What to do when you experience a flood in your home

What To Do When You Experience a Flood in Your Home

As a homeowner, one of, if not the most damaging things that you can experience is a flood in your home. Causes of a flood can vary widely ranging from a natural disaster such as heavy rains, or plumbing issues such as sewer line back ups, or burts pipes. No matter what has caused a home to flood, the protocol for dealing with flood should still be the same. The faster a flood is addressed, the less damage a home will undertake, and the less it will cost to restore your home to it’s pre-flood state.

#1 Reduce Additional Risk

Depending on the severity of the flooding, you may be required to leave your home following an intense flood. Upon return you should be very careful about what rooms you enter, and how you move about your house. You should check for any visible signs of damage to the homes structure. Keep an eye out for warping or cracked foundations, compromised walls, and holes in flooring. If you smell gas DO NOT ENTER THE HOME. Also, it is highly recommended that you contact the utillities company if you believe there to be damage to water, sewer, gas, or electrical lines. Having a preparedness kit with you upon return is also highly recommended. A flashlight that will allow you to see in darker areas of your home is extremely important. Before entering make sure that all electrical sources to your home are turned off. Even if the power is not working, it’s a still a good idea to locate your fuse box and turn off the main, as well as all individual fuse connections. If for some reason power is reactivated, you do not want to run the risk of mixing two of natures more heavily opposed forces.

#2 Photograph Everything

Before you begin any activity such as drying up water, removing furniture, or clearing out space around your home. Take 2 minutes to snap photographs of all affected areas! This is extremely helpful when processing insurance claims. Photographs taken pre-clean up can ensure that you get the maximum coverage possible for your impending claim. Removing water & making repairs to damaged areas before taking photographs can lower the total coverage amount for your claim, leaving you footing the bill for the extra damage.

#3 Call A Certified Water Damage Remediation Company

Getting a water damage restoration company on to the scene as quickly as possible will save you time and money. They will be able to assess the damage, mitigate additional damage, and begin the water extraction immediately. A good water damage company will even contact the insurance company on your behalf. This will allow them to get a pre-authorization amount that you are guaranteed to be covered for, before they begin their work.

What happens if you don’t hire a good water damage restoration company?

A non-licensed or inexperienced water damage restoration company that quotes low prices up-front to earn your business, can end up costing you $1000’s more in the long run! Failure to thoroughly clean a home after flooding, no matter how severe, can have catasrophic results. First, the structural integrity of your home can be compromised. This will ultimately result ijn costly electrical & HVAC repairs but these are the least of your worries.

The hidden danger here is mold! Mold growth can be toxic to your home and loved ones. Falling ill due to mold infestation is not uncommon. Sever allergy symptoms, trouble breathing, and flu-like symptoms are all associated with mold growth in homes. Children are especially subject to illness. Utilizing a reputable company with experience in water extraction, clean up, and dry-outs is of the utmost importance in preventing a mold infestation after a flood. Otherwise 6 months or even a year after you think you’ve put a flood in your rearview, you’ll be on the lookout for a company to perform mold removal services next.