Top Tips For Resolving Water Damage Quickly

water damage cleanup st. augustineBlocked drains and a damaged roof can be a worrying start to your day. How quickly water damage happens depends on how quickly you act, so here are the top tips for resolving water damage quickly.

Water damage can happen to anyone and it’s important to act quickly so that repairs are minimal. The longer water damage goes without being seen, the more damage is done. In this article we’ll go over five tips to help you resolve water damage quickly.

Water Damage Cleanup in St. Augustine

Turn off the power

The first thing you should do is to turn off the power at your breaker box. Even if the water damage has only affected a small area, you never know when you might step into a puddle and get electrocuted.

If any electrical appliances are on or near the water, unplug them right away. Don’t walk on wet carpet—you could slip and fall. Again, don’t touch electrical appliances with wet hands; they could shock you while you’re holding them.

Turn off the source of water

Turn off the source of water. You will want to locate and turn off the source of flooding as quickly as possible. If there is a flood from a broken pipe, shut down the water main. If there is standing water in your home, avoid stepping in it if possible due to potential electric shock hazards and other health concerns. If you cannot reach the power supply to your home, contact an electrician for assistance.

If you are dealing with a flooded basement, call your local utility company first; basements are notorious for housing electrical components, and getting the power turned off is vital for avoiding electrocution. If there’s no danger of electrocution but you still can’t access your basement, call a professional who has experience pumping out flooded basements to handle the job safely and effectively.

Call a certified company

As soon as you realize that water damage has occurred, you should call a certified company. It is essential that you contact a certified company because they know exactly what to do. They will be trained on how to fix the problem and ensure it does not continue to happen. They will also have the proper insurance coverage to protect themselves and your home. Your insurance company may not cover the cost of repairs if they are done by someone who is not certified.

Make sure that the water restoration company you choose has specific experience with water damage repair and restoration. If they don’t, it could lead to further issues down the road which will be more expensive than it needs to be in the long run.

Remove excess water

When water gets out of control, you will want to get it to stop as quickly as possible. The following steps can help you do this:

  • Use towels and mops to soak up standing water. If there is only a little bit of standing water, you can use clean towels or old clothes to soak it up. It’s important not to use anything that might be dirty when dealing with the situation because dirty items may make the problem worse by spreading contamination. You can also bring in mops if it is a larger area that has gotten wet.
  • Vacuum excess water using a wet vacuum cleaner. These appliances are designed for sucking up liquid, so they are more effective than traditional vacuums at dealing with water damage without spreading germs around your home.

Dry and sanitize the affected area

Because water damage can lead to mold and bacteria growth, it’s important to clean the affected area thoroughly. Use a sanitizing cleaner to remove any harmful microbes that may have grown in the moist environment. Next, use a drying agent such as desiccant packs or fans to dry the affected area, which will prevent mold from growing. If you need help identifying mold after you’ve cleaned up water damage in your home, consult with a professional who specializes in this area or contact your local health department.

Here are a few tips to consider if you’re in the unfortunate situation of needing water damage restoration; make sure that you try to seal the area of entry as best as you can, contact Restoration 1 of St. Augustine for water damage cleanup and other services in St. Augustine!