Seeing your home flooded is a very distressing time. There are a lot of short term effects such as damage to your house and in some severe cases even death. A possible long term effect of your house flooding is that you may want to move house as the memories of the house are ruined. Not everyone who is a victim of flooding will think like this but for the people that do there are solutions. If someone wants to sell their house there will be sometime between them making the decision and moving meaning it is still in someone’s interest to clean up the house after a flood regardless of a long term decision. This in part is down to the legal process that happens with buying and selling a house. A conveyancer is needed to oversee the change in ownership of a house. This process alone can take over two months.
Hopefully, you will have had enough warning to move your precious possessions out of your home or upstairs. It can take a long time to clean up your flooded home too, but there are steps to take to make sure it is done safely. The important thing is not to overdo it, because you are likely to feel tired, anxious or depressed at this traumatic time.
Cleaning Your Home
The first thing to do is to talk to your insurance company and take their advice. You don’t want to do anything which could jeopardise your claim or put your property at further risk. Also do not start work until given the all-clear by the emergency services, such as the fire service, who have a lot of experience in these matters. You will need to get advice on gas or electricity supplies to ensure they are safely turned off. Do not switch them back on until advised to do so by a qualified technician.
Remember that the flooded water will be dirty and could include raw sewage, so you need to be very careful. Make sure you wear waterproof gloves, an apron and rubber boots. You may want to get a standard face mask or goggles for additional protection if there is going to be a lot of water splashing about. If you have any cuts or sores, then cover them with waterproof plasters so they cannot become infected. After a day’s cleaning, wash your hands thoroughly. When washing clothes that you wear while cleaning, keep them away from the rest of the laundry and wash separately on a hot cycle.
Replacing your heating system
If the flood has completely destroyed your home and heating then perhaps contact an Aluminium Radiators UK company to come in and replace them for you. This will enable you to get certified engineers in and give you a certificate.
Replacing Floors
Flooring may also need to be replaced. If the water is dirty or contaminated, then carpets will have to be thrown out, as they could be a health hazard. Solid wood flooring and tiles may be saved but will need drying out. Make sure everything is disinfected to kill all germs, including kitchen utensils, cupboards and counters. If there is mildew, wear a protective mask while vacuuming the floors, ceilings and walls to remove mildew before washing with disinfectant. Keep the rooms ventilated and use fans to circulate fresh air.
