What Steps Are Crucial in Disinfecting Property Flooded by A Storm?

7/7/2020 (Permalink)

What should you do when floods damage your home? Call SERVPROI! We know how to safely remove the water.

SERVPRO Can Help Clean, Disinfect, or Remove Materials as Part of Flood Damage Restoration in Your Northampton Property 

When a storm floods your property, one of the problems you have to worry about is contamination. Failure to decontaminate the affected areas can pose significant risks. It is important to note that you can clean up your Northampton property, but leave traces of contaminants.

Can Contamination Persist After Cleaning?

Cleaning is a necessary part of flood damage restoration when Northampton properties flood. However, several factors influence its effectiveness in removing contaminants, including:

• Whether affected materials are porous or non-porous
• Whether cleaning involves the use of disinfectants or antimicrobial products
• Procedures used in the application of cleaning agents
• Site management procedures such as content manipulation

What is easier to decontaminate, porous, or non-porous material?

Floodwaters contain massive levels of contaminants, such as chemicals and biohazards. In most cases, decontamination is only feasible for non-porous or semi-porous materials such as wood furniture or some floor and wall materials. Porous materials, including carpets and pad, allow deeper penetration of contaminants minimizing chances of proper decontamination. Our SERVPRO technicians remove such materials for disposal for the safety of your family.

Which steps are necessary when decontaminating hard surfaces? 

• Allowing products at least 10 minutes of dwell-time
• Use of products at correct temperatures of at least 68°F
• Ensuring the cleaning solution spreads evenly around the property

Our SERVPRO technicians use various approaches to ensure we decontaminate all areas thoroughly. For instance, to ensure we apply sufficient products on vast areas such as floor surfaces, we use electric or pump-up sprayers for application. We also clean the surfaces we want to decontaminate before applying the disinfectant since the products need physical contact to be effective. Some organic matter can also neutralize the products.

Restoring sanitary conditions to your property after a storm floods it is crucial. Call SERVPRO of Hampshire County at (413) 324-1300 to assist. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

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