Water Damage Restoration

Water & Flood Damage

Q:  How can I safely inspect my house after water damage? 
A: The safety hazards are not over when the water goes down. Do not endanger yourself or your family after a water event. Keep children and pets away. Try to protect yourself and your family from stress, fatigue, and water-related health hazards.

Follow these basic safety rules:

• Determine Structural Stability
• Cut off power supply
• Turn off water supply
• Turn off gas supply
• Beware of animals
• Use protective gear

Q:  What are the best ways to secure my property after water related damage? 
A: Lock and secure your property when not occupied to prevent looting. Keep in mind that alarms may malfunction if the electricity or telephone service has been interrupted.

Q:   Do I need to throw away all my kitchenware after a flood? 
A: Not necessarily. Dishes, cooking utensils and food preparation areas can be sanitised, disinfected and then reused. Throw away wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers, since it's nearly impossible to safely clean them.

Q:  If I have wet carpet, tile, walls/ceiling, and/or contents, why can't I let these items dry on their own? 
A: The only way to properly dry wet building materials and contents is to use blowers and dehumidifiers. You will almost certainly develop mold/mildew if you allow building materials and contents air dry.

Q:  How long will the equipment run and should I keep it on 24 hours a day? 
A: Drying usually takes a minimum of 3 days, but varies according to size of loss, indoor/outdoor conditions, and the affected materials.  Equipment may be turned off to sleep.

Q:  Does A#1 Emergency Service handle the repairs too? 
A: Yes, A#1 Emergency Service handles structural/contents drying as well as repairs and restoration.  These services include, but are not limited to, drywall repair, finish carpentry, carpet/tile/wood flooring, paint, etc.

Q:  Should I be concerned if the loss is gray or black water, i.e. toilet or sewer backup? 
A: Yes, bacteria-ridden water from these sources may pose a significant risk to one’s health, especially if ingested.  All porous items that have been saturated should be discarded in most cases.