When it comes to water damage restoration, it’s important to use caution to prevent any potential damage to your home or business.
Here are the worst practices that you should avoid in order to protect your property.
Not Having a Backup Plan
If you don’t have a backup plan for water damage restoration, then your property could become inaccessible and damaged.
Backup plans are essential for any business or home and should include provisions for restoring power, accessing files, and more.
Using Incorrect Restoration Supplies
When using restoration supplies, be sure to use the correct product for the job. Using the wrong product could cause further damage to your property. The correct list of restoration supplies is included below.
Cleaning supplies
- Clorox cleaner
- Lysol disinfectant
- Windex glass cleaner
Paints and primers
- Paint remover
- Primer
- Paint
Floor restoration supplies
- Floor wax or polish
- Buffer
Not Inspecting the Damage
Before beginning any water damage restoration, it’s important to inspect the damage. This will help you determine what needs to be done and how much work will be required.
Failing To Mitigate Damage
To mitigate the damage caused by water, it is important to address the source of the water. If the water comes from a broken pipe or overflowing sink, then immediate action must be taken to stop the flow of water and protect the surrounding property.
If however, the water is coming from rain or melting snow, then careful monitoring and cleanup are essential in order to avoid further damage.
Once a source of water has been identified, mitigation measures can begin. This may include de-icing roads and sidewalks near affected areas; pumping out flooded basements; activating fire sprinklers, and calling in experts to clean up contaminated surfaces.
In some cases it may also be necessary to remove damaged furniture or walls; replace damaged flooring; refloat lost items, and restore electrical systems.
Ignoring Leaks
Leaks are a common problem during water damage restoration efforts, and can quickly become destructive if not addressed correctly. Fix leaks as soon as possible so they don’t cause more extensive damage down the road.
Working in Unsafe Conditions
If working in unsafe conditions is unavoidable, be sure to use safety gear such as gloves, goggles, and a dust mask when necessary. Water can contain dangerous chemicals that can harm your health if breathed in or in contact with skin
Not Testing for Phenol
If you don’t test for phenol, then you might not know that your restoration efforts are causing damage to your property. Phenol is a toxic chemical that can cause extensive damage to both indoor and outdoor surfaces.
Not Moving Furniture
If the furniture is left in place, it can become trapped in the water and damaged beyond repair. It’s important to remove furniture as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming a structural hazard.
Recycling Water Damage Supplies
When it comes to water damage restoration supplies, be sure to recycle anything possible. This includes old towels, rugs, and even empty water bottles. Doing so can help save resources and help reduce the impact of water damage on the environment.
Ignoring Advice from Professionals
If you don’t take advice from professionals, then you could end up doing more damage to your property than good.
Not Maintaining the Property After Restoration
If you don’t maintain your property after restoration, then it will eventually become damaged again. the importance of maintaining the property after restoration cannot be overstated.
This is because water damage can easily be fixed, but if it’s left unchecked, it can lead to more extensive damage.
Not Keeping Records of Restoration Work
If you don’t keep records of restoration work, then you might not be able to prove that you did restoration work on your property. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has a few recommendations for keeping track of restoration work:
- Keep estimates and invoices for all work performed
- Take photographs of the damage and the completed repairs or renovations
- Make a list of materials used in the repairs or renovations
- Make a list of people who participated in the repairs or renovations
There you have it! We have listed down some of the worst practices that you should avoid when it comes to water damage restoration. By following these guidelines, you will be able to prevent yourself from doing more damage than good.