There’s a reason many of us feel the near-paranoid worry about checking all our windows, taps, and powered appliances before leaving for vacation – missing one potential vulnerability point could lead to extensive property damage or theft. But what if you come back from vacation and realize a tap has been left on, or a pipe has burst, or other water damage has occurred in your property?
Well, depending on how long you’ve been gone for, how the water has pooled and how extensively your property has been soaked, you may be looking at a quick repair or an extensive renovation. In some cases, the property may be uninhabitable, such as if a rooftop leak or burst pipe has led to water penetrating the flooring and leading to the beginnings of rot.
This is hardly a warm welcome back to your household after a little time away. Regardless, consider some of these tips for getting started, allowing you to swallow the misfortune and take action going forward:
Assess A Fix To Stop The Leak
If there are puddles of water in your household or the floor has been deeply watered, it may be best to leave the property until a specialist with safety equipment can address it. If you can make it to the water mains and switch them off safely, then that could be a priority. As safely as you can, assess the damage, and remain clear about the issues with the emergency contractor you call offering water damage restoration. If you can, inform your neighbors, just in case the issue affects them – this is essential, especially if you live in a terraced or semi-detached household.
Checking For Electrical Hazards
If water has soaked through the walls or flooring, there’s a chance that your electrical circuit has been affected. If you turned off your fuse box before leaving for vacation, keep it off, and don’t try to switch it on unless the issue has been resolved. If the water hasn’t affected certain rooms, using rubber gloves, you can switch off power outlets and unplug appliances where necessary. Again, make sure of your safety before you begin. This will enable you to reduce the damage and prevent any electrical dangers.
Arrange Alternative Living Arrangements
For now, you may need to live elsewhere for a few days while the issue is resolved. You can visit your local housing charity if you need assistance or ask friends or relatives to help you for a couple of days if possible. If not, renting an Airbnb or hotel room for a few days will help you settle yourself. This is because a water-damaged household can be filled with potentially dangerous variables, and if you have children especially, it’s just not worth living there until you get the all-clear from your contractor. If certain renovative work needs to take place, that can be a focus too. You may be able to remain in the house if it were an outside tap causing a garden flood. When moving back in, make sure to check for mold or dampness, which will need to be addressed before you live there once more.
With this advice, you’re sure to recover a difficult water-damaged household, despite an easy mistake.