Water damage can be due to various sources, both natural and household problems. Some of the natural disasters that can cause water damage are flooding, hurricanes, and storms. And some of the household problems that can cause water damage are pipe leaks, sewage backups, and appliance malfunction.
What Are The Effects Of Water Damage?
Depending on whether the source of the water is clean or contaminated, it can wreak havoc in your home and can be a threat to your family’s health and safety if left ignored. If the damage is already there, you must quickly determine the source that’s causing it to proceed with the cleaning process and getting help.
Finding the source and cause of water damage can become tricky if the problem occurs within the walls and below the flooring. Know that mold is likely to develop as early as 24 hours after the leaks or flooding occurred. If you want to learn more about water mitigation, you can find more information at www.waterdamagementor.com and other similar sites.
What To Expect With Restoration?
Depending on the extent of damage in your home, the amount of time and money you need to spend to dry your property and restore everything to what it’s before will significantly vary. For minor leaks, repairs may take a few days to a week. For severe cases because of flooding or a natural calamity, repairs and restoration can take a few weeks to a few months.
What You Need To Do And Not Do During Damage Mitigation
Regardless of the severity of the water damage, you must do everything to slow down or completely stop the cause from further damaging your property before help arrives. One way to prevent further problems such as structural integrity issues and mold growth is to stop the source of water.
However, as you may not be a professional who deals with plumbing and other related works to water damage, you must know that performing mitigation has its dangers and challenges. And to make it easier and safer for you, know the following do’s and don’ts of water mitigation below.
1. Do: Secure The Location
The first task to do is to ensure that the area is safe. Depending on the severity of the damage, you might be facing a dangerous situation.
- Switch off the water and power supply.
- Disconnect appliances and devices that can conduct electricity
- Seal any holes in the walls or roof with a tarp or anything that can keep the elements out
- Inspect for the presence of rodents or other pests brought about by the flood
- Secure any heavy furniture or equipment that might collapse or bring them out of the property if possible
2. Do: Remove Any Valuables
During a natural disaster, determine or find a safe location where you can place your valuables. It must be dry and away from the reach of scavengers and thieves. Make it a priority to relocate electronics, jewelry, and financial documents to a safe location. Deprioritize moving household items that are already beyond repair unless they may pose a danger to you.
3. Do: Put Up All Your Items If Possible
If you’re dealing with flooding, move undamaged pieces of furniture and equipment to the highest level in the house or on top of other furniture. Remember, that your house will be damp and humid during a flood.
Even if items are above the reach of the water, the humidity can encourage mold growth and rust. If the power can be safely turned on, it’s recommended that you turn on the HVAC or dehumidifier—if you have one—to lower the humidity levels.
4. Do: Call Your Insurance Provider
Get in touch with your insurance provider as soon as you, your family, and your property are safe. Discuss with the insurer and check if your homeowner’s insurance can cover the devastation of your property.
Also, keep in mind that some insurers have preferred contractors—meaning, they often give recommendations on who’ll work on your home to mitigate water damage. The keyword there is ‘recommendations.’ Remember that you have the right to choose who will work on your home. If you don’t like the one the insurer recommends, feel free to hire a different one.
5. Don’t: Think That You Can Do Everything By Yourself
When dealing with water damage, whether it’s due to a natural calamity or plumbing issue, you can’t always handle the process independently since you may not have the proper tools, expertise, and time.
It’s best to leave the complex remediation and restoration tasks to the professionals. Unlike you, they have various equipment for successful mitigation, such as high-powered fans, water pumps, and dehumidifiers.
Aside from not having professional tools, you may not have the time to spend doing all the things needed to finish mitigation. Take note that this process can be a lengthy one depending on the severity. Every step requires proper handling to ensure that new issues won’t arise.
6. Don’t: Delay Getting Assistance
As mentioned before, you can only do much. Also, remember that mitigation experts don’t cover the repair and replacement of damaged property. Because of that, you also need getting assistance from other professionals like plumbers and carpenters. And the last thing you want to do is delay getting help from those people.
When you follow the wait and see approach, your house might be steadily deteriorating underneath the moisture or mold is already spreading uncontrollably throughout your home. Calling the right professionals as soon as possible when it comes to water damage.
Conclusion
Homeowners must prioritize safety when natural calamities or events results in flooding. Once safety is ensured, the next step is to prevent the damage from spreading. Make sure to remember the do’s and don’ts mentioned here to make it easier and safer for you to mitigate the worsening of the damage. Remember that the main objective here is to keep things safe, prevent further devastation to the best of your abilities, and rely on professional help to completely remediate and restore your home.
