The Do’s and Don’ts When You Have Water Damage in Your Poughkeepsie Home

8/6/2024 (Permalink)

A burst pipe caused significant standing water and damage to this finished basement. SERVPRO partnered with the homeowner to safely restore this home!

If you find yourself dealing with a water damage emergency at your home in Poughkeepsie, many questions run through your mind. Of course, the first question is “Where do I start?” After that and seeing the reality of the situation, it’s common to feel overwhelmed and to want to get everything fixed immediately, but safety is key and there are important things to be aware of:

DO:

-Shut off the water if you can or where the supply line is.

-Turn off circuit breakers where there are wet areas of the home or building, but ONLY when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electric shock.

-Call a licensed plumbing professional to have the repairs done immediately.

-Call your homeowner’s insurance company and file a claim. Doing so quickly will help get remediation coverage determined fast and therefore, help begin the restoration process in a timelier fashion.

-Call SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County as soon as the water is off and you’re safe, (845)831-3600, no matter what time of day. We’re prepped and here to help 24/7, and faster to any size disaster.

-If you can, remove as much excess water as possible with towels and mopping. If you have a wet/dry vac, getting up the extra water helps the process of restoration as well. Don’t worry if you don’t have one, our experienced water damage restoration technicians will take care of everything quickly.

*IF you can’t access the area due to excessive water, do not enter the area and leave the room as it is for safety. Should you find yourself in a flooding situation, more than a foot of water, contact your local fire department to help as soon as possible. Higher amounts of water can affect critical areas like electrical panels, furnaces, oil tanks, etc.

-If you have any paintings, art objects, computers, documents, paperwork, publications and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture, get them to a safe and dry spot quickly. Leaving books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors can cause staining.

Our highly trained and experienced technicians can handle the restoration of these items too. Our “restore vs. replace” methods will help keep the costs down as well to both you and your insurance company. Our goal is to restore your home and belongings rather than you having to replace them. Keep in mind, not all personal items can be dried out or sometimes have had too much damage to them to be of use for you. Your insurance agent or carrier can help break down the specifics for you, and we’ll work with them directly to help make it seamless.

DON'T:

-Your household vacuum cleaner is not built to remove water. That could possibly cause electrical shock or damage to the vacuum cleaner.

-Anything electrical is going to be a hazard right now. Don’t use TV's or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.

-If you notice water collecting a lighting fixture, leave it alone, there could be much more damage above that and risk the ceiling falling.

-If the ceiling is wet or if water has entered rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water, don’t turn on your ceiling fan.

Safety is first and foremost when it comes to water damage in your home. Following these DO & DON'Ts can help reduce damage and increase the chances of a successful restoration. These emergency tips will assist you in taking the proper action until the SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County trained professionals arrive. Our teams will handle all aspects of the damage restoration process, from ceilings and walls to personal property, we’re always here to help!