Although it’s essential to live, water is considered a destructive force of nature. Actually, water damage is one of the top factors that can hit our properties.
From creeping in areas where it shouldn’t be to discoloring walls or other beautiful spaces, water can cause many issues in almost any home project.
Also, in the worst-case scenario, if we don’t hire water damage restoration services on time, it can weaken our home’s foundation, making repairs even more expensive.
Unfortunately, water damage can occur at any time. Therefore, to avoid burning a hole in our pockets, we should know its causes. Let’s take a look at the most common ones.
Common Causes Of Water Damage
The Most Common Causes of Water Damage
Different circumstances can bring unwanted water to areas where moisture can wreak havoc, including the following:
Plumbing Problems
Those pipes and hoses behind our walls can get clogged or broken, causing water damage and affecting our house’s structure. Therefore, if we notice dripping faucets or overflowing toilets, we should call an expert as soon as possible.
Leaks around the tub or shower often indicate a problem with the system. However, plumbing issues can be hard to detect. If we are facing any of these situations, the best decision we can make is to call a restoration company, which can check the plumbing systems and clean up the damage.
Burst or Leaking Pipes
Among the frequent causes of water damage are bursts or leaking pipes. If this issue is not resolved soon, affected areas could suffer irreparable damage in your home.
Leaking or broken pipes can result from temperature changes, unregulated water pressure, or general wear and tear. During winter, uninsulated pipes can also freeze due to low temperatures.
Water could seep under the cabinets when leaking or burst pipes are in the kitchen sink, which doesn’t sound like a big deal.
However, leaking and burst pipes hidden behind walls can cause worse water damage and complicate things further. These cases can cause enormous damage since water could affect the entire wall structure and even favor mold growth.
Clogged Gutters
If they are blocked by leaves, branches, and other types of debris, gutters won’t drain water properly. Consequently, water flows over them and seeps into the property or causes damage to the exterior structure.
Gutter systems must extract rainwater from our house. When this doesn’t occur, and water overflows, the property’s sides, roofs, walls, and floors can be damaged.
Clogged gutters can also cause water to seep around the foundation, putting the entire structure at risk.
Faulty Appliances
A failure of any household appliance, such as a water heater or a washing machine, can cause water damage in our homes.
If our water heater is too old or has not been adequately maintained over the years, the chances of it leaking are considerably high. Most of the time, leaks are caused by improper installations or too much pressure in the tank.
Water supply lines usually power washing machines. Since this system is under constant pressure and can easily break or leak, if our washing machines have water supply lines made of stainless steel, we shouldn’t worry. However, they can easily break or wear when made of rubber or PVC.
Sump Pump Failure
If this system fails, we might also face some water issues. It has been designed to remove water accumulated in a water-collecting sump basin. Therefore, when it is not working correctly, the sump pump will not detect elevating water levels or prevent them from rising too high, causing flooding problems or water accumulation on our properties.
Improperly Maintained HVAC Units
All air conditioning units must be examined and properly maintained regularly. If we fail to comply with this process, moisture can build up and cause leaks.
Also, accumulated air conditioner moisture can cause mold and mildew growth.
Sewage Backup
Sewer systems can be affected by the large volume of water produced by heavy storms or other natural disasters. When sewer lines fail and don’t carry waste water away, sewage can be brought back into the home through sinks, floor drains, and toilets.
Besides causing water damage, these issues can have harmful health issues. Therefore, as soon as we suspect we may face a similar problem, we should contact a professional restoration company.
Sewage backups can also occur when septic tank systems are overwhelmed by too much waste. When the septic tank overflow, the septic system will be unable to keep up with the amount of wastewater that needs to be processed. This can lead to a buildup of raw sewage in the septic tank, which can back up into the home or other areas and cause significant damage. It is essential to take care of septic tank systems before a sewage backup happens to prevent this from happening. Preventive measures such as regular septic tank cleanings and checking for blockages or leaks can help avoid costly repairs.
Natural Disasters
Finally, there are natural disasters. Tornadoes, hurricanes, and heavy storms can wreak havoc on properties.
Ceilings, walls, floors, and other building materials can be affected. If they are common in our area, we should have the contact information of a water restoration company at hand!
Why Call a Restoration Company?
Whether the water damage on our home was caused by a plumbing problem, adverse weather conditions, or something else, taking immediate action is crucial to prevent our entire property from being affected.
Calling on water restoration experts can help us find quick solutions to avoid long-lasting property damage. In addition, professionals can speed up the drying process to help us get home in less time than we think!
If we have a water emergency, we should first make sure our family members are safe. After that, these are some of the tips we should consider:
- Shut off the water source if we can or call an expert
- Turn off circuit breakers in the affected areas as long as we can safely access the power distribution panel.
- Remove excess water by mopping and bottling if possible
- Avoid using appliances requiring water, such as washing machines
- Prop up wet cushions for drying
- Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs or carpets to prevent damage.
- Take sensitive items, such as valuable objects, computers, and art, to dry places.
