Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Tips for Dealing with Water Damage

Water damage can destroy your property
A home can be affected by water damage at any instant. Sadly it's not  a matter of if, but when. Probable causes of water damage are damaged plumbing, hurricane damage, backed up sewage, faulty hot water heaters, and  severe flooding. When water damage happens it's important to start water damage cleanup and restoration practices immediately.

Water damage restoration's mission is to restore damaged houses to their pre-damage condition. The IIRC S500 is the most common water damage procedural standard. The S500 standard was created through reliable experience and research from around the World and the United States of America. This experience and research embodies the scientific community, international and national trade groups, restoration and cleaning schools, restoration service providers, insurance industry and other trade groups. As new research in procedures and technology are released the S500 water damage specification is maintained.


Water damage may occur unnoticed because of something like a leaky roof, or swiftly because of a catastrophic flood. Structural water damage includes such events as rotten wood, fungal growth on damp surfaces, surfaces discolored by water, weakened drywall, rusting metal, and delaminated plywood.

In most cases water damage restoration fees are covered by insurance. If a structure is damaged due to severe flooding the damage may be paid for by governmental programs such as FEMA or other grants. If a flood or disaster is city wide, the city itself may apply to the FEMA Public Assistance Program to receive emergency relief funding.

The FEMA Public Assistance Program provides for the city to purchase and destroy water damaged buildings. The re-claimed property is kept as green public space.

Many water damage restoration schools and website recommend that you find your own water damage restoration service rather than using the service suggested by your insurance company. Before you choose your water damage restoration company it's a good idea to visit their website to get a feel for how professional they are.

Finding your own fire, smoke and water damage restoration contractor will help you avoid avoid any conflict of interest between your insurance provider and their recommended water damage restoration firm.

Billing insurance companies is a day to day responsibility of all reputable water damage restoration outfits.You often won't need to worry about insurance billing at all.

Health complications because of dangerous toxic mold is risked by leaving water damage non-repaired.

There are many signs of hazardous mold exposure. Some of them mimic allergies, such as itchy watery eyes, coughing, sinus irritation, sneezing, nasal blockage, sleepiness, and itchy rashes. Others are more harmful and include difficult breathing, difficulty concentrating, and loss of memory.

Water damaged structures should be fixed as swiftly as possible to avert avoidable  health risks, damage, and costs.

Water removal, and flood water cleanup should be done as quickly as possible. Any furniture or carpeting submerged in clear water for less than 48 hours may be salvageable. However, if the water causing the damage was sewage based, all carpeting, fabrics, and upholstery must be disposed of. Water damage is also often caused due to fire, and smoke  damage restoration may be an issue as well. Most water damage restoration firms are experienced in fire, smoke, and water damage restoration.

There are several classes of water damage, which are determined by the likely rate of evaporation. The kinds of materials damaged in the damaged property affect this calculation. Slow rate of evaporation is Class 1, only affecting part of a room. The materials involved are non-porous and little moisture has been absorbed. Class 2 is a fast rate of evaporation involving carpeting and foam cushioning. Walls may be damaged but not more than 24 inches from the ground. The fastest rate of evaporation is Class 3. In most cases the water has come from overhead and affects walls, insulation, carpeting, furniture, and ceilings. Finally, Class 4 designates specialty drying situations. The materials affected have low permeance, such as hardwood floors, plaster, concrete, and other hard non-porous materials.

A home or commercial property is a large investment. There's no need to risk it by attempting to clean up or restore water damage on your own. The best course of action is to hire a professional, licensed, and bonded firm. Their special training will prevent water damage repairs from being more costly than they need to be.

Sometimes water damage can be hidden, coming from a leak in the roof or walls. It might not be noticed until a musty, sour, or earthy smell is noticed. In come cases the first sign may be discolorations, or fuzzy mold growths. Wood surfaces might peel, crack, or de-laminate. If you notice any of these symptoms a water damage restoration professional will help you remediate the problem quickly.

Mold remediation goes hand in hand with water damage restoration. It's a service offered by most fire and water damage restoration companies. Mold remediation can be a dangerous thing to try to take care of on your own. If you need mold removed and mold damaged areas fixed always contact a professional mold remediation contractor.

Household electronics are often damaged by fire, flood, or other types of water damage scenarios. Never risk turning on any electric or electronic devices that have been wet or otherwise damaged by water. They must be allowed to dry completely first, then inspected by a licensed electronics professional to ensure their safety. To otherwise risks permanently damaging the electronics in question at best, and electric shock or death as a worst case scenario.