Flooded Out

3/25/2019 (Permalink)

 What do you do when there is water pouring into your home or business either from your basement  flooding , a  burst pipe in your upstairs bathroom or another cause of water damage to your home or business . Here are some Do`s and Don`ts we give our customers before we arrive.

 DO:

• Shut off the source of water if possible or contact a qualified professional to stop the water source.
• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building, when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.
• Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off of damp floors.
• Hang draperies with a coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors.
• Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

 DON`T:

• Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.
• Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.
• 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 water,possibly causing electrical shock or damage to the vacuum cleaner.
• Use tv`s or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet or enter rooms where the ceilings are sagging from retained water.

 If the water leaking into your home or business is dark water or from a known sewage source the Do`s and Don`ts are a different from non- contaminated water. Below is a list of what to do and what not to do.

DO:

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

DON`T:

• Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
• Turn on HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.
• Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants.
• Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

These are some useful tips for home or business owners to use prior to us here at SERVPRO of White Plains arriving to handle the water intrusion professionally. Call us for your home or business water remediation needs. Our technicians and staff are certified and trained along with years of experience. We are available 24/7/365, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call us here at SERVPRO of White Plains at  914-684-1560 or