Those of us who live here in Lancaster, and the surrounding counties, have been seeing only one thing outside our windows for days on end. Rain.Â
Local news and social media has been rife with reports of flooded creeks, streams, roads, and even our local amusement parks closing due to flooding. It’s inevitable with this amount of rain that some of us will experience some water issues in our homes – be it a leaky roof or flooding basement.
Here are some tips for dealing with water damage if it comes your way:
Consider safety first! Handling any electrical items while standing in water can cause shock and electrocution. Wear rubber boots if you need to stand in the water.
Remove excess water. Mop or wipe up any laying water. If there is too much water to mop up, you may consider using a wet/dry vac, buckets, or a pump if one is available to you and you can do so safely. Do not use a household vacuum to deal with water.
Move any loose or valuable items. Items that are able to be impacted by water should be relocated as soon as possible so they do not suffer from water damage.
Remove anything that is subject to mold. While some of your items may be able to be dried out and salvaged, some are subject to mold and will be permanently damaged by water. Remove any of these items to avoid mold growth and spreading.
Place blocks under furniture. If possible, place wood blocks under the legs of furniture to separate the furniture from the wet ground.
Use air to help dry water. If water is minimal, running air conditioning, fans, and dehumidifiers can assist in drying the water. Do not place fans or anything electrical in standing water.
Avoid rooms where water is coming in through ceiling. Water can cause ceilings to sag and eventually cave. Do not use ceiling fans or lights in rooms with wet ceilings.
Consult a professional when needed. Some water issues are too much to handle on your own. Whether for saftey reasons, amount of water, or the size of the damage done, you may need to call in a professional contractor or restoration company to assist in getting things back to normal.