There are no two ways about it - coping with a flood can be stressful. Whether your house or business premises have been affected, dealing with the aftermath of a burst pipe or water leak can feel overwhelming. However, acting quickly and practically can help to mitigate the damage caused and prevent further damage from developing.
Your home or business premises may flood as a result of poor weather conditions, but there are many other causes of flood damage, including burst pipes. Unfortunately, dealing with a flood as a result of a burst pipe or leak within your property often means that the root of the problem isn't easy to identify.
At Leaktracersdirect, we recognise that this can make things all the more stressful. That's why we've created a step-by-step guide to help you cope with the aftermath of a flood efficiently and calmly. Read on for our top tips and advice.
Stay calm
It's easier said than done, but staying calm will help you make sensible and practical decisions following a flood. Flood damage can be dangerous so it's important to stay as calm as possible to ensure your actions are helpful and aren't putting yourself or anyone else in danger.
If the flood has occurred in your property, consider asking a local friend or neighbour to stop by for support. Knowing someone else is there with you can make it easier to remain calm and act practically.
Turn the water off at the mains
If the flood has developed as a result of a burst pipe, the first thing you need to do is turn the water off at the mains. This won't get rid of the floodwater but it will stop more water from adding to the problem. Once the water has stopped flowing through the pipes, you should be able to start tackling the issue and cleaning up the affected area.
Stay away from the affected area
It's important that you don't enter the affected area for any reason. If the flood has occurred as a result of poor weather conditions or burst river banks, the water could contain hazardous waste which will put your health at risk.
If you do come into contact with the floodwater, make sure to wash with clean water afterwards. Diseases can be spread by the waste carried during floods so it's important to act quickly.
Remove furnishings or belongings from the flooded area
You may be able to remove some belongings from the affected area before the flood spreads or gets worse. If you can reach them without coming into contact with the floodwater, try to remove and clean them as quickly as possible. The more you can remove from the flooded area, the more damage you can prevent.
Remember - your safety must always come first. You should never attempt to remove items or furnishings from the flooded area if it means putting yourself at risk.
Avoid using any electrical appliances
Following a flood or any other type of water-related damage, you must not use any electrical appliances within the property. Without help from leak detection specialists, it's impossible to know exactly how serious the water damage is or which parts of the property it has affected.
The electrical wiring in your home or business building may be affected and at risk of further damage, so stay away from all electrical appliances until they have been checked over by a qualified electrician.
Contact your neighbours
Unfortunately, there's a chance that neighbouring properties have been affected by the flood. If a pipe has burst in your property, your neighbours may spot the telltale signs of water damage or flooding in their own homes. It's a good idea to let them know the situation so they can take the appropriate steps to deal with it.
Call leak detection specialists
Once you've done all you can to mitigate the flood damage safely, it's time to turn it over to the professionals. You will need to contact a professional leak detection company, such as Leaktracersdirect, to come and identify the root of the issue. This is the first step towards fixing the problem.
When it comes to leak detection, you should always leave it to the professionals. Trying to identify the cause of a flood yourself could be dangerous and you're likely to cause more damage to your property. As a result, more complicated and costly repair services will be required to resolve the problem.
Utilising the services of a leak detection company like Leaktracersdirect is a much safer and more effective way to deal with the flood damage than trying to tackle it yourself - but what exactly will our leak detection engineers do to help?
Identify the leak
Before you can stop or treat the flood, you first need to identify the root of the issue. This is where our leak detection experts can help you. Our leak detection specialists use ultra-modern technology to pinpoint where leaks are coming from, all while making sure they don't cause more damage to a customer's property.
Arrange emergency leak repair
Once our leak detection experts have identified where the leak is coming from, they will compile a report detailing the severity of the issue for building contractors to work from. They will also arrange building contractors from a reputable leak repair company to fix the issue, dry out the affected area and take care of the water damage caused by the flood.
Submit a water leak insurance claim
One of the most stressful aspects of coping with a flood is submitting an insurance claim. Fortunately, this is something we at Leaktracersdirect can help you with. Once you've given us a call, we will send a surveyor to assess the damage and figure out the cost of the repair work, before submitting a water leak insurance claim on your behalf.
Call a qualified electrician
Following a flood, you should also call a qualified electrician to inspect your property's wiring. The flood may have damaged plug outlets, electrical appliances and internal wiring, so make sure to have your home or business premises inspected for your safety.
Put mould prevention measures in place
Once the flood damage has been taken care of and the affected area dried out, you want to make sure that the water damage doesn't cause problems in the future. Following floods, property owners often spot the growth of mould, which is something you want to prevent as much as possible.
If the affected area is dried out properly by a trusted company, mould shouldn't be an issue. Water restoration and remediation services extract moisture from the walls, floor and ceiling before using dehumidifiers to take care of excess moisture.
However, it pays to put mould prevention measures in place to avoid rot and damp becoming an issue. Make sure you continue to ventilate the area long after the flood and wipe down the walls and skirting boards with water and detergent regularly. This should help to remove mould spores before they develop.
Leaktracersdirect: London-based experts in leak detection, insurance claims and much more
As London's leading leak detection specialists, we're proud to be the go-to water leak engineers for customers in the local area. We understand just how stressful dealing with a water leak can be, especially when the issue is as serious as flooding, and strive to deliver a quick, efficient and hassle-free service to our valued customers.
We're proud to offer our customers an all-in-one solution, starting with our specialist leak detection services. Using only the newest technology, we can identify the source of the problem without causing more damage to your property. Following this, we will then arrange building repairs on your behalf. We will also contact your insurers to submit a claim, giving you one less thing to worry about.
For more information about Leaktracersdirect and the services we offer, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us today. We're always happy to help.