Accidents happen to everyone, sometimes those accidents just so happen to be five inches of standing water in your home.
While a house flood is considered by many to be a rare, worst case scenario, they are still plaguing the reality and homes of unsuspecting civilians on the daily. Floods can occur from a variety of reasons, not just from living in a flood zone. The most common causes range from slab leaks, pipe bursts, hot water heater bursts, to even toilet overflows. Water damage that begins from such small sources can become severe rather quickly, affecting almost everything in your home. As a homeowner, what can be done to minimize the damages?
The most valuable thing for a homeowner when dealing with a flood is time. A rapid response to water intruding in your home is crucial for a smooth recovery. There are several reasons for this, saving money being at the top of the list. The more quickly you react, the more you can save.
The first thing you should do is try and find the source of the water. If the water is coming from an appliance such as a toilet or hot water heater, shut off the supply of water immediately. If you cannot locate the source, you should consider shutting off the entire water supply to your home to prevent any further damages.
At this point, you should begin documenting all of the damages for yourself. It is important for when you call your insurance company to file a claim. This is the start of the inventory list they will need. The next step will be to contact the insurance company so they can outline what IS and is NOT covered in your policy. Moving anything or attempting to clean the damages yourself before calling can result in a coverage issue.
Once you know the scope of what is covered, you should consider hiring a remediation company. Getting all of the water removed yourself can be time consuming, and without special equipment, likely impossible. A professional remediation company can come into your home and have the water extracted and begin the drying process within a couple of hours of the flood. While waiting, you should begin to move all "soft goods" such as linens and clothing out of the water. Water from many sources can be considered contaminated, causing the proper cleansing of fabrics to be next to impossible.
The last thing to make sure of is that proper disinfectants are used to prevent mold growth. Mold can be begin to grow faster that most people may think. Simply covering it up without killing it can cause health concerns later down the road.
As always, if you find your home in the midst of a disaster, T. Ryals Emergency Restoration is always a quick call away. You can reach us 24 hours a day at our emergency number (601)490-1095. We will have a team at your home within a few hours of the call, and we will be pleased to work with your insurance company to provide the best possible outcome for you as the customer.
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