What To Do While Waiting for the Water Damage Pros

If you end up with water damage in your home the first thing you need to do is call a water damage restoration company to come and assess the damage and implement a clean up plan. But unless you live next door to them it’s going to take a little time for them to load up their equipment and get to you. So here are some steps you can take in the meantime that may salvage some of your possessions and help to speed up the restoration process.

Before we get to these steps the important thing to remember is your safety. If you have water shooting out all over the place, you want to make sure to turn the valve off first. This is usually going to be located somewhere in your front yard. If there is an immense amount of water it may also be wise to call your electricity provider and have them shut the power off to you house. Standing water and electricity do not play well together. And if the flooded water looks like it may be hazardous, septic tank materials for instance, avoid it at all costs.

Once you have cleared yourself of any harm you may begin the following steps.

1. Get the air circulating. Open windows and turn on fans (if you have electricity). Mold and mildew can begin to grow within the first 24 hours of water damage professionals Bentonville, AR so it is imperative that you do what you can to begin the drying process.

2. Remove all fabrics. This includes rugs and any other floor coverings that you are able to remove. These items can retain a lot of water so you need to get them out of there and set them up for drying. Hang them somewhere if possible. Also remove any other fabrics such as bed covers, curtains, towels, clothing, etc. Any type of fabrics that can or are holding water need to be removed from the area.

3. Remove all furniture. Any furniture that you can get out of the area needs to be removed. If you cannot remove the items then put blocks of wood or something similar beneath the legs to get the furniture up off the floor. The longer the furniture remains in the moisture the more it will absorb.

4. Use fans and/or a dehumidifier. Obviously this part requires electricity. But if you still have your power on then set up any and all box fans and dehumidifiers that you have at your disposal. These types of devices will help expedite the drying process.

When the water damage experts finally show up they will be able to take over with their more adequate equipment and expertise. But you can rest assured that they will appreciate the effort you put in to help them help you in this time of crisis.