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  Minimizing Damage  
     
 
Here are some useful tips to help you minimize further damage when you have suffered a loss from water, fire, or sewage back-up.

Water
Most water damage tips also apply after a fire due to the amount of water necessary to extinguish it.
  1 When photographs are wet, do not try and separate them! Place them in a freezer instead until a QCi restoration representative can take them to be restored.
  2 Do move personal property out of any areas affected by water.  If you are unable to move the furniture, put it on wooden or cement blocks to minimize damage.
  3 If you remove your wet pad and carpet before QCi restoration arrives on the scene, keep a 12 inch by 12 inch sample of each for identification purposes.
  4 Do not turn on any devices requiring electricity. Wait for a QCi restoration representative to evaluate them.
  5 Do not use heat to dry out a closed environment.
  6 Lay wet fabrics out to dry.
  7 Open drawers and cabinets to accelerate the drying process.  Do not force them open if they are stuck.
  8 Remove standing water by sponging or blotting.
  9 Remove wet items from furniture tops.
  10 Stay out of rooms where the ceilings are sagging from retained water.
  11 If an area is wet, turn on the air conditioning if possible.  During winter, alternate between opening the windows and turning on the heat.
  12 After damage occurs and the heat is off in winter, call a plumber to drain and blowout all water lines in order to prevent freeze damage.


Fire

  1 Board up all openings to secure the premises.
  2 After a fire, DO NOT open your refrigerator or freezer.  The odor is overwhelming.
  3 Throw out any medication that survived the disaster.
  4 Do not eat or drink items that were in a structure during a fire.
  5 Do not attempt to wash walls or ceilings yourself.


Sewage

  1 Do not try to clean sewage contaminated items and areas yourself with over-the-counter products. This is unlikely to fully rid the item or area of harmful organisms.
  2 When there is sewage damage, take care not to track contamination into non-contaminated areas.