Weather Event Flood Clean Up STEPS-Part 2 (of 2)

This is PART 2 of our 2-Part article addressing Weather-Event Home Flood Clean Up – 75 TIPS.  PART 2 provides the STEPS involved in the clean-up — from beginning to end.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps.    Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).

Al’s also provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX; and Frisco, TX.  We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.

Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing.  We’ll arrange an appointment at your convenience.

The National Oceanic  & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates the Severe-Storms Warning System For Weather-Alert Radios.  NOAA Stated: “From January to October 2019 — the estimated losses caused by severe thunderstorms and flooding in the U.S. was more than $180 billion. **

** Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/cleaning/how-to-clean-your-home-after-a-flood/

Weather-Event Flood Clean Up STEPS (PART-2)  

Click Below For PART-1:

Alsplumbing.com Weather-Event Flood Clean Up TIPS (Part 1 of 2)

Image Source: ShutterStock

NOTE: For The Best Results — Read Part-1 Of This Article First.   

There Is A Lot Of Information In PART-1 — That Is Not Repeated in PART-2. 

NOTE: Floodwater often carries disease-causing viruses and bacteria.  Mosquitoes may lay eggs inside the home while standing water is present.  

Once it’s Safe To Enter The Home — Turn off the electricity & gas until the home’s been inspected.  Do this even if electricity& gas are turned off to the neighborhood. 

Image Source: CanStockPhoto

• Regardless If Electricity Is On or Off — Wear Rubber Boots and turn off the electricity at the main breaker.   Leave it off until the electrical system is inspected and determined safe to use.

• Regardless If Gas Is On or Off — turn off at the gas meter outside the home.   Leave it off until the gas lines are inspected and determined safe to use

• Wear rubber boots to protect yourself from Electrical Shock and keep your feet dry.
• You don’t want your home’s wet wiring destroyed when the neighborhood power is restored.
• Wet wiring will short out and will likely have to be replaced.
• The damage may extend to anything that’s plugged into the outlets too.

• Look at the ceiling in every room.  If you see wet or brown spots — it’s an indication of damaged shingles or other damaged roofing-materials.
• Any wet ceiling drywall must be replaced.  This does not mean the entire ceiling needs replaced — only 24 inches (in each direction) from where the ceiling is wet.
• See PART-1 for ceiling restoration details.

• Notify your Homeowner Insurance Company.   

NOTE: Weather-Event Flood Damaged IS NOT covered by standard Homeowners Insurance policies.   This includes personal property damaged by the flood.

 A separate Flood Insurance Policy must have been purchased prior to the flood. 

Wind Damage To The Roof IS Covered By Standard Homeowners Insurance.  This includes ceilings restoration.

• Don’t Wait For The Insurance Adjuster — begin cleanup, salvage, and drying as soon as possible.  The longer you wait — the more damage will occur.
• Before removing water, or making repairs — take lots of photos of the damage.  Cell phone photos or videos are the most easily sent.
• Take photos of each item of discarded furniture & personal belongings to show the insurance adjuster.
• Keep all the paperwork for any expenses you personally paid.  The Insurance Adjuster will want copies.

• Don’t Respond To Calls:  Many flood victims receive calls from scammers saying their insurance has lapsed — and demanding immediate payment to ensure coverage.
• Your insurance company won’t call you demanding payment — they know if your insurance is paid. 
• If your insurance isn’t paid — you’re not covered.  There’s no reason why your former insurance company would call.

There Are Many Disaster-Restoration Companies That Clean Up Flooded Homes

Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C offers no recommendations only because we don’t have first-hand knowledge of all providers.

NOTE: Weather-Event Flood Water may have sewage or other contaminants in it.   Clean up is best left to the professionals.

If Your Home Has A Basement

• If Your Basement Has Water AND You Have A Sump Pump — Turn The Electricity To The Pump OFF.

NOTE: Bowing or buckled basement walls can occur due to the inward-force of water in the soil surrounding the basement.  This inward-forces is called: “hydrostatic pressure”.  Hydrostatic pressure occurs when water in the surrounding soil presses against basement walls with more force than it can withstand.

• If you drain the basement too quickly — the pressure from the wet ground surrounding the basement will likely be greater than the pressure inside the basement.
• This may cause the basement’s walls to bow, buckle, or collapse.  It can also cause the floor to crack and buckle.
• By following the schedule just below, the hydrostatic pressure inside the basement and the surrounding soil should decline at a similar rate.
• The home depends on the basement to support its weight.
• If the basement’s structural-integrity is compromised — the entire house may be structurally unsafe.
• The author of this article has personally seen a basement wall buckled beyond repair due to flooding.  The wall had to be removed and replaced.

