Rain Related Leaks
What can you do when the weatherman predicts significant amounts of rainfall and you are experiencing a leak or flooding?
Rainy days … … we can appreciate that you would rather be snuggling in with a good book or catching up on your latest Netflix craving, however, sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas. If you experience a leak or flooding during a rainfall or stormy weather, there are some steps you can take to mitigate damage in your home.
Step 1.
Try and prevent as much damage as possible. As soon as you notice a a leak coming into your home, try to contain it. Place a bucket and/or a tarp under the leak to help minimize damage. Move valuables and documents out of the way.
TIP … If you notice water coming through a crack in the caulking in your home, around windows or doors, place a towel at the leak to catch the water.
TIP … If you have a sump pump or backflow valve, ensure it is working.
TIP … If you reside in a single family home, make sure your downspouts are directed away from your home. If you notice a leak in your basement during the rainfall, start by double-checking the positioning of your downspouts. If a downspout is causing water to run towards the home, change the direction away from the home and let your Property Manager know about the situation.
Monitor the water leak and contact our team at Emerald Management & Realty Ltd. at 403-237-8600 to discuss next steps. Sometimes, a roofer or maintenance person may not be able to assist until after the rain stops because of safety concerns.
If the leak is containable and not an emergency, complete our on-line maintenance request form to let us know of the non-emergency maintenance issue. Continue to monitor the situation and if it gets worse, keep us informed so that your issue can be handled at the appropriate priority level.
Step 2.
Try to dry out the area as much as possible. Use old towels, mops or other tools you have at your disposal to safely remove the water. Make sure to safeguard your personal items, electronics, etc., by moving them away from the water (finding another room or alternate location might be best as repairs could also be required and no point in moving them multiple times if you can avoid it). Unplug electronics and appliances where necessary.
TIP … Fans can be of great help! Not only do they circulate the air and dry out the area but can also help prevent mold from growing!
Again, if the leak is containable and not an emergency, complete our on-line maintenance request form to let us know about the issue. Monitor the situation, and if it gets worse, keep us informed so that your issue can be handled at the appropriate priority level.
Step 3.
If the leak gets worse, call us right away at 403-237-8600. Emerald Management & Realty Ltd. has a team on-call to address after hours emergencies. Let us know what is going on so that we can provide assistance and help trouble shoot the situation. We can experience high call volumes during periods of heavy rainfall; all calls will be handled in priority sequence.
TIP … Call 911 if someone’s life is in danger.
TIP … Have an evacuation plan and 72-hour kit if you need to leave your home.
TIP … For real-time updates and advisories in situations where heavy rainfall warnings or State of Local Emergencies have been declared, visit the City of Calgary’s Flood Information and sign up for alerts.
Depending on the size of the leak, you may need to call in extra support … especially when a bucket or tarp won’t contain the water. If a bucket and tarp are not an option, we might need to pump out the water or use alternate measures to handle the water entering your home.
Emerald Management & Realty Ltd.
As referenced above, sometimes problems that arise from a leaking roof can often only be temporarily repaired until the rain stops in part due to danger to workers and because the area of repair needs to dry out first.
Once these steps have been taken and any danger to yourself and you home has been avoided, as soon as the rain stops, more permanent repairs can be arranged.
Many leak and flood related repairs can only be done when the rain has stopped and the area dried out.
Depending on the nature and extent of the damage, this may result in an insurance claim. In these situations, the scheduling of repairs will involve the insurance company and timing of repairs impacted by their schedules.
Emerald Management & Realty Ltd. has 50 years of property management experience in Calgary, AB & area. Locally owned and operated, our top choice team has the extensive knowledge and support systems in place to attend to your property management concerns with the goal of protecting your real estate asset and the residents who call the property “home”.
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