Understanding Home Water Restoration after a Leak

by Kevin Smith Author

You come home late one night to discover a pipe has burst in your home, and there’s water everywhere.

The carpeting is sopping wet and the kitchen floor is covered with a layer of water. You rush to turn off the water at the main waterline shut off, and watch as the water slowly stops spreading. You’re panicked and frustrated at the damage and the cleanup job ahead.

Professional Help

You know you’re going to need professional help. First, call your homeowners insurance agent and let them know the situation. Ask them to recommend an approved company that specializes in water restoration in Smyrna. And, get someone out to your home as quick as you can! The sooner a company gets to your house, they can begin vacuuming the water out of carpeting and off hard surfaces.

The severity of the water damage will determine whether the water restoration company will simply need to vacuum the water and dry out the wet rooms, or if flooring, sheetrock, and other building materials need to be replaced because they have become so saturated with water there is the likelihood they could become inhabited with dangerous mold that could make your family sick.

Water Restoration Process

The end result of water restoration is to return your house to pre-water damage conditions. First, all standing water needs to vacuumed as soon as humanly possible. Standing water may grow bacteria, quickly turning to mold. Exposure to large areas of mold, can lead to respiratory illnesses and even disease. Also, clearing away standing water will prevent more moisture from saturating flooring materials, walls, etc.

Second, the house needs to be dried out. The water restoration company will bring in large fans to circulate the moist air inside the house into the outside air. Also, large dehumidifiers will be placed around the wet areas of the house to suck up moisture in the air.

Third,after the vacuuming and drying process, water restoration in Smyrna involves an expert from the water restoration company measuring moisture levels in building materials of floors, walls, ceilings, cabinets, etc. If moisture is too deeply saturated into these materials, parts of the house may need to be rebuilt. Mold can actually grow inside these materials, presenting a health hazard that could last for years. Removing carpeting and padding, as well as linoleum, is a simple process. But water on hardwood flooring will cause the wood to shrink, leaving gaps. Each plank of hardwood is nailed to the subfloor and it is labor intensive to remove. Not all of the sheetrock needs to be replaced. If only the first few inches became wet, the sheetrock will be cut away a few inches above the water damage and replaced.