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The First Steps to Take After a Flood

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After a flood, you’ve got a lot to think about. Floods are rarely planned events that give ample advance notice, so you may not have had time to make preparations before the fact. Now that it’s over, you may feel overwhelmed. First, clear your mind and realize that water damage specialists confront these conditions on a daily basis and stand ready to guide you through the coming days. Establish priorities, take things one at a time and follow these first steps after a flood.

  • Make sure the house is safe. Of course, you’re worried about your home and anxious to check on your possessions. But don’t return to your house until authorities advise you that it’s safe to do so. Remember that a flooded structure can be a danger zone. Never enter a house with standing water present until the electricity is turned off at the meter and the home has been declared safe by an electrician. Be aware that water inside the house may be contaminated with raw sewage. Avoid contact and wear gloves and a face mask to protect yourself.
  • Locate important documents. Make sure insurance policies, warranties and any other vital paperwork you will need are still intact and undamaged. Remove these from the house and store them in a safe place.
  • Document the damage. Before any clean-up or remediation, take photos of all water damage to include with your insurance claim.
  • Call water damage specialists. Recovery from extensive water damage due to flooding is never a DIY project. You’ll need the expertise of professionals with the proper equipment to remediate present damage and to stop the inevitable after-effects of flooding such as toxic mold growth.
  • Get in touch with your flood insurance provider. If flooding is affecting the entire local area, flood insurance adjusters will soon be swamped with claims. The sooner you start the process in motion, the better your chances of timely compensation.

To get the skilled experienced help you need in the critical hours after a flood, contact the water damage specialists at Rytech.

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Important Steps to Take During a Plumbing Emergency

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plumbing emergencyA plumbing emergency can turn serious very fast. The municipal water supply enters your household plumbing at about 45 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure. When unleashed for one reason or another, hundreds of gallons of water can inundate your home in a short period of time. That’s why the aftermath of a serious plumbing emergency usually involves water damage remediation by a qualified professional to resolve immediate damage as well as common long-term effects such as toxic mold. As a homeowner, you can help minimize water damage by knowing what to do here-and-now when a plumbing emergency strikes.

Broken Water Supply Line

Every adult in the home should know where the main household water shutoff valve is and how to operate it. If shutoff requires a wrench or other special tool, it should be kept nearby. If a water supply line ruptures or pooling water appears suddenly from an unknown source, immediately turn off the water at the main shutoff valve.

Overflowing Toilet

It’s a helpless feeling watching a toilet bowl fill to the brink, then spill water out on the floor. Located on the wall behind the toilet where the water line connects, there’s an individual shutoff valve. Shut off the valve to stop water flow into the toilet tank. Toilet valves have a tendency to become difficult to rotate over time due to disuse. Test-operate toilet valves at least once a year to keep them turning freely.

Leaking Water Heater

Water from a ruptured water heater tank is under pressure and will continue to leak profusely until the supply is shut off. The cold water inlet valve on top of the heater is the most immediate way to stop the flow. If you can’t operate the inlet valve, turn the water to the entire house off at the main household shutoff valve. After the water supply is off, turn off the water heater at the gas valve, or for an electric heater, at the circuit breaker.

For help with the trauma and aftermath of a plumbing emergency, contact the water damage experts at Rytech, Inc.

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How to Spot Water Damage in Your Home

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how to spot water damage in your homeSome water damage in your home is easy to spot. If you’ve got a wading pool in your basement, for example, or a waterfall splish-splashing through the ceiling of a downstairs den, the matter is settled. However, other water damage can be much more subtle, as well as chronic, and may do significant damage before anyone in the house realizes what’s going on. Covert water leaks not only damage structural components, they are a primary source of moisture that triggers toxic mold growth. Be aware of these signs of silent water damage in your home and consult a professional water damage expert ASAP.

Unexplained Stains

Brown or dark stains on ceilings or walls are a red flag for water leakage. Since household water lines and drain pipes are typically routed through wall voids and beneath flooring, small leaks will eventually manifest as stains. By the time stains are visible, substantial damage may already be done.

Crumbly, Swollen Drywall

Drywall wicks up water very easily and swells, eventually deteriorating into crumbles. The wall material may feel soft to the touch and even disintegrate under pressure. Wet drywall is ground zero for mold growth.

Buckling Hardwood Floors

Absorbed water causes wood flooring boards to expand. Because they are nailed or otherwise secured at both ends, the boards will usually buckle due to the stress of expansion.

Hard Water Residue On Pipes

Spots of white, dusty residue on water supply lines may be evidence of tiny pinhole leaks that have been spontaneously sealed by hard water deposits. Minor pinholes on the outside of pipes often indicate major corrosion internally, which may cause a catastrophic pipe rupture and severe water damage at any time.

Suspicious Odors

The musty smell of unseen mildew is one giveaway: Mildew thrives in an atmosphere of continuous moisture, which may indicate a hidden, ongoing leak. Another indicator is the smell of rotting wood that may emanate from water seeping somewhere, saturating wooden structural members.

If you see or suspect signs of water damage in your home, contact the professionals at Rytech, Inc.

