Flooding and water damage can be devastating to your home, your belongings, and your pocketbook. Following proper water restoration protocol can mean the difference between spending as little money as possible cleaning up the mess and making the water damage issues in your home even worse. Avoid these common mistakes homeowners make while cleaning up after a flood or water damage.

Putting Off Eliminating Standing Water and Cleaning Up the Mess

The floodwaters are receding and the levels in your home are slowing going down. The damage is done, and it won't matter if you put off cleaning up the mess a few days, right? Unfortunately, a few hours or days can mean the difference between being able to salvage some of your home and belongings and those items and structures being completely destroyed.

Begin the process of cleaning up after a flood as quickly as possible after the event, even if that means contacting a water damage remediation and restoration service at night or on the weekend. Mold begins to form within a matter of hours and will spread quickly to areas and items that were not damaged by water.

Waiting to Contact Their Insurance Provider

After you contact a water restoration company, it is critical to contact your homeowner's insurance provider. An insurance adjuster will be sent to your home to survey the damage and determine what is covered, how much damage there is, and how much money you will need to restore your home.

Don't begin the water remediation, clean-up, and repairs before you contact the insurance adjuster. Instead, take photos of the damage, paying special attention to hidden damage the adjuster might miss.

Trying to Make Repairs or Restoration on Their Own

Finally, no matter how large or small the flood or water damage, never try to eliminate standing water, clean up mold, or remove damaged items from your home without the assistance of professionals. Even a few inches of standing water in your basement can cause serious damage.

If the standing water is caused by a sewer backup, it is especially important that you not attempt to clean up the mess on your own. Specialized equipment and knowledge are necessary to safely clean up sewage, which is teeming with bacteria that can be very harmful to your health.

From trying to eliminate standing water on your own to waiting too long to call your insurance provider, there are several mistakes homeowners should avoid after a flood.

Learn more, contact a water damage restoration company.

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