Issue link: https://hub.associaonline.com/i/1220418
22 5. HIRE AN HVAC SPECIALIST Flood waters could have damaged your heating and cooling system, so have it checked by an HVAC specialist—especially if you suspect that water got into heat registers and ducts. 6. REPLACE FLOORING All damaged flooring (including laminate, hardwood, carpet, and tile) should be ripped out, as well as the subfloor. Laminate and hardwood floors will absorb water, swell, and warp. All water-damaged carpeting must be removed along with the underpad, especially if there is any natural fiber in it. Your subfloor is going to be wood or OSB (oriented strand board, which is a composite wood product), so it's likely that it will be soaked through. Even if you have tile, which doesn't absorb water, the wood substrate will never completely dry out with tile on top of it. Any wet wood or OSB will lead to mold and will need to be removed. 7. OPEN YOUR WALLS Most walls are made of wood studs and drywall. Both will grow mold if there's moisture. Your contractor will need to open your walls so that the studs can dry out. 8. REMOVE DRYWALL At a minimum, your contractor should remove at least 1 foot of drywall above the water line, all the way down to the floor—the more the better. If it isn't removed, mold and mildew will grow and lead to even more costly repairs later.