Water Damage Cleanup

Water damage cleanup can become your worst nightmare if you don’t act on time and let the water take its toll. Not only that your household/property will face many problems, but it will also be harder to sell it if you ever wanted to. Just think about it like this – would you buy a house if you know that there was a huge flood in the past? Or if there is mold on the ceiling and in the walls? Certainly not.

This is why you need to act fast and not allow  this happen to your beloved home. Water can be a nasty opponent and even though it might not seem like it, water damage costs can reach unimaginable heights if you aren’t proactive. 

Water damage can also be hard to fix if you aren’t doing things the right way – depending on the situation, mops and buckets might not be enough, and in cases such as those your only chance is to call a professional water damage cleanup company that will do the job for you. But, before grabbing your phone and calling them, it’s good to know that there are some preventive measures you can utilise to minimize the damage, and ensure that the damaged place is safe before the professionals arrive.

What is Water Damage Cleanup?

We won’t complicate it too much – water damage cleanup is essentially a cleanup of all residue that is left after the water damages your property. Water damage cleanup consists of several activities, so you might also be looking at water damage extraction and water damage restoration, but we will cover this in detail later.

In the next paragraphs, we will talk more about water damage cleanup, what is the process behind it, what causes water damage and how can you prevent it from happening to you. So, without further ado, buckle up and get ready to dive into the world of water.

What Causes Water Damage?

There are many different factors that can contribute to the water damage. Sometimes it’s just a matter of poor installations, but in other cases, the root cause can be much bigger and therefore, the damage level can be higher. It all depends from situation to situation but some of the most common reasons of water damage are:

• Burst pipes
• Leaking pipes
• Malfunctioning appliances or water heaters
• Structural damage
• Weather events

Some reasons for water damage might look like an easy fix, especially if you have some plumbing knowledge. But, some are quite delicate and require immediate attention, especially from one of professional water damage cleanup companies.

What Does Water Damage Affect?

Water represents one of the main things in our day-to-day lives. It is present in our bathrooms, kitchens, gardens, basements. It is essential for our well-being, and believe us when we say that you wouldn’t want to have water related problems in your household. It’s like a tower of cards – if one pipe goes down, the rest will follow, and you will end up needing big water damage repair. 

Since water is present everywhere, it can affect a lot of different things in your household. And, we aren’t talking only about walls, ceilings and floors. The problem that water can make can be a lot deeper, affecting even the structure of your home and giving you a headache in terms of time and water damage cleanup costs. The list below represents some of the common items that water can damage:

• Wallboard and drywall
• Plaster
• Insulation
• Solid wood
• Particle board and laminated wood
• Wood studs and framing
• Floor coverings
• Pipes and electrical wiring
• Appliances
• HVAC

And, believe us when we say that this list goes on and on – we just listed the most common things. Water damage can be one of the biggest problems you can face in your household if you aren’t careful enough.

Water Damage Cleanup: Types of Water

Depending on the source from which the water comes, there are different types of water that you should be aware of. You might be wondering how long does water damage take to go away, and knowing different types of water will partially give you an answer. The types are:

• Clean water – Clean water is everything that comes from a clean water source – such as pipe, water supply line or a broken faucet. Water damage from this type of water is in most cases easy to fix.
• Grey water – Grey water is water that has some type of bacteria or virus in it. For example, water coming from dishwasher overflow or toilet overflow would fall into this category. Because of the nature of the water, damage from it needs to be handled professionally and with caution.
• Black water – Black water is water that is highly contaminated. It may come from canals, sewers, rivers, toilets with faeces or other external source. This type of water is very dangerous and every contact with it should be avoided. Calling a water damage cleanup company in case of this water is an imperative. 

How to Act in the Face of Water Damage Cleanup?

If you are first on the spot and you see water damage, the most important thing is to stay calm and to ensure that no one else can get hurt, including yourself. Safety is what comes first, and you should always think about that. Before you call one of professional water damage cleanup companies, there are steps you can do yourself to ensure that the perimeter is secured:

What to do?

• Beware of animals that might have come in through the water
• Smell for gas and/or look for damaged power and gas lines
• Look for structural damage
• Turn off power and water

What not to do?

• Do not go back into your home for any items – your safety is much more important
• Evade any rooms with structural damage
• Don’t try to fix the problem by yourself 

Water Damage Cleanup Process

The cleanup process of water damage repair procedure is straightforward and follows a set sequence of activities that are done by a professional. Some of them are:

• Identify the source of damage, cauterise it and ensure that the perimeter is safe
• Drain the water using different techniques and equipment
• Dry the damaged structure 
• Dry and clean the surfaces
• Remove contamination using professional tools
• Water damage restoration

How to Prevent Water Damage?

Being proactive when it comes to your property is always a good idea to ensure that you avoid potential water damage. Yearly checkups are enough and they don’t require any special equipment or much time – this means that you can do it without professional knowledge. The key areas of your attention should be:

• Get roof inspected and checked
• Clean out the gutters
• Get a smart home water security system
• Check your pipes

Water Damage Cleanup Tips

If water damage occurs nevertheless, the first thing you should do is call the professionals – water damage cleanup company. Before they arrive, you can do the following:

Disconnect Outlets
Inspect Mold
Dry Water Out
Remove Damaged Materials
Disinfect Remaining Areas

Call NYC Water Removal Services for Help

If you’re looking for a company that will fix all of your water damage issues, NYC water removal services should be on top of your list. With our team of experienced professionals, we will be at your location shortly after your call, and provide the best possible water removal services.