Leaks and floods are nightmare situations for homeowners. But they do happen! Whether it comes from the sky or a broken pipe, you need to have a plan to address water damage in your home. Here are some tips for quickly and effectively dealing with this issue.
If you are dealing with a high volume of water in your home and the power goes out, make sure to turn off your circuit panel. This way, if the power comes back on unexpectedly, you don’t have to worry about major safety concerns like electrical shocks. If the water damage is caused by a plumbing leak, it’s also important to quickly turn off your main water valve to prevent the issue from escalating further.
Disasters have a habit of bringing friends with them. When dealing with severe water damage, you might end up with some structural issues and the loss of personal possessions. Water and fire are two common reasons experts suggest you keep your important identity, financial, and insurance documents in one place that can be easily moved out of harm’s way. Be sure valuables and important documents are not near the water damage. If you have a sump pump in your home already, you can turn this system on to begin evacuating water from your home. Sump pumps can remove hundreds of gallons of water from your basement or crawlspace. Systems with a battery backup allow you to do this, even if you don’t have electricity running. If water damage is not severe, you can begin drying the affected area with a mop, towel, or wet/dry vacuum.
The cost of repairing water damage can range dramatically depending on how severe it is. This means a call to your insurance company should be the next step on your to-do list. Homeowners insurance typically covers water damage caused by plumbing issues like a burst pipe, while natural disasters like storms and flooding are usually covered by more specific, separate policies. Either way, be sure to take this step as soon as possible to ensure you get the financial help you need fast.
After you’ve alerted your insurance company, it’s time to call in experts to start cleaning up and repairing the damage. If the issue is clearly plumbing related, call a licensed plumber to come out as soon as possible to assess the situation and begin repairs. If the damage is serious enough, a water damage professional will need to help address issues with damage to flooring, walls, or ceilings that have been affected.
Water damage is a big deal, but there are steps you can take to address it. Take a deep breath, follow this guide, and if the damage is caused by a plumbing issue give the experts at Mr. Plumber a call at 770-777-1111.
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