5 Ways To Rescue Valuables After a Water Loss

6/14/2021 (Permalink)

Although most of the restoration process should be handled by professionals, following these tips can help save your belongings

If your home in Clovis, CA, is flooded, you may feel overwhelmed by the damage. Before you throw everything out, though, try to salvage as much as you can. Many items can be restored after being subjected to water in the home. Here are five ways to save your valuables.

1. Air Dry

Before restoration experts can save most items, the items will have to dry out a little. Remove them from the water and set them somewhere to dry out. The best place to do this is inside, out of direct sunlight if possible, because sunlight can fade your items.

2. Increase Air Flow

Items that are damp are vulnerable to mold growth. Mold can start to grow as soon as 24 hours after moisture becomes a problem. To combat growth, increase the air-flow around the items with fans, dehumidifiers and open windows.

3. Refrigerate

Water in the home can affect books and important documents. These will likely need to be restored by professionals who specialize in document recovery. Freezing or refrigerating these belongings can slow the water damage until it can be fixed.

4. Rinse

Metal or nonporous items can be rinsed with a garden hose. This gets off most of the dirt and silt so that the object can start to dry. If the finish on your furniture looks damaged, just make sure the piece is dry. A finish can likely be repaired.

5. Dry Clean

Dry cleaning can save most clothing and textiles that are affected by flooding from a broken pipe. The process sanitizes the items without adding more water to them.

Although most of the restoration process should be handled by professionals, following these tips when you have water in the home can help save your valuables. The sooner you remove them from the water and start to dry them, the better chance you have of getting to keep them. For more information, give us a call at 559-297-3429.