03 Apr What is the function of a Water Damage Company?
When a home suffers severe water damage, a professional water damage company should be called immediately as deterioration will set in if moisture is left in the building for too long. Most materials can’t stand up to moisture, especially items of organic origin, and they start breaking down rapidly. Moisture is also the ideal condition for the growth of molds, bacteria, and viruses and encourages the presence of pests such as rodents and insects. The risk of pests and pathogens becomes higher if the moisture is contaminated such as flood water or sewage backflow. In this type of scenario, only a professional water damage services company can bring the situation under control.
What functions of a water damage restoration service can help a family?
Excess moisture can gain entry into a home via many channels. The unfortunate incident could be the result of a broken pipe or flood, leaky roof or foundation, or poorly caulked bathrooms. Water damages can be highly expensive to correct, making it extremely important for affected families to call a professional as quickly as possible to reduce the extent of damage to the building and their possessions. While a homeowner may be able to DIY a leaking pipe, moisture coming from an unidentified source or contaminated liquid requires the attention of a certified technician.
When you experience water damage in your home, the most critical step is to find a professional restoration services company as soon as possible. This is important to avoid extensive damage to your property, and its contents and to reduce the cost of restoring the home to its former glory. The more time you waste calling a restoration services company, the more damage to your property, and the higher the restoration services expenses you will have to pay. If the water is coming from a burst pipe, you also will have to contend with a bloated water bill for that period. So, the best you can do for your family and property is to get professional help right away.
Removal of Water
Before the arrival of the restoration team, you can stop the flow of water if that won’t put you at risk. You can ask the restoration firm for directions on the phone if the water is coming from a tap. Sometimes, it’s impossible to eliminate the water source by yourself, and restoration professionals may have to bring sophisticated pumps and even sandbags to force the water out of your building.
One of the functions of restoration firms is to identify the type of water that compromised your property. According to the IICRC, water can be classified into three categories based on its cleanliness. The first is White Category 1 Water which is the classification given to water from a clean source. This is the category of water from your home appliances or faulty water supply. Gray Category 2 Water is water that contains some amount of contamination that renders it unsafe for drinking. It can be from the toilet and washing machines. Black Category 3 Water is water that has been severely contaminated and poses health risks to the occupants of a home. It is usually from sewage, rain, toilet bowls with feces, lakes, rivers, and standing water. Be aware that water categories can quickly change with time. The degree of potential health risks and damages increases as the number of contamination increases. This is the more reason why any standing water must be quickly removed from the home to avoid health hazards and damage to property.
A team of water damage restoration experts will get to work immediately they arrive at the scene. This is necessary because any waterlogged organic material may be beyond redemption within 24 hours of exposure to moisture, and may have to be disposed of. Restoration companies use cutting-edge equipment such as truck-mounted pumps to evacuate large amounts of water within a surprisingly short time. In cases where some parts of the home are submerged, restoration firms have different kinds of vacuums and pump to suck out the moisture within a couple of hours. If there are substantial furniture and large household appliances, restoration professionals may need to move them out so that work can flow smoothly. In some cases, occupants of the home need also to evacuate the building to allow restoration technicians to work without hindrance and to prevent exposure to health hazards that might be in the building until the completion of restoration work.
Evaluation of items for water damage
When the standing water has been evacuated completely, restoration technicians can evaluate salvageable items and things to be removed from the building. In general, textiles are usually discarded except where restoration services arrived quickly after the incident or the family was able to get the materials out of harm’s way before the water overwhelmed the home.
Drying
The next step is drying, which is the most time-consuming stage of the water restoration process. Restoration technicians use different types of equipment for the drying process including dehumidifiers, commercial air movers, and hot air injectors. Special meters will be used to measure moisture concentration during the drying process to make sure no hidden pockets of moisture are left behind. The type of drying method used depends on the severity of damage and the type of material being dried. Care must be taken not to damage some items while trying to dry them. For example, documents must be handled with care during the drying process to avoid tearing or ink transfer. After the drying process has been completed, restoration technicians will dismantle their gear, clean the work area, and the place will be restored to its pre-water damaged state. However, you may not be able to use some of your properties that have been damaged by moisture.
Removal of mold and other microbes
Sometimes, technicians may discover the presence of mold and other microbes which are a serious threat to the health of the occupants. Restoration professionals will resolve this problem by using chemical and mechanical agents such as fungicides to eliminate the threat in all the affected areas of the home. In case there are huge mold colonies, certified technicians will remove and replace the compromised materials.
A restoration firm provides many functions to families. They help make their homes habitable once again and make sure their homes are free from any hazardous or health-impairing materials or animals. Choosing a certified restoration firm for your home’s restoration work will ensure that you get the best service delivery at a competitive rate.