Where To Go If You’re Affected By Water Damage

10/25/2019 (Permalink)

Water is an unforgiving element. You may not realize it, but water has the potential to cause some of the worst and most costly damage to your property. If your home business has been damaged from a flood, a roof leak, or a pipe bursting, here’s what you need to know about water damage repair. 

Water Damage Is Easier To Prevent Than To Clean Up After The Fact. 

Do you want to know the most effective way to clean and repair water damage? Don’t let it happen in the first place. While it’s true that you’re not a superhero and you can’t prevent every harmful thing from occurring, regular home maintenance will go a long way. When you adequately maintain the property, you significantly decrease the chances of water ingress and leaks from damaging your home or business. 

So, what can you do? Periodically inspect the plumbing for visual signs of damage, wear, and tear. Check the pipes and valves in the kitchen, bathroom, basement, and laundry room about every three to four months. Signs of impending interior water damage that will need to be repaired include:

• Cracks in the foundation walls
• Slow-moving drains
• A leaking pipe

Don’t forget to also take a look outside for potential water damage. Gutters and downspouts should all properly flow. They should not be clogged with leaves and other debris. Also, check to make sure that the landscaping allows water to run away from the foundation. If water is left to pool close to the foundation walls, it can cause cracks, bulging, and water ingress. 

If you fix these things early, you can do it for far less money than if you were to wait for the water to create a bigger problem. Signs of water ingress don’t just go away on their own: that leaky pipe or crack in the basement wall won’t repair itself. 

Clean Up Water Damage Asap

Regular maintenance can certainly protect your home and your pocketbook from costly repairs. But, you can still fall victim to leaks, floods, and other water damage issues. The trick to limiting the damage is to clean it up as quickly as you can. 

The first step is to stop the leak. If a pipe has broken, you’ll want to turn off the main water supply line. It might be located in the utility closet or laundry room. Some homes have a main water shutoff valve in the basement or crawlspace. Once it is turned off, you’ll want to do your best to get any standing water out of the house. 

What about belongings that have gotten wet? For waterlogged items, you won’t want to move them yourself. Instead, it’s a good idea to contact a water restoration company immediately. Wet items are often surprisingly heavy, and lifting them on your own could result in injury. Once you’ve cleaned up the standing water, and are waiting for the water restoration company to arrive, use dehumidifiers and air movers to prevent mold and mildew from claiming your home as their own. 

Why should you use a dehumidifier? Because mold is potentially dangerous and an opportunistic organism. It only needs about 24 hours to grow into a full-fledged, smelly, colony of spores. Most building materials are made of cellulose, which is incredibly tasty to mold spores. Boxes, walls, wood, paper, and other porous surfaces can become prime real estate for mold. So, cleaning up the water damage as soon as reasonably possible can keep the indoor air quality much cleaner and safer for you to breathe. This is also why it’s important to contact a water restoration company asap. These professionals can clean up your home and prevent mold from growing. 

Insurance Doesn’t Always Cover Water Damage Repair

Your insurance policy may cover some forms of water damage and repair. Some causes of water damage, however, are typically not covered. For instance, damage from groundwater usually isn’t covered under a standard homeowner's insurance policy. This often includes any rain or snow that has hit the ground before finding its way into the home. 

Clear instances of homeowner negligence are also excluded from being covered under a policy. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to avoid delaying crucial home maintenance to prevent water damage. While most insurance policies allow exclusions for significant events such as hurricanes, floods, and sewage backups, getting this type of coverage can be cost-prohibitive for many homeowners, although most flood insurance will cover hurricane flooding in addition to regular homeowner’s insurance. That said, if your home has been a victim of an adverse water event, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company to see if some of the costs of the repairs are covered. 

Gotta Small Leak? Don’t Be Fooled

When you encounter a small problem, it’s understandable if you assume that it’s not anything to worry about. But, the problem with water is that it’s relentless and can get into even the smallest of cracks and crevices. Even a tiny leak that gets onto a support beam or into the drywall can wreak major havoc if it goes unaddressed. Fix any leak as soon as it occurs, even if it’s just a “small” roof leak.

Selling the Home is Harder When Leaks And Water Damage are Present. 

A home that’s been a victim of water damage that has not been repaired will not look pretty on the MLS, or Multi Listing Service, a database that realtors access to find homes for sale. Homes that have been damaged but subsequently repaired will also be a tougher sell. If you intend to sell the house soon, it’s essential, to be honest about the damage and the repairs you’ve made. Water damage is not a death sentence to your home’s ability to sell and command a fair price. Just remember, preventing the damage from occurring in the first place can make it easier for you to sell your home in the future. 

Water Damage Restoration and Repair

A professional water restoration and repair company can return your home to its former glory. Water restoration professionals know how to identify current and future leaks and sources of water ingress. They can give you insight into how to protect your home from future, damaging water events. If your home has recently been hit with a flood or leak, keep these tips in mind. Contact a water damage repair company today for a free, no-obligation quote on repairing your home or business.