According to Water Damage Fort Lauderdale company, nearly 40 percent of homeowners in the US report that they have experienced losses as a result of water damage. This is the second most commonly filed insurance claim in the US. The unfortunate thing is that nearly 93 percent of water damage is preventable.
Getting ready for a natural disaster or an incident that could potentially cause water damage involves a number of important steps. Here’s how to get ready and reduce the risk of incurring losses.
Make Sure Valuables are Protected
Even if your home has all of the necessary safety and water damage prevention installations, it’s still possible for water to get inside. A hurricane or torrential rainfall, for example, can easily contribute to water damage.
If you live in a high-risk area, you should be prepared by placing valuables strategically.
One of the things you can do is buy a waterproof safe for valuable belongings like personal documents, contracts, jewelry and money. There are many kinds of waterproof safes on the market, and some of them happen to be quite affordable.
Alternatively, place valuable belongings in a second-floor room or a place that water cannot reach. You should also make copies of all valuable documents and store those away from home.
The Importance of having a Sump Pump
Being prepared for disasters caused by water damage also involves the purchase and the installation of a powerful sump pump.
A sump pump needs a bit of maintenance. It should be cleaned and checked regularly. Test it by pouring water into the pit, especially if you haven’t used the sump pump for a longer period of time.
Apart from the main one, consider investing in a portable sump pump, as well. These are usually smaller and easier to move from one place to another.
Prevention of Sewer Backups
Flooding comes with a number of risks. Sewer backups rank among the most prominent ones. When water from a natural disaster enters the sewer system, it can easily cause a backup. The overloaded system causes the back flow of water, making sewer waste enter residential properties.
To reduce the risk of sewer backups, you should consider capping all of the sewer openings in your basement. Toilets, sinks, showers and floor drains all should be plugged. Expendable and wooden plugs are two of the popular products you can use for the purpose.
Don’t Delay the Cleanup
There isn’t a lot you can do during a flood in order to protect your property. Rather, you’ll be advised to leave the house and get to a higher ground. At this point, you should simply hope for the precautionary measures to deliver the desired results.
Make sure you have a portable radio or another source of information with you. Use it to determine when it’s safe to return to your property.
Once you’re back to a flooded house, you should get started with the cleanup immediately. Delaying the process can further the property damage, and it can also contribute to an array of health risks. Mold buildup is one of the biggest health hazards resulting from an inefficient cleanup process.
Sometimes, flooding will be inevitable. Still, by assessing the risk and understanding the specific weaknesses of your property, you can reduce the damage. Take some time to come up with an action plan and work on implementing all of the steps prior to water damage occurring.