Steps to Take If Your House Has Flooded
Emergencies can happen when we least expect them, causing stress, frustration, and sometimes serious damage. This is especially true when it comes to flooding emergencies. Flooding is often caused by damage to a home appliance or fixture. Dishwashers, toilets, water heaters, and washing machines are common culprits of floods. If you notice water starting to leak or its pooling in your home, it is important to know what to do in order to stop the flow. Learn about how to stop flooding from getting worse with help from Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
Turn Off the Water Valve
Turning off the water is the number one priority when flooding is occurring. If possible, we recommend shutting off the main water valve, making it so no water can flow into your home.
Shut Off the Electricity
Water and electricity together are extremely dangerous. We advise turning off all of the circuits in your electric circuit breaker panel to prevent any electrocutions from occurring.
Move Anything Affected By the Water
If there is flooding in an area with a lot of furniture, try your best to move it away from the water so that it doesn’t become completely damaged. Place larger items outside in the sun to dry and be sure to wash things like curtains, rugs, blankets, etc.
Dry As Much As You Can
It’s important to note that mold can grow within 24-48 hours of flooding. It grows where moisture is present. Dry as much as you can on your own before calling a restoration company. They will work diligently to clean up the rest as well as ensure mold doesn’t grow. Fans as well as fresh air can assist in the drying process, so we recommend opening your windows and doors as well as turning on any fans that are near the area that has been flooded. Use towels to absorb the water and once there isn’t a lot of excess liquid, and if the area is affected on tile or hardwood, use a mop to sanitize the area.
Take Pictures of the Flooding
It is possible that you could receive compensation from your insurance company if you file a claim for the flooding. It is important to take photo evidence of the damage incurred and to contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
Call Stephens
Flooding indicates that there is damage, so you must call a plumber as soon as possible to ensure more water damage does not occur. If you’re looking for a trusted plumber, contact the professionals at Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. We understand that plumbing emergencies happen unexpectedly, which is why offer 24 hour emergency plumbing services. We are available to help you 24 hours, 7 days a week with your plumbing issues. You can count on us to get the job done as we have over 32 years of plumbing and HVAC excellence with fully licensed and trained technicians. We will make it our priority to ensure a problem like this never happens again. Contact us today!