What to do first when water is coming in your home or business

TIME IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE! ACT QUICKLY BUT CAREFULLY.

Call us immediately! Mold can start in 48 hours and toxins can become introduced to the water in hours.
Do not enter standing water if the power is on in the area.
First determine the Type of Liquid, and the class of toxicity, according the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification), from the lists below.
Wear protective gear like water proof boots, gloves, and respirators.
Open windows and place fans in side them to keep air moving.
DO NOT TRY TO REMIDIATE if the cause is more than Category 1 and Toxicity exceeds Class 1.
If water is coming from a broken pipe shut off the closest valve to the leak, or shut off water line at the entry point by the water meter.
Mop or wet van up any standing water,and pour outside or down drain like a bath tub or toilet.
Remove any wet materials like area rugs, furniture.

Category 1.
This is liquid from a clean and sanitary source, such as faucets, toilet tanks, drinking fountains, etc. But, category one can quickly degrade into category two.
Category 2.
This category of liquid used to be called grey water, and is described as having a level of contaminates that may cause illness or discomfort if ingested. Sources include dishwasher or washing machine overflows, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine but not feces
Category 3.
This is the worst classification and is grossly unsanitary. It could cause severe illness or death if ingested. It used to be called black water, and sources include sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, toilet overflow with feces, and stagnant liquid that has begun to support bacterial growth.

Class 1.
The lowest and easiest to deal with, this has a slow evaporation rate. Only part of a room or area was affected, there is little or no wet carpet, and the moisture has only affected materials with a low permeance rate, such as plywood or concrete.
Class 2.
With a fast evaporation rate, this level affects an entire room, carpeting, or cushioning, the wetness has wicked up the walls at least 12”, and there is moisture remaining in structural materials.
Class 3.
This class has the fastest evaporation rate, and ceilings, walls, insulation, carpet and sub-floors are all saturated. The liquid may have come from overhead.
Class 4.
This class is labeled as specialty drying situations, which means there has been enough liquid and time to saturate materials with very low permeance, such as hardwood, brick, or stone.

If toilet is clogged and overflowing. turn off water at the valve so it cannot be flushed again. Prevent cross contamination by not moving anything from the area.
Call us to evaluate the cause of the problem, and if needed we will call a plumber to find the issue.
If water continues to rise in the toilet or tub and no toilets have been flushed or water has been run, this issue may be from a back flow from the municipal water system, or from a saturated septic system.
Call us and your local municipal water system administrator and report a clog in the system not in your sewer line. Do not try to clean up as it will continue to rise.
Do not attempt to resolve yourself as the water is very toxic.
If water is from exterior penetration of the building there is nothing that can be done except reduce the damage. Remove all area rugs, furniture and other porus materials to a upper floor if available. If not place on the highest available space like counter tops.
Call us to schedule a time to come and remediate the damage.

What to do when you discover water coming in your home or business.