The top priority is always safety, so if there's standing water in your home, stay away from it. It could hold an electrical current from power outlets, cords or devices that might be plugged in and under the water. If you can't shut off the power to your house without walking through the water, call us before doing anything.
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| Bad, bad idea. (image courtesy of Telegraph UK) |
After you've verified that it's safe to enter the house, try to quickly determine the origin of the leak. This is very important since you need to find out whether or not the water is a biological hazard (sewage water, or water from beyond the toilet trap). Check the most likely culprits first: Toilets and toilet water supply lines, washing machine water supply hoses, water heaters, and ice maker water supply lines. If you can't determine the origin of the water, put on some rubber gloves before coming into contact with anything wet. Be sure to call a licensed plumber to repair any leaks that are more complicated than a busted water supply hose.
Once you determine the source of the leak, shut off the main water supply to the house. If you don't have an interior main water shut off valve, shut it off at your water meter, most likely located at the front edge of your lawn. You'll need a meter key or a large wrench for that.
Next, relocate any belongings that you're able to move to a dry area. That goes especially for furniture since the finish on wood furniture can permanently stain your carpet when it's wet. If you can't move the furniture, try elevating it off of the carpet with blocks if you have them.
Don't forget your area rugs, too. You might want to move them outdoors and lay them flat since they will likely be saturated with water. Don't remove books from shelves. Instead, pack them tightly together to prevent them from warping due to the possibly high moisture levels in the air.
Now, by this time you've probably already called ServiceMaster by Cornerstone. If not, go ahead and call us. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies like this one. Also, call your insurance agent if the damage appears significant. In the meantime, if you have a wet vac and you can use it without any electrical safety hazards, go ahead and start removing water until we arrive. Doing this might prevent water from spreading to unaffected areas of your home, and it'll speed up the drying process once we arrive.
By remembering these tips when a water disaster occurs, you won't have to feel helpless. Act quickly and you'll be glad you did.
