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A Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Your Burnaby Home After a Flood

Unfortunately, as a homeowner, there can be a lot that’s out of your control, especially when it comes to the weather. But that’s not the only thing that can cause a flood event: there’s also burst pipes, plumbing emergencies, local sewage backups, the list goes on. That’s why it’s important to be prepared for them should the unthinkable occur. Having an action plan in place can help keep you and your family safe, as well as protect your property and belongings.

As one of the leading Burnaby restoration companies, the team from Malkin Cleaners has helped hundreds of homeowners in the area restore their properties after a flood or water damage event. Below, we’ve collected a guide to help you should you ever need it!

Locate the Source of the Water

One of the first things you should do when your Burnaby home floods is to locate the source of the water and determine whether water is still entering your home. Flooding could be caused by any number of things, such as cracks in your home’s foundation or a broken pipe, so be sure to inspect your household thoroughly.

Once you’ve located the source of the water, turn off the main water valve in your home if it can be easily and safely accessed.

Cut Off Your Electricity

Flooding can pose serious electrical hazards, which is why it’s always best to shut off your home’s electricity to avoid any chance of electrocution. However, only do so if your home’s breaker or fuse box is located in an area that can be safely reached. You should never wade through water to reach it; in this case, it’s always safest to contact your local electrician or power company for assistance.

Be Watchful of Contaminated Water

In a flood event, you can’t always be sure of where the water is coming from; in some cases, it could be due to a broken sewer valve or pipe causing raw sewage to leak into your home. In this scenario, it’s important to avoid contact with such water as it could contain harmful bacteria or chemicals. If you do need to wade around in it for one reason or another, be sure to wear high waterproof boots or waders to avoid contamination.

Document Everything

The sooner you begin documenting all of the damage throughout your home the better. When assessing the damage, be as thorough as possible. Be sure to take pictures with a camera or cell phone of damaged objects in the home or areas where water is seeping in. If you have a video camera on your phone, do a video walkthrough of your house describing the different areas of damage.

When going through and documenting water damage, be sure to do so before you have a remediation company come and remove water from your home. This is because if you do so afterward, it may lessen the amount of flood coverage you receive from your insurance provider.

Contact Your Insurance Company

The sooner you can notify your insurance provider that you’ve suffered water damage the better. Always have their number handy in case of emergencies. After contacting them, send along all of the documentation you’ve collected and describe the damage to them in detail. The more detailed you can be, the more likely they are to help cover some of the costs and help you during the remediation process.

At this point, it can be useful to tell your insurance provider what type of repairs or remediation services you intend to invest in. However, some companies may suggest holding off on hiring anyone or beginning repairs yourself until you’ve had an adjuster come out to assess the damage.

Beginning the Remediation Process

After completing all of the steps above, it’s time to begin the remediation process. One of the best ways to minimize damage and ensure everything goes as planned is to hire a professional, like the team from Malkin Cleaners. This is because a team of specialists will not only be able to provide water damage restoration, but also services like sewage cleanup and mold remediation that may be necessary as well.

Water & Property Removal Process

After a flood event in your home, it’s important to begin the remediation as soon as possible. The sooner you begin, the better you’ll be able to minimize the damage to your home and your belongings. Most water damage remediation companies, Malkin Cleaners included, will begin the process by removing your valuable property and starting the restoration process. All of your belongings will be sorted into salvageable and unsalvageable piles; the property that can’t be salvaged will be removed and safely disposed of.

Once all of the items that can be salvaged are identified, they’ll then begin to repair and restore them to their former state before they received water damage. A professional water damage restoration company will also provide you with a list of salvageable/non-salvageable items for you and your insurance provider’s reference.

At this point, specialists will bring in equipment to remove any existing water on the premises, drying your home out completely to prevent any structural damage.

The Mold Remediation Process

During the water damage restoration process, professionals will also test your home to make sure that you’re not also in need of mold remediation. They’ll take air or surface samples to determine if mold is present. Often, homes that have been flooded and experienced a significant amount of time before beginning the remediation process are more likely to be infected with mold or mildew.

If professionals find mold in your home, they’ll begin the remediation process by using specialized equipment and solutions to clean your property and remove it. It’s important to remove all of the existing mold spores before beginning the restoration of your home. Once all the mold is removed, you can begin repairing any structural damage suffered from flooding and any other water damage.

To avoid mold growth in the future, you can take steps like investing in a sump pump or dehumidifier to decrease the ambient amount of moisture in your home; this is especially useful for those who live in particularly moist locales.

Looking for restoration companies near you? Contact Malkin Cleaners

Having a reliable water damage restoration company on call is one of the best ways to minimize damage in an emergency. We serve all of Vancouver and the surrounding areas, offering 24/7 flood cleanup, fire damage, and water damage remediation services. Since 1923, we’ve been one of the premier specialists in the area and have helped hundreds of businesses and residents clean up after suffering an unexcepted flood, fire, or another emergency.

In addition to our remediation and cleanup services, Malkin Cleaners also offers furnace and duct cleaning. We operate locations in Burnaby, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, West Vancouver, Richmond, and Coquitlam.

For more information or to schedule a service appointment, contact us online today. For emergency service, call (604) 970-9052.