Got WATER?? 16 crucial things you need to know about water damage NOW

Jan. 22, 2008 - PRLog -- Water damage is no laughing matter. Lenox Chem-Dry and Marietta Chem-Dry wants  Metro Atlana homeowners and businesses to know their rights as well as several do's and don'ts so that in the event of broken/frozen pipes, busted water heaters or any other flooding events, homeowners can take several preventative measures to protect their homes.

According to State Farm, an average of a quarter-million families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter, all because of water pipes that freeze and burst. In fact, an eighth-inch (three millimeter) crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons (946 liters) of water a day. Both plastic(PVC) and copper pipes can burst.

What to do if you have water damage:

1. First and most importantly, stay calm.

2. Turn off the power to all outlets in the affected rooms. Never enter a flooded area/room without first doing this. If the water line is in or above the electrial outlets, stay OUT of the water!!

3. Has the leak has stopped? If not or if unsure, call a plumber.

4. If the leak has stopped, contact a water damage company ASAP.

5. Contact your insurance company, file a claim (if applicable) and document claim #. Reconfirm your deductible. If possible, get the name and number of the adjuster assigned to your claim.

6. If the power has been securely turned off in affected areas, and the water is not higher than any electrical outlets, remove as many personal belongings/furniture as possible from affected areas as long as the ceiling is not sagging from water.

7. Use ziploc bags and cover wood furniture legs.

8.  Get as many of your belongings, boxes, clothing, etc out of the areas where the water will need to be extracted.

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What NOT to do if you have water damage:

1. Again, DO NOT enter a flooded area/room without first turning off the power to those outlets PRIOR to entering the room.  

2. Do NOT use your household vacuum to remove water unless it is a wet-vac.

3. Do NOT use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, inc. concrete.

4. Do NOT switch on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet + stay out of rooms with sagging, wet ceilings.

5. DO NOT call just any contractor! Not all contractors specialize in water damage! This is actually a science because it's more than just extacting water.

6. DO NOT hire the cheapest person in the phone book - you may end up paying for this later if the home is not fully dried out from top to bottom, inside and out.

7. DO NOT think you have to let the insurance company dictate who you use. You have a right to use whatever company you want.

8. DO NOT TRY TO "DIY" water damage!! Just because a wall may not feel or look wet does not mean that it's dry. The same goes with flooring - if a section of carpet is damp on top, the pad and subfloor may be soaked and the affected area may go out much farther than you realize. If you wait until it starts to "smell", it may be too late... The smell is typically an indicator of mold/microbial growth and instead of preventing a problem, which you could have done, by thinking that the water would "dry out by itself" or that there wasn't "that big of a problem" you may now need costly mold remediation.

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Lenox Chem-Dry + Marietta Chem-Dry have received the Consumer's Choice Award for their 24/7 Emergency response water damage in Atlanta. They have been nationally recognized + published as a Disaster Restoration Industry leader. They also offer low moisture/dry carpet/upholstery cleaning, specializing in pet urine, brown or plant stains, green cleaning in Metro Atlanta using the patented Chem-Dry cleaning system. They also clean Oriental rugs, mattresses, drapery, tile and grout and more.

Website: www.chem-dry.net/lenox.ga