Water damage remediation needs to be addressed as soon as the problem has been identified, preferably within the first twenty four hours after the flooding has been stopped. There can be many reasons for water causing damage to a building, a frozen pipe can burst open, rivers can flood, and a storm can knock off roofing leading to gaping holes. Of course before you can bring about a solution you must ensure steps are taken to prevent any more damage from occurring.
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In most situations it would be necessary to hire a water damage repair company to carry out any necessary work, few of us have Schimmelsanierung the time or knowledge that is essential to addressing the problems correctly. Fortunately there are a number of firms that specialize in this field and who operate in virtually every town and city in the country, just make sure you choose a business that has the necessary experience and charges a fair price.
At the initial stage it will be up to you to protect your belongings from damage. A plumber or repairman will not be interested in helping you take out your plasma TV, expensive dining room chairs, and shag pile carpet. Make sure you place any wet items in an area where they will not cause greater damage, if possible put saturated belongings in a secure garden area where the sun can evaporate the moisture.
As long as you have an adequate insurance policy, any items that have been irreparably damaged should be replaced with payout money without too much of a headache. It is for situations such as flooding that we take out home contents insurance. Any electrical belongings are likely to need throwing out if they have come into contact with water.
Depending on the time of year, you can open door and windows to let dry air circulate. If the problem has occurred in the winter months the best option would be to turn the heating up to full and hire a portable gas heater that can be placed in the affected area. Never turn on an electrical heater in a waterlogged room as the result can be disastrous.
If you have wooden flooring there is a chance that this will need to be pulled up as the water may be underneath. Bacteria and mildew can easily grow in damp spaces that are not effectively dried out, these can easily cause respiratory problems for young and elderly inhabitants of the property.
You come home and you find your floor is full of water. You identify the source and stop the leak. Then you grab your wet/dry vacuum cleaner and suck up all the excess water. There are still a few damp area and it smells kind of musty so you open the window and will nature take its course. In your mind your Do-it-Yourself attitude just saved you a ton of money. Case closed.
The Do-it-Yourself attitude is admirable and the laudable hallmark of American culture but such attitude can prove to be, as in this case, misguided and have potential long term health and financial consequences.
Issue 1: Using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to extract the water
Problem 1: This extraction usually does not extract all the moisture from the affected area
Why this matters to you1: The remaining water can promote structural decay and be a catalyst for mold.
Issue 2: Opening widow to dry naturally
Problem 2: In hot, humid regions, such as FL, the sweltering heat can actually prevent evaporation
Why this matters to you2: This prevents drying and is an IDEAL condition for accelerated mold growth.
Issue 3: Employing Do-it-Yourself to save money
Problem 3: In many cases, the honorable and honest Do-it-Yourself attempt ends up costing more money
Why this matters to you3: Losing money is bad no matter how you look at it. The potential savings can be offset by having to redo the work and the need for special equipment that is used one time.
Why should I care about Mold?
It is well established that exposure to certain types of mold are well known to have serious health effects in humans. It is certainly not in the interest of anyone to be exposed to mold.
OK, so I'll hire a carpet cleaning company to get rid of my water.
This is a logical step as the typical carpet cleaner will have access to better commercial vacuum equipment than the homeowner but this logic fails in two main areas, cost and ability. Trying to save money by hiring a carpet cleaner can have negative budgetary impact depending on the company used and time involved. While many carpet cleaners are exceptional at their trade and are, usually, worth every penny, carpet cleaners do not know how to remove water from walls, monitor and control ambient moisture, and other such concerns of a professional water damage remediation company.
So how can I get rid of this water and save money?
The best way of getting rid of water damage, preventing or eliminating exposure to mold, and saving money is by hiring a professional water damage restoration company. An independent, professional water damage restoration company is professionally trained and intra-industry certified to thoroughly and professionally handle all aspects of structural drying, odor control, mold handling and removal, and other relevant water damage restoration considerations. More importantly, in many cases, such services can be done at NO or little cost to the property owner using methods including direct insurance billing.
So why pay out of pocket and do the work yourself when the professionals can do the work for you at little to no cost? It's a no brainer.