Tackling a property flood cleaning project can be a major challenge. In most cases, it's wise to have a professional with experience visit your place to handle the work. Folks sometimes wonder why that is. Read on to look at four reasons you should call a pro after a flood.
Insurance
The simplest reason is that your insurance company is probably going to be unwilling to pay a claim if you try to do the job yourself. Most insurers prefer to work with licensed flood cleaning companies. This makes the claims process easier for the insurance company because it'll be dealing with professionals who know how to assess the damage and fill out reports. If you plan to file a claim, it's best to stick to your insurance policy provider's process.
Decontamination
Lots of contaminated stuff can get into a building and onto a property during and after a flood. Worse, floods generally occur during humid periods so there will be a notable risk of mold developing in buildings afterward. You also may encounter raw sewage from storm drains, septic tanks, or even your building's systems.
A flood cleaning firm will have the necessary personal protective equipment to operate in a contaminated environment. Likewise, they'll have access to appropriate chemicals for cleaning contaminated surfaces. They can also make dispassionate judgments about throwing out contaminated items. For example, it might be hard to throw out your kid's favorite teddy bear, but it needs to go if it's contaminated.
Thoroughness
Flood water and mud can get into all kinds of nooks in a building. Unless you have extensive experience doing property flood cleaning jobs, it's hard to think of everything. Professionals keep checklists to ensure they look in out-of-the-way places, such as the condenser of a building's HVAC system. They also can look at spots throughout a building and guess there might be problems based on experience. If you want to know the work will be thorough, bring in professionals.
Scale
Many flood cleaning projects can overwhelm what even a helpful neighborhood worth of people can do. This is especially true in terms of equipment. For example, cleaning hardwood flooring after a flood may require several large fans that operate at low speeds. If you use smaller and faster fans, there's a risk that the wood will warp while the floor dries out too quickly.
A company can also bring in multiple workers with the right gear and supplies. They will have experience working together so they can coordinate their efforts to get your place back to livable as fast as possible.
To learn more, contact a property flood cleaning service in your area.
