Water Damage Emergency Tips
At AAA Contracting & Water Damage, we prioritize your safety and effective response in the event of water damage. Here’s what you can do safely before our team arrives:
Immediate Safety Precautions:
- Assess Safety: Ensure it is safe to stay in your home. Be cautious of electrical hazards and potential “slip and fall” risks which are one of the biggest concerns.
- Handle with Care: Remember, wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful when lifting items! Only engage in activities that are safe and do not require heavy lifting.
Emergency Contact:
Proactive Steps to Minimize Damage After Flooding:
- Remove Excess Water: Use mops or towels to clean up as much water as possible without using a household vacuum, which is unsafe for this purpose.
- Protect Your Furnishings: Carefully wipe down wood furniture and place blocks underneath to prevent water absorption. Use aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpets.
- Enhance Drying: If it’s summertime, turn on the air conditioning to help dry out the area faster.
- Secure Loose Items and Valuables: Remove any colored rugs from wet carpeting, move art objects to a safe, dry area, and gather loose items from floors to prevent further damage.
What Not to Do After Flooding:
- Don’t leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.
- Don’t leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors.
- Don’t use your household vacuum to remove water.
- Don’t use television or other household appliances.
- Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures, or lights if the ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.
Following these guidelines will help mitigate the damage and ensure your environment is as safe as possible until our professional help arrives.