Tips for Dealing with Water Damage and Flooding

What Should I Do If I Have Water Damage in My Home or Business?

Water damage is one of the most frustrating things you can encounter as a home or business owner. Whether the water damage resulting from a leaky roof, burst pipes, flooded basement, sewer backup or any other, it can be a blight on your property. After realizing the water damage, what you do is important, as it determines whether your property can be salvaged.

Locate the Cause

Many things can cause water damage in a home or business. The only way to prevent more water from coming in is to determine where it started and deal with the issue. For instance, if a burst pipe causes it, you could turn off the main water supply. 

Contact Your Insurance Company

Some homeowner’s insurance providers offer water damage coverage. If you have one of these, you should contact the insurer as soon as the water damage occurs. They will send someone to assess the house’s condition and determine if the damage caused is a covered loss. 

Most homeowners forget to document the value of everything affected by the water damage for compensation by the insurer. Additionally, take photos and videos of the damage for evidence in case the adjuster sent by the insurance company misses some. 

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones

When major disasters like flooding or hurricanes cause water damage, many other things can go wrong. Turn off your power supply to prevent any electrocution or fires. The worst thing that could happen in the middle of such havoc is experiencing a house fire. 

You can also move out of the house for safety reasons. A home affected by water damage might be shaky and unstable. Staying in such a house or building is hazardous as the house might collapse. Unless the water damage is insignificant, you should relocate to a hotel or friend’s house until the renovation company clears everything. 

Contact a Water Damage Repair Company

Don’t take too long before contacting a water damage repair company. The longer you take, the more damage your property sustains. For instance, if the water damage source is clean water, it could turn into grey water in hours, leading to more serious effects. 

Remember, the more stagnant water stays in your home or business, the higher the chance of getting mold damage. The moisture provides perfect conditions for mold to thrive; within no time, your whole house will have a mold infestation. Treating mold is another tedious process you don’t want to get involved with.

Inspection

When all the work is complete, and you feel ready to move back into the house or business place, have an expert inspect the area to ensure all the water damage has been dealt with appropriately. The expert will assess the air quality, check the moisture levels, and confirm that the water damage repair company did a wonderful job. Your insurance company will probably send an inspector as well, but finding one unrelated to the insurer is good.

  • FAQ’s for Sewer Backups and Basement Water Damage Problems

    Sewage backup and basement flooding are unpleasant and pose lots of dangers such as contamination and biohazard risks. They should be considered an emergency and dealt with efficiently and promptly.
    Using Service Pros professional services will certainly work to your leverage. Our emergency sewage and flood basement cleaning teams have specialized equipment and training to swiftly and safely clear, clean and restore your affected areas.

    What is a sewage backup?

    Houses have incoming water lines and outgoing sewer lines. A sewage backup happens when an obstruction and blockage prevents the normal flow of wastewater from your house to the sanit/ary sewer.
    The wastewater starts to back up into your home as it fills up your drain pipes, and doesn’t properly drain away from the house.

    What are the indications of a sewage backup?

    Several common signs may indicate that you could experience a sewage backup. One of the common indicators is having more than one clogged drain, especially if one of the clogs is in a drain you infrequently use.
    Water usually backs up into a lower drain. However, when your water is backing up into other drains, you should be concerned. One drain should not drain into another drainage system.
    Another suitable method to identify a sewer backup is checking if water gurgles in the sink after flushing the toilet or showering. You should as well check for the appearance of bubbles as they point to trapped air generated by water attempting to pass through the clogged area of the drain.
    At the same time, another common sign includes your toilet not flushing correctly, slow draining in more than one fixture, a soggy or smelly yard, sewage coming out of a cleanout pipe, and foul odors coming from a drain.

    What are the hazards with sewer backups?

    Sewage mainly contains human feces and urine that contains viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants that can cause ailments. These include rotavirus, adenoviruses, norovirus, diarrhea, cramping, vomiting, throat, nose, and eye infections.

    Can I clean a sewer backup myself?

    Cleaning the sewer backup yourself could lead to hazardous activity and result in improper remediation activities and more significant problems. So, you may opt to go for our professional water damage restoration company. Without technical assistance, you may likely spread the contaminated sewer problem from one room to other rooms.
    Our professional team of experts is better suited and knowledgeable in the finest ways to clean up sewage at minimum risk. We will ensure a successful restoration of your property and help you avoid any health hazards.

    Can I use bleach to clean up a sewer backup?

    Odors that come from sewage backups are unpleasant, and you may want to get rid of them. Bleach is a widespread solution for most people and should be avoided as it is a poor solution for sewer backups. More harm may be caused by bleach as it can react with other substances are in the sewer pipes and potentially release harmful fumes.

    Which items can I keep after a sewer backup?

    If any of your absorbable belongings get in touch with sewer water, you need to dispose of it. Nevertheless, our professional team can easily clean and restore if hard materials or unabsorbent material come into contact with sewer water.

    What is basement flooding?

    It is not unusual for many homeowners to go down their basement steps, only to find a pool of murky water. This water may cause damage to your walls, floors, furniture and lead to mold. As the basement is commonly used for storage, the pool of water destroys many irreplaceable and essential items.

    What causes basement flooding?

    Basement flooding may arise because you have an external or internal leak, leaking foundation walls, improperly sealed walls, floors, a clogged gutter system, or your sump pump becoming dysfunctional.

    How do I know if I require basement flooding solutions?

    It is usual that many homeowners are unaware of their need for basement flooding solutions in their homes.
    If your house is situated in a flood-prone area, or if your home lacks effective basement drainage or waterproofing, it might good idea to invest in Service Pros basement flooding solutions.

    What are the signs of basement flooding?

    Indicators of basement flooding include a musty smell in your basement, water damage to your foundation or walls, discolored water stains on an affected area on the wall or floor, calcification build-up and standing water in your basement.

    How can I avoid basement flooding in the future?

    A sump pump is mandatory for any basement as it pumps water out immediately it gets inside the basement. You may also install a backwater valve occasionally to prevent sewer clogs and backups, regularly check for pipe damage, clean your gutters regularly, and fix foundation cracks.

    Which immediate steps should I take when I have basement flooding?

    The first step to take when you see that your basement is filled with water is to turn off your electricity and shut off the power in your home. Afterward, call an electrician and our professional team of Service Pros basement flood cleaners.
    The subsequent step to take is to move any water-damaged items to a dry place. However, remember to protect yourself by putting on protective clothing and gear such as face masks, gloves, overalls, and boots.

    How much does it cost to fix basement flood damage?

    There are multiple variables that dictate the cost of repairing and cleaning up basement flood damage. Nevertheless, the ordinary charges of repairs after basement flooding varies from $500-$2,500. This may depend on the depth of the water, the size of the basement, the extent of the damage, and the type of the water (clean, storm, or sewage)

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