Water Mitigation Process in Progress

4/18/2018 (Permalink)

Water Mitigation Process in Progress

The reasons of water damagecan be different, such as flooding from storms, frozen or ruptured pipes. Whatever the reason, you’ll have to overcome some real hurtles and prevent more serious problems. You probably want to know, what should you do first? Here are some useful tips to keep water damage at a minimum and make the restoration process easier and faster. All the doings you read below are called the water mitigation process.

The Process of Water Mitigation

When your home is damaged by a flood, it is important to start the water damage mitigation process as soon as possible. It is not a secret, the earlier the better. The longer you wait the more damage the water does. If you do not call for the experts fast, your home and surrounding may suffer irreparable damage that can be very expensive to deal with.

It is important to make sure that you hire specialists who are certainly certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification. You should know that the IICRC is one of the largest certifying bodies in the United States. When you hire a company that has IICRC certification, you can feel confident that you will receive the highest quality of care and that your home will be restored as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Watch Out for Danger!

The danger in the flooded house is everywhere. First, check for anything that could harm you. Turn off all power and gas in rooms that have sustained water damage. Watch for animals, sometimes dangerous insects and other things that usually come in with the water during floods. Standing water needs much attention for every step. It is dirty and can be hard to see through, be wary of debris underneath the water. At last, the water can contain dangerous pathogens or chemicals. So, one way or another, it is better to wear waterproof clothing.

Mold after Water Damage

In most cases, water damage leads to microbial growth. So, it’s important to keep on it. Do you know why? Everyone knows but we need to repeat is again. Mold causes a variety of health problems including respiratory health issues and asthma attacks in those with asthma as well as other unpleasant effects even for healthy folks.

Water damage can diminish the construction of your home especially if your property has been flooded for some time. Look at the foundation, your load-bearing walls, your basement, and any columns for crumbling and cracks. 

Wear Waterproof Clothing

It was already discussed many times about the dangerous pathogens and possible chemicals that you can find in the standing water. You should cover up fully with goggles, gloves, a helmet and a mask. That means that you should wear special clothes to protect yourself. Make sure that anything that was in the area that sustained the water damage is thoroughly disinfected, that includes yourself and your equipment.

Take Photos

Don’t be surprised! Once you’ve followed the above steps you will then be able to look at the damage and document it. Pictures of the water damage will be important when dealing with your insurance agency. If you are not insured, you don’t need to take pictures.

Dry Out Your Home or Building

It’s important to be quick about drying out your home or building to minimize the possibility of mold growing and of deterioration of the structure. Drying is the most important process as you shouldn’t only dry all the surfaces but not to damage it. This is the first thing you must do is get the water out your home or building. Of course, the longer your house stays flooded, the more damage it sustains. You can sweep a lot of the water through an open door if you have access to one. If the water is in the basement or a room without access to a door, you’ll want to use a pump. SERVPRO of Hurst-Euless-Bedford has specialty equipment. It helps to dry the surfaces faster and till the bottom. 

Inspect the Attic for Water Damage

You may not know this but the insulation in your walls can carry the water up to the attic so the best place to start is there. Considering that water can stay in the insulation for some time coupled with how hot attics can get, this is a recipe for mold and wood rot. Of course, if you were flooded from the pipe in your bathroom, you can forget about the attic inspection.

Ventilate the Area Suffering from Water Damage

Check all flooded rooms for moistened sheetrock and plaster. If you see signs of moisture, open your windows turn on your attic fan, if your electrical system has already been checked. Ventilation is important. You need room airing as much as drying.

Disinfect the Area

After you’ve ventilated the rooms and removed all wet materials, you should clean everything with a disinfectant such as bleach with water. This is the simple example of disinfectant that you can buy in the store. But make sure you wash everything to remove the residue from the water damage. Otherwise, your kids or animals that spend much time playing on the floor can be in danger.

When in doubt call SERVPRO of Hurst-Euless-Bedford

If you’re suffering from water damage you can follow these steps to do water mitigation process in the fastest time. If you need any help or if the job is just too large for you to handle alone, call SERVPRO of Hurst-Euless-Bedford 817.595.0004. Our Response Team is ready 24-Hour / 7 Days week / 365 days of the year.