If You Have Water Damage in Toronto What Should you Do!
Whether it was caused by severe weather, a leaky roof, foundation cracks or a clogged toilet, water damage can leave you with a nasty mess. What so many property owners often don’t recognize or understand is the severity of the situation. Water damage can be very serious and should be handled by a professional restoration company.
Time is of the Essence
Calling a Toronto water damage restoration company should be one of the first items on your to-do list but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything before they arrive. Water moves fast. It seeps into unwanted places and can cause extraordinary damage to your property if handled poorly. Every second that passes is critical and the more you can do to lessen the damage before your water damage restoration company arrives, the better.
Safety Comes First
Always make safety your top priority. No amount of damage mitigation is worth putting yourself at risk of injury. If you feel threatened, be sure to vacate the property and wait for a professional team to arrive.
Initial Steps to Follow
If you’ve ruled out immediate danger and you feel comfortable enough to complete some preliminary tasks, there are a few things you can do. This list will help you get the situation under control and possibly even save some of your most valuable items.
- Stay away from electrical switches
- Disconnect the power (if, and only if, you feel it is safe to do so)
- Shut off interior water sources
- Avoid water-soaked ceilings in case of collapse
- Unplug all electronic items and move them out of harm’s way
- Use towels, sheets and buckets to clean up and remove as much water as possible (don’t use electrical devices such as a vacuum)
- Start preparing a list of all items that have been lost, damaged or destroyed
Getting Your Home to a Dry State
Mildew and mold can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours of moisture exposure so it is critical that your property is restored to a dry state as quickly as possible. Although everything may look dry on the surface after the water has been removed, it’s highly likely that the water leaked into places your eyes can’t see. If left untreated, this can lead to further rotting and decay. A good water damage restoration company in Toronto uses specialized tools and techniques to dry the area both inside and out to ensure that no stagnant water is missed or overlooked.
Disinfecting the Affected Areas
During and after the drying process, your water damage restoration team will use environmentally friendly products to clean and disinfect the area. All places where water stood stagnant for an extended period of time must be treated properly in order to prohibit future damage, foul smells and mold growth. This includes floors, walls, ceiling and floor framing, insulation and even contents. Depending on how long it takes to dry your home, mildew and mold may have already begun to form and now must be killed and treated to prevent future spreading.
