For a small amount of water damage such as a slightly overflowed sink or bathtub, sometimes a home owner can clean that up themselves without much issue. When the water damage has been caused by an extreme water leak or busted pipe, then calling in a pro is always the best option. A local plumber can sometimes address the plumbing issue, but they may not be equipped or well trained enough to repair the damage that it can cause. Which of these two options you decide to go with is going to totally depend on the amount of water involved and the severity of the damage incurred.
Is There Still An Active Water Leak?
If you have been able to get the water stopped from coming in yourself, then you should go ahead and call a plumber or water damage professional depending on the amount of water and damage that has occurred. If you have not been able to get the water off, then it might be necessary to get your water company out to shut it off for you as quickly as possible. The more water that comes in, the bigger the mess will be and the more likely it is that you will sustain a lot of water damage.
If you must wait for someone to come and turn the water off and it is still coming in, shutting off your electricity is a good idea. It could short out appliances and cause those to be damaged as well. If you are not able to this safely, then calling your power company to come out and do it for you is the best option. Use the emergency phone number for your water company and your electric company if you have to.
Is There Standing Water Or Wet Flooring, Ceiling, etc?
When you have a large amount of standing water, no matter where in the home it is located, it is going to be a problem. The water must be cleaned up and dried out as quickly as possible in order to avoid warped floors, mold and many other unwanted issues. The average plumber may not have the correct equipment to get out this much water. In the case of standing water, a professional water damage company will definitely be called for.
In the meantime, do whatever you can to start getting the water out if it is safe for you to do so. If sweeping some of the water out a door is an option, you can start doing that. Mopping it up is sometimes an option too. Most water damage companies will come out as quickly as possible because they know time is of the essence to avoid as much damage as possible.
A Water Damage Company Will Direct Bill Your Homeowner's Insurance
Most homeowner insurance policies cover water damage from something inside the home, such as busted pipes or water leaks. Even if the leak may have been happening for a period of time and has gone unnoticed, you should be covered.
Even when there is very little standing water involved with an old slow leak, it could still have already caused mold and other issues that will need to be checked out. Any and all homeowners should be well-versed in home moisture troubleshooting.
A licensed and qualified water damage company will work with your insurance company and you to help solve the issue.. They will be able to provide the insurance company with the specifics of the damage and exactly what will be needed to get your home back in tip-top shape and water damage free.
