How Water Damage Affects Your Home
The aftermath of water damage can be shocking to see, leaving homeowners bewildered about how to start the cleanup process. It can be tempting to just “let things air out,” but there are many risks in not correctly assessing and mitigating water damage.
Water can make its way past flooring and subflooring and cause swelling, rot, rust, and mold. Some things may be easily noticeable, like discolored walls, paint bubbles, warped floorboards, and ceiling leaks. Others are more challenging to spot, such as mold under the carpet, sagging drywall, and corrosion. Over time these can compromise the structural integrity of the home.
You can take steps to properly repair your home after a disaster through water damage restoration. This specialized recovery process uses thermal imaging cameras and state-of-the-art infrared reading tools to detect moisture in places the eye can’t see. After assessing for damage, an action plan is put into place to dry, dehumidify, and sanitize your home.
Help! Where’s All This Water Coming From?
Damage from water comes in two manners: it can be catastrophic and sudden or a slow, deceptive drip. Often a burst pipe, leaking roof, washing machine overflow, flood basement is the culprit. Other prevalent causes of damage come from:
- Leaky or Burst Pipes
- Clogged Gutters
- Blocked Drains
- A Leaky Water Heater
- Non-Structural Wall Cracks
Floods and Fires
Fires and Flash floods can also cause significant damage. The hot, dry climate of the states we serve, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming, are primed for wildfires. Firefighting efforts to save your home can leave a destructive path of water damage in its wake.
Check-in with your city resources before rain season hits. Places that are prone to flooding sometimes provide preventive resources. For instance, sandbags are offered free of charge to residents by the City of Albuquerque.
The Red Cross also provides information about preparing for a flood disaster and steps for safely returning to your home after.
First Steps to Take After Water Damage at Your Property.
- Identify the source
- Turn the power off to the damaged area immediately
- Use caution when assessing structural damage that could lead to a collapse
- Take photos of floodwater in the home and damaged possessions.
- Note purchase date, value, and receipts if possible
- Recover important possessions immediately and lay them in a safe place to dry
- Call a water damage restoration specialist
- Contact your insurance company and HOA or building maintenance.
So, Just How Dangerous Is This Water?
The amount of contamination in the water plays a big part in the mitigation steps you’ll need to take to repair your home. There are three categories of water damage:
Category 1 – Clean Water
This water is free of toxins and sewage. Sources include overflowed sinks or tubs, as well as water supply lines that have broken. Items that are damaged may be salvageable.
Category 2 – Grey Water
Grey water refers to unsanitary water; it contains harmful micro-organisms that can deteriorate to black water if not attended to quickly. This water can comes from burst appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. It can also come from fish tanks or overflowing toilets.
Category 3- Black Water
Black water poses a significant risk to your help, and immediate action is required to remove it. Blackwater includes sewage, floodwater and river, and groundwater.
How the Water Damage Extraction Process Works
Once you’ve determined you need a water restoration company, call for an assessment as soon as possible. Our industry-certified technicians are available around the clock to help mitigate damage. Water left standing becomes more destructive and contaminated the longer it sits. Our process starts with an inspection and damage assessment. Then, we extract the water and begin the drying and sanitizing process to get you home and life back to normal as soon as possible.