Water damage is a devastating thing to experience.
It can happen when your water pipes break, leaky pipes, and when there is a sewage backup, a natural disaster, or even after a fire.
No matter the cause of water damage, it usually leaves behind some serious problems: mold and mildew growth; structural issues like sagging ceilings and floors; blackouts from electrical shorts; and more.
There are many steps you need to take if you find yourself in this situation: calling for help (either with insurance adjusters or plumbers); shutting off utilities such as electricity and gas; documenting any damages before they get worse with time; salvaging anything that might be saved by drying it out quickly (clothes, food items) and throwing out anything that cannot be saved; and more.
The following are six valuable tips for homeowners that have experienced water damage from a water leak, burst plumbing pipe, sewer backup, or fire in your home or office:
1. Call your Homeowner's Insurance Company
Your homeowners' insurance will vary depending on what policies you have. If you have standard homeowners' insurance, there may be time limits on how quickly emergency repairs must be made. You will want to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to discuss your policy and learn more about what it covers.
The insurance company will assign an adjuster to assess the damage and determine if the loss is covered. The adjuster is responsible for inspecting the damage and ensuring all claims are processed.
These may also apply if you have additional coverage, such as flood insurance or a loss of use clause.
Your adjuster will not wait until the entire drying process is complete before deciding on your claim. They will be looking for any signs of water or moisture damage and determine how long the loss is expected to continue.
Document the values of each and every item you can think of and take as many photos as possible before, during, and after cleanup.
2. Shut off utilities such as electricity and gas in the home.
You will want to turn off the power to the home to reduce the risk of being electrocuted. Never enter a flood-damaged home before turning off the electricity. If there is standing water, it is always best to call an electrician.
3. Start Water Damage Repair Right Away
Water damage restoration should start within 24 - 48 hours after being deemed safe to return to your home or business. Often the damage is extensive and overwhelming; this is where the help of a water damage restoration company comes in. They will dry out the areas affected by the water damage to find the areas more susceptible to moisture and avoid mildew and serious mold issues.
4. Avoid Mold Growth
Unfortunately, not everything can be saved after you experience water damage. Once certain items get wet, they are more likely to create a mold problem. Mold will destroy the material and must be removed before it grows on other objects around it.
Mold can lead to respiratory problems, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and other serious health concerns. It can cause a great deal of stress, so it is important that you start the process right away.
5. Clean or Dispose of Porous Materials That Were Affected
Porous materials are items that absorb water easily. If they have been damaged by standing or dirty water, it is necessary to clean them thoroughly and discard them if they are beyond repair. For example, sofas, chairs, mattresses contain a lot of foam and materials that can store moisture, causing mold and mildew issues.
6. Begin Restoring Your Home or Business
Replacing flooring, carpeting, drywall, and other materials in the home or commercial property is what usually takes the longest. If major construction is needed, hire a professional. We will be happy to recommend a few we have worked with previously.
With these steps, your home can be back to normal after a flood. Working with a trusted, highly rated restoration company is your best route. They will have the experience needed in dealing with all of the major issues that water damage can leave behind and will be able to restore your home back to its original condition, if not better.
If you have experienced water damage in your home or commercial business, give our highly trained water restoration experts a call at (859)302-2702
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What to consider when choosing a fire and damage restoration company
Certified experts
It is imperative to make certain that the company in question has all the required state and local certifications to complete the restoration job. These certifications should also be up-to-date.
• Certification: Look for credentials from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, also known as the IICRC, for well-trained fire and water damage experts.
• Sub-certifications: The IICRC has additional specializations such as mold remediation or structural and commercial Drying. Ask the company for details about their sub-certifications.
• Restoration vs. reconstruction: Note that the IICRC refers to restoration, not reconstruction. If the damage is to severe that contractors are required to partially or completely rebuild/reconstruct properties, make sure that they have all the proper local licenses and certifications necessary.
Experience
Every disaster is unique and requires the utmost care. If a company begins operating from the wrong starting assumptions, it can prolong or completely derail the restoration project unnecessarily.
• Relevant experience: Make sure that the company providing restoration has dealt with many previous situations that are similar to the current task at hand. For example, standing water from a flood could become contaminated with chemicals or substances that make it a biohazard. Make sure the company knows what they are dealing with before they come out to avoid added confusion that slows down the job.
• Comprehensive evaluations: Don't hold back any information. Even details that don't seem to be significant initially can greatly impact the company's professional evaluation of the restoration requirements or the extent of structural damage.
Asset protection
Different kinds of materials - such as furniture, computers, floors, etc. - require different treatments under very specific timetables.
• High-priority assets: Decide which assets have the highest priority and then look for the company that specializes in that particular area.
• Practicality: Replacing property or recreating data may be less expensive than restoration. Don't compromise your practicality.
• Pre-inspection reports: Some types of leases require a pre-inspection report by qualified restoration personnel to establish insurability levels.
Time to recovery
Hours, and sometimes minutes, can make all the difference in what is recoverable. Make sure the company will be ready the moment disaster strikes.
• Rapid response: The first few hours after a disaster can make all the difference in terms of what is recoverable. Look for rapid response times. Also critical, is advice on what to do immediately and what needs attention within the first 24 hours.
• Schedules: Look for a company that can give a full, detailed schedule of steps that they will need to perform before an estimated completion date.
• Variable costs: Be prepared for costs to vary greatly based on factors that aren't obvious at first, such as structural damage and the extent of smoke damage.
Storage facilities
Some restoration companies offer storage facilities. Find out how much space the company has to house your undamaged assets and what their storage rates are.
• Storage conditions: Make sure that storage facilities are nearby and adequate in terms of factors like temperature control and security.
• Packing services: Ask if they provide packing services, which means that they can thoroughly clean property before packing it up and putting it into the company's storage facility.
• Record keeping: Make sure to take photographic records of the condition of your property before it goes into storage.
Referrals
Ask for names of commercial or governmental agencies that the company has worked for and look for referrals.
• Referral limitations: Don't discount a company just because its referrals aren't perfect. Some items simply aren't restorable, and that fact creates disappointment.