Top 5 Water Damage Cleanup Mistakes

Water damage is one of the most common in-home disasters homeowners face. The stress of cleaning up after a flood or a burst pipe can be overwhelming. Unfortunately that means many people make mistakes dealing with water damage cleanup.

The last thing you want to do after dealing with the trauma of a flood in your home is to damage it further by making mistakes during the cleanup process! That’s why we’re here to help.

Whether you take care of cleanup yourself or decide to hire a pro, make sure you avoid these common mistakes.

#1 – Waiting Too Long To Get Started

The longer water is present in your home, damaging floors, drywall and more, the worse the cleanup process will be. Flood damage is the most destructive during the first 24-48 hours.

Waiting to address water damage cleanup until after that window has passed often means you risk additional structural and secondary damage to your home or business. 

Mold and mildew can also begin to develop within the first 24 hours of a flood, so getting the water out of your property and beginning the restoration quickly is crucial.

Our technicians are available for emergencies 24/7, so don’t wait to call if you’ve had a flood or leak damage your home!

#2 – Not Taking Appropriate Safety Precautions

Flooding in your home is extremely dangerous, often in ways the average homeowner doesn’t consider. If water has reached your outlets or appliances, there can be a risk of electrical shock if handled improperly.

If pipes have been damaged, you risk exposure to hazardous waste, chemicals, and other toxins.

Water can also make the flooring and other surfaces in your home unsafe and unstable.

Dangerous debris like broken glass, nails, and other materials can be hiding under flood water in your home and pose a serious risk to anyone not properly equipped to navigate the area.

Once a flood has occurred, we recommend you and your family leave your home and get to a safe space before contacting us.

Once you and your loved ones are safe, you can start to address how to best remove the water from your home and begin restoration.

Our water damage cleanup experts are trained to identify potential hazards and navigate them safely.

#3 – Overlooking The Details

Once the water has been removed from your home, you might think the job is done. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case!

When your home has been flooded or has been damaged by water, unseen areas can be the most affected.

If you aren’t aware of the potential damage water can cause in your home, you might not spot serious damage until weeks after the flooding has been cleaned up.

A restoration professional knows to look for damage to subflooring, your home’s foundation, areas where mold and mildew commonly grow, and more.

#4 – Using The Wrong Equipment

Cleaning up after water has damaged your home or business might sound simple: just get rid of the water and dry the space, right? It isn’t that simple.

Using the right equipment to remove the water and thoroughly dry the space is crucial. Using a mop and towels won’t cut it.

Specialized equipment, cleaning products designed to combat sanitation problems and toxins, and industrial fans are key to successfully drying a space after removing flood water.

#5 – Hiring The Wrong Professionals

We get it, when a flood happens in your home and you’re facing water damage, who wouldn’t panic?

The key to hiring the right water damage restoration team is by making sure you hire a team.

A coordinated effort to remove the water and begin restoration in a timely manner is crucial.

Lake City Restoration provides 24/7 emergency services for exactly this reason. Our teams are certified and experienced in every aspect of water removal and restoration.

From assessing your property in an emergency to extracting water using state-of-the-art technology, to drying, cleanup and restoration…we can do it all!

There are many ways to take the next steps toward restoration after water damage to your home or business.

But that means there are many potential mistakes in the process.

Don’t risk damaging your home even more by not calling in the pros. We’re here to help you every step of the way, even if you have questions about filing your insurance claim.

Call Lake City Restoration for help with your water damage cleanup process today