Plumbing leaks can often go hours or weeks without being discovered, causing significant damage to your home and personal belongings. Skilled plumbers — like ours at Gotelli Plumbing, your Marin County leak detection specialists — perform repairs to restore your pipes, but water damage can leave you with a big mess to clean up afterward.
Cleaning efforts should begin as soon as possible to prevent further damage and extra costs. Use these tips and detection equipment to speed up the process, dry everything out completely and save the things you value most.
Cleaning Tips
Before you begin cleaning any damaged areas, unplug and turn off all electrical appliances. Limiting the amount of power running through your home after a leak reduces your risk of electric shock and causing more damage. If you don’t own any of the tools mentioned below, check your local hardware store for rental options.
Cleaning Walls And Floors After a Water Leak
Step 1 — Begin the drying process using a mop, towels and wet/dry vacuum to soak up as much water as possible. Move them along walls, floors and anywhere else with water damage.
Step 2 — Run a steam cleaner over affected carpet and flooring to remove any leftover moisture and contaminants. Extremely damaged carpets may need professional cleaning.
Step 3 — To prevent bacteria buildup, disinfect floors, walls, carpet and other surfaces that were wet. You can scrub the affected surfaces using a normal disinfectant cleaner, one designed specifically to treat water damage or a solution of bleach and water.
Step 4 — After disinfecting walls and floors, apply a mold-prevention product to keep mold from growing on surfaces damaged by water, like wood.
Step 5 — Use fans, dehumidifiers and industrial air movers 24/7 to get rid of the remaining moisture. These will dry the affected areas more quickly and ensure all water is removed from floors and carpeting.
Cleaning Furniture And Other Items After a Water Leak
Step 1 — Immediately move any water-soaked furniture, and other items, to a dry area with plenty of ventilation until you can clean it.
Step 2 — Wipe or brush off any noticeable mold and mildew that has built up from the water.
Step 3 — Sprinkle moisture-absorbing desiccants, containing silica gel, clay or calcium oxide, on furniture to soak up leftover water. Depending on the amount of water in your items, the desiccants may need to be replaced periodically and can take days or weeks to absorb all of it.
Step 4 — Use an all-purpose cleaner to remove dirt and debris from the surfaces of your appliances. Unless they are electronics, like a TV or speaker, hand-cleaning appliances with liquid cleaning solutions will get rid of any bacteria left from the water.
Step 5 — Mattresses are not salvageable after water damage, so take them to a local dump for disposal.
Prevention And Water Leak Detection Equipment
The system of pipes throughout your home is extensive and usually hidden behind walls and under floors, making leaks difficult to notice and repair before they cause damage. Water can also flow across many surfaces and reach items far from the leak’s source, further complicating the situation. So how can you stop the leak quickly once it has started?
Automatic leak prevention systems, like Flo by Moen, operate 24/7 to monitor your home’s water consumption, identify leaks and prevent leaks from spreading. When the system detects an abnormal flow rate, its Smart Water Shutoff valve seals your main water pipe to prevent water from flowing to and leaking inside your home. Then, it sends an alert to your phone so you can call a professional and locate the issue right away.
Although water leak detection systems cannot prevent leaks from happening, they immediately stop the spread once it is detected. The leak’s source will still need repairing, but damage to your home will be minor, greatly reducing repair costs.
Stop Leaks Early
Gotelli Plumbing can help save you from losing irreplaceable family heirlooms and spending thousands of dollars to repair water damage. We want your San Rafael home to stay safe and dry and have been committed to providing impeccable plumbing services to North Bay-area residents since 1985.
Call us today to learn about our stress-free leak detection equipment installation. Our experienced plumbers are committed to keeping you comfortable and confident in your home.
