Water Damage Restoration – Minneapolis Professional Steps
Maybe the washer hose worked itself loose. Maybe a water line in an external wall couldn’t handle the Minnesota cold. Or maybe you just got distracted and let the bathtub overflow. No matter the cause, you now have gallons of water sitting on your floors and soaking up your walls. There is a fine line between extremely focused work and pure panic. Hold it together for the next few hours and logically work through the issues.
Stop the flow of water if possible. If you can’t stop it at the fixture, you can turn off all the water to the house and the street connection. Clean up what you can. The ICC professionals can help with the heavy lifting, but the minutes before they arrive are crucial.
Water Damage Restoration in Minneapolis
Get On The Phone
You need some extra hands and ideas immediately. In Minneapolis, the ICC water restoration experts are on call 24/7. They will dispatch a crew to help you today. In the meantime, remove standing water with sponges, mops and rags. Think about the foot traffic; create a working corridor for the team. Move what valuables out of the way. Grab your computer, your phone charger, your keys if they are laying in the area. Remove wet rugs from the area.
Then also call your insurance company to inform them of your claim. Depending on the situation, they might send an adjuster over now or just ask for photos to start the process. Don’t delay– even if you discover more damage later, start the claim now. Many large companies have additional services, like a feature-filled app on your phone, to make the process easier.
Ventilation
Mildew and mold usually follow water damage. Take steps now to lessen the chance of an infestation at your home. Open up the affected cabinets or closets. When ICC arrives, they will bring their own industrial equipment but for now, open the windows. During the summer, turn on the air conditioning. During the winter, alternate between heat and open windows. You’ll need to run the fan as much as you can, don’t forget to change the HVAC filters often during the process.
Take Pictures
Get your phone out now! No matter how damaged and worthless your stuff is, the insurance company needs proof of what you owned and its value. Take a video with your phone of each room. When you can get to your computer, organize them with a systematic meaning convention. Complete an accurate inventory and use the same file names.
Before you let anything get taken to the dumpster, fully document the damage. Don’t start repairs before you confirm damage with the insurance company–you could potentially decrease the extent of your coverage at the end of the restoration.
Move Fast To Avoid More Damage
Time is your enemy. After the water has engulfed your home, it will start to soften the cells of wood and wallboard. Mold can develop within 24 to 48 hours; immediately deal with wet rugs, bedding, and clothes. In concentrated amounts, molds can present a serious health risk and should be professionally remediated.
If an item has been wet for less than 48 hours, it may be salvageable. However, quickly decide now if it is worth the time to save it. (Don’t spend eight hours saving a $100 bookshelf (unless it was made by your great grandfather.) The ICC team can quickly assess the situation then focus time and energy on the things that can be saved. Their years of experience will come in handy to make quick decisions.
Freeze valuable documents
If you find wet papers, photos, or important documents, you might not have time to deal with them now. Try putting them in the freezer to slow down early mildew growth. Later, you can take time to dry and preserve them carefully.
Water Damage Restoration Solutions in Minneapolis
In Minneapolis, the water damage restoration experts at ICC will clean up, repair and restore your home. Years of drying hardwood floors, plaster walls, tile and concrete adds up to lots of experience and expertise to offer you. Let us help you with your water damage problems.