We need water to live. But in the wrong place at the wrong time, water becomes a quick disaster and a hazard to healthy living.
In short, you don’t want water in your basement. Yet, your basement is the first place where unwanted water typically shows up. Basements take on water first because they rest below the ground’s surface.
What do you do when you find a foot of water in your basement? How do you deal with the unexpected disaster?
You can certainly try to remove the water on your own. However, a domestic shop vac will not adequately care for the problem.
When water threatens your home and health, bring in a water extraction expert. The professionals who can extract your water will also understand water damage repair, home restoration, and water mitigation. They know their business.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how water extraction works.
What Is Water Extraction?
Water extraction is the process of removing excess water from your property, be it the flooring or the grounds. It takes time and experience. Water extraction professionals do this job well because they have that experience as well as the specialized equipment and tools to remove water the most efficiently.
A professional water extraction job will reduce the risk of damage to your property. It will prevent mold growth and restore your property. Experts will use the following methods to extract water:
- Stop the excessive flow of water
- Drain water
- Remove non-visible water
- Dry the grounds
- Dehumidify the area
Experts will use large pumps to suck out the water. They have commercial drying systems that will quickly dry the walls, ceilings, and cavities of the flooded area. They also have high-end vacuums to suck the water from carpet.
Water Extraction vs. Water Mitigation
Some companies offer water mitigation services as well as water extraction. Water mitigation differs from extraction in that the restorative experts use different techniques.
Water mitigation is the process that takes place after water extraction. With water mitigation, the experts will remove the unsalvagable materials and parts of your flooded property. This will reduce the cost of loss because of the water damage.
Thus the company will come in and remove damaged drywall, furniture, flooring, and equipment. They will also clean, dry, and santize your property.
A proper water mitigation process will prevent further damage to your property.
First Respond Immediately
When you discover a flooded basement upon arriving home from work, you need to respond immediately. You need to deal with the water but also the odors that come with it.
Usually, homeowners deal with water immediately when it affects their everyday lives. However, if you just have seepage in the unused corner of your basement, you may be tempted to ignore it. It doesn’t seem to be doing any damage, and you may think you even have more pressing matters in life.
Seeping water in the basement will eventually damage the foundation of your house and put you and the rest of your home’s occupants at risk of health problems. Mold will eventually develop in the moist areas, leading to mold allergies and illness in your family.
Thus, even when you do not have a big water problem, you have a problem that needs expert help.
Water Extraction Steps
When you call in a water extraction professional, they will follow some pretty basic steps to locate and remove your water. Here are the most basic steps that most water extraction experts follow.
Find and Stop the Water
Experts will first work hard to find and then stop your water. Sometimes the source is obvious, like if you’ve had a flood in your community. Other times it will hide itself, like a crack in a pipe under the flooring.
Determine Hazards
Water does not mix well with all things. So the expert will look for the things that could cause extra harm when combined with water. They will locate sockets and electricity sources, for example.
They cannot make a plan for extracting the water until they deal with safety hazards.
Experts also use moisture meters as well as thermal imaging to see the extent of the water damage.
Extract and Dry
Water extraction experts will most often use commercial-grade vacuums and pumps to remove and extract excess water. They have seemingly magical tools that will leave your carpet nearly dry when they extract the water. They will also use a cleaning solution that takes care of bacteria and leaves the area smelling fresh.
Disinfect and Sanitize
Water mitigation involves disinfectiong and sanitizing. So if you’re hiring a water extraction team, ask about this step.
Usually the pros will use a commercial-grade cleaning solution to protect the property and stop the build-up of bacteria that could make you and your family sick. The disinfectant will also demolish the bad smells left behind by mildew and mold.
Dehumidify
Excess water causes an uncomfortable level of humidity. So the water extraction team will often dehumidify the area with commercial equipment. They will also create an environment where air can circulate more freely to naturally dehumifiy the area.
Call Water Extraction Pros
When you have a water problem, call in water extraction professionals. You may be tempted to try the process on your own. However, keep in mind that the professionals have the equipment and the experience to leave your home in the best shape possible.
Plus, you can save yourself the physical pain of extracting the water on your own.
Do you have an unwanted water problem? Contact us today.
We know that water emergencies do not typically occur Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm, so we are ready to help you with service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
We are home restoration experts, with our reliable, fast, and affordable basement water extraction and removal services. We care for our customers individually, paying close attention to the quality and safety of each job we take on. We prioritize our customers’ needs above all else.
With our water extraction services, you will see the air quality in your basement improve. We will dry out your home completely and ensure no mold growth.
We offer a service that will improve the health of your home and give you peace of mind. Call us today and let us help you.
