Water Damage Restoration: What to Do and When to Call a Professional

Water damage is one of the most dreaded nightmares homeowners have to face. It is not just a cause of inconvenience, but it may also lead to damages that may cost thousands of dollars in restoration. If the damages are severe, there are chances that the entire home may be condemned, meaning that you will have to seek an alternative place to stay.

However, it pays to be equipped for this type of disaster so that you can know what to do to minimize the damages to your home.

Continue reading below to find out some of the things you need to do when considering water damage restoration, as well as when you need to call for professional help when dealing with the situation.

Shut down the source of flooding

The very first thing you should do when your house is undergoing a flood is to locate the source of water and shut it down completely. If the flooding is being caused by a pipe leak or any other plumbing problem, your priority should be to find the leak and shut it down so that you can stop further flooding of the house.

Ideally, you should know where the shut-off valve is located within your home so that you don’t spend a lot of time trying to locate it during an emergency. However, things may be a little different if the flooding is caused by a natural disaster such as a storm. In this case, your greatest concern should be your safety and that of your loved ones. Once the storm is over, you can come back and begin the restoration process.

Shut off the utilities

Once you have located and stopped the source of the water, the next thing you need to do in case of a flooding event in your home is to shut off the utilities. Cutting off the gas and electricity supply to your home is a crucial step. For the electricity, turn off the entire supply to the house at the circuit breaker panel. Electricity and flood water are not good friends, and you don’t want them holding a meeting in your home, with you coming in between.

Get personal protection

If the flooding is not too extensive and you are confident that it is something that you can manage, then get the right safety gear before you make any attempt to remove the flood waters. Some of the personal protective equipment you need to have to deal with the flood successfully include a pair of rubber boots and a pair of gloves. Then gather up supplies such as buckets and shovels in readiness for the next step.

Get the water out as soon as possible

One of the secrets to minimizing flood damages is to get rid of the flood waters as fast as you possibly can, using buckets or a sump pump if one is available in your home. Avoid using a regular vacuum on wet carpets, unless you have a shop vacuum that is designed to deal with lots of water. If the levels of water have receded substantially, you can employ the use of mops and towels to soak up the water from the rooms.

Sort out your belongings

Start by moving out any of your belongings that you can; transfer furniture, clothes, and appliances to dry and safer places. In the case where pieces of furniture are too heavy to move, place aluminum foil underneath to prevent the staining of your carpets.

If you have books, blankets, rugs, and linens that may have been exposed to the flood waters, be sure to take them out to a place where they can slowly dry. In the case of books, if they are completely damaged, then you may have to simply discard them.

Make a record of the damages for insurance purposes

If flooding is covered by your home insurance, then be sure to call your insurance adjuster as soon as possible. In the meantime, be sure to take photos and videos of the damage so that you can share them with the insurance for compensation purposes. This should be done before you start any restoration work so that the insurance company can get a real picture of the damage.

When to call a professional

Taking the steps mentioned above is a great way to get going in case you are faced with a flooding event at home. However, there are instances when you can’t do anything, apart from getting yourself and your loved ones to safety. In this case, the best thing to do is call for water damage restoration experts to come and help you out. Here is a brief look at some of the typical scenarios when calling the experts may be necessary-:

When there are excessive flood waters

If you are faced with excessive flooding, like those occasioned by fierce storms, then you may not be well equipped to care for the aftermath. In such cases, you need to call on professionals who have the tools, skills, and expertise to get rid of such excessive water.

When you are alone

It is easier to deal with water restoration when you are a team. If you find yourself in a flooding situation and you are all by yourself, it makes more sense to call for expert help instead of trying to fix everything by yourself.

If the flooding has caused extensive damage to your home, and there is a need for significant restoration work, then it will also make a lot of sense to get the help of professionals. They are your safest and shortest route to getting you back to normalcy in no time.

When there is extensive damage

If the flooding has caused extensive damage to your home, and there is a need for significant restoration work, then it will also make a lot of sense to get the help of professionals. They are your safest and shortest route to getting you back to normalcy in no time.