Water is potentially one of the most destructive elements in your home. Controlled in pipes and moved through your house, it is as useful a tool as could be imagined. However, once it gets loose in the home – whether from a plumbing leak or flooding from outside – water damage can be expensive to address.
That’s why proper water extraction is so critical to home restoration. You must make sure that you remove all the water as part of the water damage restoration process, or you will never achieve the results you want.
Identify and Stop the Source of Water
The first step in water extraction is identifying the true source of water in the home. This might be a leaky roof, broken pipes, a faulty connection to an appliance, backed up sewers, water flowing in from the ground outside, or even seeping up through the foundation. No matter the source, you have to identify it and, if possible, stop it before you begin water extraction.
Determine Safety Issues
Next, you need to determine what safety issues you may encounter during water extraction. One common hazard is toxins or biohazards in the water. Backed-up sewage, for example, is full of biohazards. Flood waters may contain dead animals and toxic chemicals from sources upstream. Another potential concern is electrical hazards from damaged or exposed wiring in the flooded area.
If there are potential water hazards, leave water extraction to the professionals. Don’t attempt to deal with anything but clean water (fresh water directly from the pipe) without proper training and safety equipment. Shut off power to affected areas if there’s a potential shock risk.
Remove All Standing Water
If it is safe to do so, it’s important to remove all standing water next. Water damage restoration professionals have powerful equipment to pump out the standing water. In addition to the water standing above the flooring, professional equipment can pull water up from inside the carpet and pad, or even behind the drywall.
Assess Damage
It’s really impossible to assess the extent of damage with standing water still in place. Once you’ve got the standing water out, though, it’s time to take stock of all the damage the water did. See what furniture items might have been damaged. Assess the level of water soaked into drywall and insulation, and check for other damage.
Remove Materials That Can’t Be Dried in Place
Many of the materials can be dried in place, but others can’t. In some cases, you will just be best off throwing out materials, including carpet pads, saturated drywall, and some materials that can’t be properly dried. Other times, materials might be dryable, but need controlled conditions to dry properly and safely.
Dry and Dehumidify
Next, it’s time to dry materials. This should be a closely controlled process. Many people assume that drying everything faster is better, but drying some materials too quickly can cause problems. It can lead to warping and weakening of materials. Adding heat can also be problematic, as it can lead to the growth of mold. Water damage restoration experts understand the proper approach to drying different materials. They can let you know what can be preserved and what you will have to let go.
It’s also important to keep drying until materials are truly dry. You can’t simply touch something and know whether it is wet or not. You have to be able to measure the moisture content of materials to know when they’re truly dry.
Clean
Even with clean water, immersed items will get dirty. The dirt comes from many places. If, for example, water traveled through your HVAC vents, it can pick up a substantial amount of dirt.
In addition, the cleaning process can help arrest the growth of mold. Mold can start growing almost immediately when you have excess water, but if you can stop the growth early, you can prevent significant damage.
Repairs and Reconstruction
Once everything is clean and dry, it’s time to repair anything that had to be removed. Lay new carpet pad before putting down your carpet. Place new insulation where saturated insulation was removed. Hang replacement drywall where some was removed.
Remove Remaining Odors
Drying and cleaning the area will resolve most of the odors. However, sometimes odors persist. These aren’t necessarily indicative of problems, but they can be unpleasant. Using a proper approach to odor neutralization is the final touch to make sure your space feels as if it was never damaged by water.
Expert Water Extraction in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area
If you have excessive water in your home in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area, let Just Right Cleaning & Construction extract the water and restore your home to its former state. Since 1954, JRCC Damage Restoration Experts has been helping people in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area. We offer 24/7 emergency response services, and we will arrive ready to work so your life can get back to normal as soon as possible after a water disaster. We follow meticulous processes using the most advanced equipment consistent with industry best practices to complete your water damage restoration accurately and efficiently.
We handle the entire restoration process, from the initial identification of water sources, through repairs and deodorization. Plus, we coordinate with your insurance company for a smoother claims process. We work with insurance companies every day, so we know what kind of documentation they need to process your claims. We will document the initial damage as well as every step in the restoration process, so you will never experience a delay or reduction in your claim due to poor documentation.
If you need help getting water out of your home, please contact us today. JRCC Damage Restoration Experts serves customers in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area.