When it
comes to water damage, there comes a point where you realize it’s time to stop
mopping and start calling. Sure, some minor plumbing leaks and even a few major
water issues can be effectively mopped up by the average homeowner. However,
water is extremely damaging and the resulting damage is often best left to the
pros. So, when do you know when it’s time to hang up the mop and reach for the
phone?
Clue #1: Your
first clue is when the home is unsafe to enter. This could be because of raging
waters, electrocution hazards, damage to the structure, fallen trees, and other
dangers. Don’t attempt to mop up in unsafe conditions. Instead, call a pro.
Clue #2: Your
next clue is the sheer volume of the water flowing. It’s simple: the more
water, the more water damage. Just about all water damage professionals
understand the urgency of these situations and have built their companies on a
model that prioritizes emergencies. These pros have their phones on 24/7 and
are dedicated to providing waterlogged customers with a prompt response. They
don’t arrive with mops; they arrive with industrial strength water extraction
and drying equipment. Where you’d be bailing buckets of water out of your home
for days on end, water damage pros quickly extract the water and set up
industrial blowers. End result: Your home will be drier faster with
dramatically less damage.
Clue #3:
Your next clue involves the nature of the water incident. If a toilet overflows
in the downstairs bathroom, the mop up job is far easier to handle than if the
upstairs bathtub overflows and soaks through the ceiling and walls to the
floors below. Likewise, a burst pipe almost always requires a call to the pros.
Not only must the water be mopped up and the home dried out, repairs to the
plumbing, walls, and floors must also be made. You’ll be calling a pro anyway,
so the sooner you make that call, the better.
Clue #4:
The water is contaminated. Contamination ranges from rust and debris to
chemicals and raw sewage. Whenever the water source is questionable, stop
mopping and call a professional. Water damage professionals are equipped to
handle the hazards from the initial mop up and drying to the final cleaning and
application of commercial disinfectants.
Clue #5: You
see (or smell) signs of mold. As you’re mopping, you’re not likely to notice
mold at this point. Rather this clue arrives a day or two after you’ve mopped
up the home. Mold is a serious aftereffect of water damage, bringing with it
potential health problems and structural damage. Nip mold in the bud by calling
a water damage / mold remediation professional at first whiff.
Clue #6:
The water damage is caused by a covered homeowner’s insurance incident. When
you know that a water event is covered by your insurance, call the
professionals and rest easy knowing that your home is in good hands. Of course,
water damage claims can be tricky as some water damage is covered by insurance
and some isn’t.
Your
safety, the potential for additional damage, the sheer volume of the task at
hand, the nature of the plumbing incident, and potential health risks
associated with water damage are all compelling reasons to stop mopping and
start calling. Another good reason: if you want the job done correctly, call a
pro.
By: Mr.
Mark Decherd
For more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:
Dryout® Inc.
239-437-7100
Dryout Inc
Emergency water damage restoration, drying,
deodorization, decontamination, disinfection, mold removal, water damage repair,
restoration and reconstruction of commercial and residential properties damaged
by fire, water and other disasters by a network of trained specialists,
technicians and restoration professionals across the USA and Canada.
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