What to Do When You Have a Water Leak or Flood

Key Takeaways

• Acting quickly after a significant leak or flood can help minimize property damage. Start by ensuring safety, shutting off the water, and containing the area.
• Be sure to document all the damage and contact an environmental specialist—a qualified professional can help you assess the damage, dry and clean the area, and restore parts of your property.
• Water damage can create an ideal environment for mold growth, meaning additional remediation efforts may be required without prompt and proper water mitigation and restoration.
• Take preventative measures, such as scheduling routine maintenance services and waterproofing your property to reduce the likelihood of future leaks and floods.

Learning How to Address Water Leaks or Floods

The heavy rainfall and aging infrastructure throughout the Pacific Northwest raise concerns about water leaks and floods. In fact, approximately 19,673 Portland, Oregon properties are at risk of flooding over the next 30 years, making it essential to know what to do after floods.

Prompt action is crucial following a natural disaster or water leak detection. Safely cutting off the water supply, containing the area, and scheduling a professional water leak repair service can help you maintain a safe and structurally sound building. 

You should also document and assess damages. Then, your environmental specialist can dry or clean the affected area and help you prevent future issues by waterproofing your property. For instance, adaptations like bioswales can prevent water from leaking into the basement after heavy rain​ or minor floods.

The steps and considerations below can help you learn what to do when a home is flooding. However, you should consult a trusted remediation team like Alpha Environmental for tailored advice and hands-on assistance.

Immediate Steps to Take When You Have a Water Leak or Flood

Taking prompt action during a water leak or flood is essential to minimize damage and avoid further complications like mold growth, which demands additional remediation efforts. Follow the steps below to mitigate risks after flood or water leak detection.

1. Ensure Safety

Since water can conduct electrical currents, you should avoid walking through standing water, especially near electrical outlets. If possible, turn off electricity in affected areas before moving to the following steps—your safety is of the utmost importance.

2. Shut Off Your Water Supply

If there is a clear, safe path, the next most important step is to prevent more water from pooling. If an appliance is the source of the leak, turn it off immediately. Otherwise, locate and turn off the main shutoff valve for a more comprehensive approach. This should cut off water flow to all outlets, including sinks and showers, preventing bathroom floods from worsening.

If your property is flooding from natural sources like storms, it may be impossible to restrict the water supply. Contacting a professional is the best way to fix a flooded backyard that has infiltrated your home. Nevertheless, you can be proactive by trying to elevate damageable items and focus your attention on containing the water flow.

3. Contain the Water

If the leak or flood is ongoing, you can try to direct water toward a drain to limit spread. Drip diverter bags or drainage channels made out of waterproof tarps or plastic sheeting can be very helpful for redirecting water flow. Some other examples of helpful water containment tools are:

• Towels
• Buckets
• Wet vacuums

Depending on the severity of the issue, common household items like towels and buckets may not be enough to redirect the flow. However, the professional remediators at Alpha Environmental have access to a variety of high-end water containment tools, so it’s important to call a trusted specialist as soon as possible.

4. Contact a Professional

Seeking professional help can guarantee that water damage is properly mitigated and repairs are handled efficiently. In addition to helping you contain and remove the water from a leak or a flood, a trained specialist can perform water damage restoration to return your property to a safe and desirable state.

5. Document all Damage

Before and throughout the entire remediation process, you should be taking pictures of all affected areas to facilitate insurance claim approval. Not every business or homeowner’s insurance plan covers leak and flooding instances; it will depend on the policy and the cause of the damages. However, having sufficient proof of damages is crucial if your plan does. 

Alpha Environmental can mediate between you and your insurance provider to make your life easier. So, as we assess and repair your property, we can keep you updated on what your insurance will and won’t cover to tailor your expectations and promote informed decision-making. Our team can also provide the appropriate information to help ensure the claim is adequately covered.

How to Assess the Water Damage

After completing the steps above, it is vital to gauge the severity of the water damage to determine the best course of action. Prioritize the following tasks to choose the optimal next steps.

Identify the Source of the Leak or Flood

Water damage can originate from various parts of your home. Start by checking for visible leaks from pipes, appliances, roofs, or basement cracks. However, sometimes the source can be hidden. In that case, look for warning signs of water intrusion, such as discoloration of building materials or musty odors. 

Knowing where the water came from can help you gauge the damage it caused. For example, pipes bursting in walls can generate extensive damage due to the drywall and other structural components that the water could have reached.

Determine the Extent of the Damage

Once you have located the source of the issue, analyze nearby walls, floors, and furniture to determine how far the water has spread. Alpha’s qualified professionals have access to specialized equipment, such as hygrometers, which can read moisture levels in hard-to-reach places. Our specialists also know how to navigate the damaged property safely, as many leaks or floods involve sewage or stormwater and, therefore, pose contamination risks.