A 1,000 square foot basement has about 7,000 gallons of water — per 1 foot of water depth.

After Flood Water Has Receded:

• Pump out 1 foot of water depth on Day 1.
• Mark the water level on the basement wall.
• The next day — check the water level mark.
• If the water level rose overnight — wait another 24 hours before pumping again.  The water level rising indicates the ground surrounding the basement is still over-saturated with water.
• Repeat these steps until the water level does not rise overnight.
• Then, pump out water at a rate of 2 feet every 24 hours.

Copy This Link Into Your Browser To See A Bowing Concrete-Block Basement Wall — Caused By Hydrostatic Pressure From The Surrounding Soil:

https://www.google.com/search?q=photo+of+buckled+basement+wall+due+to+flooding&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjT0raW9rLvAhWTVKwKHc_1DykQ2-CegQIABAA&oq=photo+of+buckled+basement+wall+due+to+flooding&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1C2oAFYj7sBYJe-AWgAcAB4AIABP4gBnwaSAQIxNJgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=yqZPYNPFN5OpsQXP67_IAg&bih=554&biw=1097

Copy This Link Into Your Browser To See A Bowing Solid Concrete Basement Wall — Caused By Hydrostatic Pressure From The Surrounding Soil:

https://www.google.com/search?q=photo+of+buckled+solid+concrete+basement+wall&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjlucO797LvAhVKLK0KHXubC4AQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=photo+of+buckled+solid+concrete+basement+wall&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIECCMQJ1ChF1jbKGCjK2gAcAB4AIABUogB6AaSAQIxNpgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=JahPYKWTCcrYtAX7tq6ACA&bih=554&biw=1097#imgrc=fkL-0PXbKO1cpM

Copy The Link Below Into Your Browser For Additional Flooded Basement Information:

https://www.basementsystems.com/company/news-and-events/34005-how-to-clean-a-flooded-basement.html

If Your Home Has A Crawl-Space

• Get the water out. Because a crawl space is often below ground-level — standing water is common.
• This requires specialized pumps to remove water.   Check with Rental-All Stores.
• If there is floating or submerged debris — it must be removed to facilitate proper pumping.
• A dirt-floor in a crawl space is common — and it will be very muddy.  This may present problems in pumping the water out.

• Clean all wood surfaces.
• Rinse all crawl space lumber clean with a garden hose.
• Spray a mixture of water and bleach on all wood surfaces that got wet.
• If a later inspection discovers active mold — professional mold remediation may be required.

• Dry the environment.  Steps must be taken to dry out the moisture from wooden structural components — including the sub-floor overhead.
• You must dry out the muddy crawl space floor too.
• Ventilation fans will provide fresh air (with lower humidity) — and it’s important to get them running 24/7.
• Specialized dehumidifiers may also available.

You Will Need These Items To Do Weather-Event Flood Cleanup:

STEPS To Clean Up Weather-Event Flood Damage

Turn Off Utilities Until Electric & Gas Systems Are Inspected:

Image Source: CanStockPhoto

• Regardless If Electricity Is On or Off — Wear Rubber Boots and turn off the electricity at the main breaker.   Leave it off until the electrical system is inspected and determined safe to use.

• Regardless If Gas Is On or Off — turn off at the gas meter outside the home.   Leave it off until the gas lines are inspected and determined safe to use.

There’s Plenty Of Clean-Up You Can Do While Awaiting Electrical & Gas Inspections: 

• Remove and discard water-saturated cloth items like; carpet & pad, mattresses, sofas, chairs, and rugs.
• Cut holes in drywall to drain walls.

• If you have mud:
• Wet it (if dried) and remove with a shovel.
• Then, use a garden-hose to rinse everything clean.
• Remove remaining water with a floor-Squeegee.

• Remove wood trim at the floor.  If it’s solid wood — rinse, clean and keep it for reinstallation.
• Rinse wood trim surrounding dooways & windows.

NOTE: There’s no benefit to rinsing walls.   The drywall must be removed.

• Select a dry space in your home or garage — and place salvageable items there.  Now they can dry thoroughly without constantly needing to be moved.

Once The Electricity And Gas Systems Are Inspected And Determined Safe To Use:

• Turn electricity and gas on.   Continue to wear rubber boots to minimize the risk of electrical shock and keep your feed dry.
• If the water is inches deep — rent a Sump Pump.  It removes water the quickest.   Sump pumps protect homes with basements from (basement) flooding.
• Remove remaining water with a Wet & Dry Vacuum or floor squeegee.

