Upstairs Bathroom Flooded? Here's What To Do
3/8/2021 (Permalink)
When a clogged toilet overflows or your child decides to create a swimming pool in the bathroom of your Connecticut home, the resulting water damage can be overwhelming. Matters only become worse when your upstairs flooded bathroom comes through the ceiling below - causing ceiling leaks, water stains, and even mold growth.
Here, we will review what to do when you're dealing with a flooded bathroom upstairs in your Connecticut home.
For Bathroom Flood Clean Up in Connecticut, Call SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline 24/7
What To Do When Your Upstairs Bathroom is Flooded
1. Act Fast!
Regardless of the source of your bathroom flooding, you need to act quickly. The longer you wait to address the water damage in your bathroom, the more likely it is for extensive water damage, mold growth, or structural deterioration to damage your home.
2. Shut Off The Water Supply
Depending on the source of your bathroom flooding, there are different ways to stop the flow of water and prevent further bathroom water damage.
For Flooding From Bathroom Sinks:
- Locate the water shut off valve underneath your sink and turn it clockwise to restrict the flow of water. Do this for both the hot and cold water valves.
For Flooding From Overflowing Toilets:
- Locate the water shut off valve on the wall behind the toilet and turn clockwise to stop flooding.
For Flooding From Overflowing Bathtubs:
- Immediately turn off the water in the tub and allow it to drain.
For Flooding From Broken or Leaking Pipes:
- Locate your main water shutoff valve (usually found in basements or utility rooms) to stop the flow of water.
3. Document Damages
If you plan on filing an insurance claim to cover your damages, take photos before you begin cleaning. Document all flooded areas or belongings damaged by water.
4. Move Wet Items
Move any wet items and move them to an unaffected area to dry, or throw away damaged items as needed. If any items have come in contact with contaminated water from a sewage backup or toilet overflow, throw them away.
5. Cleanup Standing Water
To continue your bathroom flood clean up, grab any towels, mops, buckets, or rags you may have to soak up water. A wet dry vacuum can be helpful for removing larger amounts of water. If you have trouble cleaning up all the water or it has migrated to other areas of your home, you may need to call a professional water damage restoration company to finish the job.
6. Clean and Sanitize
You should clean your bathroom floors, cabinets, molding, or any other surfaces that were affected by bathroom flood waters.
7. Dry The Area
Once you've cleaned up all the water from your bathroom flood, set up any fans or dehumidifiers you have in affected areas and leave for at least three days to ensure it has completely dried out.
Water Damage From Upstairs Flooded Bathroom
When your flooded bathroom upstairs leaks through the ceiling below, there may be more clean up involved than cleaning up the standing water from your bathroom floor.
When a flooded bathroom comes through a ceiling, the following damages can occur:
- Water damage to electrical components
- Water inside of light fixtures
- Ceiling water stains or water bubbles
- Mold growth on or inside of the ceiling
- Warping of bathroom floor
- Wet or flooded carpets
- Water damage to the floor below bathroom
When Should You Call A Professional For Flooded Bathroom Cleanup?
There are times where Connecticut homeowners should have no problem cleaning up after a flood in their bathroom, such as a minor sink overflow. But when should you absolutely call a local water damage professional in Connecticut for bathroom flood clean up?
You should call a professional for bathroom flood clean up when:
- Flooding is due to a sewage backup
- Flood water is Category 3: Black Water. This water is grossly unsanitary and can make you seriously ill when you come in contact with it. Sources of category 3 water include:
- Water from beyond the toilet trap (toilet backup)
- Water from toilet bowl containing feces
- Standing water that has begun to support microbial growth
- Water is under the bathroom floor, behind walls, or leaking through the ceiling below
- There is visible mold growth
- Ceilings are caving in or floors are buckling
- Flooding from the bathroom has affected multiple areas of your home
24 Hour Flooded Bathroom Cleanup Services in Connecticut
When the water damage from your flooded bathroom in Connecticut is more than you can handle, the professionals at SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline are Here to Help!
Our team of IICRC Certified Water Damage Restoration Specialists quickly respond to your call to begin the water removal and drying process in your flooded bathroom. Our fast response is essential to prevent further damages inside of your Connecticut home.
With over 15 years of serving Connecticut for their water damage needs, you can trust SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline to make your flooding "Like it never even happened."
24/7 Emergency Bathroom Flood Clean Up
We Handle the Insurance Process For You
Highly Trained and Certified Technicians