About one in fifty insured homes file a water damage claim every year. While it may not seem like water damage could happen to you, you must know what to do. The longer you wait to fix a water issue, the more it will cost to repair the damage.
Bathrooms are one of the more common places people experience water damage. Overflowing toilets are one of the leading causes of failures that lead to damage. They could even result in a bathroom flood, which could ruin your bathroom.
Between overflowing toilets, burst pipes, and Kalispell, Montana weather, there are many ways your bathroom could sustain damage. If you’ve experienced bathroom flooding, you might wonder what the best way to fix it is.
Continue reading for a step-by-step guide to help you restore your flooded bathroom.
Safety First
The first thing you should do to fix a flooding bathroom is to turn off the water. Your toilet and sink will have local stops that you can turn to stop the water flow. If that doesn’t work or isn’t the issue, try turning the cutoff valve outside your home.
If your outlets or electronic appliances got wet in the flood, it’s best to turn off the electricity before entering the bathroom. This will allow you to remove anything electronic from the room and keeps you safe. You can turn off the electricity in your home’s breaker.
Remember that flood water can contain sewage backup, so you’ll want to take precautions when cleaning. Mold and mildew can form within 24-48 hours after water exposure and call for more careful or professional cleaning. Water damage can also compromise walls or ceilings, which could fall on you.
Document the Flooding
Once you have stopped the water, take pictures of the damage for your insurance company. Documenting flooding will help your claim and for any future issues.
Then, contact your insurance agent and file a claim as soon as possible.
Remove the Water
You’ll want to clean up the water and dry your bathroom as soon as possible. Soak up water with towels or use a mop and a bucket. Never use a regular vacuum to remove standing water; instead, use a wet vac.
Next, open windows or place fans to help dry your flooded bathroom. If you have a dehumidifier, use that and empty it frequently. Once your bathroom is dry, you can remove and replace any damaged drywall and disinfect the room.
Protect the Rest of Your Home
As you begin cleaning up any standing water, remove any items in the water or at risk of getting wet. Open cabinets and remove wet items and wrap any furniture to protect it from moisture.
Check your bathroom for any walls that have water damage, and prepare to remove the damaged areas. Wet walls or floors could result in mold or other damage to your home’s structure.
Call in a Professional
Although you can repair your bathroom yourself, there may be water damage you miss. You’ll want to hire a water restoration company to ensure complete restoration.
Water restoration services will help you find hidden damage and clean up any mold. They have specialized equipment to speed up the clean-up and drying time.
Get Your Bathroom Flood Taken Care Of
A bathroom flood can feel overwhelming to clean up, but following these steps will help you do it safely. You’ll want to take care of the water damage as soon as possible to prevent damage.
Contact us today to get help restoring your bathroom.
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