Fighting A Flood And Fixing The Damage It Causes

"Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink..."

Water is an essential in life. For our bodies, for our gardens, for cleaning and so much more besides. And it is the fact that it is so essential that means we have so much of it around. It is the fact that we have so much of it around that makes it a potential danger to us and our homes. Talk about the one you love being the one who hurts you, right?

Sometimes, whether it be due to rain, or due to a fault in our homes, we are at risk of flooding. If you have never experienced even a minor flood, consider yourself lucky. They can do a great deal of damage because water gets everywhere. Once you've removed the excess water, everything is still wet. And it can be the standing water that causes the most damage.

What To Do... Immediately On Discovering A Flood

The first thing to do if you have a flood in your home is to kill the electricity to the room where it has happened. If a major storm has caused the flood, this may not seem immediately necessary, as you may have a power cut. But power can come back on suddenly, and you do not want water getting in the electrics if it can be avoided. Then, you need to bail out as much water as possible. The more there is, the more it will damage.

What To Do... Next

If you have got the bulk of the flood water out of the area, the next thing to do is dry up as much of the area as you can. Place down anything that is absorbent and that you can spare. Standing water can be a health risk, as bacteria love to thrive in water. This can result in rot and in harmful germs. Bear in mind that cholera epidemics thrive because of contaminated water. Although this in itself might not be likely, it demonstrates the bacteria risk posed by stagnant water.

What To Do... When You've Done All You Can

At some point, the specialists will need to be called in. As well as a life-giving force, water can be destructive. You'll need Water Damage Restoration professionals to come in and save what can be saved. They will also remove and/or repair anything that needs it. Water can cause irretrievable damage to wood and paintwork as well as other household items. This is why speed is of the essence - the longer it is there, the more damage it has a chance to do.

As well as knowing who to call to repair, it is also important to make sure you have an up-to-date insurance policy for property damage. It is essential that this covers flood damage both as a result of freak weather and domestic faults. The expense caused by water damage can be extreme, and the last thing you want on top of the trauma of a flood is the financial toll of fixing it.