Simple Tools For Water Damage First Aid

When you experience home or property damage, such as a flooded basement, fire and smoke damage, water damage, mold, and more, you’ll need the services of an experienced repair company that knows exactly how to help you. However, there are plenty of tools on the market that can help you prevent this kind of damage from happening to your home. Here’s what we recommend investing in, especially if you live in an area prone to flooding, mold, or fire.

De-humidifier

Mold tends to grow in moist areas, and high humidity is a huge catalyst for mold growth. Keeping a de-humidifier in your dampest rooms, like the bathroom or kitchen, as well as any other rooms with poor ventilation, can help keep mold from growing. It’s also important to watch out for condensation on windows and other surfaces, which can be a big sign of excess humidity. You’ll need to keep your de-humidifier clean and check to make sure it’s working properly throughout the year to avoid a visit from your local mold clean up company.

Mold control spray

If you find that certain surfaces in your home are prone to mold growth, then you should purchase a cleaner specifically designed to mitigate mold growth. These are often sold at home improvement stores, as well as certain department stores. They are particularly good for showers, where mold can grow easily if they aren’t kept clean. Most of these products are designed to work on many different surfaces as well, so you can use them throughout the house.

Mold-resistent drywall and paint

There’s no better time to start preventing these problems than when you are first building your home. One of the best ways to do that is with mold resistent materials, such as drywall and paint. You can’t use these products on areas with existing mold growth, as they won’t do anything to mitigate the existing problem, but they are great for preventing mold growth, particularly in extremely humid climates. Talk to your builder to see if they can use these materials when building your home.

Mold detector

If you suspect you may have mold growth in your home but cannot find it, a mold detector can be a great way to find it so you can remove it. Although these kits can be somewhat pricey, they are a very helpful investment, particularly if you live in a humid area. There are multiple types of products that provide similar solutions – some are electronic sensors that you can run along a wall to get a mold reading, while others are chemical test kits. Regardless of which product you choose, it is very helpful to have one of these on hand, particularly if you’ve had mold issues or basement water damage in the past.

Mold Remover

When you do find small concentrations of mold in your home, you’ll want to get rid of them as soon as possible to avoid having to pay for the services of a mold or water damage service. There are many household cleaning products that are designed specifically to get rid of mold that are very affordable and readily available. It helps to have these on hand just in case you notice mold starting to grow.

Water Absorbing Flood Barrier

If you’ve struggled with your home flooding in the past, then it is definitely helpful to keep a few of these in your basement just in case it happens again. These products are small, flat items that look like a mat, but they inflate on their own when they come into contact with water, preventing it from getting into your home and flooding. You can place them around walls, doors, windows, or anywhere else where your home is prone to flooding. Most of these products are quite durable as well and will last you for months, so you can continue to use them throughout storm season in your area and avoid needing water removal services.

Sump Pump

This is an absolute essential if you live in an area that experiences high levels of precipitation each year. They are generally placed in your basement, where you install a basin to collect excess water that accumulates throughout the season. The pump then moves the water out of your home, typically to a drainage system in your yard. This reduces the level of hassle involved in managing a flooded basement. However, these pumps do require some cleaning a few times a year to keep them in good condition.

Water Sensor

Often, we don’t notice a case of basement flooding or water damage until it’s too late and there is severe rot, mold, or decay in your home. However, you can prevent this from happening by installing a water sensor in your home. These small devices can be placed anywhere where flooding is most likely to happen – for example, bathrooms, under sinks, in basements, or behind your washer and dryer. Just like a smoke detector, this product will make noise when it comes into contact with water, alerting you to potential problems.

 

Flood Sensor

These are very similar to water sensors, but they are specifically designed to prevent flooding. You place them into a drain pan that is connected to your pipes, and when the pan overflows, the sensor will automatically turn the system off to prevent further flooding. This is particularly useful for people with multi-level houses who might not notice drainage problems in their basement.

Rubber Roof Underlayment

If you are building a new home in an area where it rains consistently, this is a must-have for you. It is a waterproof layer of roofing that goes underneath your shingles and prevents water from seeping in. Although it may be an investment during construction, it will prevent you from having to spend even more money repairing the roof when it incurs water damage in the future.

Septic Check Valve

To avoid needing water damage repair, install a septic check valve in your plumbing system. What this does is it forces water to flow only one way – out of your house – and prevents clogging, leaks, and ruptures. They also prevent your water from getting contaminated, which in turn prevents serious damage to your home as well as health problems for your family. These valves are fairly inexpensive, and can be installed either on your own or with a plumber’s assistance.

Waterproof Paints and Sealants

These can be painted over your existing walls, floors, and ceilings to prevent water from condensing on these surfaces and seeping into the underlying drywall. There are different products designed to be used on different materials, and they will ensure that the wall, floor, etc. will stay in great condition regardless of the weather. These sealants and paints can also make it much easier to clean your home without worrying about accidentally damaging it.

Smoke Detectors

This is probably a “no-brainer” for most homeowners, but to avoid needing fire damage cleanup, you’ll want to make sure you are using high quality smoke detectors and replacing the batteries often. This is the best way to make sure you are aware of fires and can put them out before they cause any damage. Most homes are required to include up-to-date smoke detectors by law (depending on where you live), but it can’t hurt to check and make sure yours are up to date.

Fire Resistant Drywall

Like many other products on this list, this is an essential to include when you are building your home. This can prevent fires from spreading once they start, and minimize the amount of fire damage repair that is needed in the event of an intense house fire. It will keep the structure of your home intact, even if the interior is subject to smoke damage.

Fireproof Safe

While this won’t necessarily prevent any damage to your home, it can prevent damage to your prized possessions in the event of a house fire. There are many relatively affordable fireproof safes on the market that have the added bonus of keeping your items protected in the event of a robbery as well. This is a must-have item for any homeowner.

Whether you are building a new home, moving into a home that’s already built, or just want to upgrade the space you’ve lived in for years, these items can help you make sure your home is protected against costly damage. Since your goal will be to enjoy your home for years to come, it is important to spend some time, effort, and money protecting it from the elements. However, if you do notice water damage, flooding, or fire damage that you cannot repair on your own, it is important to contact a professional right away. These things can not only decrease the value of your home, but they can actually be very detrimental to your personal safety. Virtually every major city has plenty of water damage repair companies, mold removal companies, fire restoration companies, and more. Taking care of damage right away is key to minimizing costs – and your stress levels.