Flooding at Home: Flood Action and Remediation. How to protect a house from flooding during floods and floods - during construction and finished housing

VLADIVOSTOK, August 27 - RIA Novosti. Prolonged downpours and river overflows caused unprecedented floods in five regions of the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD): Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, Magadan, Amur and Jewish Autonomous Regions, hundreds of houses were flooded. High water begins to leave the settlements of Kolyma and the Amur region, the owners of houses and apartments after the flood will face new chores: before the onset of cold weather, they need to equip their homes.

Specialists of the Magadan Regional Directorate of the EMERCOM of Russia advise how to dry housing after a flood.

Wall drying

Do not rush to dry damp walls. Rapid drying destroys the layer of insulation and plaster. It is best to dry naturally in sunny weather with light winds, which will remove moisture from the walls to the outside through open windows and doors.

After pumping out the water, you need to check if there are any remains of it in the sandwich panels. To do this, drill holes just above the foundation walls. If water comes out of them, then you need to make similar holes at intervals of a meter in all external walls. You can also use special electric dryers. Wall drying should be done by professionals who know how to manage the process. For example, if the walls heat up too quickly, then the water in them is brought to a boil.

If the gap is filled with mineral wool or loose material (such as sawdust), it will not be easy to dry out, and mold and fungus will grow with warming.

After drying and disinfecting the building, it is necessary to re-insulate.

Technical condition assessment

Immediately after pumping out the water, assess the condition of the foundations and walls, as well as waterproofing. It is necessary to determine if there are scratches or cracks on columns, beams, ceilings and any other visible damage or deformation of structural elements (pay attention to deviations, bends, displacement), deformations of doors and windows.

We'll have to dismantle the floor and check the ceilings. Damage to the substrate can lead to the destruction of the partitions. If the concrete base is not damaged, clean it of dirt, rinse and disinfect. Particular attention should be paid to seams and cracks. If a reinforced concrete slab was poured, holes must be drilled from the bottom in order to drain the water. Wooden windows and doors in most cases should be replaced with new ones. Plastic windows and doors are more resistant to flooding.

Not possible without disinfection

If you have any doubts about what to do in a particular case (moisture does not go away, cracks appear in the walls, and so on), consult with specialists.

The grouping of military doctors in the flood zone in the Far Eastern Federal District has been strengthened by 2.5 timesThree sanitary and epidemiological groups have been deployed in the Amur Region, carrying out regular water sampling, as well as bacteriological and physico-chemical analyzes.

After a flood, the entire house should be disinfected. There are many preparations for these purposes. Handle them with care, wearing gloves and masks. If the walls are affected by mold, it is necessary to replace the plaster within a radius of about one meter above the place infected with the fungus. It is necessary to get rid of wooden parts damaged by water, as they have become a habitat for fungi, bacteria and insects. After the flood, it is necessary to carry out disinfection and disinsection, measures to destroy arthropods and protect them from them.

All of these works must be completed before you can proceed with interior decoration.

Furniture and bedding soaked in water and dirt is also likely to be unusable, so it's better to throw it away than keep a hotbed of dangerous bacteria at home.

The military transport water to the victims of the flood in the Far Eastern Federal District on 42 tankersThe military uses more than 40 tank trucks to deliver drinking water to flood-affected residents of the Far East, half of them are involved in Khabarovsk and the Khabarovsk Territory, the press service and information department of the Russian Defense Ministry reports.

If the house is on the ground, then first of all it is necessary to open the underground, all windows and doors, creating a draft. After thorough ventilation, you need to get rid of the fungus with a heat gun, which can be purchased today in stores.

The heat gun is a mobile air heater for rooms with a large capacity. It is suitable for drying construction sites, garages, trading floors, apartments and private houses.

Some residents also use fan heaters, but we must not forget that they are powered by electricity, and this is an additional energy consumption that you will have to pay for.

Create maximum ventilation conditions in your living space by opening windows and doors. If the water in the house subsided, you need to move the furniture away from the walls, remove the carpets and dry the walls.

If possible, you need to remove the flooring, PVC, etc.

Flooded wooden windows and doors are best left closed, as rapid drying can lead to significant distortion of frames and door frames and problems with their installation.

First of all, the state of the floor and everything under it. Water penetrates into the most inaccessible places, seeps where there are even cracks and gaps barely visible to the eye. As a result, all layers of the floor are impregnated with water: floors, filler (sand, expanded clay, mineral wool, glass wool, foam, rockwool, etc.), screed, which can lead to irreversible consequences that will be quite difficult to eliminate. Therefore, it is necessary to dry the floor after flooding as soon as possible.

