When your home has been affected by a flood or water damage, it needs to be handled immediately and effectively. Flooding can be caused by a broken pipe, a supply line break, a sewer backup, or leakage in your home’s foundation. Regardless of the cause, it is imperative that you call a water damage restoration company near you.
The Importance of Water Mitigation after Flooding
The first thing you should do after noticing a flood in your home is to call a water mitigation technician. This is a key step to prevent further flood damage and have as much of your home restored as soon as possible. The professionals will have the right tools to handle the flooded home and will know how to inspect for problems and provide effective solutions.
Timing is everything in the event of a flood in your home. You have a small window to avoid secondary damage or the risk of health concerns to you and your household. Experienced professionals will be aware of this fact and will conduct all the steps necessary within that time frame. They will bring their extensive experience in water damage restoration to the table. They will get to the root cause of the water in your home, fix it, and clean and dry your home.
What Is Water Mitigation?
Water mitigation is the prevention of further water damage by taking immediate and specific actions. These steps include the removal of water, the prevention of water migration, the salvaging of contents, the structurally drying of areas to minimize secondary damage, the removal of unsalvageable building materials, the cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing of the area, the deodorizing; and drying the structure. Any debris or materials brought in will also be removed.
The extent of water mitigation depends on the extent of damage suffered to the property. With advanced equipment such as high-quality extractors, dehumidifiers, air dryers and sanitizers, professional water damage cleanup companies are prepared to completely resolve the water damage problem. They may leave equipment at your home for a few days to complete the water mitigation process. When the temperature, humidity, and moisture testing confirm the areas have properly been dried and are now safe, the job will be complete.
In some cases, mould spores may have developed and will need to removed. This is another aspect the professionals will check and respond to accordingly. They will make sure the area is no longer fit for mould to grow, preventing it from returning to the area.
What to Expect from Water Mitigation Specialists?
When flooding occurs in your home, specialists may delay the cleanup until water levels have dropped. Whatever the cause of the flood, it is essential for homeowners to call professional water mitigation specialists and turn off their electrical breakers. By doing this, it will be safe for electrical devices to be unplugged. Until the specialists have arrived, it is important to avoid stepping on wet carpet or touching surfaces that have come in contact with the water.
Inspection
Once the specialists have arrived and addressed the problem, they will conduct an inspection. They will carefully check the property to determine the source of water and the extent of damage. They will also create a recovery plan, which will include the necessary steps to bring your home back to its previous condition.
Extract Water
In some cases, the water that damages the property is contaminated. If the source of the water is sewage or polluted ground water, there is a great risk of severe illness to those inside the building. Professionals will have the appropriate tools and safety equipment to remove the water, sometimes without needing to remove the furniture and contents; however, in the case of contaminated water, contents that have absorbed water must be removed and discarded safely.
Drying and Mould Removal/Prevention
Water damage can create mould in both visible and hidden places if not handled correctly. Immediate action must be taken to avoid mould or to remove and prevent it from spreading. Professionals will use state-of-the-art dehumidifiers and air movers to reduce moisture and humidity in the house, to avoid growth. If mould is discovered, specific steps must be taken must be taken to remove it. They may also discard wet items that cannot be restored to further reduce humidity levels and avoid mould growth.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
Water damage affects a lot more than just the floor. Walls, ceilings, clothing, belongings, furniture, and other items are damaged when a flood occurs. Professionals will do their best to salvage and clean restorable items using specialized techniques. They will sanitize with antimicrobial treatments and remove any lingering odours with machines like air scrubbers and fogging equipment.
Restoration
Finally, the professionals will do all they can to ensure your home or business returns to its condition before the flood. They may replace drywall panels and baseboards or complete a major reconstruction; whatever it takes to restore your home.
Follow-Up
Many services will make post-restoration visits and inspections to assess the effectiveness of the mitigation and check on the status of the home.
Let Flood Services Canada Help You with Water Mitigation
Every water mitigation company performs its duties slightly differently, but these steps above are generally the responsibilities of any qualified water damage restoration company. Managing an effective flood cleanup is a challenging task that you shouldn’t do alone. Flood Services Canada is ready to provide quick-response cleanup services across the GTA and will use the best techniques, personnel, and technology to ensure your home is clean, safe, and dry as soon as possible. Contact us at (416) 302-2107 to learn more about how to protect your property, or use our emergency hotline at (416) 999-3930 to get our rapid-response teams deployed to your area.
