Here is how to handle water damage!

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

Is Water Damage Restoration Necessary?

A lot of people, especially those facing a lesser amount of standing water on floor coverings might wonder if the whole process is actually necessary. The thing is – flood waters pose a threat of structural damage to your property, especially if there’s any amount of excess water left in the affected areas. Not to mention how important it is to prevent mold growth in remaining mold spores.

Mold and mildew are significant health hazards and they can be breeding grounds for bacteria just like many other chemicals and toxins that can be found in standing water, especially if caused by sewage backup. So, yes, it’s necessary and extremely important to act quickly and spring into water damage restoration as soon as possible.

What Do You Do if Your House Has Water Damage?

The best thing you could do is go over your homeowners’ insurance and see if it covers water damage repair. Make sure to take photos of the flooded areas and the damaged property so you can attach them when you file your insurance claim. If are covered by insurance, the best next step would be to call SERVPRO of South Fleming Island / North Bradford County to handle it. It’s the easiest and safest way out of a flooded basement or any other kind of water damage.

What Does Water Damage Restoration Include?

Whether you’ve got smaller wet areas due to overflowing appliances like washing machines or significant damage due to leaking pipes, roof leak, or a huge water intrusion due to storm damage or other natural disasters – the process is similar. The water damage restoration process involves the following 5 steps:

• Inspection (and determination of the cause and course of action)
• Removal of the water from the wet areas
• The drying process to remove humidity.
• Cleaning and sanitizing
• Water damage repair

The course of action will vary depending on the source of the water damage and the state the damaged materials are in, but these steps will remain the same. Here at SERVPRO we try our best to restore so damages are kept at a minimum and if replacement is necessary, we handle it with ease!

What Should You Not Do After Water Damage?

 It’s good to know what to do in these situations, but sometimes it’s even more important to know what not to do when experiencing water damage. So, here are some pieces of advice on what to avoid when dealing with water damage restoration.

Don’t access the flooded area if there are structural damages.

If you’re dealing with a flooded basement, don’t go down there for inspection before you’ve made sure the floors and walls haven’t had any damage. They need to be in good condition so you can enter the room without them collapsing and injuring you.

Don’t handle structural or electrical work if you haven’t got the experience.

Even if you’ve decided to go DIY with this, don’t carry out the structural or electrical repairs if you don’t know what you’re doing. These kinds of repairs shouldn’t be done by amateurs even in normal conditions, let alone now. So, if there is some work that needs to be done, call an SERVPRO!

Don’t let garbage pile up.

Garbage piling up is never a good thing, especially not under these circumstances. Pests and bacteria could develop, so get rid of everything fast. Make sure you follow the proper disposal techniques for each type of garbage you’ve got on you. Keep it organized and keep it going.

Don’t leave pools of water for long.

Try to get the water out of the room or rooms as fast as you can. And also, dispose of it properly, not to cause a bigger problem somewhere else. If there’s water lying around for prolonged periods of time, you’ll make another problem for yourself. One with mold or bacteria. And that’s an even bigger problem that takes much more time, effort, and money to handle.

Leave it to the pros at SERVPRO! 

Have Questions? Call Us Today – (904) 290-4040