"Water Damage Restoration: Tips for Safer Homes"

What is water damage?

Out of the many dangers that come with living in a home, one of the more common is water damage. There are many reasons why you might need a water damage restoration company. Whether it’s because of storm damage, burst pipes, or just an accident in the kitchen, there is no doubt that water can cause serious and costly damage to your home. With years of experience and knowledge behind them, these trusted professionals will help you get your life back together again!

How Do You Know If Your Home Has Been Affected by Water Damage?

Even though water can sometimes come out of nowhere and ruin your home, it’s not always easy to spot until it’s too late. On the outside, you may be able to see signs that point towards more serious damage on the inside.

  • If you see minor moisture around window sills or doors, then there is likely a leak somewhere in the walls. If your walls are wet, there is a chance that the moisture is steadily making its way toward your ceiling or attic.  
  • If you see the water from above coming down like raindrops, this means your roof has been affected by water damage. A good way to tell if your roof has been damaged is if it doesn’t seem like it’s holding up as well as it used to. It’s important to inspect your roof regularly, especially after the weather is bad or you experience a lot of rain.
  • If you see water coming from below, like a pool of water that has collected in your basement or crawl space then it’s likely because of burst pipes or pipe leaks. This is why it’s so important to turn off the water supply immediately when you are experiencing a leak of any kind, and why you want to call a professional for water damage restoration!
  • If at any time you’re not sure if your home is affected by water damage, the best way to find out is by having it inspected by a professional!

 

What Are The Types of Water Damage?

There are various water damage restoration services that you can choose from, depending on the severity of the emergency.  

Water Extraction

Water extraction is often the first step in the process of water damage restoration.  It’s one of the simpler processes that will help you to dry up your home before any destructive mold can grow. Water removal professionals use fans and air movers to get rid of excess moisture, and then they will begin extracting water from hard surfaces, like walls, floors, and ceilings.  

They will use specialized equipment in order to access a source of water, then they’ll vacuum it out using a powerful pump.

Structural Drying

Structural drying is used to get rid of the last remaining moisture that clings to your walls and other surfaces.  Moisture is dangerous because it can cause the growth of mold and mildew, which will lead to health problems for anyone who inhales the spores.  It can also cause wood and other materials to expand, warp, and even crack.

Because water is so powerful and destructive, a lot of effort needs to be put into drying out your home.  Water damage restoration companies will use fans and dehumidifiers in order to pull moisture away from the walls and other surfaces, so that they can successfully achieve the best results.

Water Damage Repair

Once your home has been dried out, it will be time to start repairing any damage that has been done. Water repair companies will use their years of experience to determine what kinds of repairs need to be made in order to ensure your home is restored back to its original state.

Material Handling: Cleaning and Deodorization

If your belongings have been affected by water, then it’s also important to clean them in order to avoid the growth of mold and mildew.  Even if the items were just soaked for a brief period of time, this still presents a serious problem!

The professionals will use their knowledge and experience to determine how best to remove any remaining traces of water, and they can dry out the items as well. If any materials inside of your home were affected by the leak, this is a crucial step in the process of water damage restoration.

Structure Cleaning & Deodorization

If there is a lot of water damage in your home, but the source was contained to only one room or area, then you will want to consider structure cleaning and deodorization.  

By removing any odor that has been caused by mold growth and restoring the original color of your walls, flooring, furniture, ceilings and other surfaces, you will be able to get your house looking like new again!

How To Choose a Water Damage Restoration Company?

Here are a few things that you can look for in order to choose the perfect water damage restoration company:

Reputation – You can learn a lot about a company by checking out online reviews and comments.  If you see a lot of negative feedback about any specific water damage restoration company, then it might be best if you stay away from them!

Experience – The more experience that an emergency response team has in the field, the better they are likely to be at providing a wide range of services.  Companies that have been around for a long time will also often have good communication skills and customer service levels.

Licenses & Insurance – Ask to see any paperwork or proof that shows licensing, insurance coverage and other important details! You should know exactly how any company will handle insurance claims, and you should know who to contact in the event that something does go wrong.

If you have recently experienced flood or water damage, then your home may not be in the best shape.  Be sure to look for any warning signs that there is more going on than just a simple leak!  There can be very serious health concerns that arise as a result of mold growth, and you certainly don’t want major structural damage to occur because of the water leak!

If you are aware of any severe water damage in your home or office, then you should be sure to contact a professional water damage restoration company in order to avoid further issues!