In the USA, some states and cities witness several flash floods every year. Floods cause drastic water damage to buildings and structures and if restoration is not done properly, it might weaken the very foundation and integrity of these buildings. So, whenever your building gets flooded either by natural flood or malfunction plumbing, it’s better to leave the cleanup and drying work to professionals.
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Many people attempt to clean and dry out the building on their own rather than getting restoration services professionally done. But the problem is that the restoration process is not straightforward. There are too many variables involved to ensure that the flood, either natural or non-natural, won’t cause water damage issues.
This guide discusses the three main aspects of water damage that you should address before the area dries out.
1. Know the kind of water damage
First, you need to know that there are 3 different types of water that leak into your pipes.
• Clean Water – Category I
• Gray Water – Category II
• Black Water – Category III
Most often, water damage assessment is carried out based on the type of water causing it. It’s critical to understand these types because they present different health risks to occupants of the building.
When water leaks from indoor pipes, heaters, stream lines, or rain and water looks and smells like tap water, then you will likely need Category I repair. However, if you are experiencing Category II or III damage, it is highly recommended to hire a professional restoration services company.
2. Assess the entire damage
This is often the hardest part as you don’t always know what else you are looking for while investigating broken pipes or rainwater leaks. You are most likely to see only a small part of the damage as there are higher chances that the moisture can be inside of your walls. Finding these hidden problems is essential to prevent mold growth. Besides, what material your walls are made of also makes a huge difference.
• Drywall
These walls can often be preserved entirely if actions are taken quickly enough. Moisture meters are used to evaluate their structural integrity. It also involves identifying whether the wall is insulated. If yes, you will need to use flood cuts and if not, you will need to create weep holes.
• Firewall
If a structure is made from firewalls, you will want to use only staggered cuts. Plus, you need to identify the base molding and flooring materials so that you can choose the best treatment plan.
3. Ensure proper airflow and keep windows closed
People who experience flooding in their building have the first instinct to open up all the windows to speed up the drying process. Unfortunately, this process is not helpful, especially if your building is mechanically ventilated.
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The internal systems will need constant pressure levels to function at their best capacity and these levels could be affected by excess coolness or heat and humidity brought in by the open windows. In short, you might end up complicating the process instead of making it more effective.
No matter what kind of water damage you have in your building, a professional restoration services company can provide the best solution as our professionals are expert at identifying potential problems and knowing the best ways to solve those problems.
If you’d like to know more about how we can help you, call us for a FREE Consultation at (504)326-6999