Category 1 Water Damage: Act Now!

12/23/2018 (Permalink)

If you have a flood damage situation be sure to call a water restoration company in Knightdale, NC

Take the Following Steps Within 24 Hours, If Possible

There are three categories of water that can flood your business in Knightdale, NC. Category 1 water is the best-case scenario. Category 1 damage comes from clean water sources, such as a broken supply line or a broken pipe. The key is to act quickly before any damage becomes worse. Untreated category 1 water can quickly turn to category 2 or 3 water. 

1. Turn Off Electricity

When water is involved, your first safety concern is electricity. Turn off all electric sources near the flooded area. If the water is confined to a single room, then cutting power to that room will suffice, but if the damage is multi-room, consider cutting power to the building. Call your utility company if you can’t reach the panel safely.

2. Stop the Flow

Once the threat of electrocution has passed, find the source of the flooding and stop the flow immediately. Stopping it could be as easy as turning the valve off on an overflowing toilet tank or more difficult, like completely shutting off clean water to the whole building. It is important to know where all the water valves, inside and outside, are in your building.

3. Call Your Insurance Company

As soon as the risk of electricity and flowing water is resolved, call your business’s insurance company in order to discuss the coverage for your assets. Many insurance policies cover flooding from broken pipes but not from a natural flood. Ask your insurance company to work quickly so you know what is covered. Be sure to take pictures of the damage for your records.

4. Get Help for Cleanup

If it’s a small flood, you may be able to start cleanup yourself, but be sure to call a water restoration company quickly. These companies should know exactly what to do to ensure the damage is as minimal as possible.

Flood damage recovery may be a long process. The good thing is that category 1 water is clean water and that makes the situation a lot less complicated. Using a reputable water restoration company can help keep the cleanup as simple as possible.