When you have flood waters coming into your home from a rain storm, burst pipe, water heater leak, or drain backup you need an expert in water damage restoration services to assess the damage and fix the problem as quickly as possible. It may seem like a minor annoyance, but water can do a lot of damage to walls, woodwork, furnishings, and carpets.
“Water damage restoration is the process of returning your property to its original condition (before the emergency happened). Water restoration is a service that gets rid of the standing water and cleans up the damage to make it livable again.”
Insurance claims for water damage increase every year it seems. It is not unheard of for damages to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The main point is that if an event happens, it is handled properly and in a timely manner, the costs are greatly reduced. A water damage restoration company can handle most types of emergencies related to flooding.
When a pipe breaks and water starts spraying everywhere, it is natural to panic and be confused as to what to do next. If you are able to, turning off the flow of water is advisable if it does not endanger you to do so. If the water cannot be turned off, say from flooding or water seeping in, call your water company first and a water damage restoration company second.
If you’ve never experienced anything like this before, you may not know what is involved. Here is an overview of the different types of water damage, and the services provided by a restoration company:
There are different types of water damage that professionals break up into distinct categories. Knowing these helps hurry the repair process.
Here are the three main types of water damage.
(category 1)
(category 2)
(category 3)
Each level is named for the severity of contamination in the water. Clean water has practically no contaminants and is not a health hazard, whereas black water is very contaminated and a hazard to public health. You should never try to deal with this type of problem on your own. Call a specialist to handle a job like this. They are trained to deal with contamination and have the tools needed to extract the water and make it safe for the home’s inhabitants.
When you call, a service specialist is dispatched to your location immediately to assess the situation and decide how to proceed. Time is off the essence to avoid costly repairs to structures and supports. There are steps that must be taken quickly to restore your with the least amount of damage. Here are the steps outlined to give you a reference.
The first steps are to inspect the property and assess the damage. The inspector will examine the source of the water and determine what category the water damage falls under (1, 2, or 3). This will determine how the rest of the process is carried out. When there is a lot of contamination, such as black water, special protective gear must be worn such as biohazard suits and special cleanup equipment is used.
Assuming that the flood waters are from a clean source, once the inspection has been done, the specialist can begin extracting the water. Once the specialist identifies the damage, they will begin removing any standing water from the area. A high-powered pump is used to remove the water quickly and efficiently.
A dehumidifier is used to help dry the area. This part of the process takes a bit longer because it is crucial to get rid of all the water and associated moisture. This process also removes water that couldn’t be extracted from the walls, ceilings, and under floorboards. Lingering moisture can lead to warping of wooden support structures and flooring.
After the area is extracted and dried, the next step is to clean and disinfect it. This will remove any germs or bacteria to make sure it is safe and livable for the occupants of the home. Looking at water under a microscope, you’ll see lots of small microbes that are present in water that we never knew were there.
Repairing and restoring your property is the most important step in this process. The faster the process is completed, the better the outcome will be. That is why it is so important not to wait when an emergency occurs. Right after an event occurs, the damage has already begun. The quicker it gets assessed, the easier it will be to restore your home to its original condition.
We have helped thousands of customers navigate the insurance claim process to successfully recover from water damage.
When you need water damage restoration services in the San Diego area, look no further than Xpress Restoration. We are water/flood damage restoration specialists. We respond to all emergency calls in under an hour and offer free damage assessments. Call us when you need experts in water damage restoration services and antimicrobial cleanup services. We will work with your insurance company and even help you file a claim!
I am so glad I contacted Xpress Restoration! Leonardo is extremely professional. He came out right away and did a thorough assesment. They are very professional, knowledgeable and trustworthy. Highly recommend and will be calling them again if ever needed!
