How to Handle Water Damage in Your Akron Home?

Water Damage is Bad News.

There’s nothing worse than an expensive, smelly, dangerous water damage cleanup in Akron home that you can’t predict in advance. Because we can’t predict flooding very well, many people get caught unprepared and not sure how to handle the emergency. The first step to fixing water damage from flooding is to call help immediately. Time is of the essence, especially when each minute that your home is exposed to water increases restoration costs and risk of long-term damage. The professionals at Certified Professional Restoration (C.P.R.) in Akron can help with water damage cleanup quickly and expertly. A prompt call will ensure that they are on their way and that you waste no time.

In the meantime, here are a few things you can do:

Remember: Safety First. Don’t enter areas if you have reservations about how structurally sound they may be. If the ceilings are sagging, do not enter the building. In addition, remember to turn off water and electricity to the affected areas before examining. Be sure not to come into contact with contaminated water; which can be anything from a sewage or laundry pipe having burst in your home, to ground water from a flood caused by rain. In addition, if the water has been in your home for more than 24 hours, wear a mask to avoid breathing in mold spores and other potentially harmful bacteria. Things will likely be more slippery than you are used to; use caution to prevent tripping or slipping.

Keep your wits about you. Taking simple steps early on can vastly change your flood experience from a catastrophe to an unfortunate inconvenience. Many people forget to take such steps in the urgency and stress of the overall situation. Think about any valuables or family keepsakes you may have in the affected areas, and remove them to stow them away in a safe, dry place. Try to assess where the water is coming from, and do what you can to stop flow or catch it before it seeps into your walls or carpet.

Do what you can to remove standing water. When you call in to a professional company, ask what they would recommend you do to start removing water. Depending on how much water is in your home, how far away help is, and safety factors, they may advise you to use a wet-dry vacuum, use some buckets, or towel dry certain areas. If the flooding is severe, you may be encouraged to wait for help to arrive.

Protect your furniture where possible. Remove areas rugs and items from the floor as these can stain the carpet or floor underneath. In addition, it is helpful to put a dry layer between the legs of furniture and the wet floor. This will protect both the furniture and the carpet. Even furniture with metal legs can leave rust stains on the carpet. A piece of plywood or some foil works great. 

Flooding is never convenient, but these simple steps, along with help from C.P.R, will help you to handle it perfectly!