3 Steps To Take After Water Damage

7/27/2021 (Permalink)

A flood in your Salt Lake City, UT, home it's a severe problem. It must be treated as soon as possible.

If you have water damage in your home from an overflowing toilet, leaking pipe, or a flood, you may be wondering what steps you should take. These three tips will get you started.

1. Contact Your Insurance Company

Most homeowners' policies cover damage for sudden and accidental discharge of water, such as damage caused by broken pipes. However, flood damage is often excluded, unless covered by a separate flood policy. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to get the claims process started. Take photographs of the damage. Keep any receipts for temporary repairs made before the claim settlement.

2. Dry Out Your Home

If it is safe to enter your home, begin water damage restoration within 24 to 48 hours. Waiting longer than this can lead to future problems, such as mold growth. Wear protective gear and have the electricity and gas shut off to your home. Open windows and doors to increase air circulation. Remove wet items, such as carpet and upholstered furniture. Other materials, such as drywall, insulation, and flooring may also need to be removed. If you have extensive damage, consider contacting a restoration service in Salt Lake City, UT, for assistance.

3. Check for Mold

The faster you can perform water cleanup and dry out your property, the less chance there is of mold, but it can be difficult to completely avoid the problem. If you notice musty odors, brown, green, or black stains, or other signs of mold, you may need to have mold remediation done to remove the problem before it gets worse. Mold tends to grow in places with high humidity. Keep humidity levels down by using fans, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.

A small area of water damage may be cleaned up with a mop and bucket. However, more extensive damage may require days or weeks to fully restore. The faster you begin the process, the better your chance of avoiding additional damage will be.