What to do if your house floods
Life happens. Sometimes though, it can seem like too much life is happening. At least that’s how it feels when you wake up in the morning to discover water pooling in your basement. Here’s a simple guide for when that particularly irritating component of life happens.
What’s Happening?
The first thing to do after you notice flooding is to determine what exactly is happening. There’s a big difference between the steps you need to take to protect yourself from a river overflowing and a toilet leaking.
Once you’ve determined the cause of the flood, assess whether or not you can control the flood. If the water is flooding from an external source, like snow melt channeling through a crack in your foundation, chances are you will not be able to stop the inflow. If the water is flooding from inside your house, shutting off the water is an absolute necessity.
Next, see if you can fix the issue yourself. If not, call a plumber out to assess the situation and provide an estimate. Sometimes it's best to go with the latter option if you aren't absolutely positive you can handle the situation without help.
Mitigate Damage
Regardless of what causes the flood, you will need to take pictures – a lot of pictures. You know how your phone can sometimes fill up with selfies or pictures of your grandchildren? Take an equivalent number of photos of your flood and its damage.
Next, it’s time to begin mitigating damages. When you file an insurance claim, you’ll need to show you did your best to prevent future damage when you became aware of the flood. At a bare minimum, you should be moving your stuff out of the flood area and unplug any electronics that are in the vicinity of the flood.
Going a step further, some experts recommend tearing up your floor or carpet if it becomes water damaged. However, this article is only a beginner’s guide for dealing with house floods, so consult an expert (or your insurance company!) before destroying anything in your home.
Insurance Time
Remember all those photos you took? Those will come in handy when you speak with your insurance company. Depending on the situation and the claim amount, your photos can be the difference between getting everything you ask for and having to fight with the insurance company for reimbursement. Here are some tips for navigating the insurance claim process.
Safeguard for Next Time
Once everything is settled and your house is back to normal, you’ll want to take steps to avoid a similar situation from happening in the future. Small fixes like cleaning your gutters or installing a backflow valve can go a long way in preventing future disasters, especially in the Canadian winter. Ask your insurance company if they offer discounts or reimbursements for products that safeguard against flood damage.
In a perfect world, you will never have to deal with this situation. Unfortunately, it's a very common problem. If you find yourself the victim of a house flooding, stay calm. Assess the situation, find out the cause, take photos, mitigate damage and call your insurance company. Once everything is back to normal, take steps to prevent future floods and avoid having to repeat the not-so-enjoyable process.