What To Do Until Help Arrives

3/7/2018 (Permalink)

Many of us do not know the first steps to take in the event of water damage in our homes. SERVPRO has over 40 years of leadership and training in cleanup and restoration services. SERVPRO has put together a few Do’s and Don’ts to help in the event of water damage in your home.

Water Damage from Clean Water

DO:

• Shut off the source of the water as quickly as possible.
• Turn off any circuit breakers for wet areas of the building when access to the breaker box is safe from electrical shock.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping & blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.
• Remove any documents, computers and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.

DON’T:

• Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards are at risk.
• Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches or circuit breakers are exposed to water/
• Leave books, newspapers. Magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors to cause staining.
• Leave oriental rugs or other colored rugs on wet wall-to-wall carpets to cause staining.
• Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove excess water. This could cause electrical shock or damage the vacuum cleaner.
• Use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceilings are wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.