If you suspect that your home may be damaged by water, be sure to stop the damage to the source. Notify your insurance company as soon as possible and thoroughly. While water damage may not seem as dangerous as an earthquake or wildfire, it can pose a serious risk. Even if water damage appears to be contained or minimal, you'll need to thoroughly inspect and repair the area to ensure your safety.
Notify your insurance company as soon as possible and thoroughly document the extent of the damage. Be careful when moving around the building, remember that moving water can carry debris with it. Wear sturdy, protective shoes to avoid stepping on dangerous objects. Also wear a mask in case there are mold spores in the air.
Before a professional water mitigation service can begin the process of eliminating water damage, it will determine which category the damage falls into. Closing the main valve that controls all the water in your home is the best protection against catastrophic water damage. Category three damage, or sewage damage, contains significant amounts of harmful pathogens and toxins. The presence of mold on the ceiling, walls, or baseboards is also a sign that your home is likely suffering from water damage.
Keep in mind that water damage can be more extensive than you can see and seep between walls and under floorboards. If you're not sure what type of water damage your policy covers, talk to an agent before a disaster occurs. A professional company like Unlimited Restoration will take all necessary steps to ensure that your building is safe and sound and free from water damage. If you've noticed water accumulating for a long time in an unvisited corner of your building, it could be as dangerous as water from a wastewater reservoir.
The ranking numbers are in ascending order. Class one damage is the least dangerous, while class four damage is the most serious. Category three sewage represents a serious health and safety hazard, and extensive protective equipment is needed to clean it. Stagnant water can become more destructive as it settles, and professionals will perform more detailed inspections once most of the water has been used up.
In the final stages of repairing water damage, odor control and disinfection help make your building habitable again. Once all the water has been used up, you'll still have to follow a few steps to make your building look like new. After inclement weather, water damage is likely to become widespread and affect several homes, businesses and other buildings. If you see a large amount of standing water on porous materials, you may suffer class four damage to your hands.
Take pictures of the water itself and of any damage you find, both inside and outside the building.
