For most of us, we will never experience the kind of flood described below, but if you are one of the unfortunate few who do, it is important to know what to do to minimize and control the water damage. Hopefully, the information below will be helpful should you find yourself in a situation where your washing machine floods.
A few weeks ago, Biotek Environmental was called to a home in which there was a washing machine flood. The supply hose to the washing machine had burst, and as you can imagine, the resulting flooding had created a real mess. Not only was the laundry room floor covered with water, but the water had flowed into the kitchen and other living areas of the home.
Hardwood flooring, carpet, baseboards, and cabinetry in the kitchen and laundry room were wet and at risk of being permanently damaged, the drywall behind the washing machine was wet and water had flowed through the HVAC duct into the crawlspace below.
At that point, a significant amount of damage had been done, but there were things that, had they known what to do, the homeowner could have done to mitigate and minimize the long-term impact on the home of the washing machine flood.
Unfortunately, they didn’t know what to do, and the damage became much greater than it might otherwise have been. With their experience fresh on my mind, I thought it might be helpful to others if they had a “roadmap” of how to handle this sort of situation when your washing machine floods.
The situation above could just have easily been a broken pipe, and overflow from an HVAC drain pan or an overflowed washing machine, toilet, or bathtub. The steps to mitigate the damage are similar in all of these situations and are generally as follows:
Water Damage Mitigation
- Turn the water off! The first step in first aid is “stop the bleeding”, and this is no different. Turn off the water source as quickly as possible. You may be able to do that at the appliance or you may have to turn it off to the whole house until the root cause can be identified and rectified.
- Cut the power from the circuit breaker. DO NOT TRY TO PULL THE PLUG! Water is a great electrical conductor and there is a very real danger that you may electrocute yourself. The plug may be partially submerged in water and must only be dealt with when the power has been turned off.
- If the issue is related to a washing machine or dishwasher, don’t stop or cancel the process. This may move the machine onto the drain cycle and, if the leak is from the drain line, it will exacerbate the flooding.
- Call a professional company to assess the damage and get things under control. Unless the leak is very minor, you will not be able to effectively extract the water with a Shop-Vac. In addition, water will flow beneath cabinets, under baseboards, and under vinyl and hardwood flooring, and special techniques and equipment are needed to ensure that these areas are dried effectively, otherwise, mold will grow in the hidden areas and the problem will become much more expensive to remedy later.
- Call your insurance company. Notice that this step is AFTER you do whatever you can to control the damage and AFTER calling a professional company to help with extraction and drying. Your insurance company wants you to do everything that you can to mitigate the damage immediately upon discovering that there has been a flood situation and to call them after you have “stopped the bleeding”.
The Best Practice is Preventive Practice
It is easy to avoid most floods and leaks if you regularly engage in some basic preventive actions.
- Before you are faced with a problem like this, do some research and decide who you would call for help. Go to the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List and other similar organizations and research the providers in your area. For example, at Biotek Environmental, Inc.., we are an A+ company with the Better Business Bureau and have been in the top 5% nationwide with Angie’s List for five consecutive years. All restoration companies are not the same, so be sure that you know who you can trust before you are faced with an emergency.
- Use “burst proof” braided stainless steel hoses on your washing machine.
- Check hoses regularly for wear and tear and leakage at the connections to the washing machine, dishwasher etc.
- Turn off water supply valves when leaving the house for extended trips and vacations. If your home is on a well, turn the water pump off when leaving.
- Have your hot water heater “flushed” annually to remove sediment from the bottom. This extends the life of the heating elements and reduces the likelihood of rust-through of the tank.
- If your home is older, periodically get a plumber to inspect the home to determine whether the pipes are serviceable or not. While this may seem like an unnecessary expense, it is a small price compared to the disruption and expense of a major water intrusion.
- Have your HVAC provider inspect the drain pan and condensate removal system on an annual basis.
Biotek Environmental, Inc. has been providing water damage restoration and emergency water damage repairs since 2007. Our crews handle water damage repair in accordance with proven industry standards and help you minimize the cost of mitigation, and the potential for mold growth is eliminated.
As a result of our excellent reputation, We have an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau in the water damage and restoration markets we serve. We offer the best and most comprehensive 30-Year Warranty in the industry. Don’t choose any Remediation or Restoration Company that does not provide a legitimate bumper-to-bumper warranty on all their services! Call us toll-free for all your water damage and mold restoration needs at 866-630-7340 or contact us online.
