What Should You Do If Your Home Is Flooded?
Water, while necessary for survival, can also cause damage to life and property. You might come to a situation where you’ll see that water is squeezing in through the pores of the ceiling, cracks of the walls or floor, or from any other open space in your house- those are the signs of water damage.
The moisture can cause heavy damage to property and structure, and also has adverse effects on health due to the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria.
It can also risk the safety of the people living in the house because water and electricity are a friendly combination and can cause serious accidents.
No matter the degree of the damage, it is essential to resolve the matter as soon as possible, so visit the website of EZ Plumbing & Restoration as it is one of the best water damage restoration companies in Anaheim.
Causes of water damage & How to Identify Them
There are points in your house through which water can find a way into places where it shouldn’t be, and some of them are:
- Thunderstorms, Rainfall, Or Ice Dams: These things cannot be prevented. Even the strongest structures can be damaged or weakened, roofs can be damaged, or pipes are broken that cause water to accumulate or seep through, resulting in water damage.
- Clogged Gutters: Sometimes, gutters are clogged by branches, leaves, or debris and do not let water flow away from the property, thus damaging the ceiling, roof, or floors.
- Leaking Pipes: If there is a damaged pipe in the kitchen or bathroom or there is a leak in the plumbing system, all of these can lead to water damage in your house. This makes water damage repair in Anaheim necessary, so contact EZ Plumbing and Restoration to help solve the problem.
- Washing Machines, Air Conditioners, Or Water Heaters: The washing machine is fed water through a water supply line, and if this line is damaged, water leakage can happen.
If the drainage system of an air conditioning unit is damaged or the condensate line is clogged, water drips into your property, causing water damage.
In case the old water heater is not maintained properly, there can be water leakage issues as a common occurrence.
Water damage, if identified at early stages, can save you costly repairs or replacements of things. For this, contact a trusted water damage repair service like EZ Plumbing and Restoration to look into the problem and solve it.
Some of these signs are Peeling paint, warped floors, discoloration, or peeling of wallpapers. If you see the growth of mold or mildew, the definite cause is moisture.
Other obvious signs could be dampening or moist walls and floors, sound or dripping water, or leaking pipes.
Also, keep a look at the water bills, as higher than usual water bills are used to identify leakage behind the cement or plumbing lines behind the walls.
Steps You Need to be Taken for Water Damage Repair in Your House
1. Identify And Stop The Source Of Damage
If we talk about the types of water, we can classify it into three different types such as 1) Clean water, 2) Gray water and 3) Blackwater.
Clean water leaks through pipes and faucets in the kitchen or bathroom or it can be due to rain or ice dams. You should know where the shutoff valves are to turn off the source of water.
Also, clean the pipes which lead rainwater away from the house. Gray water is water leaking through washing machines, dishwashers, or toilets and black water is from sewage or drainage pipes.
This water can be contaminated and proper cleanup is important. After cleanup, the clogged drains need to be cleaned and the water lines need to be checked to completely solve the problem.
For cleanup and disinfection, contact the water damage repair company.
2. Contact Your Insurance Company
To look into the problem and restore or replace the water-damaged things costs a lot of money and you might not be able to afford it.
No matter how big or small the damage is, call your insurance company so they can send an adjuster to estimate the damage.
Click pictures before you start the initial cleanup and also keep a list of the values that have been damaged to add these to your insurance claims.
But, all these things will not happen immediately, so do not wait for the adjuster and contact the water damage restoration in Anaheim to begin rebuilding.
They also help with water damage repair in Anaheim, and their team of professional plumbers is highly experienced.
Also Read: Tips About Flood Cleanup From Industry Experts
3. Dry Things Out
After you have identified and stopped the leakage, the next step would be to start drying out things. Before you start, be sure to turn off all electric and gas lines, and wear safety gear like rubber gloves and shoes.
Bring in a plastic bucket or container to start emptying out water and then use a mop for hard-to-reach areas. Rent a wet-dry vacuum to dry the area thoroughly and allow the area to ventilate.
Using a dehumidifier or air conditioner can speed up the process. Collect the things that can still be used and throw away the rest of the things which are no longer safe to use.
Avoid mold, mildew, or any lingering issue before rushing back in and seek help from a professional water damage restoration like EZ Plumbing & Restoration to ensure that your home is properly dried.
Mold and mildew can start forming within 24 hours and they can cause severe damage, so make sure that you are not spreading mold spores in the process of drying the house.
If mold has already formed, let experts like EZ Plumbing & Restoration which provides water damage repair services in Anaheim look into the situation.
4. Protect Yourself, Appliances, & Valuables
Your first concern should be the safety of you and your family, so turn off the electric and gas line to prevent accidents. Then turn off the water inlet to prevent contamination of water.
If there is stagnant water, do not wade through it without any protection as anything might be lurking around whether it be sharp objects or small animals. To save anything like your furniture or rugs, carry them to a dry area.
Clear as much water as possible to reduce the damage before the water damage repair services in Anaheim can be started.
5. Seek Professional Advice And Repair Services
No matter how effectively you dry out the area and try to solve the problem, it is best to hire professionals to handle the matter, thus, contact EZ Plumbing & Restoration if you live in California.
They are one of the best water damage restoration companies in Anaheim and their customer-oriented approach will make you satisfied and happy.
Ask for advice on what is salvageable and discard the things that can no longer be used or are not safe to use.
Drywall, insulation, flooring, carpeting, and baseboards might need to be removed and ceilings need to be repaired.
Moistures can be in places that cannot be seen with naked eyes, so professional equipment like hygrometers, moisture detectors, and remote cameras are needed to locate trapped moisture.
Also, seek professional help to replace or repair electronics and damaged furniture. Inspection and repairing of structural damage are also important to avoid accidents in the future.
Consequences Of Delay In Taking Necessary Steps If Your House Has Water Damage
Water finds its way into unseen places and water damage does not always happen because of lots of water, even small amounts can lead to huge damage.
Some common issues that manifest when water damage repair is delayed are:
Health Issues: Mild, mildew, bacteria, and other microorganisms are grown in the presence of moisture causing difficulty in breathing, headaches, and other respiratory problems.
This becomes more severe in people with asthma or severe allergies. These problems can be overlooked as they are not so severe in the beginning stages, but as time passes they can become more and more dangerous so to prevent the growth of fungi, mold, and mildew, water damage repair needs to be treated immediately.
Extra Cost: Your belongings, house, and furniture can be seriously damaged if water is not dried as soon as possible.
It can ruin carpets, warp walls, and damage essential components which when later need to be replaced or repaired can cost a huge amount of money.
So, hire a water damage repair company in Anaheim which would solve your issues at an affordable price.
Water damage if left untreated turns into a serious issue, so starting by identifying the signs as well as the source of the water leak and how to solve the problem, all these steps are very important.
Also, before hiring anyone for water heater restoration in Anaheim, do proper research on finding the best company which would provide the best services so that your issue is taken care of properly and you face no problems in the future.