Flood damage can throw a monkey wrench in your carefully laid investment plans. Consider the following points to reduce the impact water damage can have on property value.
Fast Response for Flood Damage Restoration – within minutes of contact with moisture your homes structural integrity is being impacted. You will want to ensure that remedial action is applied within the first 24 hours of water absorption.
Stay Safe – floods can cause serious problems, so you will want to make sure you listen in to the authorities for instructions before returning to your home after the floods have subsided. Make sure you shut off the gas and electricity before you leave your home and inspect your home for signs of damage upon your arrival. There may be cracks or visible warping in the foundation. Make sure you wear appropriate protective gear while addressing any damage.
Document the Damage – ideally, take some snapshots of your home that show the structure in good condition. When a flood happens, you will be able to take more pictures that indicate the level of damage caused by the rising waters. This is essential for filing a claim with your insurance provider. If you begin repair work before taking pictures of this damage you could adversely affect your chances of getting coverage. Once all the evidence has been noted, it will be time to take remedial action.
Contact Flood Insurance Provider Immediately – you will want to notify the insurance providers as soon as you can. But, if you call in your professional flood damage company, you can get some expert advice in filing this claim, be sure to call and ask if this is a service they provide.
Assess the Damage – water will be affected by different materials in different ways, wood can become warped and bloated, bricks can get water logged and dry walling and wall boards soak up water like a sponge. It will be important to address each wet item specifically to ensure it is not ruined. Your flood damage company will have special insights on how to do this effectively and can help with the heavy lifting
Minimizing the Damage – there are many things you can do to minimize the risk of water damage and keep yourself safe in a flood. Keeping your property clean and free of clutter is an important part of avoiding further catastrophes. Flood waters can hide dangers like rakes, broken glass, and other sharp objects that can cause injury during relief work. Always wear protective gear and do not allow flood water to contact skin if possible. Toxins, contaminants and pathogens can abound in flood waters.
Different Waters – the priorities in the wake of a flood are to remove all the water from the location as quickly and effectively as possible. But, things are not always that simple. If the water has become contaminated and soiled it can pose a new set of risks that must be addressed effectively. Water can be classified as Clean, Gray or Black water depending on its potential for harm. Clean water can be rain water or water from a broken pipes that contains no or virtually no additional ingredients.
Gray water is mildly contaminated and can include muddy water from the garden, or water from the bathtub, washing machine or ink. Black water is the most foul of all and contains high levels of pathogens and toxins. Black water can come from broken sewage lines or overflowed canals and is very dangerous to the health. Only the most professional of flood damage companies should be allowed to address this type of flood.
Use Air Movers and Dehumidifiers –– when you call in the experts you can avail yourself of extensive heavy equipment that can allow you to remove the moisture from the area even faster. Air movers are large industrial fans designed for the sole purpose of drying out basements at high speeds. These use minimal power to accomplish the task and are very energy efficient. Your professional flood company will also have a variety of dehumidifying agents that can help in absorbing the water and removing if effectively from the walls and structures of your building.
No comments:
Post a Comment