If you get busy and forget you have the bathtub filling with water, you could have a disaster on your hands by the time you remember to check the tub. While water damage is often associated with a drawn-out flood from rain, a surprising amount of damage can occur with a quick mishap, too. It's often best to hire a water damage repair company to assess the situation because drying up the mess yourself might not get the job done right, and any moisture that lingers behind will encourage mold. Here are some of the steps involved in cleaning up water damage caused by an overflowing bathtub.

Scoop Or Soak Up Water As Fast As Possible

Create a dam by the door with towels so water stops leaking into other areas of your home, like the hallway carpet. Then scoop up the water or soak it up with towels so the excess water is removed quickly. The only good thing about flooding from a bathtub is that the water is clean so you don't have to worry about handling it.

Extract Hidden Water And Dry Out The Room

If you have a wet vac, use it to pull water out of the flooring and any nearby carpet that's wet. Once all traces of water are dried up, point a strong fan in the room to dry out the air. If you have multiple fans, point them at the carpet outside the bathroom if it got wet, too. While these steps will get rid of the visible water, your home could still be in danger of mold or rot from wet wood. This is where a restoration company can be a big help. They will check for hidden water and determine the type of repairs that need to be done.

Fortunately, a bathroom is usually built to resist water damage, so the walls and floor may be sealed with tile. The biggest problem may be with what's on the other side of the bathroom door. If water leaked under the door, there could be damage to carpet, drywall, or the subfloor. Depending on how wet the items are, it might be possible to dry them out, or they may need to be removed and replaced with new materials. If the bathroom is on the second level of your home, then making sure no water seeped under the carpet or floor is important because that could cause water damage to the ceiling below, and the damage might make the floor unstable.

Drying out after a bathtub flood can be a challenging process, but eliminating the risk of mold and minimizing damage to building materials and possessions makes the effort worth it. Since water flows into hidden areas, much of the potential damage will be in places you can't see. Working with a water damage restoration company gives you peace of mind that you haven't overlooked a problem that could put your home in danger.