When water damage happens in your home, it is extremely important to take care of it right away. Calling a professional water removal company is the best place to start. They can help you navigate through the process and provide emergency restoration services.
To successfully clean up water damage, you need to have large fans and a dehumidifier to dry out the area. You also have to clean and sanitize the area after drying, to eliminate mold and prevent future growth.
The residential water damage restoration process is complicated and confusing for homeowners to try and take it on themselves. Hiring a professional company will allow you to take care of the situation quickly and effectively. Read our guide to learn more.
And remember, you can count on Urgent Restoration to provide you with the best emergency water clean-up services in Lakeland. You can trust that we’ll get the job done right the first time and successfully. We have many years of experience in restoration under our belt and we’re on standby and ready to help you when you need it.
What Are the Common Causes of Water Damage?
Before we talk about water damage restoration, there are a few things to know about water damage. First, are a few common causes of water damage around your home. Knowing these causes can make you more aware to know when something is wrong. Leaving water damage untreated for too long can lead to more issues and can make the damage irreparable.
- Burst pipe: Cold weather or worn piping in your home can cause your pipes to burst.
- Natural disaster: Floridians know about this one all too well. It’s common to have roof leaks or other water damage due to heavy rain and or/wind storms in this area.
- Broken appliances: A broken appliance can cause water damage that needs remediation services.
- Blocked drains: If you have blocked drains, your water can back up and cause extensive damage to your home. Keep your drains unclogged and clear of any blockages.
- Leaks: Any type of leak can cause water damage. This could be a leak from your water heater, your A/C unit, other appliances, or damage to the roof or ceiling. Use Urgent Restoration’s Leak Detection services to take care of any leaks in your home.
You also want to be sure to keep an eye on your basement for any flooding. Oftentimes flooding can start in the basement. It’s also important to check the attic, especially after a heavy storm. Knowing the source of your water damage is important in cleaning it up.
Signs that You Need Residential Water Damage Restoration
Now that you know the causes, you should also be able to spot the common signs of water damage. It is easy for water damage to go undetected because the signs are not always obvious.
These are the most common signs of water damage to look out for.
- High Water Bill
- Loss of Pressure
- Running out of Hot Water Quicker
- Water Rings
- Sagging/Soft Areas
- Mildew or Mold Smell
IMPORTANT: If you suspect a leak, turn off anything that may be using (or could use) running water in your home/business, then locate the water meter outside. It is normally a small triangle flow meter that spins when water is flowing. If your meter is “spinning”, then this is an indication of a water leak, and more than likely this can mean a slab leak or an underground water leak. Next, look for water around your home, inside and out. Listen out for the sound of running water. A hissing sound can indicate a water supply line break. A flowing or rolling sound can indicate a broken waste line.
You should also call for water restoration immediately after smelling mold or mildew. Mold can spread very quickly if it’s not treated right away. If you see black mold, it is especially important to act fast.
Start the Restoration Process
After you have determined that you have water damage that needs restoration, you should start clearing the affected area. You should remove any furniture and valuables out of the way so that you can properly and effectively restore the area.
If anything was damaged because of the water leak or water source, you should either have it cleaned and sanitized or throw it away. Keeping furniture that has water damage can lead to more problems like mold and mildew.
Make sure any valuables that could get damaged by restoration services are removed from the area before you start. This also helps prepare the area for the rest of the process.
STEP 1: Water Removal and Extraction
Stopping the source of the water must happen right away. You need to stop any running water first and foremost. After that, you should start by removing any standing water before you do anything else.
Most local restoration companies have the equipment on hand that is needed to remove standing water. If you do not have a water vacuum, you may be able to rent one from your local hardware store. It is extremely important to remove all standing water before starting the drying-out process.
STEP 2: Drying and Dehumidification
Once the standing water has been removed, it is time to start drying the affected area(s). This step ensures that any remaining moisture in the area is removed. When you use a water damage contractor to do your restoration for you, they will bring equipment like air movers, dehumidifiers, and air scrubbers to professionally dry and dehumidify the area.
STEP 3: Cleaning and Sanitizing
This is the stage where mold removal and prevention are done. Unfortunately, this part is hard to do without a water removal company. When you hire a professional water damage contractor, they will help you clean any damaged belongings and use professional treatments for odor removal, sanitization, and deodorization.
Benefits of Working with a Professional Water Removal Company
Trying to handle water damage restoration on your own is a huge undertaking. Instead, you should call a water removal professional that can come onsite and take care of your situation. There are so many advantages to working with a professional contractor. These are just a few of the best benefits.
Convenience
If you try to take on the task of water damage cleanup on your own, you will have to track down a number of tools, equipment, and materials in order to complete the job successfully. You will find that it takes up a lot of time and that time is of the essence in a water damage emergency, especially if there is a leak. Leaving it to the professionals means that you can get on with your life while they take care of your water damage.
Less Stress
When you leave this job to the professionals, you will feel a lot less stressed and overwhelmed. All you have to do is call the company, schedule an assessment and the restoration services will start right away. Companies like Urgent Restoration have industrial, high-quality equipment to quickly and effectively get the job done for you.
Insurance Claims
A big benefit to working with a professional water damage contractor is that they will assist you in filing a claim with your insurance. Most restoration services are covered by insurance, but your insurance provider will give you more accurate information.
When you find the right company, like Urgent Restoration, they will take care of all documentation and correspondence with your insurance company. They will stay in contact with your insurance company throughout the entire process, from start to finish. When everything is wrapped up and the project is complete, your insurance company will pay your water damage contractor directly.
Emergency Restoration Services
Another advantage is that a water removal company can provide immediate, emergency services. It is very important to act quickly when water damage happens, especially if there is a leak. If you try to clean up water damage yourself, it can be overwhelming and confusing, not to mention less effective.
And Urgent Restoration is available 24/7 for any emergency services that you need. We are on standby ready to help, day or night.
Emergency Restoration Services in Lakeland
When you need emergency water clean-up services, it is important to act right away. Calling Urgent Restoration in Lakeland is the best place to start. We are a team of highly trained and skilled professionals who can provide emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our team knows how stressful a situation like this can be. We work as quickly and efficiently as possible to ensure that no additional stress is caused during water clean-up. Plus, we offer our emergency restoration services whenever you need us.
We follow all safety protocols and use industry standards to complete our jobs. When you work with us, you can rest assured that the job will be exceptionally well done. Keep our number on hand for when you need water damage restoration, we’re on standby ready to help.
Aaron Iannuzzi is the owner of Urgent Restoration with over a decade of experience in the restoration industry. Aaron started Urgent Restoration in 2018 and has locations in Florida and Georgia. The company specializes in water damage restoration, mold remediation, fire remediation and more. Aaron and his team of experienced technicians are proud to serve their communities to restore their homes and businesses back to normal.
