7 Essential Tips For Water Damage Repair

Water damage is indeed problematic for every homeowner. Not only it can cause damage to the structure of a home, but water damage can also harm the health environment of a property. If you don’t attend to it immediately, you will incur a great loss which might lead to irreparable damage and costly repairs and refurbishment. So, once water damage occurs in your home, it is essential to perform water clean up immediately to prevent further damage and accidents. Here are some emergency water damage restoration tips that you can do right after the water event occurs. 

What To Do First

The first and most important step to mitigate damage is to shut down the water source and electricity. This way you can stop the cause of water damage to your property and ensure your safety while doing the cleanup process. Then, move on to the assessment of the damage and repair. Remember to do it quickly because wet materials can develop more serious problems like mold growth 24 hours after a water event. 

Know The Different Types of Water

When it comes to water damage, it is also essential to know which type of water you are dealing with, because one type of water may pose no harm, but others can cause health hazards. 

Three types of water can occur in your home. The first one is the clean water that often occurs due to burst water supply lines, leaky pipes, rain, condensation, and others. This water is pure and harmless. You may clean up the damage on your own, but you can always seek help from a professional like Superior Restoration. 

The second one is gray water. It is slightly dirty water from a washing machine, dishwasher, or a clean toilet. The water may contain some contaminants, but with precaution and proper safety gear, you can clean it up yourself. The last and the dirtiest type of water is black water, like sewage water or overflowing water from nearby rivers and others. Blackwater may contain waste, bacteria, and other contaminants. You shouldn’t come in contact with this type of water as it can pose serious health issues. Cleaning it up should be handled by a professional. 

Water Damage Repair Tips

1. Remove Excess Water and Dry The Affected Area

As soon as you finish assessing the damaged area, it is now time to remove excess water or moisture. You may use a mop to soak up the remaining water and blot the area with high saturation. Then, use fans around the damaged area to circulate air. In case the area is severely damaged, consider using a large-capacity dehumidifier to ensure proper drying of the surrounding wood and other materials. 

2. Remove and Discard Damaged Materials

If the damaged area has furniture, electronics, and other valuable items like paintings, move them to a safe place. Porous materials such as carpet, fabric, insulation, and others that have been soaked in water should be discarded. In most cases, water will cause further damage to these materials by warping and shrinking them and other times they become a breeding ground for mold growth. But if you want to try saving carpets or rugs, lay them outside under that sun so it can fully dry. 

3. Inspect For Mold Growth

Check the affected materials for mold growth. Mold begins to grow on wet materials in as little as 24 hours. In some cases, like attic mold, they might have been growing a long time ago. 

Mold-damaged materials should be discarded immediately. For serious mold issues, it is always best to hire a professional. Aside from it can be destructive to the materials it infests, exposing yourself to mold can be dangerous, as it can also pose health issues like allergies and shortness of breath. Professional mold removal specialists have the proper equipment to fully mitigate and remove mold from your home.  

 

4. Disinfect Affected Materials

Before you begin working on the repair, make sure to disinfect the affected materials. Even if you have dried them, there could be a chance that there are still bacteria and other fungi that remains. There are several household cleaners you can choose from, but the most common one is the bleach solution. Apply it gently on the affected area and allow the material to completely dry. 

5. Fix the Ceilings

If your ceilings are exposed to water damage, it is important to attend to them immediately before they could even collapse and cause accidents. Check the source of the leaking in your roof and ceilings and repair it as soon as possible. 

6. Replace Damaged Wood, Drywall, and Unsealed Floor

Wood, drywall, and unsealed floors are also porous materials that can deteriorate when exposed to water damage. In most cases, if these materials rot or have been soaked in water for long, you may have to replace them completely. 

7. Check Your Homeowner’s Insurance

If you are dealing with significant water damage, check your insurance coverage. Water damage that happens due to sudden events, such as burst pipes, are more likely included in your homeowner’s insurance coverage. Contact your insurance provider immediately to inform them of the damage to your property. Also, make sure to take photos and videos to show evidence of the water damage. 

Professional Water Damage Restoration 

Though there are some DIY techniques you can use to clean up water damage in your home, water damage repair and restoration is always best left to professionals. A professional water damage restoration company, like Superior Restoration, utilizes the best method and equipment to repair water damage. They also have skilled and experienced technicians ready to deal with any type of water damage. 

For professional water damage restoration services, contact Superior Restoration at 951-398-0237. 

How To Use A Dehumidifier In Drying Water Damage

The first and most crucial step of the restoration process is to remove the water. While this can be a complicated process, it is vital and has to be done in the fastest way possible. If not, you may end up dealing with irreparable damage and mold growth. You may need to mop and wipe down all surfaces to remove any standing water. Then, using a commercial dehumidifier should be your next step. 

 

What Is a Dehumidifier and Why Use It After Water Damage

Though using fans and opening windows and doors can be helpful in drying your water damaged property, using dehumidifiers is a better technique. A dehumidifier is an equipment specially designed for drying and restoration.

The dehumidifier works by removing moisture from the air in the area where it is placed. It absorbs air from the room and gathers all the moisture. After that, it releases clean and dry air back into the room. 

