Facing sudden damage to your beloved home, be it water, fire, or any sort of natural calamities, is stressful, exhausting, and sometimes costly. Water damage of any origin (leaky faucets, leaky roofs, burst pipes, or stormy weather) is pretty challenging — left unattended, it might cause secondary damage, such as mold infestation or structural failure.
Timing is crucial for water damage repair, but supported by a qualified team, you can still tackle the problem rather aptly. If you resort to a professional restoration service, the initially-seemed-stressful process will be streamlined, so the house will be brought to its pre-damaged state in the shortest time.
Water Damage Emergency: 5-Step Checklist
Not to get overwhelmed with unexpected water damage, use the following checklist to manage the unpleasant event with confidence.
1. Contact pros. Yes, you can dry a small puddle under the sink with a leaky faucet, but more significant water damage requires qualified specialists to assess the safety of your home and the necessary repair work. Keep in mind that nasty mold that is often associated with high humid and moisture conditions can be invisible to the human eye and requires dedicated IR detectors to be discovered.
2. Safety measures. No matter what happens, take care of family members and pets. If water damage is minimal, like a leaky kitchen faucet, you just call a local plumber to fix it. If the problem is of a larger scale, like a burst pipe, slab leak, or excess water because of a leaky roof and heavy rains, you need to follow safety rules before cleaning up:
- Do not enter the area with standing water.
- Cut off the power, gas, and water supply if you can access switches.
3. Call the insurance company. Inform about the unfortunate event. Insurance providers usually send a representative to inspect and estimate the damage.
4. Keep a record of the damage. This is crucial for filing a claim — you need to provide evidence. Take photos of all damaged items, for instance, wet walls, standing water, puffed-up flooring, and everything impacted by unexpected excess water.
5. Start cleaning up, if possible. A basement that looks like a swimming pool requires professionals equipped with pumps. However, you can wipe small puddles on the floor and remove documents and other valuable items from the moist environment. Watch out for mold signs. Mold exposure is dangerous as these nasty fungi can trigger various allergic reactions, cause fatigue, and worsen some chronic conditions. Even if you don’t see mold spots but feel a musty odor, it can be indicative of mildew or mold presence.
Water Damage Cleanup
Water is vital for humans but can be destructive in some circumstances. Water damage caused by natural disasters (heavy rain or storming) or burst pipes can take anyone off balance.
Notice: Water damage requires urgent actions because:
- Untreated, excess water poses a serious threat to construction.
- 24-48 hours are enough for mildew and mold to grow. A tiny fungi patch can spread within hours, affecting larger surfaces. Without proper mold remediation, fungi spores are hazardous to human health.
To protect the family and stay safe while trying to reestablish your precious home back to normal, you should keep in mind a few aspects.
- Don’t try to pump out excess water using a standard home vacuum cleaner.
- Avoid entering your home if you notice structural damage.
- Don’t try to fix structural issues and electrical wires on your own.
- Don’t attempt to connect any electrical devices to the power source before the pros arrive.
When the water damage repair crew arrives, they will:
- Estimate the damage scale, develop a work plan and timeline
- Cut off the water and power supply (if you don’t have direct access)
- Help to communicate with the insurance provider and file a claim (Note that water damage caused by a long-term ignored leak can be rejected by the insurance company)
- Pump out excess water and adopt emergency measures to stop water from entering your house
- Examine the house for mold signs and structural deterioration
- Dehumidify the ruined area using dedicated equipment.
- Remove and remediate mold using special treatment.
- Carry out necessary plumbing or electrical work.
- Execute structural restoration if needed.
- Clean up and remove debris after the restoration work has been completed.
- Conduct final checkup.
How to Find a Trustworthy Water Damage Restoration Company
Residential and commercial property owners face the same challenge — how to discover reliable restoration services. A simple online search displays multiple ads offering water damage repair services. What company can you trust?
- License and certification. Look for a contractor providing certified water damage restoration services. Certificates are issued only if the crew has successfully passed the obligatory training and provided services that fully comply with the existing standards and regulations.
- Emergency services. Whenever you are taken off guard by any devastating event resulting in water damage, you’d better seek assistance asap. Hence, opt for water damage specialists that provide emergency services and guarantee fast response round-the-clock.
- Time and costs estimate. Reputable companies provide homeowners with detailed estimations and work schedules.
- Assistance with an insurance claim. Ask the company representative if they can assist with filing an insurance claim. In most cases, contractors even include this aspect into the contract.
- Customer feedback. You can hire a contractor recommended by neighbors or friends – first-hand references are valuable. Otherwise, read customer reviews about a company you intend to hire. Third-party platforms like Yelp and Trustpilot can be helpful.
Request quotes from several, at least three, companies and compare the scope of services, as well as the price bracket they offer. Fast response is crucial in some events, so note if a company is available 24/7.
Note: Large cash upfront payment requests, unavailable certification/license information, and lack of customer reviews/feedback are red flags pointing at scams.
Summary
Following this simple checklist, you have a plan to stick to and manage water damage confidently. Having pros at your side, water damage restoration doesn’t seem so scary — a properly trained, experienced, and equipped with advanced tools crew will relieve you from headaches and restore your precious house to its initial state.
