AD | Collaborative post
There are many people who find themselves in a tough spot after their home or business has been damaged by water, fire, mould, or some other disaster. They may have lost everything they own and are left feeling dazed and confused about how to start rebuilding. The first thing you need to do is stop the water damage from spreading! Here are some helpful tips approved by Dallas water damage experts that should help you with this process!
Take pictures of all the damages and make inventory
Your insurance company will require you take pictures of all the damages and make an inventory to submit with your claim. And delivering this sooner rather than later increases the likelihood that the damages will be covered. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that repair costs exceed coverage limits and property has been destroyed by mold or other water damaged materials.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim
The best thing you can do after water damage is to contact your insurance company. They’ll act as a liaison with the teams that come in and they will take care of all the contracts for repair, cleanup, or replacement. It’s important to speak with your insurance company right away because if you make any mistakes by doing it on your own, the repairs may not be covered under the agreement.
Dry everything up as much as possible with towels and fans
After water damage, the materials of your home such as drywall and carpeting need to be dried out completely. To keep moisture away, use fans and dehumidifiers alongside wet/dry vacuum cleaners. And don’t forget about the garage! Water can get inside it from almost anywhere, so make sure you do preventative maintenance regularly to reduce the chance of it happening again.
Remove all wet materials from your home such as carpeting, insulation, drywall
After the disaster is over, get rid of wet materials such as insulation and carpeting so it doesn’t start raining in your home again. The more quickly you get rid of any wet materials, the less likely mold will grow which can create breathing problems and bring illness to your family. You may also want to look into purchasing a dehumidifier that will help dry out moisture and humidity throughout your home’s structure and contents.
Repair any structural damage to your house caused by the water damage or contact a professional for help if you feel like you’re not up for the task
You can try to repair any structural damage that was caused by the water, but you should probably contact a professional if you feel like it’s too much for you.
Structural repairs can be time consuming and expensive. The last person who did them probably didn’t do the best job, so it would be better to work with someone who has experience in this specific type of job. If possible, make sure they are qualified professionally or at least get bids from professionals before making your final choice.
Repairing this kind of damage is not something that should ever be taken lightly because there are many different kinds of safety hazards that could arise while performing the repairs on your home – ones that professional contractors are familiar with dealing with.
Replace damaged items like furniture and appliances that were destroyed in the flooding
Debris pickup is a service provided by many cities to residents in the event of natural disasters. The clothes, furniture, and appliance are placed on the curb for pickup. Residents should not be disposing of items that have been contaminated by flood water to avoid the possibility of spreading contamination. Items that have been disinfected can typically be disposed with regular trash collection but other items should be put out for pickup because there might be contaminants in them still.
Prevent future leaks by installing a new sump pump system and checking for any other possible sources of leaks or cracks in pipes or joints
One great way to cut down on leaks, as well as the associated costs to fix them, is to install a new sump pump system. If you have any other possible sources of leaks or cracks in pipes, be sure to check those out as well. A good sump pump will first ensure that water doesn’t accumulate around your home’s foundation by pumping it away from the house and into a safe spot outside. They also help prevent future eventual leaks by trapping small amounts of water that work their way through your pipes and into the basement before they can do much damage.