Flooding isn’t anything unique: research suggests that it’s almost a daily occurrence in the U.S., causing over $85 billion in damage and economic losses in 2021 alone.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s any less stressful when home water damage happens on your property. Compromised plumbing causing leaks may be common, but figuring out how to do restoration for water damage can be frustrating and difficult on your own.
Even worse, there are countless causes to watch for. Burst pipes, monsoon storms, malfunctioning appliances, broken supply lines to fixtures, overflowing drain pans, and a damaged foundation are just a few of the conditions that put you at risk.
Whether you own a residential or commercial property, it’s important to be proactive when it comes to your water damage restoration. Here’s why you need to reach out to an expert right after a water damage event if you live in the Gilbert area as well as what you can do in the meantime.
Immediate Steps for Property Owners
If you’ve noticed signs of water damage in your home, it’s important to act fast. Though you may not be able to clean up the property damage on your own, the good news is that taking a few key steps can help mitigate the damages substantially!
Find the Source
Whether you’re dealing with a toilet overflow or burst pipes, identify the source of your standing water as soon as possible and address the problem. If you haven’t already done so, find your property’s main shut-off valve and stop more water from entering.
Turn Off the Power
We recommend turning off the power to the affected area of your home or property. This can prevent serious electrical hazards around appliances or outlets.
Remove the Water
Start getting rid of the water as best you can. If you own a wet/dry vac, this is often the best solution for removing water. If not, try a mop or towels, depending on the extent of the damage.
Protect Your Home
Remove any furniture or other belongings from the affected areas and move them to another part of your home or office.
Contact the Experts; Emergency Flood Team
While it’s helpful to start the restoration process on your own, you’ll likely need expert help as well. Call Emergency Flood Team to help with the cleanup. They will provide you with a link to your phone so you can start taking pictures of any affected belongings for insurance purposes.
Once on site, your technicians will provide a comprehensive scope of services and help you determine if filing a claim is in your best interest. If you haven’t filed a claim before, don’t worry, we will walk you through the process and keep you in the loop with your adjuster throughout the process!
Home Water Damage Happens Fast
Secondary damages can happen faster than you’d think. Worse, the effects of water’s destruction can be subtle, meaning that you might not notice them until it’s far too late. Time is of the essence when it comes to restoring your property.
Even a small amount of water damage can cause property damage within minutes. A soaked carpet, swollen baseboards or cabinetry, or furniture may become unusable if water reaches them, as these items can still be compromised even after they’ve been dried.
Worse, mold growth and structural rotting can begin in as little as 24 hours after a room is exposed to elevated moisture content. Mitigating the affected areas within this time is crucial if you want to avoid further issues.
In addition to the tips we’ve listed above, there are a few extra strategies worth trying if you want to dry your property in time.
Creating airflow helps, Be sure to open any doors and windows if possible. If you know the water came from a clean source, using a large fan or an industrial blower can help push the humidity outside of the structure which will help the drying substantially. If you’re unsure as to where the water came from, just opening a door or windows will suffice until the Emergency Flood Team arrives.
Again, these tips can help you get a fast start if you haven’t yet called an expert, but a professional water remediation company is always your best bet if you want to get the cleanup done quickly and effectively.
The Risks of Mold
We’ve already established that mold grows fast after water damage. Because it loves damp spaces, you can expect to deal with this unwanted nuisance if you haven’t dried the affected area out in time.
However, it’s important to know that mold is more than a cosmetic issue. There are a few key reasons why you should eliminate it as fast as possible.
Health Risks
The EPA dedicates several pages of its site to the effects of mold, largely because this unwanted growth can lead to major health concerns.
In small amounts, mold can be enough to cause mild allergic responses akin to hay fever. In larger amounts, it can cause severe respiratory irritation such as coughing. It can also cause itchy or inflamed skin around the eyes, nose, and throat.
For people who have chronic respiratory conditions, the effects of mold can be much worse. In some cases, mold can trigger asthma attacks and other serious issues.
Subtle Spread
Mold can be hard to eradicate. Because moist areas act as a breeding ground, and because it’s difficult to spot and remove mold in the first place, it can be hard to get rid of it.
This makes it difficult to keep mold from spreading, unseen, around your home or property. In other words, if you leave your water remediation headaches for another day, you may give your growing mold a chance to entrench itself more firmly in your home which will only cause further damages, additional costs and many more headaches.
High Costs
We see it all the time after homeowners try to take care of water damage on their own: long after the affected area seems safe and dry, the mold has spread too much for the area to remain livable. Letting mold grow can complicate repairs, making it necessary to remove parts of the structure and spend far more money than you might have otherwise. A fast response, on the other hand, can reduce the damage and ensure that you aren’t shelling out for extensive repairs. Even worse, insurance companies won’t approve a water damage claim if it wasn’t handled in a timely manner. Don’t get stuck paying for a mold remediation because you didn’t call a professional!
Fast Restoration for Water Damage
When you’re looking for help after commercial or home water damage, it’s important to act fast. Getting expert assistance as soon as the damage occurs can help you save time, energy, and money on the cleanup and repairs.
That’s where Emergency Flood Team comes in. Our water damage mitigation company in the East Valley area and Yavapai County can help with water mitigation, mold remediation, and even restoration for water damage in the Phoenix area. Unfortunately, we don’t offer repairs in the Yavapai area. To learn what we can do for you, contact us today.
