Everything you need to know about cleaning up water damage

It can happen that water seeps through the basement of a building, through the roof or any other opening, causing more or less serious damage to your home. In the event of significant water damage, calling on water damage cleanup experts in the field is the best option to ensure that the necessary operations are taken care of quickly and in accordance with the rules of the art.

What to do when water damage occurs?

As soon as you spot a water leak, quickly shut off the main water inlet and turn off the flow to the meter. Take out any items that you may be carrying to protect them from damage. Immediately call a company with expertise in water damage cleaning, who can determine on site what is the cause of the problem.

It could be…

• water infiltration through the roof;

• congestion and overflow of gutters and channels;

• leaking or broken pipes or water lines

• or come from a malfunction of a household appliance (washing machine, dishwasher, bathtub, etc.).

Before starting the clearing/cleaning as such, the expert must identify the type of water (black, gray or clear) and find the source. Gray water from sewage damage can contain bacteria and/or viruses, and even more black water (or valves), since it usually comes from sewers. In some cases, the water damage cleaning specialist may ask the occupants to evacuate the accommodation during the cleaning period. Taking charge of water damage cleanup means sucking up water, drying materials, sanitizing, and decontaminating the premises if necessary, before cleaning up and then restoring. These operations require the know-how and experience of specialists in the field.

The different stages of cleaning

1. Drainage

After extracting the maximum amount of accumulated water, the disaster cleaning company should quickly reduce humidity throughout the area affected by the water damage, including partitions, ceilings, parquet, as well as furniture. 'there is. A specialized company has the necessary equipment to carry out these operations; it can also install an air dehydrator (also called a “dehumidifier”) - the purpose of which is to promote the evaporation of the humidity present in the air and to quickly lower the percentage of humidity.

2. sanitation

If it is major water damage, it is always wise to resort to the professionalism of a recognized cleaning company to clean up the premises. A company specializing in this field has in-depth knowledge of the devices and disinfectants that must be used for this operation. It leaves no risk of mold. Its experts are able to take care of water extraction, cleaning, and drying of materials and structures, before proceeding with the sanitation (and sometimes disinfection) of the area.

3. Decontamination / disinfection

The faster the water is sucked up, the less serious damage the building will suffer. On the other hand, it can happen that water damage or a flood is not noticed quickly enough; in this case, there is a good chance that the place has experienced some degree of contamination due to standing water and seepage. When the air is contaminated by the presence of fungi or bacteria in a confined space, it can cause significant health problems for the occupants of the premises.

4. Neutralize odors of humidity

In principle, a home that has been properly dried and decontaminated to rid it of the risk of mold, should not give off unpleasant odors. If in doubt, do not hesitate to ask your disaster recovery specialist to check the humidity of the premises and the quality of the ambient air.

The importance of requesting quotes

It is strongly recommended to request a prior estimate for all the operations proposed by the specialized company which carried out the inspection of the disaster area. It's the best way to plan your budget ahead of time, and it's usually free! Contacting certified professionals for cleaning work after water damage is always an informed decision; when it comes to his health and that of his family, no risk should be taken.