It can be difficult to know what to do when disaster occurs. If a home has been flooded, there are some things a homeowner may do immediately once and others that will take longer. Here are steps to take after water damage in the house.
1. Turn off the Power and Water Supply
Turning off the power is the first step to keep everybody safe. Electricity can cause a surge of current in the wet wires, leading to an electrical fire. Water can also corrode metal joints on appliances and loosen connections, resulting in short circuits or electric shocks when trying to use them again. Turning off the power will keep this from happening. Also, if a homeowner has a gas furnace or hot-water heater that floodwaters have soaked, it needs to get shut down for safety reasons.
2. Call a Professional to Assess the Damage
JVG Restoration will provide the house owner with an estimate on how much it will cost to repair, based on the type of material damaged by the water. The contractor can also help decide whether some materials are salvageable or if there is a need to remove them from home, as well as other things like mold prevention to prevent further damage.
3. Take Photos of everything that gets Damaged
When there are water damages in the house, it is essential to take photos of everything damaged to document all the losses. Water damage is not just a matter of staining or discoloring walls and ceilings; it often leaves behind a host of problems like mold, bacteria, sicknesses, and health hazards.
Therefore, it is essential to take photos of everything to have evidence of issues down the road. Taking pictures will also help when dealing with the insurance company.
4. Seal Exposed Surfaces with Polyurethane to Prevent Mold Growth
It is crucial to seal exposed surfaces with polyurethane after water damage to prevent mold growth and keep a home safe and dry. It is also essential to take other steps, such as repairing any leaks in the roof or walls before they worsen. If there’s a lot of mold in a home from flooding or sewage overflow, the homeowner will need to contact professionals for help cleaning up. They will be able to get rid of the mold without risking anyone’s health by using toxic chemicals to breathe or touch.
5. Contact the Insurance Company Immediately to File a Claim for Reimbursement of Damages Caused by Flooding
Contact an insurance company immediately to file a claim for reimbursement of damages caused by flooding. Here are reasons why a homeowner needs to contact an insurance company as soon as the water damage happens:
- The faster a homeowner contacts their insurance, the better it will be at speeding the process.
- Waiting another day or two would mean the house owner will need to fill out paperwork and get estimates done once more, which could cost more time and money than if they had contacted their insurance company earlier.
