Every spring in Minnesota, countless families open their basement doors to see that their homes have suddenly gained a new feature: an impromptu indoor swimming pool.
Such an amenity would be lovely if it weren’t at the expense of their furniture and their loved one’s health – if it weren’t a flooded basement!
Preventing a flooded basement is one thing, but knowing how to act in an emergency is another. Intelligent Design Corporation, your Maple Grove provider of water damage clean-up and more, discusses what to do when disaster strikes.
Assess the Situation’s Safety
Before taking any remedial action, it’s important to thoroughly assess the dangers of taking on the situation. A little water from a burst pipe might not seem so dangerous, but even that can become hazardous in the right conditions—for example, if it comes into contact with electricity.
So, how do you know if you’re in immediate danger? Obviously, if you can’t get to your home’s main power source and turn it off, the flood may soak electrical appliances, and it may not be safe to even set foot in the water.
If the water is coming from a contaminated source (like your toilet), or if you can’t tell where it is coming from, it’s always safer to keep your family away.
Stop the Water
Once you’ve cut your home’s power and determined the water is clean enough to stand in, you can start figuring out the cause.
Among the most common during winter are burst pipes; as they freeze, water expands, causing a buildup of pressure behind them and consequential breakage. Such a spew can easily be stopped by cutting your water’s main supply line.
More dastardly, however, is the water damage that comes from an actual flooded basement. If your sump pump isn’t working or you’ve suffered soil erosion, meltwater can enter your basement and begin to accumulate. This usually requires calls to multiple pros to fix.
Finding the Source of the Water Damage
Knowing where the water is leaking from will help you identify what professional services you need, and if you notice water building up, take a moment and listen. In most cases, you will hear dripping or soft hissing sounds to tell you where the problem area is centralized.
The leak will come from your roof or plumbing, and differentiating between the two will help narrow down the expertise you need. Roof leaks typically don’t change until weather patterns do, so if the stain is getting larger consistently through the year, chances are it’s a plumbing issue instead of roofing.
How Do You Choose a Restoration Company?
Dealing with disaster restoration takes experience and training, and if you’re looking for a full restoration company, you want to make sure that they have experience that’s backed by positive reviews. There’s a certification process that comes with the field, and they should hold the appropriate licenses and training while working with you not to exceed your budget.
Why Is Intelligent Design a Trusted Restoration Provider?
Intelligent Design Corporation understands how challenging and disheartening water restoration can be. This is why we have a streamlined process to ensure all details are covered and make the experience as easy as possible.
From our initial assessment to meeting with the insurance adjuster and helping you restore and repair your home, our expert team is here to help you through the process with expert services and care.
Contact Water Damage Restoration Services
Don’t try to bail your basement out of this one on your own. Not only is doing so manually backbreaking work, but the average homeowner lacks the equipment to do a true water damage repair job.
If even trace amounts of the stuff remain, mold can begin to grow as soon as 24 hours, according to FEMA. Such mold is a health hazard, hence why professional water damage repair services are critical.
Intelligent Design Corporation: Top-Notch Maple Grove Home Restoration
Working with a professional can make your water restoration experience an easier one, and since 2001, the Intelligent Design Corporation team has been servicing Minnesota homeowners with advanced techniques and expert care. We’re always here when disaster strikes to lend a helping hand.
Our team is happy to answer any questions. If you need to set up an appointment, contact us online or give our water damage repair team a call now at 763-315-0745.
