Emergency Damage Control Tips: Water Damage

At ServiceMaster Clean, we understand that any home emergency is stressful. From our technical expertise to our communication with you, we are dedicated to restoring peace of mind the same way we are dedicated to restoring homes.  

When fire, smoke or water unexpectedly damage your home, the first steps you take could mean the difference between a small cleanup and a more costly and time-consuming restoration.

Knowing when to call in a professional can also save you time in getting your life back to normal and money by preventing further damage to your home. ServiceMaster Clean restoration professionals help return your home to normal, as quickly as possible, while restoring your peace of mind that the job was done right.

What to do when there is water damage:

• Damage from water and bacteria growth can begin within hours. Call for professional help.
  
• Remove as much water as possible by mopping and blotting.
• Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings not permanently attached. Do not attempt to start removing your wall-to-wall carpet.
• Lift draperies off the floor, loop through a coat hanger and place the hanger on the drapery rod.
• Wipe furniture, prop up wet furniture cushions for even drying and place aluminum foil under furniture legs.
• Do not remove books from shelves. Rather pack them tightly to prevent warping of pages until a restoration professional can begin this specialized drying.
• Open drawers, closet and cabinet doors to enhance drying.

What not to do when there is water damage:

• Do not enter a room with standing water until electricity has been turned off.
• Do not use a regular household vacuum to remove water.
• Do not lift tacked-down carpet without professional help.
• Do not use electrical appliances while on wet carpet or flooring.
• Do not disturb visible mold.

Follow these steps to help keep the damage to a minimum and call in the professionals at ServiceMaster by McKenzie Taylor.