Water leaks and flooding are among the most common causes of harm to residential structures in the U.S., costing homeowners billions of dollars each year. Whether it’s due to a leaky roof, a burst pipe, an overflowing appliance, or a natural disaster, excessive water intrusion can lead to serious and permanent damage to your home and belongings — unless it’s addressed immediately.
It’s important to act fast to limit the extent of the water damage and the growth of mold, mildew and harmful bacteria, which can pose significant health risks and be difficult and expensive to eradicate. As your home’s first responder, here are some steps you can take to limit water damage before your professional restoration contractors arrive on the scene.
Initial Actions To Limit Water Damage to Your Home
- Identify and stop the leak. The first step is to find the source of the water coming into your home and to cut it off, if possible, to prevent further damage. If it’s a burst or leaking pipe, you can use a nearby water flow valve or the main shut-off to your home to stop it, so it’s important to know where those are located. Water from a roof leak can be caught by buckets or storage tubs until repairs can be made.
- Remove standing water. Mop up and remove as much water as possible. Depending on the size of the area, you can use towels, sheets and even clothes to soak it up, a wet vac to suction it up, and a squeegee to move standing water outside. Extensive flooding will require restoration contractors with commercial equipment to pump out the water and dry the spaces thoroughly.
- Dry the affected areas. If the outdoor temps allow it, open all the doors and windows and use fans and dehumidifiers to begin the drying process. Larger units will work more efficiently and can usually be rented from local tool and equipment supply stores. The faster you can get things dried out, the less chance of mold and mildew developing and spreading.
- Clean, dry, or remove wet items. Pieces of furniture and other items that look like they can be salvaged should be cleaned and dried as soon as possible. Other items that have been thoroughly drenched, such as carpets, may have to be removed and discarded. Electrical appliances should be unplugged, and then they can be cleaned and dried, but they should be inspected by an electrician or appliance technician before they are plugged in again. If the water that flooded your home may have contained sewage or other contaminants, it’s better to have a professional restoration contractor handle the cleanup and sanitization process.
- Document the damage. Although your insurance company will send in their own adjustor to do an inspection, you’ll want to document the damage to your home and belongings by taking pictures, writing down descriptions and serial numbers, and safeguarding receipts to help secure your claim.
At Adams & Coe, our primary goal is to restore your property to its pre-damage condition efficiently and effectively, ensuring your peace of mind. Contact us for trusted water damage restoration services in Anderson, SC, and the surrounding Upstate area.