Water damage can be a disaster, whether in Miami or anywhere else. It can result in expensive and time-consuming repairs, not to mention the emotional distress that comes with having your home flooded. From small leaks to devastating natural disasters, water damage is something no homeowner wants to have happen. However, it’s essential to know how you should handle any flood situation so that you don’t make the problem worse or further delay relief efforts for your property and family. This blog post will discuss eight steps any homeowner will need when dealing with water damage!
First, shut off the water source. This is one of the most important steps you can take! Once hydrostatic pressure builds up, it’s challenging to stop a flood from occurring in your home. If there are any visible breaks in where the water is coming from, turn off that valve right away and call for help so they can shut down other valves as well. If you can’t find the source, turn off all water valves in your home to minimize how much damage occurs. If there are no visible breaks, but you suspect a pipe is broken somewhere, don’t take any chances! Turn that valve off immediately.
You also want to be sure you never accidently run into water damage with leaks you aren’t aware of. There is a lot of companies for leak detection in Miami that you can use.
– Second, make sure the area is safe to enter. Only after you’ve verified that there are no electrical hazards or gas leaks should you do anything else. If a burst pipe caused your water damage, be careful not to let any running water touch exposed wires or other potentially hazardous energy sources until power has been turned off at the main.
Third, try to contain the water damage. If you can do so safely, bring furniture or other items that have been soaked in floodwater outside of your home and away from doors and windows where they could reenter. While this may not be possible depending on how much damage has occurred, it’s vital to attempt because hazardous mold can begin growing within 24-48 hours of a flood. Mold is dangerous for your health and will quickly spread throughout your property, requiring much more extensive repairs than simply removing the original source of water damage.
– Fourth, dry out the area immediately. If your home has been flooded or partially submerged in flood, it’s essential to begin the drying process as quickly as possible. Start with small areas where there isn’t too much furniture or appliances near potential leaks before moving onto more extensive problem areas. If the water is only in one room and you can easily access it with a mop or shop-vac, do so right away to minimize damage.
– Fifth, call a restoration company. Suppose the extent of your water damage is significant and you don’t know where to begin. In that case, it’s probably best to work with a professional cleanup service that specializes in water damage cleanup services. Water extraction or dehumidification equipment will need to be brought into your home to dry the area.
– Sixth, be prepared for a long process of restoration and reconstruction. While it can take weeks or months after a flood before you’re back in your house again, don’t leave your property unattended while waiting for things to get back to normal! Keep children away from wet carpets (and other surfaces) and prevent pets from stepping in standing water.
– Seventh, take essential documents to a safe location while your home is flooded or damaged by storm waters. Documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, insurance policies, and deeds should be kept somewhere else on high ground not to become sodden if the area floods again before these items can be rescued.
– Eighth, contact your insurance company as soon as possible to begin the process of filing a claim and getting that part of the restoration work underway! Many homeowners’ policies will only cover damage from water-related events if reported within a certain period after its occurrence. Waiting too long could result in further problems with your claim and mean you won’t be reimbursed for the damage. If you’re not sure if your home insurance will cover flooding, be sure to ask! It’s better to find out now before disaster strikes.
Finally, please take a deep breath and remember that it’s possible to recover from disaster! It takes hard work, but you can rebuild your home again. Just be sure to follow the steps outlined above to not make things worse for yourself in the process.