Tri-State Area Water Damage Tips

• Know where your property’s water main is located. Make sure everyone in your family knows how to turn it off in case of a burst pipe.
• Turn off utilities at the main power switch.
• Move valuables, important papers, and clothing to upper floors. If you have only one floor, put items on shelves, tables or countertops.
• Sanitize your bathtub and sinks and fill them with fresh, clean water in case the water supply becomes contaminated.
• If you feel threatened by rising water, leave your home or move to upper floors.
• Never try to drive through a flood. Six inches of water can cause loss of control and possible stalling.
• If you’re in your car when the water begins to rise quickly, abandon it and seek higher ground.
• Don’t walk through flood areas. Just 6 inches of water can sweep you away. Stay away from downed power lines.
• For more detailed information regarding safety planning and flood safety, visit www.ready.gov/floods.

If you need assistance with water damage restoration or flood cleanup, call Brock Restoration anytime. We offer free evaluation and emergency flood response. Call us day or night at 513-481-5844 or send us your contact information for a call back.

Do…

• Locate and turn off your water main to prevent further flooding.
• Once you are allowed back on the premises, check your insurance policy and get in touch with an agent for information on how to proceed with your claim.
• Turn off gas, water, and electricity when confronted by a flooded basement.
• If possible, take photographs of damaged items and property for your insurance claim.
• Open windows to ventilate the area.
• Contact the appropriate professionals immediately if you suspect damage to water, gas, electric, or sewer lines.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying (check for possible bleeding).
• Turn on air conditioning for maximum drying in summer; open windows to speed drying in winter.
• Place wood blocks covered in aluminum foil between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Open drawers and cabinet doors for complete drying (do not force).
• Throw away food that has come in contact with flood water.
• Remove valuable oil paintings and art objects to a safe place.
• Blot wet carpeting with clean white towels.
• Open suitcases and luggage to dry in sunlight, if possible.
• Punch small holes in sagging ceilings to relieve trapped water (don’t forget to place something to catch the water underneath).
• Contact a water damage cleanup and restoration company immediately. Wet carpeting, furniture, bedding, and any other items holding moisture or water inside the building can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours.

Do Not…

• Re-enter your home before checking for structural damage.
• If the fire department turns off your utilities (water, electricity, and gas) before they leave, it means they are unsafe to use. Do not try to turn them back on by yourself as this could be very dangerous and cause further damage to your home.
• Attempt to clean carpet and drapes. In many cases they will have to be removed. Drying without decontaminating does not remove mold spores.
• Turn on anything with an electric current if you smell natural gas, including telephone or light switches. Any small spark can cause a fire.
• Leave wet fabrics in place; dry as soon as possible. Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.
• Leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors.
• Use your household vacuum to remove water.
• Use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpet or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings sag from retained water.

1. Look and see if you can locate a break before thawing.
2. Increase temperatures in the home to help warm pipes.
3. Try to run the water, it may help thaw the pipes.
4. If you locate a break, immediately turn off your home’s water main to prevent further damage.
5. Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or open flame, this could cause fire or further damage. A hair dryer or heating pad works well for thawing pipes.
6. Move boxes and items off of the floor so they do not get damaged if a pipe bursts.
7. If flooding occurs, unplug electric items, which may come in contact with water.
8. If necessary, call a plumber or restoration company for assistance.

Understanding the Claim Process

For people experiencing a disaster for the first time, navigating through your insurance company’s claims process can be cumbersome. For more than 16 years, Brock Restoration has worked closely with property owners and insurance companies to complete the process quickly and efficiently. Brock Restoration offers the following five step guide to help simplify submitting and working through your claim:

Step 1: Submit your claim

You can submit your claim through your insurance agent and often through a select representative of your insurance provider. Typically you may submit your claim in several different ways, including over the telephone or over the internet. In most cases, you will talk to your agent who then provides you with direction and, in some cases, submits the claim on your behalf.

Step 2: Property adjuster assigned

Following the submission and filing of a claim, your insurance company will assign a property adjuster to assess your claim. While this is the most common scenario, your insurance company’s claims process may differ. The assigned property adjuster will usually meet you at your home or property to inspect the damage and then move forward with settling the claim.

Step 3: Look into your insurance policy

Understanding your insurance policy is a vital step to the process. One of the items often overlooked within a property policy is the necessity and responsibility of the property owner to prevent further damage to the property. With that said, it becomes the home owner’s responsibility to communicate with your insurance carrier, and if necessary, submit a claim without delay. Staying in your home may be unsafe, resulting in additional costs for food, lodging, etc. You will need to keep track of all associated expenses, as you may need to submit receipts as part of the claim for reimbursement.

Step 4: Brock Restoration takes it from here

Understand that in most cases, it takes time for your insurance company to process and settle the claim after submission. Several factors contribute to the length of processing time. Some claims may take as little as days, and others take months to go through from beginning to end.

