Cleaning Up Flood Damage in Indianapolis Requires Swift Action

11/6/2022 (Permalink)

Removing excess water from the crawl spaces in your home is critical for maintaining your foundation’s integrity. Contact SERVPRO right away.

Clearing Flood Damage in Indianapolis Crawl spaces

Many Indianapolis homes have a crawlspace, and when flooding occurs around the city’s residential areas, these open areas under a house can be adversely affected. Our SERVPRO team can respond fast for flood recovery, protecting your home in many ways.

Pooling Standing Water Threats

SERVPRO professionals addressing flood damage in Indianapolis homes first prioritize the removal of standing water. Clearing surface water is the first step in flood recovery, even in crawl spaces. With the confined space of this limited area under the house, the full scope of available extractors is not available. We can utilize options like:

• Wet vacuums
• High-pressure pumps
• Truck-mount extractors

Wet Materials and Saturation

Many porous materials can absorb moisture and threaten their structural integrity. Many crawl spaces have exposed structural supports, and the subfloor and joists of the main floor of the house are visible inside. Standing water can impact these materials, even less porous materials like concrete masonry units, to compromise their strength and stability.

Why Moisture Threatens Your Home

Moisture can be one of the main threats when flooding occurs in a crawlspace. Constant humidity and dampness are ideal environments for mold growth and microbial colonization. Fungus and mildew can be hazardous to your building materials, especially supports for the property in this crawlspace under the house. Dehumidification equipment is needed to regulate environmental moisture and prevent conditions that facilitate mold growth.

The Benefit of Encapsulation Services

One of the steps that can protect against future flood and water damage concerns is encapsulation. Crawlspaces can have standing water damage for days on end as water is often slow to recede after disasters. Encapsulating the space wards off direct water penetration and redirects any flooding away from the house with permanently installed sump pumps. Surfaces are protected against mold development and covered with thick polypropylene sheeting. 

Understanding how to manage flood damage in your home is important in returning a crawlspace to preloss condition after storms. Give our SERVPRO of Indianapolis South team a call to help with mitigation and restoration services at (317) 784-3008.