How to Do an Emergency Water Damage Restoration

Water damage on property can happen from blocked drains, broken pipes, malfunctioning appliances, storms, sewage backups and flood waters. In every scenario, the nature of the damage will dictate the appropriate treatment. But whatever the cause of the water damage, the promise of restoration will depend largely on the speed with which the premises and personal property can be dried. Some emergency restoration services may be carried out by property owners themselves until professional help arrives.

Emergency Water Damage Restoration Tips

While most of the work will need to be done by professionals, here are some water damage restoration tips to follow while waiting for professionals to arrive at the scene.

• Remember that water does not have to be contaminated to cause damage but that even clean water can generate mildew, mold and other bacterial growth if neglected. Therefore, it becomes very important to ventilate the wet areas as soon as possible. The safest way of doing this is to open all windows for maximum airflow. This will help remove some of the moisture and circulate air around the premises.
• Shut off the electrical supply to the affected area to prevent the risk of electrical hazards such as getting electrocuted.
• Carefully start removing standing water from flat surfaces by sponging, mopping or blotting. When doing so, it is absolutely crucial to wear protective covering especially if the water is contaminated. This includes rubber gloves, boots as well as face masks.Remove saturated rugs, carpets and other porous materials. In case of clean water, carpets may be saved when cleaned and disinfected professionally but will need to be discarded if water damage is from contaminated water.
• Transport computers and portable devices to a dry environment. The faster these items get out of water’s way, the greater their chance of salvaging.
• Likewise, clear away lamps, telephones and decorative items from wet furniture tops.
• Open drawers and cabinet doors for interior drying without forcing to open any stuck surfaces.
• A useful tip is to freeze important documents and books to retard mildew growth until proper drying can be performed.

Where water damage is caused by contaminated water, such as sewage or flood water, it is important to remember that this water contains bacteria and other microorganisms that are extremely dangerous to human health. Sewage and flood damage restoration demand additional precautionary measures such as keeping all children and pets out of the contaminated area while considering all water impacted surfaces as toxic until properly decontaminated.

Just as it is important to know what to do in a water damage emergency quickly, it is equally important to know what not to do in the same situation. These measures include the following:

• Never operate any appliances or vacuums while standing on wet carpet or floors.
• Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors since both mildew as well as expanded moisture damage may occur.
• Avoid leaving wet fabrics in place and space them apart to prevent mold formation.
• For water damage sustained from sewage or flood waters, try not to track any contaminated materials onto undamaged areas since that can spread the contamination.
• Also, trying to decontaminate surfaces with over the counter sprays and other products may not work and not completely sterilize the affected surfaces.

Whenever a water emergency hits your home or other property, immediately get assistance from a professional water damage restoration company like ServiceMaster By Best in Wichita. We are a team of professionals who know that water damage restoration costs can add up quickly and offer our timely services to restore your property to its original condition.