How to Deal With Home Water Damage

Water damage can come from almost anywhere, and no home is completely safe from it. Whether your situation arises from external factors (heavy rain) or internal causes (burst pipe), dealing with water damage can be tricky and dangerous.

Follow this step-by-step process to minimize damage and stay as safe as possible.

1. Turn off the power. If you are dealing with a large scale flood, the first thing you should do is head to the circuit breaker and shut off the power in your house to avoid electric shock. This isn't as important with small leaks or floods.

2. Stop the source of water. After disconnecting the power, you need to stop the source of water. Whether it is covering a hole in the roof or foundation, or cutting off the water supply to a burst pipe, do it quickly to minimize damage.

3. Rescue valuable possessions. After the incoming water has been stopped, move quickly to rescue your most valuable possessions. These includes important documents, electronics, or family heirlooms.

4. Ventilate the area. You will want to open up all windows and doors, and get a box fan and exhaust fan running if you have them. This will help eliminate excess moisture from the air and prevent mold.

5. Get rid of standing water. Start working to remove any standing water. Use a mop, wet vac, or blot as much as possible with dry towels. Do not use a dry vac to remove water.

6. Contact a local restoration service. As a homeowner, there is only so much you can do to fix water damage. You should call a professional service immediately in order to minimize damage and protect yourself from mold exposure. We can't stress enough that time is of the essence.

7. Call your insurance company. Get in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim. Make sure you use the term “water damage” and not “flooding”. They are different, and since most policies don't cover flooding, you could have problems getting reimbursed for expenses.

If you live on Long Island and are dealing with water damage, the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration can safely restore your home to its previous condition. Call us for a free water damage restoration quote at (631) 940-8100.

Safety Tips for Dealing With Home Water Damage

If you are dealing with a flood, leak, or burst pipe, you may be in just as much danger as your home. While water can quickly rack up tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to your house, it can also wreak havoc on your health and cause injury.

Use these tips to stay safe while dealing with home water damage:

• Stop the source of water. Turn off your water line, put a plastic tarp over the hole in your foundation, do whatever you have to in order to stop more water from entering your home.

• Mop, blot, or wet vac as much as possible. Do everything you can to soak up the water – just don't use a regular vacuum cleaner.

• Watch your step. Slipping presents a big hazard in these situations. Always make sure to watch your step and wear slip-proof shoes when working on wet surfaces.

• Be weary of electronics. Certainly you know that electronics and water don't mix, but it is worth the reminder.

• Don't breathe in damp air. Damp air could contain mold, which is not good to breathe in. Doing so could lead to headaches, sneezing, coughing, and respiratory infections.

• Don't touch damp items with bare hands. Much for the same reason as the above point, you don't want to expose yourself to potentially harmful bacteria.

• Watch what you lift. Items can be double, or even triple their original weight when soaked in water. Make sure you don't throw out your back by trying to lift something too heavy.

• Call in the professionals. When it comes to flooding, time is of the essence. Call in a professional remediation service immediately in order to minimize damage and prevent mold.

If you are suffering from water damage in your Long Island home, call in the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. We only use environmentally-safe cleaning methods to restore your home to its previous condition. Visit our website for more information or call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.