What to Do When Your Home is Flooded

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

If you don't want your home to look like this, call SERVPRO NoHo for fast flood damage cleanup and restoration service in Los Angeles.

Many homeowners are unhappy when they find out they have water damage in their home. The first step in remediating water damage is to contact SERVPRO of North Hollywood. SERVPRO franchises specialize in water damage restoration, and SERVPRO of North Hollywood has over 15 years' experience in cleaning up and restoring water, fire and mold damage to homes and businesses. In the event of a crawl space, basement or bathroom flood, "SERVPRO NoHo" has the expertise and resources to assist you in drying out your home and getting it back to a livable condition. This post will discuss what you should do if your home is flooded and how to get help from SERVPRO NoHo when you need it.

What’s the first thing you should do if your home is flooded?

First, if it is safe to do so, you should check for the source of the water. If the source is a plumbing leak, you should turn off the main valve and shut off the water. If the source is a rainstorm, there may not be anything you can do to stop the water until the rain stops. But you can cover furniture and valuables with a tarp or waterproof material or move them to a dry place. You can also collect water in buckets and lay down towels to soak up the water and minimize the damage. If possible, you may also want to cut the electricity to the affected area to reduce the risk of a short that can spark a fire.

Do you have flooding insurance?

There are many things to think about when your home suffers water damage from flooding, but one of the first things you’ll need to answer is whether or not your insurance will cover the drying, repair and restoration process. Did you know that flood damage is often not covered by many homeowners’ policies? You often need a separate flooding policy or rider. On the other hand, so long as the damage isn’t a result of your negligence and is considered accidental, your standard homeowner’s insurance policy should cover other types of water damage. But if you’re not sure, a quick call to your insurance provider should be able to answer your question.

P.S. If you’re a renter, we recommend renter’s insurance. Depending on the cause of the damage, your landlord may or may not be liable for replacing your personal property in the event of a flood. While it won’t cover the repairs to any damage the flood causes to the property itself (walls, floors, ceiling etc.), renter’s insurance will help protect you and ensure that your furniture and other possessions can be replaced if necessary.

What should I do if I’m not insured?

Well, frankly, you should be. SERVPRO NoHo highly recommends homeowner’s and/or renter’s coverage for water damage. Indeed, we work directly with insurance to streamline the recovery process. But if you don’t have coverage, you’re at risk of having to pay the entire cost of repairing or replacing your property out of pocket. It’s not uncommon for the water damage restoration process alone to cost upwards of $2,500 depending on the extent of the damage.

That said, if you’re in the middle of a flooding emergency and aren’t sure about your insurance situation, SERVPRO of North Hollywood is here to help you. We’ll come out to your home to inspect, estimate the cost and mitigate the damage. We can work with you on paying the cost to fix the damage and get things back to normal as soon as possible.

When should I call in the professionals?

There are many things that you can do to minimize the water damage and make the clean-up process easier. But many property owners don't realize the severity of the damage and end up waiting too long to call for help. As soon as you are able to stop the flow of water, whether by taking mitigation measures yourself or by calling a local plumber, it’s time to give the professionals of SERVPRO NoHo a call.

Our team is here to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We respond quickly and can be on-site to many areas of Los Angeles to assess the damage and begin mitigation measures in as little as one hour. Simply put, SERVPRO is the most trusted name in the restoration industry. Calling (818) 754-0050 is certainly one of the first and best steps you can take to reduce the amount of potential water and mold damage from a flooding emergency!

P.S. Are you a renter? Before calling us, you need to call your landlord or property manager. Legally, we cannot even enter your apartment without their permission. Save yourself some time and headaches and coordinate things with them first.

What can I do to speed up the drying process?

First and foremost, you can move furniture and other possessions away from the affected area. You can also remove standing water with buckets, sponges, towels and anything else that can soak it up. Last, but not least, it can help to increase the air flow by opening doors, windows and running fans.

Of course, water can still seep into places not visible to the eye. Because even a small amount of moisture can trigger mold growth or weaken and damage wood, stone and other foundational materials, it’s still important to make sure the flooded area is completely dried and disinfected. SERVPRO of North Hollywood has the advanced technology, including moisture detection units, industrial air movers, dehumidifiers and chemical disinfectants to ensure that’s the case.

How can I keep my home from flooding in the first place?

There are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of flooding in your home. Regular and proper maintenance of your plumbing systems, particularly hot water heaters, pipes under sinks, toilets and sewer systems can help prevent clogs, bursts and overflows.

You can also inspect windows, doors and other areas where rainwater can enter your home. Replace worn weather stripping and caulk and close off those points of entry. You should also look up and check your ceiling and walls for bubbles or water spots that can indicate an impending problem, from rainstorms, leaky air conditioners and pipes and other sources of water entering your home.

Make sure to clear out your rain gutters and downspouts. During those infrequent Los Angeles rains, you’ll want to make sure they’re doing their job directing the water away from your crawl space, basement and foundation.

Last, but not least, consider installing a sump pump, or testing it out if you already have one. Sump pumps are a valuable first line of defense against standing water in your basement, garage or crawl space.

Conclusion: Don’t panic and call SERVPRO NoHo!

Like most homeowners, you may think a flooding disaster will never happen to you. Take our advice and prepare now, because most property owners will experience a flood damage emergency at least once in their lifetime. When it does, don’t panic and call SERVPRO of North Hollywood at (818) 754-0050. We’ll make a water damage disaster “Like it never even happened.”