The Complete Guide to a House Flood

Whether a home flood is caused by heavy rainfall, rushing groundwater, or even an overflowing toilet, there are best practices to implement to prevent further damage.

Floods are one of the most common natural disasters in the US. When disaster strikes, it’s essential to be prepared and in-the-know of flood recovery steps in the case your home is affected.

Where Do I Start?

First, take a deep breath and know that you are prepared to handle the home flood, and professionals are willing to assist you every step of the way.

Put your safety first, and assess the situation before moving forward. If evacuating is necessary, leave the premises as promptly as possible.

It is also important to turn off all electrical sources in the home, even if a widespread power outage has occurred. Ensuring the power is shut off will prevent the dangerous mix of water and electricity upon power restoration. If you cannot reach your fuse box without walking through water, contact an electrician to assist.

Decreasing Water Flow

If the flood is not due to force of nature, find the source of the water flow and cut it off or block it immediately. Turning off the main water valve to the house is the simplest way to prevent the ongoing flow.

If the flood is due to a natural disaster or heavy rainfall, contact local authorities to verify if nearby storm drains are open. This will allow the flood water to drain more quickly.

Calling for Help

Safety is the number one priority in a home flood. Once you and your loved ones are in a safe, dry location, check for injuries and contact 911 immediately if medical attention is needed.

After a home flooding, time is of the essence. Don’t wait to contact flood restoration professionals-AWR is prepared to provide fast, reliable service when you need it most. Call us at (206) 823-2252 or fill out an online contact form and our team will be happy to assist you.

Filing With Insurance

Water damage is stressful enough-and filing a claim can be an additional headache. For this reason, we have cultivated strong working relationships with top insurance providers to provide a seamless direct insurance billing and negotiating process. We help make the claims process as painless as possible for you.

Other companies may send a bill to your insurance company, and a remaining balance bill to your door. AWR’s guarantee is that once your deductible is satisfied, you won’t incur any charges for any work related to the covered portion of the claim, unless disclosed otherwise at time of service. If there is a specific case where we believe coverage is not applicable, we give straight answers.

Starting the Repair Process

Repair options may vary due to the type and intensity of water damage to the home. If your home has small puddles of standing water, you may be able to mop and wet-dry vacuum the affected areas while waiting for cleanup assistance from AWR professionals. We understand the repair process may seem daunting to homeowners, but rest assured that we are here to assist every step of the way.

After standing water has been removed, our professional restoration technicians will assess the condition of your home and begin the structural drying process. Structural drying is an essential step in the home repair process. Our professionals will complete the process through both air movement and dehumidification. We will also assess your hardwood floors and make repairs where possible or replacements in cases where the damage is too great.

No homeowner expects or wishes to experience home flooding, but it is important to contact our restoration team as soon as possible for guidance and to start the repair process in a timely manner.