What to Do When You Discover Water Damage

2/5/2023 (Permalink)

When your ceiling is leaking water, give SERVPRO a call

Water damage is one of the most common disasters that can happen to a home. It has the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damage, but luckily it's not too difficult to prevent. In this blog, we'll tell you what to do when you discover water damage in your home or business.

Shut Off Water

Once you've noticed a water loss, it is important to shut off the water supply to the affected area. If you have a shutoff valve near the leak, turn it off. If not and you need to shut off the main water supply, do so immediately by shutting off your main water valve.

Don't panic—remaining calm is one of the most important steps toward getting this situation under control!

Shut Off Electricity

If you've found water damage to your home, the next thing to do is shut off the electricity. This is a safety precaution and should be done regardless of whether or not there is visible damage.

If there's no obvious source of flooding (like a pipe burst), turn off the main breaker. If you're not sure where this is located, call an electrician before proceeding any further with repairs.

If there's an electrical fuse box in your house, turn off its circuit breaker(s). Again: if this isn't something that comes naturally or easily to you, please call an electrician before attempting anything on your own!

Call Your Insurance Company

If you have water damage, don't wait until it's too late. Call your insurance company right away and file a claim so that they can start working on getting you your compensation. You will want to make sure that you inform them of all of the damages that have occurred so that they can cover them in full.

Document the Damage

Next, you need to document the damage. Take photos of all affected areas so that they can be included in your claim, this will help reduce any confusion about what happened or how much money you're owed in restitution from your insurance company. Take pictures of everything you can, including:

• The damaged areas of your home or business
• The location and extent of any standing water (if applicable)
• Any damaged furniture or other items that need to be removed from the area immediately

Most restoration companies, such as SERVPRO, will take care of the entire insurance claims process for you.

Seek Professional Help

If you find yourself in a situation of water damage, it's important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Water is one of the most damaging elements that can occur in your home or business, and even small amounts can cause serious issues if not addressed quickly.

If you are like most people, this may be the first time you've encountered a loss of this magnitude. You might feel overwhelmed by all of the steps involved with getting back on track after experiencing a flood or other type of water damage. Don't worry! The professionals will walk you through each step so that everything goes smoothly for you and your property.

If you've ever had a leaky pipe or water damage, then you know how stressful it can be. Whether the issue is in your home or office, there are many things that need to be addressed immediately. You may have experienced water damage before, but hopefully, this article will help you better understand what needs to happen after such an unfortunate event occurs.