Flooding or severe water damage in your home can be devastating. Regardless of if you are dealing with leaky appliances, sewer backups, broken pipes, or a flooded basement, the results can be extensive and expensive.  

Even worse, you have limited time to deal with water damage. After all, mold can begin developing in just 24 hours, even with minimal water.

Damage caused by water can also cause structural problems and safety hazards you don’t notice until the damage is done.

Once you detect water damage of any type, you must act. Some steps to take after water damage has occurred can be found here.

Protect Yourself and Your Possessions

All types of water damage can impact your safety and health. This is mainly due to contaminated water, mold growth, and flood dangers.

You can take steps to protect yourself and your belongings. These include:

• Shut off electricity
• Evacuate the flooded area
• Wear protective gear when reentering a flooded property
• Gather important and valuable items

By doing this, you can minimize the risk of injuries or more extensive damages. It is also a good idea to know what to expect by speaking to experts in the area.

Contact Your Insurance Company

It doesn’t matter if water damage occurred because of a leaky toilet or a flood; you need to contact your homeowner’s insurance provider as soon as possible. It’s best to have your provider’s number on your phone, so you don’t have to search for contact information in a stressful situation.

It’s important to remember time is limited in these situations.

If flooding has impacted a larger area, your insurance provider may be working with several homeowners. If you have difficulties contacting your agent in an emergency, contact the headquarters for your insurance company.

Once you reach a representative, let them know the state of your home. Be sure you follow any instructions given to you to ensure your claim will be covered.

Begin Water Damage Restoration

When possible, water damage restoration should begin started within 24 to 48 hours after you can get back into your home. In some situations, the damage may be too much for one individual or the entire family.

In this case, calling a restoration service to ensure you can stay safe and remove any damage is a smart move.

You may have to remove the flooring, insulation, and drywall to prevent mildew and mold from spreading in the home. The furniture in your home may also need to be dried out, cleaned, or even thrown out based on the amount of water damage.

Handling Water Damage in Your Home

When it comes to water damage in your home, taking the right steps quickly is a must. The above information will help ensure your issue is handled and that it does not get worse.

Are you looking for more help and information about taking care of your home? If so, be sure to check out some of our other blogs.