Many Restoration companies -- like our local, family owned company and background checked staff -- are busy with sewage and water damages in Westchester basements and finished lower levels / media room. Attics and upper level bathrooms in some homes and businesses have not escaped either, due to regular plumbing problems, or recent high winds that damaged roofing and plumbing on upper levels.
Anatomy of a Water Damage
Water is an essential part of many cleaning processes, but under some circumstances it can damage our belongings. The harmful effect of water damages can be greatly reduced by prompt and wise action. Some procedures are obvious, while others require some foresight and experience.
This list of Emergency Tips in a water damage situation has been compiled from Servpro's nearly 50 years of experience in water damage cleaning, restoration, reconstruction and repair & cleaning.
Do...
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe water from wood furniture after removing any lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying (check for possible color bleed).
• Place aluminum foil, ceramic saucers or wood blocks under chairs and furniture legs, to protect them from wet carpeting.
• Turn on air conditioning for maximum drying in summer; open windows to speed up drying in winter.
• Open drawers and cabinet doors for complete drying (but, do not force them open).
• Remove valuable oil paintings and art objects to a safe place.
• Blot wet carping with clean white towels.
• Open suitcases and luggage to dry, in sunlight if possible. Punch small holes in sagging ceilings to relieve trapped water (don't forget to place pans beneath!).
Do Not…
• Leave wet fabrics in place and then have them professinonally dry cleaned dry as soonas possible; hang furs and leather goods to dry in an unaffected room or climat controlled area.
• Leave books, magazine or other, colored items on wet carpets, or any flooring.
• Use your household vacuum to remove water.
• Use TVs or other appliances that are standing on wet carpet or floors, especially not on wet, concrete floors.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and stay away from electric outlets and power boxes in water damaged rooms, or those where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
If you have a stressful and traumatic sewage backup, or a top down toilet overflow from your 3rd level to the basement, call for help.
NOTE: You should NEVER try to save the carpet or padding, after a sewage damage, especially if you have children, elderly loved ones or pets in your home.
Actually, if you value your own health and your family's wellbeing, you do not want an E. Coli filled carpet in the home, even in a seldem used basement. Let it go.
FYI: A recent client -- and a Realtor! -- had a sewage damage in their own home and insisted on keeping both the damaged carpet and the padding! Insurance actually covered the replacement for the bacteria filled textile flooring, so it was not necessary or wise to keep the carpet, especially their sewage soaked padding.
Tile is more forgiving, but send out any textiles or area rugs that were caught in the sewage -- a Category III water loss that we treat as a biohazard for our crews.
We take these items, deodorize, disinfect and sanitize them and bring them back to your home, so there are no risks from a biohazard filled rug.
If you have home or renter's insurance that covers your contents in a mechanical or other water damage, call in the pros. Westchester County based restoration companies like ours ask you to "shop local" and call soon because mold growth can begin in less than 48 hours. That's why you want a licensed, certified company like Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon to get there quickly, dry your flooring, save your furniture and valuables and make it, "Like it never even happened."
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