Any type of disaster can strike at any moment, be it a flood, earthquake, or another thing. However, water damage is one of the worst situations because of which most homeowners get worried. This could happen due to broken pipes, leaking appliances, flooded basements, etc. Due to water damage, various things can damage inside and outside the home.
Moreover, the damage doesn’t end here after a few minutes, and the home becomes the breeding ground for mold even from small amounts of water. So, if your property has been damaged due to leakage, then no doubt the repair is extensive and also daunting. Here the first thing the homeowner must do is stop the leak so that water could damage the property anymore. Once you stop it, you must contact the professional so that they can take proper water damage restorations steps to repair and restore the home as previously.
So, let’s discuss those essential steps which you must take after flood damage according to top flood damage Anaheim: –
1. Call your insurance company
Every single homeowner owns insurance so that they will get the benefit if there is any type of water damage to the property. But the thing is, homeowner insurance wholly depends upon what policies you have. When you call the insurance company for the claim, they will send an adjuster to look at your property and assess the whole damage and check whether the loss is covered under the policy or not.
Apart from that, as the responsible homeowner, you must take pictures of each and every item before, during, and after clean-up. This step will help the adjuster to determine the value of the damage.
2. Protect yourself, appliances, and valuables
This is one of the most crucial steps which you must take after flooding and water damage. There are a number of things which you should take care of to stay safe at your home like: –
- Turn off the main power.
- Obviously, you will try to clean up your home but make sure to wear protective gear so that you can protect yourself from injuries and bacteria.
- Ensure to protect your valuable
3. Start water damage repair as soon as possible.
It is true that water damage can spoil many things at your home as well as your property. So, if possible, start the water restoration process as soon as possible, like within 24-48 hours. However, the main thing you must take care of is that if the water damage is less, it is possible to clean the mess yourself.
If not, you must call the restoration service to stay safe and ensure that the water restoration process is done properly. When you hire a clean-up professional, they will first assess the water damage before starting their work. Moreover, there are many things which they do with the help of advanced equipment like drying everything out and assessing the extent of repair, etc. In some cases, family members have to relocate to another location as there are chances of spreading mold, which is hazardous to health.
4. Hire a licensed electrical contractor
If the water damage at your home is excess, especially if the water rises as high as your electrical panels, outlets, and switches, then you must call a licensed electrical contractor. It’s just for safety sake so that when your home gets restored, the wrong electrical thing cannot deliver more damage.
5. Hire an HVAC specialist
Due to heavy water damage, the home heating and cooling system could have been damaged, and it must be checked by an HVAC specialist.
6. Protect your health
Even if you have removed all the water from your home, there are chances that your home is contaminated by sewage or household chemicals. So, in this case, you must wear protective gear like: –
- long sleeves
- long pants
- gloves
- masks
- close-toed shoes or boots
- eye protection
- hard hats
Apart from that, make sure you throw out food that comes in contact with floodwater. However, the most important thing is to boil water until the government declares the water supply is safe for drinking.
7. Mitigate mold damage
Mold can develop in the water within 24-48 hours, so it is recommended to remove wet contents like carpeting and bedding as soon as possible. But before removing any of the items from home, notify your insurance company or take pictures as they can be under the insurance claim.
Moreover, take each and every picture when you are removing wet wallboards and baseboards as the insurer wants to check the height of any water damage to the walls.
8. Decide what needs to be restored after water damage
The repair process after water damage takes a long time as well as money. In some cases, homeowners have to replace flooring and walls, and some of the broken possessions are to be repaired. Whatever the repair is, make sure you hire a top flood damage Anaheim to make your home back in its previous position.
Benefits of hiring water damage restoration service
- Speed and efficiency
- Helps in minimizing the overall cost of the restoration
- Mitigate every corner of the home and check for further damage
- They are available 24 by 7 at just one call
- Working with them is like a peace of mind as they do their best to avoid substantial loss.
- Can offer a detailed report of the damage and also tell what you can do next to make your home as before
- Highly professional and do the restoration work with the advanced and latest equipment so that your home will be cleaned properly.
Final words
Water damage can happen at any time in your home. But the measures you take depend upon the damages the property has gone through. However, if the water damage is excess, it is recommended to call the best flood damage company for the restoration as they have years of experience and are highly professional in their work.