Some Shortcuts to Fort Worth Flood Damage Remediation Success

9/8/2019 (Permalink)

Flooding and flood damage can literally put you out of your home. Contact our certified team for a fast response.

The High-Power Cleaning Agents Used to Disinfect Flood Damaged Fort Worth Homes

Disinfecting surfaces after flood damage is one of the most important safety measures we can take. Many types of floodwater harbor dangerous bacteria, fungi, and other microbes, and mold spores tend to overgrow whenever flooding happens. SERVPRO technicians use a variety of disinfectant products to help us target microbes more efficiently and without damaging your home.

Quaternary Compounds

The disinfectants we use the most for flood damage situations in Fort Worth are known as quaternary compounds, or "quats" for short. These products have many beneficial qualities when used for home damage restorations. First and most importantly, they are typically very effective against bacteria and fungi alike, allowing us to counteract many potential biohazards at once. However, unlike other disinfectants, quats have almost no potential to cause damage to any materials in your home and even give off a pleasant odor. Because these compounds are so versatile and helpful, we use them regularly throughout our flood damage restorations.

Chlorines

Chlorine-based disinfectants are even more potent than quaternary compounds but have some limitations and safety precautions that reduce their versatility. While chlorine chemicals can be applied to porous surfaces like wood and fabric, they can damage some other types of materials, mainly surfaces with delicate finishes. Also, the smell of chlorine is strong and difficult to counteract. Because of these limitations, we only use chlorine-based chemicals when quats prove to be insufficient.

Phenolics

Phenolic cleaning chemicals are the strongest we have in our arsenal, but also potentially the most harmful. These chemicals are useful for some of the worst flood damage cases we see, where filthy water may contaminate an entire home and create a significant biohazard. Unlike most antibiotics, these chemicals can even neutralize viruses. However, because phenolics have a strong foul odor and may be hazardous when used incorrectly, we reserve them for the most severe situations.

Botanical Disinfectants

While less potent than quaternary compounds, botanical disinfectants are similarly versatile, and many of our customers prefer us to use them over stronger chemicals. Let us know if you would prefer us to use one of our botanical alternatives on your home.

SERVPRO of Northeast Ft. Worth maintains a constant stock of some of the most powerful and specialized cleaning agents approved for use in residential buildings. For our expert mitigation and restoration services after a flood, call us 24/7 at (817) 741-5737.

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