What to Do About Water Damage

What To Do... Water Damage

  • If you can’t stop the flow of water, contact a plumber immediately.
  • If possible, keep the indoor temperature below 70 degrees. This helps prevent microbial growth.
  • Place foil or plastic below furniture legs to prevent rust or furniture stains on flooring.
  • Turn off the electricity to any affected rooms.
  • Place draperies through coat hangers and hang them on the rod to prevent water circles.
  • Be extremely careful on wet, slippery floors.
  • Remove items from the floor in affected closets.
  • Remove breakable items from items that will need to be moved.
  • Remove oriental or area rugs off of wet carpet.
  • Do not use a household vacuum as this may cause an electrical shock.
  • If available, use a wet/dry vacuum as this may cause an electrical shock.
  • If available, use a wet/dry vacuum and/or clean, dry towels to exact as much water as possible. 1,2.
  • Use fans to help dry the affected area.
  • Try not to walk on wet carpeting as this may spread water to unaffected areas.
  1. If the water damage is minor, the above steps may be the only necessary.
  2. If the water damage is major, a restoration service may be required to extract water from the carpet and inside walls to prevent further damage to your property. This is recommended for all water damage. However, policy coverage will vary by policy, and deductibles must be met.

What to Do…Sewage Backflow

  • For safety, do not enter the affected area until after decontamination.
  • Do not attempt any cleaning for health and safety reasons.
  • If you absolutely must handle contaminated materials, wear rubber gloves.
  • If possible, leave the premises until after cleanup and decontamination.

What to Do…Mold Growth

  • Mold grows when there is exposure to moisture and/or water. Stop the source of water intrusion, if possible.
  • Call a restoration company immediately to have the growth evaluated.
  • Do not disturb the growth. This may cause spores to become airborne and spread spores to unaffected areas.
  • Do not apply direct air movement from fans or your HVAC system to growth. This also may cause spores to become airborne and contaminate other areas.
  • Close off the area if possible until a qualified inspection technician arrives.
  • By law, a technician cannot tell you whether the growth is mold during the first visit. The technician must take a sample to a lab for testing. While results are being processed, keep the affected area closed off as much as possible.
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