5 Tips to Dealing With Water Damage
Whether it’s due to a severe storm or burst pipes, water damage has the potential to wreak havoc on a lot of aspects of your home. That’s one of the reasons why you should address this problem as quickly as possible. But it’s hardly the extent of devastation that it can cause.
Water damage can weaken your home’s structure by causing mold and rot. If your supports are rotting, this can make the whole structure dangerous. Furthermore, mold can lead to some serious effects on your health. But, if you act quickly, you may be able to save some of your possessions from irreparable damage.
The first thing you should do whenever you have any water damage is to call in the pros. A water restoration company will help you clean up and dry everything out. With a professional emergency water damage cleanup team on your side, you will be able to get back to your normal life in no time.
That said, here are 5 other tips that can help you deal with water damage before the professionals get there:
- Assess the Problem
Before doing anything else, it’s important to assess the problem that you have on hand. If you live in an area that is experiencing flooding, the cause of your water damage should be pretty obvious. But what if you are dealing with a burst pipe? Sometimes, this will be easy to spot. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this kind of water damage can happen over time, especially if your pipes are hidden behind drywall. Whatever the case, pinpoint the source of the breach and find ways to fix it.
It’s also vital to ensure that the area is safe before you enter. With water damage, a big cause for concern is electricity. You also have to be wary of the danger of slipping and falling in any wet spots. If the flooded area looks the least bit unsafe or unstable, don’t enter. This is especially true if there is any standing water in the space. Simply leave the premises and wait for the professionals to arrive.
- Take Care of Your Stuff
Time is of the essence when dealing with water damage. After ensuring that the space is safe to enter, you need to start removing your possessions to give them a chance to dry. The longer your stuff stays in the water, the more damaged it will be.
So start off by removing anything you can carry out safely. Avoid things that are too heavy or waterlogged but don’t leave any loose items on the floor. If you have any smaller rugs or fabrics, remove them too and hang them up to dry.
- Ventilate
After removing any salvageable possessions, it’s time to let the air in. Precede this by mopping up any leftover water to the best of your abilities. Don’t forget to wipe down your baseboards, walls, and furniture. If this isn’t done, it’s unlikely that ventilation alone will dry out your home without any damage.
Air out the premises by opening up the windows and running the air conditioner. Alternate between opening windows and running the heat during winter. Running a dehumidifier could also help to evaporate the water too. But make sure to ensure safety before using any electrical appliances.
- Work with Your Insurance
The good news is that most insurance policies cover flood damage, but it might depend on the cause of the flooding. Make sure to handle this detail early on so that your policy can help pay for the cleanup and restoration processes.
- Restore the Rest
At some point, you will have to make the decision whether or not to restore the possessions that were damaged. The degree of restoration will depend on the level of water damage. Whatever the case, you will be able to start the restoration process once cleanup is done. You might need to replace flooring or drywall, and even fix the pipes. However, this will help you get your home back to what it looked like before the water damage.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.
