What do I do after water damage?

If water damage has ravaged your home, you need to know what to do: extract water quickly; dry out your home, but most importantly you should call a professional restoration contractor. Water can be very damaging to your home and you need to act quickly in order to reverse the misfortune. While there are some things you can do on your own; calling a restoration specialist is very important. After inspecting the damage, they will know, better than anyone, what needs to be done. Do-it-yourself methods aren’t really recommended, especially for more complicated work. However, there are a few things you can get started doing on your own that could speed things up. And, for water damage, time is of the essence.

A few things to do on your own…

To begin with – safety always comes first. Be sure to:

• Turn off the electrical power to your home. If your home is surrounded by water, call an electrician. DON’T ENTER YOUR HOME IF IT’S UNDERWATER.
• Wear protective clothing when doing cleanup. Make sure to wear:
• Rubber boots
• Gloves
• Eye and respirator protection
• Avoid cross contamination. For example, this can occur when moving items from affected to unaffected areas.

Second step…

Dry out your home:

• Remove as much standing water as possible
• If you can safely use power, use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out your home.
• It may be necessary to call a professional like Soil-Away Cleaning and Restoration to make sure your home is completely dry

Next…

Call your insurance company to submit a claim. You want to make sure you’re covered for this type of disaster. Document the values of your belongings with pictures and video.

Cleanup…

This next step may require help from a professional. Soil-Away Cleaning and Restoration has the experience and know-how to determine what items can be salvaged. Many items such as:

• Furniture
• Contents
• Flooring
• Drywall
• Insulation
• Cabinetry/fixtures

may be unsalvageable and require removal and disposal.

Soil-Away can also clean clothing and soft contents with their Esporta Wash System. They have professional grade cleaners that can sanitize surfaces that otherwise may be a headache to clean. Drying out a home effectively is also a job for Soil-Away. They can determine best how much water is to be removed safely, without damaging the structure of your home. Drywall and flooring may also need to be replaced – requiring their attention. As restoration specialists, they know best. But that’s not where it stops, there’s also a mold concern.

Mold…

Mold can begin to grow within 24-48 hours and to prevent any damage from mold you need Soil-Away. Mold is not only damaging to your home, but can also be a health hazard. As an experienced restoration company – Soil-Away has been helping families for 30 years. They are quick, friendly and professional. They can do the job, and do it right, giving you peace of mind. Soil-Away is an IICRC certified company and can be counted on to do the best job possible. They are available 24/7. Day or night, they are there to make things easier on you. Breathe a sigh of relief, call them at 1-800-293-6319.

Written by E. Aceves