Will floor coverings need to be removed after a flood, flood or flood? It depends on the scale of the disaster. If the flooding has not reached critical dimensions, drainage will be sufficient.

What consequences to expect? It is difficult to predict the behavior of water. It depends on the quality of the floors, the materials used in the installation of the flooring, etc. It often happens that, getting into an apartment, water not only penetrates the concrete coating, but also seeps to the neighbors. At the same time, it is absorbed into wooden logs, gets into the subfloor, mineral wool, sand, expanded clay, etc. get wet. Water accumulates above the waterproofing, impregnates the plywood sheets, and soaks into the filler, which lies under the top coating.

If you do not dry the floor after flooding, you will soon encounter unpleasant consequences in the form of mold or fungi. Black-green spots will appear on the floor covering, accompanied by an unpleasant putrefactive odor. Mold can quickly spread to other surfaces, and getting rid of it will be much more difficult. In addition, spore mold formations enter the air, water, food, penetrate the human body, causing respiratory diseases, disruption of the central nervous system in advanced cases.

ATTENTION! If in the room, in addition to the floor, the ceiling and walls were damaged, check out our section drying apartments and cottages !

Drying the floor after a flood or leak: drying parquet, marble, porcelain stoneware, laminate, tiles, drying screeds, ceilings

When a room is flooded, not only the upper floor coverings get wet, but also everything under the screed. Depending on the design of the floor, under the wet screed may be:

• sand;
• construction garbage;
• wooden logs and mineral wool between them;
• glass wool;
• rockwool;
• expanded clay;
• sheets of plywood or MDF;
• concrete floor slab or wooden base;
• penoplex or any other fillers

If you do not dry the floor after flooding, the floor coverings will be damaged by moisture. Marble and porcelain tiles will tarnish and show green or orange spots. The parquet will collapse without the possibility of recovery. In damp materials, fungus and mold form. The skirting boards and wallpaper above the skirting boards will peel off, the plaster on the plaster and concrete walls below them will be damaged. In addition, the new flooring will no longer lie flat.

How to Dry Your Floor After a Flood or Leak

If you are among those unfortunate homeowners who are faced with the unpleasant consequences of moisture entering the house, you are probably interested in the question of how to dry the floor after flooding quickly and efficiently? There are several options:

• Wait until everything dries itself, naturally. But it will take a very long time, besides, there is no guarantee that everything will have time to dry before the mold starts. And external conditions are not always conducive to this. Due to the weather, there may be increased humidity in the room, which will not allow the deep layers to dry out.
• Complete dismantling of floor coverings with the extraction of all contents. After - drainage of the concrete floor and installation of all layers again. This option, perhaps, will take the most time, effort and money.
• Contact JSC "Sinus" to dry the floor quickly, efficiently, without dismantling and unpleasant consequences in the form of mold, fungus, etc. The process involves the simultaneous drying of parquet (or any other outdoor coating), drying of the waterproofing layer, drying of the screed, heat and sound insulation, up to the base or ceiling.

How is the drying of the floor after the flood, leakage with the help of dryers?

The method and technology of drying is selected depending on the degree of damage. For work, portable equipment is used that draws moisture from materials and cavities and removes it outside the premises.

Dryers do not emit dust or heat, have a low noise level, so during the drying work you can be in an apartment, house, without getting any discomfort from the operating equipment. We don't need to dismantle your flooring to remove moisture. To dry the floor after a flood or leak, it is enough to make small holes in the coating with a diameter of not more than 4 mm. The work is carried out in stages: from the wettest areas to the drier ones. Thus, the room is dried literally millimeter by millimeter. If a large area has been flooded, we use several dryers at the same time.

Today it is the most effective way to dry the floor, all its layers and voids under it, without dismantling the top coatings.

JSC "Sinus" - dry the floor quickly, without dismantling the coating!

The specialists of our company know exactly how to dry the floor after the flood! We eliminate the consequences of water flooding using a unique patented technology for dehumidifying rooms without dismantling coatings.

We will save you from moisture that has accumulated in the most inaccessible places, while expensive marble, laminate, granite will remain intact.

Using our services, you will receive:

• high-quality drying without violating the integrity of the coatings;
• work in the shortest possible time due to the use of high-performance equipment;
• the ability to dry any room without the need to take out the furniture;
• safety and comfort - we do not use chemicals, and the equipment will not cause inconvenience to you or your neighbors;
• guarantee of 100% quality drying.

Dehumidification with special machines is hundreds of times cheaper than installing new flooring from scratch. The cost and duration of drying depend on the area of ​​​​the room, the degree of flooding and the distance to the concrete floor.

