SERVPRO of El Dorado Hills/Placerville Water Damage Process

5/30/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of El Dorado Hills/Placerville know that water damage is more common than any homeowner would hope. A few of the common sources of water damage besides storms and flooding include, but are not limited to:

• Sinks and bathtubs overflowing due to drainage issues
• Toilets overflowing due to drainage issues
• Poor sealing around showers, tubs, and toilets
• Leaking appliances and fixtures such as dishwashers, washing machine, water heaters and more
• Water and chemicals sprayed by firefighters
• Sewage backups
• Plumbing blockages, leaking pipes, and burst water mains

It is helpful to know the most common source of water damage to minimize the potential for it happening.

So, what do you do once it happens? How does SERVPRO of El Dorado Hills/Placerville get your house back to normal?

Here is a basic breakdown of the process, from start to finish.

Step 1: You can minimize further damage

Water damage is a process that can progress quickly, or very slowly. Either way, you want to act fast to try and stop as much of that process as possible. A few minutes can be the difference tearing out the floor in one room and tearing out the floors and walls in half of your home.

If the water is originating from your plumbing or a fixture, shut off the main water valve in your home. If there is a great deal of flooding, shut off the power to avoid accidental electrocution from appliances and wiring in the affected areas. Consult us before considering removing carpeting and underpadding.

Call SERVPRO of El Dorado Hills/Placerville for help and inform your insurance company. For insurance purposes, hold onto all receipts for items and services procured to deal with the water damage.

Step 2: Assess the extent of the damages and provide emergency services

The first thing we must do when we get on-site is to inspect your property and assess the situation. It is very important at this stage to determine if contaminants are present in the water because this will affect the restoration process. Water contamination generally falls into three categories:

1. Clear water. This is water that is fresh out of the faucet and uncontaminated.
2. Gray water. It is water that contains dirt and other contaminants, but it is not toxic or disease-carrying.
3. Black water. This is water that could be potentially disease-carrying, due to harboring harmful microorganisms. Black water is biohazardous, and black water contamination should only be handled by a restoration specialist like SERVPRO.

Once we know how contaminated the water is, and have taken the necessary safety precautions, then we can thoroughly assess the level of damage to your property, and the presence of other materials that may be a safety hazard, such as asbestos or lead.

Step 3: Removing the water

If necessary, we can assist with moving your contents to help remove water from the loss area. Once the area has been cleared, our technicians and use our truck mount or portable to extract water from the affected area to remove any standing water as quickly as possible.

Once the water has been extracted, then we can determine whether any existing carpeting or attached floor covering need to be removed to protect subflooring, and the extent of the damage to floors and walls. We have a variety of tools for detecting where moisture has penetrated.

Step 4: Drying structure materials

To salvage as much of your home or other structural property as possible, we must ensure that all moisture is removed from the materials. Wood flooring and drywall can look dry to the naked eye, but it can retain a great deal of water without looking visibly moist. Without immediate remediation of this, long term damage such as swelling, warping, and the growth of mold can result.

Our industrial grade fans and dehumidifiers are used to maintain constant air circulation and to actively extract moisture from surfaces within the affected area.

Step 5: Cleaning, deodorizing, and sanitizing affected surfaces and items

Drying alone is not enough. Without the proper sanitization, mold may grow and spread, causing odors, unsightly stains, and ultimately, additional damage to your home and property.

We aim to provide full water damage restoration and help to prevent secondary damage to your home. Call SERVPRO of El Dorado Hills/Placerville at 916-933-3890 to assist you with water damage. We are available 24/7 for emergency services.