• If you can rent fans — get them and run 24/7.  The more air-movement — the better.
• Point fans at where the walls and floors meet.   This is where the most moisture will be — and it’s the hardest area to dry out.
• Point fans at; closets, pantry — plus other locations that are typically closed off.  Leave their doors open 24/7.

• If you can rent a dehumidifier(s) — get them and run 24/7.
• Get the largest ones they have (that run on standard wall-outlets).

Image Source: ShutterStock

SHOWN: Standard 120-Volt Electrical Outlet

NOTE: Some industrial-sized dehumidifiers may need a 240-Volt Electrical Outlet — ASK the Rent-All Store rep which power source is required.

• If you have an electric clothes dryer or kitchen range — you may be able to use that outlet.

Start Ventilating & Drying Out The Home: 

• Use a humidity meter to keep tabs on indoor moisture levels.
• According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “To inhibit mold growth — aim for indoor humidity between 30% and 50%”.
• Heat and A/C remove indoor humidity.
• Set the Heat or Air Conditioning to the maximum temperature you can tolerate — (A/C no lower than 68 or it may freeze up).
• If you have the; furnace, A/C, or dehumidifiers running — keep the windows closed.   After a flood, the outdoor humidity will be higher than indoors — if these devices are running.

If You Don’t Have; Heat, A/C, or Dehumidifier(s) Running: 

• If you have a room that didn’t get wet — put a fan in 1 window, and blowing outdoors.  It will draw air from the wettest rooms toward the dry room, then out of the home.

• Kitchen & Bath Vents left on 24/7— turn on to the highest setting (to help remove humidity).
• Ceiling Fans left on 24/7 — turn on high and blowing downward.  This provides the most air movement at the floor — where it’s needed most.
• Other Fans left on 27/7-– use every fan you own.  Set fans in the doorway of the wettest rooms to provide the most benefit

• In wet rooms — open 1 window 3 inches.  This provides fresh air — to replace air removed by vents and fans.
• The window farthest from the room’s door provides the most air movement.
• If water builds up on the windows — you dry them will bath towels.   This is important if your home has wood windows to avoid damage to them.

With or Without Dehumdificaiton Inside The Home:

• Turn Ceiling Fans on 24/7 — turn on high and blowing downward.  This provides the most air movement at the floor — where it’s needed most.
• Turn Other Fans on 27/7-– use every fan you own.  Fans in the doorway of the wettest rooms will provide the most benefit.
• Open closet doors and kitchen cabinets & drawers for maximum airflow..

Are You Unsure If Something Touched By Weather-Event Floodwater Is Safe To Use Again?  

When In Doubt — Throw It Out. 

 NOTE: Weather-Event Flood Water likely contains sewage or other contaminants.   

Image Source: Shutterstock

NOTE: Many Items Damaged By A Weather-Event Flood Will Never Be Safe To Use Again — And Must Be Discarded. 

If Your Sub-Floor Is Concrete:

• Remove and discard carpet, pad, and hard-surface flooring.
• If removing hard-surface floor coverings will ruin unharmed materials — leave them in place for now.  Leave those until the walls’ drywall removal is complete.

• Concrete subflooring is a dense material that takes a long time to dry completely.
• Running a dehumidifier(s) 24/7  helps a concrete dry more quickly.
• If concrete isn’t allowed to dry completely — it’s vulnerable to further damage.
• If excess moisture remains after new floor coverings are installed — the moisture becomes trapped.
• Over time, hydrostatic-pressure forces that moisture upward.  This damages new floor coverings.
• A Concrete Moisture-Meter will guide you as to when it’s safe to begin restoration work.

Maximum Concrete Moisture Level Testing — Prior To Installing New Floor Coverings:

• The Calcium Chloride Test, for measuring vapor-emissions from concrete, has been in use since the 1940s.

• This test provides an accurate estimate of moisture released per 1,000 square feet of concrete slab — over a 24-hour period.  The results are expressed as pounds of moisture.  Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon.

• For this test — “pounds” is the weight of the water that evaporates out of a 1,000 sq. ft. surface area of concrete during 24 hours.

• Before new flooring can be installed — an allowable amount of moisture emission is not to exceed 3 pounds (of water) per 1000 sq. ft. per 24 hours.

