Campbelltown Residential and Commercial Water Damage Restoration

Five Steps to Handle Water Damage Emergencies

How to Minimize the Destructive Impact of Moisture Leaks

Campbelltown Water Damage Restoration

In our more than 20 years of experience with buildings, we have discovered that moisture can be one of the most destructive forces within a structure.

A pipe can burst, a storm can strike, or a drain can overflow, causing unwanted and unexpected water to enter your building. These types of emergency water leaks can occur at any time. Your ability to respond appropriately to these emergencies can significantly reduce the costs and losses you incur.

Water damage restoration is an important process that helps restore your home or business to a pre-loss condition after water damage occurs. The restoration process can vary depending on the type of damage and its severity, but it typically involves identifying the source of the water, assessing the extent of the damage, removing any damaged materials, and providing services to restore the property.

The first step in water damage restoration is to identify the source of the water and assess the extent of the damage. This includes checking for any broken pipes, clogged drains, or other sources of water.

The next step is to remove any damaged materials, such as carpets, furniture, and drywall. Once the affected area is clear of damaged materials, the restoration process can begin. This includes drying out the area and sanitizing it to prevent the growth of mould and mildew.

After the area is dry and sanitized, repairs can begin. This can include replacing carpets, drywall, and other materials that were affected by the water. In some cases, structural repairs may be needed to make sure the property is safe and secure. Once the repairs have been completed, the area can be restored to its pre-loss condition.

What is Emergency Water Damage Restoration?

The term "water damage" refers to any unintended water that enters a facility.

There are numerous ways for water to enter your facility, ranging from natural disasters to neglected maintenance. These consist of:

· Broken sprinkler head

· Hurricane

· Pipe failure

· Sewage backup

· Earthquake

· Weakened roof

· HVAC leak

· Overflowing appliance

· Obstructed drain

· Clogged gutter

Loss of water can be devastating to facilities such as hospitals, hotels, and senior living communities. In addition to the expense of repair, waterlogged building materials can pose infection control risks and mold problems that must be managed safely.

And operations cease when a space is filled with water or building materials are saturated with water. This disruption in facilities can result in patients not receiving care, residents of senior living communities being separated from their homes, hotel guests being turned away, and customers going unserved.

What to Do When You Have an Emergency Water Damage?

Managing a water damage emergency can be overwhelming and distressing. The pressure is exacerbated by the requirement to work quickly. With building occupants dependent on the facility's operations and delays resulting in deteriorating damage, a prompt response is essential.

The five steps outlined below will equip you to navigate these situations swiftly and safely, as well as find professional partners to manage critical damage:

1. Find the Water Source and Stop It.

The first and most important step is to stop the water from entering your facility.

Listed below are some of the most common methods for turning off water:

In the event of broken pipes, broken sprinkler heads, or domestic water problems, a shut-off valve is frequently used to stop the flow of water. Ensure you are aware of the location of the building's shut-off valves.

To restore a sanitary system, you will need to stop using water upstream of the obstruction. In other words, the sinks, toilets, and showers that are fed by pipes ahead of the blockage must be restricted to prevent water from entering the blocked area. It may also be necessary to contact a plumber to unclog the pipes.

In the event of flooding due to a natural disaster, storm drain overflow, etc., it may be necessary to either allow the water to drain naturally or remove it.

However, water damage can also occur within the layers and infrastructure of a building. In such situations, you may only be able to identify the water intrusion through the presence of a musty odor, humid indoor air, visible mold growth, or deteriorating building materials. In such situations, professionals such as GHP's Emergency Response team can assist you in investigating the interior of your building or site infrastructure to locate the source.

If any electrical devices or outlets are close to the water damage, be sure to turn off the power to the affected areas.

2. Clean Up Standing Water.

Once water infiltration has been stopped, standing water is frequently left behind. Before building damage can be assessed and repaired, this water will need to be cleaned up.

In the event of flooding caused by natural disasters or overflowing storm drains, the water may need to exit the building naturally.

