Perhaps it was a surprise storm
damaging an old roof. Or a burst pipe in the laundry room. Or the neighbors
above ground pool springing a leak and flooding your basement. You have a
serious situation! Address the two
problems simultaneously: a) clean up the house and b) consult your insurance
agent. Don’t forget to contact a professional restoration company like Clean
Masters for quality and qualified assistance!
Immediate Actions to Lessen Damage
Flood waters contain many
contaminants and lots of mud. High dollar items can get ruined, even with just
an inch of water. After a flood, cleaning up is a long and hard process. Here
is a list of common techniques for sorting, sanitizing, and cleaning flooded
items:
In the kitchen, scrub hard
surfaces with hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. Then disinfect with a
solution of 1/4 cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water (use gloves to protect
your hands) or a product that is labeled as a disinfectant to kill germs.
Anything “soft” should be thrown out: cardboard containers of food, rolls of
paper towels, kitchen towels.
Furniture and household items
will take the most time to sort. Take furniture, rugs, bedding, and clothing
outside to dry as soon as possible. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to
remove moisture or open at least two windows to ventilate with outdoor air. Use
fans to circulate air in the house. If mold and mildew have already developed,
brush off items outdoors to prevent scattering spores in the house. Vacuum
floors, ceilings, and walls to remove mildew, then wash with disinfectant. Wear
a two-strap protective mask to prevent breathing mold spores.
Upholstered furniture soaks up
contaminants from floodwaters and should be cleaned only by a professional. Mattresses
should be thrown away. Wood veneered furniture is usually not worth the cost
and effort of repair. Solid wood furniture can usually be restored unless
damage is severe.
Photographs, books and important
papers can be frozen and cleaned later. They should be dried carefully and
slowly. Wash the mud off and store the articles in plastic bags and put them in
a frost-free freezer to protect from mildew and further damage until you have
time to thaw and clean them or take them to a professional.
Heating and cooling systems and
ducts will need inspection and cleaning. Flood-soaked insulation should be
replaced.
Appliances will get stains,
odors, silt deposits, and gritty deposits and need to be serviced, cleaned and
sanitized. Running equipment before it is properly cleaned could seriously
damage it and/or shock you. Professional cleaning is recommended for
electronics, TVs and radios, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and vacuum
cleaners. The hard exterior can be hand cleaned. All metallic appliances that
have been flooded should be properly grounded to prevent electric shock. Mud or
dirt in a grounded outlet or adapter may prevent the grounding system from
working, and you could be electrocuted.
Floors, walls, and carpets are
best assessed by a professional. Quickly make appointments for estimates,
optimistically within 24 hours. Clean Masters can get to Summerville and the
surrounding areas quickly.
And Now to the Legal Ramifications
Call your insurance agent at the
same time that you start to clean. If your policy covers the damage, your agent
will coordinate an adjuster to contact you. Many agencies have additional
resources to help you in a crunch.
List damage and take photos or
videotape as you clean. You’ll need complete records for insurance claims,
applications for disaster assistance and income tax deductions. Keep snapping
photos on your phone, capturing damage as well as serial numbers.
Homeowners insurance does not
cover all types of water damage, however.
Damage from unresolved maintenance issues: While your insurance
will probably help cover the cost of replacing or repairing a damaged floor if
your dishwasher suddenly goes on the fritz, coverage generally will not kick in
if the damage results from an unresolved maintenance issue, such as continuous
leaking near a faucet or other plumbing fixture.
Replacing or repairing the source of the water damage: Most
insurance policies will not cover the source of the water damage. So while your
policy may cover the cost of tearing out and replacing that damaged floor, you
shouldn’t expect it to cover the cost of replacing your broken dishwasher or
washing machine.
Water backup from an outside sewer or drain: You also will not
typically be covered by a traditional homeowner’s policy if water backs into
your home through an outside sewer or drain.
Flood: No type of flood damage, no matter the source
of the water, is covered by standard homeowner’s policies. Flooding is the term
encompassing storms, over-saturated ground, overflowing or surging bodies of
water such as rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans. Purchasing flood insurance
through the National Flood Insurance Program might be a wise investment,
depending on your risk situation.
