Facts about Water Mitigation

What is water mitigation?

These are steps taken to minimize the magnitude of water damage. It is usually carried out after the occurrence of floods, storms and plumbing failures that always result in uncontrolled flow of grey water in a building. Mitigation is designed to protect your property and also prevent environmental degradation that can be caused by water.

 There are three main categories of water damage and they are:

-Cat 1: This is the type of mitigation that is done on sanitized water such as water from the taps. Some common sources of damage that fall under this category include broken waterlines that carry clean water, faucets, bottled water and even clean water from a toilet tank.

–Cat 2: Here the water contains some levels of contaminants that can cause different types of health complications. Common sources of water damage that may require Cat 2 water damage include dishwasher overflow, washing machine overflow, toilet overflow that contains elements of urine. At the end of the process, it should able to restore your home from grey water.

-Cat 3: Water damage in this category can cause massive destruction to your property and to your health. In some cases, it can lead to deaths. Here, the main sources of water include sewage, flooding from rivers, stagnant water, and water containing feces. The mitigation in this category should focus on achieving black water drying.

Steps for water mitigation:

Now that you have a clear understanding of water mitigation let us delve into the steps that are taken to salvage your property and even save your life from water damage.

1. Making the emergency call

It all starts with you. Once you discover that there is water damage in your premises, call a reputable water mitigation company for assistance. It is always advisable that you contact them sooner rather than postponing. Apart from the calls, you can also communicate with the company through other platforms such as email.

The staff working in the water mitigation company will ask you some questions which will help them know the category of the water loss. The questions will also help them know the type of equipment that they will need to execute the mitigation efficiently. Since water damage is always classified as an emergency, the mitigation technicians will strive to be at your premises and execute the job within the shortest time available. After all, you will be yearning to have your life back as fast as possible.

2. Water damage visual inspection

Once at your premises, a certified water damaged technician or even a project manager will carry out a visual inspection of the affected area. You should be available during the inspection or your property agent. With your availability, you will be in a better position to know what you are going to pay for. The inspector will take some photos of the damage and then explain to you the scope of work that is required.

The project manager will then draw a plan on how the mitigation will be carried out, and once you agree, then the process will begin.

It is vital to note that water damage is progressive in nature. The time taken for the whole room to dry up may depend on various factors such as the material that was damaged, magnitude of damage, room temperature, and humidity among other factors. For this reason, it will be quite difficult for a mitigation company to give you an exact quote of the service before it is completed. However, the company may still use some innovative software to estimate the quote before the completion of the job.

3. Water Extraction

The first step of the job is to get rid of all the stagnant water that is in the room. Extracting visible water is quite easier than extracting water vapor and this is because it requires fewer tools. All the wet materials that might have been affected by the water damage are removed. Once the technicians are done with visible water, they will shift  the wet areas of the room. Since some wet parts may not be easily discovered, the technicians may prefer to use special equipment such as Thermal Imaging system. Another tool that is used during this stage is industrial water extraction pump.

4. Salvaging and Replacing

At this stage, the technician will focus on how to protect your flooring and walls from further damage. For instance, all the wet items on the floor will be removed. This includes cleaning and restoration of your carpet. You will also have a candid discussion with the technician regarding the items that can be salvaged and those that will require a complete replacement. It will be easier to replace some items such as carpets. But when it comes to building components, you may consider salvaging and reusing them.

5. Dehumidifying and Drying

After water damage has occurred, some portion of it will end up in the air in the form of water vapor. A water damage technician will use various techniques and equipment to get rid of this water and dry up the indoor air. Dehumidifiers, heaters, and floor drying systems may be used to boost the circulation of dry air which will end up replacing the cold and humid air. Another step to improve the quality of indoor air is cleanup duct cleaning.

6.Mold Remediation

Once the affected area has attained the dry standards, water remediation technicians will embark on a thorough cleaning process. Apart from wiping and scrubbing the walls, floor, and furniture, they will also spray some antimicrobial in the affected area. This is also an important step of mold remediation.

7. Reassessment and reconstruction

Once the room dries up, the technicians will carry out another round of inspection cleaning to ensure that there are no hidden elements of moisture in the room. They will also reconstruct some building materials that were damaged during the repair.

Conclusion

The above are the steps that a reputable water mitigation company should   carry out to save you from the effects of water damage. At Dry Fast, we have a team of professional water mitigation technicians who can carry out the task professionally while adhering to cleaning safety tips. We are also well equipped with high-end equipment that can do the job faster and efficiently. We adhere to the standards set by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning Restoration Certification (IICRC). If your home or business building is affected by water damage, contact us for a perfect and results-oriented water mitigation service.

Georgio Atana

As a General Contractor specialized in Restoration Environmental and Reconstruction, my professional goal is to keep up with the ever-changing rules, regulations, and laws in the restoration industry. I continue to strive to make the property recovery process a positive and good experience for each client.