While some residential flooding is caused by leaking water heaters, clogged sewer lines, or heavy rainfall, the most common cause is a broken water pipe. Freezing temperatures or other malfunctions can cause cracks to form in water pipes, connections, or valves, and within minutes, you may have water pouring down your walls and ceilings or pooling in your basement.
The key to dealing with indoor flooding is to take quick, decisive action. Time is of the essence when it comes to water damage, so let’s
get started cleaning up this mess.
To prevent electrocution, make sure the electrical systems in your home are turned off. Do not wade into standing water with the power on. If water is blocking your path to your breaker box, look for a main shutoff on the exterior of your home or call an electrician.
If your flooding is caused by a burst pipe or valve rather than an act of nature, it should be fairly easy to stop at its source. Just turn off
the main water shutoff valve. Some homes have a valve located near where the main water line enters your home, while other homes have a valve attached or adjacent to a water meter, which is sometimes buried near the street.
Your water damage will most likely be covered under your homeowners
insurance policy. The first step to start the claims process is to call your insurer to let them know about the situation. To make sure that
your claim is successful, ask your insurer whether a claims adjuster needs to visit your home to document the damage before you begin the
cleanup and repair process, or if your photos of the damage will suffice.
No matter what your insurer says, it’s always a good idea to carefully document all the water damage to your home to assist with your insurance claim. Simply take photos and videos with your phone and make note of everything the water touched, including your possessions and the structure of your home itself.
At this point, most homeowners enlist the help of a water cleanup specialist to address the mess. Look for a company that can respond
quickly (within a few hours, max) and begin cleaning before mold starts to grow.
While you are waiting for your clean-up to get started, you can begin the process of drying out your home by following these steps: a) open your windows to let moist air escape; b) start as many dehumidifiers as possible; c) cycle your HVAC system between heating (to 80 degrees) and cooling (to 60 degrees), which pulls moisture into the air and then removes it. You can rent industrial-size blowers and dehumidifiers to speed up the drying process.
Now it’s Time to Contact Us!
