When water gets into your house, time is of the essence. Prolonged exposure to water can warp your floorboards and walls, damage your belongings, and even lead to the proliferation of mold. A 24/7 water damage restoration service can remove water from your home and help you mitigate the damage at any time of the day or night. Here are a few things an emergency water damage restoration team can do to save your home:

1. Stop the source of the flooding

First and foremost, the source of the flooding must be stopped. If your home has flooded due to a burst pipe, your water damage restoration experts will turn off the water to your home at the water main. You'll need to call a plumber to fix the damaged pipe at a later date, but in the meantime, stopping the immediate flow of water is the priority.

2. Remove water from your home

Once the flooding has stopped, standing water will need to be removed from your home. If allowed to soak into the carpet or floorboards, standing water can cause incredible amounts of structural damage. A water damage restoration team will use water-safe vacuums to suck water out of your home. This polluted water will be disposed of safely, and the process will be continued until all of the water has been removed.

3. Dispose of items that cannot be salvaged

After interior flooding, some items can be salvaged. Clothes, soft toys, and other washable items can be sanitized with hot water and thoroughly dried. However, electronics, paper goods, and food items will need to be thrown away for safety reasons. Your water damage specialists will help you dispose of items that cannot be salvaged.

4. Clean surfaces that have been exposed to polluted water

Floodwater is often dirty, filled with pollution and germs. It can carry pathogens that can make you sick. Fortunately, your water damage restoration team will clean surfaces that came into contact with floodwater. They will use a combination of steam cleaning and chemical solvents to disinfect your home.

5. Scrub the air in your home

Humidity tends to linger in the air after a flood. Humid air can slow the drying process, so water damage restoration experts will place fans and dehumidifiers in your home to speed the process along. They will also use air scrubbers to remove mold spores from your house. This will prevent unwanted smells from setting in and reduce the chances of mold growth.

Contact a local emergency water damage restoration service to learn more.