Drying Out A Flooded House

Sometimes during heaving rainstorms houses may flood. Flooding most commonly occurs with the basement first since most of the basement is usually below ground. There are a few tips and tricks that can be used to help dry out a house after there has been a flood.

First, since there is water in the basement, which is near furnaces or water heaters that are connected to electrical circuits, contact an electrician or the power company to make sure the power is turned off or that it is safe to proceed and enter the water. If you miss this step you are really endangering yourself. Take the necessary steps to protect your safety first.

Mold will start to grow anywhere from 48 to 72 hours. It is imperative that you act fast when drying out your house. Anything that was submerged in water must be disposed of in a timely manner. Carpets are often the first thing that people dispose.

The key to drying out the house is proper air circulation. This can be as simple as just opening all the windows, or as complex as using dehumidifiers. Although, using dehumidifiers are the most expensive option, they are the fastest method. Try using a combination of open windows and fans or closed windows and dehumidifiers for optimal results. Remember, if using the dehumidifier make sure that the windows are closed. The dehumidifier will not do its job properly if the windows are open.

It is also possible to use the heating system of your house along with air conditioning to help dry out the house. Close all the windows of a house and turn on the air conditioning. Let the house cool down a bit and then turn the air conditioning off. Follow this by turning on the heat. When the temperature reaches 80 degrees turn off the heat and turn on the air conditioning. Repeat this process as much as necessary. Since you do not want to turn your house into a greenhouse make sure to monitor this cycle or process extremely closely.

If the mold has started to grow, serious action needs to take place because mold can be hazardous to your health. Begin by scrubbing off the mold and make sure to use that elbow grease. If you use a strong detergent make sure to have proper safety equipment such as gloves and a mask to prevent harm.

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