4 Steps To Take If Your Building Has Been Damaged By Water

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Water cleanup in a Big Cherokee, TN building

4 Steps To Take If Your Building Has Been Damaged By Water

If you have experienced serious water damage in your Big Cherokee, TN, building, you might be feeling frustrating and panicked. In this kind of emergency, it can be difficult to determine how you should proceed. The following are some steps you should take if you find yourself in this situation.

1. Contact Your Insurance Company
One of the first things that you should do after any kind of damage to your building is to contact your insurance agent to begin filing a claim. You will need this money to repair the building and any broken pipes, and waiting too long to begin the process could result in your claim being denied.
2. Document Any Damage
While you are waiting for an adjuster to inspect the building, you can begin documenting the damage on your own. If it is safe to do so, you may want to go through each area and make a list of items that have been affected. It is a good idea to take pictures as well since the adjuster can use these when working on your claim.
3. Begin Cleaning Up
It is important to begin water cleanup as soon as possible. The longer the water sits, the worse the secondary damage will be. This can include mold growth as well as warping wood and rusting metal. Any items that can be moved to a dry area should be relocated.
4. Avoid Using Electricity
Water damage and electricity are not a good mix. You should avoid turning on or off any electrical devices until after repairs have been made. Instead, turn off the power to the building using the main breaker.
If you need to have repairs to your building done, contact a water damage remediation company. They can safely remove the water, perform cleanup, and restore the building to its previous condition. They can also salvage many of your affected belongings, from furniture to paper documents to electronics.