Flood Damage: It's Time To Find Some Expert Help

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9605
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Flood damage is more common than you might think. It doesn't just happen to people who live in areas that easily flood, either. Sometimes, it just takes a freak rainstorm to fill your basement up with water. If you don't have flood insurance on your home, you may find that your insurance company isn't much help. No matter what the cause of your wet basement, though, you will need to get an expert in order to prevent further problems later on.

Besides the obvious damage to your home and your belongings, flood damage can also cause structural problems, mold and bacteria growth, and terrible odors. Without professional help, your wet basement could end up costing you much more than you originally thought. An expert water removal and restoration service will take care of the flood damage and your wet basement problem, so you don't have to deal with the other problems later on.

There are a few things that you can do to help minimize the flood damage before the restoration service arrives. First, make sure you don't step into any wet room if the electricity is still on to the room. Don't try to vacuum up the water with ...
... your home vacuum, but if possible, mop up as much water as you can. Place aluminum foil between the furniture legs and the carpet to prevent staining. If your drapes are wet, remove them from the windows and hand on a hanger to dry. For books that are wet, remove them to a dry place and leave them open. If this happened during the summer months, turn the air conditioner on. This helps remove humidity from the air. However, if your air conditioning unit is located in a flooded and wet basement, then you shouldn't turn it on until the water has been removed and the unit checked by a professional.

Flood damage is usually most extensive to floors and walls, so getting the excess water up as quickly as possible is vital to minimizing damage. Do not try to loosen carpet to get at the water underneath it, as it might shrink. You should remove any wet area rugs as soon as possible, too. Move any valuable items, such as artwork to dry location, even if the water is not directly in contact with it. The humidity in the air can damage many items. This also true for photographs, as well.

In closing, flood damage is not something to try to fix by yourself. Even if your insurance doesn't cover water removal and restoration, an expert service is your best hope for minimizing damage. Remember to keep your safety in mind, such as not entering a wet basement that has a sagging ceiling or one that still has electricity to it. Remove your valuables and anything made of fabric, when possible. While you may feel very overwhelmed when a disaster hits, quick action by a professional will help you avoid more expensive damage later on.

Author Bio

FloodDoctorVA provides the expert, professional water removal and restoration services you need when experiencing Flood damage . A wet basement can signal other problems, too, so don't leave anything to chance.