Water Damage Control Tip #1 - Stop the Flow

6/22/2017 (Permalink)

Stop The Flow.

Your first priority is stopping the flow of water. If you’ve identified the appliance that’s leaking, shut off water to that appliance. If you’re not sure where the leak is coming from, shut off water to the whole house. Next, turn off electricity at the fuse box. If you can’t reach the box without wading into water, call an electrician and stay out of the wet areas.

Before removing any water, document the damage for your insurance company. Capture the extent of the water damage and all possessions impacted by the flood. Digital photos are best because you can quickly upload them directly to your agent for assessment.

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and follow their directions. Not all flooding is covered by a basic homeowners policy, so work with your agent to discover the cause and identify coverage you can qualify for. Do not remove any water before talking to them so you don’t accidentally do anything that will decrease the amount of coverage you’ll be able to claim. If the insurance company wants you to wait for an adjuster before making repairs, do so — but make sure you give them a clear picture of the damage and repairs that are immediately needed.