Regardless of time frame, Brock Restoration acts quickly to minimize the impact on your home and family. We work with your insurance provider on every aspect of your claim to save time and expedite the repair process. Our goal is to return your property to pre-loss condition as soon as possible.

Step 5: The work is finished – what’s next?

When the repair process winds down and restoration nears completion, you may wonder about how to handle billing. In most cases, the insurance provider will pay the restoration contractor directly. However, your insurance provider may work a little differently. In some instances, the provider issues a check to the property or home owner. In this situation, the homeowner would make the payment to the restoration contractor upon completion of the work.

Ultimately, your insurance provider may hold you responsible for paying your deductible, usually collected by the selected contractor before work begins. Familiarize yourself with your policy to ensure you pay the proper deductible, if required.

Brock Restoration has over 40 years of experience working with insurance providers and homeowners. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding claims. Call us at 513-481-5844 or send us your contact information for a call back.

Is water removal covered by my insurance?

Insurance coverage depends entirely on your insurance policy. If your basement flooding is caused by a flooded toilet or broken pipe then the answer will most likely be yes. If the flooding is cause by rain fall, you may need a flood restoration policy. Your insurance company can provide you with a definitive answer.

How long will it take to dry?

Depending on a variety of conditions, most properties take an average of 3-5 days to completely dry. Continuous operation of professional drying equipment along with monitoring and adjustments made by a Brock Restoration team member will ensure the quickest drying outcome for your space.

How do you monitor the drying?

Our certified mitigation technicians will take moisture readings to determine moisture levels in the affected areas. Throughout the drying process, a representative from Brock Restoration will schedule periodic checks so they can monitor moisture readings and adjust equipment to accelerate drying.

Is it safe to stay on site during the drying process?

Noise and wind velocity created by air movers are sometimes bothersome. However, it is safe to stay on site unless instructed otherwise by your insurance company, your Brock Restoration representative, or your physician if you have unique medical circumstances. When in doubt, call us for advice.

Why is there a strange odor?

Even if the source of water that caused your flood is fresh, many property owners notice a strange smell following water damage. What you smell is bacterial off-gassing odor from building materials, furniture, dormant spills or possible pet accident areas. Most odors dissipate as the humidity drops back to normal levels. Additionally, we apply antimicrobial treatments to reduce bacterial growth and eliminate odors.

Will my floors need to be replaced?

The type of flooring, amount of moisture exposure, and severity of loss determine whether your flooring can be salvaged or will require replacement. We aim to restore whenever possible. Your Brock Restoration estimator and claims adjuster can help determine the most cost effective solution.

Should I be concerned about bacterial or mold growth?

With Brock Restoration’s Rapid Response, water removal and thorough drying process, there is very little chance bacterial organisms could turn into mold growth. On occasion, Brock Restoration personnel discover untreated water damaged areas where advanced mold growth activity is already in process. In these cases, we isolate the areas until a licensed environmental hygienist can evaluate and determine a plan going forward.

How will you match my carpet pad to the existing pad?

Our mitigation technicians will take a small sample of carpet pad, from an unaffected area, with them in order to match it to the newer section.

My ceiling and/or walls are wet. Why didn’t the emergency mitigation
technicians remove the drywall?

Due to federal regulations, we cannot remove drywall materials from any building-regardless of age, without first testing for asbestos content. If the materials test positive it will be removed under containment during the reconstruction phase, ensuring no one is exposed to unhealthy contaminants.

What type of equipment does Brock Restoration use?

Air movers:

We use fans to create a frictional force against the wet materials. This accelerates evaporation and pushes the moisture into the air. Additionally, it keeps the air well mixed for dehumidification.

Dehumidifiers:

Dehumidifiers are used to pull moisture out of the air and condense them back into liquid form. You will notice a drain tube pulling water out of the dehumidifier and into your sink or toilet. This is the quickest process known to drying science in removing unwanted moisture.

Are your antimicrobial and disinfectants safe for children and pets?

Our solution is a natural green product made from plant oils and mineral extracts. It is a disinfectant and a deodorizer in one. The disinfectant helps prevent the spread of microbial growth and the deodorizer stabilizes odors released in humid conditions. Our product is registered with the EPA as a food grade disinfectant and will cause no harm to occupants or pets. If any occupants of your home have chemical sensitivities, please advise our technicians.

What can I do to help?

The most important thing you can do to speed up the drying process and ensure your structure dries completely is to leave the equipment running at all times and notify us immediately if it shuts off for any reason. Also, having available access to your property greatly reduces the time needed to finish the job.

Who is ultimately responsible for payment?

The property owner is responsible for payment. If you have filed an insurance claim, Brock Restoration will collect your deductible at the time of service. The day following your loss, you can expect a call from our manager of new accounts, making sure we have all the information to quickly and accurately submit your claim and set up your account. Your Brock Restoration estimator will take care of working with your insurance company, ensuring the claims handling process runs as smoothly as possible.