Steps to Take After Water Damage Occurs

Water damage to your home can happen unexpectedly at any time. It can come from a broken or leaky appliance, a burst pipe, or even an unpredictable weather event. Water damage can cause extensive damage to your home and almost always requires professional intervention in order to properly clean up, repair, and restore your property. It is never recommended to try to “DIY” water damage in your home, but there are a few steps to take after water damage to help things go even more smoothly while you wait for the water damage experts to conduct an extensive assessment.

Step 1: Get your bearings

We understand what a stressful time this can be, so take a deep breath! As soon as you suspect water damage in your home, it is recommended to make two calls. The first to the water damage restoration experts at Dry Kings Restoration, and the second to your insurance agency.

While you wait for our team of professionals to arrive at your home, you may want to gather personal belongings or documents you may need. If the water damage is extensive (i.e. your entire house is flooded or inhabitable) you may want to start arranging an alternate place for you and your family to stay if you will be unable to remain in your home.

Step 2: Protect yourself

The most important thing to do in any disaster is to ensure the health and safety of you and your loved ones. If you are unable to enter your home safely, please stay away until help arrives.

However, if you are able to re-enter your home, we recommend doing so cautiously to turn off any and all utilities that may further contribute to damage or pose safety risks. Electricity and gas lines are notorious for causing more serious issues with large amounts of water and may become a serious safety hazard if left on, so it’s important to safely turn these off immediately if you’re able to.

If your home is flooded or has a large amount of water leaking, turn off the main water line as soon as possible. If needed, be sure to wear protective clothing like rubber boots and gloves when re-entering your home. If the water leak is smaller and more localized like a toilet, sink, or appliance, simply turn off the water to that specific appliance.

Step 3: Document everything

Document all the damaged items in your home and make note of their estimated value, along with photos. If it is safe to walk around your home, take pictures with your smartphone of all the damaged items and flooded areas. Taking photos before, during, and after clean-up is important and may be useful for insurance purposes later. The water damage experts and insurance adjusters will take their own photos of your home, but having your own photos to keep for your records is highly recommended.

Step 4: Let the professionals handle it

You may want to start trying to clean up yourself, but mold growth or contaminated water from water damage may be harmful to your health, so it’s advised to leave the cleanup work to the professionals. At Dry Kings, we know how important it is to salvage as much of your personal belongings as we can and mitigate any further damage to your home. As soon as we arrive, we’ll assess the water damage and begin the water damage restoration process. We’ll properly clean, sanitize, and remove salvageable items from your home and help you repair and rebuild anything that was severely water damaged.

Let us help you navigate your flooded home and get you back on track! Contact Dry Kings today and let us help you get your home back in working order.