What To Do In The Case Of Water Damage

By Author: Lisa Sadlee
Total Articles: 5
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In the Chicago area, water damage is a very real concern because of the many rivers and the close proximity of Lake Michigan. Many homes and businesses sit right in the middle of flood zones, so it is important to know what to do if you experience water damage. Follow this eight step process to ensure that your water damage is handled efficiently and effectively:

1. Personal safety is your number one concern. With that being said, none of the following steps should occur if it will present a risk to the personal safety of anyone. Once the danger has past, then it is time to move onto step number two.
2. Turn off the electricity whenever you are dealing with interior water damage, especially if you have rooms with standing water in them. You should never walk around in standing water that’s in a room with electrical power. As soon as you arrive and start to clean up, just turn off the power to be safe.
3. Use a mop and a broom to get rid of as much of the water as you possibly can. Avoid using a regular vacuum cleaner because it is not made for this much water. In some cases a Shop-vacuum might do ...
... the trick, although a broom and mop are always much safer when you’re trying to clear out water. This will help clear the way for the water damage specialists to get in there. It could also save you a little bit of money on the remediation process.
4. Wipe everything down and sit all your furniture up on blocks, removing it completely from the space if possible. Putting your furniture on blocks will help even the base of the pieces to dry. Also don’t forget to open all drawers and doors on the furniture so that the inside of it will dry out as well. Removing it from the area will keep the water remediation company from having to do it, possibly saving you money as well.
5. Get rid of anything that’s wet and that can be removed, like drapes, rugs, or carpets or mats that are loose. If it’s wet, it probably needs to go and potentially be tossed out as well.
6. Take any wet books that might be in there and lay them out flat to dry. It is best to remove them from the area to do this because it will make it easier for the water damage restoration company to get in there and do what they need to do.
7. Avoid using any kind of electrical appliances in the area that is wet. This may seem like a very simple tip, but we are so used to our electronics these days that it can be easy to forget how dangerous it is to use electronic devices in areas that are wet.
8. Call in a professional water damage restoration expert. They will make sure that your space gets back to normal as quickly as possible, and they know how to handle more difficult aspects of water damage, like mold remediation and mildew removal.
The waters are rising in the Chicago area, so be prepared for the worst by calling ServiceMaster Zaba Chicago. Here’s why ServiceMaster should be your first call as soon as the immediate danger to personal safety is past:

• We offer 24 hour emergency restoration service.
• We can help you get rid of mold.
• We will help with fire restoration and recovery in addition to the water damage that occurred as a result of the fire.
• We can even handle crime scene or vandalism cleanup.

Let ServiceMaster help you handle all of your water damage restoration needs.