Water Damage

Water Flooded Home Common Causes

If your home or business has suffered from a water damage or if you would just like to learn more about the water damage industry, then you are in the right place. Should you desire to be armed with more knowledge before hiring a water damage contractor or if you are in the middle of the restoration process, this website was designed to help you. Should you require immediate or prompt assistance with a water damage issue, please call one of the professionals listed below.

What to expect from a water damage restoration contractor: Most Professional water damage companies will dispatch friendly, well trained, certified technicians, normally on site in 90 minutes or less, in most cases, or by appointment should the situation warrant. If necessary the technicians will thoroughly extract standing water with powerful vacuums. Next, they'll conduct a thorough moisture inspection, with sensitive moisture meters, to locate and identify areas with hidden and trapped moisture. After an initial moisture inspection, your technician will evaluate all water damaged building materials (carpet, pad, sub-floor, hardwood, laminate, dry wall, sheetrock, etc.) and make recommendations as to whether they should be removed and discarded or dried and saved. Consideration is given to the source of the water, how long building materials have been wet and their type,age and condition. All savable building materials and the structure are dried as quickly as possible by installing high velocity air movers (to speed the rate of evaporation) and dehumidifiers (to remove excess moisture from the air). Follow up moisture inspections are routinely conducted, and drying equipment added, rearranged or removed as needed. Modern day moisture detection equipment will tell your technician when building materials are returned to a "dry" condition. At this point the water or flood damaged area is safe to be rebuilt without the threat of microbial amplification or mold growth.

Most buildings can be dried within 72-96 hours following installation of drying equipment. This may vary depending on available power, types of material, water quantity, degree of saturation, airflow volume and velocity, temperature and indoor and outdoor humidity.

You can rest assured your "Water, Flood Damage" technician(s) will do everything in their power to get your home or business "dry" and back to normal as soon as possible.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Removal of excess moisture and rapid drying of a building should begin as soon as possible to avoid secondary damage (caused by elevated moisture and humidity) to the structure and personal belongings. Also, the longer a water damaged building remains wet, the greater the potential for microbiological amplification or mold growth (which can create an unhealthy living environment).

TIPS ON HIRING A WATER / FLOOD DAMAGE CONTRACTOR:

Many water damage contractors will offer 1 or 2 hour response time for flood emergencies. This does not mean that upon arrival to your home or business that they cannot give you, in writing, at least a rough cost estimate of the extraction and drying services.

Be wary of the contractor who says, "Just sign here and we'll get started". Extraction and drying services are usually separate from the reconstruction/restoration estimate which is done after drying is complete. Observe the contractor and make sure he or she does a thorough inspection of the suspected wet areas. Have them explain to you what is wet, what should be discarded and the drying process step by step. Some water damage contractors only offer emergency services, while others offer both emergency and reconstruction services.

Both types of contractors have their benefits and their place in the water damage industry. Is the water damage contractor thoroughly experienced in his/her field? Make sure they specialize in what they are proposing, ask questions, do they have the proper training, local licenses, insurance and certifications for the job? It is not a good idea to hire a janitor or carpet cleaning / handyman service to tackle a complex drying project, although many carpet cleaning services have water damage divisions that do a great job. A reputable water damage contractor will have nothing to hide and will be upfront with you from the start.

If necessary, ask for references, this will give you instant feedback of prior homeowners experiences. If you do not feel comfortable with the company or person that is in your home, call another company for an estimate. Most reputable water damage companies have no problems with a free in home estimate. Should you decide to file an insurance claim, your restoration contractor will usually be able to direct bill your carrier in an insurance friendly format. Do not feel pressured to take contractor recommendations from your insurance carrier. It is wise to pick someone that you feel will work on your behalf. Remember, you, as the homeowner will make the final decision on who works on your home.

Category 1 Water - Refers to a source of water that does not pose substantial threat to humans and classified as "Clean Water". Examples are broken water supply lines, tub or sink overflows or appliance malfunctions that involves water supply lines.

Category 2 Water - Refers to a source of water that contains a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contaminants and causes discomfort or sickness when exposed or even consumed. Known as "Grey Water". This type carries micro organisms and nutrients of micro organisms. Examples are toilet bowls with urine (no feces), sump pump failures, seepage due to hydrostatic failure and water discharge from dishwashers or washing machines.

Category 3 Water - Known as "Black Water" and are grossly unsanitary. This water contains unsanitary agents, harmful bacteria and fungi, causing severe discomfort or sickness. Type 3 category are contaminated water sources that affects the indoor environment. This category includes water sources from sewage, seawater, rising water from rivers or streams, ground surface water or standing water. Category 2 Water or Grey Water that is not promptly removed from the structure and or have remained stagnant for 48-72 hours may be re classified as Category 3 Water. Toilet back flows that originates from beyond the toilet trap is considered black water contamination regardless of visible content or color.

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