Water Damage - Emergency Measures to Take Until Professionals Come

In emergency situations, immediate action is often the decisive key between managing the situation, or ending up with complete disasters. When it comes to water disasters, damage and bacteria growth begins within hours of a flood, so you need to take action right away. Calling in a professional is a smart choice, but while you wait for them to come to your rescue, there are emergency measures you can take care of to ensure the wellbeing of your health and safety within your home. When faced with water damage such as flooding that caused water to overflow and enter your property, don't panic, just follow the steps below.

As water enters your house, it flows into small  cracks and creases and penetrates into the building structure, creating trapped pockets of saturation. The damage can be unnoticeable to the human eye and can sometimes only be detected under moisture detection equipment. The first, and the most important thing you need to do, is to mop or blot as much excess water as you can. If you encounter flooding or other water damage in the summer, turning on the AC can help accelerate the drying process. Gather any valuables and other loose items around your house and put them in a dry place.

If there are any removable pieces of floor covering such as rugs, remove them right away to avoid their exposure to moisture. Rugs with colour might even leave stains behind. If you have curtains or drapes that touch the ground, tie them up or remove them altogether to avoid direct contact with the floor. Carefully wipe down all your furniture, especially the wooden pieces and store any valuables in a dry place. The aluminum foil you usually use for barbecuing can also be of use. Place them between furniture legs and wet carpeting for simple water proof functions.

Now that we’ve discussed what you should do when you encounter water damage emergencies, here are a few things you shouldn’t do. You should never, ever, enter a room with standing water before completely turning off the electricity in your house. When removing water, don’t use your regular household vacuum. Just try to do what is doable- if there’s too much water or if it’s too dangerous, leave it to the professionals. Also don't try to dry your books on your own. There’s a specialized drying process that restores the condition of your books, so all you need to do is push them closely together to keep the pages flat.

Always remember, when you encounter a water damage emergency, trust in professionals that can help you. Although it’s important to save your house and the items inside your house, your safety is more important than anything. Use your judgement and only do as much as you can while you await the professionals. If you need more help with prevention strategies, feel free to book an appointment with Matrix Remediation. We  specialize in helping customers get the best solutions for their problems, as well as put systems in place to avoid encountering problems in the future. You can contact us at 1-888-885-8683, or send us an email at info@matrixremediation.com.