What are the Differences Between Water Mitigation and Water Restoration?
Water damage to a residential home or commercial property requires a swift response from water damage professionals. These cleanup experts offer two combined services: water mitigation and water restoration. Property owners should understand both services and what they entail to navigate the process.
What is Water Mitigation?
Water mitigation involves reducing the spread of water damage. For instance, water damage cleanup crews arrive after a homeowner’s call with cutting-edge equipment designed to quickly extract standing water and excess moisture from the property. They run drying machinery to dry the area.
In addition to drying out the water-damaged space, technicians board up the windows or install roof tarps, if necessary, to prevent further damage from vandals, pests, and weather. The home’s structural integrity is paramount, and crews work to preserve it. Cleaning and disinfecting are also offered.
Water mitigation involves stopping further damage caused by water intrusion. It is the initial and most urgent step in returning a home or business to its pre-loss condition. Once the severity of damage is addressed during water damage mitigation, water damage restoration can begin.
What Situations Require Water Mitigation?
Professionals identify and address the source of the excess water in situations requiring water mitigation. For instance, if a leaky pipe is the cause of the damage, the plumbing is repaired. However, not all situations can be stopped as easily, such as flooding from a torrential storm or an overflooded riverbank.
What is Water Damage Restoration?
Water damage restoration commences once the source of the water is stopped. It aims to restore or repair belongings damaged by the moisture. Severe damage may have occurred after an incident and the restoration process is intended to restore the building to its pre-loss state.
For example, water damage restoration may include full reconstruction when the water damage is severe. Water damage restoration is used to salvage carpeting or restore other household materials damaged by excess moisture. It is a vital service that must be done promptly.
What Situations Require Water Restoration?
The type of water damage restoration services performed depends on the severity of the damage. If the wooden floorboards are warped and the walls are damaged, water damage restoration crews dry and restore the flooring and walls. Structural repairs may also be needed in cases involving severe damage. Mold is professionally removed in situations in which the water damage caused mold growth.
What are the Differences Between Water Mitigation and Water Restoration?
Water mitigation is the initial process of restoring a water-damaged property. It is always necessary to stop the source of the water before restoring the building. Water damage restoration services, however, can be done less urgently and as needed, depending on the damage.
Water mitigation requires a short timespan to complete. Water must be removed within 24 hours to prevent mold infestations from developing. On the other hand, water damage restoration is a less time-sensitive process and may take weeks or months.
What are the Do’s and Don’ts of Water Damage?
When water damage strikes, homeowners should be aware of the do’s and don’ts while waiting for cleanup crews to arrive. In the summer, turn on the air conditioner to accelerate the drying process. Remove artwork, electronics, and other sensitive items from the damaged area.
Mopping and blotting help to eliminate the excess moisture. Wrap wooden furniture legs in aluminum foil to prevent them from standing on moisture-logged carpeting. Relocate colored rugs from carpets. Prop up wet upholstery and cushions and wipe excess water from wooden tabletops.
What is the Water Damage Restoration Process?
The water damage restoration process starts with water mitigation. The source of the water is stopped to allow crews to begin repairs. The standing water or excess moisture is thoroughly removed by powerful water extraction equipment, like pumps and extraction units.
Materials damaged by the flood of water are removed from the property if they cannot be salvaged. Goods that may be saved are cleaned and restored. The affected areas are also cleaned, sanitized, and deodorized to ensure the occupants reside in a safe and hygienic environment.
Water damage is stealthy, and significant damage often goes unseen. Moisture lingers behind walls or under carpets. Moisture meters detect hidden water damage, allowing technicians to run drying equipment in the appropriate places and return moisture levels to normal.
It is a misconception that replacing damaged goods is more cost-effective than restoring them. A skilled water damage restoration company can restore belongings at a much lower cost than replacement. Their experts can also advise which items are salvageable and which require replacement.
Importance of Professional Water Damage Restoration
Handling the restoration process as a DIY project is not recommended in all cases. This is because cleaning up after a flood teeming with waterborne pathogens can be dangerous to inexperienced individuals. A shoddy repair job also costs the property owner more in the long run.
Instead, it’s best to rely on the professionals to bring your property back to standards after water damage. Licensed contractors provide efficient water damage mitigation and water damage restoration services to residential homes and commercial businesses.
Water damage technicians arrive promptly after your call to assess the extent of damage. Crews locate the source of the water, such as a broken pipe or blocked drain, and repair it. Running state-of-the-art equipment and technology, they extract the water and begin the drying process.
The affected area is sanitized, and odors are removed to ensure the property is safely habitable. Technicians clean water-damaged belongings and restore electronics. They also clean mold from a variety of surfaces, such as bathrooms, furniture, carpeting, and kitchens.
As an added convenience, most contractors work with insurance companies to accelerate claims. Most are available 24 hours a day to address urgent water damage disasters. Many contractors also offer same-day estimates for issues of all severities, from minor humidity issues to hazardous sewage backups.