Whether it is from a broken pipe or a flash flood, water damage can easily be one of the most devastating home disasters that a homeowner can face. Your water-damaged valuables are often unsalvageable, cleaning up the mess it leaves is also back-breaking, and the threat of mold development will linger for weeks. Fortunately, quick actions and smart plans can make your water damage recovery as painless and as doable as possible.
Here are some of our helpful tips when you do experience this home disaster:
ELECTRICAL SAFETY COMES FIRST.
When you are dealing with water damage and there are electrical outlets or wiring within the area, these should be your first priority. The precautions you should be taking should also be proportionate to the extent of the water damage. For instance, if you have a minor leak affecting just a small area, then you should shut off the circuit breakers that power all outlets and wiring near that leak. If there is, however, multi-room damage from a major pipe break, then you need to shut down the entire circuit panel. If you are recovering from a widespread flooding occurrence and you still have standing water in your home, you will have your utility company remove the electrical meter before you wade into the flooded areas in your home.
If you cannot access your electrical safely, or if you have any doubts about the electrical safety of the damaged areas in your home, then it is best to contact a licensed electrician before proceeding.
BE SURE TO STOP THE FLOW.
If, for instance, the water is coming from your household plumbing, then the water damage can be getting worse by the second. This is why it is important to know exactly where your home’s main water shut-off valve is located, and make sure that you are able to turn it. Typically, the valve can be found in the basement, close to where your main water supply enters your home. If you are not sure where it is located, then you can check outside your home for the water meter – the main water supply leads inside from that point. The shut-off valve can be sticky at times, especially if it has not been turned in years. So, if that is the case with your shut-off valve now, make sure to grease the threads if necessary. You don’t want to have a bigger problem in the future should you encounter a disastrous water disaster.
CALL FOR HELP.
If you are willing to put hours of hard work and do a thorough job, then you can perform most of the water damage recovery tasks all by yourself. However, because of the nature of this task, and the mold risk that is associated with inappropriate actions, many homeowners hire a water damage remediation company instead for assistance.
If you are in need of excellent plumbing assistance, then we are the right team of experts to call! Reach out to us today and let us prevent your home from experiencing a great deal of water damage!
