subject: When to Stop Mopping and Start Calling [print this page] Author: Mark Decherd Author: Mark Decherd
When it comes to water damage, there comes a point where you realize its time to stop mopping and start calling. Sure, some minor plumbing leaks and even a few major water issues can be effectively mopped up by the average homeowner. However, water is extremely damaging and the resulting damage is often best left to the pros. So, when do you know when its time to hang up the mop and reach for the phone? Clue #1: Your first clue is when the home is unsafe to enter. This could be because of raging waters, electrocution hazards, damage to the structure, fallen trees, and other dangers. Dont attempt to mop up in unsafe conditions. Instead, call a pro. Clue #2: Your next clue is the sheer volume of the water flowing. Its simple: the more water, the more water damage. Just about all water damage professionals understand the urgency of these situations and have built their companies on a model that prioritizes emergencies. These pros have their phones on 24/7 and are dedicated to providing waterlogged customers with a prompt response. They dont arrive with mops; they arrive with industrial strength water extraction and drying equipment. Where youd be bailing buckets of water out of your home for days on end, water damage pros quickly extract the water and set up industrial blowers. End result: Your home will be drier faster with dramatically less damage. Clue #3: Your next clue involves the nature of the water incident. If a toilet overflows in the downstairs bathroom, the mop up job is far easier to handle than if the upstairs bathtub overflows and soaks through the ceiling and walls to the floors below. Likewise, a burst pipe almost always requires a call to the pros. Not only must the water be mopped up and the home dried out, repairs to the plumbing, walls, and floors must also be made. Youll be calling a pro anyway, so the sooner you make that call, the better. Clue #4: The water is contaminated. Contamination ranges from rust and debris to chemicals and raw sewage. Whenever the water source is questionable, stop mopping and call a professional. Water damage professionals are equipped to handle the hazards from the initial mop up and drying to the final cleaning and application of commercial disinfectants. Clue #5: You see (or smell) signs of mold. As youre mopping, youre not likely to notice mold at this point. Rather this clue arrives a day or two after youve mopped up the home. Mold is a serious aftereffect of water damage, bringing with it potential health problems and structural damage. Nip mold in the bud by calling a water damage / mold remediation professional at first whiff. Clue #6: The water damage is caused by a covered homeowners insurance incident. When you know that a water event is covered by your insurance, call the professionals and rest easy knowing that your home is in good hands. Of course, water damage claims can be tricky as some water damage is covered by insurance and some isnt. Your safety, the potential for additional damage, the sheer volume of the task at hand, the nature of the plumbing incident, and potential health risks associated with water damage are all compelling reasons to stop mopping and start calling. Another good reason: if you want the job done correctly, call a pro.About the Author:
By: Mr. Mark DecherdFor more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:Dryout Inc. 1415 Colonial Blvd.Fort Myers, Fl. 33907239-437-7100Water DamageDryout Inc Emergency water damage restoration, drying, deodorization, decontamination, disinfection, mold removal, water damage repair, restoration and reconstruction of commercial and residential properties damaged by fire, water and other disasters by a network of trained specialists, technicians and restoration professionals across the USA and Canada.
