When property owners are asked what damages keep them up at night, water damage always comes first. Water damage is not only costly to repair, but it may also cause damage to your property if not managed properly. That is why, as a landlord, you must have a proactive strategy to address the odds of water damage on your properties—especially if your property is in a flood-prone area.
If you want to be prepared for the worst-case scenario or if water damage occurs due to tenant neglect, reviewing the common causes of water damage is helpful. You should also be in contact with your tenants and know your duties as a landlord. You’ll know how to deal with water damage before it strikes if you plan ahead of time and take a proactive approach.
Discover the Most Common Causes of Water Damage
You should expect water damage to your property if it is in a floodplain. However, flooding can occur from a variety of sources, including:
- Burst pipes are most common with aged or frozen pipes.
- Toilets or bathtubs that are overflowing.
- Leaky roofs—these may appear only during periods of severe rain.
- A leaking or malfunctioning water heater—if installed in an attic, closet, or garage, you may not notice it.
- Leaking appliances, particularly washers and dishwashers.
- Tenant possessions, such as waterbeds or fish tanks.
Quickly Deal with Flooding
The effects of water are often felt quickly, especially if you aren’t present or can’t get there in time to prevent damage. Make sure your tenants are aware of the consequences of flooding to minimise water damage to a minimum.
Demonstrate to tenants how to turn off the water.
If a dishwasher, washing machine, toilet, or sink leaks, ensure the tenant knows where the individual shutoff valves are. Thus, it is possible to conserve water by turning off the water. If the leak is caused by a burst pipe or a slow leak that you can’t see, give instructions on how to turn off the water main and contact a plumber who offers 24-hour emergency service.
Quickly remove any excess water.
Inform the tenant that their top priority is to ensure no more water is discharged if spilt water is the cause (overflowing bathtub, fish tank spill, etc.). Instruct them to soak up any standing water with old towel towels. They should call you when they finish these tasks. Because the real level of water damage is not always obvious, contact a professional for extraction, inspection, and restoration to prevent further damage.
Keep the furniture safe.
In storm-related flooding, make it clear to your tenants that their safety comes first. Books, papers, fabrics, or anything else that may be damaged by water should be removed if it will not endanger the child. Ask them to place aluminium foil or wax paper under the legs or feet of their furniture. Also, ask them to elevate curtains, draperies, and skirts away from wet carpets. These basic activities can help the flood recovery process move much more quickly. Remember that water damage caused by rising rivers, streams, or hurricanes contains biological toxins that must be cleaned and treated by a licensed disaster professional.
Whenever possible, find the spot (source of the leak) and temporarily cover it to stop the water from spreading if it comes from a damaged roof. After the storm has passed, permanent roof repairs can be completed. Before beginning, a restoration professional should evaluate any ceiling or drywall repair or water damage. Before beginning any repairs, they will ensure that the affected areas are completely dry. It reduces the possibility of mould growing on the ceiling and walls, which can lead to a larger, more expensive problem.
Watch Out for These After the Flood
Flooding caused by broken pipes, leaking appliances, or storms can cause significant damage to your property. As unpleasant as the outward results of flooding can be—watermarks on furniture, wet carpets, wall staining—you would think that letting things dry out would fix most of the problems. Unfortunately, flooding can produce a variety of other problems that are not immediately apparent. If not addressed quickly, these issues can cause severe damage to your property and be dangerous to you and your family. The most effective way to be safe is to be aware of hazardous circumstances that require professional intervention.
Mould
Perhaps there’s a musty odour emanating from one room in your house. Or perhaps you’ve noticed that you’ve been coughing and sneezing more than normal. Alternatively, you may notice a white thread-like material or a cluster of black dots surrounding an old water stain. Finding mould in your home, regardless of how you discovered it, can be a distressing experience when you’re hesitant to try removing mould. DIY mould removal can be inefficient and even dangerous—but there are steps you can take to ensure that mould is eliminated swiftly and fully before it spreads.
