Floods can happen to anyone, regardless of whether you live near a body of water. Heavy rains, burst sewer or drain lines, and faulty appliances can all leave you swimming through your now run-down home.
If the water damage is minor, you might be able to take care of the cleanup on your own. In many cases, though, it’s in your best interest to ask for help from the pros.
Read on to learn about some of the signs you should hire professional water damage restoration services after a flood damages your home.
There’s Standing Water in Your Home
Standing water in your home—even if it’s only an inch deep—is a major sign that you’ll need to call a restoration water damage company for help. Getting that much water out of your house isn’t something you can do without specialized equipment. The liquid will need to be pumped out and dumped far away enough from your home that it doesn’t leak back in.
Trying to clear out deep water inside a building also puts you in harm’s way. If there are any live wires in the area, touching or stepping in the water could result in instant electrocution. Water damage restoration companies are trained on how to avoid these hazards and dry your home out safely.
Grey Water or Sewage Caused the Damage
Damage from clean water is bad enough. When your home fills with greywater or sewage, though, it’s a whole different ballgame.
Unless the leak was very minor and localized, you should never try to clean up contaminated water damage on your own. Dirty water carries disease-causing bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms that will make you ill without the right protective equipment. A water damage restoration team has respirators, protective suits, and other PPE that can keep them safe even when working with dangerous liquids. Speaking to the right aluminium suppliers about waterproofing membranes can potentially prevent water damage from happening to your home in the future.
You Notice Mold, Leaks, and Bad Smells
Not all water damage is immediately obvious. Water can seep into cracks in the walls, floorboards, ceilings, and even behind built-in furniture. Carpets and hard flooring can also trap moisture beneath the surface that you won’t notice when you’re walking through the house.
If you start to notice a dank, musty aroma, mold growing in unusual places, or dripping water where there isn’t a pipe, there’s likely hidden water trapped in your home. One of the largest benefits of water damage restoration is a professional’s ability to spot damage that’s hidden beneath the surface. Even if the moisture dries out, there’s still a risk of invisible structural damage.
Looking for signs of hidden damage is one of the first steps in the house restoration process. A technician will examine your walls for signs of absorption, deodorize areas with musty smells, and sanitize any spots that are growing mold. They’ll also identify and work to dry out any pockets of trapped moisture.
You Need to File an Insurance Claim
If your homeowner’s insurance has a flooding or water damage policy, you’ll likely be submitting a claim to help you pay for repairs. Most insurance companies won’t rely on your word alone to approve payments, though. They’ll ask you to get a professional to assess the severity and total financial value of the damages.
Water damage restoration companies are experts at working with insurance companies. They’ll be able to help walk you through submitting a claim and ensure you have all the required documentation. They may even submit their initial bill for services straight to your insurance company, saving you the trouble of waiting for reimbursements later.
You Don’t Have Time to Take Care of the Cleanup Yourself
The longer water is trapped in your house, the more damage it will do.
Most experts say that it’s crucial to dry your home out within the first 48-72 hours after flooding. If water stands for longer than that, you risk severe mold growth and permanent structural damage. You may even need to replace your floors, walls, and ceilings, along with any furniture that stood in the water as well.
If you don’t have the time and resources to completely dry out your home within that time frame, you’ll need to call an expert for help. Professional restoration teams can get the job done efficiently without missing any important steps.
You Can’t Afford More Repairs in the Future
Many people are hesitant to hire a restoration company because their finances are tight. Instead, they opt to save money in the short term through DIY repairs.
Unless you’re an experienced home builder, though, you’re at risk of missing crucial details in the repair process. Just because your home looks like it’s back in good shape doesn’t mean you caught everything that was wrong.
Remember—the longer water sits, the more harm it does. If your DIY fixes are incomplete, you run the risk of letting hidden moisture do even worse damage in the months to come. Even though it may be more expensive at first to hire a restoration team, it can end up being far less expensive than paying for more repairs down the line.
Drowning in Flood Damage? Water Damage Restoration Services Can Help
Not only can water damage make your home look run-down, but it can also harm its structural integrity. Don’t put yourself and your family at risk—call your local water damage restoration services for help.
Want to learn how to protect your home from getting damaged by water in the first place? Check out this simple guide to protecting your house from flooding.
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