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A leak or a flood can cause significant damage to your home and belongings. It’s crucial to address this problem quickly to avoid issues, like odors, mold formation, and property loss. Success boils down to speedy water restoration efforts to reinstate your home to its previous condition. If you experience moisture intrusion of any kind, here’s what to do—and what to avoid.

Do:

Take safety measures.

While it’s important to act quickly, be sure that it’s safe first. If you can’t access the breaker box without wading through water, contact an electrician instead. Otherwise, turn off the power to the affected area, so you can safely maneuver around.

You can then shut off the water to stop the problem if it’s due to pipe damage or a broken water heater. Wear full sleeves and long pants, along with rain boots and work gloves, to prevent exposure to contaminants.

Clean up promptly.

The goal is to remove wet belongings and initiate efforts as quickly as possible. Do that by moving whatever you can to a dry area, like furniture, decor, area rugs, wall hangings, and other possessions. Other materials, like carpeting, drywall, and insulation, may require removal, or state-of-the-art tools to clean them.

Cincinnati, OH water restorationSince it’s best not to use a standard vacuum cleaner to remove the liquid, you should leave it to a water restoration professional. They can efficiently assess the scope and severity of the damage and determine the best course of action.

Don’t:

Neglect the humidity.

It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to form once an area is exposed to moisture. Because it’s so stubborn, mold removal can prove difficult once it becomes more widespread. It can even destroy your personal property.

Excessive humidity due to the flood or leak can increase the likelihood of an infestation; you can use a dehumidifier to resolve the problem, in addition to stopping the flow of water. Add a fan to the space to hasten the drying process.

Forget about insurance.

You will likely need to file a claim in the event of extensive property damage. In the chaos of resolving the problem, however, it may be easy to forget those initial first steps, such as taking photographs of the damage before any cleanup and water restoration work begins. Documentation is vital because it allows your adjuster to make an accurate assessment in response to the damage.

 

If you’re dealing with water damage at home, turn to the team at Rumpke Restoration Inc. Proudly serving clients throughout Loveland, Milford, West Chester, Mason, Amelia, Batavia, Anderson, New Richmond, Northside, Hamilton, Fairfield, Springfield, and Dayton, OH, the company handles every step of the water restoration process, including mold remediation and odor removal. Visit the website to find out more about their process, or call (513) 786-7537 to schedule an appointment.

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