How To Save Money When Repairing Water Damage
While no one expects to deal with water problems in their home or business, these disasters can happen to anyone. Storm damage from severe weather or faulty construction in your home can cause flooding, mold, and other water problems.
If you have water damage, you might be stressed about how to pay for everything. After all, water damage can be costly and challenging to address, especially if your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover the issue.
Whether the water damage was caused by flooding, burst pipes, or any other underlying cause, you’ll want to repair your home and belongings as quickly as possible and restore order.
This guide will cover how to effectively repair water damage without breaking the bank. It will provide tips that you can follow on your own and highlight when it’s best to get professional assistance.
When to Work With Water Damage Restoration Experts
While you may think that restoring the destruction yourself is the cheapest way to fix your home, this often isn’t the case. If the water damage is moderate to severe, you’ll likely spend a lot more time and money than you bargained for, as you won’t have the proper tools and experience.
At the very least, it’s wise to have water damage restoration professionals assess the damage for underlying problems, mainly because mold, mildew, and bacteria can grow if the area isn’t restored correctly.
As Ryan Kelly of Chicago Water and Fire points out, “Once water is extracted and drying equipment has been set up, the microbial growth clock has been effectively stopped. Meaning that as long as enough drying equipment has been set up, microbial growth stops and areas that were once affected begin to dry and return to normal.”
So, according to professionals in the field, stopping any microbial growth is vital. Otherwise, you could end up with even more expensive problems to address down the line.
More Tips For Saving Money on Water Damage Restoration
After any significant water damage problem, professionals will assess how extensive the issues are. From there, you can determine how much work you can do yourself.
If you feel confident you can tackle most or some of the repairs on your own, here are some tips for saving money while fixing water damage:
- Ask family and friends for help: Some of the work of repairing water damage requires a lot of muscle and endurance. If you get help from your family and friends, it’s easier to move out furniture and rip out flooring.
- Throw things out when in doubt: While it might seem counterintuitive to saving money, it’s usually best to rip out the carpet and other elements to ensure you don’t end up with mold or bacteria. If you’re unsure whether components of your home can be salvaged, it’s better to get rid of them.
- Keep yourself safe from electricity: If you want to keep yourself safe while avoiding further electrical issues, take extra precautions to ensure power to the flooded or water-damaged area is off.
Finally, remember that restoring a home that’s been damaged by water can be a long, expensive process. It’s often best to work with experts who can restore your home to a functional state in less time. Professionals also know how to avoid dangerous, long-lasting issues such as mold and electric shock.
With these ideas in mind, you’ll be ready to restore your home while being safe and saving money.