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Tips For Burst Hot Water Heater Flood Cleanup
4/6/2021 (Permalink)
When your hot water heater tank bursts and floods your home in Morris County, NJ - You need to take immediate action to prevent serious damages.
The last thing you want as a homeowner in New Jersey is to step into a cold shower, only to discover that your water heater burst and flooded your home.
Since this appliance continuously refills as water gushes out of it, intense water damage and flooding can affect your Morris County home before you realize something is even wrong.
To help prevent further damages to your property, SERVPRO of Morristown is sharing our top 4 tips for hot water heater flood cleanup, how to prevent this appliance from leaking, and who to call when you need professional assistance.
Tips For Burst Hot Water Heater Flood Cleanup in Morris County, NJ
Immediately take the following steps when your hot water heater leaks and causes water damage in your Morris County home.
1. Turn off the water and power to the water heater.
In order to stop the flow of water, you will need to turn off both the water and power source to the appliance.
- The water supply valve to the heater is located on the pipe above it which connects it to the main water line. If you cannot turn it off from here, turn off the water to your home.
- For electric water heaters, cut the power at your circuit breaker box.
- For gas water heaters, locate the gas shut off valve to the heater, which should be on a pipe on the side of the appliance.
2. Soak up standing water.
To prevent extensive water damage or mold growth in your Morris County home, you’ll need to clean up as much water as possible to stop it from seeping into floors, carpeting, or walls. You can use towels, rags, mops, or for larger amounts of water a wet dry vacuum.
While cleaning up, you should open windows and set up fans to encourage air flow and faster drying.
If you can't remove the water from the water heater flood completely, you should call a local water damage restoration service in Morris County, NJ like SERVPRO of Morristown. These companies use industrial strength water extractors to quickly remove all water and prevent it from migrating to other areas of your New Jersey home.
3. Contact a local plumber.
Before calling a plumber, you should take the previous steps to help minimize the water damage from the leaking appliance. It's best to not try and diagnose the problem yourself, and rather have a professional repair or replace the appliance as needed.
4. Carefully inspect for water damage and mold growth.
Is your water heater located on an upper level, or the basement of your home? Depending on the location of the appliance, even a small leak can cause water to soak through floors, carpeting, ceilings, and even cause a flooded basement.
You should inspect all areas of your home which could've been affected by the water heater flood for the following signs:
- Sagging ceilings
- Water stains or discoloration
- Soft or squishy walls
- Bending or bowing flooring
- Musty odors
- Visible mold growth
If you find any of the above damages in your Morris County home after a water heater leaks, you should call SERVPRO of Morristown for a detailed damage inspection.
5 Ways to Prevent Water Heater Water Damage
Since most water heaters fail before they're 12 years old, there's not always something you can do to stop it from breaking or malfunctioning. Still, there are ways you can make it less likely for it to burst or leak in your Morris County home.
- Install a leak detector on the appliance that automatically turns it off when it senses a leak.
- Drain your water heater once a year to prevent sediment build up which can cause it to fail.
- Never ignore even the smallest amount of water leaking from the heater, as this is always a sign of a larger problem.
- Install a drain pan at the bottom of the tank that drains outside of your home in case it begins to leak.
- Know the signs that your water heater might break:
- Popping or rumbling noises
- Gas water heater causing a gas smell in your home
- Water leaks
- You hot water has flakes of rust or sediment in it
- The water heater tank is rusting
Will Insurance Cover My Water Heater Flood Damage?
Many Morris County homeowners ask us here whether or not their homeowner's insurance company will cover the cost of water damage repair after a water heater flood.
The good news is that in most cases, standard homeowners insurance policies do cover damage restoration when your water heater fails and damages your home. However, they do not cover the cost of repairing or replacing the appliance itself.
SERVPRO of Morristown Can Cleanup The Damage From Your Water Heater Flood in Morris County
Sometimes the flooding and water damage from a water heater isn't something homeowner's can handle by themselves. That's why our team immediately responds to your call to prevent further damage in your Morris Township area home.
With over 14 years of experience restoring homes and business after flooding in New Jersey, you can trust SERVPRO of Morristown to make your disaster "Like it never even happened."
24/7 Emergency Flood Cleanup and Water Removal
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