What is containment, and why is it the most important step in flood restoration? Just like you can’t repair a leaky boat while it’s still in the water, you can’t clean and restore a building until you stop the deluge for good. Here are a few important things to know when you’re searching for an effective water control solution.

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1. Assume there’s more than meets the eye. Don’t be fooled by appearances. Even though you may not see all the toxins, bacteria and mold that dirty water leaves behind doesn’t mean they’re not there. Prepare your water restoration team for all contingencies that may arise on a job. Bringing extra equipment made specifically to corral these threats will serve your client well by minimizing the chance of a failed test. A second cleaning and testing because of poor practices doesn’t look good for your client or your business.

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2. Choose the appropriate method of control. For each containment situation, you must decide on the proper solution. What is the best technique to control the threat? Should you block it at the room level, at the source or both? For a broken pipe, you must shut off the water main before you can address the adjacent rooms. Using a high-quality device will prevent further spread of the harmful contaminants that often accompany flooding.

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3. Do it right the first time. Cutting corners by using unsuitable or low-quality equipment will hurt everyone in the long run. This contributes to more property damage, longer turn times and higher risk to both workers and property owners. Don’t cost yourself future business by making a poor decision in the moment.

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Proper flood containment is the most vital part of the remediation process. With it, you’ll avoid risking your client, your employees, and your business - just by being prepared with the right materials.