Palisades Fire: Responding to Fire & Smoke Damage Losses in the Greater Los Angeles Area

Tips for Handling Water Damage

In ventura, santa barbara, & santa clarita

Damage to your Ventura, CA area home can be an extremely overwhelming situation for any homeowner. Knowing what to do to handle the situation properly can also be very difficult. Water damages are one of the most common homeowner’s claims, so it’s a good idea to keep a few common tips in the back of your mind in case you find yourself with unwanted water in your home.

First Steps

The very first thing you should do in the event of water damage is locate the source of the water and ensure that the flow of water has been stopped. Cleanup can't happen if water is still actively pouring into the home. After the water has been stopped, it's a good idea to cut the power to the home if there is any standing water. Obviously, electricity and water can make a dangerous combination. If either of these tasks puts you at risk, wait for a professional. Finally, take as many pictures as possible before starting any potential DIY cleanup as long as it's safe. You'll want to start cleaning right away if possible, but you'll also want your insurance company to be able to see the initial extent of the damage before any cleaning occurs. Once pictures have been taken and the area has been deemed safe, remove as much standing water as possible and set fans to begin drying.

Consider Volume and Source

If you're thinking about trying to do the cleanup on your own, you'll want to consider the volume and the water source. A tiny patch of clean water can usually be handled in-house, but a bathroom flooded with sewage needs to be handled by a professional. It's important to remember that even small amounts of water can hide in cracks and crevices and within porous materials creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew if not dried completely. As far as the water source, if the water is grey or black, it should never be handled on your own. These waters contain contaminants that need to be properly cleaned to ensure the safety of the home and everyone in it.

Contact Total Restoration

As a restoration professional, we will be able to work directly with your insurance company and you to ensure the job is done properly. A project manager or technician from Total Restoration will assess the damage and help determine the most appropriate course of action. Standing water will be extracted, and drying equipment will be set right away, so the damage doesn't become worse. Once everything is dry, unsalvageable materials will be removed, and everything else will be cleaned and sanitized to prepare for reconstruction.

Call Now

Give our team a call 24/7 for immediate service whenever your property is damaged.

Get Help

We’ll respond right away and begin assessing and mitigating the damage. 

Relax

Your property is in great hands. We’ll make sure the damage is restored and your property is back to normal as soon as possible.

5 Things to Avoid When You Have Water Damage

  1. Safety First! Do not enter areas that pose a threat to your health due to electricity or contaminated water.
  2. Do not use a household vacuum to suck up the water. These are not created to work with water and cause a risk of electrical shock as well as damage to the vacuum.
  3. Avoid walking on wet surfaces as much as possible. Walking through wet areas runs the risk of spreading possible contaminants through the rest of the property.
  4. If water has made its way into the HVAC system, do not activate the system. This can also spread any possible contamination.
  5. Do not stay in the home if there is structural damage or extensive black water damage.

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Call us for emergency water removal, structural drying and damage restoration services in the Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Santa Clarita areas.

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