It’s a fact of life that we will meet with unexpected circumstances that we simply have to face when they come. For some of us, that circumstance may be dealing with water damage. 

There are a lot of different situations that can lead to water damage. Things like flooding from weather, a failed sump pump, or a burst pipe can cause water to rise where it’s not meant to be, leading to damage that requires you to act. 

Check out these 5 tips for dealing with damage when it occurs! 

Stop Water Damage in Its Tracks

If you’re able, you should do what you can to reduce the water damage and stop it from spreading. You can’t necessarily force the water to recede or stop, but you can try to keep things out of the water’s path, or remove them from the water so they aren’t sitting in it. 

If you can, move things to higher ground or another area that is not affected by the water. Move furniture, boxes, and anything else out of water’s way. 

Start the Drying Process

If any of the things you moved away from the water got wet, you will need to dry them out. When the water recedes, you will also need to dry things out. There are certain things, like the floor, that you can’t dry until the water backs off. 

However, anything that you can move out of the water, you should. And when you move it out of the water, start drying it right away. The sooner you can get things drying, the more likely you are to avoid mold and mildew issues. 

Hang things that you can and place fans around to assist the drying process. Professionals have equipment that can help with the drying process as well. 

Check Insurance Coverage

In some cases, you may be covered by your home insurance in the case of flooding or water damage. This will depend on your policy and your coverage, but it’s a good idea to reach out to your insurance company. 

If you are covered, you should start the claims process immediately. This will take some time, so get it going for your own benefit. 

Along the way, if you have expenses or documents of any kind, be sure to keep those for your insurance as well. 

Safety First

Your safety is important. If you can’t safely enter the house, you should wait. If the electricity is connected to the house and still on, that will need to be addressed as well. It’s best to bring in an electrician or call your electric company to handle that. 

When you enter the home, wear protective gear like rubber gloves and rubber boots. You just never know what might be in the water, so it’s best to keep yourself safe. 

Water Damage Restoration

Finally, when it’s clear to enter and start work, you should plan to start the cleanup and restoration process as quickly as possible. 

You can assess the damage and make a plan, but you don’t want to wait since mold could develop and spread. Don’t be afraid to bring in a professional company to help with your water damage restoration. 

If you have water damage and want an expert you can trust to help you out, give Redeeming Restoration a call. We can help!