Water may be necessary for humanity, but it can spell death for a home. Homeowners can face many headaches due to water damage, both immediately after the damage occurs and over time.
In addition to floods, leaky faucets and water damage can cause significant financial and safety difficulties. Below is a guide outlining immediate after water damage tips you’ll need to prevent household water emergencies.
7 Steps To Handle Water Damage
You’ll be well on your way to getting your property and life back to normal if you follow these seven essential steps after water damage.
1. Safety First
- Safety for you, your family, and your belongings should always be your number one concern. Shut down the electricity if there is standing water in your house. During a flood, it may also be necessary to turn off the gas.
- Then, close the water inlet valve to keep contaminated water from entering the system.
- Avoid wading through floodwater without appropriate protection, such as rubber boots and gloves, especially in murky waters.
2. Dry Your House
- Next, you need to eliminate the moisture and water. If you have experienced severe flooding, follow the water extraction process before you can start drying out your home.
- If you find stagnant water, pump it out with gas or hand pumps. Water can be disposed of in a sewage system, a tanker truck, or the backyard, where it won’t harm anything.
- Circulate dry air inside the house once all the water is out by opening up windows and doors. Drying the house keeps mold and rot away.
3. Pick Up Debris
- Once the home starts to dry up, start removing any debris brought in by the water. Flood water can be filthy; there may be sediments, leaves, and tree branches.
- Identify any salvageable items. These include heirlooms, furniture, rugs, or draperies. Valuables should be kept either away from the house altogether or in a separate dry room.
- Things that have been severely damaged need to be discarded or should be retained for insurance purposes. To determine the extent of water damage, clear out as much clutter and debris as possible.
4. Assess the Level of Damage
- After the debris is removed and most of the area is dry, you can assess the level of damage.
- Verify that the affected areas like walls, floor, and plumbing systems do not have moisture or mold.
- Identify the extent of damage, what needs to be fixed, and how much it should cost both in money and time.
5. Call the Insurance Company
- Consult your insurance company after a detailed assessment of the damage to determine how much of the damage they will cover.
- Most likely, your insurer will send a claims adjuster to document the steps you’ve taken so far and determine a value for damage.
- Consult other insurance providers covering assets like your car or other valuables damaged along with the house.
6. Begin with the restoration process.
- Now is the time to begin the repairs. In some cases, your family can still live in the safe parts of the house if only some rooms have been damaged. Nevertheless, if the house needs extensive repairing, you might need to find a temporary residence.
- Hire a contractor with water damage repair experience. Be sure the contractor sticks to a strict schedule and provides you with a reasonable quote for the service.
- Make a few touch ups by painting or rehabilitating any peripheral systems, like plumbing and electrical systems, if damaged.
7. You’re Finally Ready to Settle In
- Once all the repairs have been completed, you are finally ready to move back into your home.
- Set up your furniture and possessions so you can resume your regular daily routine.
- You may, however, want to have a house inspector look at the house after the repairs at least once. Just to be sure everything is fine and that there are no red flags to worry about.
How long does it take to dry out water damage?
Generally, you can expect your home’s exposed areas to dry within five days as long as they are not exposed to overly humid conditions. In some cases, a drying process may take as little as two days, while it may take weeks in other cases.
The dampness of areas with moisture that is not too saturated will last longer, while humid areas that are fully saturated will remain moist for a longer period.
However, the restoration process must commence as soon as possible. You should begin repairing the damage 24 to 48 hours after the flooding or leak occurs before the drying out phase.
How do I fix water damage in my house?
The first step is to identify the source of the water damage in your home before you can begin repairing it. There are some situations in which the source may be obvious, such as broken plumbing or a natural disaster. However, the cause may be difficult in other cases as it might need leak detection behind a wall or ceiling.
Once the water source is identified, you will need to follow the steps mentioned above to remedy the problem and begin with damage prevention.
Final Thoughts
Finally, don’t try to handle water damage restoration by yourself. Repairing water damage safely and effectively requires specialized equipment and techniques that are available only with certified experts. In addition, the improper restoration will eventually result in mold growth and rot, leading to increased costs.
Thus, without taking any risks, hire Kings Restoration , a professional restoration facility with an entire team dedicated to advocating and following your water damage checklist. We assure prompt remediation, safety, and structural integrity of your home with our top-notch services.
