Water Damage Restoration Protocol Steps

7/21/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO air mover equipment to dry-out a flooded basement in Tallmadge, Ohio.

Water and mold damage can be very destructive to your home or business. The most important thing to remember in case of a flood is to act quickly. First, call your insurance company to see if the damage is covered.  Most insurance agents or adjusters will recommend a reputable and approved restoration company to do the clean-up. Find out if you have a deductible and know what it is. If you do not have insurance the first thing you must do is dry out your basement.

If water is left longer than 48-hours, it can be considered hazardous and the cleanup process can turn into a much bigger expense.

The following clean up steps are the proper protocol:

1. Extract the water and find the source of the problem.
2. Remove any contaminated materials including carpet, drywall, boxes, and anything else that might’ve gotten wet. The level of saturation in the amount of time and materials were exposed to the water will determine if the items are salvageable.
3. Place air-movers and dehumidification equipment throughout the flooded area. Keep them on until the basement and crawl space is thoroughly dry. This may take 3-5 days.
4. Do not replace or remove any of the unsalvageable materials until your insurance adjuster has deemed them unsalvageable. Make sure all your items are free of mold before moving them to a dry area of the home.

If you find mold in your basement or crawlspace or there are signs in your house like a musty smell, you may need to have the air tested. This test should be conducted by a certified inspector and sent to an accredited lab for analysis. Mold in your home could be a major problem most importantly it can cause health problems such as allergies, and respiratory disorders. If after a water event you find elevated amounts of mold in your home, you must get rid of it properly do you ensure the regrowth will not happen.

If you have a water or flood damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of West Akron has emergency services 24 hours a day – 7 days a week! Our crews are highly trained to remove the damaged materials and begin the restoration process using specialized equipment to determine the wet areas, extracting any standing water and placing fans and dehumidifiers to remove all excess moisture to restore your home to “Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO of West Akron your local water restoration and cleanup company at 330-867-5723!