Has your house, office, or property ever been flooded due to excess water? If yes, then you know how devastating as well as frustrating it can be to handle such a situation. Unless the water is removed from the property, everything is a mess, and the entire scene seems to be very chaotic. The water damage situation can be due to several reasons, such as broken pipes or heavy rainfall, or due to damages in the sewer lines. Water damage issues are so stressful that you may not be able to manage them on your own. You might need the help of a professional water damage restoration service provider to take control of the situation. The professionals have the skills and required equipment to drain out the water and start the restoration process as soon as possible.
Here are some of the most important steps to take when dealing with the water damage restoration process…
#1 Check The Electrical System Of The Property
This is the most important step that will ensure your and your family’s safety. When you observe that your property is flooded due to excessive water, you need to switch off the entire electrical system until professionals take control of the situation. It is important because accidents can take place due to electrical appliances present in the house/office that may lead to short circuits. If the electrical system is shut down, there is no danger of such accidents or hazards.
#2 Shut Off The Gas Line
Sometimes the pressure created by water on the gas line may be so high that it can even burst or develop cracks. Through these cracks, gas may leak and cause other hazardous situations. Similar to shutting off the electrical supply, you must get the gas line turned off too.
#3 Inform Your Insurance Company
When you have insurance for the property, get the restoration work started quickly as most everything should be covered under the insurance claim. Draining the water, removing the debris, cleaning up the entire area, and even drying the area out is typically what’s covered. You can inform your insurance company or the insurance adjuster of your water damage problem and also send them photos in order to have proof while filing the insurance claim.
#4 Call A Professional Water Damage Restoration Company
Once you have informed the insurance company regarding the reason behind the water damage and explain the situation, you can reach out to professional water damage restoration service providers like Arko Restoration. The faster you contact the water damage restoration service professionals, the faster the recovery process. The professionals have the right techniques as well as the advanced equipment to take control of the entire situation.
#5 Document Your Items
While the water damage restoration professionals are working, you will be asked to remove or set out important items separately once the water is drained out. There might be other household items, including furniture, carpet, rugs, and more, which would no longer be in a usable state and need to be discarded. So… separate your essential documents or salvageable items from those items that have to be discarded. Besides this, there are things that can be restored to their original condition, so you can ask them to keep a written and picture record of all these things. Later on, it would be easier for you to check all your stuff that has been discarded and/or restored, respectively.
#6 Ensure The Structural Integrity Of The Property
Flooding can mess with the structural integrity of the property. Major damage to wooden flooring means you’d have to have the flooring replaced, for example. If the professionals inform you that the walls have been extensively damaged due to water stains and moisture, then you will have to get them restored/replaced as well.
#7 Dry Out The Property And Prevent Mold
When water damage occurs in any residential or commercial property, there is always a threat of mold problems. Mold can start growing in any nook or corner which has not been dried out completely. Similarly, places where the water has been retained by/on the surface are also areas ripe for mold growth. To tackle this problem, you will have to ensure that your entire property has been thoroughly dried out and cleaning solutions have been sprayed to prevent the growth of mold.
Summary
Water damage can be really devastating to a property if you are not vigilant enough to take quick action. Call water damage restoration professionals, like Arko Restoration, at the earliest convenience.