How Can Water Damage Your Home Residential Water Damage Water damage to your home can occur quickly and lead to numerous problems. It’s important to know about the various ways in which water can damage your home in order to prevent against them. Here are some ways in which water damage can arise. Water Entering the Home Rainwater can enter the home through leaks, typically via the roof or basement walls. This may occur slowly and go unnoticed at first causing interior damage to walls and flooring. This type of damage can be particularly severe, as it damages the interior structure of your home. Roofs that have asphalt shingles can be prone to leakage. The shingles tend to curl up and tear as they get older allowing rainwater to enter the home. In addition, roof flashing that is bent or pulling away is often a cause of leaks. Rainwater can also seep into your basement at weak spots during a storm. This seepage may go unnoticed for a long time. You may initially discover that your basement is leaking because you smell mold and mildew. It is important to do periodic inspections to make sure you do not have any leaks. Appliances Not Working Appliances, especially the washing machine, water heater, and kitchen sink, may develop leaks during usage. These leaks may start out small, from an ill-fitting washer or gasket at a joint. Or they may be larger, from a compromised or weakened pipe that has a hole. When you’ve experienced this type of water damage, it’s important to service the appliance to make sure there are no wet electrical wires that could cause a short or shock to the user. Secondary Damage One of the biggest impacts of water damage is what happens after the fact. Secondary water damage occurs from residue water that has not been properly cleaned or high levels of humidity that are impacting drying. Drywall that has absorbed water will often grow mold or other fungus. Molds and mildews start to grow in only 24 – 48 hours and, when left unaddressed, can cause unhealthy respiratory distress. What To Do if You Have Water Damage When you’ve experienced water damage, it’s important to get the issue addressed as soon as possible. Over time, damage can lead to structural, health, and safety issues. DC Water Restoration serves clients in the greater Washington DC area and knows that you need help to arrive quickly. We will assess the damage and start removing water right away to minimize home damage. If you need water damage restoration, call us at 1-202-792-7445 or contact us on our website.
Fire Damage: An Unexpected Cause of Water Damage Fire damage causes water damage When asked to think of water damage, most people think first of a flood and then of a dishwasher or toilet overflowing. While appliances, plumbing, and floods are all common causes of water damage, fires actually play a bigger role than most people think. Even minor fire damage can lead to huge amounts of water damage. This is why damage caused by a fire doesn’t end with soot and burns. Cleaning up water often isn’t first priority Fire damage often overshadows the water damage that occurs after the fire. The first priority after a fire is for the restoration crew to make sure the house is still structurally sound. If parts of the house have burned away, getting those areas covered takes precedence. Water and fire retardant chemicals used to douse the flames often stand stagnant while other repairs happen. This is an unfortunate circumstance. Fire damage restoration companies have to make the choice of what to focus on first. For them, reducing the risk of your house caving in, tops that list,and means water damage is the least of your problems. Unfortunately, if left unattended, water damage only worsens. Water left after fire can be dangerous Water damage in the wake of a fire is also worse because the water is typically contaminated. The water has mixed with soot, ash, and possibly chemicals. Pure water quickly becomes hazardous after a fire. Heated bottles can explode, spreading dangerous chemicals into the water and through your home. This kind of fire damage leads to water that’s unsafe for humans to handle. This makes the water damage restoration process more complicated and more expensive. You may have to replace furniture, carpets, and wallpapers. As a result, some families have to give up everything. Moving forward, restoration companies employ caution. Some furniture can be restored. On the other hand, different people have different priorities. The same items hold different values. You can work with your fire damage experts to save what matters to you. Once a house is safe, you can take what you need from it. One restoration company makes things easier If possible, get your fire damage restoration services and your water damage restoration services from the same company. When you work with just one company, you enable them to prioritize the damage. Once the initial fire damage restoration assessment has happened, they can do what they can to minimize the risks of worsening water damage. This probably involves switching between tasks. Once cleanup has begun, restoration companies prioritize water damage. Cleaning up soot and replacing carpet is important, but not as pressing as stopping the spread of mold. As you can see, fire damage is a terrible disaster for a homeowner. The fire damage to a home’s structure and furnishings compounds with the damage caused by the water used to save it from the flames. Mold, bacteria growth, and the spread of chemicals through the house is aided by the water. Due to the complications, many homeowners seek specialists. Fire damage restoration and water damage restoration go hand in hand. This is why you should find one experienced restoration team to handle both for you.
What You Should Know about Water Damage Restoration Companies If your residential or commercial property has sustained water damage, regardless of the source, you will want to use the services of a professional water damage restoration company. A water damage restoration company takes all the necessary steps to restore your property to its pre-water-damage condition according to proven and reliable restoration standards. Cleaning and disaster restoration trade associations, insurance companies, scientists, equipment manufacturers, and others have contributed to the development of the standards of care employed today by most water damage restoration companies. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) sets the standards and provides certification in those standards for those in the cleaning and restoration industries. A reputable water damage restoration company will perform the following steps: Isolate and repair the source of the water entry into the home or commercial building. Assess the full loss of property using industry standard pricing guidelines to ensure a complete and proper evaluation of the damaged or lost home or business items, materials and structure. Inspection of the affected area with appropriate equipment – this serves to determine the source of the water and extent of the damage. Fully extract water and moisture from the property. Sanitize, treat, and deodorize all affected areas, property, and materials. Follow up as necessary to reevaluate the property for dryness; retreat and new or recurring damaged areas. Water damage is no more a trouble Water damage restoration experts will professionally categorize the type of water into one of three categories, depending on the level of contamination present in the water onsite. They will also classify water damage into one of four categories, depending on the actual amount of water, how much water has been absorbed, and how much evaporation has taken place. Lastly, they will take into consideration the contents of your home or business, and determine what must be cleaned, sanitized, deodorized, dried, and even stored offsite. Choose the best water damage restoration experts! When choosing a water damage restoration specialist, make sure you hire qualified, IICRC-certified professionals. Look for all equipment to be properly maintained and in good working order. Ensure the company’s technicians will return at regular intervals to monitor the drying status and rearrange drying equipment as necessary until the area is thoroughly dried. The experts at the DC-area Water Damage Team possess the skills, experience, and credentials you need to get the job done right. With 24-hour service from Pennsylvania to the Baltimore and Washington, DC, areas, to Virginia and North Carolina, they are available to get started on your water damage cleanup request in 60 minutes or less.