Steps to Take After Water Damage

3/30/2017 (Permalink)

Steps to Take After Water Damage          
                        
            No matter where in St. Charles or Batavia, IL or anywhere
else in Illinois you live or do business, water damage can happen at any
 time without warning.  Whether it is caused by torrential rains,
floods, leaky or busted pipes, or plumbing issues, it is important to
take action as quickly as possible to protect your property.  All it
takes is an inch of water to cause serious damage to your furnishing,
structure and even the foundation of a building.  The faster you get rid
 of the water and begin the drying out process, the sooner you and your
loved ones will be able to safely return to your home or business and
your normal life.   


The actions you take immediately following a water loss are crucial.  
They can help to protect the lives and health of everyone in the
structure and limit the damage.  The first thing you should do is
determine the source of the water.  If it is from a flood or heavy
rains, then you should get to a safe location.  If the excessive water
in home or water in business is caused by a problem with the plumbing,
you should turn off the water main if you can do so safely.  This is the
 wisest course of action because it will stop the flow of water and
limit the damage to your property.


Another important step you should take if your home or business is
inundated with water is turn of the electricity and unplug your
electrical appliances.  Water and electricity is a dangerous mix.  If
you can safely get to the main power switch without endangering yourself
 or others, make sure your hand are dry and you are not in standing
water and turn the power off.  If attempting to do so will endanger you
or others, simply leave the building and contact the power company and a
 plumber.  They will know what to do to get the situation under control
and protect the property and the people in it.


One you have ascertained that no one is injured, your next call should
be to your insurance company.  Let them know about the water loss that
happened and the actions you've taken.  An insurance adjuster will come
to your St. Charles or Batavia, IL home or business and assess the
situation.  At that point they will see the damage the water in home or
water in business has caused.  They will discuss your mitigation options
 with you and help your to find a water cleanup company to get the water
 out of your home or business.  There are quite a few water cleanup
companies serving Illinois.  So it's important to understand what you
need and do some research until you find the right one.


Although your insurance company may be able to suggest a number of water
 mitigation companies you can use, you should feel free to do some
research on your own.  The companies can vary widely when it comes to
pricing and the types services they offer.  Therefore you should contact
 the local branch of the Better Business Bureau.  They will be able to
give you a list of highly-rated companies with experience cleaning up
properties that have been damaged by water.  Whether you suffered flood
damage, broken pipes or any other type of water inundation issues, there
 are a number of excellent companies from which to choose.


One of the most important steps in the process of helping your property
to recover from the damage caused by large amounts of water is to begin
the drying process.  The need for air movement through the property is
crucial.  If an adequate amount of air does not pass through your home
or business during the cleaning process, mold and other types of fungus
may begin to grow.  That can make the air quality in the structure
dangerous and cause the people that frequent the building develop a wide
 range of illnesses.  The mold and mildew growing in the damp places in
your home or business can even cause infants, the elderly and others
with weakened immune systems to become seriously ill or die.


Some people try to save money by cleaning up the damage caused by the
water inundation themselves.  But this can be a major mistake.  
Professional cleaning companies have specialized tools and employees
that are trained to safely remove the water and repair the damage it
caused.  They also have experience identifying the places in the
structure where moisture can hide.  Plus the professionals know how to
quickly and safely remove unsanitary carpets and furnishings.  Often
people trying to do the cleanup themselves don't have the appropriate
safety gear to protect their health during the cleanup process and can
become ill.  The professionals also have the skills and equipment to
create air movement and handle unforeseen problems that may arise.


Water loss is the most common type of insurance loss claim.  Whether the
 problem is caused by frozen or broken pipes, sewage backups, leaks from
 appliances or floods, the damage and losses are generally covered under
 standard property insurance policies.  But filing the claims can be
challenging.  Therefore it's essential to properly document all the work
 that's done to repair the damage done by the water event.  This
includes keeping receipts from hotels if you're forced to spend a night
or two away from your home or the cost of replacing products lost in
unplugged refrigerators. This will help you to get fair compensation for
 your losses and expenses.     


How water damage or flood damage is addressed within 24 hours after it
occurs is critical.  It can make at dramatic difference in the impact it
 has on your property.  Getting a cleanup team working on the problem
right away can prevent mold from developing and the deterioration of
sheetrock, flooring boards and even serious damage to the foundation.  
So don't hesitate when it comes to getting a skilled team to come in and
 address the damage caused by the water event.  
Visit http://www.SERVPROstcharlesgenevabatavia.com for more information on water loss and the restoration process.