Flooding of an apartment is an unpleasant surprise associated not only with damage or sometimes irretrievable loss of valuables and significant repair costs, but also with long drying of furniture, personal belongings and even walls and floors.
Flooded apartment – what to do?
If we open the front door and discover that our apartment is flooded, the first thing we need to do is turn off the power supply. Electrical installations that come into contact with water pose a risk of fatal electric shock. Although current standards require that the electrical installation be equipped with a residual-current device that cuts off the power supply in the event of a short circuit (not in the event of flooding), it is safer to turn off the main protection in the socket or at least in the electrical panel at the entrance to the apartment.
Older types of electrical installations may not have adequate protection, so even more caution is required here. If in doubt, it is better to seek help from an experienced electrician or call the power company, where we will definitely receive the relevant information.
Flooded apartment in a multi-apartment building – how to avoid financial consequences
After the power supply is cut off, we can determine the cause of the flooding and react accordingly, for example, by closing the main water valve. If we are to blame for the flooding and the neighboring apartment also suffered from the breakdown, then an insurance policy will come in handy, which is worth having.
Before concluding an insurance contract, it is necessary to make sure that the policy covers not only civil liability for flooding, but also obliges the insurance company to pay compensation in the event of damage to our property. Otherwise, the insurer will satisfy the neighbor’s claims, and we will have to make repairs in the apartment at our own expense.
In the case of multi-apartment housing, it is also important to insure in advance against damage caused by flooding of an apartment belonging to our neighbors.
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Elimination of flooding of an apartment
Although seeing our apartment in a deplorable state, the most important thing for us is to eliminate the cause of the damage. It is worth taking a few pictures for the insurer before we or our neighbors close the valve. They document the cause of the flood and its consequences,
which is important when the insurer liquidates the claim. A large number of photos and witness statements will certainly speed up the payment of compensation.
Repair after flooding – the most important works
Water damage is not always serious, but if the damage is extensive, you should start by removing loose layers of paint and plaster from the ceiling and walls. Loose layers should be removed with a putty knife, and then the ceilings and walls should be dried, for example, with air blowers, while ensuring air circulation in the room. Then, once dry, coat the cleaned areas with a primer. Once dry, you can begin filling, and then sanding and painting.
On the contrary, floors need to be dried if they have not been in water for a long time and do not need to be removed completely. It is also worth consulting a professional who will confirm that our floors have not been particularly damaged by water or recommend removing the top layers and laying new ones.
Repair work after a flood should be entrusted to an experienced company that will perform it comprehensively. It is very important, especially in the case of compensation payments, to make a preliminary assessment of the work. Sometimes the insurer independently makes an estimate for the repair of an apartment after a flood and determines the amount of compensation on its basis. In other cases, he orders an appraiser. Regardless of the method for determining the amount of damage, it must remain within the estimated budget if we do not want to contribute to the repair from our own pocket.
