The First 24 Hours After Water Damage: What to Do (and What NOT to Do)

When you’re faced with a water damage emergency, taking swift action is crucial to prevent your home from developing the most severe problems, such as structural issues or mold spread. However, that doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind; if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, you can make certain issues several times worse, as well as jeopardize your safety in the process. Here, we take you through some of our most helpful water restoration tips for when the worst happens, including what to avoid…

A pretty straightforward one to start off with! Particularly in the wake of a storm or a flood, dangers can be hidden just about anywhere, so the only thing you have to worry about to begin with is the wellbeing of you and your family. Be vigilant as you walk around your property, stay clear of standing water and be wary of bringing your bare skin into contact with anything.

While it can be tempting to head straight for a water pump or a wet/dry vacuum to start tackling flooded areas immediately, the truth is that you should exercise extreme caution around all types of electricals until you’re sure your property is safe. When water damage is obvious, try and shut down the power supply to the affected parts of your house.

Whether it’s coming from the roof, a window or a pipe, being able to swiftly identify the source of a water leak can make an enormous difference to your chances of keeping the subsequent restoration job as manageable as possible. You’ll thank yourself for having things like tarp and duct tape to hand, though if you think you’re dealing with a problem that’s purely internal, you can try shutting off your main water valve.

It’s a grim thought but the water that enters your home can contain all sorts of harmful bacteria, especially if it’s the result of a broken sewer pipe nearby. While you’ll obviously have a strong urge to rid your property of such stuff straight away, we highly recommend you avoid going anywhere near it and leave such a job to a professional instead – in such instances, only a forensic clean-up will do.

When it comes to the looming insurance claim, having a visual record of all that’s fallen victim to water damage will speed the process up significantly. Take clear photos and videos of each affected area before you go doing any fixes. And if you can source images of what those areas looked like before the event, it’ll help even more. You should also keep receipts from any repair-related purchases you make inside the first 24 hours.

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to encounter standing water or something similarly severe, like a ceiling caving in, it’s going to be hard to direct your attention anywhere else. However, the reality is that such things might just be scratching the surface when it comes to the extent of the water damage inside your home. Even if you appear to have come through relatively unscathed, you should pay close attention to any subtle changes to your walls or floors while also listening out for anything that sounds amiss, like a suspicious dripping noise hidden from view.

Your initial call to your insurance provider should take place long before the first 24 hours are up; the longer you leave it, the more complicated things are likely to get and – remember – you’re also running the risk of the water damage escalating in the meantime, which your company probably aren’t going to take too fondly to. Flood damage is often associated with a separate policy, so ascertain what’s covered and provide as much detail about your situation as possible.

Just because your armchair is soaked, it doesn’t mean you should try and shift it outside and leave it for the garbage collectors. As we’ll come back to in a moment, there’s every chance that your big-ticket items can be salvaged. The same applies to anything sentimental, and while it’s unfeasible to account for every last one of your belongings in a bad case of water damage, try not to act too hastily as you come to terms with the initial shock.

There’s only so much you can do on your own, and as you face up to the trauma of water damage affecting your home, the scale of the task can feel hugely intimidating. That’s where the likes of X-Cel Restoration come in. Operating a 24/7 service, we’ll swiftly help you regain a bit of control, clarifying exactly where the problems lie and how best to go about restoring your home to its pre-damaged condition – as well as the items within it. We also work directly with your insurance company to lessen your load even further.

Recognizing you’re dealing with water damage, whether it’s from an adverse weather event or an unexpected plumbing problem, can quickly feel overwhelming. Getting to the root of the problem and eventually overcoming it is always far more efficient with the aid of a professional. With nearly 35 years of experience behind us, X-Cel Restoration is proud to have helped a huge number of people get back on their feet. When disaster strikes, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.