Water damage can occur rapidly. Damage caused by water intrusion is one of the top three causes of homeowner’s insurance claims in the U.S. Many items in your home will begin experiencing damage after just a few minutes of exposure to water, and even though you have no way of knowing how quickly this could occur, it is likely to happen within the first few hours after exposure to water.
In Spokane, sudden pipe leaks, excessive rain, melting snow, and malfunctioning appliances create unexpected indoor flooding situations, especially when there is a temporary temperature change.
The time between confirming that there is water damage and when the trained professionals arrive to mitigate the damage is a very key time period for you to take action to minimize damage to your property and for the restoration professionals to maximize your chances of saving as many of your belongings as they feasibly can.
If you are looking for Water Damage Restoration Near Me, then this guide will show you what to do to stabilize your belongings until a certified Water Damage Restoration Company in Spokane can arrive.
Why It Is Important to Act Quickly
Water moves very quickly throughout carpeting and also into porous materials like furniture and drywall. Mold will typically begin to grow within 24-48 hours in moist environments.
The ever-changing weather patterns in Spokane, combined with heating systems inside homes, also accelerate the evaporation of moisture from the surface of an item while entrapment of moisture below the surface continues to occur. Acting quickly will not only reduce the need for extensive Water Damage Restoration services in Spokane but will also save you money at the same time.
Ensure that It is Safe to Move Before You Begin
Before you start to move or handle any of your items, make sure that it is safe to do so. You should not attempt to walk through or near areas with standing water because there may be electrical hazards present as well as structural damage. Before you attempt to salvage any belongings and before you call in the Water Damage Restoration Spokane professionals, you must ensure your safety first.
Turn Off Electricity if Necessary
If any electrical outlets or appliances are submerged in water, try to turn off the electrical supply to those areas if safe to do so.
If you cannot get to your breaker panel because of water, wait for firefighter assistance. The restoration team has specialty training to handle unsafe environments that may result from your water damage repair in Spokane.
Remove Anything from Standing Water
If you are safe to do so, immediately remove items from wet areas so you can minimize the damage as much as possible. The longer your belongings sit in water, the more likely they are to sustain extensive damage.
Removing items quickly reduces the chance of permanent stains, warping, and mold.
Raise Furniture
Put aluminum foil, wooden blocks, or plastic under the legs of furniture to keep them from making contact with wet floors.
Upholstered furniture tends to absorb large amounts of moisture quickly, so raising it will help reduce the transfer of moisture while waiting for Water Damage Restoration Spokane to assist you.
Move Valuables to a Dry Area
Take any electronics, documents, artwork, and sentimental items and move them to a well-ventilated dry area.
Separating wet and dry items will help eliminate cross-contamination and improve the probability of overall success from your Water Damage Repair Spokane efforts.
Prevent Paper Materials from Being Ruined
Paper materials such as photographs, legal documents, and books can disintegrate very quickly when they come into contact with water.
Taking quick action can significantly improve your chances of being able to recover paper documents.
Freeze Wet Paper Documents
If you cannot dry your wet documents quickly, putting the wet documents into sealed plastic bags and freezing them can help slow down the damage process.
Many Water Damage Restoration specialists in Spokane recommend freezing documents to preserve irreplaceable documents.
Drying and Separating Photos
When drying out photos, they should be laid flat on a smooth surface and have ample airflow; stacking photos can ultimately create a permanent bond between them.
Promptly addressing water damage will lead to less long-term damage and lower restoration costs.
Electronics and Appliances Need Protection from Water
Water and electronics don’t work well together. If electronics come into contact with water, even small amounts inside your device, corrosion of internal parts may occur, causing your device to fail. Do not turn on any electronic device that has been exposed to water.
Disconnecting Power from Wet Electronics
If it’s safe to unplug electronics, please do so to remove them from the electrical circuit. Then, gently wipe wet areas of the electronic device with a clean dry cloth.
Leave the evaluation of whether an electronic device is salvageable to Water Damage Repair Spokane industry specialists.
Reducing Moisture Inside While Waiting for Help
While you wait for professional assistance to help you restore damaged items, lowering the humidity in your home will further safeguard your belongings.
Due to cold weather conditions, many homes within Spokane hold moisture indoors throughout the winter months.
Using Fans and Dehumidifiers
Positioning fans outward will help remove moisture from wet areas by circulating air over them. Dehumidifiers will help remove excess moisture from the air.
After Water Damage Restoration Spokane teams perform their jobs, they will use industrial-sized drying equipment to remove all moisture from the affected areas.
Increase Air Flow Through Open Windows When Possible
Opening windows during dry weather will help dry your property faster by allowing fresh air to enter; however, you should not open windows when humid conditions exist, such as rainy or snowy weather, as this will introduce more humidity.
