9 Steps To Take When Water & Flood Damage Strikes
With the winter months here, the risk of damage from water or flooding increases and is definitely something you want to avoid. Water damage can be stressful as you have to deal with property that is lost or damaged, dealing with insurance companies, restoring the property, etc. If you run into a water damage problem, you can use these nine steps of action to take.
1) Stop The Water
Obvious as it may seem, the first thing you will want to do is stop the water from continuing to flood your home. Try to find the source of the water and find a quick fix solution to save your property. Knowing where the main shutoff valve is located is the best way to stop water if the source is through a broken or leaky pipe.
2) Contact A Water Restoration Company
After stopping the flooding from progressing as best as you can, your next step should be to contact a water remediation service to handle the rest of the issue. These companies are your best bet at properly caring for your home and belongings after a flood. This service can help you move all your water damage property and assess the damage. Roy’s Restoration is available 24/7 to help any resident or business owner with water damage in the Boston, MA area.
3) Turn Off Your Utilities
As soon as you notice flooding you need to turn off your utilities to prevent serious damage. Turn off electricity and plug u your toilets, sinks, showers, and other drains to prevent sewage overflow.
4) Do Not Use Electrical Appliances
As common sense as it is, it is extremely important to not use any electrical appliances in the presence of a flood. Head to your main breaker box and unplug electrical appliances near the flooded area. But only do so if you are not in water as you could run the risk of electrocution if you are in water while performing this task. Avoid all areas where you know there is electrical wiring to avoid getting shocked as well.
5) Contain Water Flow
If you can, try to contain the flow of water to prevent further water damage. You can do this by mopping up water or containing the water with towels. Be sure to check if the water you are dealing with is from the sewage, and if so leave it alone as there could be bacteria in the water.
6) Move Belongings To A Dry Location
Water damage is no joke, so try to save as many items you own as possible by moving them to dry areas. Big and valuable items should be protected as soon as you can that way they can be restored as soon as the water is cleaned up.
7) File An Insurance Claim
Any time you experience water or flood damage you need to file an insurance claim. The claims process can be overwhelming and can take a while so you will want to do this as soon as possible.
8) Don’t Throw Away Anything
After a flood, you will want to throw away any damaged item as it is no longer useful, but don’t act so fast. An insurance claims adjuster will need to inspect your belongings as part of their investigation. In addition to seeing if it will be part of the claim, the adjuster can decide which items can be restored or not.
9) Wash Your Hands & Clothes
No matter if you are sure the water is clean or not, you can never be too careful. Flood water can contain harmful bacteria and sewage. Get rid of bacteria as much as you can by washing your hands and clothes so you are completely clean.
Use these tips to help stop water damage from getting worse in the case of a flood and be sure contact us for any water remediation assistance.
