Flooding and high humidity can damage electronics and family photographs even when the items were not fully submerged. The first steps depend on the material and the type of exposure.
Water Damaged Electronics
Water damage to electronics generally falls into three categories: submersion, direct contact and high-humidity exposure.
- Submersion: the equipment is completely covered with water (the water may contain sediment or minerals). Replacement is recommended because the cost of cleaning and parts may exceed the price of a new unit.
- Direct hit: because very little water may have gotten inside, cleaning may be possible for this electronics. The thing to realize is that all water contains some level of contaminants or minerals. If these contaminants cause corrosion to circuit boards, the unit may work for a period of time and then fail. Corrosion can be stopped, but it cannot be reversed. Consider replacement.
- High Humidity: these items could have be in a water-damaged room but not touched by water. Dust, combined with humidity, is the enemy in this case. If a lot of dust is present the extra humidity could cause a mud-like coating on the circuit boards. Cleaning may be required, however, the units should be left off and remain in the area being professionally dried. That way any extra humidity around them can be removed through the dehumidification process.
Water Damaged Photos
Wet photographs can be fragile, especially older prints. Handle them by the edges when possible and keep wet photographs from touching each other.
- Gently rinse both sides of the photo in a bucket or sink containing clear, cold water (I know, this sounds counter-productive). Do not blot or rub the photos.
- Lay each photo face up on plain blotting paper or an unprinted paper towel. Dry them indoors, away from direct sunlight and moving air that may curl the edges.
- Change the blotting papers every hour or two as necessary.
If you do not have the time or space to dry the damaged photos, separate them with wax paper, seal them in a plastic storage bag and place them flat in a freezer until a conservation professional can advise you.
If water has reached electronics, photographs or other contents, call Cleveland Water and Fire Restoration, Inc. at any hour. We can assess the affected area, begin drying and explain which items may need a specialist.
