Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma have made their mark on the south-eastern coast of the mainland this last month. Families have been affected, lives have been lost, and thousands have been left in very deep water. To help aid in these trying times, we encourage you to donate to organizations like the Red Cross. Every dollar lends a hand in helping those innocent citizens get back to normal life as they once knew it.
Below are six tips that will offer some immediate help to drying out the inside of your vehicle if you ever find yourself in that unfortunate circumstance.
DISCONNECT
Electricity and water, when mixed, can be very dangerous. Remove your car battery as soon as you can. Once everything has dried, you’re clear to replace it.
START DRYING
We know, we know. It’s almost too obvious, but start airing your vehicle out as soon as you can. Open absolutely all doors and compartments and get some good old fashion air flow going.
DON’T START IT
Attempting to start the engine of a flooded vehicle will only send more water through the system, which in turn will cause even more damage under the hood. If you can avoid driving a water-damaged vehicle at all costs, do so. Your best bet is to have your car towed to its destination.
MAKE THE CALL
Get your insurance company on the phone, and make sure you are all on the same page. The faster they know your situation, the sooner they can help you get back on the road in a repaired or brand-new vehicle. Take photos of the damage and keep track of any stains, smells and warning lights that pop up over time.
CLEAR EVERYTHING OUT
Remove floor mats, rubbish, seats, even the carpeting if you’re able. Removing as much of the wet materials from your vehicle will keep the interior as well-ventilated as possible. Excess moisture will only help to create humidity and may inhibit bacteria growth.
WET VAC
Most local hardware stores rent out Wet Vacs. This will only make the drying process easier. Wet Vacs are great in a way that they can extract up to 10 gallons of liquid and debris without having to pass through an electrical component.
We hope that these tips are useful to anyone that may stand in need of a dry vehicle. We’re aware that Hawaii is far from the south-eastern coast of the United States, and we understand that drying a flooded vehicle may be at the bottom of some people’s priority lists, which is why we encourage our readers to donate whatever they can to help relieve some of the damage Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma have created. Here at KW Auto Body, it’s all about making sure people get back on the road quickly and, most importantly, safely no matter where you are.