Don’t Slip Under: Dealing with Life After Water Damage

Water damage is an unfortunate problem for any family to incur. When water invades your home, it can destroy furniture, flooring, walls and personal belongings. Moreover, it can make your house unsafe to live-in, driving you out of your shelter. Not only do you need assistance from a reliable water damage renovator, but you need to take the proper steps to move forward with your life. After water damage strikes, here are the first steps in the recovery process.

Assess the Damage

The first step to take after water damage is to see how bad the extent of the damage is. Sometimes, you can get lucky, and only small portions of a wall or flooring need to be pulled up and replaced. However, make sure you stay safe if water damage reaches throughout your home. Depending on how bad the damage is and what it affected, portions of your house could no longer be secure. What you should look out for includes:

Damaged or Stained Ceilings and Walls

Wet Wood

Soggy Carpets

Standing Water

Discolorations

Foul Odors

Turn Off Services

To further complicate issues, your electrical system or gas lines can be compromised if water has gotten into your walls. It’s best to put in a call to your utility service companies and have them come temporarily disconnect your services. You then won’t have to worry about a gas leak or faulty wiring.

Recover What You Can

At this point, if you feel it is safe enough to traverse throughout your house, it’s time to find items you can still salvage, and remove them from harm’s way. Recover valuable items sitting higher up or hanging on walls. If there are pieces of furniture that weren’t touched much by water, you can consider getting them repaired or reupholstered. Also, if something was caught in the damage but isn’t broken, make sure to disinfect it before using it again.

Toss the Rest

Otherwise, items that sat low to the ground and took most of the damage should be thrown out. This includes small pieces of furniture, electronics, wood fixtures and more. Be sure to document everything ruined beyond repair for the sake of your insurance company. Once the damaged rooms are free of debris, work towards restoring them can begin.

Call Your Insurance Provider

If your insurance provider covers you for water or flood damage, it’s time to give them a call. The support they provide can be a lifesaver for you, your home and your family. However, keep in mind that flood coverage and water damage coverage are covered differently by most insurance companies. For your convenience, here’s how you can determine the difference between what is or isn’t “water damage.”

.IS Water Damage if Caused By:

 Rain

 Snow

 Plumbing Issues (i.e., sudden bursts or clogs)

 Fire Extinguishment

 Vandalism

.IS NOT Water Damage if Caused By:

 Floods

 Sewage Backups

 Ongoing Issues (i.e., mold or leaky pipes)

 Get Restoration Help

Once you’ve made the proper first steps and have coverage with your insurance company squared away, it’s time to call the water damage restoration experts of Central Illinois. Kelley Construction Contractors, Inc. is the right company, up to the task of restoring your home.

Kelley Construction Contractors, Inc. has assisted with multiple restoration efforts throughout the greater Peoria area. From water damage and storm damage to fire damage and mold damage, we’ve restored it all! Additionally, we can assist with other extensive construction projects, including room remodeling, basement waterproofing, foundation repairing, exterior renovations and more.

If you need water damage cleanup in Peoria, call Kelley Construction Contractors, Inc. today!