Water damage isn’t something that’s only a homeowner’s concern. It can also play a huge factor for people living in Chicago apartment units. The good news is you can prevent flooding in your apartment by taking some very practical steps.
Steps to Prevent Apartment Flooding
You may find these ways to be simple, but they are effective at keeping the water — or at least most of it — at bay:
- Look for signs of water damage on a regular basis. This can include dark spots on the ceilings and walls, actual flooding or mold/mildew growth. Act immediately if you notice any of these indicators that water is getting into your apartment. If you have neighbors living above you, alert them to problems if you see that water seems to be getting into your apartment from above. Your building maintenance personnel manager and/or landlord should be responsive to your concerns.
- Be aware that you might smell your water problem instead of see it. Water that has seeped into the walls or floors can leave a musty odor that wafts throughout your apartment. Be aware that any mustiness isn’t normal, and it can lead to health problems, especially if you or another apartment dweller has allergies or asthma.
- Check all the water pipes every few months or so. These include the water pipes in your kitchen, bathroom and, if applicable, laundry area. Dripping pipes can quickly lead to an expensive mess due to water damage. The last thing you want is to incur clean-up that can be prevented. Of course, if you do have any water damage, contact our Chicago area apartment flood clean-up experts of ServiceMaster of Lincoln Park immediately.
- Listen for the sounds of water dripping in the walls. This is a telltale signal that something’s wrong. The only exception is if you have copper pipes, as sometimes what sounds like dripping is actually the water hitting an angular part of the pipe on its way toward ground level. A plumber can help you determine if there’s need for concern.
- Watch for water seepage during rainstorms, particularly on your windowsills. Windows may have shifted over time, giving water the opportunity to creep into your apartment. Fixing this problem as soon as it’s discovered will help you avoid pricier solutions.
You’ve Had Water Damage in Your Chicago Apartment… What Now?
Let’s say that you’ve been diligent about making sure you were free from water damage, but something out of your control occurred. At this point, you need the help of apartment flood clean-up tips:
- Turn off the electricity in the area of the water damage. This, of course, protects you from the risk of electrocution.
- Take detailed pictures of the water damage. You’ll need these for proving the extent of the damage. It’s better to have more images than you need, so take plenty of shots.
- Start to clean up anything you can, but be careful. If the water damage is large, or you think that it might have seeped into the walls, floors and ceiling, definitely call a professional like ServiceMaster of Lincoln Park.
- Dry out the area if you can. You can use fans or simply open the windows if it isn’t too cold outside.
- Contact your renter’s insurance carrier immediately to find out how you can make a claim.
Apartment floods are never a good experience, but the faster you act, the faster you can get your apartment back to its pre-water damaged condition.