How to handle water damage
B.C. has been getting a lot of rain and that can bring surprises. Even small amounts of water intrusion can lead to big problems.
“It was like a water fountain, a huge water fountain. Within about 20 minutes, we had over two feet," said Joann Orlowski.
Her basement filled with sewer water that came up through a toilet.
In the right conditions, mould grows quickly.
Larger rooms that have been soaked with water may need professional help with special drying machinery to ward off dangerous mould.
But according to the experts, you can usually deal with small mould outbreaks yourself, using detergent, water and some elbow grease to scrub surfaces.
Follow these steps to help prevent mould after a flood:
• Clean up debris, and dry out the room by opening windows and using fans. Then close the room and use dehumidifiers;
• Remove anything porous that’s been soaked and can’t be thoroughly cleaned and dried. This includes carpets, upholstery, drywall, or ceiling tiles;
• Clean surfaces with detergent and water. If detergent doesn’t remove existing mould, use a bleach solution - one cup per gallon of water;
• Take pictures of the damage, and wet areas to show your insurance company.
“Since COVID, insurance companies are not sending adjustors so often to sites. So it’s really important to take photos of all the damage. Even small water spots on a wall or ceiling can develop into something much worse later on,” explained Tobie Stanger, Consumer Reports Home Editor.
“There’s pieces in the furnace that if they get wet, then you’ve lost your furnace, they can’t fix it,” added Orlowski.
If your heating or AC units have been submerged, do not turn them on. Water can carry debris, causing bacteria and mould to become embedded inside. Have a professional inspect it and clean all components.
With files from Consumer Reports
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.