Handling Water Damage

2/11/2022 (Permalink)

The first step in making a water damage claim is calling your insurance agent.

When you see the initial water damage, you might feel this overwhelming dread caused by the list of things needing to be completed. SERVPRO of Ottumwa & Grinnell has comprised a list of steps you should take when getting a water claim completed. 

Step 1: Phone Your Insurance Agent

This is the first step in the right direction when relieving the stress of a disaster. You will tell the agent about the claim you want to have completed, and they will take the necessary steps.

Step 2: Finding the Source

When finding the source of the water leak, the easiest way is to pull out your Emergency Ready Profile if you had one completed. If not, you will need to walk around to try and find the source of the leak. Some examples of a possible source are:

1. Broken pipe
2. A pipe burst due to cold weather.
3. Overflowing toilet or sink
4. Crack in the foundation

Once you find the source, the next best step is to find the water shut-off knob, usually located under the kitchen sink.

Step 3: Call SERVPRO of Ottumwa & Grinnell

Once you speak with one of our 24/7 call representatives, they will direct a member of our staff to your home to complete a scope of work. The Project Manager will then create the best course of action to instruct the technicians on the best mitigation practices. This course of action is generated by our proprietary software that shoots information such as where to place air movers, providing optimal drying times. 

Step 4: Reconstruction

SERVPRO has recently added reconstruction services to our list, which means we can be the one-stop shop for the entire restoration process. This service is considered a different project. Once the mitigation team gives us the green light, we will have one of our Reconstruction Project Managers come out and do a scope of work. 

By completing these easy steps, we can ensure a smooth transition from disaster back to normalcy once more. If you want a smoother transition, call SERVPRO of Ottumwa & Grinnell at 641-682-0782 and ask to set up a time to complete an Emergency Ready Profile.