If you've been unfortunate enough to experience a flood in San Diego, you probably know that the situation is both horrifying and stressful. It's even more difficult if you don't know what steps to take in order to mitigate the damage that has Water caused.
That's why we've put together this post all about emergency water restoration! Here you'll find a list of 7 tips for dealing with the damages wrought by water — from preventing it from happening in the first place to drying out wet carpets or other surfaces. So let's dive in!
1. Check Your Insurance Policy
First things first! Before you do anything else, make sure to check your insurance policy to find out if you're covered for water damage. If you have coverage, the next step should be obvious — file a claim! The longer you take to report the issue, the more your premiums will increase. Take care of business and then move on.
2. Find Out How It Started
You've filed your claim and notified your insurance company. Now, it's time to figure out how the flooding began. This is especially important for those who rent their homes, since you'll need to report the issue to your landlord in order to get any repairs made.
As you go about conducting your investigation, remember that there are a number of different ways that water can seep into a home — pipes can burst or sewer lines can break. Your water damage professional will be able to help you identify the water source and make sure that it's properly repaired or replaced.
3. Prevent Future Damage
If you're renting your home, then your landlord has a responsibility to make sure that your home is properly maintained. If you don't see evidence of this, contact the local building inspector to get more information on what repairs your landlord needs to make.
As for homeowners, you'll want to take steps to mitigate the damage that water can cause. This means installing water-resistant materials when redecorating or remodeling your home. If you have a fireplace or gas stove, make sure that they are properly vented and don't leak. Consider adding a backup sump pump in the basement if flooding is an issue in your area. Last but not least — call your insurance company immediately if you see signs of moisture!
4. Find a Water Damage Company
Now that you're thinking about preventing future damage, find out if your insurance company has a preferred water damage company. Their Professionals will deal with the water damage in your home and help you get the repairs that are necessary. If not, then pick up the phone book or do a Google search for local water damage restoration companies. You'll want to make sure they are licensed and insured before handing over any money — a good company should have no problem showing this proof to you.
5. Dry Out Wet Carpets and Surfaces
Once you've filed your policy, found a water damage company, and determined how the flooding began — it's time to dry out your carpeting or other wet surfaces! Since the majority of water damage is caused by flooding, this step should be pretty easy. However, there are also instances in which water can seep into a home through small cracks in pipes or walls. When this happens, you'll need to dry out damp sheet rock or insulation.
Once you've dried out these surfaces, it's important to deal with any mold growth that has taken place. You can use a dry cleaner to get rid of mold and mildew or hire the services of a professional. Since you'll be dealing with moisture in your home, you should also reduce humidity as much as possible. This will help prevent the growth of mold in the future.
6. Clean Up the Water
When you've got your carpeting and sheetrock dried out, it's time to get rid of all of the water. This can be done manually or by using a dehumidifier. If you're not handy, then you'll need to hire a professional to help you remove the moisture from your home. As with everything else, remember that dehumidifiers are only effective if they're run for several hours at a time.
7. Hire a Cleanup Crew
As you're taking care of the water damage in your home, make sure to take stock of all of the items that were damaged. If you notice that your carpeting is stained, for example, then you'll need to replace it. As you dry out wet surfaces and clean up water in your home, make sure to photograph all potential damages with a camera. For those items that aren't covered by insurance — like furniture or clothing — ensure that they are thrown away or cleaned. Since you have a water damage contractor onsite, they will be able to help with this!
Now that you've followed these steps, it's important to remember that water damage is never something that should be taken lightly. If you find yourself in an unfortunate position, make sure to contact a professional for help.
Conclusion:
If you follow these 7 steps, you'll be well on your way to Restoring your home from water damage. However, it's important to note that there are many local factors that can cause flooding in your home. As such, it may be necessary for you to take further steps in order to prevent this kind of disaster from happening. As a homeowner, you'll want to make sure that you prepare for any potential issues with water in your neighborhood.
Author Bio:- Billy Hust
Billy is a marketing manager at EZ Restoration USA. Her extensive knowledge of plumbing services has helped many people to overcome water damage and slab leak repair issues in their homes and offices. Through her blogs, she shares valuable information to the people across the USA about the advantages of AC & other appliances installation in San Diego, why regular maintenance of the HVAC system is required, and how to detect, prevent, and fix the water damage and slab leaks in your property.
Stay tuned with her recent posts and lead a comfortable life through extensive information of signs of issues in plumbing and HVAC systems and the right solution to fix it.