Coming home to find water unpredictably leaking and flooding into your house can be an absolute nightmare scenario. From a small laundry room pipe burst to a massive rainstorm deluge, water can do immense damage to flooring, walls, belongings and even the structure itself in just minutes. Don’t panic, but do act swiftly. Calling in professional water extraction and restoration experts promptly is crucial to properly handle the immediate mitigation response while also facilitating thorough drying and sanitization.

Evaluating the Situation Quickly

Locate the Source

Pinpointing where the water is entering from is the urgent first step. Isolate the origin point if possible. Common culprits include ruptured appliance hoses, overflowing fixtures or tubs, washing machine hose leaks, burst pipes, and roof leaks. Try turning off the main interior water valve if safe and applicable to stop continued flooding. Place containers under active ceiling drips temporarily.

Measure the Scope

Survey the full extent of wetness in all affected rooms. Use a moisture meter to map out saturation levels in carpets, walls, insulation and furniture. Lift carpet edges to check for hidden padding soakage underneath. Note any musty odors or early mold growth beginning. Thermal imaging cameras can uncover water infiltrating inside of walls as well. This knowledge informs the necessary drying equipment and methodology.

Call the Restoration Experts

Contact a certified professional water damage restoration company immediately. Describing the apparent water source and scope of affected materials will allow them to dispatch the ideal drying equipment, personnel and quantity of supplies to enact swift mitigation. Water spreading into porous materials worsens exponentially every hour. Timely response is critical.

The Water Extraction, Drying and Restoration Process

Extraction

Truck-mounted vacuum systems effectively remove the majority of standing water from hard surfaces, carpets, walls and saturated contents. Submersible sump pumps handle flooded basements and crawlspaces. Proper water extraction prevents wicking into surrounding materials and limits structural damage and mold growth.

Drying and Dehumidification

Following extraction, commercial dehumidifiers and high-volume air movers are positioned throughout affected areas for controlled drying per industry standards. Humidity levels are constantly monitored and equipment adjusted for slow, thorough moisture removal from materials without damage. This protects against mold and minimizes structural water damage.

Sanitization

Once restored to satisfactory dryness, EPA-registered disinfectants are applied to sanitize all affected areas and contents. In extreme cases, a fog treatment may also be utilized to kill mold, bacteria and other pathogens in the air and surfaces. This prevents microbes from spreading and creating odors.

Structural Repairs

Severely saturated drywall, insulation, flooring, trim moldings and subflooring materials are cut out and replaced as needed. Technicians make all appropriate repairs to restore structural components to their pre-loss condition. Professional mold remediation is performed if necessary.

Contents Restoration

Many valuable contents like furniture, clothing, curtains and electronics can be saved from water damage through specialized cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing techniques. Skilled restoration technicians excel at carefully salvaging damaged belongings and heirlooms.

Finishing Up

As drying completes, crews repaint walls, reinstall flooring, realign carpets to seams and return furnishings to their original configuration. A final detailed cleaning removes any remaining dust or debris from the mitigation and restoration work. Your home is restored to pre-loss condition.

Preventing Future Water Emergencies

While responding quickly to mitigate immediate water damage is crucial, spending time to identify and rectify conditions enabling the water intrusion is wise to prevent repeat incidents.

Improve Drainage Away From Home

Inadequate roof and surface drainage allowing water accumulation and seepage into the structure can be rectified:

• Ensure downspouts direct rainwater completely away from the home’s foundation perimeter.
• Regrade areas around the home to promote proper drainage slope that steers groundwater away from the building.
• Extend downspout extensions further and add flexible drainage pipe to fully divert roof runoff.
• Add buried French drains around the foundation if common flooding occurs.

Resolve Plumbing Leaks

Unnoticed leaks from water supply lines, appliances and fixtures over time cause immense water devastation. Solutions include:

• Replacement of older steel and galvanized supply pipes with flexible, leak-resistant PEX tubing.
• Annual plumbing inspections to identify leaks early before major damage results.
• Installation of whole-home leak detection systems that trigger automatic main valve shutoff when leaks are sensed.

Control Interior Humidity

Controlling indoor moisture appropriately is vital for preventing mold issues and water condensation concerns.

• Improve attic ventilation with new vents and fans to remove warm humid air.
• Install dehumidifiers in basements and naturally damp areas of the home.
• Maintain air conditioning systems properly; change HVAC filters monthly.
• Run bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans longer to remove moist air from hot showers and cooking.

Let the Restoration Experts Handle It

Dealing with the chaotic aftermath of an unexpected home water or flood event is highly stressful. Allow certified mitigation technicians to execute the response utilizing industrial-scale drying equipment, EPA-approved antimicrobials, structural repair expertise and contents restoration skills from years of specialized training and experience. They know how to limit damage to belongings and restore homes to normal moisture levels and function quickly after water disasters. Don’t attempt major extractions or restorations yourself - leave it to the experts.