How to Assess and Deal with Specific Water Damage to Your Home

Water damage can be a major disaster, but it’s important to stay calm and assess the situation before taking any action. The first step is to identify the source of the damage and stop it if possible.

Assessing the Damage

Once the source of the water damage has been identified, it’s important to assess the extent of the damage. This includes:

Locating the affected areas: Walk through your home and look for any areas that have been affected by water. Check for wet carpets, walls, or ceilings.
Identifying the type of water: Is the water clean or dirty? Is it saltwater or freshwater? The type of water will affect the cleanup process.
Determining the extent of the damage: How much water is there? Has it soaked through to the other side of the wall or ceiling? The extent of the damage will determine the best course of action.

Dealing with Specific Types of Damage

Once the damage has been assessed, it’s time to start dealing with it. The cleanup process will vary depending on the type of damage.

Wet carpets: Remove all wet carpets and padding. If the carpets are salvageable, they should be cleaned and dried as soon as possible.
Wet walls: Drywall that has been soaked through should be removed and replaced. If the walls are only damp, they can be dried using a fan or dehumidifier.
Wet ceilings: Ceilings that have been soaked through should be removed and replaced. If the ceilings are only damp, they can be dried using a fan or dehumidifier.

How to Know if Water Damage is Permanent

In some cases, water damage can be permanent. This is most likely to occur if the water has been left to sit for an extended period of time. Signs of permanent water damage include:

Mold growth: Mold can start to grow within 24 hours of water damage. If you see mold, it’s important to remove it immediately.
Rotting wood: Wood that has been soaked through will start to rot. This can weaken the structure of your home.
Rust: Metal objects that have been exposed to water can start to rust. This can damage the objects and make them unsafe to use.