1. Call Your Insurance Company

Your homeowners’ insurance will vary depending on what policies you have. The insurance company will send an adjuster to look at and assess the damage and determine if it is a covered loss.

Document the values of each and every item you can think of and take as many photos as possible before, during, and after cleanup. This will help the adjuster when he or she is able to come to assess the damage.

2. Protecting Yourself, Appliances, and Valuables

The most important step in any major home disaster like flooding and water damage is to make sure you and your family are safe. There are several things you can do to stay safe in your home.

Turn off the power

Water and electricity obviously do not mix. But, if turning off the power requires you to enter or stand in wet areas it is best to leave it alone and call an electrician. Do not reenter a flood-damaged home before turning the electricity off.

Wear Protective Gear

Be sure to wear protective clothing–such as rubber boots and gloves–when you re-enter your home. This will protect you from injuries that can get bacteria-filled water in them.

Protect Your Valuables

You can lift wood furniture off the wet carpet areas and insert small blocks under the feet to prevent staining of the carpet. Likewise, remove any rugs that may be on wet flooring.

You may be forced to leave your home if the flooding is bad enough. Make sure it is also safe when you return to your home to begin dealing with the aftermath. 

3. Start Water Damage Repair Immediately

Before starting the process of water damage removal in a flooded home, be sure to document all of the damage first.  This will help with any future insurance claims you make. 

If possible, water damage restoration should start 24-48 hours after you’ve been cleared to re-enter your home. In many situations, the damage is too extensive for one person or family. Get help from SERVPRO of Kendall County to stay safe and ensure thewater damage removal process is done correctly.

Be aware that you may need to remove flooring, drywall, and insulation to prevent mold and mildew from spreading in your home. Furniture may also need to be dried out, cleaned, or thrown away depending on the level of water damage. Water and moisture can damage hardware floors quickly, so this process should be started as soon as possible.

4. Identifying Mold

Mold can begin growing after the first 24 hours of a flood, and once it has started growing it can be difficult to remove. The quicker you remove items from water and begin drying them, the less likely they are to be lost to mold.

If it gets bad, you’ll often have to completely remove the affected areas. It’s always best to err on the side of caution and have a professional assess the situation.

As soon as you discover water damage in your home, it’s important to take what measures you can to prevent mold. Be careful that you’re not spreading mold spores throughout your home as you’re attempting to dry things out.

Usually, it’s best to have SERVPRO of Kendall County assist with the drying process, significantly lowering the chances of getting mold.

5. Deciding What Needs To Be Restored After Water Damage

The repair of water damage in your home from flooding is typically what takes the longest amount of time. Flooring and sometimes even walls need to be replaced, broken possessions are often in need of repair, etc. If major construction is needed, make sure you hire SERVPRO of Kendall County.

6. When To Move Back Into Your Home

Once you have the go-ahead from your insurance company, SERVPRO of Kendall County, and your local government(in the case of natural disasters), it’s time to move back into your clean, dry, mold-free home!