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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Is it Safe to Enter a Wet Property?

10/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO equipment in a room with drywall missing. It is always good to stay precocious after a water damage, let SERVPRO handle your water damage.

New Orleans Residents Choose SERVPRO to Return their Homes to a Safe Condition after Water Intrusion. Our Water Restoration Technicians (WRT) Can Enter and Secure your Property.

Why are wet properties dangerous?

Performing restoration work in New Orleans can present many different hazards that both residents and technicians need to be aware of, including electrical hazards, structural deficiencies, and slip, trip, and fall hazards. A wet structure is likely to be full of small dangers requiring special precautions to avoid personal injury or further damage the resident. Restoring power to a property, for example, could lead to an electrical fault or fire without exercising the proper safety precautions. SERVPRO is adept at assessing a property with water intrusion and restoring a safe environment.

What kind of dangers are there in a damaged property?

  • Wet or weakened structural components like staircases, light fittings, and ceilings
  • Damages to the electrical wiring as well as potential electrical currents being conducted by water
  • Slippery flooring or hidden obstacles that could lead to falls and personal injury

When is it safe to return electricity to a wet property?

Water conducts electrical currents, so water restoration professionals in New Orleans take extra -care before resetting power.  Creating a safe environment first involves a careful assessment of the power distribution channel. It is vital to shut off all circuit breakers via this box in an emergency to avoid causing electrical damage, especially when water migrates into wall cavities or crawl spaces. SERVPRO technicians may opt to use external power with an industrial generator to run equipment until the building is completely dry before resetting the power. 

What steps make a wet property electrically safe?

  • Shutting off all circuit breakers via the power distribution panel
  • Posting clear signage and lockout tags on the power distribution panel to prevent reactivation of circuitry
  • Use of ground fault circuit interrupters when using electrical equipment within the property

A wet property could be dangerous. For secure restoration, contact SERVPRO of The New Orleans West Bank at (504) 348-7526.

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