- Bring leather and fur goods to spaces at room temperature
- Avoid entering affected areas where electrical outlets, circuit breakers, switches, or other electrical equipment is exposed to water
- Never use vacuum cleaners to try to do the water cleanup work ourselves
- Avoid entering rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water
Besides fixing standing water issues and making the necessary restorations, water damage experts can also help you prepare the necessary documentation to file a claim with your insurance company.
What to Expect After Calling Water Cleanup Experts?
After calling in the professionals, it’s time to start the water damage restoration process. These are the steps we must follow:
#1 Call the Water Damage Cleanup Specialist
As soon as we have a water emergency, we can call a specialist in water damage restoration for professional help. Experts will first ask us everything they need to know about the situation to understand how much damage there may be on our property. Then, we can set a time for the inspection.
Responding quickly to an emergency and contacting professionals is essential if we want to prevent the damage from spreading throughout the property so we don’t have to spend a fortune on water damage restoration.
#2 Property Inspection and Water Damage Assessment
After calling the restoration contractor, the next step is to schedule an inspection. Professionals will assess the water damage on our property to determine its severity and potential hazards.
Additionally, during the inspection, water damage restoration professionals can close the water source and determine what can be fixed. This step is essential to creating an effective water damage restoration plan and budget to cover the cost of repairs or cleanup services.
#3 Water Removal
After the inspection, the water damage restoration process begins with the removal or extraction of water. This step is essential to prevent water from spreading throughout the property and reduce drying time. Experts often use powerful pumps and extraction units to remove as many gallons of water as possible.
#4 Damaged Material or Items Removal
If the water damaged some materials or structures irreparably, experts should perform a removal process. However, before executing this step, they always contact us and seek approval to remove the damaged materials as soon as possible and restore the property.
#5 Cleaning and Sanitizing
After the damaged materials are removed, experts should perform the cleaning process, especially in areas that can be highly affected, such as floors, furniture, and other personal belongings. During this phase, professionals can also carry out disinfection and deodorization work to get the best results and ensure that our property is in the best condition.
#6 Drying Process
Once the water accumulation and damaged materials are removed, specialists must ensure that the property and critical structures are appropriately dried.
Therefore, they often install industry-leading drying equipment to remove water or moisture buildup in those areas we can’t see.
#7 Monitoring
During the drying process, trusted water damage experts visit the property from time to time to ensure that all materials are correctly drying or returning to the correct moisture levels.
In addition, professionals check the drying equipment performance and make adjustments if necessary. This step is also essential for the best results.
#8 Repairs and Restorations
Finally, experts can make the necessary repairs once all the water is drained and the property is dried. At this step, professionals should have done all the water damage assessments and identified what needs to be restored or rebuilt to bring the property back to its original condition.
However, we must remember that this process can be tedious, time-consuming, and expensive. Depending on the cause of the water damage, we may need minor repairs or the rebuilding of entire areas. That’s why hiring a water restoration company early on can help us get better results while saving money.
What Water Damage Restoration Experts Can Do For Us?
Besides executing the water damage restoration process on our property, experts can help us in many ways, including:
Give us advice on how to minimize damage if we spot a water source before they arrive
- Extract water from upholstery, padding, and carpet if necessary
- Minimize mold growth by using professional-grade controlled drying equipment on our property
- Employ specialized instruments to detect hidden straining water
- Monitor dehumidification and drying phases
- Work with our insurance company to process claims and help us get our property back to normal
- Make sure our property, structures, and contents are dry to recommended industry standards
Why Choose Our Water Damage Restoration Services
Has your property suffered water damage, and do you need help? We can lend you a hand! With our water restoration services, you can find a quick solution and prevent your property from being highly affected in the long run.
Our services include inspection, water removal, drying, cleaning, dehumidification, and restoration! Therefore, don’t hesitate to contact us if your house has suffered water damage after a failure in your washing machines or other appliances, plumbing problems, or natural disasters.
We have a team of experienced water damage cleanup and restoration specialists who can help you find the best solutions to extract standing water, remove water-damaged material, sanitize your property after a water emergency, and more! In addition, we offer the following:
- Fast but reliable emergency service
- High-quality and latest-generation equipment
- Licensed and knowledgeable team
- Insured water restoration services
- Trusted and recommended company with years of experience in the water restoration industry
Water Damage FAQ
How Long Does the Drying Process Take?
The time the property takes to dry completely depends on the extent of the water damage and the drying equipment experts use. Therefore, we should request an expert inspection to estimate how long this phase may last
How Can I Find a Reliable Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration Company Near Me?
If you are looking for a reliable water damage cleaning service provider in your location, you can rely on search tools like Google. After finding some options near you, try to get as much information about the business as possible and compare quotes if necessary to make sure the expenses fit within your budget.
Do You Offer Cleaning Services?
Yes, of course! If your property has suffered water damage from a storm, flooding, or any other cause, we can help you clean, dry, and restore affected areas.
We do the best water damage restoration, repair, and cleaning job possible to make sure your home project is in perfect condition!
