What is Water Mitigation?
- Southeast Water Restoration
- May 31, 2022
- 3:40 pm
- 0 comments
Water damage is a severe worry that endangers not only your home’s safety but also your health. It’s a menace that may spread quickly and affect anyone, regardless of where they live or how well their home is maintained. While you may not believe it could happen to you, it is a regular problem that affects one out of every 50 American households. While the problem is prevalent and appears in thousands of homes every day, many people may not know what to do to mitigate the damage unless they contact a water mitigation firm for help.
Millions of people in the United States live in flood zones and are completely unaware of the danger of water damage. This is because many states do not require this information to be revealed to a new homeowner. Knowing your flood risk and understanding your surroundings is a common blunder that can be easily avoided. If you’re not sure if you’re at risk of flooding, FEMA provides a flood map that will help you figure it out.
While hiring a water mitigation business like Southeast Water Restoration is the best solution, there are some things you can do on your own. While you wait for the services of these organizations to commence, take these actions to prevent further damage.
Let’s Define Water Mitigation
The first step in a procedure to deal with water damage is called water mitigation. Mitigation, which includes water removal, moisture control, and structural drying, stops further damage from happening.
Consider water mitigation as an emergency action that limits its immediate effects. It reduces secondary water damages including buckling floors, drywall that is falling apart, and widespread mold development.
The first step in full service repairs and property-wide restoration is water mitigation.
What to Do After a Flood
The first and most important item to consider is your own safety. Electrical and slip-and-fall hazards are the most serious dangers posed by flooding. Those who live in a flooded home understandably have a lot of concerns. A property can flood for a variety of reasons, including weather and storms, as well as concealed and out-of-reach ruptured pipes.
While a home can flood in a variety of ways, there are several measures that should be followed regardless of the reason. So, what should you do if you’re in the middle of a flood? To begin, you should try to pinpoint the root of the issue. If the problem is caused by the weather, you may not be able to do much more than try to cover the leak. If your home is flooded as a result of a suspected burst pipe, the best course of action is to turn off the water. This will help you stop the problem at its source and prevent future harm to your home or business.
If your house or business is well-maintained and you have adequate insurance coverage, hiring a water mitigation company may be more cost-effective than paying out of pocket. Using a water mitigation firm for the extra security of a professional touch at a lower cost than doing it yourself is nearly enough of a reason in and of itself.
After you’ve figured out what’s causing the problem, you should start by safely clearing the afflicted area of the house. Try to remove as much water as possible by mopping or using towels to dry the areas that have been affected the most. In an emergency, every second counts when it comes to protecting your home. Wet items should be picked up and deposited in a dry location. Instead of sulking and remaining wet, find a place where the water can dry out.
The best course of action is to clear the affected room(s) and attempt to dry the surface. Furniture and other objects can be difficult to move because there isn’t always adequate room. If this happens, use aluminum foil or wooden blocks to separate the furniture from the damp floor.
Water, on the other hand, does not simply harm the objects it comes into contact with. It’s also a good idea to take down any wall art or key decorations from the walls of the space. Mold is a tenacious, fast-growing fungus that requires only oxygen, moisture, and organic material to attach to an object. Make every effort to clear any loose things from the floor in the affected room.
Turning on the room’s air conditioning system is another quick option to assist prevent more harm. This is especially useful during a flood in the summer, when the weather is often hotter and humid, posing a greater threat to the room.
Getting in touch with a water mitigation firm is also an important part of the procedure. A water mitigation firm can examine the damage and provide additional assistance even if you believe you have everything under control. Our skilled technicians can even help measure water loss from pipes remotely. Southeast Water Restoration is always a phone call away.
How Does Water Mitigation Work?
- Inspection & Assessment – Mitigation professionals inspect the property, determine the type and extent of water damage, handle any urgent repairs, and board up the facility as needed.
- Water Extraction – Using truck-mounted water extraction technologies, the property’s deep standing water is drained out. Following up, teams use specialized vacuum equipment to extract any remaining water from porous surfaces.
- Structural Drying – Desiccant dehumidifiers, high-volume air movers, heavy-duty axial fans, and wood floor and subfloor drying systems are just a few examples of the industrial-grade equipment used in structural drying.
- Property Stabilization is accomplished by using site-specific drying methods that reduce secondary water damage. For instance, disintegrating drywall or collapsing floors could be the focus of the drying apparatus. By taking care of secondary water damage, the building is stabilized and prepared for repair.
- Site Cleanup – As the drying phase advances, water mitigation workers remove trash, sort through salvageable objects, and start the cleanup procedure. All impacted surfaces and materials need to be cleaned and disinfected.
Are There Different Types of Water Mitigation?
Depending on the water supply, several water mitigation measures are used. For instance, Category 1 clean water is typically categorized as coming from a damaged pipe. For remediation in these situations, water damage crews adhere to industry guidelines.
Gray water from category 2 presents more of a problem. Sump pumps that are clogged, damaged disposal lines, or leaking washing machine hoses are typical sources of this kind of damage. Crews working on mitigation deal with chemicals and possible pollution in Category 2 water.
Specialized tools and products are needed for the Category 3 black water abatement method. Black water contains toxic chemicals and bacteria that seep into afflicted materials. When it comes to Category 3 water mitigation, technicians adhere to strict OSHA, CDC, and EPA requirements.
What to Avoid Doing After a Flood
After your home or a room floods, it’s easy to become panicked. It’s completely okay to panic or be concerned, but now is the moment to take action. One of the most common mistakes people make is ignoring the situation and waiting. When it comes to water damage and floods, every second counts. Waiting can lead to more harm to the space and, quite literally, the home’s foundation.
While a water mitigation business may utilize a specialist vacuum to remove water, the common home vacuum is unlikely to be capable of doing so. While the vacuum may be technically capable of completing the operation, it is unlikely to have a location to store the water. This will allow water to infiltrate into the vacuum’s electrical components, causing it to fail.
Avoiding the reality of the situation is one of the most crucial things to avoid following a flood. While your property may be your pride and joy, you may not be able to solve the problem or prevent it from worsening in a crisis. Even little leaks might have serious consequences since they may not tell you the whole story.
You should not disregard the advice of a water mitigation business. Water mitigation businesses, such as Southeast Water Restoration, can properly examine the damage and restore your house to its pre-loss condition.
Need Water Damage Mitigation in Atlanta? We Can Help
Call Southeast Water Restoration at your first sign of water damage or mold growth. We are here to help you with your needs.
It might be daunting to deal with water damage at home or at business. You may prepare for the recovery process by knowing the distinction between mitigation and restoration.
At Southeast Water Restoration, we offer a wide range of services for water damage mitigation and professional water damage restoration.
In Atlanta and the suburbs, we are your one-stop shop for water mitigation services in Atlanta, and we are available around-the-clock. Call us right away at 404-631-7022.
Southeast Water Restoration Atlanta
Call Southeast Water Restoration if your basement appears is flooded or to be affected by water damage. We respond immediately when unplanned property damage occurs and assist you with the insured property repair procedure so that you can resume your normal life. In order to further safeguard you and your family, we are IICRC certified and authorized to administer microbial pesticides and are professionals at what we do.