Aftermath | Water Damage

1. Immediately contact a plumber, or in cases of windstorm or fire damage, a roofer as listed previously.
2. Immediately wet-vac, mop, or try to soak up the water.
3. In cases of water damaged carpet over hardwood floors, immediately lift or tear out the carpet, depending upon the volume of water damage to the carpet, and attempt to place fans under the carpeting in order to circulate air under the water damaged area of the carpet. In cases where the carpet is completely saturated, tear the carpeting out of your home to protect the hardwood floor from buckling, then place fans on the hardwood floor after trying to dry by wet-vacuuming and/or mopping, in order to cause the water to evaporate. It is advised that you contact a professional cleaning service so that they may try to remove and salvage the carpet by drying and cleaning it, if possible. In cases where carpeting is laid over a plywood floor and/or a concrete floor, try to lift the carpeting and place a fan under same. Immediately “chalk” all furniture items to lift them off the carpeting, by placing a small piece of wood and/or Styrofoam under same, to prohibit furniture staining into the carpeting, as well as damage to the furniture from staying on the wet carpeting.
4. Immediately launder all washable clothing. Dry-clean all dry-cleanable clothing. Separate damaged uncleanable clothing from cleanable clothing. Keep track of the amount of loads of wash that you do. Keep track of the length of time that it takes you to clean up, as the same may be compensable. Consider contacting a professional cleaning service.
5. In case of water damage due to rain or roof leak please see instructions regarding necessary repairs for roofing under Windstorm.
6. With regard to plumbing repairs, have the plumber do the minimum necessary repairs to prohibit any further water damage from occurring. In cases where the break up and tear out of a bathroom floor are necessary, the floor and/or walls should not be re-tiled prior to the insurance company having an opportunity to inspect same.
7. Preserve for the insurance company inspection, if possible, the damaged pipe that caused the leak.
8. Consider renting a generator for short term power outages
9. Protect and preserve all remaining building and person property items, in order that they may be exhibited to the insurance company as they appeared in their state subsequent to the loss. DO NOT THROW ANYTHING AWAY.