10 Ways To Stop & Repair Water Damage In Your Home

If it sits for too long, there’s a chance that more damage will occur or a Category 1 water damage will turn into a Category 2, which can have impacts on your health. This step may include calling a plumber (if one hasn’t already been called) to discover and stop any leaks. It may also require the removal of affected flooring, walls, and ceiling.

In addition to immediately notifying your insurance company, there may be other forms of aid you can access to help with the cleanup process. If your water damage was caused by a hurricane, you may qualify for home repair assistance grants through FEMA. These grants may not be accessible if your insurance covers the problem, and are only for homes or offices that qualify under a federal disaster declaration.

Professional Water Damage Help When You Need It Most

In the meantime, use fans as a first effort, and consider running a dehumidifier to help remove moisture from the air. If your property is particularly old it may be time to replace materials such as pipes to prevent a reoccurrence of water damage. If pipes are behind walls it may require more extensive repair. After water damage occurs, your home will need to undergo water extraction, drying and dehumidification so that you don’t have mold problems down the road. Mold can start to grow in the right conditions in as little as 24 hours. For long-term issues, like mold caused by attic condensation, the mold may have started growing a long time ago.

• We will then restore all damaged materials and belongings to their original state.
• When you’ve got water flowing into your home, you need help and you need it fast.
• Flood damage can be found in any geographical area, regardless of elevation.
• The causes of flooding can range from natural disasters to burst pipes or sewer lines.
• Regardless of the cause, restoration professionals are often called upon to repair water damage and restore flooded properties.

This often involves placing fans and a dehumidifier in the area. In some cases, it might also involve putting up plastic sheeting and using heaters so that the water can evaporate. If walls have been impacted, it may be necessary to remove baseboards or drill holes so that they dry properly. A section of the carpet may also have to be lifted so that the carpet and the pad will dry. If these processes aren’t conducted, the chance of odor and mold growth increases.

Things You Need To Know About Drying Out

Because public adjusters aren’t tied to the insurance company, so they’re unbiased and focused only on finding the truth , rather than minimizing the insurance company’s payout. Although majority of homeowner’s insurance policies cover water damage, NOT ALL cover flood damage. When it comes to professional water damage restoration, the experts are armed with industry strength equipment. When it comes to the extraction and removal of water, the typical wet and dry vacuum is not going to cut it. There are a few steps that you need to follow in order to clean up water damage, and once you do this, you will begin the process of water damage restoration. Of course, drying out is only part of the battle when you’re dealing with the aftermath of a flood. It’s also important to disinfect the area properly to prevent the growth of mold and remove any harmful biological contaminants and microbes.

The reason we have such a time crunch when it comes to drying out your home is almost entirely due to mold prevention. While water damage does structural damage to many materials, it’s the mold growth that occurs after that causes some of the biggest problems. After any type of water damage, the possibility of mold growth increases. Ensuring that the area was properly dried and then sanitized should reduce this likelihood. However, it’s not always possible to prevent all growth, but a good restoration company will have the skills and expertise to remove any mold that grows as a result of water damage. After the standing water has been removed and materials that could pose a drying or structural hazard have been removed, the drying process will begin.

Water Damage Clean Up

Isolate the damaged fixture and keep it clean until you are able to contact someone who can do the work for you. It’s not an ideal solution but it’s better than allowing the damaged fixture from getting worse and causing further water damage to your property. In most cases of water damage, it’s not enough to repair the damaged areas of your property. Not only will this prevent further damage, it can also help you to repair more serious damages later on. Cleaning up after a flood is a lot of work and it is possible to do much of it yourself. However, the costs in time, supplies and machinery rental escalate quickly.

Before doing anything, call your insurance provider and tell them everything you need to do. However, if the damage cannot be repaired using epoxy then you should leave it alone and use other sources of water for the time being.

Call A Trusted Water Damage Repair Professional

There may be tear-out that will occur, and it’s important to know beforehand who will be doing repairs at the completion of the job. Stains on ceilings and upper walls can be a sign of serious water damage. When serious plumbing problems occur, call a professional plumber immediately for expert repair.

Obviously, electricity and water can make a dangerous combination. If either of these tasks put you at risk, wait for a professional. Finally, as long as it’s safe, take as many pictures as possible before starting any potential DIY cleanup. You’ll want to start cleaning right away if possible, but you’ll also want your insurance company to be able to see the initial extent of the damage before any cleaning occurred. Once pictures have been taken and the area has been deemed safe, remove as much standing water as possible and set fans to begin the drying process. Furniture, flooring, drywall, and other items may need some significant time and effort to dry properly.

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Black water cleanup jobs will be the most costly at $7.25, on average, per square foot5. If the company charges an hourly rate for water damage restoration services, the charge is around $75 per hour. Special circumstances, such as debris removal, increase the average labor rate with surcharges of $200 or more. Mold remediation is a common type of service needed when water damage has occured in the basement or crawl space. To have a professional remove mold from the basement or crawl space, you will pay around $1,500 on average. Plumbing issues, such as a water main break, may also need to be repaired and cost you around $800.