Your facility's maintenance staff may be able to mop up small amounts of standing water. When there is too much standing water for an in-house team to handle, restoration specialists equipped with commercial wet vacuums can be called to extract the water.

Another consideration for water extraction is the type of water—Category 1, 2, or 3 Water.

Category 1 Water is derived from a sanitary water source and poses no significant threat to human health.

Category 1 water damage examples include, but are not limited to:

· faulty water distribution lines

· There are no contaminants in tub or sink overflows.

· The melting of ice or snow

· falling precipitation

· The commode supply tank overflows or is broken.

· Bowls for the toilet that are free of contaminants and chemicalsis

Category 2 Water is contaminated to a high degree and has the potential to cause discomfort or illness if consumed or touched. Category 2 water may contain microorganisms or microorganism nutrients in addition to organic or inorganic matter.

Category 2 water damage examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Wastewater discharge from dishwashers and washing machines
  • Wastewater from washing machines
  • Some urine overflows from toilet bowls on the room side of the trap, but no feces.
  • Seepage due to hydrostatic pressure
  • Broken aquariums
  • Damaged water beds
  • Wind-driven precipitation from tropical cyclones
  • Tropical Storms

Category 3 Water is severely contaminated and may contain pathogenic, toxigenic, and other harmful agents.

Category 3 water damage examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Sewage
  • Toilet backflows that originate from outside the toilet trap, regardless of the color or composition of the water, are deemed to be unsanitary.
  • All forms of seawater flooding
  • Surface water and water originating from rivers and streams.
  • Above sources carrying silt, organic matter, pesticides, heavy metals, regulated substances, or toxic organic compounds.

Importantly, the cleanliness of Category 1 or 2 water can degrade for a variety of reasons, including contact with building materials and mixing with soils or other contaminants.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) that protects the skin, eyes, and mouth should be worn when dealing with Category 2 and Category 3 Water. Without professional assistance, determining the type of water can be challenging. As a general rule, it is prudent to assume that the water you are working with is contaminated and to take the necessary precautions until a professional can rule out the possibility of contamination.

3. Assess Building Damage.

Dry Out Wet Materials

If you have suffered minor water damage from Category 1 or Category 2 Water, your team should be able to dry all wet materials. Mold can begin to grow in as little as 72 hours, so it is crucial to begin the drying process immediately. This can be accomplished by placing fans in moist areas, installing dehumidifiers, and ventilating spaces as needed.

Wood, dry wall, carpet, and plaster are typically the porous materials that absorb the most water and must be closely monitored. drywall develop an offensive odor if not dried immediately. Typically, nonporous materials such as vinyl or resilient flooring are water-resistant. Keep in mind, however, that ceramic and natural stone flooring can be porous, so you may need to check behind a section of any flooring to ensure that water is not hiding underneath.

Typically, you can determine whether a building material is salvageable by answering these three questions:

1 Has a moisture meter confirmed the material's dryness within 72 hours of the water intrusion event?

2 Has the material's structural integrity remained intact after drying? Exists any deterioration, fractures, swelling, or other damage?

3. Do you detect any unusual odors or noticeable discoloration?

If your facility has sustained extensive water damage, you should contact an emergency response (ER) consultant to assess the extent of the damage and provide restoration recommendations.

Get Professional Help to Manage Water Damage 

Depending on the facility's location and accessibility, many professional emergency response teams will respond to your call within 24 hours.

Upon arrival, a digital map of your property will be created. As the ER team walks through your property, wet building materials will be marked on the map to indicate their location.

Frequently, once standing water has been eliminated, it can be difficult to visually determine which materials are wet. This method provides an accurate depiction of affected regions. For accurate results, the moisture levels of all potentially impacted surfaces are measured with moisture meters.

The ER team will then consult with a restoration company to use industrial fans and commercial dehumidifiers to dry the identified wet materials. If materials have not dried within 72 hours, at which point mold growth can begin, it will be recommended that they be removed and replaced. The ER professionals will provide restoration contractors with the direction and data necessary to execute the proper repairs.

