Very few issues cause more damage to your home than a water emergency. In a short period of time, significant water damage can create a wide range of health and safety issues that require immediate attention. Water can infiltrate every area of your home, damaging personal belongings as well as structural elements such as walls, ceilings and floors. In addition, prolonged exposure to moisture can result in mold growth throughout your home, potentially causing health risks to anyone with allergies or a history of respiratory conditions.
Whether your water emergency is caused by flooding, a burst pipe, an appliance malfunction or some other plumbing issue, it’s critical to act fast in order to minimize the damage. Water damage should always be handled by a professional restoration company to ensure the process is handled correctly and all health and safety issues are eliminated. At FLEET Response, we provide 24/7 emergency response water damage restoration services throughout . Our water damage restoration team will arrive shortly after receiving your call, ready to begin work right away.
Essential Steps to Take During a Home Water Emergency
Your first and most important priority should always be making sure everyone in your family is safe. Avoid entering rooms with standing water if the electricity is still on, as this may create a risk of electric shock. You should also stay out of rooms where ceilings appear to be bulging with water since this creates a significant safety risk if the ceiling collapses. If anyone in your family has suffered a serious injury, request emergency medical attention at once.
Time is of the essence after a home water emergency. The longer you wait to address water damage, the more likely you are to experience more serious issues that will require extensive repairs. Therefore, the first thing you should always do after making sure your family is safe is to contact a water damage restoration company such as FLEET Response.
Our team of licensed and certified water damage restoration technicians have been handling water emergencies in since . We’ll perform all restoration work using a meticulous process that adheres to all industry best practices to ensure the process is handled correctly from start to finish.
While it’s critical to work with a water damage restoration company, there are certain steps you can take while waiting for our team to arrive to help minimize the damage:
- Locate Your Emergency Water Shut-Off Valve – Your emergency shut-off valve is usually located in the basement, crawl space or under your home. If the water emergency is being caused by a plumbing issue, turn this valve off to stop water from continuing to flow into your home.
- Turn on Faucets – Turn on all faucets and flush toilets to drain the remaining water from your pipes and reduce pressure from the burst pipe.
- Document all Damage – Take pictures of all damage prior to doing any cleanup work to provide documentation for your insurance company.
- Contact Your Insurance Company – Contact your insurance company to begin the claims process. In most instances, water emergencies will be covered by insurance. However, it’s important to refer to your policy to determine precisely what types of incidents are covered.
How Can I Prevent Future Home Water Emergencies?
While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of a future water emergency, there are steps you can take to significantly minimize the risk. Staying on top of the following preventive measures can help reduce the likelihood that these problems develop down the road:
- Perform Regular Plumbing Maintenance and Inspection Tasks – Regular inspection and maintenance of your plumbing system is critical to preventing water emergencies. Check for leaks, corrosion or damage in pipes, valves, fittings and appliance hoses. Fix any issues promptly to avoid bigger problems.
- Know the Location of Your Water Shut-Off Valve – In an emergency, shutting off the water supply quickly can minimize damage. Familiarize yourself with the location of the main water shut-off valve and make sure it’s functioning properly. In addition, make sure everyone in your family knows how to turn it off so you can act quickly in an emergency.
- Install Water Detection Devices – Water detection devices can alert you to leaks before they become major problems. For the best possible protection, install a water leak detection system that can automatically shut off the water supply if a leak is detected.
- Upgrade Plumbing and Appliances – Older plumbing systems and appliances are more prone to leaks and failures. Consider replacing old appliances with newer, more efficient models. If your plumbing fixtures are old, consider replacing them before pipes and faucets begin to leak or burst.
- Maintain Caulking – Inspect and reseal caulking around showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilets each year to prevent water seepage.
- Insulate Pipes – Insulate exposed pipes, especially in unheated areas like attics, basements and crawlspaces, to prevent freezing and bursting.
- Install Backflow Prevention Devices – Install backflow prevention devices on outdoor faucets and other potential entry points to stop contaminated water from flowing back into your plumbing system.
- Ensure Proper Drainage Around Your Home’s Foundation – Proper drainage can divert water away from the structure and prevent water from accumulating around your home’s foundation. Perform any landscaping work necessary to ensure your yard slopes away from your house. Keep gutters and downspouts clean to direct water away from your home.
FLEET Response Can Help After a Home Water Emergency
If you’ve sustained water damage in your home, FLEET Response is here to help. We’ve been the leading water damage restoration company in since . Our team provides 24/7 emergency response services and will arrive any time, day or night, ready to address the water damage at your home. We can handle any water emergency, regardless of the scope of damage or the size of your property.
If not addressed correctly in a timely manner, water damage can have a devastating impact on your property. It can threaten the structural integrity of your home, destroy personal property and create a variety of health and safety issues for your family. At FLEET Response, we understand that dealing with water damage can be stressful and overwhelming. We will manage every phase of the process for you to ensure all the work is completed properly. Our team will even coordinate with your insurance company for you to eliminate this potential headache during a stressful time in your life.
When you work with FLEET Response, you’ll have peace of mind that all repairs and reconstruction work is done right the first time, and that your home will be restored to its original condition.
Contact us to schedule an appointment. FLEET Response serves customers in .