A water damage restoration company may be the only avenue left after a severe flood or water damage is dealt to your home or business. Water damage can be critical to a home or business. Even the slightest leak can lead to severe damage if left unchecked and unfixed.
Water damage always poses a serious threat to any home or business. It’s a serious concern that costs billions in damage every year. It is estimated that one in fifty homeowners will experience water damage and file a claim every year. Water damage can truly happen to anyone at any time. Even ice storms pose a risk to one’s home or business.
United Water Restoration, a water damage restoration company, understands that this can be a difficult task for homes to business owners to navigate. We would like to help simplify the process to give you a better understanding on how to navigate these trying times.
What Does Water Damage Look Like?
While most people think of flood damage as the only severe water damage, even small leaks can pose big problems. There are several early signs of water damage that one should take note of immediately upon recognizing it. Thing such as the following:
Damp Floor – A wet or damp floor could be a sign of possible water damage. It only takes a little water to make an issue serious.
Cracking, Flaking, Bubbling Ceilings – Damage to your ceiling is one surefire way to see if there is a leak. This leak could possibly be coming from your home’s roof or its attic. Water damage can cause a ceiling to warp, bubble, crack, or begin flaking off. It’s an important sign to recognize quickly. The longer the water damage exists the more damage may be done to your ceiling and home or business.
Drastic Increase in Utility Bills – Not all water damage makes itself immediately known, sometimes it can show itself through your bills. A leaky pipe can cause damage to the foundation of your home or business. This type of damage can also keep a home or business owner oblivious to the damage.
Damp or Musty Smell – Water damage may hide itself from plain view but it can be difficult to hide the smell of it. If you smell a damp or musty scent in your home or business, this is a telltale sign of hidden water damage.
If you suspect water damage, it’s recommended that you begin the process of repair. You should immediately begin looking for a water damage restoration company.
What Should You Do?
While we at United Water Restoration Group prides itself on our team’s response time. While a water damage restoration company can do a bulk of the work, there are a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to reacting to water damage.
Before professional help arrives you should try to do the following to prevent further damage:
Clean Up Excess Water – Cleaning up excess water via mopping or towels is a great step in helping a professional water damage restoration company. Though you may not be able to clean up all the excess water, any help is appreciated.
Remove Wet Items – Though part of a water damage restoration company’s process will be clearing the room, you can start this process. It is recommended to clear the room to prevent further damage from these items. Removing bulky items like furniture could also show hidden damage as well. We understand that certain bulky items may pose as a challenge to move. If this is the case, we highly recommend placing aluminum foil or wooden blocks between the furniture and wet carpet.
Turn the AC On – Turning your AC on and increasing its power can help dry the water before professionals arrive on site.
These few tips, while seemingly minor, can help a water damage restoration company tremendously and help prevent further damage. Just as there are things you should do, though, there are things you should avoid. Here are a few things you should avoid doing after noticing water damage:
Let Things Sit – If you’re seeing water damage your initial thought may be to wait for the professionals. While this thought is logical, it isn’t always the best. You should remove any and all wet items from the room to help ensure they are not further damaged.
Using Your Vacuum – While a water damage restoration company has specialized vacuums that can clear a room of water, your vacuum is built differently. It is common for people to try to clear water using a household vacuum. However, unlike our vacuums, yours likely has nowhere to store fluids. Attempting to drain a room yourself with a vacuum will likely cause water to seep into the electrical components, ruining it.
Avoid the Problem – A lot of home and business owners would prefer to ignore the problem rather than dealing with it. The longer water is allowed to pull and seep into the fabric of your home, the more damage it causes. A water damage restoration company is your best line of defense and offense when it comes to this situation. United Water Restoration’s 24-hour hotline is here to assist you whenever you spot water damage. All you need to do is call (800) 430-5838 and within minutes you will be contacted by one of our professional, certified technicians. Depending on the time of night and activity in your area, a technician can be on-site at your home or business within a few hours.
United Water Restoration Group is a water damage restoration company with offices located all around the United States. If you’re experiencing water damage of any kind, now is the time to act! To find out if you have a United Water Restoration office near you, input your zip code here and we will find the offices closest to your vicinity.
We provide services in Ormond Beach, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, Daytona Beach, Florida, Orlando, Florida, Tampa, Florida, Melbourne, Florida, and many other locations around Florida!