As one of the leading causes of home insurance claims, water damage can come from many different sources. Mitigating water damage as soon as it happens can minimize health problems, further home damage, and potential financial devastation. Read 12 steps to take when suffering a loss due to water damage here.
What is Water Mitigation?
According to FEMA, mitigation is the process of reducing property loss due to the impact of disaster. Water mitigation refers to the process of properly cleaning, sanitizing, drying, repairing, and restoring a property to its pre water-damage condition. While not a uniform process, there are standards in place for water mitigation. Since each property and water damage situation is different, they require an individualized plan of action. Water mitigation also includes preventing the spread of water to keep further damage from happening. The very moment you notice a leak or standing water, you are obligated by your insurance company to respond quickly. Standing water can cause further damage in addition to mold growth - a separate problem that has serious health implications. If you neglect to take the needed steps to prevent further damage, your insurer may fight you on your claims.
Assess the Damage
The first step in water mitigation is to assess the existing damage and stop further damage from occurring. The root cause of the water damage must be found and stopped. In the case of a natural disaster, broken pipe, or fire, the water damage can be sudden and severe; in other situations, it can take place slowly. Plumbing or roof leaks can cause slow damage over an extended period of time. In this situations, the risk of mold damage is much greater.
Categorizing the water damage includes a color-coded method which depends on the severity of water contaminants that are present in the water. Grey and black water damage exposure can be hazardous to the health of people and pets. Water mitigation specialists have the training and equipment needed to assess and categorize your water damage, and a specialized restoration company can also check for mold. All water is not created equal, and the source of the water will have a huge impact on the restoration process that follows mitigation. Carpet that has been damaged by a clean water source (ie a burst pipe) is more likely to be salvaged that carpet damaged by a sewer leak.
Drying Out Your Property
With the initial assessment of damage complete, the next step is create an action plan to remove all water and extra moisture from the property. Standing water must be removed by industrial extractors, floor and sub-floor drying systems, and air movers. At Hamilton Restoration, we deploy a variety of processes to dry out your property, including LGR low grain refrigerant dehumidifiers, and industrial strength blowers and dryers to protect and restore your home and possessions. Read here: The importance of Water Mitigation Companies
Restoring Your Property
The final step in the water mitigation process is sanitizing and restoring your home. If there is structural damage from contaminated water, proper sanitization is necessary to ensure your health, safety, and wellbeing.
After your property has been thoroughly dried and sanitized, the restoration of your home or office can begin. Restoration includes the replacement or repair of walls, floors, and ceilings.
Water Mitigation and Water Damage Restoration - Distinct Processes
Prevention of further damage is the main purpose of water mitigation. The removal and repair of affected structures such as drywall and flooring is vitally important. Left unattended, these issues can quickly cause further and significant problems such as structural damage and/or mold growth. After the water damage has been properly mitigated, water damage restoration is a viable solution when materials and property have suffered too much damage to be remediated. Restoring your property to its pre-loss condition is always the goal. Think of water mitigation specialists, like Hamilton Restoration, as first responders, stopping water damage at its source and using a variety of specialized tools to remove all excess moisture from your home or business. Depending on your individual situation, temporary protection is another service we offer to secure your property and the contents inside.
Remediation is the separate, though complimentary process, of salvaging and repairing items that can be safely restored. Remediation has its risks, however, since materials can become a breeding ground for bacterial growth and mold.
After the water mitigation process is complete, water damage restoration can begin. Water damage restoration includes repairing structural damage to walls, ceilings, and floors, replacing broken or damaged pipes, drying out and sanitizing or replacing carpeting and carpet pads, etc. When materials cannot be safely salvaged, replacements may be necessary. Mold prevention is another important aspect of the restoration process and includes proper testing of air samples to ensure the safety of your property.
The Importance of Acting Quickly
The moment you notice a water leak, it is important to respond quickly. Homeowner’s insurance policies are clear that it is your responsibility to minimize the amount of property damage your dwelling incurs. Additionally, a secondary issue such as mold will quickly add to the financial and emotional strain you suffer. Water mitigation is considered an emergency service, because water damage is an emergency. It’s important to respond accordingly.
How to Choose a Water Mitigation and Restoration Company
Regardless of the cause, water damage is extremely disruptive to your day-to-day life. Burst pipes, hurricane flooding, or a leaking roof can all be disastrous to your property. You can minimize the damage by acting quickly, and choosing a mitigation company carefully. You can also read here to learn how to find and use your home's water shut-off valve.
Look for a company who responds immediately to your disaster. At Hamilton Restoration, we have 24/7 service available. We’ll be there when you need us.
Licensed, certified, and well-trained teams are best equipped to get you back in your home quickly and safely. Our team has been certified and trained by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification.
You and your home deserve care, respect, compassion, and concern. From your initial contact to the end of your project, our team is committed to providing you with the very best.
We're here to help you mitigate water damage and restore your property to its pre-damaged condition. At Hamilton Restoration, we are experts in emergency water extraction, state-of-the-art applied structural drying, and sewage clean up. We bring peace of mind to homeowners and insurance providers with integrity and professionalism, working 24/7 to restore your home or business. At Hamilton Restoration, perfection isn’t just the goal; it’s the expectation. Give us a call at 689-222-7033 or click here to learn more.