What to Do If Your Home Has Water Damage

With the number and the intensity of hurricanes that pounded the US in recent years, a lot of people are rethinking their water damage protection, and rightly so.

Most of the houses in the US aren’t ready to withstand a flood and would suffer a lot of damage if something like that occurred. Given how easy it can happen, perhaps it is a good idea to learn the basics of recovering your home from the flood.

Water damage restoration experts from The CleanUP Guys share some of the most important steps.

Pre-Cleanup Precautions

If the damage is already done, you will likely want to fix it up first. If the cause of the flooding is a burst pipe, your first step should be to shut off the water and prevent any further damage. Your water valve is most likely in your basement, so that’s the first place to look.

Oh, and while you are at it, turn off the electricity, as it might cause some unwanted problems. Even if you don’t see any damage which might indicate that the electrical installations might be damaged, turn it off, you can’t be sure what’s happening behind the walls.

Fix Up the Damage

Now you are ready to start clearing everything out. However, before you do, make sure to take a lot of pictures and document everything you do. This way, you will have proof to attach to your insurance claim.

Start with taking out all of your important possessions which haven’t been damaged by the flood out of the house. Then, it is time to get rid of the water. You will likely need to use a pump, so this might be a good time to hire professionals. However, if you decide to do things on your own, you can rent the necessary equipment.

Once the water has been removed, get rid of the debris, including the remains of your ruined possessions and other things you might find. If there is some damage to the house itself, be careful of nails, broken glass, and similar sharp objects.

If you can, get a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from your home, so that you can start fixing it up as soon as possible. Orange County water damage professionals have this equipment and you may be able to rent it.

Rebuilding

When you start to rebuild, consider the likelihood of this happening again. If there is a chance that this is not a one-off incident, perhaps you should rebuild your home with waterproof materials like stone and tiles. What’s more, all of your metal parts, like nails and pipes may be replaced by a galvanized metal or stainless steel.

Inspect your home for cracks and similar damage and repair it as soon as possible. The most typical place to look for this kind of damage is the foundation of the house, but your walls are a likely candidate as well.

Look for mold in your home as well. Mold thrives after a flood and if you don’t clean everything up correctly, you might have some issues in the future.

File a Claim to Your Insurance Company

Finally, once you have dealt with the immediate fallout of the flood, it is time to file a claim to your insurance company. Before you start, check your insurance policy to see whether floods are covered by your plan.

If they are, contact an agent as soon as possible. Before they arrive, prepare a list of all of your possessions that were damaged in the flood. This is where all those pictures and videos you took of the initial damage will come in handy.

Don’t throw away the receipts you get during the cleanup process. All of those costs can be included in your claim and you will need proof that you actually procured those goods and services for your house.

Hopefully, you will be able to get back on your feet and claim your insurance money quickly so that you can get on with your life as soon as possible.