water damage repairWater Damage Repair

Once you’ve had water enter your home or business, there are some things to consider before a restoration expert arrives.  The project of water damage repair begins as soon as you’re aware that water has entered somewhere it shouldn’t have.  There are some critical actions that you can take immediately, and some things to avoid:

Do:

  1. Call your insurance company and/or agent.
  2. Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
  3. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and table-top items.
  4. Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying (check for possible bleeding).
  5. Place aluminum foil, china saucers or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
  6. Remove Orientals or other colored rugs from wet wall-to-wall carpeting.
  7. Open drawers and cabinet doors for complete drying. (Do not force, however.)
  8. Remove valuable paintings and art objects to a safe place.
  9. Open suitcases and luggage to dry, in sunlight, if possible.
  10. Punch small holes in sagging ceilings to relieve trapped water. (Don’t forget to place pans underneath.)
  11. Call your water damage repair expert, United Carpet Cleaning & Restoration

Don’t:

  1. Leave wet fabrics in place; (dry as soon as possible). Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.
  2. Leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors.
  3. Use your household vacuum to remove water.
  4. Use TV’s or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.
  5. Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

A flooded home or business can create hazards you may not be able to see or smell immediately.  While it may seem like something you can clean up yourself, most insurance carriers will have some amount of storm damage coverage in your policy.  Call in an expert like United Carpet Cleaning, and we’ll help you assess the situation and determine what relief you have from your insurance company, and then outline a water damage repair plan that will return your home or business back to the way it was before the problem began!