Owning a home comes with plenty of responsibilities and it also involves a lot of expenses. Of course, there are things like the monthly mortgage and home insurance payments. There are also things like home maintenance and repairs that homeowners should prepare for. And one of the most expensive repairs that you might encounter as a homeowner is water damage.
Leaks in the plumbing system, clogged gutters, faulty water heaters or washing machines, malfunctioning ACs, and extreme weather conditions such as heavy rains and snow can cause water damage. How do you restore water damage? There are a couple of things that go in the process of water damage restoration; this includes inspection/assessment, water removal, drying, dehumidifying, cleaning, and sanitizing before the full restoration is complete. We’ll go further into details about this process, and we’ll also cover the cost of water damage restoration service, and other important things you need to know, so continue reading!
Water Damage: Immediate Things You Have to Do
Before we take you through the process of water damage restoration, we’ll give you some tips on what you should do if your home sustained water damage.
- Identify the source – Whether you’re dealing with the effects of flood, broken pipes, or leaking appliances, water damage should be dealt with properly. Before you call in the pros, your top priority is to look for the source of the leak. Looking for the source and stopping it can prevent more damage. When you have done this, it’s time to take care of your property and call in professional water damage restoration services.
- Get in touch with your insurance company – The most important thing to do is to report the issue to your insurance company. The coverage will depend on your policy and the assessment of the adjuster.
You will also want to document and take photos from before and until after the clean-up.
Take note that not all insurances will cover flood damage so you may want to check with your insurance company about this.
- Protect yourself and your valuables -Whether due to flooding or a severe plumbing leak, you want to ensure that you and your family are safe to stay inside your home. You will also want to protect your appliances and valuables by lifting furniture from the wet floor. If the situation calls for it, turn off the electricity in your home. However, if you need to stand in flooded or wet areas, do not attempt to switch off the power and call a qualified electrician instead.
- Address the water damage – When you’ve cleared your home and it’s safe to enter the affected area, you can then start taking care of the water damage. We recommend that you get help from a professional water damage restoration company so that the process is done correctly.
Water Damage Restoration Process
To give you an idea, listed below is the process of water damage restoration. Note that professionals usually have a five-step process when fixing water damage. As mentioned above this process includes 1. Inspection and assessment of damage; 2. Water extraction; 3. Drying (including mold removal or prevention); 4. Cleaning; and 5. Restoration.
Inspection and Assessment of Damage
When you hire water damage restoration services, the first thing that the professionals will do is to visit your home to carry on a detailed inspection and assessment of the damage. During this process, experts may use equipment such as moisture detectors and hygrometers to determine what needs to be done. They will also identify the classification and category of water damage.
Water Damage Classifications:
- Class 1: Relatively minor damage and involves the least amount of water and only a small area of a room absorbed minimal moisture
- Class 2: Entire room is affected where walls and carpets absorbed moisture
- Class 3: Carpet, subfloors, walls, insulations, and even ceilings are saturated
- Class 4: Water damage affected concrete, stone, hardwood, etc. and would require specialized equipment and techniques to dry
Water Damage Categories:
- Category 1: “Safest” type of water damage as water is clean and came from clean water sources
- Category 2: Water is gray and may have some contaminants (e.g. water leaking from household appliances)
- Category 3: Water is color black, is highly contaminated and contains harmful bacteria or substances that can cause illness (e.g. sewage water, water from toilet, or flooding)
Besides classifying and categorizing the water damage, the contractor will also check the porousness of the materials affected by the water damage and if the main water source has already been stopped. After the inspection, the company will then provide you with a quotation of how much it will cost to restore the area and how long it will take.
Water Extraction
The next step in the water damage restoration process is removing the standing water. Restoration contractors will use pumps and vacuums to extract the water from your property. The type of tools and equipment that will be used will depend on the extent of the water damage in your home.
Drying
After the water has been extracted, the next step is to ensure that moisture is entirely removed from the affected area in your house. Water restoration experts will use dehumidification equipment to completely dry out the materials that could still contain water. Moisture levels on the floors, walls and other areas will also be monitored during this process. This step can also take days or a few weeks depending on the damage and the type of drying techniques that needs to be done.
Cleaning
While your property may be completely dry, cleaning and sanitizing the area is an important step so that any mold buildup will be removed. Trained professionals will use special treatments (especially on carpets, walls, drapes, etc.) to help turn back your space into a healthy environment. Water damage restoration experts will also remove any damaged materials from the area.
Restoration
Finally, the last step is the actual restoration itself. This is where experts will return your home from how it is previously. During this step, repairs of drywalls or installations of new walls may be done.
It is important to note that since water damage restoration is a tedious process, you should expect the service to be completed from 72 hours up to two weeks, depending on the extent of the job.
Does water damage get worse if left unfixed?
One of the worst things that you can do when you experience water damage is delay having it repaired or restored. It’s important to remember that water damage shouldn’t be taken lightly as it could wreak havoc on the house’s systems and compromise its structural integrity. It is time-sensitive. Acting quickly and calling professional services as soon as possible will prevent more extensive and costly damage.
Did you know that mold can start developing within 24 hours even with just small amounts of water? So besides structural issues, you’ll also be at risk of health and safety hazards because of mold and mildew build-up and potentially dangerous bacteria found in the water.
Other issues that you’ll be facing if water damage is not addressed are:
- Rusty pipes – could lead to bigger and more expensive leaks and repairs
- Rotten wood – water could quickly rot wood and also be a breeding ground for pests
- Ceiling damage – could also spread to the walls and cause molds to grow
- Affected electrical systems – electricity and water are a bad mix and if left unchecked, water could ruin your circuits and outlets, which could also lead to electrical shocks or electrocutions
- Damaged carpets – although made to last long, carpets could decompose and decay when they are damp
- Devalued property – if not properly addressed, water damage can severely affect the value of the house or make it not sale-worthy at all
How much does it cost to hire water damage restoration services?
Depending on the extent of the damage and the source of the issue, water damage restoration services can run anywhere from $450 to as much as $12,500. On average, however, homeowners typically shell out $3,190 for water damage repair costs.
Some factors that affect the cost include:
- Type of water damage – whether water is clean or contaminated
- Size and which area of the house is affected
- Type of equipment needed to complete the job
- Materials used to restore/repair water damage
When should you call for professional water restoration services?
Although there are instances where you can take care of the water damage yourself, you have to make sure that there is no structural damage or at least there is no mold growing in your space. To do this, you need to ensure that the whole area is completely dry (use dehumidifiers if needed), that you sanitize as much as you can, and that you remove materials that are already damaged.
You will need to call professional water restoration services if the job is too much for you to handle, or if there are obvious signs of water damage on your property. While it may cost you a considerable amount to pay for expert services, this will give you peace of mind that the restoration and cleaning are done right and that your home will be back to what it was.
At Same Day Pros, we can help you find reliable water damage restoration companies servicing your neighborhood – click on the link below!
