There are several water damage experts near you, but they will not be at your door the second a pipe burst or a sewer backs up. Therefore, what do you do between the moment water starts rushing in and help arrives. You can abide by the following six steps to ensure that you and your family remain safe during this potential water disaster.
1:Ensure the Safety of Your Family
Water, even small amounts of it, can be unhealthy and dangerous, depending on the source and the category level. For example, sewage backups likely consist of biological and chemical contaminants in the water, which is classified as black water. This water type is toxic to humans and pets. Therefore, regardless of the water source, when you experience a sudden influx of water where it shouldn’t be, gather your family and your pets and vacate the area. By doing this, you ensure the health and safety of your loved ones.
2:Turn Off Your Power
Next, you will need to turn off the power to all affected areas of the home. If you do not know which areas are affected by the water leak or flood, then it is better to turn off the main power supply to the home, which can often be found near or within the fuse box of the home. The reason it is necessary to turn off the power to the house is that as the water rises or leaks inside of walls, it is possible for the water to come in contact with electrical components, which can create a serious safety concern for workers and people entering the property.
3:Shut Off Your Water
As another safety precaution, you should also shut off the water supply to the affected area. Again, if you do not know where the supply for that particular space is located, then you can shut off the main to the house. By turning off the main, if the problem is from a burst pipe, you are ensuring that the water level doesn’t continue to rise, and that level of damage is contained.
4:Contact a Remediation Specialist
Once you have taken all the proper safety measures and helped to limit the extent of the damage, you should contact a restoration or remediation specialist in your area. These companies are licensed, certified and equipped to handle your disaster
5:Mitigate Further Loss
Beyond the mitigation services that are likely to be offered by the remediation company you contact, you can take steps to reduce further loss before the company arrives. With the power and water supply off, you can safely re-enter your home, unless dealing with a sewage backup or heavily-contaminated water. You can remove furniture, drapes, rugs, appliances, etc. Take anything you can out of the house and place it somewhere to dry out.
6: Begin Removing Water
Last, you can begin to remove water on your own. However, it cannot be stressed enough the level of precaution you should take, especially in deep water situations. While you have shut off the power, it is possible that the system malfunctioned. While you might think you are dealing with clean water, the flood might have caused a minor sewer backup, contaminating the water
To read more visit United Water Restoration for extra tips.
Fernando Vargas
Marketing Director
Check out our Youtube Channel Restoration Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHyfVVbyGuQ
United Water Restoration Group of South Florida, Inc.
Office: (954) 972-7510
Cell: (561) 609.8469
Email: fernandov@unitedwaterrestoration.com
www.unitedwaterrestoration.com
