Water damage is one of the most frustrating and damaging things that can happen to your home. Water damage can come from many different things. A broken appliance, a clogged sewer, or a leaking pipe from a second floor washing machine.
Cleanup procedures may vary depending on the circumstances of each one. You can do things before the professionals arrive to assess the situation. Here is the ultimate checklist to help you protect your home’s integrity.
- Locate the Source. The first thing you always need to do when you see water standing in any part of your home is locate the source. Stopping the water as soon as possible prevents further damage to your home.
- Take Care of Your Home. You need to take preventative measures to stop further damage from happening. Turn off the power. A disaster could occur If water enters your home’s outlets or reaches exposed wires.
- Contact Your Insurance Provider. Once the situation is under control, you should contact your insurance provider. Take pictures of everything to ensure no one will ever question the damage.
- Begin Remediating Water Damage. To avoid mold and structural damage to the home, you should immediately begin the repairs. Contact a water damage restoration company quickly to clean and repair your home.
- Dry Your Home. You must immediately begin drying your home. Dehumidifiers and other pieces of equipment like a wet vac can be of help. Allowing the fans to run for a few days will help get your home back to normal and eliminate all humidity.
- Look for mold. The growth of mold takes about 24 hours. You risk mold exposure if your home is not dried out and repaired in this time frame. You should contact a reputable mold remediation company to help you eliminate it.
- Returning to Your Home. You may need to stay with family or friends during the entire repair and remediation process. Your home may need some time to get back to normal. It is best to only live in or move back into your home after an assessment from a professional.
Untreated water damage can also result in serious health issues. Although water damage may not seem like a big problem right away, it should always be fixed as soon as possible.
Try using this guide to get through one of the toughest situations that can happen to a homeowner. Call us for help with water damage to your home.