.
Let Mother Nature Help Dry the Area
If possible, open windows and doors to help the area dry faster and eliminate smells. Also, once all the water is removed, use fans to thoroughly dry baseboards, walls, concrete slabs, etc. Dehumidifiers are also quite beneficial in circumstances like these.
When to Call for Professional Mitigation Service
As previously stated at the beginning of this article, sometimes clean-up efforts by homeowners are not enough. When water has permeated the drywall or seeped through the foundation of a home, we suggest calling a professional restoration company or mitigation service. These services will work hard to get your home bone dry so that mold is kept at bay and to inspect for structural damage from the water leak.
Preventing Water Leaks
Accidents happen. At Rooter Hero Plumbing, we understand this and offer a variety of preventive services like video camera inspections, electronic leak detection, and more to keep water leaks from damaging your home. Call us today to learn more about all our residential plumbing replacement and repair services!
