If we’re honest, no homeowner wants to face water damage. Even if it’s something that everyone will experience, it’s never fun to deal with. Water can destroy your home and everything in it. If it sits for too long, it can even cause mold. If you hire a water restoration company, you might be wondering what water cleanup involves.
Water cleanup is the process of removing water from your home. However, that is a very broad explanation of it. Water cleanup is a very detailed process. Keep reading to learn what this cleanup involves.
What is Water Cleanup?
First and foremost, what exactly is water cleanup? There are several names for water cleanup, including water damage restoration. Regardless of what you call it, the steps involved in it are the same. Water cleanup is designed to remove water from your home. It’s also designed to treat mold and get rid of bacteria so your premises are safe.
Here are the steps involved in professional water cleanup:
Shutting off the Electricity
Water and electricity don’t mix. So the first step is to shut off your home’s electricity. This may sound like an “obvious” step, but it’s worth mentioning to keep everyone safe.
Inspecting and Assessing the Damage
Before any type of restoration can begin, your technician has to understand what they’re dealing with. Without this knowledge, they won’t be able to determine the proper ways to treat the damage.
This step is critical because there are actually several categories of water damage. Category 1 water includes things like rain and burst pipes. This type of water damage does not pose a health risk to anyone in the house.
Category 2 water damage can lead to health issues. This type of water damage is gray water damage. It includes wastewater. Last but not least is Category 3. This is the worst and most dangerous type of water damage. This includes floodwaters and sewage backups.
Since Category 3 is the most dangerous. As a result, your technician will have to wear protective gear. By analyzing what type of water it is, your technician can be better prepared to treat it and keep themselves safe.
Removing the Water
The next step is to remove the water from the property. This can be done in several ways, depending on the severity. For floods and large amounts of water, buckets will be used to get out the water. Then, a wet-dry vacuum will be used.
The amount of time it takes to remove water from the premises will vary. It all depends on the severity of the damage and how much water there is.
Remove the Damaged Items
If your home suffered water damage, it’s likely many areas of your home sustained damage. This includes everything from carpets to drywalls and even furniture. Once the water is gone, it’s time to properly bag and remove damaged items from your home.
Leaving waterlogged items can lead to mold developing. This will be unhealthy to breathe. Likewise, with waterlogged items left behind, your room also won’t be thoroughly dried. Repairs occur during this phase. This step is also crucial to keeping your home safe.
Drying Out the Affected Area
Once we remove all the water, the next step is to dry out the area. Drying the area will take some time. In fact, it’s usually the longest part of the water restoration process. It could take a few days or several weeks.
The best methods include getting a cross breeze. This is easy to do during our warm Portland summers. Open your windows and a backdoor to let fresh air get in and out. In addition to this, your tech will run fans and dehumidifiers.
While the dehumidifier doesn’t dry the area, it will grab moisture from the air that could promote mold growth.
Offering Water Damage and Mold Prevention Tips
At the end of the process, your technician will offer you tips. It may not always be possible to prevent water or mold damage. However, they will offer some insights that can help this damage from being severe.
Likewise, they will share with you tips on what mold looks like and how to treat it so it doesn’t get worse. The water cleanup process is critical to preserving your home after any type of water damage.
Call PNW Restoration for All Your Water Cleanup Needs in Portland
Did your home suffer any sort of water damage? Do you need help cleaning it? Are you worried about mold? Get the help you need with PNW Restoration. All of our water cleanup services come highly rated in Portland and beyond.
We know how to identify classes of water damage. As such, we will use the proper cleaning solutions and methods. You deserve a safe environment. Schedule your water cleanup appointment today by calling 971-247-3470. You can also schedule an appointment on our website.
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