VLADIVOSTOK, August 27 - RIA Novosti. Prolonged downpours and river overflows caused unprecedented floods in five regions of the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD): Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, Magadan, Amur and Jewish Autonomous Regions, hundreds of houses were flooded. High water begins to leave the settlements of Kolyma and the Amur region, the owners of houses and apartments after the flood will face new chores: before the onset of cold weather, they need to equip their homes.

Specialists of the Magadan Regional Directorate of the EMERCOM of Russia advise how to dry housing after a flood.

Wall drying

Do not rush to dry damp walls. Rapid drying destroys the layer of insulation and plaster. It is best to dry naturally in sunny weather with light winds, which will remove moisture from the walls to the outside through open windows and doors.

After pumping out the water, you need to check if there are any remains of it in the sandwich panels. To do this, drill holes just above the foundation walls. If water comes out of them, then you need to make similar holes at intervals of a meter in all external walls. You can also use special electric dryers. Wall drying should be done by professionals who know how to manage the process. For example, if the walls heat up too quickly, then the water in them is brought to a boil.

If the gap is filled with mineral wool or loose material (such as sawdust), it will not be easy to dry out, and mold and fungus will grow with warming.

After drying and disinfecting the building, it is necessary to re-insulate.

Technical condition assessment

Immediately after pumping out the water, assess the condition of the foundations and walls, as well as waterproofing. It is necessary to determine if there are scratches or cracks on columns, beams, ceilings and any other visible damage or deformation of structural elements (pay attention to deviations, bends, displacement), deformations of doors and windows.

We'll have to dismantle the floor and check the ceilings. Damage to the substrate can lead to the destruction of the partitions. If the concrete base is not damaged, clean it of dirt, rinse and disinfect. Particular attention should be paid to seams and cracks. If a reinforced concrete slab was poured, holes must be drilled from the bottom in order to drain the water. Wooden windows and doors in most cases should be replaced with new ones. Plastic windows and doors are more resistant to flooding.

Not possible without disinfection

If you have any doubts about what to do in a particular case (moisture does not go away, cracks appear in the walls, and so on), consult with specialists.

The grouping of military doctors in the flood zone in the Far Eastern Federal District has been strengthened by 2.5 timesThree sanitary and epidemiological groups have been deployed in the Amur Region, carrying out regular water sampling, as well as bacteriological and physico-chemical analyzes.

After a flood, the entire house should be disinfected. There are many preparations for these purposes. Handle them with care, wearing gloves and masks. If the walls are affected by mold, it is necessary to replace the plaster within a radius of about one meter above the place infected with the fungus. It is necessary to get rid of wooden parts damaged by water, as they have become a habitat for fungi, bacteria and insects. After the flood, it is necessary to carry out disinfection and disinsection, measures to destroy arthropods and protect them from them.

All of these works must be completed before you can proceed with interior decoration.

Furniture and bedding soaked in water and dirt is also likely to be unusable, so it's better to throw it away than keep a hotbed of dangerous bacteria at home.

The military transport water to the victims of the flood in the Far Eastern Federal District on 42 tankersThe military uses more than 40 tank trucks to deliver drinking water to flood-affected residents of the Far East, half of them are involved in Khabarovsk and the Khabarovsk Territory, the press service and information department of the Russian Defense Ministry reports.

If the house is on the ground, then first of all it is necessary to open the underground, all windows and doors, creating a draft. After thorough ventilation, you need to get rid of the fungus with a heat gun, which can be purchased today in stores.

The heat gun is a mobile air heater for rooms with a large capacity. It is suitable for drying construction sites, garages, trading floors, apartments and private houses.

Some residents also use fan heaters, but we must not forget that they are powered by electricity, and this is an additional energy consumption that you will have to pay for.

Create maximum ventilation conditions in your living space by opening windows and doors. If the water in the house subsided, you need to move the furniture away from the walls, remove the carpets and dry the walls.

If possible, you need to remove the flooring, PVC, etc.

Flooded wooden windows and doors are best left closed, as rapid drying can lead to significant distortion of frames and door frames and problems with their installation.

As hurricanes and flood evacuees return to their homes and face heartbreaking destruction and loss, what can they do to speed up the process of rebuilding and drying up their homes? Here we look at key practices recommended by top agencies such as the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even if your home has not been flooded but has been damaged by rain and storms, many of these measures can be helpful.

Safe work

Floodwater is usually a toxic water stew, sewage pollution, household chemicals, gasoline, and more. After the flood has poured out of the house, the residue left after that must be decontaminated or removed.

When working in a flood-damaged home, wear rubber gloves and waterproof boots to protect against contaminants that can be absorbed through the skin. Wear a sealed N95 respirator (not a dust mask) and goggles. Wash your hands regularly with hand sanitizer or soap and clean water.

