Has your home or business suffered from a nasty water leak, busted pipe, overflowing toilet or tub, or other kind of water damage incident? If so, you’re not alone – water damage is one of the most common headaches property owners have to deal with. Whether it was a small spill contained in one room or a major flood that impacted multiple floors, any amount of water where it doesn’t belong can quickly become a big, costly mess if not handled properly and promptly.
The Importance of Proper Water Damage Cleanup
I’ve been through my fair share of water damage situations over the years, from minor dishwasher leaks to a catastrophic water heater burst that flooded my entire basement. One thing I’ve learned – when you’ve got standing water or moisture saturating floors, walls, ceilings, furniture and personal belongings, cleaning it up isn’t as simple as grabbing a mop and calling it a day. Serious water damage requires serious measures to address. Otherwise, you risk doing a haphazard, incomplete job that allows moisture to linger, leading to mold growth, structural damage, and other nasty problems down the road.
When to Call the Professionals
Suppose your home or business has sustained major water intrusion from any source. In that case, the mess needs to be squared away in a very particular, methodical way, ideally by trained professionals with the right equipment and expertise. I recommend calling in pros for anything more than a minor spill that can be easily mopped up. But since water damage strikes so frequently, it’s also wise for property owners to know the proper protocol, just in case.
The Critical Steps of Water Damage Remediation
After stopping the flow of water at the source and removing any furniture, boxes, or items that can be easily moved, these are the critical steps that need to be taken right away:
Extraction
This is priority number one after a major water event – getting as much standing water vacuumed up and out of the premises as quickly as possible. The longer it pools and soaks in, the more damage it causes. High-powered truck-mounted or portable extraction units are a must for this phase to remove hundreds or thousands of gallons rapidly.
Moisture Mapping
Next, pros use specialized meters and sensors to detect any remaining moisture hidden behind walls, under floors, and in other concealed spaces so it doesn’t get missed. This prevents mold and continued deterioration.
Drying & Dehumidification
After as much moisture as possible has been located and extracted, a comprehensive structural drying plan is executed. Water mitigation services involve strategically positioning commercial-grade air movers, dehumidifiers and other drying equipment throughout all affected areas to remove any lingering moisture over several days.
Sanitization
Floodwaters could potentially contain all kinds of nasty bacteria, sewage, chemicals and other contaminants that need to be killed and disinfected once areas are dried out using specialized EPA-approved antimicrobial solutions.
Reconstruction
Finally, in cases where water infiltrated and degraded drywall, flooring, ceilings or other structural components, those materials likely need to be repaired, replaced and reconstructed once cleanup is complete to restore the property to its original state.
The Value of Professional Water Mitigation Services
As you can see, water damage cleanup isn’t as simple as mopping up what’s visible – it’s an extensive, meticulous process when you want it done properly. That’s why most homeowners, businesses, insurance companies and property managers choose to work with certified restoration professionals after major spills or floods rather than trying to tackle it all DIY. The upfront costs for their services are well worth it to ensure the areas are thoroughly dried out, sanitized and restored.
Conclusion
So the next time you’re faced with standing water someplace it shouldn’t be, don’t shrug it off or assume it will be easy to do water damage clean up. Promptly getting the right mitigation team with proper equipment on-site is the wise move for thorough, effective remediation. Cutting corners just leaves lingering moisture behind that paves the way for an ever-bigger nightmare down the road. Take it from me – I’ve learned that the hard way a few times!