You can do everything right and your home can still suffer from water damage. Burst pipes, unexpected floods, and rain are the most common causes of water damage. Subsequently, they’re also the most common reasons people hire water damage restoration teams.
With water damage restoration, you can take steps to remedy the damage water caused. Unfortunately, when your home experiences water damage, it’s also likely to experience mold. The sooner you can hire a water damage restoration professional, the sooner you can combat mold and all the headaches it brings with it.
Here’s what you need to know about hiring a professional and how they can serve as a quick fix in water damage-related emergencies.
What Does Water Damage Restoration Entail?
Water damage may have many causes. However, the water damage restoration process mainly follows the same steps, regardless of the severity of the damage.
Here’s an overview of what to expect during the water damage restoration process:
Inspection
The first step in the process includes a thorough inspection. This could include looking beneath a sink for a burst pipe, in a closet, or in a crawl space. It depends on where the water damage came from.
During this inspection, they’ll not only be searching for the water damage itself, but potential causes. While you might believe the damage stems from a rainstorm, it may actually be a hidden leak behind the wall. A professional knows what signs to look for.
This inspection is one of the most important aspects of the water damage restoration process. Without it, you could wind up just putting a bandage on a much larger problem.
Removing the Water
The next step of the water damage restoration process is to actually remove the water. This could range from putting a few towels down to using buckets to scoop it up in case of a flood.
Removing the Moisture
In addition to removing the actual water, your tech will also remove moisture from the air. Water damage creates moisture in the air. This moisture, when mixed with humidity, forms mold. And mold can develop in as little as 24 hours after water damage.
To combat this growth, your tech will plug in a dehumidifier to grab excess moisture. This is another crucial step in the restoration process. It cannot be overlooked. If it is, your next call will be to book a mold remediation appointment.
Disinfect the Damaged Area
More often than not, when you’re dealing with water damage, you’re also dealing with dirty water. Water damage falls into three categories, with the third being the most toxic. Category 3 water damage includes floodwater. These floodwaters contain animal waste, toxins, and other harmful materials.
Though this is the most severe, Category 2 water damage also requires thorough disinfecting. Category 2 water damage includes toilet and tub overflows and burst pipes. This water isn’t as dangerous as floodwater, but it’s still dirty and potentially harmful. Because of this, your tech will need to disinfect the areas affected by water damage before water damage restoration is complete.
Drying and Reconstruction
The last two steps of the process include drying and, if applicable, reconstruction.
Reconstruction is generally only needed if you suffer extreme water damage. If you do, this will involve tasks such as removing damaged drywall. If you don’t need any repairs, then the last step in the restoration process will be to dry the areas.
Depending on the severity of the damage, the drying process usually takes the longest. It may be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If you have questions about this timeframe, please ask your tech during the initial inspection.
They will answer any questions you have, including what to expect. They will also give you their best-estimated timeframe for completion. Hiring an experienced remediation technician can return your home to normal after it suffers water damage. All in all, the restoration process could take up to a few weeks to complete. Knowing this ahead of time can help you prepare.
Call PNW Restoration for All Your Water Damage Restoration Needs in Portland, OR
Treating water damage yourself isn’t always the answer. Sometimes you need the knowledge, tools, and experience of a water damage restoration professional.
When that time comes, please consider reaching out to the team at PNW Restoration. With years of experience under our belt, we know how to treat all types of water damage. There’s no such thing as a project that’s too big! Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
We’re proud to offer our comprehensive services to the residents of Portland, West Linn, and beyond. Water damage is no match for PNW Restoration!