Document damage

Before doing any repairs, including removing water and dirt, use your mobile phone, camera or camcorder to document in detail all damage to your home for insurance and disaster certification. Photograph wet wall panel, waterline on walls, damaged flooring, baseboards, rugs, furniture, rugs, books, tools, and anything else that has been destroyed—even take photos of trash piles in the yard.

Digital photographs of flood damage are ideal because they can be stored online and easily shared.

The longer water and moist air remain in your home after a storm, the more likely it is that damage to your home and health risk to your family will increase. Within 48 hours, mold, mildew, and fungus can begin to grow, creating serious health risks and causing a long-lasting musty smell. In addition, water can warp and rot wood, destroy wall paneling, destroy most types of insulation, compromise electrical wiring, and more.

During the day - when the weather is dry - open all windows and doors to exchange humid indoor air for drier outdoor air. Close them at night or when the humidity is high outside.

In addition, open cabinet doors and drawers. If drawers are difficult to pull out due to swelling, remove backs from cabinets to increase air circulation and provide access.

Use fans, window air conditioners, and dehumidifiers to dry the air. However, do not turn on the central air conditioner or heating system if the equipment or air duct was submerged in water at the time of the flood. Doing so may allow dirt, mold, and contaminants to enter interior areas. Clean the air duct first.

Gather your family and friends for help and support as you navigate through this very difficult phase. Create rubble in the yard for household items and materials that were destroyed during the flood. Leave the items there until your insurance supervisor can confirm your losses - but press it soon so the pile doesn't attract pests.

Immediately destroy all food that may have been in contact with flood waters, as well as refrigerated or frozen foods that may become hot or melt.

Move rescue furniture and items to a safe, dry room, such as a second floor room, where dry items are stored in plastic tubs or plastic bags. If valuables have been in contact with sewage or chemicals, get professional help for cleaning. Great tips for drying and cleaning your valuables are available in the FEMA Information Sheet.

Dry and clean

Most ceilings and walls are covered with gypsum wall (also known as gypsum board or sheet stone). Unfortunately, the wallboard that has been flooded must be removed because it retains toxins and disintegrates after being soaked.

In a typical home, 4- to 8-foot sheets of wallboard are initially applied horizontally to the wall studs. Because of this, most walls have a horizontal seam between panels that extends about 4 feet from the floor. Unless flood currents have risen more than 4 feet from the floor, you should only remove and replace the lower sections that cause flood damage, leaving the existing wall panel on the top half of the wall.

To determine if water is inside the walls, punch or drill holes 2 inches above the floor. If the walls contain water, you will need to drill holes in each cavity between the wall studs (which are usually spaced every 16 or 24 inches) to drain the water. If you are going to remove the wall panel, it is easiest to punch holes with a hammer.

Walls covered with stucco and board can usually be saved if the plaster has not come off the lath. If stucco walls sound, drain the stud cavities and then dry the walls thoroughly, encouraging air circulation with fans and ventilation - this can take some time, possibly weeks.

Regardless of the wall surface material, walls containing fiberglass or cellulose insulation that have been impregnated during flooding must be exposed to allow the insulation to be replaced. If your home has foam insulation, you may be in luck. Foam insulation can often be taken away and reused.

Wooden wall studs, paneling, wood floors and solid wood doors can usually be cleaned, disinfected for mold and toxins, and allowed to dry naturally. Then they can be reused. Wooden wall panels should be removed from the wall along the base to allow air to circulate behind it. Hollow doors should be removed and replaced.

Luckily, concrete block walls can usually withstand flooding if they are allowed to dry out.

A diluted mixture of 1 cup of bleach to 5 gallons of water can be used to disinfect hard surfaces. To kill and remove mold, use a stronger mixture of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. Wear old clothing, rubber gloves, rubber boots, and goggles when handling bleach. Never mix ammonia and bleach - the fumes can be deadly.

Unfortunately, in most cases, carpeting, carpeting, rugs, upholstered furniture, mattresses, and bedding will be unusable after a flood. Not only will water and mold destroy them, but mold can grow inside them. If so, get them out of the house (cutting wall-to-wall carpet first makes it easier to manage as you get it out of the area). In some cases, valuable carpets can be removed and professionally cleaned and dried. You can machine wash and dry small rugs.

Since wallpaper and wall coverings slow drying and encourage mold growth, it's probably best to remove them from walls.

To dry raised (not slab) floors, air must circulate around them. Pump up any standing water from the basement or crawlspace. If the floor is covered with vinyl tile or linoleum that is peeling off, remove the floor covering so that the lining can dry.

Once you have reached this stage of your home's drying up, you will be well on your way to rebuilding your home and your life.