Drying and Cleaning After a Water Leak or Flood

Although you may be able to take steps to dry areas yourself, substantial water damage should be addressed by professionals. They may implement the following steps to dry and clean the affected space during water leak repair.

Removing Excess Water

If necessary, Alpha’s specialists remove wet carpets, furniture, and insulation from your property. They may also employ various devices to accelerate the drying process. Some examples of equipment our professionals may use to remove excess water are:

• Flood pumpers – Specialized wet vacuums with multi-gallon tanks that allow for controlled water extraction.
• Air movers – Large, specialized fan systems that powerfully circulate air throughout a targeted space.
• Dehumidifiers – Devices that remove draw-in humid air and cool it down to collect condensed water. After removing moisture from the air, dehumidifiers reheat and redisperse the drier air.

The equipment mentioned above is commonly used to mitigate water damage, but each situation may require unique tools to extract pooled and airborne water. 

Washing and Disinfecting Affected Areas

After the area is as dry as possible, it is crucial to sanitize affected areas, especially if contaminated water is involved. When needed, our specialists will apply antimicrobial treatments to prevent fungal development during this step. Our team always wears personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid mold exposure when cleaning contaminated areas.

Risks of Unaddressed Water Damage

Historically, neglecting water damage has jeopardized buildings’ structural integrity, property value, and inhabitants’ health. In many cases, prompt, full-scale restoration efforts are required to avoid further complications. 

For example, unaddressed water damage can encourage the development of mold colonies, which eat away organic materials and lower indoor air quality (IAQ), putting inhabitants at risk. During the water damage restoration process, you may need mold services, such as testing and abatement, to determine whether your property is safe for occupants.

How a Professional Can Help After a Leak or Flood

Professional water damage restoration services use specialized equipment, including pumps and dehumidifiers, to remove moisture efficiently. Plus, Alpha Environmental offers a comprehensive repair and rebuild service after everything is dried out. Our specialists can replace damaged materials, such as flooring, drywall, carpets, or paint, to restore your property to the best condition possible. Immediate restoration efforts prevent mold growth and further structural damage.

Signs You Need Expert Help

Some people try to address leaks or floods by themselves, but the damage may be too severe to do so. Knowing when you should call an expert for help is the best way to minimize damage and remediation costs. Some examples of situations where professional water damage restoration services are necessary are:

• You notice structural damage to walls, ceilings, or flooring
• There is standing water that cannot be removed with household tools like towels or buckets
• Components of your home have been exposed to moisture for prolonged periods, increasing the risk of mold growth

If any of the aforementioned situations apply, choose the right restoration company after a flooding by getting multiple quotes and considering referrals and online reviews. If you live in the greater Portland area, you can rest easy knowing that Alpha Environmental has the knowledge, experience, and compassion to address your water-damaged property with care and urgency.

Preventing Future Water Leaks and Floods

In addition to addressing existing water damage, qualified professionals like the ones at Alpha can help you safeguard your property and reduce the likelihood of future leaks or floods. Consider the following approaches to enhance flood preparedness for commercial properties and homes.

Schedule Routine Plumbing Maintenance

You should have a knowledgeable specialist conduct regular inspections of pipes and appliances to keep a pulse on wear and tear. Doing so can prevent early detection, allowing you to address problems before they worsen. You can also install preventative devices like leak detectors and automatic shutoff valves for added security.

Waterproof Your Property

Is your property equipped to handle the ever-changing weather of Portland, Oregon? If not, you can take steps to help your home or business endure rainfall and abrupt weather changes. Some examples of waterproofing initiatives that you can try to safeguard your property include:

• Hire a professional to seal cracks in the foundation of your property
• Have a specialist improve your drainage systems
• Regularly maintain roofs and gutters to prevent water intrusion
• Consider installing bioswales and dry wells to redirect rainwater and floods

Although the methods above have proven to be beneficial for many homes and businesses, each property is different and may require an individualized approach to waterproofing.

Rely on Alpha Environmental’s Dependable Water Damage Restoration Services

Water damage can occur for various reasons, including water leaking into a basement after heavy rain. Due to the stressful nature of the situation, remembering what to do when a home is flooding can be challenging. Do your best to remain calm, quick, and strategic after a flood or water leak detection. 

Once you ensure the area is safe, try to stop the water flow and contain the area while you wait for a professional to execute the flood or water leak repair. Qualified professionals, like the ones at Alpha Environmental, know exactly what to do after floods or severe leaks, and they can help you restore your property to a better, safe state.

Our multi-talented team of environmental specialists can address water damage and repair various parts of your property. For over two decades, we have been offering the greater Portland area a variety of top-of-the-line services that can come in handy after a leak or flood, ranging from mold removal to drywall repair.

Contact Alpha Environmental today to discuss how we can restore your property to the best condition possible.