Get a reputable contractor with experience in water damage to carry out the repairs. Ensure you get a reasonable quote on the service, and that the contractor sticks to a strict time budget. Most water damage repairs include floor, walls and doors repairs or replacements. Check with the authorities whether certain repairs are allowed or require a city permit. Floor work usually takes a lot of time, so make sure you are prepared for that. After the repairs, make a few touch ups like paint jobs and restoring any peripheral systems such as plumbing and electrical systems in case they were damaged as well.

Category 3 Water Damage

Often, professionals can get to the damage more quickly, taking steps that the average homeowner may not know to take, that can reduce the overall costs of restoration. Be aware that you may need to remove flooring, drywall, and insulation to prevent mold and mildew from spreading in your home. Furniture may also need to be dried out, cleaned or thrown away depending on the level of water damage. Preventing mold growth is the key to maintaining your house air clean and healthy. In addition to calling your insurance company, here are a few strategies for handling your flooded basement and minimizing water damage.

Fallen leaves and other debris in gutters and downspouts can lead to water damage to the exterior and interior walls of a building. Regularly inspect your business’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage system, and remove any debris or buildup. Have gutters professionally cleaned on a regular basis to ensure water is draining properly and away from the building. Water disaster can occur at any time and if it is left unaddressed for long it may cause other serious damages as well. So, to clean the mess as quickly as possible, you need to find a company that can arrive quickly when you call.

Strict actions are required in water mitigation such as removal of damaged materials such as drywall and flooring. Molds and mildew that have accumulated in areas in your property will be disinfected and deodorized to restore a healthy environment. Further cleaning and deodorizing should be done to make sure your real estate is back in top shape. Examples are a storm-forced leak, which floods a building’s interior and soaks carpeted areas, or broken water mains filling an underground parking area. Where there is a significant amount of water discharged and the exposed materials are medium to high porosity.

Helpful Links Mold Removal

Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters
Guidance from CDC, EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on safe mold clean-up after a natural disaster

What to Wear before entering a Home or Building with Mold Damage

8 Tips to Clean up Mold

 

Water Damage Restoration

Mold or mould, also sometimes referred to as mildew, is a fungal growth that develops on wet materials. Mold is a natural part of the environment and plays an important part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees; indoors, mold growth should be avoided.

 

Water damage describes various possible losses caused by water intruding where it will enable attack of a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, mold growth, bacteria growth,  swelling of composite woods, de-laminating of materials such as plywood, etc.

The damage may be imperceptibly slow and minor such as water spots that could eventually mar a surface, or it may be instantaneous and catastrophic such as burst pipes and flooding. However fast it occurs, water damage is a major contributor to loss of property.

An insurance policy may or may not cover the costs associated with water damage and the process of water damage restoration. While a common cause of residential water damage is often the failure of a sump pump, many homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover the associated costs without an addendum which adds to the monthly premium of the policy. Often the verbiage of this addendum is similar to “Sewer and Drain Coverage”.

In the United States, those individuals who are affected by wide-scale flooding may have the ability to apply for government and FEMA grants through the Individual Assistance program. On a larger level, businesses, cities, and communities can apply to the FEMA Public Assistance program for funds to assist after a large flood. For example, the city of Fond du Lac Wisconsin received $1.2 million FEMA grant after flooding in June 2008. The program allows the city to purchase the water damaged properties, demolish the structures, and turn the former land into public green space.

Common Types of Water Damage

Sewage Cleanup

Sewage cleanup may be required when toilets or sinks are backed up. Sewage spills result in the seepage of toxic black water or gray water, which has been contaminated by human, animal or biological waste. Sewage cleanup is a messy part of the restoration process that can pose a health risk and should always be completed by a trained professional.

Structural Damage

Water can cause structural damage to your home, making a previously safe environment inhospitable.

Water seepage inside walls, the foundation, or wood or concrete framing can weaken your home or property’s structure and potentially lead to collapse. Non-structural water destruction to the drywall and ceiling can also wreak havoc on your home.

Broken Pipes

Burst or broken plumbing pipes can cause significant damage and must be dealt with immediately. You may need to work with a plumber in addition to a water restoration company.

Some broken pipes are covered by insurance claims, but burst pipes that result from aging or neglect are typically excluded from homeowners’ insurance policies.

Additionally, damage due to leaking or malfunctioning water heaters may be covered by a building or product warranty.

But if you decide to seek outside help, it costs around $3.75 per square foot for basic water damage cleanup . The second type is gray water, slightly dirty water from dishwashers, washing machines, clean toilets, and so on. But you can clean it up yourself if you remove it carefully and with proper safety gear to protect yourself. Professional water damage cleanup cost rises to $4.50 per square foot. The third type is black water, such as sewage or serious flooding from nearby rivers, etc. This water contains waste, bacteria and other serious contaminants. Black water can cause very serious health problems, and you shouldn’t try to clean it up yourself.