So you’re running your washer and it springs a leak. Maybe a hose is loose. Maybe something’s blocking the drain. No matter what the reason is, you end up with water all over your floor that you have to clean up. It’s a hassle, but the last thing you want is for your laundry room to be flooded with soapy water. The big question here is, can water from an overflowing washer cause water damage? If so, how do you handle it? By calling a water damage Portland company for help.
Keep reading to learn more.
Can My Overflowing Washing Machine Cause Water Damage?
The short answer to this question is yes, it can – even if you clean the water up immediately. If you don’t take the proper steps to clean up that water, it can eventually lead to water damage and the growth and spread of mold. If the overflowing water is left to sit for a while, it will most certainly leave some sort of water damage, even if it’s minimal.
How Do I Deal with My Overflowing Washer?
The cleanup of your overflowing washer is important in not only the prevention of serious water damage but in stopping the potential spread of mold. Here are the steps you should follow if your washer is overflowing and causing a flood:
Call a Water Damage Portland Professional
While we can walk you through the next steps of this process, you should call a professional to handle this process for you. They can handle the process for you. Doing so means you won’t have to deal with the hazards that come with water damage. As such, you’re not putting yourself or your loved ones in harm’s way while trying to fix this situation.
Turn Off the Water
The first step is to turn off the water. This prevents any further flooding from happening and gives you a baseline for handling the situation.
Remove the Excess Water
The next step would be to remove the excess water. If it’s an overflowing washer, you probably won’t need more than a shop vac to remove all of the water that has accrued on your floor. If this were a serious basement flood, you might want to consider using a pump instead. However, for a situation like this, a shop vac should work just fine.
Remove Any Water-Damaged Items
Then you need to remove any water-damaged items. This includes anything like boxes, laundry, and essentially anything in your laundry room that has come into contact with the water. If possible, this is probably a good time to try to remove any flooring, especially if it’s linoleum.
This part of the process not only makes it easier to move forward with the next steps in the process; it also minimizes the growth and spread of mold. You should also try to remove your washer as well. Any water that may have leaked out of it is probably also going to be behind it as well. Removing the washer will ensure that you get everything out and provide you with an easier cleaning and restoration process.
Clean Everything
After removing anything that sustained water damage, you have to do a deep clean of the entire area. A professional is going to have industry-standard cleaners and equipment that will not only make the area look clean but can also help kill any mold spores that may be beginning to form.
Dehumidify the Area
The next step would be to dehumidify the area. In doing this, you’re pulling out any remaining moisture that could linger and cause extensive water damage if left untreated. This also goes a long way in preventing the growth of mold spores. This is because mold thrives on moisture. Removing said moisture prevents it from growing and spreading that mold.
Begin Repairs
Now that you’ve cleaned up the water and finished a deep clean of the area, you can begin any repairs of water-damaged areas. At this point, the area should be clean and dry enough that any repairs should be easy to do without the worry of dealing with anything soggy or covered in mold in the process.
If You Need Water Damage Repairs, Call PNW Restoration
Are you looking for a professional to come out and repair your water damage? Want your laundry room to look like new after the water has overflowed? The team of trained experts at PNW Restoration can come out, assess the situation, and give you the exact help you need to repair the area.
If you would like a free consultation with PNW Restoration, give us a call today at 503-352-5209. We’re available 24/7 to take your call.