Dark Water
Black water refers to any exterior floodwater (lakes, rivers, etc.) and water from storm floods or sewage backups inside a home. If it has been exposed to oil or food waste, even overflows from some kitchen sources can be called black water. Contamination, bacteria, and biohazards may be present in black water. It is extremely hazardous because it can induce illness, spread germs, and possibly lead to long-term disease. Because it is so dangerous, you should never wade through flood water or handle flood-soaked things. Unfortunately, looking at water does not reveal whether it is contaminated. Unless you know your floodwater is clean, it should always be treated as black water and handled by a certified specialist.
Frayed Cables
There may be hidden threats for some time after the floodwaters have subsided. Moisture, for example, might cause damage to the wiring in your walls. Even if everything appears to be dry, the inside of the walls may be damp. Because water is a highly effective electrical conductor, just a small amount of water touching a faulty wire can be hazardous. Furthermore, moisture can weaken wiring insulation, increasing the likelihood of an electrical fire in the future. Keeping the power off after a flood is critical until an electrician or other professional can inspect and replace damaged wiring.
Debris
Flooding, especially in the presence of extreme weather, can cause debris to accumulate, which can then form hazardous debris flows. Debris from fallen trees, building materials, bottles and cans, and outdoor furniture can clog drains and cause extra property damage. Attempting to remove debris on your own can result in injury and exposure to dangerous compounds. Experts advise against clearing debris yourself, but wear protective clothing if you must come into contact with it. Long-sleeved shirts, boots, heavy gloves, goggles, and a mask can provide some protection, but calling a professional is the most effective way to protect yourself.
Appliances that are damaged
Knowing that some home appliances might cause flooding in your building is helpful. When this occurs, the appliance must be serviced or replaced as soon as possible. In the event of a storm or other flooding, however, water can ruin your appliances and HVAC system. Electrical wires or outlets may become submerged if you leave your appliances plugged in during a flood. It creates a dangerous situation that you should not attempt to handle alone. Even if you believe your appliances are completely dry, turn them on when an expert confirms their safety.
Gas Line Damage
During severe weather, most people’s gas lines aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, fallen trees or heavy rain can cause the earth to shift, resulting in misaligned or fractured gas pipes. Strong “rotten egg” odour and standing water that bubbles in strange places are signs of broken gas lines. Do not turn on the lights, strike a match, use a cell phone, turn on the stove/oven, or do anything else that could generate a spark. Take immediate action and contact your local gas company—never attempt to switch off the gas main yourself!
Pests
Insects and rodents can still be an issue long after the flood waters have receded. When areas flood, animals in the area are forced to flee. When rats and mice leave their dens, they may seek other sources of shelter and food, which may lead them. Oversaturated soil will drive even moisture-loving insects away, such as millipedes and termites. Fire ants can survive floods by adhering together to build rafts, allowing them to float into your yard and settle on dry ground. Because insects and rodents carry disease and might cause more damage to your home, you should call an exterminator as soon as you notice them.
It is possible to recover.
If your home has been flooded, the good news is that you can get back in. By contacting Reztor Restoration, you can avoid further damage and protect yourself from injury. Allowing them to handle dangerous circumstances allows you to return to normal as quickly as possible.
Contact a Water Damage Expert
Your job as a landlord is quickly getting the rental unit back in shape so it may be safely occupied again. Because mould can build up quickly, ignoring water damage can render your property uninhabitable. So, while it may be tempting to try to clean up water damage yourself, it is advisable to hire a professional. It will ensure that the wet area is properly dried out and safe for your tenants. Reztor Restoration’s experts can create a plan to clean and restore water-damaged properties such as:
- Inspecting and fixing damaged drywall
- Identify which furniture or carpeting needs to be replaced.
- Checking for trapped moisture behind walls.
- Drying floors and walls without causing additional harm.
- If necessary, remove mould and smells.
You and your renters can rest easy knowing that Reztor Restoration’s specialists have the requisite expertise to return your property to its pre-loss condition as quickly as possible because they are IICRC-certified. For further information, call 1800 739 867 or make an appointment online.
