Flooding is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a property owner. The damage is frighteningly immediate and can be very costly, especially if it is not handled correctly. Lingering water damage can harm your home’s structure and the health of your family and pets.
If you find yourself up to your ankles or knees in floodwaters, your first instinct may be to panic. But don’t worry, the professionals at Environmental Protective Solutions can help. Here is everything you need to know if your home or other property experiences flooding.
Visible & Hidden Dangers
Floodwater can be dangerous. The structural damage to your home begins the moment the water starts to flow. Metal, such as nails and screws, will begin to rust soon after coming into contact with water, which can damage their integrity. Items made of plywood will start to delaminate, and particle boards begin to buckle after a few hours of contact with water. Floors can start to buckle or collapse, and ceilings can start to sag and fall apart. Around that same time, furniture in your home can begin to breakdown, split, and crack. Carpets can start staining, and dyes from rugs and walls will start to seep into other areas. Then there’s the mold, which will complicate an already irritating situation.
Depending on the source, the water invading your property can contain sewage or other harmful contaminants that can make you, your family members, and pets ill. Even if it looks clean, you should operate under the assumption that the water is contaminated and wear protective boots, waders, and gloves. There’s also the danger of the water finding its way to electrical items in your home.
If you can quickly discover the source of the flooding and stop the flow of water, do so. This can be done by shutting off your property’s main water valve. If you’re not sure where this is, find out. It’s the easiest way to stop a flooding problem in its tracks.
After you’ve shut off the water, it’s time to handle the electrical items in your home. If you are able to do so safely, shut off and unplug electrical items. Do not attempt to disconnect or shut off anything if you have to stand in water to reach it. If you can reach the fuse box to your home without going through water, shut off all the breakers. If not, immediately exit your home and call an electrician.
Call in the Experts
You may be tempted to handle a flood problem on your own. But even if it seems like a minor problem, you never know what’s lying beneath your floors or in your walls. Your best and safest option is to call professionals who have years of experience in dealing with all aspects of water damage.
Our experts can treat your home with professional equipment. This alone ensures that your home is treated properly and faster. Also, attempting work that you are not qualified to do could result in mistakes that cost you more money in the end. You could also invalidate your flood insurance policy. Your best bet is to call Environmental Protection Solutions and let our professional team put your home back together.
Once our professionals are aware of the issue, our first significant step is to assess the situation ourselves. No matter your predicament, our certified professionals will come up with your ideal plan for water restoration, based on your unique building, budget, and water issues. We understand that your building and damage may be different from anything we have seen before, and we are prepared to problem-solve to do our best to help.
At Environmental Protective Solutions, we use our Intrusion Analysis Process (IAP) approach to solve any water damage issues. Not only do we focus on damage to the building’s structure that has already happened, but we also work on loss prevention at the same time. While other companies may also offer to stabilize the situation, we will enact a plan for preventing future water damage, which will save you more money, time, and energy in the long run. This approach can increase restoration and recovery by at least 50 percent, meaning that your investment in our company will give you impressive results.
Document Everything
You will want to file a claim with your flood insurance company immediately. Once your home has been assessed and you have been given the OK to go back inside, you need to document all damages. Take pictures of all of the flooded areas of your home from multiple different angles. Get close up photographs to show detailed damage. This should include interior and exterior pictures. Don’t forget photos of any damaged furniture and personal items. Use your phone or video camera to do a walkthrough of your home and the outside property. These pictures and videos need to be taken before any repairs begin on your home. Otherwise, you may decrease your insurance company’s coverage of the incident. Write down personal property damage along with estimated values for furniture, electronics, food, etc. Keep track of all the paperwork you receive from our company, including estimates, assessments, and bills.
Move Furniture and Ventilate
After you’ve documented all of your damages, begin moving everything salvageable to cleaner and dryer ground. Furniture and other possessions that come in contact with wet carpet or flooring run the risk of warping or growing mold. Move these items to another room or to a dry, covered area outside.
Ventilating the flooded areas of your home will help speed up the remediation process. You can help by opening doors and windows to allow airflow into the home. If your electrician says it’s safe to use power, a few well-placed fans and a dehumidifier can help dry out your home.
At Environmental Protective Solutions, we have seen it all, and we are prepared to help you and your family. Our team of professionals is ready to work with you to create a plan, maintain close communication, and fix both the damage and the root of the problem. We are confident that EPS is your ideal water restoration partner, no matter what your situation is. We have proven to be the most reliable, efficient option in the region.