When it comes to water damage, the flood is just the beginning of a string of serious water-related problems that can affect the health of the structure, personal property, and the people who reside therein. To ensure that the building is restored properly and safely, it’s always advisable to hire a professional water cleanup company in Olathe, KS, such as Emergency Mitigation Services. Our highly trained technicians bring a variety of skills to each job, including the following:
- Extracting the water
- Locating hidden damage
- Combating humidity
- Preventing the spread of bacteria
- Averting mold growth
- Inhibiting secondary damages
- Preserving belongings
- Mitigating damages to the structure
- Communicating with insurance representatives
When you stop the water leak quickly and begin extraction and cleanup within the first 24-48 hours of the incident, it’s possible to save damaged areas and prevent secondary issues such as mold growth.
Quick response is the key. To that end, here are some Dos and Don’ts for responding to water damage:
Do
- Identify the source of the leak and stop it if possible.
- Ascertain whether the type of water damage. Clean water comes from pipes or other clean sources. Gray water contains mild contaminants and black water is toxic and grossly unsanitary.
- Call your insurance company and follow their instructions.
- Keep careful records.
- Take safety precautions. These include donning necessary PPE and turning off electrical power to the area.
- Remove furniture and other portable belongings. If you can move it, move it. The more stuff you can get out of the way, the easier cleanup will be.
- Elevate larger pieces using nonporous lifts such as foil or foam.
- Exercise caution when using a wet/dry vac to extract water. This is electrical equipment and water and electricity don’t mix. Keep the vac away from standing water and follow manufacturer instructions carefully to avoid damaging the equipment.
- Act fast; time is critical.
For gray or black water damage, do the following:
- Turn of the HVAC system to prevent bacteria from circulating.
- Wear PPE, including waterproof gloves, boots, and waders, as well as goggles and a mask whenever handling contaminated items.
- Wash your hands.
- Dispose of all food, even canned goods, that came in contact with the water.
- Call your doctor if you experience any health effects such as a rash or breathing difficulties.
Don’t
- Allow children or pets to play in the water
- Wade into standing water without first assessing and addressing the possibility of electrical shock or other hazards
- Spend undue time in the space. The more time you spend, the greater the risk of spreading contaminants or causing secondary damages.
- Walk into the area with bare feet.
- Forget to consider hidden water damage. Water goes everywhere, including places you can’t see. You’ll often find water hiding behind drywall, down in floor vents, and soaked into the insulation.
- Attempt to extract and cleanup after a black water event without professional help.
The Biggest DO: Get Help
Again, the best advice following a flood is to engage the services of professional water damage contractors in Olathe, KS, such as Emergency Mitigation Services. If you have a water emergency, call us right away. We have crews ready to be dispatched 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Don’t hesitate; call now.