Water Damage Repair Chandler, AZ
Do you have water damage from a busted pipe? Did your toilet or sump pump overflow? Do you have a flooded basement? What about storm damage?
Whatever the reason may be regarding water entering the home, the fact is, water damage is not an oddity. It’s one of the most filed homeowner insurance claims. What’s more is that the number of water damage claims filed is increasing year by year. The important thing to remember is that commercial or residential water damage, while undesirable, is not a total loss. With that being said, here’s a look at the water damage restoration process as it pertains to residential homes:
Initial Inspection
Before a home can be restored, a plan of action needs to be formed. This consists of a restoration company inspecting your home and finding where and how far the water penetrated the property. Our professional will use tools such as moisture meters and IR cameras to see how far the water has spread on the surface. These tools will also locate any hidden areas where water may be, such as in walls and under floorboards.
Pack-out
Many people in Chandler, AZ who experience water damage, quickly think that their electronics, clothes, documents and photos will be destined for the scrap heap. That’s not the case in many situations. Our water restoration company will either have our contents division or will outsource work to a separate contents division assist you with these items. That’s not to say that some items are unable to be saved, but most homeowners are shocked to learn that over 90 percent of all items damaged in a conventional water loss can be restored; and for a fraction of the cost of what it would be to completely replace them at.
Water Extraction
Using a piece of equipment known as a truck-mount; our water restoration technicians will extract any standing water from the property. Water extraction is essentially the removal of standing water from flooring materials so that maximum drying can take place.
There are three categories of water loss, as defined by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC):
- Category 1 – water from a clean or sanitary source.
- Category 2 – water that contains some level of contaminants that may pose a health risk to a homeowner.
- Category 3 – unsanitary water that could cause illness. Sewage losses, flooding from rivers or streams and wind-driven rain are all examples of Category 3 water.
It’s also important to note that a Category 1 water loss can quickly escalate into a Category 2 or Category 3 water loss if it mixes with certain contaminants or is allowed to support mold growth. The faster the water is removed from a home, the better. That’s why it is important for the homeowner to take quick action after discovering water in the home.
Structural Removal
In the event of a Category 3 water loss, deconstruction may be necessary. That’s because the IICRC S500 Standard on Professional Water Damage Restoration states that anything porous that’s damaged in a Category 3 water loss needs to be removed. This includes drywall and particleboard. Additionally, anything semi-porous can be treated on a case-by-case basis and anything that is not porous can be sanitized and disinfected.
Based on this standard, drywall, carpeting and flooring materials will not be able to be saved if damaged in a Category 3 water loss and will thereby need to be removed from the home. If Category 3 water wasn’t present inside the home, then the aforementioned can likely be dried. That brings us to our next step.
Drying
Following water extraction, restoration workers then need to dry the impacted area. This can be done in a few ways. The most popular method is to place air movers and dehumidifiers around the affected area. This method lifts the moisture into the air and removes it through the dehumidifier. Injection drying can also be set up in walls and under cabinets to save many of the homes components. Complete drying is usually 2-5 days.
Disinfect and/or Sanitize
Following extraction and drying, additional measures may need to be taken to ensure that mold doesn’t grow. Applying an antimicrobial product to the wet area can usually prevent mold. Antimicrobials also work to treat any mold or bacteria that may have already grew and can prevent any new growth from starting. Because every water damage loss is different, a professional will know what will be the best way to treat your loss.
Step 7: Verification
At the end of a residential water damage restoration job, verification is done to ensure the job was completely correctly. Moisture meters and IR cameras may again be used to verify there’s no remaining water. In the event of a Category 3 water loss, environmental sampling is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to verify cleanliness of the impacted area.
In addition to this step, reconstruction and/or minor repairs may also be needed based on the extent of the initial damage.
Flooding and Flood Damage
Chandler Arizona is no stranger to floods. Due to Monsoon Season and areas of irrigation, properties have seen their fair share of flooding. Flood cleanup is a different monster in the world of restoration. All flood damage is classed under a category three loss. This means that there will be less to dry and more to remove. Because flood water can carry multiple contaminants, proper cleaning is a must to ensure a safe and healthy restoration of the property.
Flood damage is a loss that typically requires a specific insurance policy for those types of damages to be covered. Many homes however, do not have this coverage and are subjected to cover the cost of the repairs. It is always a good plan to know what your coverages are that way preventative steps can be made and missing pieces can be put into place should a flood damage your property. You can check with your local insurance agent on how to get more information on flood insurance and if it’s right for you.
The Aftermath of Water Damage
Residential water damage repair jobs vary in length based on the area that is affected, the category of water and more. But generally speaking, most homes can be restored to a pre-loss condition fairly quickly
Finding water in the home is never a fun thing for a homeowner to experience. Our Chandler Water Damage Restoration professionals get that. That’s why we make sure we’re on the scene quickly. This calms and comforts the homeowner, but also allows them to get started with the water damage repair process. Thanks to great advances in drying technology, water damage cleanup can be completed faster and more convenient than ever. This all means that customers can get back to normal faster.
So if you ever find water in your home, don’t try to handle the situation yourself. Just call us for a free assessment.