Water damage comes in varying degrees, from an annoying spot on the wall from a leak that was fixed long ago, to far more devastating after affects such as mold, mildew and even structural damage.
Immediate Attention Excess water in the home - whether from frozen pipes that have burst, backed-up sewage, leaking roofs or leaky pipes - must be dealt with straight away.
Most people have no problem understanding the health threats posed by standing water, and they take every effort to remove all visible signs of water.
Unfortunately, water damage often goes much deeper than what the eye can see.
It does not take much for water to be trapped in walls, carpet padding, under and behind furniture, inside upholstery stuffing, mattresses, and under floorboards.
Leaving these "invisible" spaces unattended can lead to the loss of property or the growth of health threatening mold, bacteria and fungi.
Beware! Even if your carpets, furniture or walls feel dry, they must be tested for moisture using properly calibrated professional equipment.
Getting Rid of the Water As mentioned earlier in this article, water damage can occur from a variety of sources.
Once the source has been located and dealt with, it is time to get busy getting dry.
The first step is removing all visible water.
You can mop, sweep, use a squeegee or some other common household tools to remove what you can.
Two of the common pieces of equipment that a professional water damage restoration company might use to remove standing water are a pump or a water extraction machine.
Once the visible, standing water has been dealt with it is time to pinpoint wet/damp spots that are less obvious.
A moisture meter detects this hidden moisture and dampness.
The equipment required to remove this type of moisture includes dehumidifiers, air movers and fans.
It is important to note that there are some structural elements that may be impossible to restore.
Dry wall that has already begun to rot (look for signs of swelling) and some ceiling tiles, for example.
Restoration Water damage restoration involves much more than drying the premises.
Unattractive reminders of your recent misfortune such as water spots, darkened areas (which may indicate mold growth), staining and unpleasant odors must be dealt with.
Fight the temptation to mask these problems with superficial solutions such as paint or potpourri - they might work for a while, but the problem is sure to raise its ugly head once again.
Instead, call on a professional crew to perform some steam cleaning magic.
While it may seem contradictory to use steam cleaning - a process that involves water - when cleaning up after a flood, it is actually as natural as can be.
Steam has powerful sanitizing, deodorizing and cleaning powers.
With steam, there is no need to introduce toxic chemicals or harsh detergents.
It will bring your premises as close to their original state as possible.