When you have a water loss in your home, you end up losing so many things. Most of them, if coverage is available, will be replaced by your insurer. However, there are so many things that can’t be replaced, and simple, inexpensive solutions are out there to help stop that loss.
The non-replaceable items are so varied, but most of them are in one of three areas: photographs, papers, and childhood souvenirs and mementos. Think right now how many shoeboxes of old family photographs you have right now, that you haven’t digitized. Old 8mm films and old videotapes. Old report cards and artwork. Old trophies, ribbons and medals. There are easy, and cheap, ways to keep these safe.
You have to remember that not all water losses – indeed, most water losses, are not clean water. They are often the backup of storm or sanitary sewers. You need to protect your valuables in truly airtight, heavy containers – and I recommend Rubbermaid’s storage containers simply because they are sturdy, heavy plastic and are designed to stack easily. There are others on the market, but they are often somewhat inferior quality by comparison, and for the price of these items, spend the extra dollar or two.
You can get these in so many sizes – some large deep tubs to store lots of shoeboxes of photos and old videotapes, and some wider, shallower ones for large papers like children’s artwork. The larger ones are ideal for storing seasonal clothes – don’t go in for the special purpose ones that they make for that, just use the standard large bins. There are models that will help organize old documents that you want to keep filed but are taking up room in the filing cabinet. Make sure they are labelled, and make sure the lid is on.
There are also old media that you can have digitized. Old family movies from 8mm cameras can be digitized at many specialty film processing stores. Scanners that do photographs and slides are available inexpensively, and will allow you to share all those old photos with family and friends.
There are also new turntables and cassette decks that connect to your computer via USB. These allow you to store your old records and tapes digitally, just like ripping a CD. No need to replace your entire collection of the Bay City Rollers, just plug the turntable in and off you go.
Finally, one of the best is one of the cheapest – 2X4s. Getting your stored items up off the ground by storing them on 2X4s. This small act can help in the case of minor floods to allow cleanup to occur quickly and efficiently, with no appreciable loss to your valuables.
A small investment will help save many of your precious items – and during spring cleaning, what better time to get at protecting them all?
