The safety and security of a home or business premises can become compromised if it has experienced a recent flood or excessive water damage. If water-damaged contents and structures are not attended to as quickly as possible, potential health risks can develop. Professional water damage restoration companies can help to ensure affected areas are dried out quickly, effectively and correctly. They have the necessary expertise to reduce damp and mould and prevent long-term water damage to your home.
Here are a few steps to help you deal with the immediate aftermath of a water disaster such as a flood, storm or water leak.
Get in touch with your Insurance Company.
Contact your insurance adjuster immediately if your insurance covers water damage and flood insurance. Take photos of all the damage for use as proof and make an inventory of all damaged materials to recover the loss. Ensure the insurance adjuster has your correct contact details where you can be reached. Check the proof of loss statement that the adjuster generates once they assess the water damage to the place. Keep your copy at hand for further followup.
Ensure you, your family and valuable possessions are safe.
After any water damage, it is important to prioritise your safety and that of your loved ones. Mould growth may be responsible for allergic reactions and other health problems. Mould can begin to grow within the first 24 to 48 hours after the water disaster. Being a liquid, water has the potential to get everywhere and can affect anything it comes in contact with.
Check on all important items like valuables, photos, documents, furniture and appliances. Excessive water can cause clothing, wallpaper, upholstery, drapery, carpets and rugs to be ruined. Colour bleeding or transfer can occur in some fabrics. Wooden furniture items can start staining as well as splitting or warping. Rusting metal and corroding electronic components is also a result of water damage.
It is best to remove anything that is wet or affected by mould.
Also Read: Health Effects of Long-Term Mould Exposure
Get an okay that it’s safe to return to your property.
In case of a water leak, the first thing to do to stop it from getting worse is to switch off the water supply. You should also switch off the power and gas supply until the situation is resolved.
Always check with the emergency services before returning to your property. Wear gloves, a face mask and sturdy footwear when re-entering and cleaning your home.
Begin cleanup, salvage, and drying as soon as possible.
Once the source of the water leak has been identified and taken care of, it’s time to begin the drying out and water damage restoration process.
Open all windows to let the humidity out. Hire a dehumidifier to draw the moisture out of the room if affected by significant floods. When using a dehumidifier, ensure your windows are closed before starting it up.
When items are not salvaged, it’s best to have them removed and discarded. The water damage restoration company should be able to perform a thorough inspection. They can identify those materials and items that can be salvaged and restored to their pre-loss condition.
Bio-Cleanse Pty Ltd. can help with water damage restoration to mitigate losses.
Have you suffered a flood, storm, water leak, or severe water damage in your property? Any level of water damage in a home or property can be devastating. Water damage often involves expensive and time-consuming clean-up and water damage repair. Leave it to the experts in the field. Contact Bio-Cleanse Pty Ltd. today to help you get your home and life back to normal again.
We are available 24/7 and can be on scene quickly. Our teams of professionals use the latest equipment, technology and techniques in the industry. We are able to remove moisture and mould. With our fast and efficient drying processes, we can prevent irreversible damage to the home’s contents and structure.
Our areas of operation are Goulburn, Canberra, Batemans Bay and surrounding areas of NSW. Reach us on 0409037634 or email us at bryan@biositecleanup.com.au.