Unwanted water somewhere in your home is certainly cause to sound the alarm. If not mitigated quickly, water can damage anything it touches and comes into contact with. That said, water cleanup in a home or business is an extensive job requiring the experience and know-how of trained and certified professionals. DIY cleaning techniques, when it comes to water damage, are almost always simply not enough. Here’s what to do if your home or business sustains water damage.

Need For Speedy Cleanup

Many things can cause water damage. You may have a sewer line problem, a toilet backup, sump pump failure with basement flooding, a leaky or burst water heater, washing machine or dishwasher leaks, and more. 

Unfortunately, it really doesn’t take a lot of water to cause extensive damage to your home or business, and the damage will be lasting and spread if not mitigated professionally. In fact, just an inch or so of water can destroy flooring, carpets, warp wood, destroy drywall, paint, and wallpaper, and damage furnishings, damage building components, personal items, and, well, you get the picture.

Even if water seems to dissipate, lingering moisture can stay hidden in floor coverings, carpet padding, walls, wood, the foundation, and more. This can cause major damage to your property and create an environment for fungi, bacteria, and viruses to proliferate, in addition to mold development and rot.

So when it comes to water damage, time is not on your side. If you catch the problem in time and call an experienced plumbing professional, you can prevent a lot of damage, headache, and costly issues in your home or business down the road. So, in addition to the health issues involved as a result of water damage, there is the long-term cost factor.

Who Do You Call?

It’s essential for any homeowner or business owner to plan ahead of a plumbing or water damage emergency and know who you’re going to call should a catastrophe occur. Remember, even a little water can spread to make a lot of permanent damage. Have on hand a trusted team of water damage experts to assist you when you need it most. Here’s what to look for in such a company:

  • Training: The company you hire should be well-trained, knowledgeable, and certified. In fact, certification by IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) is essential in having technicians that have been properly trained.
  • Equipment: A great team won’t do you much good without high-tech equipment at their disposal. Ask the company you are considering hiring if they use dehumidifying units and air movers to prevent secondary damage by eliminating moisture that could reach furnishings, walls, flooring, and other home or business structure.
  • Fleet: Company vehicle fleets need to be fully equipped with state-of-the-art water extraction tools, drying equipment, and moisture testing tools to cover all kinds of potential water problems.
  • Insurance: Does the company you plan to hire have extensive experience working with insurance companies on their clients’ behalfs? This is a critical issue that will save you a lot of headache on top of dealing with water damage problems.
  • Availability: Only hire a company that is available 24/7/365 since you never know when water damage is going to occur.

Water damage can occur at any time. Know who you are going to call should such an event happen. Make sure to have your plumbing inspected each year, including your water heater, sump pump, and clothes washer, to help prevent water damage from occurring. Lastly, call (320) 207-1079 for the professionals at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup should you ever need a plumber!