As soon as you notice the leak, turn off the main water valve. Move and clean clothes and carpets. File your insurance claim as soon as possible. Document any items that have been damaged.
While water leaks can be considered less devastating than damage caused by a fire, even a small water leak on your property can cause significant damage that would be very costly to mitigate. When a water leak gets worse, it can lead to mold, stains, and waterlogged drywall. Therefore, if you are unable to stop a water leak immediately, it is wise to contact professional water damage repair services to prevent further damage. Regardless of whether it's a minor or a major water leak, it's critical to treat any water leak quickly.
Here are some essential tips for cleaning your home after water damage to minimize the risk of personal injury. Our Disaster Doctors water damage repair team in SLC, Utah, will use sophisticated disaster repair machinery to perform various tests and locate the leak. We use a Flir E5 thermal imager to detect leaks in pipes behind walls or floors, or to perform a salt analysis to determine if mold has started to grow. A moisture meter will help determine the extent of the damage caused by mold and identify the source by analyzing moisture maps.
Once the property is completely dry, it's time to start cleaning, disinfecting, and restoring damage. The restoration project depends on the magnitude of the damage caused by the water leak. For example, if it's a small water leak, you might need a simple cleaning and replace wallpapers, or replace expensive flooring and carpentry. In fact, plastering and replacing structural woods, such as floor beams, can be very expensive, so it's important to have the right insurance policy.
Whether it's a leaking pipe or a flooded basement, the top priority is to identify the source and prevent more water from leaking out. In fact, water damage can ruin your home faster than you think. Within the first 24 hours after a leak or flood, mold can form, damage floors, walls and the electrical system, and even structural problems. That's why it's always best to quickly hire a water cleaning professional close to where you live for advice and repair.
If your favorite chair is completely soaked, you may have to say goodbye to porous materials, which are very susceptible to water damage and can form mold. In addition to regularly checking pipes and taking extra precautions when it's cold (a major cause of water leaks in the home), many people choose to invest in a water security system. Common sources of leaks include rusted and corroded pipes, high water pressure, extreme temperatures, broken water connectors, and more. Hardwood floors, for example, deteriorate if any amount of water accumulates and is allowed to sit for about a day, causing the boards to bend and other repair problems.
After replacing any damaged floor, you must reseal it with new sealant (and paint, if applicable) to prevent future water damage. Restoring water damage involves a lot of work, such as drying and replacing floors, drywall and insulation. A water leak in the house can have many possible sources, so identifying where the water is coming from can be difficult. If you let your water suffer damage for too long, your insurance may not cover it and the cost of water damage to your home may be high.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and be honest about the magnitude of the water damage and the original cause. Your gutters protect your home from water damage by removing rainwater from the roof and moving it away from the foundation of the house. Remember that mold appears within 24 hours of water damage, and spores easily spread to parts of the house that aren't affected by water. If the water damage comes from a clogged sewer network or if the water is gray or black, wait for professionals before touching or treating the water in any way, as this is a serious biological hazard.
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