What Considerations Should I Prioritize During Water Cleanup in My Camillus Home?

9/8/2020 (Permalink)

Even small leaks can cause a lot of damage. The water can even contain contaminants.

SERVPRO Understands That Each Homeowner Has Different Priorities, But We Offer Guidance Based on Our Vast Experience 

Water intrusions that affect homes necessitate cleanup to restore the preloss conditions. Cleanup might involve several steps because you have to extract all the water, remove residues, and address secondary material deterioration, such as staining. When your Camillus home is affected by a water loss incident, you need to come up with a sound plan that can address all the critical issues.  

What is considered critical in the process of water cleanup in Camillus properties?  

• Addressing all hygiene-related issues 
• Checking physical deterioration 
• Reaching all moisture in hidden areas 
• Choosing cleaning products and tools that match the prevailing conditions  

The water released into your Camillus house can trigger issues that result in unsanitary conditions at your home. For instance, when water stagnates over extended periods, microbial processes start leading to the multiplication of bacteria and other microbes, thus posing risks to people who touch the water. Substances dissolved in water, primarily when it originates from unclean sources such as dishwashers or laundry machines, can also soil the areas it reaches. Another category of problems can arise during the drying phase when actions such as using air movers to boost evaporation rates can aerosolize contaminants, spreading them all over the property.  

Our SERVPRO technicians can help you take steps that address all hygiene-related issues when we handle the cleanup at your property. For instance, we can help you expedite the extraction process by using efficient water extractors, limiting the time water stagnates in your property. That simple step eliminates the need to deal with microbes that develop over time. Since it is hard to tell whether contaminants are aerosolized or not, taking protective measures when drying wet materials is the best solution. We direct air mover ducts through air filtration devices equipped with HEPA filters, which remove airborne particles from the air, thus preventing them from spreading all over the property.  

How does cleanup help minimize the physical deterioration of materials?  

Physical deterioration from water exposure in Camillus takes different forms, including:  

• Change of physical form 
• Change of color 
• Loss of structural strength  

Wet materials can change form when they swell or warp. They can change color when they stain or discolor, while structural strength is lost when they rot or crumble due to action from the absorbed moisture. Cleanup is highly effective against staining and other color changes. It can also help stop mold development, thus retaining the structural integrity of materials since mold growth is part of the natural rotting processes.   

Our SERVPRO technicians use various approaches to address the issue of physical changes. We use cleaning agents with disinfectant or antimicrobial properties to halt microbial development. We also spot clean areas where we notice stains in the early stages of the restoration process to prevent the stains from setting.  

How can I dry all moisture from the house?  

Once water is released into the house, it migrates to different areas. Removing the water that collects on surfaces is not only easily performed but expected. However, it would helpful if you don't forget the moisture traces that spread to the concealed areas. As an illustration, if you have a tiled or hardwood floor, the water might reach the space beneath the floorboards or tiles and, if left in place, can cause havoc to the materials in the subfloor and other areas of your house. 

Our SERVPRO technicians help with the removal of such water by using specialized equipment such as drying mats. We lay the mats on the surface where they create a vacuum seal with the floor, allowing a high-pressure blower to remove water vapor through the floor materials without necessitating the affected surfaces' demolition.  

Apart from using specialized equipment to handle unique problems, there is a need to choose the right tools for regular tasks. For instance, you need squeegee wands when extracting water from hard surfaces like tiles and wood to avoid leaving scratches. In case a surface such as a wall has a vapor barrier like wallpaper or paint, you need a way to release such water. Our technicians can use perforation rollers to puncture tiny holes that release the trapped moisture.  

Using the correct tools helps in many ways, including: 

• Cutting down water removal or drying time 
• They eliminate the need to refinish restored areas 
• They minimize the burden of ensuring the job is done correctly  

Water intrusions at your Onondaga Hill, Geddes, or Fairmount property can cause a myriad of problems. SERVPRO of SW Onondaga County can help you set the right priority addressing any issue, "Like it never even happened." Call us at (315) 488-3900.