Even a minor flood can lead to major damage, both to your home and your possessions. Working with a professional restoration company can help minimize the damage from the floodwaters, but the repair process is only a small part of restoring your home. Minimizing the damage to your home starts long before workers begin tearing down walls, with a job that may seem simple: drying.

Removing moisture is crucial to a successful restoration effort. The longer moisture remains in your home, the more damage it can cause. Unfortunately, drying your home after even relatively brief flooding is often more complex than you might expect. Here are three reasons why this isn't a job you'll want to tackle without a professional restoration company.

1. Water Gets Everywhere

You've probably read that floodwaters can sneak into unexpected places, but it's hard to understand how true this fact is until you've lived it. When water enters your home, the moisture can spread throughout the structure thanks to various physical effects. While most water will take the path of least resistance to lower levels, some water may even travel up walls due to capillary action.

These complex physical interactions result in water and moisture ending up in many unexpected places. If you don't have experience dealing with floodwaters, you may think you've thoroughly dried your home, only to leave significant amounts of moisture in places that can lead to mold growth or even cause structural damage.

2. Humidity Can Cause Damage

The water in your home won't remain sitting on the floor for long. While some water will soak into floors, walls, and items, a substantial portion will saturate the air and drastically increase the humidity in affected rooms. If you live in a warm and humid climate, you know that humidity alone is enough to lead to damage and mold.

A professional restoration company will bring in heavy-duty commercial drying equipment to increase airflow through your home and manage humidity levels. This high-end equipment is critical to avoid mold growth or moisture damage on ceilings or other areas well above the height of the floodwaters. Without this equipment, you'll often be fighting a losing battle against humidity in your home.

3. Floodwater Can Be Hazardous

Many people severely underestimate the dangers posed by floodwaters. Most water damage restoration companies consider floodwater equivalent to sewage, with the potential for the same biological risk factors. Additionally, floodwater in residential structures may contact electrical wiring and create a potential electrocution risk.

Attempting to dry your home without adequate personal protective gear and experience can expose you to these dangers, making the clean-up process far riskier than you might realize. The safest option is always to work with a professional team that understands these risks and the steps necessary to minimize them. 

For more information about water damage restoration, contact a local company. 

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