Understanding Water Damage Restoration

Properly understanding water damage restoration is more than merely observing the destroyed property. In order to begin with water damage cleanup, you need to get to the root of the problem.

Basically, there are 3 types of water that can cause damage: clean water, gray water and black water. They are progressively more harmful as well.

You nose is a good indicator of mold, bacteria, fungi, mildew and musty basement smells. These are all symptoms that you should take seriously. Learn how to get rid of mold and mildew before it does more damage.

Damage From Clean Water

This occurs from rain water or burst pipes. This water is not toxic and has no contaminants. However, just because it is clean does not mean it cannot do great harm, a lot of wet basement repairs occur with clean water.

A cracked foundation, crack in the basement wall, or leaky window well in the basement can do a lot of damage to the carpet, wood and leave a great habitat for mold and mildew to grow.

Gray water

Gray water is usually from clothes and dishwashers, empty toilets and sinks. This water may contain low levels of contaminants. Once you remove the source of the water, it is an easy matter to clean up with soap and water.

The damage to the wall, ceiling, floors and carpet can be devastating. In many cases you can quickly clean it up, but if it is a long-term problem, you will need to replace the damaged items.

Black water

Water from floods, overflowing toilets, and backed up sewers contain toxic contaminants that are harmful to your health. Contact should be avoided, if possible.

The amount of contaminants helps to decide on the severity of the problem. Usually, you can avoid health problems by simply cleaning up after the problem is solved. There are many good anti-bacterial soaps on the market, and a thorough cleaning with soap and water should normally do the trick.

Getting rid of mold &mildew

The mold and mildew, that accompany water damage is an especially important fact that is often overlooked. Allergic reactions to these can be severe, along with sore throats, headaches and sneezing.

These living organisms will continue to grow as long as the environment is suitable. Even after the water problem is solved, there is the dusty, musty basement smell with ill effects.

In severe cases, entire houses may require demolition. If water damage is left untreated indefinitely, the entire structure of a house can be compromised.

Many families suffer from asthma, allergies and general poor health, not realizing that the problem is due to mold spores. It becomes evident when they are out of the house for an extended period; the symptoms disappear, only to reappear when they return home.

Getting rid of mold and mildew is a serious subject that requires a systematic approach. It could be as simple as installing a ceiling fan in the bathroom, but it can also be very complicated and require the help of an expert.

Once the cause of the moisture is determined, you might need to repair a foundation crack, get a sump pump, waterproof your basement walls, or invest in some waterproofing products.

Get to the root cause of the problem first, then take the next step. Water damage restoration begins with understanding what caused the problem in the first place.