Dealing with Emergency Water Damage in Your Kitchen? Act Now!

Find (and Stop) the Water Source

Some emergency water damage is caused by nature, such as hurricanes and flooding. However, if the water is coming from somewhere inside the home, it’s vital to locate the source as soon as possible.

Start by locating your home’s water main and turning it off immediately. The sooner you do this, the quicker you can mitigate the damage.

Once you’ve turned the water off, it’s time to locate the source of the water. If water is leaking from above, it could be a leaky plumbing pipe, appliance, tub, or toilet. Make note of the problem and contact an emergency plumber right away.

While you do this, you should also turn off the electricity to be safe. Switch off the circuit breaker if the issue is from a leaking appliance, and never use any electrical-powered items in or near the flooded area. If you’re uncertain about safety, it’s best to simply turn off all of the electricity to your home at the main electrical panel until a professional can assess the damage.

Remove As Much Water As You Can

One positive aspect of kitchen water damage is that you’re not dealing with soaked, waterlogged carpets. Start mopping up as much water as you can before it spreads to other areas of your home.

If your kitchen has doors that open to the outside, try “sweeping” or pushing the water out using a broom. Use thick towels to try and soak up as much of the water as you can.

This is also the time to start opening windows and turning on as many fans as you can to keep your kitchen ventilated. The more air that circulates, the less you’ll need to worry about mold and mildew. It’s also important to ventilate the home to help speed up the drying process.

Move Your Stuff

If you have items on the floor, now is the time to get them off the floor and outside if possible. Everything from rugs and furniture should be removed from the kitchen so it can either be thrown away or put out to dry.

Wood and drywall soak up water like a sponge. Take items like wooden tables and chairs outside if weather permits so that they can start drying and won’t take up any more moisture.

Emergency Water Damage: Call the Professionals

These first steps are vital if you want to keep the kitchen water damage to a minimum. However, calling a professional water damage restoration company like AAA Restoration is the most important step of all.

Once you’ve identified the source, turned off the water and power, and started drying and ventilating, it’s time to get help from the pros. Our team has the skills, equipment, and knowledge required to help restore your home and get things back to normal after any form of emergency water damage occurs.

The sooner you call and use our services, the sooner you can get your kitchen and home safe and dry again. Remember, every minute counts when it comes to water damage, and that’s why there is no time to waste.

The Restoration Process

Emergency water cleanup is just part of the picture — restoration is also vital to make sure your home is repaired properly. Here are some of the steps involved in the water damage restoration process.

Water Removal and Drying Your Home

We’ve already recommended that you try to remove as much water and dry as much as you can. However, our professional team will come and use powerful pumps and vacuums to speed up the process.

After we perform a safety check and bring in our equipment, we’ll focus on drying and dehumidifying. This step helps to dry things out faster to prevent the growth of dangerous mold and mildew that could put you and your family’s health at risk. The industrial-grade dehumidifiers we use pull moisture out of the walls and floors to help prevent further damage.

Clean and Sanitize

AAA Restoration uses EPA-approved cleaning products that don’t just clean your home. They also sanitize everything to help prevent health risks like dangerous bacteria from spreading.

A thorough cleaning is crucial to ensure that your home doesn’t just look clean, but that it’s also physically clean. Doing this will ensure that your kitchen is safe to use again when everything is restored.

Repair and Restoration

The final step is perhaps the most important since it involves making repairs to any damaged parts of your home. Whether it’s replacing flooring and drywall or installing new tile in damaged areas, this step brings your kitchen back to its original condition.

In most cases, your homeowner’s insurance company will recommend a general contractor to make repairs. Whomever you choose, make sure they have the credentials to provide you with a high-quality home restoration job.

Some portions of the repair and restoration process might be minor, like removing and installing small sections of drywall or replacing an appliance. On the other hand, some repairs could be major, like ripping out the kitchen floors and installing new flooring.

Don’t Wait When Water Strikes

If you’re faced with emergency water damage in your kitchen, don’t wait to take action. Remember our tips and make sure you call in a professional damage restoration company that knows how to help you restore your home for a safe, dry space.

If you are located in the Tri-State Area and need professional water and fire restoration services, contact the team at AAA Restoration today so we can help.