Nobody wants to think about it; returning home to find that a leak has sprung or a water pipe has come loose and your home has been flooded. Maybe it's just a room, maybe it's the entire house, whatever the damage, it isn't pleasant.

First Action Steps When Returning Home to Find Water Damage

However, like all things in life, forewarned is forearmed. Arm yourself with the information below from Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services so that you can be prepared for the event.

Call a Professional

If there is flooding in your home, then there is very little that you can do without the help of a professional. If you open the door and see flooding, call a professional property restorer to request their immediate attendance.

Turn off the Mains

Locate your water mains and turn it off immediately.

Look Around for Danger

Your instinct is likely to be telling you to rush into your home to either stop the leak or start searching for it. The first thing that you need to do, however, is STOP. Stop and assess the situation you are about to enter.

• Falling Dangers
  • Look to the ceiling. If there is any water leakage above you then it could affect the integrity of your ceiling. In basic terms, the ceiling could fall as you are walking through the room to turn off a leaking tap.
  • Large furniture items pose a danger if the water level has caused them to rise slightly. This can be enough for top-heavy items to topple over. Look around at any pieces of large furniture which match this description and be sure it is secure.
• Supply Dangers
  • If water has come in contact with power outlets in your home, then it poses a danger. Before you enter any flooded area in your home, turn off your electricity supply at the mains.
  • While you are there, be sure to turn off any gas mains. Just to be extra safe.
• What's on the Ground?
  • If the flood is caused by dirty water and you can't see the ground, depending on the level of flooding, it can be difficult to know what it in the water. While you shouldn't expect sharks, it is wise to expect slight brushes against your feet as you walk so as not to be frightened and cause yourself an injury.

If water has damaged your property, whether it be big or small, speak with somebody who knows what they're doing. Speak with an expert at Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services by calling (888) 436-3499 and find out how restoration services in Minneapolis can get the water out of your home and your family back in, quickly.

Tend to the Leak

Once you are sure of your safety and the safety of the situation, it's time to start looking for the leak. Here are the most common places you will find a leak, and how it likely occurred:

• Washing Machine
  • A washing machine is nothing but a big drum full of water. Dirty water, at that! When washing machines perform their spin-dry portion of the wash cycle, they tend to move. If left to occur, over time this can lead to the water intake and extraction hoses to come loose of their fittings.
• Dishwasher
  • As handy as they are, if one of their pipes bursts, their number one skill is flooding your kitchen. It takes something as simple as a loose nut which has been left to move slightly over time. Eventually, it reaches a point where it bursts.
• Toilet
  • Plumbers are not cheap. Nor are they easy to get a hold of. This is often why people leave their noisy or constantly-refilling toilets alone and ignore the noise.  Once they break even further, however, it spells flooded disaster for your home. A broken toilet can continue attempting to refill continuously until the mains are switched off.
• Leaking Faucet
  • If you have been putting up with a faucet that takes a while to turn off or is always dripping, then this is a very good place to look when trying to find the cause of your flood. If the washer just can't take it anymore, then water starts to gush out - an event which isn't as hilarious as the movies would have you believe.

Reliable Property Restoration Services in Minneapolis

By the time you have located your leak, Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services ((888) 436-3499) will have likely arrived. Trust in their knowledge and experience to safely assess your property and create a plan to get your property back on track. If you need property restoration services in Minneapolis, you can't go past Archer Cleaning & Restoration Services.