This machine helps not only in collecting and evaporating remaining moisture from your carpet, walls, and furniture, but it also helps in reducing the drying time. Without a dehumidifier, it can take days or even weeks to dry out these materials. And by that time, mold has already started setting in and some areas may have fallen apart, which may lead to more serious damage.

How To Use A Dehumidifier After Water Damage

Once you have completely removed any standing water, place the dehumidifier at the center of the affected area. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need to set up a few more dehumidifiers. This can also help expedite the drying time. You should also consider using high-powered fans to help reduce the drying time. 

Furthermore, it is recommended that you use a moisture meter to determine if the surface is completely dry. Don’t rely on touch because it can be inaccurate, and leaving the areas even slightly damp can lead to additional problems like mold growth. 

How Long Should You Run A Dehumidifier After A Water Leak

Unfortunately, you cannot really predict how long you should run a dehumidifier because each case is different and varies on several factors. The recommended usage time is around 24-48 hours. There are two factors to consider when determining how long you should run a dehumidifier.

The size of the affected area

If the area affected by the water leak is just a small part of your walls or carpet, you should run your dehumidifier for a day. But, if the water leak affected the entire room, you may need to use a dehumidifier for two days. Note that a single dehumidifier can only handle one room. So, if there are more rooms affected by the water leak, you should consider setting one for each room. 

The type of materials

If the damaged area is made of linoleum, concrete, bricks, and other less absorbent materials, then, you do not need to run the dehumidifier for a long time. But, if it has affected wood furniture, carpeting, drywall, and other absorbent materials, you may need to run your dehumidifier for 2 to 3 days. 

Important reminders: Never use a regular household dehumidifier. While these machines are cheaper and can also work, they are not designed to work for a large scale job. These machines can only hold 4-9 gallons of water. It is way different from commercial dehumidifiers which can hold up to 50 gallons of water. Furthermore, when using a dehumidifier, you should contain the affected area. Keeping the doors and windows closed allows your machine to do its job properly. 

How To Prevent Water Damage in Homes

While a dehumidifier can do well in preventing serious water damage to your property and personal belongings, taking preventative measures can help stop these issues from happening. You may not be able to control damage caused by nature, there are still many problems you can stop before they can even begin. 

• Clean gutters regularly and install downspout extensions.

• Inspect and maintain your roof. 

• Install a sump pump and a french drain.

• Use braided stainless steel hoses for washing machines, faucets, and other water-using appliances.

• Have your plumbing system serviced annually.

• Install water leak detectors and alarms.

• Shut-off the main water valve whenever you leave your home for an extended time. 

Need help drying your home after water damage?

Drying your home after a water leak or a flood is truly complicated. Thus, it is best to have professionals around. A professional water damage restoration company, such as Superior Restoration, uses advanced methods and equipment such as commercial-grade dehumidifiers, to properly repair and restore your home. Contact our office today to get a free quote for water damage cleanup and restoration services.

Common Signs of Water Damage

Detecting water damage can be a difficult task as often water damage losses don’t become evident right away. In fact, most of them exist over a prolonged period before being identified and restored. By that time, the underlying problem causing the water damage becomes severe and managing it becomes extremely difficult. For avoiding any such situation and ensuring that you contact the water restoration company before the problem turns bigger, you must get acquainted with the preliminary warning signs. The section below would introduce you to the most common indicators of water damage. 

Sound- If you think that all the signs of water damage are meant to be seen, you are wrong. There are some signs that can be heard. If you are hearing sounds of dripping water, rushing water, or creaking floorboards, it seems that your home might have already become a victim of water damage. It’s true that such sounds might also occur in spite of having a healthy plumbing system; however, still, you must get your home checked for water damage if you hear the sounds constantly. 

Smell- You must also keep your nose alert for detecting moisture or water damage in your home. Dampness boasts a distinct odor; it might resemble the pungent smell we usually associate with mold. So, when checking your home for water damage, you should look for smell besides other obvious indicators. 

Puddles- If there’s a leak in your home’s plumbing system or if something in the system is dripping, you might soon see pools of water develop along the problematic area. Whenever you find any unusual puddle, do monitor it and find out whether it returns after being cleaned up. A puddle that comes back even after being cleaned up might be a sign of a seepage or leak. 

Mold- Mold typically occurs only when there’s water damage. You might not need to hire a water damage restoration service provider if condensation in the bathroom has resulted in mold formation. However, you will have to treat mold as a sign of excessive moisture formation in certain parts of your house and do the needful for getting those affected areas dried as quickly as possible. Getting rid of mold is also necessary for health reasons; that’s because exposure to mold might make you and your family members suffer from allergy, headaches, and nausea. 

Coolness- Are you finding it hard to heat up your home? If yes, treat the problem as a sign of dampness in your walls. Accumulated moisture tends to draw out heat of the walls so that it can get evaporated. This makes the walls and the entire home much colder. 

Discoloration- Here, it must be noted that discoloration can occur due to a number of reasons; so, it’s important to make sure that the discoloration in your home is actually a result of water damage. If the discoloration has been caused by water “streaks” running down along an end of your house, it’s definitely a sign of water damage. In most cases, those streaks occur due to an overfull gutter.