1. Determine the Source of the Flood
If your house is flooding due to an incident of bad weather, then there is not very much you can do. You should, however, try to make a note of where the water is coming into your house. Make sure to take photos of the spot where the water is entering the building so you can show your insurance company and the workers who complete the repairs. After you have dealt with the flooding and the water damage, you can then do the work of preventing another flood by repairing the source of the leak. Photo documentation of the problem areas will assist you in your water damage cleaning.
If, however, the flooding is coming from a burst pipe, you can stop the source of the flooding. You have to shut off the flow from the main water line. Oftentimes, this is close to the street. If you cannot find the water main or cannot determine the source of the flood, you should call a professional immediately.
2. Shut off the Electricity
Obviously, water is an excellent conductor of electricity. If your house is flooded with water, you have a very serious electrocution risk on your hands. This is not necessary if the leak is not very severe, but if you find yourself standing in water that nears the height of the outlets, you should turn off the electricity at the main fuse box.
However, if you must stand in water to access the main breaker, do not attempt to shut off the power. Instead, call a professional. This is a very dangerous situation.
3. After the Flood, Take Photos
Once the water levels have stopped rising in your home, you should take extensive photos. Take photographs of everywhere you see water or damage. Make sure to include your appliances and furniture. Electrical appliances like Blu-ray players, video game systems, and televisions might not look as if they are damaged, but you should test to make sure they work.
Test the appliances a second time before you file with your insurance company. Oftentimes, water will move through the circuitry and the appliances will short out after a few hours. Send copies of the photos to your insurance company so you can have the repairs paid for. Water damage cleaning can be very expensive without insurance coverage.
4. Call a Cleaning Service
Water damage cleaning in San Francisco all the way to New York City is crucial to putting your life back together after a flood. Reliable cleaners will work with you to pull your house back into good shape. A flood does not have to ruin your house beyond repair, if you take a few steps to minimize the damage.