Protect Your Upholstery/Soft Goods from Water Damage
Because upholstered furniture, carpets, rugs, and curtains absorb water quickly, they can create mold if left for an extended period and become permanently damaged.
Acting quickly to dry these items will reduce the potential for further permanent damage.
Removing Wet Area Rugs & Carpets
As soon as possible, remove your area rugs unless they are too wet to safely remove. Removing the carpet before the water has a chance to be absorbed into the subfloor will help prevent further damage.
Most Water Damage Repair Spokane companies have the ability to extract wet carpeting and dry out moisture-related structural materials.
Remove Wet Clothing and Linens
All clothing and linens should be removed from wet areas and laundered as soon as possible.
Fast laundering lowers the chances of both staining and the growth of microorganisms.
Preventing Mold from Growing
Mold can start to grow within 24 hours in a humid environment.
Taking early preventative measures reduces your risk of exposure to health problems or causing structural damage.
Do Not Seal Wet Items In Containers
Putting wet property in a sealed container will trap moisture and promote the growth of mold.
Keep items open to the air to allow them to dry until the Water Damage Restoration Spokane specialists can evaluate them.
Be Sure To Record Damaged Items
Prior to throwing away or moving any of your property, make a complete list of everything you will be discarding and/or moving for the purpose of filing an insurance claim.
A well-documented listing of your damaged property can assist in getting paid for your Water Damage Repair Spokane services.
Be Sure To Take Photos & Video
Be sure to capture high-quality, detailed images of the affected area and damaged property from multiple angles.
All insurance carriers require a sufficient amount of photographic evidence for approval of your claim.
Make An Inventory List Of Your Damaged Property
Record the items that you have lost as a result of the water damage, along with their estimated value or purchase date (if available).
A complete record of your damaged assets will make processing your claim much easier.
Things To Avoid Doing While Waiting For Help
Common mistakes identified during the preparation stage may result in further damage and greater safety risks.
Avoid making any of the mistakes identified below that could hinder the restoration process.
Do Not Use Household Heat Sources Like Hair Dryers And Space Heaters
Using household heat sources such as hair dryers or space heaters to dry the area may result in uneven drying, causing warping and/or cracking.
Water Damage Restoration Spokane professionals use controlled drying procedures to eliminate the possibility of secondary damage.
Do Not Take Out Structural Elements
When it comes to removing your wall or floor coverings, do not pull them out without the assistance of a qualified professional.
Removal can lead to increased repair costs and additional complexity for your Water Damage Repair Spokane process.
What Happens When Restoration Experts Arrive
The first step taken by the professionals when they arrive is to properly evaluate all of the affected items and materials in your home.
They will utilize moisture detection instruments to locate hidden moisture and create a plan of action for restoring the affected items and materials.
By working with an experienced provider of Water Damage Restoration Spokane, you can be confident that your belongings will be assessed to determine whether they need to be cleaned, dried, or replaced using procedures that are recognized throughout the industry as best practices.
Common Questions About Water Damage Restoration
- After experiencing water damage, how quickly can I move my belongings?
The sooner you can relocate your belongings, as long as it is safe to do so, the better off you will be. This will help limit permanent damage.
- Can I save my wet furniture?
Yes, but you must have it taken care of early and professionally dried.
- Should I throw out wet carpeting?
Not automatically. Depending on how the carpet was contaminated, it may be possible to restore it using professional extraction methods.
- How can I avoid having mold grow on my belongings?
Increasing airflow, lowering humidity, and calling a Water Damage Restoration Spokane professional as soon as possible will help.
- Can I clean the items myself?
A limited amount of cleaning may be possible, but anything requiring deep cleaning will need to be evaluated and completed by a professional.
Final Thoughts: Keep What is Most Important to You
Finding yourself in a position of having suffered water damage can be difficult. With the potential damage to your personal property, waiting for the restorers to arrive only adds to the stress of the event. Taking proactive action while you wait will greatly decrease your loss. By elevating your furniture, freezing your documents, keeping the humidity down, and documenting your damages, you can minimize your losses.
Whether it’s flooding or leaking, you should always look for immediate help from a certified provider of Water Damage Repair Spokane so that they can properly and completely dry your home and take care of your belongings in the proper way. When you call someone for help quickly, you are not only protecting your property but also your peace of mind.
Brothers Restoration provides quality Water Damage Restoration Spokane services for both residential and commercial properties. As they have the best equipment available (extraction, drying, and moisture assessment), they will work to restore structures and protect personal property. Families and businesses throughout Spokane can depend on Brothers Restoration to respond to water damage caused by burst pipes, flooding, and leaks.
