What is Water Damage?
The term “water damage” describes a number of possible losses caused by water intruding into your home or business. Seeping water damage is progressive, pervasive and will attack any material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, rusting of steel, de-laminating of materials such as plywood, carpeting and many others. The situation worsens especially if emergency response is delayed beyond the first 48 hours.
It is especially important to find any trapped water in the structural cavities in your home or business to prevent further water damage. High-tech moisture readers and infrared cameras are used to detect trapped pockets of saturation. Undetected moisture will continue to cause damage and at a minimum, will cause odors. Greater damage will surface when materials delaminate, shrink, split and further deteriorate to where costly repairs are required.
Water damage restoration companies, such as JW Home Care , have the knowledge, skills and equipment to remove excess water to further dry a home or facility completely back to pre-loss conditions.
What to do if you Detect Water Damage
- Remain calm so your thinking stays clear.
- Turn off the water main or shut off the water source so the leaking/flooding stops.
- If you are unable to stop the leak yourself, call a plumbing professional.
- Do NOT unplug or remove any electrical devices from the wet or submerged areas.
- Turn the breakers off instead.
- To prevent permanent staining of your flooring or carpet, put aluminum foil under the furniture legs that are in contact with wet flooring.
- Lift any curtains or draperies away from wet carpet or water and lift and tack an upholstered furniture skirts.
- Remove anything that might stain wet carpet such as books, fabrics, shoes, potted plants, etc.
Contact your insurance company and report the loss “as soon as reasonably possible.”
What NOT to do if you Detect Water Damage:
- Do not vacuum as electrical shock can result, as well as damage to the vacuum.
- Newspaper ink will transfer to your carpet and result in permanent staining. Do not use
on the wet carpet. - To prevent the damage from spreading to other areas, do not walk on carpet any more
than necessary.
