Surviving a water damage event in your home can be tough. Whether the cause is a natural disaster, or simply a broken water pipe, the cleanup process can be time consuming, costly, and potentially dangerous when you try to handle it alone. You should contact a water restoration specialist to help you through any water damage situation. Here are some survival strategies that you can employ after a water damage event has occurred in your home.

Address Damages Immediately

As difficult as it may seem to do, try not to panic. The first and most important step in addressing water damage issues is to get help immediately. Fast action is necessary because water can spread quickly throughout your home and saturate everything in its path. Within an hour of the damage, stains and finishes from furniture can cause permanent staining on floors and carpets. Any important paper materials can become impossible to salvage in a very short time, and their dyes can seep and cause additional staining. If the damage is left unattended for just a few hours, sour odors can arise, drywall can swell and break down, and unprotected metal surfaces can tarnish.

After a couple of days, there is a greater risk for mold and mildew to grow and spread, which can adversely affect people with respiratory issues and allergies. Windows, doors, casings, studs, and wood floors can begin to swell and warp, creating a more costly restoration process. Acting quickly will help minimize any further damages and reduce the potential health risks to you and your family.

What You Can Do Before it Happens

Although most homeowners’ insurance policies cover basic water damage claims up to the purchased limit, prevention is better than dealing with claims issues after the fact. There are ways to protect your home against water damage before it occurs. Here are just a few steps you can take toward preventing damage in the first place.

• Clean Gutters – Though it’s probably one of those jobs you make excuses not to do, a clogged gutter can allow rainwater to spill into your foundation, through your roof, or into your basement or crawl space. Water should flow away from your home to prevent impairment to the foundation. This might seem like a small thing, but the damage can be significant.
• Watch Where You Plant –Keeping soil from plants and trees around your foundation helps with drainage, but you should be careful with those roots! Invasive roots from plants or trees in your yard can grow into sprinklers, pipes, and even septic tanks.
• Know Where Your Water Main Is – Turning off the water main in a water emergency can save you cost if a pipe bursts. You should also repair any leaks in your appliances or pipes as soon as possible.
• Consider Water Detection Devices – Such devices will sound an alarm when it comes into contact with significant water.
• Check Your Sump Pump – Testing your pump can prevent a water disaster, so you should make sure it’s working properly by testing it annually.
• Use a Drain Snake – Instead of chemicals that can eat away at your pipes, use a drain snake for clogged drains. It’s also a bad idea to pour grease down your sink drain, as it can cause a back up that you might not notice until it’s too late.
• Check Your Hot Water Heater – Look for signs of corrosion around your water heater and maintain it regularly by flushing it at six-month intervals.
• Secure Your Roof – For obvious reasons, always make sure your roof is rain ready.

After Water Damage Happens

When you contact Restoration Certified Specialists in Santa Rosa, our trained technicians can evaluate the water damage to help you decide the best course of action for your situation. Using industry-approved water extraction methods and the right drying equipment will help us alleviate further damage. Our quick response will allow us to clear any water that may be trapped in walls, floors, or furniture to alleviate the likelihood of mold growth. For more information about the additional steps we take to make your home comfortable and safe again, click here.

You may not be able to control the damage from a natural disaster or from water used to put out a fire in your home. However, getting the water out after the fact doesn’t have to be a grievous process. Whether the job is big or small, water damage should be promptly attended to when it occurs. Simply call the experts at RCS, and we will provide you with the fast, quality service you need.