The process of restoring a home from water damage involves bringing the condition of the property back to how it was before the water intrusion. Inspecting, extracting, dehumidifying, sanitizing, and rebuilding are the steps involved in the process of water damage restoration. Although certification is not often necessary, it is best if the work is done by water damage restoration specialists in Maryland who are familiar with the necessary procedures and possess the necessary equipment.

The first step toward limiting water damage in the home is to have an understanding of what led to its occurrence in the first place. When assessing a property for water damage, specialists first locate the sources. This makes it easier for them to figure out what the next steps should be.

For homeowners, there are certain steps that can be taken for water damage restoration. We’ll discuss them in detail below.

Tips for Limiting Water Damage in The Home

If not handled in a proper and timely manner, water damage may cause serious and costly issues. Here’s some professional advice in addressing water damage and limiting the potential of it causing further issues to your property.

1. Conduct a Thorough Inspection

An assessment or inspection for water damage must be done by water damage restoration specialists. But, you may also do your own initial assessment to identify the problem’s root cause. A specialist will take it further by determining the class and category of the water damage and contamination.

The harm that was done by water on your property is closely linked to the source of the water. Even if you know what caused the water damage, it can still be hard to pinpoint the source of the water in some situations e.g. when flood water has seeped into the property via multiple entry points. The specialist will determine the type of water contamination after first locating the source of the contaminated water and then putting a stop to its flow.

2. Extract the Standing Water

water extraction by Top To Bottom Renovation

Extraction is the process that is used to remove standing water, which is often referred to as stagnant water.

This is especially important in situations where a house has a musty and flooded basement. Submersible pumps and industrial vacuums are useful extractors in such cases.

Portable wet and dry vacuums can be used to collect water off the surface once all standing water has been cleared. A moisture meter and an infrared thermal camera may also be utilized in order to locate concealed pockets of saturation within walls and underneath the floorboards. Even after vacuuming, there is a possibility that there is surface water that has not been removed completely. This can be addressed by a specialist in water damage restoration.

3. Dehumidify the Affected Area(s)

Make use of machinery such as industrial-strength fans and air movers, as well as commercial-grade dehumidifiers in order to completely dry and dehumidify contaminated areas.

In addition to making use of this heavy-duty equipment, an expert can choose to open the doors and windows in order to improve the airflow into the room(s).

Dehumidifying a room will typically take longer than the water removal process, particularly if the water damage is Class 4 , wherein the percentage of wet porous materials is more than 40, and needs the removal of certain portions of the floor and/or walls.

4. Sanitize All Surfaces to Prevent Mold Buildup

During the sanitation process, a specialist will utilize equipment e.g. a HEPA vacuum, an air scrubber, or another kind of negative air device. In the event that the water damage falls into Category 3, each surface will have to be disinfected using an antibacterial solution. Category 3 is when the contamination level is already hazardous and the water source or cause of the water damage is flooding or sewage.

5. Repair and Renovate (If Needed)

Remove any components that cannot be saved such as carpets, paddings, and drywall beneath the flood lines.

Although carpets can be thoroughly cleaned, it is highly likely that they will need to be changed after being cleaned. If the damage caused by the water is not of Class 3 or 4 severity, then the drywall and trim boards could be reused. On the other hand, water damage restoration might also be required, particularly in the event that a natural disaster is the source of the water damage.