A flood can cause some of the most devastating damage to your home. Not only can it destroy all of your belongings, it can also make your home completely uninhabitable. If your home falls victim to the ravages of water, there are a few things you can do immediately to mitigate the damage as much as possible.
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Turn Off Electricity
This is absolutely the first thing you should do before setting foot in your house. You don’t know if the water has compromised the electrical system and charged the flood water with electricity. To avoid a catastrophic mistake, always shut the electricity off before you begin any investigation into your property damage.
Document Any Damage
Once it’s safe to go inside, it’s time document any damage. This will require a lot of pictures, but it’s absolutely necessary to get your insurance claim going. Don’t just document the damage of your belongings; it’s critical to document any property damage inside and outside of the house. Keep a good record of everything, including notes, pictures and hanging on to damaged items for proof if needed.
Pump Water Slowly
When you’re ready to have the water pumped out of your house, do it gradually. It may be tempting to get rid of all of the water at once, but this can lead to increased pressure in the soil and lead to structural damage in basements. Aim to pump off 1/3 of the water each day if you have a major flood. If it is smaller, it is probably best to remove all the water as soon as possible. It would be best to contact a professional restoration company, preferably one who uses restoration software to guide them in safely and effectively restoring your home to its best state.
Be Careful of Food and Water Contamination
Flood water is some of the dirtiest water in existence. Always have your home’s water inspected by professionals to ensure your water supply hasn’t been contaminated. This is critically important if you have a well on your property. Also, if you have a vegetable garden, you’ll most likely have to destroy it because of the flood waters contaminating it.
Watch Out for Carbon Monoxide
When you bring in cleaning crews, the equipment they use can quickly generate dangerous fumes, including carbon monoxide. Before you hire a clean up crew, ensure you hire someone who’s certified. Never use things like water pumps inside, and avoid any “businesses” that solicit your business door to door.
Get Things Off the Floor
Don’t wait for the water to be removed before you start picking your belongings up out of the water. While furniture with upholstery is pretty much done for, you might be able to save wood furniture, toys, and other belongings by getting them out of the water and up high to dry.
Cleaning up after a flood can take weeks, but you can get started immediately with the clean up process. The faster you get things going, the sooner you can return to your normal life. It’s also important to get the help of a professional plumber if to take a look at the pipes and fix any leaks to prevent flooding problems.
Informational credit to Plugged Piper Drain Service.
