What to do if Your Home or Business Floods
What to do if Your Home or Business Floods
Naturally, if you walk into a room in your home or business and see 2-3 inches of water building up on the floor you will be frantic. There are several paths your thoughts could be jumping to from how do I stop the water to what can I save to who do I call to fix this? Regardless of what caused the flood, its best to get it repaired and professionally dried right away to prevent mold and mildew from growing and further water damage to your property and possessions.
Your first action should be to cut off power and water, even if the water is flowing into other rooms. Do not unplug wet appliances or electronics before cutting power to the flooded area, it is unsafe. If you cannot access the circuit breaker, call an electrician. If water is coming out from an appliance such as a water heater or sink, then the water supply needs to be shut off as soon as possible. If you do not know where the shut off valves are, then contact a plumber. Before stepping foot in the water, make sure your body and hands are covered. Even if the water looks clear, it may be contaminated.
If the flooded area is safe to enter, you can begin to remove any furniture and other furnishings that are in the area, so they are not further water damaged. Surface dry the items and place them in a well-ventilated area to continue drying and prevent mold or mildew. If the source of the flooding is contaminated water, from a toilet backing up or visibly dirty water, wear gloves and move the items out of the affected area. To extract the standing water from the room and any carpet, call your local, family owned fire and water damage company, Dry Kings Restoration.
Dry Kings can have technicians on site within an hour to remove standing water and extract water from carpets. Using our moisture meters and other equipment, we will determine how wet the area is and begin placing fans and dehumidifiers to begin drying it, carpet and, if necessary, structure. We will also clean and sanitize the affected area with antimicrobial cleaner to ensure mold, mildew and other fungi do not grow.
While our technicians are extracting the water, contact your homeowner’s, renter’s or business insurance to begin the claims process and learn about your coverages, if you do not already know them. Dry Kings is happy to provide you with pictures, moisture readings and other documentation to facilitate a smooth claims process. We are dedicated to providing you the highest level of care and minimizing this disruption in your life. Dry Kings has decades of experience remediating water damage in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma and other Bay Area counties. If you have questions regarding a recent water damage, contact us today at (844) 379 – KING.