Some FAQ’s About Water Damage Clean Up

People should try to quickly get all the assistance that they can after their houses have been severely flooded. Even a relatively small amount of accidental water damage can cause problems. That said, the water restoration process under those circumstances might be comparatively easy. If there’s been a large enough flood, the technicians will need more time to fix everything, assuming that’s possible.

Customers may have wondered years ago: after flood what to do? You absolutely need to reach your insurance provider. Accidental water damage insurance can help. The professionals will inspect your home and assess the amount of harm that the house has sustained. It still might be relatively affordable water damage, even if it looks like it’s very significant.

You might need professionals to help you with water extraction before the renovation procedure can really continue. However, even when the water itself is out of the house and the building is dry, the structure could still have problems. Companies can help you prevent mold from growing in the areas that were in contact with the water. Mold takes much less time to spread than many people think, and the contractors will have to respond very rapidly.

Fire and water damage restoration

Due to increases in crazy weather patterns and a corresponding lack of solid flood insurance coverage, services that clean up water damage are more in demand than ever. Often, small and mid-size residential cleaning services or even carpet cleaning services offer water clean up and/or extraction as an additional option for those that may need it. Sometimes, water damage may occur and not be immediately apparent, depending on the cause and intensity/volume of the leak. Here are some frequently asked questions about water damage and how a good service will go about helping to clean it up.
What Causes Water Damage?

  • A leaky or broken water heater
  • A burst pipe
  • Overflowing toilets
  • Floods, heavy rain and storm-related damage
  • Burst/broken sprinklers
    Can Damage Remain Hidden?
    Absolutely, yes. Surfaces like walls and ceilings may appear dry after a water damage incident, but quite often it’s lurking behind the surface in question, slowly seeping. A well-trained residential cleaning service will use a moisture meter to measure if there’s water behind your walls, which can begin to produce mold in as little as 36 hours. Moisture that makes its way to insulation can also be a place that harbors mold growth unbeknownst to homeowners. Odor usually comes secondarily, letting residents know there’s mold well after it has started growing. Additionally, water can hide inside electronics, between paper files, in furniture crevices – anywhere, really. Professionals can help you find all the water and work to repair the damage.
    How Serious is the Mold?
    It depends on how fast you catch it, but it can be hazardous when left over time. Water damage is the #1 cause of indoor mold growth, and mold requires moisture to spread. By removing the moisture, you halt the further growth, although existing mold needs to be removed as well. Mold develops with some combination of moisture, warmer indoor temperatures and something it can feed off of (dust, drywall, carpet).Anyone from a good residential cleaning service will know where to look for developing mold after a water incident.
    How Does Water Removal Happen, Exactly?

  • First, as much water as possible needs to be extracted, whether through toweling or some sort of pump
  • Furniture must either be removed from the area or, conversely, can be set on top of blocks
  • Carpet should be taken up from the floor – this requires professional training to be done properly with an eye to not destroy the carpet seams
  • Carpet padding must be completely removed and thrown out
  • Before padding is replaced, the sub floor needs to be thoroughly measured with moisture meters and a more thorough extraction/professional suction or drying technique must be applied
    What Should We Do After a Storm?
    Clean up services will book up mighty fast following a natural disaster, so while you wait for an appointment, do the following:

  • Remove as much of the existing, visible water as you can
  • Move furniture up onto wood blocks, preferably somewhere that isn’t carpeted
  • Begin removing the baseboards around affected areas; drill coin-sized holes in the exposed space to encourage air movement
  • Remove items of value from the area
    How Does Professional Air Drying Work?
    Professional cleanup crews and water damage restoration companies have access to speed dryers and air mover machines that can apply the force of air to move moisture off of a surface. Additionally, they may use dehumidifiers as a way of literally drying out the air.
    Especially if you live in an area that has a storm season, have the number for a commercial cleaning service handy. Once the water is in your home, the countdown to increased damage begins and time is of the essence.
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