The Ultimate Guide To Water Damage Restoration In Calgary, Alberta
Why We Made This Guide To Water Damage
We've put together this ultimate guide to understanding water damage restoration and prevention to help defend yourself against the harsh reality of unexpected emergencies.
The best defense is knowledge, so read this ultimate guide about how exactly we can understand better ways for preventing or restoring our property from damages due to water.
What Is Water Damage Restoration?
Water damage restoration is the process of cleaning up after water intrusion causes damage to the home's property.
The restoration includes air and surface drying, as well as removing moisture from items in order to prevent mold and other secondary issues.
RELATED - The Ultimate Guide To Mold Removal & Prevention
Most water damage happens gradually over time- not immediately. As such, it may go unnoticed until it has become severe.
Water damage restoration in Calgary begins with an inspection to determine the severity of water damage as well as what caused it and where it originated from.
If water damage is a result of water infiltration, a water mitigation company will take steps to stop further water from entering the property by using special equipment or opening walls.
The more water that accumulates, the more damage is done and the longer it takes to dry everything out. Mold growth can occur in as little as 24 hours if left untreated.
Water Damage Restoration Vs Water Mitigation
The restoration process is how your property gets back to its pre-loss condition.
Water mitigation, on the other hand, is the steps taken to minimize damage and to reduce the risk of water damage in the future.
It consists of three steps: 1) stop water from entering until further notice; 2) remove excess water and dry everything out as quickly as possible, and 3) assess any damage that has occurred so it can be repaired.
When water mitigation is done properly, less extensive restoration services will need to be employed once the water has been removed from your home or business
What Can Cause Water Damage In A Home Or Business?
Water damage is typically the result of an external water source, like a broken pipe or faulty appliance in your home.
However, it can also be caused by excessive internal moisture that comes about as a result of humid weather conditions or poor air circulation.
Water damage restoration is often necessary following natural disasters like floods and storms. And water damage restoration is also essential for restoring homes that have been exposed to sewer water as a result of a backup.
Other causes of water damage in the home may include:
- Burst water pipes
- Overflow from household appliances such as the washing machine, dishwasher, and bathroom sink
- Flooding from external sources like rivers and streams, or internal sources like broken water supply lines or an overflowing toilet
- Basement flooding due to poor drainage of outside water runoffs into the sewer system. Since the sewer system is designed to handle only wastewater and toilet flushing water, flooding due to excessive rain or snowmelt can cause the sewage system to back up and overflow into the basement.
- A malfunctioning sump pump that allows groundwater to enter through a basement window well. If this occurs, it may be necessary for a restoration professional to extract all
Categories Of Water Damage
Three different types of water damage can come from a variety of sources. Water may be contaminated with bacteria, sewage, or seawater causing blackwater (sewage), gray water (grey/used water), and potable runoff water (potable) respectively.
Depending on the type of contamination as well as how much has infiltrated your property will determine what category it belongs to.
Category 1 Water Damage
Category 2 Water Damage
Category 3 Water Damage
Water Damage Classes
The IICRC separates water infiltration into four classifications:
Class 1 Water Damage
Class 2 Water Damage
Class 3 Water Damage
Class 4 Water Damage
- Mold & Mildew growth
- Garment staining
- Machine malfunction
- Structural failure
- Rot fungus
The Water Damage Restoration Process
- Turn off the main water supply to stop the flow of water. If this means shutting off a valve on your street, make sure to contact the city for approval before turning it back on.
- f there are any electrical devices that have come in contact with water (such as hair dryers or hair straighteners), shut off the power at your main breaker or fuse box.
- If you have a flooded basement, make sure that there is no chance of water getting into your electrical system to avoid electric shock.
- Once the water source has been stopped and the electricity has been turned off, you can start cleaning up the water by removing as much as possible with buckets, mops and towels.
- The next step is to use fans and dehumidifiers to begin drying the area. It's important to air out the room and use fans to circulate the air, but be careful not to aim them at electrical devices or outlets.
- It is important to test any porous material that you have removed from the affected area for mold and mildew before throwing it away.
- You can also use a moisture meter to check your building materials for wetness, if you are worried about them becoming moldy or waterlogged.
- Once you are sure the area has dried enough, you can begin restoration by containing the damage with a tarp and plastic sheeting to prevent it from spreading and repairing any flooring or fixtures that have been damaged.
- From this point, you can then work with a water damage restoration service company to dry out any areas that are still wet and restore the property to good condition. It's important to check your insurance policy before calling for help, as some companies will not reimburse you if you have used an unlicensed contractor or if the water damage was caused by a known appliance or fixture malfunction.