Will My Flooded Mahopac Home Ever Get Back to Normal?

4/30/2020 (Permalink)

When our area faces flooding, many homes can be affected. If your home gets flooded, call the certified technicians at SERVPRO right away.

Calling in the Help of Trained Technicians at SERVPRO Ensures Your Mahopac Home Is Restored Quickly After Flood Damage

Water infiltration due to heavy storm rain in Mahopac can wreak havoc throughout the basement or first floor of your home. This potentially contaminated water is not only a threat to your health but also your home’s structure and all of your belongings. Hiring trained flood restoration technicians like our SERVPRO team gets you the prompt service you need.  We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster, and we are available when you need us, 24/7.

How Do You Assess My Property After the Flood?

Following flood loss, your interior must be thoroughly assessed. Once SERVPRO arrives to determine the level of flood damage in Mahopac, we can put a solid plan into action. Because safety hazards are common with floodwater, we take all of the necessary precautions before starting the water remediation and restoration plan. Some of the steps that we take to ensure a safe environment for everyone on the worksite includes:

•   Scoping the property for any potential electrical hazards
•   Testing the flood water to determine the level of contamination 
•   Placement of ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) on various electrical equipment
•   All of our team members wear appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE)
•   We work diligently to locate any areas where mold can grow.

How Does the Flood Cleanup Work?

Once our team onsite has a plan in place, we use professional-grade pumps and extraction tools to bring as much water out of your home as possible as quickly as we can. After all standing water is removed, our team then uses a unique formula that tells us how many drying implements to place throughout the flood loss zone in Mahopac. We use drying equipment, such as:

•   Industrial fans
•   Air movers
•   Dehumidifiers

While some homeowners try the DIY route for cleaning drying their interior, you should know that there is a significant difference between industrial-strength and consumer equipment. SERVPRO uses high-powered centrifugal air movers that help increase airflow in the space so that any embedded moisture rises. From there, the dehumidifiers work to capture the moisture from the air.

What Do You Do to Stop Foul Odors from Developing?

Along with the use of powerful pumps to extract the standing water in your home, our skilled technicians also remove any porous materials such as carpeting and padding. In most flood water situations, these materials must be disposed of and replaced entirely. Here is what we know about microbial growth and how it can impact your home:

•   All surfaces are susceptible to mold and mildew growth, with saturated porous materials and hidden moisture pockets posing the most significant threat
•   Microbial growth can begin to develop within about 24 to 48 hours of the start of the flood loss
•   The application of antimicrobial agents to the surfaces throughout your house help to slow and inhibit microbial growth

Why is Moisture Such an Issue?

Any humidity or moisture left in your home after flood loss should never be ignored. Failing to locate and address all water and hidden moisture pockets can bring about dangerous mold. It is our goal to keep all clients safe from the infestation of mold by providing same-day cleanup. If any of the walls within your home show water damage, flood cuts are made just above the waterline. The damaged drywall is removed to allow for ample drying, then replaced to make the walls look like their preloss condition.

We Implement Special Drying Methods When Necessary

If you have hardwood floors within your home impacted by the flood, we have specialized drying methods. A drying application known as “tenting” may be used to extract moisture from floorboards. By using plastic sheeting taped to the floor and placing air movers and desiccant dehumidifiers, our team can force warm air in and then extract the vapor. 

In some instances, we may use drying mats strategically placed on the floors. These drying mats must be moved regularly throughout the drying phase so that the boards do not suffer permanent damage from over-drying, such as splintering. After the humidity levels and moisture content is back to normal, any slight crowning or cupping of the flooring can be sanded lightly before the surface gets refinished.

How Can I Be Sure My Interior is Safe?

For the final steps of the flood damage cleanup, our trained technicians double-check to ensure structural integrity. We inspect all areas that were impacted by water, and each surface gets thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with EPA-registered products. Our team also generates a detailed report of the cleanup for you to have that goes over all repairs. 

Whenever you find yourself in need of emergency flood damage restoration, you can trust our team at SERVPRO of Putnam County to be there. We are available 24/7 for water cleanup and restoration to make everything “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call at (845) 228-1090, and we will send a team out as soon as possible to get started with your assessment.