Water damage can be fixed but must be addressed fast

In light of the tragic flooding currently happening in Texas, it’s important to know what to do if you experience flooding in your home. Even for those not in a floodplain, flooding can happen when you least expect it. With the potential of flash storms, basement leaks, a burst pipe, old roofing and more, there are times that all homeowners will be forced to deal with the havoc of water damage.

Last year, a colleague of mine purchased a 200-year-old farmhouse in Glenmoore. On the day of closing, my colleague went to the home for a pre-purchase walkthrough, only to find a third-floor pipe had burst in the middle of the night and massive amounts of water leaked through the entire home. The dining room plaster ceiling was partially collapsing because it had soaked up water to it’s capacity and it was actually “raining” water inside the home. This was a nightmare situation on the morning of settlement, to say the least. While the family still went through with the purchase, they found lengthy negotiations with insurance caused a significant delay. When a professional remediation company was finally brought in to make the repairs, one week of wet drywall and plaster left several rooms of the home with mold. One entire room had to be gutted from floor to ceiling while others spent weeks with huge dryers and cleanrooms. It took nearly three months to complete all of the repair work and cost over $15,000 in repairs. Thankfully,

homeowners insurance covered all of the associated costs, but as you can see, unexpected situations like this can be costly and add up quickly.

You’ve got a leak or flooding ... now what?

The presence of water doesn’t mean a room or even a home is destroyed. Average leaks or flooding can be dried and often water damage isn’t as bad as the homeowner fears, IF the water is removed and the drying process starts immediately. The main culprit is mold and the only way to prevent mold is to get the water out quickly. For flooding or major leaks, truck mounted vacuums with high horsepower, dehumidifiers and industrial dryers can remove moisture from flooring (even carpeting!), walls and furniture, but it must be done as fast as possible.

As few as three to five days of untreated moisture can cause major damage. After you contact your insurance company to have the damage evaluated, find out which remediation companies they work with – you’ll need to find a reputable company who can come to your aid immediately.

Why the rush?

Allowing moisture to remain untreated quickly causes mold; it happens faster than most homeowners realize. Black mold can start growing in as little as one day! Every surface containing mold must be removed careful by professionals trained in mold remediation. Using containment rooms, clean suits and home sealing techniques, professionals can remove the mold infested materials without contaminating the rest of the home and the people living in it.

Attempting to remove mold on your own can yield disastrous results and can quickly spread mold spores throughout your duct system and eventually throughout the entire home. Mold infestation is one of the most serious issues a homeowner can face and should be treated with utmost care.

What about flood insurance?

The big issue for flooding is the fact that most homeowners insurance policies do not include flooding, so a separate flood insurance policy would need to be purchased. While federal flood insurance is available, many people do not choose to take out these policies. Even if you do choose to purchase a flood insurance policy, check first to see what is actually covered, as some flood policies will cover rain water coming from your roof, but will NOT cover rising water (as we are seeing in Texas) unless it is specified in your policy.