Water damage has the potential to wreak havoc on properties. It can be caused by sudden events like floods or by gradual events like a leaking pipe or air conditioner. Water damage makes a property look bad, so it’s important to take necessary measures before it happens or contact a professional to restore your home if it has happened already.
Mold or bacterial growth, short-circuiting of electrical equipment, rusting of metal or steel, wood rotting, and swelling are all issues that can result from water damage.
Water damage restoration, however, is a comprehensive process aimed at restoring the property to its pre-water intrusion state. While restoring the property to its former glory may appear to be a simple process, it is not.
The restoration process includes inspection, debris removal and extraction, sanitation, dehumidification, and content restoration or reconstruction.
Causes and Signs of Water Damage
Water damage can occur because of a variety of reasons, some of which are slow and unnatural, while others are spontaneous and natural. Natural causes of water damage include heavy rain and natural disasters that cause flooding.
Other causes include leaking pipes, water supply lines, or a burst water heater, clogged drains, toilet or bathtub overflow, a leaking roof, and damaged sprinklers, to name a few.
Water puddles and stains in the building, swelling or soft spots on materials, mildew and damp odor, and visible structural damage are all signs of water damage.
It’s best to let professionals handle the restoration process because they can quickly identify places from where water gets in and offer solutions to stop water damage.
Although certification is not required for the restoration process, hiring a company or contractor with experience and a proven plan to return your property to its original state is preferable.
Do you have a water-damaged property in Kansas City that requires the best water damage restoration? If you need prompt assistance to save your property, call Enviro-Dry at 816-654-5067. We have years of experience and a great team to quickly identify and resolve your water damage.
Processes Involved in Water Damage Restoration
When water damage occurs, restoration is carried out to prevent collapse and massive structural damage, restore the property’s appearance and protect the lives of those who reside within it. The restoration process is complicated and comprises several steps, including:
Inspection
The specialist performs a water damage assessment or inspection to determine the water source, contamination category, and damage level. Finding the source of the water is important to prevent further intrusion.
Determining the type and scope of decontamination to use and the extent of dehumidification and drying required can be done with the knowledge of the water contamination and damage class.
Extraction
Stagnant water (standing water) is extracted using submersible pumps and industrial vacuums.
Portable dry/wet vacuums are used to remove surface water before thermal infrared cameras, or moisture meters are used to discover hidden puddles of saturation beneath floorboards or behind walls.
This is done to determine whether the floor or wall material can be salvaged; otherwise, it is discarded.
Dehumidification
Commercial grade dehumidifiers, air movers, and heavy-duty fans are used to dehumidify and dry the area. Aside from the tools listed above, the contractor can also open doors and windows to let in more air.
Sanitation
Mold and fungal growth have been observed in some water damage cases. They may be harmful to human health, and the company will recommend that they be removed.
During sanitation, antimicrobials, air scrubbers, and high-quality equipment such as the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum are used. Based on their assessment, your contractor would recommend the best sanitation method.
Reconstruction
Reconstruction is the final step after the moisture testing processes have been completed. However, it may not be required if some of the property can be saved. Some of the damage to the walls and floors can be fixed, but if flooding causes complete water damage, the whole building needs to be rebuilt.
Water damage restoration is done to restore a water-damaged property to its original state. Water damage can occur because of natural or unnatural causes, but restoring the property to its former state is crucial in safeguarding the health and lives of the building’s neighbors and residents.
It entails many processes, and it is recommended that you hire the services of a company or specialist in these circumstances. Enviro-Dry has a wealth of experience and tested solutions to repair your water damage. Call us at 816-654-5067 for quick and dependable solutions.