Understanding the Water Damage Restoration Process

When moisture seeps into your home, a number of issues can occur. To minimize long-term problems and contamination, you need to undertake water damage restoration. Learn the steps involved in this process.

Responding to Initial Contact

When you realize that you have a significant moisture problem, your first step will involve calling a clean-up company for assistance. Many companies have 24-hour availability for emergency response. The representative you speak with on the phone will ask a few questions. These include your name, address, insurance information, type of damage, the problem cause, and whether electricity is available.

Inspecting the Situation

A professional will arrive to inspect the situation at the location. Expect the professional to look for the source of the dampness. If possible, the technician will try to stop the water source. The technician will then attempt to identify the type of water in your home. It may be white, gray, or black depending on the source of the moisture. The work performed to resolve the issue will depend on the type of water.

Removing and Extracting the Moisture

Removing the dampness is achieved with the use of submersible pumps and industrial vacuum units. These suck up excessive amounts of wetness in a short peroid. It's crucial to remove the water as quickly as possible to prevent mold from forming. Technicians will also use other types of equipment such as moisture detectors and meters that measure the amount of saturation in the home. Infrared cameras are also effective for detecting hidden dampness that could lurk behind ceilings and walls.

Drying and Dehumidifying

Dampness will linger long after the pumps and vacuums finish removing the standing water. Porous materials retain dampness for a lengthy time. This wetness will cause swelling, warping, and mold. To avoid these situations, the technicians will move on to drying and dehumidifying the area. Industrial dehumidifiers and air movers are effective for eliminating wetness in porous building materials. This equipment is also effective for drying carpeting and furniture. Moisture meters will enable technicians to monitor drying progress.

Sanitizing and Disinfecting

Once your home and furnishings are dry again, the work moves on to sanitizing and disinfecting an area. Excessive dampness usually leaves behind unpleasant odors. Fogging equipment and industrial air scrubbers are effective equipment for eliminating serious odor problems. The team may also use antibacterial and antimicrobial treatments such as abrasive, foam, or immersion cleaning to sanitize and disinfect your home. The technicians will also dispose of any unsalvageable items.

Final Restoration

Final restoration of your home involves the last steps of returning your house to the pre-moisture condition. Final water damage restoration includes reconstructing areas, installing new carpet, installing hardwood flooring, replacing drywall, and painting.

Because excessive moisture can lead to serious mold problems in a building, it's crucial to perform water damage restoration to repair issues.

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Things to Consider If You Need a Restoration Service

When you find yourself the victim of a natural disaster or fire and water damage, it is only natural to feel as if you have lost everything. Don't despair and lose hope. When disaster strikes, don't assume that all is lost. Simply contact a restoration service and let them take care of everything. Keep in mind that at first, you may be shocked about what has happened to your home, but with the right team of professionals on your side, you can and will get through this ordeal.

You are going to need to do some things before the restoration service can get started. One of those things is to file a police report so that your insurance company will cover the cost to fix any damaged components of your home. A reputable restoration service can get things back to normal the fastest way possible. If some part of your home needs to be rebuilt because of extensive damage or if some part just needs to be remodeled, you don't have to go out looking around for a company that would be willing to take on your home with the type of damage it has sustained.

There are several reasons why you should hire a professional company. One is because emergencies and disasters can happen any time of day or night. You don't want to have to wait for assistance if it is after hours. By hiring a professional team, you have assistance available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They are there at your beck and call to help.

Because there is so much urgency in times of dire need, it may not be possible for you to properly screen all contractors that offer a restoration service. That is why you should hire a restoration service that has employees. A reputable company will be certified by several government agencies, in addition to having all of the required credentials and insurances for your protection. When you are faced with this type of situation, it is best to get started right away to reduce the severity of your loss or damage. The right company will get your property secured and cleaned up in no time.

You want to hire a company that will work with your insurer so you don't have any unexpected or out of pocket expenses. They can fill out the necessary paperwork and speed up the processing time for your claim. This will help you to get back on your feet.

Keep in mind that you need to hire a restoration service that is available around the clock. They need to have workmen's compensation insurance and liability insurance on all of their workers. The longer they have been in business shows how well they cater to the needs of their customers. Ultimately, you want a company that can take care of all of your needs from start to finish, which will make the whole process less stressful and easier to deal with.

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Categories of Water Damage Explained

Water can enter a building in many ways. Local flooding, leaking roofs and broken plumbing are all potential water sources that can cause damage to belongings and possible structural damage as well as create potential indoor environmental and indoor air quality concerns.

It’s important for people to understand what type of water has entered a structure so that it can be properly remediated and appropriate measures can be taken to protect workers and building occupants from any potential hazards.

Depending on the water source and possibly the length of time it remains in a building, it may contain bacteria, viruses, mold, chemicals, protozoa and even parasites. There are three categories of water that are typically used when classifying a water damage or flooding event. These include:

Category 1 Water, also known as Clean Water, does not typically result in an immediate health threat to building occupants. This type of water is considered clean at its point of release. Examples include broken water supply lines and the overflow of a sink or tub. Even in properties with this type of initial water damage, mold can begin to grow in as short as 24 hours. It may also become increasingly contaminated over time and as it interacts with materials in the property.

Category 2 Water, also known as Grey Water, typically contains a significant amount of biological or physical contaminants that can cause sickness when humans are exposed or if it is accidentally consumed. Examples include water discharged from a dishwasher or washing machine. Category 2 Water, that is not promptly removed or has remained stagnant for some time, may at times be reclassified as Category 3 Water.

Category 3 Water, also known as Black Water, is grossly contaminated. It may contain harmful pathogens, microbes and chemicals that could cause illness. Sources include sewage, seawater, rising water from rivers or streams, ground surface water or standing water.

These are just a few things to know about categories of water in water damaged buildings, to learn more about this, please contact the professionals at Jimmy Garza Emergency Water Removal today.

Choosing the right contractor is crucial for any project to be successful. Alltek Restoration specializes in Emergency Services, Contents, Restoration, and Reconstruction. You can rest knowing that your project's interest is at the top of our concerns. Alltek is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality work and exceptional customer service, while assuring you of a well-executed plan to complete your project. You and everyone involved in your project will feel confident we are leading the way.

We serve the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Merced, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus

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