Stagnant water is water that sits in place for hours or even days or weeks. Although it’s most common after a flood, it can happen whenever the water cannot drain properly. Also called standing water, it will soak into your home and lead to water damage. It can also lead to several health risks and structural issues. We explain how to get rid of stagnant water and stay safe during cleanup. Plus, we look at the health risks and dangers of stagnant water.
What Is Standing Water?
Stagnant water occurs when water settles in low areas inside or outside of your home. Standing water outside will remain until the ground absorbs it. While you can wait for it to dry inside, it can take days or weeks. Since that can lead to mold or smells, it’s best to clean it up as soon as possible.
How to Get Rid of Stagnant Water
In some cases, you can clean up stagnant water on your own. However, household equipment like shop vacs and fans will take too long to dry the area. The longer it takes to dry, the more likely mold and bacteria will spread to other materials like carpet padding, drywall, and woodwork.
Plan on getting rid of stagnant water on your own? We recommend renting equipment meant for water removal and structural drying. If you don’t have the time or equipment to remove standing water quickly, you should hire a water cleanup company. They will clean up the water fast to limit damage and keep your family safe.
Approximate Time: 3 days
Estimated Cost: $ 800
Supplies Needed
- Towels
- Bucket
- Mop
- Rags
- Soap
- Bleach
Tools Need
- Pump
- Wet-Dry Vacuum
- Utility Knife
- High-Velocity Fans
- Structural Drying Dehumidifier
Steps to Removing Stagnant Water
1. Remove Stagnant Water
First, you need to remove as much water as possible. You should use a pump if there are more than a few inches of water. However, if the standing water is shallow, you can use a wet-dry vacuum or towels.
2. Remove Damage Material
Since stagnant water can ruin drywall, woodwork, and carpeting, you should throw away anything damaged beyond repair. When dealing with damaged walls, cut two inches above the water line and only throw away the ruined section. Also, take this time to move furniture and personal items out of the room. Clearing the room will help air circulate and dry your home faster.
3. Dry Your Home
Next, use fans and dehumidifiers to dry your home, prevent mold and limit structural damage. While you can use regular household fans, they will take much longer. Instead, use high-velocity fans and structural drying dehumidifiers. They will remove water quickly and prevent further damage. You can get the right tools at most equipment rental companies.
4. Repair the Source of the Damage
Then you need to find and fix whatever caused the stagnant water. If you don’t fix the issue, standing water will likely return and cause more damage. Depending on the cause, you may need to make repairs before removing the water or drying your home.
5. Clean and Disinfect the Area
Even after your home is dry, bacteria and mold can still grow on many surfaces. For this reason, you need to clean everything with soap and warm water. Then mix one cup of bleach into a gallon of water and wipe everything down to disinfect it.
6. Rebuild and Restore
Finally, restore the damaged area. Rebuilding will depend on the damage but usually includes cleaning or installing new carpet, replacing drywall, putting in new cabinets, or repainting.
What Are the Dangers of Stagnant Water?
Regardless of the source, standing water poses several dangers. Common stagnant water diseases and health risks include E. coli, Legionnaires’ Disease, and Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Even clean water will eventually become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Due to these risks, you should never drink or cook with this water.
Here are the most common dangers of stagnant water:
- Bacteria – Floodwaters and sewage are already contaminated, and bacteria can grow in clean standing water in 48 to 72 hours. E. coli and Salmonella are the most common in stagnant water, but any type of bacteria is possible.
- Mold – The longer flooring and walls stay wet, the greater the chance you’ll have mold. With clean water, it’ll take a few days, but it could be as little as 24 hours if sewage is involved.
- Viruses – Stagnant water will allow viruses to breed, including the Norwalk virus and rotaviruses. Insects and mosquitoes may also carry other viruses.
- Parasites – The most common parasites in standing water are Entamoeba, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. These can grow in clean water but are much more common after a flood or sewage backup.
- Structural Damage – Stagnant water can ruin the structure of your home as it soaks in. Water will break down walls, carpeting, carpet padding, and cabinets. It can even warp hardwood floors and wood studs.
- Insects and Rodents – Stagnant water can also attract insects and rodents. Mosquitoes may carry malaria, West Nile virus, and Zika fever. Rats, mice, and other small rodents also have bacteria and diseases.
Although not necessarily a risk, standing water often smells like rotten eggs. Stagnant water that contains sewage will smell even worse.
Diseases and Health Risks
- Cryptosporidium
- Dengue Fever
- Entamoeba
- E. coli
- Fungus
- Giardia
- Legionnaires’ Disease
- Malaria
- Mold
- Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
- Norwalk Virus
- Pseudomonas-Related Pneumonia
- Salmonella
- Rotavirus
- West Nile Virus
- Zika Fever
Structural Dangers
- Ceiling Leaks
- Deteriorating Carpet or Padding
- Wall and Wood Damage
- Mold Growth
- Swelling Cabinets
- Warped Hardwoods
How Much Does It Cost to Clean up Stagnant Water?
Although it’s hard to estimate the cost of cleaning up stagnant water without seeing the damage, you can expect to pay between $600 and $1600. Several factors determine the cost of cleaning up, including the source and amount of water, the size of the area, the length of time, and how much reconstruction is needed.
Do you have standing or stagnant water in your home after a flood or backup? Our experts will dry out your home and restore the damage fast. Call 1-888-514-2501 now for a free estimate on water removal services near you.
