water damage restoration
The Water Restoration Process
Repairing a water damaged home involves a process starting with a thorough inspection of the damage to the replacement of flooring, walls, and ceilings.
There is no way of predicting when water damage will strike your home or business, whether it be from a plumbing leak, roof damage or a massive storm, but the results of water damage can spell catastrophe for your property. It can find its way into the walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and other contents, and the degree of damage increases exponentially the longer it is not addressed.
Understanding the urgent need for immediate repairs and restoration, MR 1 Source Restoration acts quickly to minimize the damage to your home or facility. Because disaster can strike at any time, often when you least expect it, our emergency helpline is always open to ensure that our highly trained and experienced team is on-site within hours of your phone call.
Understanding the Characteristics of Water Damage
Regardless of the cause, we can rapidly recognize and act upon the signs of water damage to your property and its contents. After addressing the cause of the problem, we will promptly remove any salvageable materials before carrying out emergency repairs and working closely with insurance companies to help ensure a seamless transition back to normalcy.
If your residential or commercial property has been affected by water damage, it is essential that you call us immediately. Moving water caused by a flood or a burst pipe can spread quickly throughout the building, permanently staining things like carpets, upholstery, books and records. Items such as wooden furniture can swell, with individual components even disintegrating, and unprotected metal surfaces can also be permanently tarnished. For this reason among others, water should be removed as soon as possible.
Long-term effects of water damage include a development of bacteria and mold and the associated unpleasant odor and increased risk of allergens. If left unattended, structural damage to the property may also occur in the form of warping and splitting frames, windows and doors. However, addressing the problem within the first few hours will greatly help reduce the degree of permanent damage and the consequent increased restoration costs.
In some cases, water damage might not be immediately apparent, and may only be characterized by an unpleasant odor or growth of microbial organisms on surfaces around the affected area. Even a small leak can cause severe damage if it is not dealt with in a timely manner.
Dealing with Wet Environments
The first step in dealing with flood damage and other water damage is to ensure that the area is properly dried. We use dehumidifiers to force dry air into these damp environments minimizing the risk of further damage. Prior to dehumidification, we will identify the source of the water intrusion, determine the level of contamination and begin making repairs. By removing water from the property, the potential for mold growth is mitigated. As water evaporates either by force or naturally, it is important to lower the humidity of the air of a damaged home or facility. By using dehumidification, we are able to remove moisture from the air, working to halt the damage caused by water to various components of the building.
Step 1: Inspection– A professional can best assess the extent of water damage in your home. Each inspection determines a class and category of water damage. Defining the class and category of water damage helps outline the best means to restore your property.
Classes of Water Damage
Class 1: damage involves part of a room that has absorbed little moisture. It’s the least level of damage.
Class 2: damage has affected an entire room and has absorbed into carpeting and walls.
Class 3: damage has absorbed up into the walls, saturated most of the area, and may have come through the ceiling. Class 3 damage is considered the worst.
Class 4: damage requires specialty drying due damage done to materials such as hardwood, stone, and concrete.
Categories of Water Damage
Category 1: involves damage from a clean water source such as toilet tanks, broken pipes supplying clean water. Category 1 water damage can degrade into Category 2 or 3 if it sits too long.
Category 2: involves damage from “grey water,” such as washing machine or dishwasher water containing detergents. It may also involve water containing urine from toilet overflows.
Category 3: involves completely unsanitary water that can easily cause illness, disease, or death. Category 3 water comes from sewage, river flooding, and standing water that has begun growing bacteria and other microbes.
Step 4: Water Removal– Pumps and vacuums are used to remove water from your home. The type of equipment needed depends on the extent of the water damage. Water removal begins as soon as possible to prevent mold and bacteria growth.
Step 5: Drying– After all standing water and absorbent surfaces are vacuumed, drying and dehumidification begins. This step is important to clear up any remaining moisture after water removal. The drying out process can take several weeks to fully complete.
Step 6: Cleaning– All personal belongings need to be cleaned and sanitized to prevent unwanted mold and bacterial growth. Carpeting, clothing, and drapery are given antimicrobial treatments. Air scrubbers may also be used to remove particles and moisture from the air.
Step 5: Restoration– The biggest step in the process is restoration. Restoration involves replacing materials like drywall and insulation. Sometimes this process is as simple as installing a few panels of drywall, while serious cases could require replacing entire walls. Exposure to toxic substances like lead and asbestos is possible during restoration. Older homes are likely to contain these substances.
In the event of unknown water damage, many homeowners aren’t able to prevent mold growth. A tiny leak in the roof or pipes can persist for months before you notice it. In a situation like this, the restoration process takes even longer.
Acting Fast
Whether your home has been flooded by broken pipes or a leaky roof, it’s important to remove all contaminated and wet materials in your home as soon as possible.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends discarding materials that haven’t been thoroughly cleaned and dried within 48 hours of water damage.
Taking these materials out of a home reduces the ability of dangerous microorganisms to multiply and spread. Removing contaminated materials improves air quality in the home and makes the restoration process easier.
References:
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/flood-cleanup-protect-indoor-air-quality