The Unseen Dangers Of Flood Restoration
Anyone who has been victim of flooding will understand the desire to get straight on with the flood restoration process. No-one likes to see their home or place of work in a mess and our natural instinct is to want to restore it to its previous state. However, it is important that you understand that flood restoration isn’t as simple as clearing the excess water away and that there are actually several hidden dangers that can cause serious injury and even death.
Electrical threat
The first and perhaps most deadly hazard you could face during the flood restoration process is that posed by electricity. Water is a conductor of electricity and so the amount of excess water that will be present in your property following flooding means that there is a very real threat of being electrocuted. This threat is further amplified by the fact that it is not always easy to tell if electrics that are hidden behind walls have been compromised.
Toxic mould
Within about 48 hours of flooding, mould will usually begin to form in flooded properties. This tends to happen especially in cellars where the environment is ideal for mould and where flooding can often go unnoticed for a few days. On some occasions the mould which forms can be toxic and therefore dangerous if inhaled by humans. The fact that mould often grows in cavity walls or under floorboards means that you may not even realise that the threat is present in your property.
Structural damage
During a flood, water will soak into the materials of the building, saturating the wooden floorboards and even into brickwork. This can cause problems within the structure of the building, which can lead to incidents such as collapsing ceilings. In addition, the flood restoration process itself can cause damage to the property. For example if you pump water too quickly from a flooded cellar, the sudden change in pressure can cause the walls to shift.
Bearing in mind the hidden dangers that exist in flood restoration the most sensible choice is to call in the experts if you have been victim of flooding. At Restorations UK we have highly trained staff with years of experience and the right equipment to undertake your flood restoration in a safe and controlled manner. So don’t put the safety of yourself and others at risk by undertaking your own flood restoration; give our helpful and friendly staff a call on 08000 926 123 or complete our enquiry form for a quick response.