Bring in Specialists

Occasionally, specialized issues may arise, in which case the ER team will bring in the appropriate specialists to provide solutions. For instance, natural disasters can damage the envelope or roof of a building. In these instances, the ER team would employ forensic architects or engineers to assess the damage and repair it.

When responding to a pipe failure, Campbelltown Water Damage Restoration's emergency response team discovered a systemic issue, which led to the replacement of the facility's sanitary and stormwater piping over the course of several years.

4. Call Your Insurance Provider.

Once the situation has been stabilized, you must inform your insurance provider so they can initiate the coverage process. To submit an effective insurance claim, consider the following tips:

  • Immediately after the water damage has been contained, contact your insurance company. Ensure you understand how to contact your insurance agent and file a claim in advance.
  • Take photographs of the affected areas, equipment, and other property.
  • Invaluable documentation, including a moisture map and a report from an independent consultant, confirms the cause and origin of moisture-related damages.
  • Keep all invoices and receipts.
  • Immediately dispatch a claims adjuster to the scene to document the damage and determine coverage.

In addition, keep in mind that what your insurance company covers may not always coincide with what restoration/remediation contractors may recommend. Prior to construction, it is beneficial to obtain a third-party review of the contractor's scope of work. The independent consultant can objectively compare the scope of work to what they believe insurance will cover and what is necessary for the building's health and safety.Before 

For instance, one contractor may suggest removing and replacing a wall that is only partially damaged. Based on the actual damage, a third-party reviewer may determine that only a portion of the wall should be replaced. In this instance, the insurance company would likely only cover a partial wall replacement, meaning you would be responsible for the cost difference if you wanted to replace the entire wall.

Adjustments to the full replacement value by insurance may take years to resolve, but water damage should always be cleaned and repaired in accordance with accredited restoration guidelines, such as the EPA's Guide to Water Damage Restoration.by

5. Repair or Replace Damaged Materials.

When repairing damaged materials in buildings, containment must be established for the safety of occupants and workers. The extent of these containments will vary based on the regulations applicable to your building and the health requirements of the building's population.

To prevent dust and debris from entering non-work areas, you will need to separate work areas with a barrier at minimum. You may also wish to place dust mats at the entrances of work areas to further prevent the spread of dust. Additionally, negative air pressure can be created within containment areas to prevent air from escaping the work area and carrying airborne dust and debris into non-work areas.

Your ER Project Manager will remain on-site throughout the duration of construction, coordinating necessary permits, inspecting containment, and documenting work performed. The Project Manager will collaborate with restoration contractors to ensure compliance with the agreed-upon scope of work, your facility's standards, and applicable regulations.

After reconstruction, restored areas undergo a final inspection. The ER Project Manager will conduct air clearances to ensure the area is fit for reoccupation. You will receive a final report containing all project documentation, which can be used to finalize your insurance claim.

The Importance of Communication 

Communication makes the greatest difference between successful and unsuccessful emergency responses.

When it comes to water damage emergency situations, there are many moving parts. Depending on the scope of your project, there will be a large number of contractors, vendor partners, and stakeholders involved. Keeping everyone on the same page is essential to the success of a project. Miscommunication can result in serious delays.a emergencies

Even a single day lost due to miscommunication is another day a facility cannot provide the care and services the community requires. This one day can have a significant impact.

Having a clear chain of command, utilizing centralized file-sharing software and a centralized communication platform, and holding regular team progress meetings can facilitate team communication. Recruiting an ER Project Manager will also provide you with a centralized point of contact, as they will manage your other vendor partners.

Know Who to Call

The most effective response to water damage emergencies is preparation. Know who to call before a crisis occurs. Consider Campbelltown Water Damage Restoration as a partner in the creation of your Emergency Response plan. We can provide you with peace of mind and get your facility back online quickly and safely, typically within 24 hours.

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