Many problems in and around a home or business lead to water damage. We often think about burst water pipes and overflowing toilets, but other causes can also lead to a flooding event. All water leaks have the potential to cause serious problems, like buckling floors, rotting baseboards, and mold. Whenever leaking roofs, broken pipes, or damaged sewer lines cause water damage, a water restoration firm needs to be called in, to evaluate the damage and clean things up.
If you have experienced flooding in your home or business, whatever the source, the problem calls for immediate attention to prevent further damage. There are usually steps you can take to minimize the damage, but cleanup and restoration should be left to our experts.
Common Water Damage Scenarios
Natural disasters that might cause major water damage are rare in and around Santa Clara. A flooding event in a home or a business almost always comes from one of three problems.
- Sewage backup – Contaminated water requires special handling whether it came from a broken sewer line or was carried into a building by a flash flood. Natural flood waters tend to be badly contaminated with animal waste, gasoline, pesticides, and other chemicals.
- Roof leaks – undetected damage on a roof can admit water, which pools about the ceiling or leaks onto ceiling tiles
- Leaking pipes or hoses – A small problem in a water line can lead to big problems over time as water leaks everywhere that gravity will take it, including under floors or into an interior wall. Burst pipes can cause major problems right away.
The last of these three issues might be the most likely, Numerous pipes and hoses carry water to and from the average Santa Clara home. Those water lines can spring leaks, leading to a small flood in the bathroom or kitchen, for example. A leak in a home’s foundation can damage the concrete slab or let water leak into the flooring. Pipes that run through walls can spring links, leading to a mold problem and damage to the drywall, wood paneling, textured ceiling, and so on.
Minor damage to a roof can allow rainwater to get in and collect in the ceiling where the effect is pretty much the same as with a leaky pipe. You might be able to contain the damage from a minor leak by turning off the water inside and by throwing down towels or wads of paper towels to soak up some of the water. However, know that affected areas can be very hard to dry out.
Standard Water Removal Steps
The first step in any water removal process is to remove any standing water. This may be a simple process of collecting the water with a water vacuum and some towels. Or, it may involve multiple vacuums, a water pump, and other devices. These steps are critical to prevent further property damage and mold.
Removing Excess Water
The first step any a water damage scenario is to remove as much water as possible, along with any waterlogged items in the area. The second step is to remove water-damaged structural materials and do some more moisture removal. The last step, in a major water damage event, is to call in a contractor to repair structural damage.
Removing Damaged Items
We might use a variety of devices to remove the remaining water. If carpets have been soaked and water ran under cabinets, a water damage restoration service will use dehumidifiers to dry out the air or air movers to get drier air circulating through the area. All flood damage restoration firms use similar methods to dry out waterlogged areas.
This might be enough to remove the water and begin repairing any physical damage to the area. In other cases, technicians will have to pull out carpets, carpet padding, baseboards, ceiling tiles, and other materials that have become waterlogged.
Preventing Mold
These damp materials are all a breeding ground for black mold. Mold growth is a common thing in areas that have been damp for any length of time. Worse, air ducts might carry mold spores around the house. This is more likely to happen when a homeowner tries to do their own mold remediation work. A mold remediation specialist might have to come in and treat the area to destroy mold or prevent mold growth.
If you have experienced flooding, no matter how minor, it is smart to seek immediate assistance with the problem. Our Santa Clara disaster restoration team is ready to respond at once, to contain and repair the damage. We also are so experts in mold removal and we are available in the event of an emergency.
Standard Water Damage Restoration Steps
Water damage restoration services follow a standard process. The first step in water damage repair is usually to remove any easily moved items that were soaked. In some cases, we also pull up the carpet and padding, remove baseboards and take down wallpaper and drywall. We will remove damaged materials and dispose of them properly. With the damaged area cleared out, repair and restoration work can begin.
Our work can include all of the following activities:
- Upholstery cleaning
- Carpet replacement or cleaning
- Flooring repair or replacement
- Drywall replacement
- Ceiling repair
Sometimes the damage is so bad that the home becomes temporarily unlivable or the business has to be temporarily closed. This is often the case with major sewage backups. If the event caused extensive damage, a structural engineer may be called in to evaluate structural elements in the water-damaged parts of the home before a construction crew moves in to restore the damage. Water damage restoration services routinely work with insurance companies and contractors.
Black mold is a fairly common side effect of flooding. Mold loves damp, porous surfaces, so drywall, wood, carpet, baseboards, and wood framing in the walls can all become contaminated by mold spores. We are mold remediation experts, so if this problem develops, we can fix it.
Throughout this flood damage restoration project, we will communicate with the insurance company and keep you up-to-date on the work.
Call Your Santa Clara Water Damage Experts
If you had a leak that left standing water in your home or business, you need to call in water damage restoration experts. Our water damage restoration company is convenient to homeowners and business owners in San Jose and all of Santa Clara County.
