First Steps To Take After Discovering Water Damage

Learn what to do after you discover water damage in your home

Discovering water damage in your home can be overwhelming and you may not even know where to start when dealing with it.

In this post, we’ll discuss some of the things you should do after discovering water damage in your home.

1). Protect yourself and your family and loved ones

Before anything else, you want to be sure that everyone at your home is safe. If that isn’t the case, it may be time to leave or call for help.

2). Figure out where the water is coming from and, if possible, stop it

When there is flooding in your home, one of the first things to do is identify where the water is coming from. This likely is obvious (like a storm or burst pipe) but can be tricky (like water pooling in a corner or a wet spot on the floor). If you can’t figure out where the water is coming from,

Once you know what is happening, there may be steps you can take to alleviate the problem. If the issue is a burst pipe or water line, perhaps running to a dishwasher, refrigerator, or washing machine, you can turn the water off to stop the flooding. If the flooding isn’t too bad, you may be able to clean up the water yourself.

If the flooding is going to be really deep and come in contact with electronics, then it is time to turn off the power. Water and electricity do not mix and you don’t want anyone to get electrocuted.

If the flooding is from outside due to a storm and is only going to get worse, you might consider stacking sandbags or digging a trench to redirect the water.

3). Call your insurance company and document the home water damage

Before you start the cleanup process (which should be started in the first 24-48 hours), you’ll want to call your insurance company. They’ll send an adjuster to survey the water damage to your home.

You’ll also want to document the residential water damage as much as you can, including before flooding, during a flood, and afterwards. This can be used when you make your insurance claim and helps prove what was damaged. You’ll want to list every item that was damaged, even if it was only $5, as it all adds up.

4). Start the process of water damage repair or flood damage repair immediately

You don’t want to have water sitting in your house for long as standing water or soaked items can contain bacteria and will turn into mold, both of which are extremely harmful to people and animals. You may need to remove and replace flooring and drywall to make sure the water damage is contained.

Ideally, you’d work with a flood restoration company like Mighty Dry to restore water damage. These companies will have the expertise to know which items need to be replaced and the best way to mitigate water damage.

If you’re going it alone, the Texas department of insurance has this advice:

“It’s important to stop any type of water flow or leak as soon as possible. Remove pools of water and start drying the area to prevent additional damage. Move wet items to a dry room or area with lots of fresh air. Pull up wet carpeting and rugs as soon as possible. If you move items outside, put them in a secure area to protect them from theft. If you can’t remove the water and dry the area quickly, consider using a service that specializes in cleaning up after water damage.”

Mighty Dry: Residential water damage restoration

If you are dealing with water damage to your house and need water damage help, the team at Mighty Dry is standing by. Give us a call today at (951) 382-5341 to get started today!