Do’s and Don’ts to help minimize loss

At the outset, there are a few things you should and should not do.

DO:

• Ensure that the water source has been eliminated.
• If safe to do so, turn off circuit breakers supplying electricity to wet areas: unplug and remove any small electrical devices currently located in wet rooms.
• Remove standing water from flat surfaces by sponging and blotting.
• Take up saturated rugs and carpets when hardwood floors are at risk.
• Stay out of rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
• Ventilate wet areas.
• Transport computers to a dry environment, remove cases and blow dry with low pressure air.
• Remove lamps, telephone and decorative items from wet furniture tops.
• Open drawers and cabinet doors for interior drying, but do not force open stuck drawers or doors.
• Place aluminum foil squares, china saucers or wood blocks under furniture legs to avoid carpet staining.
• Hang draperies and pin up furniture skirts to avoid contact with wet floors which prevents water marks.
• Remove books, shoes, paper goods, fabrics, potted plants, or other items that may stain floors coverings.
• Remove and secure breakables, moisture-sensitive, or high-value items.

DO NOT:

• Use any type of home vacuum, even shop vacs, since electrical shock may occur, as well as potential damage to the equipment.
• Place newspaper in the traffic areas, since the ink transfers easily.
• Walk on wet carpet any more than necessary to minimize damage.
• Turn on the heating and air conditioning system if it was flooded.
• Increase or decrease temperature unless instructed by our representative

THE PROBLEM WITH WATER

When water gets out of control in a home or business, its effect can range from a simple nuisance to downright disastrous!

Typically, when you have an uncontrolled water release, it follows the path of least resistance, spreading across surfaces as it travels. Gravity acts upon it as well and, when it finds a low spot or a path to areas lower than the source area, it follows that path downward.

Depending on their porosity, many materials soak up the water. Within minutes or hours, water absorption results in discoloration, swelling, adhesive release, delamination, warping and splitting of building materials and contents. Within a day or two, the effect becomes much worse.

But what you don’t see is the damaging effects of evaporating water - you know water vapor in the air.

As water evaporates, humidity increases. So does something called “vapor pressure”. Vapor pressure is the force that vapors exert on the surrounding environment. Damage caused by water flowing from its releasing source is called “primary damage.” The ongoing damage to ceilings, walls and contents caused by moisture in the air and vapor pressure, is called “secondary damage”.

It is this secondary damage that increases both the size and cost of the loss with each passing hour.

Rapid response by a trained restoration professional is essential!