Water damage restoration must be done right — and right away — to prevent mold and costly reoccurring problems. Follow these initial steps in the event of water damage to your home or business.
First step
find the source of water and stop its spread. If the toilet is leaking, turn off the water from behind the toilet. If a pipe burst under your kitchen sink, shut off water to the house as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence. The longer the water collects, the more problem will occur.
For situations where getting to the water valve is too challenging, call a plumber right away. Restoration 1 of Tulsa has a fully licensed expert plumber on staff 24/7.
Water damage from a flood is handled differently. Flood mitigation begins by boarding or tarping the home to keep additional water out. This can be professionally done, or you can acquire boards and tarps at your local home improvement store and nail them in place.
The second step is to remove saturated belongings
Next, get pictures of these items before placing them in a large garbage bag or a dry room. You may be able to dry off some things with a washcloth or towel. However, other items may need flood damage restoration services to reverse the water damage. Consult this EPA guide on how to clean water damaged surfaces.
Finally, make sure to document all structures and furnishings impacted by water damage. Take photos and be as thorough as possible. For example, open drawers and get pictures of water damage. Lift up curtains and get the base boards. Don’t forget to photograph angles normally out of view, such as underneath or behind furniture.
Following these first steps will help prevent further water damage and assist you in the water damage mitigation and insurance claims processes.