• For a more detailed explanation — see link just below. **

** Source: https://www.moisturemeters.com/why-flooring-professionals-must-always-test-for-excessive-moisture-and-alkalinity/

*** Souce: https://www.concretenetwork.com/curing-concrete/

*** Source: https://www.dcpu1.com/blog/how-long-does-concrete-take-to-dry/

If Your Sub-Floor Is Wood

• Remove and discard carpet, pad.
• You will likely have to remove hardwood and hard-surface flooring.  Leave those until the walls’  drywall removal is complete.
• Remove and discard wood flooring if it’s buckled, warped or shows another type of water damage.
• Wood sub-floors will likely warp or buckle — and will need their surface-material replaced prior to restoration.
• The wood beams below the sub-floor material can be cleaned, disinfected and reused.

NOTE: Wood subflooring must have 16% or less moisture-content before installing new floor coverings.

• A Wood Moisture-Meter will guide you when it’s safe to begin restoration work.

Drywall, or Plastered Walls

Shown: Molded Drywall & Wood Wall Studs (shown from inside a wall)

Image Source: ShutterStock

NOTE: Drywall begins to mold within 48 hours.

• After removing flood-water. carpet & pad, and squeegeeing hard-surface floors — start removing drywall.
• Before removing drywall — remove the wood trim at the floors.

Wood Trim TIPS:

• Solid wood trim can be reused.  Clean, disinfect it and allow it to dry.
• Number each piece of trim — and write that number on the wall to make reinstallation easier.
• Laminated wood trim (a pressed-wood product) — soaks up water.  If it appears to have swelled, it must be replaced.

• If not removed — drywall will remain contaminated after drying — because it has mold on the inside of the wall.
• There may also be contaminates from floodwater — such as sewage.

• Wet drywall will be very soft — some may have even fallen off the walls.
• To remove water-damaged drywall — score it with a utility-knife (at 24″ above the flood level) — then you can likely push on it and it will cave in.
• Insulation inside the walls (to the same height) must be removed too.
• Put the wet drywall and insulation in “Contractor-Size” trash bags — and take the bags to the curb for pick up.

NOTE: You can likely keep drywall that’s 24″ above the flood-level.

Additional details are provided in PART-1 of this article.

WALLS:

• Fiberglass &  Cellulose (made of recycled paper) Insulation must be removed and replaced — up to 24″ above the flood level.  That level will be obvious on the walls.
• Foam insulation can be washed clean and likely reused.  Your restoration contractor can tell you more when that time comes.

Note: You can likely keep insulation inside the walls that is 24″ above the flood-level.

Wood Studs Inside The Walls: 

• Wood inside walls must be cleaned and disinfected as soon as drywall is removed.
• If muddy, rinse the wood clean with a garden-hose.
• Then disinfect the wood with water + bleach.
• These solid pieces of wood are safe to continue to use after these steps are completed.

Walls Must Dry From The Inside First

• Humidity inside the home will be elevated.  This will extend drying time for the lumber inside the walls.

• If there’s too much moisture inside the walls — new drywall will mold. 

• Wood can absorb water up to 30% Moisture Content (MC) and becomes saturated at that point.

• Before adding drywall — a moisture-content (MC) of 18% or less is critical.

• Above 19% MC — mold will grow, and the wood rotting begins.

• A Wood Moisture Meter will guide you when restoration can begin.

Note: Expect to wait up to 6 months (or perhaps longer) before closing up walls with new drywall.

** Source: https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/framing/pre-drywall-moisture-meter-check_o

Solid Wood Furnishings:

• Solid wood can typically be reused once completely dry
• Wash wood clean, then disinfect it.
• Some wood may warp and crack after being soaked with water.
• Small cracks can often be filled with colored wood-putty.

Particleboard And Laminated Wood Flooring or Furnishings:

• These materials typically soak up water and self-destruct.
• If it looks swelled up, or its shape is distorted — it must be replaced.

Selling? Texas Requires You To Disclose If Your Home Has Flooded

Question #7  On A SELLER’S DISCLOSURE NOTICE  — As Approved By The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC)

“7. Have you (Seller) ever filed a claim for flood damage to the property with any insurance provider, including the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?”

A. Click Here To Read Dept. Of U.S. Dept. Of Housing & Urban Development’s (HUD) Document For Flooded Home Cleanup: HUD.gov Flood Cleanup Guide

-OR-

C. Copy The Link Below Into Your Browser To Read A Flooded Homes Cleanup Document From The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/flood-related_cleaning_report.pdf

D. Copy The Link Below Into Your Browser To Read A Flooded Homes Cleanup Document From The University Of Minnesota (U of M)

https://extension.umn.edu/flooding/cleaning-after-flood

This article provided 75 tips on how to clean up a home flooded by a weather-event flood.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps.    Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).

Al’s also provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX; and Frisco, TX.  We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.

Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing.  We’ll arrange an appointment at your convenience