5 Steps to Take If Your Bathroom Floods

1/26/2021 (Permalink)

Flooded bathroom? Contact SERVPRO of North Richland Hills today for professional water damage restoration in the Fort Worth area.

Toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers all offer opportunities for a bathroom to flood. We use the bathroom so often that we take for granted that water will shut off and drain properly.

Until one day we are met with a scene that looks more like a waterpark than a bathroom. Some may think that bathroom floods are a bigger problem than they can handle. However, even if you plan to call for someone skilled to help, there are still things you should do on your own to manage the situation. For starters, you should stop the water flow by locating and shutting off the water valve.

SERVPRO of Fort Worth is all about being prepared to take action in a water emergency. We put together this quick and easy guide to address bathroom floods.

Common Causes of Bathroom Flooding

Perhaps you have an old house where the plumbing is starting to fall apart. Even those who live in newer properties may run into some bathroom flooding events. How many types of bathroom floods have you encountered?

• Tub or sink flooding when there is a clog that prevents draining.
• Toilet floods are flushed several times with a stubborn blockage.
• Burst pipes from freezing cold weather or old plumbing.
• Faucet left on.

No matter the reason for a flooded bathroom, you’ll need to find the cause quickly so you can stop it from getting worse.

How to Stop Bathroom Flooding

Water all over the place can cause a bit of panic. What do you do first when a bathroom floods? Grab a mop and bucket?

Below are the steps you should take in the order you should do them. It begins with stopping the water at its source.

1. Shut off the Water Valves 

The first thing you should do is to shut off the water. This could be the faucet, the external valve of the toilet, a valve under the sink, or the main water supply into the house (in the case of a burst pipe situation.

Plan to leave the water off until the source of the flooding is resolved. If you turn it back on too soon, there will be more flooding which leads to increased potential for damage. 

If it’s the toilet that is overflowing, avoid flushing it until the issue is resolved. Flushing when there is a clog is one of the main causes for a toilet to overflow. Use a plunger to release the clog. Once the toilet bowl drains, you can try flushing the toilet again to check if the blockage has been successfully removed.

2. Remove Standing Water

Clearing out bathroom floods is a big job, but the sooner you remove the water the better. Standing water can be damaging, unhygienic, and creates a safety issue if it makes contact with electricity.

Using a bucket or other container, scoop out the water and empty where it can drain (kitchen sink, tub in another bathroom, dump it outdoors, etc.)

Once most of the water has been removed, use an absorbent mop or a thirsty towel to soak up as much water as possible. Have a bucket nearby to wring out saturated mops and rags.

Use a wet/dry shop vac to assist you with water removal (if available) but be careful not to let cords make contact with water puddles.

3. Open Windows and Bring in Fans

Even the most aggressive water removal tactics aren’t enough to get rid of all water. It’s likely there will still be some streaks and dampness lingering here and there.

The way to move all moisture out of the bathroom to make it completely dry is to use the force of air. The air will evaporate and leave the space via airflow.

Using high-powered fans you can dry out the area effectively. This works even better when you have a window to open in the bathroom. Again, be careful not to let electrical components make contact with water puddles.

The idea is to promote as much airflow as possible so that remaining dampness and moisture will be eliminated. Lingering water and moisture lead to mold growth and potential wood rot (cabinets, baseboards, subfloor, etc).

4. Find and Fix the Source of the Problem

You’ve worked so hard to get your bathroom dry again. Now it’s time to be proactive so that it doesn’t happen again.

This involves preventing clogs in plumbing, repairing plumbing, or coaching members of your household to not leave the water running. If there is a recurring problem of someone (like a child) leaving the water on, you might consider installing sink faucets that are designed to shut off after a few minutes or install water level alarms.

If after examination of the bathroom, you still can’t find the cause of the damage or if the source is in a place you can’t easily access, your best bet is to contact a professional.

A plumber may be the first thing that comes to your mind, but SERVPRO in Fort Worth, TX is also skilled at locating and addressing the source of water damage problems.

5. Document the Damage

If you believe the damage is substantial enough to warrant an insurance or home warranty claim, you’ll want to take photos and video as proof of the damage. It’s important not to procrastinate here because the conditions will change over time. You should capture evidence at the onset of the damage.

How Long Does it Take for Water Damage to Show?

Signs of water damage will appear as soon as 24 hours after the water has been extracted. Some damage may not show up for a few weeks.

• Discoloration (stains on drywall, ceilings, etc.)
• Change of texture on surfaces or materials
• Wood warping, buckling, sagging, sinking, swelling (usually from toilet or bathtub flooding).
• Appearance or smell of mold or mildew.

The potential for mold growth is a chief reason to address water damage right away. Mold spores begin to colonize as soon as 48 hours after a bathroom floods. Some species of mold are toxic and damaging. However, it may take several more days before you see or smell the mold.

How to Prevent Bathroom Flooding

The more your bathroom floods, the greater the potential there is for water damage and mold growth. To avoid the constant hassle of wet messes, here are some tips to prevent bathroom flooding

• Drain guard - To avoid clogs, catch hair and other potential clogs with a strainer that properly fits the drains of your bath, shower, or sink drains.
• Watch what you flush - Wipes and some hygiene products are said to be okay to flush, but not all plumbing systems allow these to pass through. Also, keep an eye on small children who may try to flush toys and other objects down the toilet. Keep bathtub toys out of reach when not in use.
• Plumbing repairs - If your plumbing shows various signs of failure, or if you know that these are aging, it’s time to invest in repairs. The older a house is, the more likely it is that pipes, faucets, or toilets need to be replaced. Fixing these before they become a problem can save you the headache of a flooded bathroom.
• Install prevention mechanisms - This could be a drain in the floor of the bathroom or a flood stop device.
• Keep it dry - For areas that frequently collect water, use absorbent mats, a mop, and an exhaust fan to clear the bathroom of moisture after taking a bath or shower.
• Communicate - Ask household members to remember to turn off the water after use, and keep things out of drains and toilets that could cause a flood. Explain to them that bathroom floods cause water and mold damage. Children may need supervision in the bathroom as they learn how to use the sink, toilet, bathtub, etc. appropriately.

Contact SERVPRO for Fort Worth Water and Flood Damage Repair

Bathroom floods are infrequent, but you can be proactive to either keep these from happening in the first place or take action right away when it does.

SERVPRO of North Richland Hills is always ready to take action on any flooding situation, big or small. Not only do we Fort Worth water damage restoration for both commercial and residential properties, but we can also handle common household repairs. We work directly with your insurance company should you need to file a claim.

Should you walk into a messy bathroom flooding situation, we’re here to help. Call us at (817) 589-1499 for emergency contact 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.