Last night we had the toilet from our master ensuite bathroom overflow forcing a lot of water under the tiles and into our vents. The water was pouring down through one of the pot lights in the ceiling below (our living room) and also down the vents into the basement. I would estimate that a total of about 2-4 gallons of water was released. I have water damage to the ceiling in a few places (please see attached pic). We immediately turned off the water and proceeded to clean up the mess. We also setup and directed a few fans into the damaged areas in a futile attempt to help dry out the wet spots.
My question is, how much damage could something like this cause? Will I need to replace the ceiling and insulation or would it simply dry properly without the possibility of mold forming? We have 3 young children and don't want to compromise their health.
Would this also be something the insurance company would cover or should be involved in? I did just call them to initiate a new claim however I'll need to wait a day or two before they get back to me on what my policy covers.
Any help you can provide would be greatly, greatly appreciated.
Hi Gerald! Well you should go rent a dehumidifier right away and turn it on to help dry that out. Your insurance company should be helping you out in my eyes with immediate help not calling you back a couple of days later. Get after them to give you an answer. But crucial that you get a dehumifier in there right now to help suck the moisture out. Be careful using anything electrical in that area until it is dried up. Hope this helps.
Brent Smith
Hi Gerald
Brent is correct in getting a dehumidifier running as soon as you can and keep emptying it. Some units allow you to attach a hose that you can slope to a drain. You mentioned that there is insulation in the ceiling and this should be removed as it will act like a sponge and retain the water for a while. Plus the drywall is likely comprimised and it would be best to have it removed as well.
Regards,
Kingsway Construction Inc
Glenn Rosborough
Thanks guys, I'm off to Home Depot to see if they have a dehumidifier that I can rent. I will also be following up with the insurance company soon to give them a kick in the butt to take action now.
Search the TrustedPros directory and discover the best contractors in your area.
Find your home service pro