Water heaters mean the difference between the kind of shower that helps you fall asleep and the kind that wakes you up in the morning. No one wants a cold shower. When you walk into your utility room and step into a puddle of water, panic will set in. You’ll realize that water heater breaks can be mean more than just cold water. Water heater bursts can mean damage.
Do not freak out. Just follow these steps.
Shut Everything When the Water Heater Bursts
First and foremost, shut off your water. Find the turnoff knob. It will be somewhere near the water heater and will look like a faucet knob. Turn it to the left to tighten it and turn off the water.
If you don’t turn off the water, the hot water heater will attempt to keep filling, and the water will spill from the water heater pipe burst and go directly on your floor, causing further damage. If the knob won’t budge, you will need to locate your main water turn off and then shut off the water.
Then, shut off the power. You can safely shut off an electric water heater by locating its power source in your breaker box. You need to just flip the breaker for your water heater.
If you have a gas water heater, you should find the thermostat and then switch it from on to off.
Take Pictures
Next, break out your camera and start taking pictures of the damage. You want pictures before you begin to clean up so you can prove your water heater burst and caused damage. Your insurance claim will go much farther with images as proof.
A camera phone is an adequate tool for this job.
Clean Up
These two words are simpler than the actual task. You will need to clean up after the water damage. Throw out the damaged items you cannot salvage and start mopping up the area.
If you want to avoid the hassle of cleaning up and ensure the driest possible cleanup, call in a professional. An emergency cleaning and preparedness expert at places like https://www.ctr-nw.com/ will know best how to salvage your damaged items and home. They can ensure you have a dry area when you’re done.
Water restoration is a critical step after a hot water heater burst. If you attempt to clean up and miss a few things, you will be dealing with bigger problems like mold in the future.
Make a Claim
Whenever you have significant home damage, you need to main a claim with your homeowner’s insurance company. They may want to send out an insurance adjuster to make sure your claim is accurate. So try to keep things right where they are as long as possible until the adjuster shows up.
The company may also have a recommended restoration company, so make sure you contact them early in this process.
Replace Your Water Heater
You shouldn’t have to suffer with cold showers for long. After you’ve begun the restoration process, start shopping for a new water heater. Look for an energy-efficient water heater. Often you can find rebates with local utility companies so that you end up paying far less than the sticker price if you purchase something with an Energy star rating.
Don’t Sweat the Heat
At first look, water heater bursts can induce panic. But if you follow these basic steps, you’ll find yourself with a clean utility room and a new water heater in no time. Do not panic. Just act.
