Flood and Storm Disaster Restoration
Flood and storm damage can be devastating. After years of serving our neighbors in Waterbury, CT, we understand the shock and desperation you feel after discovering this type of damage. The most important thing you can do is take a deep breath, with confidence knowing ServiceMaster Albino will help get your life back to normal as soon as possible.
When Should I Call a Professional?
Water damage needs immediate and professional attention. Professionals should be called in as soon as possible to assess the damage and work with you to formulate a plan of recovery. Not only can water damage ruin flooring, surfaces, upholstery, and drywall, but it can also damage electrical outlets and appliances and begin to foster the spores that cause mold.
The sooner you call ServiceMaster Albino, the better.
What Should I Do First?
First, it’s important that you identify what type of water damage you are experiencing: clean, gray, or black.
Clean Water
Clean water is not hazardous. This type of water damage typically occurs when a pipe bursts or a bathtub overflows. If this type of water damage is found in time, you should act quickly:
Stop the source of the water.
Mop up extra water with towels and a mop.
Utilize a shop vac or large fan to dry remaining wet surfaces.
If flooding went undetected for longer than a few hours, you should definitely call a professional right away. Although the water may be easy to clean, you need a professional to disinfect for the potential of mold and ensure no damage has been done to electrical wiring.
Gray Water
This generally occurs when a sump pump backs up, a toilet overflows, or a washing machine leaks. Gray water may contain hazardous bacteria or chemicals. Call us to assist with the situation immediately. An innocuous-looking situation can often present long-term problems including mold and electrical issues.
Black Water
If your water damage has been caused by sewage, floodwater, rising ground or river water, don’t try to mitigate any damage before calling us. Black water is the most dangerous type of water damage and requires quick attention to prevent health hazards. In this situation, the best thing to do is to secure your property and call professionals immediately.
If you have determined it is safe to do so, be sure the power to your home is disconnected. When you have standing water in your home and electrical damage of any kind, this presents an incredibly dangerous situation and poses a great risk. If you have a power outage and standing water, you certainly want to disconnect power until professionals can determine it is safe to turn it back on. It may be that before your power can be safely restored, your power box needs to be professionally cleaned and dried.
Insurance
Contact your insurance company. Home and rental insurance policies usually cover most types of flood damages. Ask specific questions about your deductible and any instructions they may have regarding clean up and restoration.
Documentation is important. If you can safely take pictures or videos of the flood and storm damage, you should. It would also be helpful to make a list of important, perhaps independently insured items, like artwork or jewelry that have been affected.
Start basic clean up. If you can safely remove upholstered items, furniture, and other valuables, go ahead and remove those items from your residence. Try to effectively dry the items as quickly as possible. Keep in mind, it is unsafe to keep items that have been exposed to standing water for more than 48 hours. If you have an item of great importance that is in danger of being destroyed, talk to your restoration professional to see if there is something that can be done.
How Do I Know Which Professional to Trust?
One of the quickest ways to find out about a business’ reputation is to search for them online. Look for online reviews. If a business is reputable, you should be able to find out without too much effort. Ask your friends and neighbors. Call the Better Business Bureau.
Flood and storm damage can be unpredictable. Your restoration professional should be available 24/7 so that restoration can begin right away, and estimates should be free.
When dealing with the restoration of your home, your restoration professional should clearly and effectively communicate a plan with an approximate timeline for completion. The best companies will also communicate directly with your insurance company, advocating on your behalf.
We aren’t just a business. We are your neighbors, with our professionals living and working right here in Waterbury. Our team of highly trained professionals at ServiceMaster Albino understands that flood and storm damage can be overwhelming. With us working to right the wrong for you, you can be confident knowing things will be all right.