The Water Restoration Process: Why You Should Hire A Professional Water Removal Company

2/25/2019 (Permalink)

Following a water emergency in your home, whether it be a flooded basement after a heavy rain or burst pipe, you may be at a loss for what steps to take to remediate the damage caused. Additionally, once the water has been removed, restoring your home to like-new and safe condition requires a great deal of attention to detail and knowledge of ways to address structural damage. Because the water restoration process can be extensive in the cases of ceiling water damage, floor water damage, or wall water damage, it’s best to hire a professional water removal company equipped and experienced with such situations. A professional water removal company will offer a range of skills and expertise to help navigate through whatever issues might be present in a water-compromised home.

Causes of Water Damage

Your house is filled with sources of water that cause water damage throughout your home. In addition to causes from within the home, natural disasters can also cause extensive water damage that will require assistance from professionals.

Torrential Rain: After an intense rainstorm, you can experience flooding in your basement that can cause water damage if the water is left standing for a period of time. Water can enter your basement through holes and cracks in the foundation of your home. Rainwater can also find its way into your home through cracks or holes in your roof, leading to water damage on the ceilings, walls, and floors of top-level floors of your house. Water can even enter your house through doors and windows in some cases.

Plumbing Issues: The network of structures that make up the plumbing systems of your home is complex, featuring a variety of joints, pipes, and fixtures. Due to the sheer number of components involved, eventually, you will likely experience an issue with the plumbing in your house. A busted pipe or backup can cause water damage in any area of your house. Without timely repairs, plumbing issues can get worse over time.

Appliances: Constant dripping from appliances such as a dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator, or water heaters can lead to water damage over time.   

Types of Water Damage

There are a number of tell-tale signs that you have water damage in your home. These types of water damage include mold, cracking, and dry rot, to name the most common.

Mold: Mold grows where there is moisture. It may come as no surprise, then, that following a flooded basement, leaky roof, or built up condensation in a kitchen or bathroom, mold might be present. Mold grows quickly and can find its way throughout many spaces of the house. Mold can grow to be a variety of different colors, the most common being dark green, blue, or black.

Cracking: As water damage become worse over time, you will start to notice cracks throughout your house. These cracks can be seen on walls, floors, and ceilings. Cracks will become more noticeable following prolonged water damage, eventually leading to shifts in the house’s foundation and unstable framework.

Dry Rot: Drywood used in the construction of homes is incredibly tough and durable. When wet, however, wood becomes weaker and prone to rotting. Soft and decomposing wood also attracts a variety of insects, the most damaging being termites which can wreak havoc on the framework.

How to Fix Water Damage

If you spot any types of water damage, you’re likely asking yourself, what exactly does the water restoration process entail? It begins with first identifying the source that has caused the ceiling water damage, floor water damage, or wall water damage. This is an important step, as you can then make the necessary repairs to prevent future damage. Once the source of water has been addressed, water removal can begin. Using pumps and vacuums, water will be removed from the affected area as soon as possible.

After as much moisture has been removed as possible, the drying process can begin. Drying can be done using dehumidifiers, fans, sponges, and cloths. This step can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Next, the affected area should undergo a deep cleaning and sanitization. Because water damage can lead to bacterial growth and the presence of harmful chemicals, it’s important to conduct a thorough cleaning of any carpeting, curtains, clothing, or furniture that has been affected. In some cases, it may be necessary to dispose of items that cannot be salvaged.

The final step in the water restoration process is to replace any insulation or drywall if it has been damaged beyond repair.

Why You Should Hire Professionals

It’s important to hire a professional who can recognize the various types of water damage to conduct home water damage repairs for a number of reasons. One of the most important reasons to hire water damage professionals is to protect your health and safety. Extensive water damage can compromise the structural integrity of your home, making affected areas hazardous.  Professionals will be able to recognize spaces that are not safe to venture into without proper safety gear. Additionally, water damage often results in the presence of chemicals, bacteria, and other toxic materials that can have a negative impact on your health if inhaled or touched. Experienced professionals will be able to identify these hazards and safely remove them with special equipment.

Another reason to hire a professional water removal company for home water damage repair is that they can work quickly and efficiently. While you may be tempted to tackle the water removal process yourself, many individuals who attempt to do so find themselves overwhelmed with the tasks involved, or find that they simply do not have the time in their busy schedules to dedicate to the removal. With years of experience, professionals have a routine in place to get your water damaged home back in working order in no time.

Finally, a professional water removal company has the equipment and capacity necessary to get the water restoration process job done. For water removal, you will need air-moving machines, industrial grade dehumidifiers, antibacterial solutions, and more. As you likely do not have these items on hand, you will not be able to address water damage successfully. A professional company will have everything needed to restore your home.