Did you know that 98 percent of basements in the US will experience some type of water damage during their lifetime? About 14,000 people deal with water or flood damage emergencies at home or work every day.
Consider yourself lucky if you haven’t had to suffer this ordeal as a homeowner. But you may have to at some point.
There’s no way to predict the whims of Mother Nature. You can’t also be 100 percent confident that the pipes in your home won’t ever burst or your appliances won’t leak.
When faced with this situation, preparedness is vital. Even if you haven’t experienced water issues before, knowing what to do helps to minimize the damage.
Here are the immediate steps to handle a water emergency so that you can move forward after going through this challenge.
Be Safe
Before anything else, the health and safety of you and your family members should always come first. The first thing to do to ensure your safety is to shut off the power to your home. But if you have to walk through water to access the fuse box, it’s best to call an electrician and let them handle it.
Assess the area before you attempt to reenter your home. You may go inside if it looks safe (no sagging walls or ceilings).
Wear protective clothing such as rubber gloves and waterproof boots before reentering your home. Rescue your most valuable possessions. Prioritize those vulnerable to water, such as paper documents and electronic devices.
Stop the Water Damage at the Source
Unless the flooding is due to a natural calamity, try to identify and eliminate the water source. Locate the shut-off valves and turn them off if you think you have a burst pipe or leak. You may also close off the main water line if you’re having trouble pinpointing the exact location of the leak.
Call Your Insurance Company
No matter the extent of the damage to your property, you should contact your insurance company. Ask about the steps they require you to take.
Document everything, and take photos or videos of all affected belongings to show to your insurer. Try to get the claims adjuster to visit your place as soon as possible to assess losses.
Even if the coverage is minimal, your insurance agent can be a credible source of information. They can recommend a certified and reputable water damage restoration business to help you with cleanup and repairs.
The Cleanup Process
The initial cleanup involves picking up all the wet furniture and possessions and moving it to a dry, secure place. Next is to try your best to remove the water using buckets, mops, and other handy tools. Dry the wet space out with a wet-dry vacuum or fans and dehumidifiers.
As you can imagine, cleaning up after water damage can be a long, grueling process. It can also be hazardous to one’s health since flooded water is often teeming with bacteria. Bringing in flood restoration professionals to help you is often the best, fastest, and safest course of action.
Need Water and Flood Damage Restoration in the Dallas Area?
Dealing with water damage can be physically and mentally exhausting. But you don’t have to do this alone.
We at Steam Wave Carpet and Upholstery Care are here to help. From extracting the water to drying, cleaning, and disinfecting your home, we’re beside you all the way.
Contact us for any flood-related emergency at any time, day or night!