If your property has taken on any amount of floodwater, there is no time to waste. Whether the flooding is from a natural disaster, busted pipes, or backed up sewage, acting swiftly can save you time, money, and heartache later on down the road.
If you do not get the water cleaned up quickly, you can end up with serious structural damage and possible mold growth. Some flooded buildings may be so bad that they require the water to be extracted by a professional. Let’s take a closer look at professional water extraction and its benefits.
What is water extraction?
Water extraction refers to the process of eliminating any standing water and moisture from your property. Extraction can not only help protect your property from structural damage but can also accelerate the drying process, reducing the risk of mold growth and additional damage.
Some people may choose to tackle small floods themselves. However, if there is any risk of danger, or if your insurance policy requires it, you may need to contact a professional water extraction company. After you consider the time and equipment rental fees, you may find it much faster and cheaper to hire a professional to do the job properly.
How is water extracted?
It will depend on the depth of your flood as to whether a wet/dry vacuum or submersible pump (or both) should be used. Pumps are great for deep, standing water. They can remove several gallons of water in a short period of time. Pumps work but sucking the water up with a hose and draining it outside of the building.
Wet/dry vacuums work to eliminate excess water and moisture from hard floors, carpeted areas, and porous surfaces. Some vacuums work by applying a disinfecting cleaning solution to the targeted area. The vacuum then sucks the water up into a holding tank that will need to be dumped often.
A professional water extraction company will have access to a few other pieces of equipment that may help:
- A moisture detector or a hygrometer can measure the level of moisture that’s still in the air.
- Infrared cameras can help detect water that may be hiding behind walls or between floors and ceilings.
- Truck-mounted industrial extraction equipment.
What is water damage mitigation?
Mitigation means the process of lessening the amount of loss due to disaster. Water mitigation specifically is cleaning and sanitizing your property, as well as drying out your property, to reduce the amount of damage.
Whether the flooding has occurred due to a leaking pipe, backed up sewage, or natural disaster, mitigation can minimize the amount of further damage. Mitigation actions may include tossing out items that can’t be salvaged, cleaning and sanitizing any affected areas, and drying out the property.
Drying Before Restoration
It is crucial that you ensure proper drying of the building before any repairs can take place. Depending on the size of the disaster, drying could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
If you try to work around moist areas or cover them up, you can end up with serious threats to the structural integrity of your building or serious issues with mold growing inside of walls or between floors, which can be hazardous to your health.