How Homeowners Deal with Water Damage & Tips for Repair » Residence Style

Among the common and most devastating of household emergencies is water damage. It can result from numerous issues, whether burst pipes, a torrential storm, a leak with the HVAC, flooding, sewage backing up, and on. 

Not only is your property at risk, but the value is threatened when there is evidence of water in the home. At the first sign of trouble, the problem needs to be resolved immediately with the help of a reputable, well-established provider like a 24/7 Denver water damage company, plus implementing a solution that will act as a preventative for future incidents. Once you know your home might have a water issue, it is crucial to develop a strategy. 

When you are prepared, it can go a long way in speeding up the restoration process once the damage occurs.

There are steps to follow after a disaster meant to keep you safe as you begin to sort through your property and attempt to bring your life back to some semblance of normalcy. 

Specific dangers depend on the degree of disaster you are dealing with and precautions that need to be taken. Let us look at how to handle the after-effects of water in the home.

How Can a Homeowner Safely Handle Water Damage Repair?

After your home has been struck by a flood, burst pipes, leaks, perhaps a backed-up sewer, or a torrential storm, you will deal with water damage inside the household. 

Your first instinct will be to begin cleaning up. Still, the priority is safety and considering calling in professional services to help with the drying process to avoid the potential for mold growth and spread.

Mold will begin to grow within a 24-hour timespan, meaning you need to dry the areas as rapidly as possible. That can be challenging for the average homeowner with limited tools and equipment. Not to mention the potential for contaminated water that will need special cleaning processes to rid the home of it. Learn tips for water damage repair at https;//www.familyhandyman.com/list/12-tips-for-water-damage-repair/. Let us look at some of the steps to follow once devastation strikes your home.

In any form, water can be harmful to human health and overall safety due to contamination, dangers associated with flood and standing water, and growing mold. Some precautions need to be taken to self-protect when your house is hit with disaster.

1. Switch off the breakers in the circuit panel to cut the electricity off and ensure everything is unplugged. If there is standing water, you do not want to touch anything electrical. You will need to stay outside of the home and call the electric company to shut off the power to your home. You will not be able to reenter until the authorities permit you to go back inside.
2. When you do reenter your home, you should be dressed in protective clothing with waterproof boots and rubber gloves for safety.
3. You will need to salvage only the essential valuables like critical paperwork and electronic devices.

Whether the water damage repair provider or plumbing service, the water source causing the damages will need to be identified and stopped to avoid spreading damages. The suggestions for preventative measures are as follows:

1. A few of the most prevalent causes for water in the home are a leak from the water tank or a burst pipe. It is imperative to learn where your primary shut-off valves are along with the main water valve outside the home. These need to be incorporated immediately when a leak happens in an attempt to minimize the damage.
2. When there is a flood alert, do due diligence in filling sandbags and incorporating ditching around the house to keep the water from entering the home.
3. When you notice the ceiling developing a leak, it is vital to bring in an expert to find where the leak originates.
4. Pay attention for mold. There can be foul smells, discoloration around the baseboards and ceilings.

• Call your insurance carrier

The insurance provider is a critical component in hiding a homeowner through emergencies. It is important to contact your carrier immediately after you experience a disaster to find out what they need you to do. 

The provider will send an adjuster to assess the damage and estimate the repair costs. It’s your responsibility to have detailed records complete with receipts, pictures of the affected areas, and all valuables damaged.

• Completing the drying process

If the property begins to dry within 24 hours and has reached a point of completion in roughly three days, there will be virtually little likelihood of mold or mildew. After those 24 hours, you need to pay attention for the beginning of growth which will emit foul odors and show up as discolorations. See here guidance for DIY water damages repair.

The suggestion is to consider the equipment used by professional restoration companies as a fast-acting approach. Attempting to use dehumidifiers, fans, and air-conditioning will eventually complete the process but will not be as effective or as fast-acting as the tools and machines that allow the experts to find even the most hidden areas of water.

Final Thought

Sometimes water damage can be merely a one-time unusual occurrence due to a burst pipe in winter or a water tank that developed a leak. Other times you are in a home that is in a flood zone or experiences torrential storms on a regular basis. In either case, preparation is key. 

Understanding exactly where the water valves are so these can be shut off will help to minimize your damages with leaks and pipes. And when you get an alert to a catastrophic event, prepare your home using sandbags, ditches around the house, boards on the windows, whatever you can do to keep the water out.

We can do all of that, and it still gets in. It is not always enough. Fortunately, some professionals specialize in helping dry out a home, so the damage does not spread and there is no mold or mildew growth. That way, you can get back to living in your home in its original condition in no time.