Water Damage Restoration: Step-by-Step Recovery Process

What Happens First When a Water Damage Restoration Team Arrives

When a pipe bursts or a flood hits your house the panic sets in fast and you are standing there wondering who do I call for water damage while the water keeps spreading and soaking into everything and that first call to a water damage restoration company kicks off a process that needs to happen fast to minimize the destruction to your home and belongings. The first thing any water damage restoration team does when they arrive is a thorough assessment using moisture meters and infrared cameras to map out exactly how far the water has spread because water travels in ways you cannot see and the visible puddle on the floor is usually just the tip of the iceberg compared to what has wicked up into the drywall and seeped under the flooring. Once the assessment is done the water damage restoration crew immediately starts water extraction using industrial strength pumps and truck mounted vacuums that can pull hundreds of gallons of water out of your house in a matter of hours which is way faster than any homeowner with a shop vac could ever hope to accomplish. After the standing water is gone the water damage restoration team starts removing anything that is too damaged to save like saturated carpet padding warped laminate flooring and drywall that has wicked up water above the flood line because leaving wet materials in place is just inviting mold remediation problems to take hold. The water damage restoration crew will also move and block up furniture to prevent further damage and they might recommend moving some items to a climate controlled storage facility if the damage is extensive enough that the home is going to be under construction for a while. Throughout this whole initial phase the water damage restoration phoenix or wherever you are located team is documenting everything with photos and moisture readings because your homeowners insurance quote adjuster will need that documentation to process your claim and make sure you get a fair settlement.

The Drying and Mold Prevention Phase of Water Damage Restoration

Once the standing water is gone and the unsalvageable materials are torn out the water damage restoration process shifts into the drying phase which is where the science really comes in and where cutting corners leads to mold remediation nightmares down the road that affect your health and your home value. The water damage restoration team sets up industrial air movers and dehumidifiers in a carefully calculated layout to create airflow patterns that pull moisture out of every affected surface and the equipment typically runs for three to five days straight with the water damage company near me coming back daily to check moisture levels and adjust the setup as things dry out. The dehumidifiers in a water damage restoration job are pulling gallons of water out of the air every day which is why you cannot just open windows and hope for the best because natural drying takes forever and gives mold spores plenty of time to start growing and spreading. A professional water damage restoration company will apply antimicrobial treatments to all affected surfaces to kill any mold spores and bacteria that might have hitched a ride in with the flood water especially if the water damage restoration situation involved sewage or contaminated water which is a whole different level of health hazard. The water damage restoration crew will also check behind walls and under cabinets with moisture meters to make sure hidden pockets of moisture are not lurking because if those areas do not get dried properly you could have mold remediation needs months later long after the water damage restoration company has packed up and left. Once everything is fully dry the water damage restoration process moves into the rebuild phase where drywall is replaced flooring is installed and your home gets put back together and a good water damage company near me can handle the whole thing from initial extraction to final paint touch up so you are not juggling multiple contractors.