Managing a home or commercial property comes with various responsibilities. One of these is having a telephone number of water and fire damage remediation experts on your speed dial. This is very important since you can never tell when water damage can happen. Emergencies involving water damage result from factors including burst pipes, sewage backup, overflowing appliances, and during a storm.
Water problems are stressing and threaten the value and safety of your property and valuables. So, remediating the problem in the shortest time possible is very important. After calling the water damage remediation experts to come and save you from a water disaster, there are things you can do in the meantime as they arrive.
Locate the source of water
Identifying the source of water is very important. Afterward, you have to try stopping it if you can. There?s a possibility that the cause of water damage is from a leaking water tank or burst pipe. Locate the shut-off valves to stop the water. For a possibility of a flood, consider strategies such as ditching or sandbagging.
A leaky ceiling can also be a source of water damage. Call R2fw water damage remediation experts to pinpoint the source of the problem and fix it. Fortunately, the experts also handle the elimination of mold from homes. You can confirm the presence of mold in form of discoloration on the baseboards and ceilings and foul odors.?
Get yourself and possessions out of harm?s way
Regardless of the extent, water damage comes with a risk of potential harm to your health and that of your family members. Some protective measures include shutting off the electricity by turning off the circuit breakers and unplug all your devices. Remove some of your most prized items including electronics and documents. When there?s a looming danger of drowning, get away from the flooded area until the remediation experts arrive. Put on rubber gloves, protective clothing, and waterproof boots if you want to get back into the house.?
Talk to the insurance company
Contacting your insurance company is another important thing to do when facing water damage. Doing this allows making effective claims for reimbursement. Contact the insurance company in the shortest time possible after noticing the water damage. Doing this allows getting appropriate steps to take in such a situation according to the company guidelines.
Look out for the claims adjuster app on the company website to document and estimate the cost of damage and related repairs. Equally important is to take photos of affected valuables and those with damage. And, keep all your documents and receipts.
Dry your things
While you wait for the water damage remediation experts to arrive on your premises, you should begin drying out tour belongings. Doing this is very important to limit the growth of mildew and mold after a few days. Lift your wet furniture and get it away from the flooded area. To protect your wet carpets and furniture legs, wrap them in aluminum foil.
Remove all area rugs from the floors and hang them to dry in the yard. For some areas with little moisture, use a dehumidifier or fan to eliminate excess moisture. Additionally, turn on the air conditioner to eliminate humidity as well. All in all, the remediation experts are likely to arrive with all appropriate equipment to restore your premises.
Clean your property
Water damage remediation packages can include cleaning your property. As you wait for the restoration experts to arrive, try cleaning your belongings. Go through your belongings and look for whatever you can salvage. Discard whatever has faced severe damage or you?re less likely to use afterward. Remove flooring, carpeting, insulation, baseboards, and drywall for a replacement to limit chances of mold and mildew growth.
By the time professionals arrive, the workload is now less to give them a chance to focus on only those that need specialized attention. Experienced water damage restoration experts come with appropriate equipment to detect any residual water including hygrometers, moisture detectors, remote cameras, and moisture detectors. The professionals will also give you expert advice regarding the restoration of electronics, furniture, and documents.
Disinfect clean areas
During water damage, it is not easy for non-professionals to understand the type of water you?re dealing with. So, there?s a possibility of the water containing bacteria and other hazards likely to cause health problems. Besides, the presence of water encourages mold growth requiring the need to sanitize immediately. After removing the damaged material, begin disinfecting the area before the restoration process. Spraying and wiping down surfaces using bleach inhibits the growth of mold spores before completing appropriate repairs.
Bottom line
Calling water damage remediation professionals is a proactive thing to do in case of an emergency. However, before the experts arrive, there are things you can do to save their work and protect your items from further damage. Doing this will ensure that by the time the professionals arrive, the only work remaining will be that requiring their specialized expertise and equipment. This will lower your budget for the project.
