Knowing What To Do When Your Home Is Flooded

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of East Bradenton / Lakewood Ranch Tips to Mitigate Water Damage to Your Property

If your home becomes flooded for any reason it is important that you know what to do. The longer pooling water stands on your property, the more severe the water damage will be to your home. It could possibly be a serious threat to your health and safety.Accessing information from SERVPRO® regarding how to handle water damage will help you get your home back to dry, pre-water damage condition.

SERVPRO® of East Bradenton / Lakewood Ranch Tips to Mitigate Water Damage to Your Property

What To Do 

• Identify the source from which the water is flowing and stop it or prevent its flow from expanding. When pooling water increases, so does the opportunity for mold growth. SERVPRO®, using moisture meters and hygrometers, will inspect for hidden pockets of water or moisture to ensure total drying. The drying will mitigate opportunistic mold spores from developing colonies of mold.
• Cut off any circuit breakers that are on. Electricity and water are not a safe combination. If not sure of shut-offs for electricity and water, call for help.
• Unplug all appliances located near the wet area, if you can safely approach the outlets.
• Determine where the damages are and try to salvage safely water damaged items by moving them.
• Make sure that your furniture legs, window treatments, and all other items stay off of the wet flooring.  

What Not To Do 

• Don't use a shop-vac or home vacuum to clean the water. Doing so increases your susceptibility to an unwanted electric shock.
• Don't change your property's temperature unless specifically told to do so by an SERVPRO® expert.
• Don't use newspaper to soak up excessive water. This could cause staining if the ink runs. Also, avoid walking on wet surfaces, because this could also lead to further water damage. Be aware of slippery surfaces when walking. A DIY Project for water removal can easily be unsuccessful. In many cases, residential property owners grow upset when they see an accumulation of unwanted water in their home and start to clean it up themselves. Don't take this approach if it is more than an isolated puddle. Attempting to remove the water on your own exposes you to a wide range of health hazards. Flood water surely holds chemical contaminants and possibly sewage--"black water." Even the "gray" water from a clogged a/c air handler or a leaking clothes or dishwasher contains harmful agents. Additionally, most homeowners lack the experience, knowledge, safety gear, and equipment necessary to expedite the water damage restoration process. As a result, your attempt to complete a DIY project will likely prolong your exposure to excessive water and all of the health hazards it can produce. 

Call SERVPRO® of East Bradenton / Lakewood Ranch (941) 747-2333 immediately. When you find that your home has water damage, you need a team of water damage restoration experts working on your behalf. The team to trust is SERVPRO® of East Bradenton / Lakewood Ranch.

In addition to offering excellent customer service, all of our IICRC-certified technicians provide homeowners with 24/7 emergency assistance. From the time we arrive, until the task is complete, we will keep you informed and will restore your home.

Highly-Trained Water Restoration Specialists

As SERVPRO® of East Bradenton / Lakewood Ranch water damage specialists, we have the experience, expertise, and the advanced training that enables us to get your property dried quickly and thoroughly. We provide validation and documentation that your property in Palmetto, Ellenton, or Lakewood Ranch is dry and the job is complete. Learn about our water damage training and certificates. Call SERVPRO® of East Bradenton / Lakewood Ranch (941) 747-2333