Tips For Hiring The Right Water Damage Pros

By Author: Leo Nov
Total Articles: 883
Comment this article

A home that has been soaked by water either due to burst pipes or to flooding should immediately be dried and restored to its original state. The best way to go about this is to hire an expert and certified water damage company. Here are a few helpful tips in hiring a water damage expert.
(1) Homeowners must first consult with their insurance companies if the water damage to their homes is covered under their policies.
(2) Insurance companies have dealt with a lot of water damage claims and therefore, they have information on the different companies or contractors that specialize in flood clean up and restoration. Homeowners should ask their insurance adjusters for recommendations on who or what company to hire.
(3) However, a recommendation from the insurance company is not enough. Homeowners should also check the background and credibility of the company that they are going to hire. Asking the company for a list of references will give the homeowner an idea of the work quality of the company. Homeowners must make sure that the company has undergone water damage restoration and mold remediation training. ...
...
(4) Homeowners should ask for an assurance that the water damage expert will start on the job immediately. Keep in mind that the longer the house is under water, then the harder the work for restoring it would be.
(5) Homeowners should assess the extent of damage which water has done to their homes and should relay this to the water damage expert that is going to do the job. This is important so that the contractor will know what to expect and be prepared with the right gears and equipments. The information that water damage experts need to know first before they get on the job is as follows:

a. The extent of damage caused by water
b. The amount of time that the area has been wet or under water
c. How did water damage occur? Is it from a burst pipe? Did the drain back up? Did the Fire sprinkler go off? Was it caused by a leaking roof?
d. What type of water (clean or flood) did the damage?
e. The number of rooms that are currently being affected by the damage
f. What materials are wet or damaged by water?

(6) When the damage expert arrives at the area, homeowners must oversee the entire operation. Homeowners must make sure that the experts do the following:

a. Eliminate the source of water first.
b. Remove all the water damage items that cannot be restored.
c. Dry the areas immediately within 24 to 48 hours by using portable heaters or other kinds of equipment.
d. Restore the home and soaked items to their original condition.
e. Return all dried and restored items to their original places inside the home.

(7) Homeowners must confirm that the contractor checks the areas of the house thoroughly to make sure that all wet areas are dried completely and all areas are mold free.

(8) Lastly, homeowners must make sure that all cleaning, drying and repairs have been done properly before paying for the services rendered.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about water damage and water removal, visit RestorationSOS.com