How Does SERVPRO Handle Electrical Hazards in a Flooded Home?

10/6/2020 (Permalink)

Safety is our First Priority When Dealing with Water Intrusion in Newington Homes.

Safety is our First Priority When Dealing with Water Intrusion in Newington Homes.

If you enjoy fall festivals, Newington is the place to visit. Mill Pond Farm is the main focus of this quaint autumn celebration. Thousands of families attend and enjoy the event. Newington is also home to over 30,000 people, many of whom are homeowners. Water intrusions happen all the time in these homes. From burst pipes to broken water heaters, water can pour into these homes, causing all kinds of destruction. 

What are Some of the Electrical Risks Involved in Water Damage?

Whenever you have water intrusion, you have environmental hazards. There are structural hazards, hazardous materials, and electrical hazards. Water damage restoration companies in Newington, such as SERVPRO, are trained to handle all types of water damage situations. We put safety first in every circumstance. 

Water & Electricity Don’t Mix

There is nothing more dangerous than mixing water and electricity. When our crews arrive at a water damage scene, electrical hazards are among the first things they look for on the premises. There are many ways moisture can come into contact with electrical elements. These can include things such as:

• Roof leaks or upper-level pipe leak causing water to seep into wall wiring.
• Water intrusions deep enough to come in contact with receptacles and plugs.
• Electrical appliances in standing water. 

Many electrical items get shorted out when coming in contact with water. But our technicians have seen some pretty strange things such as a light bulb, fully submerged, completely lit. You can never be too careful.

Safety Precautions

The power distribution panel is one of the first things technicians check. All circuit breakers get turned off. If the homeowner can safely shut off these currents before SERVPRO arrives, it is helpful. It may not be necessary to shut electricity down completely, if all areas are not affected. The water inside wall cavities or places where there are electrical outlets can pose a hidden danger. Our technicians implement the following:

• Signs get posted warning of electrical hazards
• Have the power turned off at the outside source if needed
• Use a generator when no electricity is available
• Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) to detect too much current
• Use heavy extension cords for heavy equipment
• Avoid using metal objects that might come in contact with energized circuits
• Determine where electrical elements such as wiring are located before drilling or cutting into structural components
• Never turning on electrical appliances or fixtures that have been exposed tO water or while standing on wet surfaces.
• Make sure electricity is off at the box before unplugging wet items.

All of these safety measures are part of our water damage restoration service. Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified crew members are trained in the highest level of safety precautions. 

Restoring Your Home

Once the safety of the premises has been established SERVPRO can move on with restoring your home. Water extraction is the foremost issue. Not only do you need the water removed for safety reasons but to prevent secondary damage. Depending on the amount of water spillage, it can spread rapidly to unaffected areas relatively quickly. SERVPRO uses a variety of water extraction techniques, including different pumps, rovers, and squeegees. Moisture meters and probes help detect where the moisture is and how the drying process is working. Air movers and dehumidifiers move and pull dampness and moisture from materials and the air. The building and contents are returned to preloss condition whenever possible. 

What Can Be Restored?

In serious water intrusion, water damage can occur that may be overwhelming. Many times, homeowners do not realize how much can be saved. Our technicians are professionals at water restoration and can help you decide what can be salvaged and what needs to be tossed. Some of the items our teams can restore include:

• Furniture, wood, and upholstered
• Carpets, rugs, and drapes
• Family photos and paperwork
• Toys
• Household goods
• Heirlooms

We always restore and replace whenever possible. It may be more cost-effective to replace certain things like ceiling tiles. While valuables can be costly to restore, depending on the item, it can be worth it for the emotional value alone. 

Keeping your family and our workers safe during the water damage restoration process is of the utmost importance. Next comes giving you back your home, “Like it never even happened.” Disasters, big or small, do not happen when it is convenient. We are here 24/7 to help with any water damage that occurs in your home. 

Contact SERVPRO of Newington / Central Hartford at (860) 667-9191 for professional water damage restoration service. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.