Water, water everywhere, nor a drop to drink!

On the way down into the basement you notice dampness in the air and shimmering on the floor, oh darn water!  STOP!!  Before you step into the water there are several safety concerns you need to consider, first turn off electricity to that area from your circuit breaker panel before proceeding, your life may depend on it!  Water may be in contact with electrical outlets, appliances or cords that could pose an electrical hazard.   If you have a gas water heater or furnace and they are submerged, turn off the valve that supplies them gas.  If you smell gas at any time, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AND CALL YOUR UTILITY COMPANY.  

Next you need to put on boots BEFORE you step into the water since you still do not know the source of the water and there is no way of knowing how clean it is.  Now you need to find the source of the water to determine if you can turn off or if you need a professional plumber.  If the water is coming from a burst water hose or pipe, a leaking water heater or furnace, turn off the appropriate shut off valve or water main.  If the water is coming from a waste or sewer pipe, call a plumber to either unclog or repair the pipe.  Do not wait to have the repair work completed since you need to stop the flow of water since it makes no sense to remove the water until whatever caused the problem is repaired. 

Regardless of the source, call you insurance company, indicating the source and keeping the receipt of the repair and the actual broken part. 

OK the leak has been repaired and now you have a decision to make, clean up the mess yourself or hire a professional remediation company, regardless of what you decide remember time is the enemy.  The longer you wait to resolve the issue the more secondary damage you will have including the potential for mold which becomes more costly to correct. 

Here are some basic rules of thumb, if it is “black water” also known as sewage water, hire a professional to clean up.  Black water contains bacteria, viruses, fecal matter and other nasty stuff that can cause disease and make a contaminated house unfit for living.  They have the experience and equipment to properly remove, dispose, dry and disinfect the area and in most cases is covered by your homeowners policy, verify this when you initially call your insurance company. 

There is “gray water”, which is the leftover water from baths, showers, hand basins and washing machines only.  Now gray water is contaminated but not to the same degree as sewage but you should treat as black water as far as personal protection is concerned.   

Lastly there is clear water, typically from a clean water pipe or hose.   If the volume of water is small and did not affect flooring, carpets or walls, like an unfinished basement with a bare concrete floor then you might attempt to clean up yourself.  You can check several online sites that can assist you in properly performing the cleanup. 

The mistake many people make is attempting a cleanup that should have been done by a professional because the water was contaminated or flooring, drywall, subfloors, etc. were affected (wet) and they were not properly dried and caused secondary damage, like mold.  When deciding on which method you are going to chose always consider safety first, since health of your family should always out way the saving of a few dollars!   If you have any questions about this article please do not hesitate to contact me at 631-423-1734 or email me at angel@servproofnorthhuntington.com.