There’s nothing quite like walking into your home and discovering a huge puddle of water waiting for you. Five seconds ago, you were completely carefree and now you’ve got this giant mess to deal with. Never mind the chore of cleaning it all up, but now there’s damage in your home to deal with as well. Water is more powerful than humans sometimes give it credit for, and can destroy homes in a very short amount of time. What’s more, Lakewood residents are at risk for floods and water damage since the town sits right by Lake Erie. Here are the steps to take if you have water damage in Lakewood, Ohio. 

What Type of Water Do You Have?

You might be surprised to know that there are actually multiple types of water that can flood your home, depending on the source. If you have a ruptured pipe or the flooding has been caused by rain, the flooding is likely to be clean water. This is water that hasn’t come into contact with any pathogens or harmful bacteria, such as the bacteria in human waste. Grey water hasn’t come into contact with those pathogens either, but contains soap, hair, body oils, etc. So if your bathtub drain backs up and floods the bathroom, you probably have grey water. Black water is the kind that you really don’t want to mess with. Black water is water that has come into contact with fecal matter. If a sewer pipe has backed up somewhere near your house and flooded it, that’s black water and you should call a professional and avoid touching it. 

Should You Try to Clean it Up Yourself?

The answer to this question will depend on what type of water you have, as well as the extent of the flooding or damage. If you have black water, do not try to clean it up yourself- in fact, you should take precautions if you need to walk through it. Wear rubber boots and stay away from the water until a professional comes in to take care of it. If you have clean water, you should be okay to clean it up by yourself, but if the flooding is extensive, you should call a professional. Grey water is a little trickier to take care of. There may or may not be biological or chemical contaminants in it, and if your home is flooded with grey water, after 48 hours it is reclassified as black water, meaning that you shouldn’t touch it. Use caution and protective equipment when dealing with grey water, and when in doubt, call a professional. Again, be sure to take into account what kind of damage you have. If, for example, you have half an inch of clean water flooding your bathroom, you may be able to clean it up yourself if you have the proper equipment. However, if the flooding is more extensive, don’t overestimate your ability to deal with it. When in doubt, call the pros. 

What Should I Do Immediately Following a Flood?

As soon as you discover the flooding, you will need to disconnect the power so that no one gets electrocuted. Take photos and videos to document the damage and call your insurance agency right away. The next step is to remove the water and dry out the space as much as possible. Remember the “48 hour rule”- if your home has grey water and it stays in your home for more than 48 hours, it is reclassified as black water and you should stay away from it. After the space is dried out, it will need to be cleaned and sanitized. After flooding, mold growth can begin as soon as 24-48 hours after the water comes in. Mold poses health risks, so you want to be sure to clean and sanitize the whole space as thoroughly as possible. 

Do You Have Water Damage in Lakewood?

If you suffer water damage in Lakewood, Ohio, contact Americon Restoration for help! We can help you restore your home and clean things up. We know you may have concerns about COVID-19 and we want to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to keep our employees and our customers healthy and safe. As an essential business, we are still open to serve you. Americon Restoration is taking all necessary precautions before entering our customers’ homes. We want you and your family to feel safe and stay healthy! Please contact us through our website or by phone at (216) 221-5200.