What to expect when a water damage occurs

2/19/2020 (Permalink)

Basement full of contents that some have been saturated with category 3 water.

 What to Expect

The restoration process begins when you call us. SERVPRO® of North Kanawha and Teays Valley we are available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. Even a delay of a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO® Professionals may need to dispatch to your location. The following steps described below will help you better understand what to expect when the unexpected happens to you. 

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Upon our first initial contact with you our SERVPRO® Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

*If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask. Our employees would love to help you understand what is happening inside your home. After all, it is YOUR HOME.

Step 2: Inspection

Our Water Damage Restoration Process

When responding to a water damage emergency, we begin with a detailed inspection of your home or property, including a damage assessment. At this stage, our professionals are trying to determine the scope of the damage so that we can develop an appropriate plan of action.

Identify and Stop the Water Source

We will check for the source of moisture in your home or business. The source must be stopped before any restoration or drying of the building can be successful.

• Stop the Source
• Check for Contaminated Water

Identify the Type of Water

We will identify the category and classification of water damage to ensure our professionals restore your property based on industry guidelines. The level of contamination of the water will affect the specific restoration processes we use.

• Category 1: "Clean Water" originates from a sanitary source and poses no substantial risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure. However, it may not always remain clean after it comes into contact with other surfaces or materials.
• Category 2: "Gray Water" contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed by humans. It may contain potentially unsafe levels of microorganisms or nutrients for microorganisms, as well as other organic or inorganic matter (chemical or biological).
• Category 3: "Black Water" is grossly contaminated and may contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Such water sources may carry silt, organic matter, pesticides, heavy metals, regulated materials, or toxic organic substances.

Survey the Extent of the Water Damage and Inspect the Premises

We inspect and test to determine the extent of damage and how far the moisture has traveled to ensure proper and complete restoration. In addition, we will inspect for safety concerns that may be evident. If there are any safety issues like lead or asbestos, please bring them to our attention.

• Survey Damage
• Complete Safety Inspection

Move or Block Furniture

We move furniture and property contents and block items to help prevent rust or furniture stains on wet carpet.

• Block Furniture

*If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask. Our employees would love to help you understand what is happening inside your home. After all, it is YOUR HOME. 

Step 3: Water Removal

After the inspection and damage assessment step, the water extraction process begins. This step removes the majority of the water. We use powerful pumps and truck-mounted vacuum units to quickly remove hundreds or thousands of gallons of water from your property.

Move-Out / Pack-Out

If your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning, SERVPRO of North Kanawha and Teays Valley can conduct an organized, efficient move-out to protect your belongings from further damage.

• Move-Out Service

Emergency Water Removal

Our highly trained technicians will begin the water removal process almost immediately. Depending on the amount of water, we may use powerful submersible pumps in addition to industrial strength, wet/dry vacuums. Removing most of the water helps reduce drying time and helps prevent secondary water damage and mold and bacterial growth.

• Remove Excess Water
• Use Submersible Pumps and Industrial Wet/Dry Vacuums

Inspect the Carpet Pad and Carpet

We inspect the carpet and pad and determine if they should be removed to protect the subfloor.

• Inspect Carpet Pad and Remove If Needed
• Inspect Carpet and Remove If Needed

Water Removal Equipment

• Moisture detectors, hygrometers, and other meters measure the extent of moisture saturation.
• Infrared cameras may be used to find “hidden” water behind walls and ceilings.
• Submersible and gas-powered pumps are used for continuous pumping of high-level water.
• Truck-mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal.

*If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask. Our employees would love to help you understand what is happening inside your home. After all, it is YOUR HOME. 

Step 4: Drying

Once the excess water has been removed, the floors and walls may appear dry, but a quick inspection will reveal they are wet to the touch. Nearly all building materials, like wood, drywall, and flooring materials, are porous and therefore retain water. This retained water can cause the materials to break down, warp, or cause mold damage.

Drying / Dehumidification

Our Professionals will use room measurements, temperature, and relative humidity to determine the optimal number of air movers and dehumidifiers to dry your home or business. We’ll carefully monitor the progress using moisture meters until the materials return to acceptable drying goals.

• Use Dehumidification Equipment
• Use Monitoring Equipment to Track Progress

Monitor Floor and Walls

We check the moisture levels to monitor the drying process. 

• Monitor Floors
• Monitor Walls

Drying Equipment

• Industrial-grade dehumidifiers help prevent secondary water damage like swelling and warping of floors, walls, and furniture.
• High-speed air movers create airflow across walls, carpets, pads, and furniture, which accelerates the evaporation of moisture.

*If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask. Our employees would love to help you understand what is happening inside your home. After all, it is YOUR HOME.

Step 5: Cleaning and Sanitizing

Your walls, flooring, and ceiling will most likely require professional cleaning services. In addition to cleaning your property’s structure, we will clean your furniture, upholstery, clothing, and other restorable belongings damaged by the water. Most flooding and water damage also require professional odor removal and deodorization since wet materials have a very distinct odor.

Contents Restoration

SERVPRO of North Kanawha and Teays Valley specializes in restoring contents damaged by fire, water, or mold. Our expertise and “restore” versus “replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced. Learn more about Contents Restoration.

•  Dry Cleaning
•  Wet Cleaning
•  Spray and Wipe
•  Foam Cleaning
•  Abrasive Cleaning
•  Immersion Cleaning

Odor Removal and Deodorization

We are trained to identify and eliminate offensive odors. Our technical expertise and industrial-grade air scrubbers and fogging equipment go well beyond simply masking odors and other shortcuts that don’t work when your odor problem is serious or persistent.

•  Odor Removal and Deodorization
•  Air Scrubbers and Fogging Equipment

Sanitizing Treatments

Depending on the scenario, we may use antimicrobial, antibacterial, or disinfectant treatments to clean your property.

•  Antimicrobial and Antibacterial Treatments
•  Sanitizing and Disinfectant Treatments

Disposal

We will remove and dispose of damaged materials with guidance from you and your insurance adjuster.

•  Properly Dispose of Refuse

*If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask. Our employees would love to help you understand what is happening inside your home. After all, it is YOUR HOME. 

Step 6: Restoration

Restoration, the final step, is the process of restoring your home or business to its pre-water damage condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall and installing new carpet or may entail major repairs, such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.

Emergency Building Services

When your home has been damaged by a storm or water, the immediate concern may include temporary protective measures to prevent additional damages, like placing a roof tarp. Learn more about our building services.

•  Board-Up
•  Roof Tarp
•  Temporary Fencing
•  Move-Out / Pack-Out
•  Temporary Warehouse Space

Repairs and Minor Building Services

The following building and repair services may be necessary to restore your home to pre-water damage conditions. 

•  Drywall Removal and Installation
•  Hardwood Floor Repair
•  Tile Floor Repair
•  Painting
•  Carpet Repair and Installation

Building Services and Reconstruction

SERVPRO of North Kanawha and Teays Valley can simplify the restoration process by handling both the initial water damage mitigation and rebuilding the affected areas. Having one qualified company for the entire process can save time and keep costs low. We can provide this continuity by supervising a full range of restoration services that will bring a building back to full functionality.

•  Reconstruction and Building Services

*If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask. Our employees would love to help you understand what is happening inside your home. After all, it is YOUR HOME.