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Get the Help You Need: Avoiding Scams After a Flood

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avoid scams after a floodAs if you didn’t have enough to worry about when dealing with water damage, you’ve also got to be careful to avoid scams after a flood. Any natural disaster brings an influx of fraudsters and scam artists into a local area, eager to prey on homeowners at a particularly vulnerable time. Because the established infrastructure of government and private business is often temporarily disorganized after a disaster like flooding, fraud perpetrators see an opportunity to exploit misfortune and turn disarray to their advantage. The best defense to avoid scams after a flood is information. Here are some guidelines to sort out the usual suspects:

  • Reputable, legitimate water damage recovery firms don’t solicit business door-to-door or over the telephone. Be suspicious of persons spontaneously showing up at your house in the aftermath of a flood or calling randomly on the phone.
  • Federal emergency organizations like FEMA do not endorse specific water damage or other flood recovery companies. Nor do they endorse private contractors. Anyone who claims to be “certified” or otherwise recommended by a federal agency to perform private flood recovery services should be considered a likely scamster.
  • Beware of requests for large advance deposits in cash. Because fraud artists don’t plan to be around to finish the work, they want as much hard money up front as possible.
  • Insist on getting a local business address, not just a telephone number or email. Any trustworthy water damage recovery company has an established office, shop, and marked work vehicles.
  • Ask to see a contractor’s license. Laws vary from state to state, but in many states any repair or remodel work (including water damage recovery) totaling a specified amount in labor and materials requires a contractor’s license. In most states, it’s illegal even to solicit such work without a license.
  • Ask to see proof of professional certification, specifically from the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration) which sets standards and practices for the water damage remediation industry.

Avoid scams after a flood by contacting the professionals at Rytech, Inc., offering water damage and mold remediation services in 17 states.

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Preventing Water Damage: Appliance Maintenance Tips

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prevent water leadsWhen thinking about ways to prevent water leaks, most people naturally focus on defective plumbing pipes and fixtures. However, appliances are also frequently implicated in residential water damage. In our automated homes, we place a lot of trust in devices like washing machines, refrigerators and water heaters to function flawlessly with little attention. However, most of them receive the same municipal water pressure as other household plumbing and are equally capable of flooding the house in the event of a defect or malfunction. Here are some ways to prevent water leaks from common appliances:

Washing Machines

  • Don’t start the washer and then leave the house. A stuck fill valve or a clogged drain line can cause a catastrophic overflow while you’re gone, inundating the home with hundreds of gallons of water.
  • Shut off the washer’s cold and hot water supply valves when you go out of town.
  • Inspect the cold and hot water supply hoses and connections every six months. Replace these items every five years. Consider replacing rubber supply hoses with braided stainless steel lines for greater reliability.

Water Heater

  • Flush hard water sediment out of the tank annually. Sediment accumulation triggers corrosion and causes early tank leakage or total tank rupture. Water in the tank is under pressure and can cause severe water damage.
  • Schedule regular yearly water heater maintenance by a qualified plumber. He’ll evaluate the condition of the internal anode rod, a vital component that reduces corrosive substances inside the tank and prevents leaks. Anodes may need to be replaced periodically. He’ll also test the function of the temperature and pressure relief valve, a frequent source of minor leaks when it fails to seal properly.

Refrigerator With Ice Maker

  • Verify at least three inches of clearance between the refrigerator and the wall. Refrigerators frequently get pushed backwards, kinking the plastic water supply line and causing it to leak or rupture.
  • Inspect the water supply line and well as its connections and shut-off valve every six months.

Ask the water damage experts at Rytech, Inc. about more ways to prevent water leaks from appliances.

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Tips for Salvaging Books & Papers After a Flood

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salvaging documents after water damageSalvaging documents after water damage is often a time-critical priority. The water-logged couch in the living room, that saturated carpet in the hallway—once they’re out of the house these can be restored as time permits or simply discarded. Important papers and documents, however, are often irreplaceable and/or have personal value that far exceeds the scope of insurance compensation. After such items come in contact with water, the clock is ticking.

Professionals in water-damage restoration arrive with the specialized expertise and equipment to immediately begin the process of preserving documents and books—not to mention your peace of mind. In the meantime, if you’re ever faced with salvaging documents after water damage yourself, here are a few DIY tips:

  • Act ASAP. A major component of damage to documents and books actually occurs after the flood event, as damaging mold growth initiates in only a few hours.
  • If the flood water was dirty, gently rinse affected papers in a bucket of clean water or a sink. Fragile papers may need to be laid on a flat surface and sprayed with a clean rinse.
  • Lay individual papers out flat, exposed to sunlight and to circulating air produced by a fan. Alternatively, you may string up a makeshift clothesline and use clothespins to hang them. Saturated papers that have stuck together may need to be laid out in piles until they have partially dried before attempting to separate.
  • Water-logged books can be treated by placing sheets of water-absorbing blotter pages between the pages—one sheet every 20 pages or so is sufficient—then laying the books flat in a room with circulating air to begin the lengthy process of air-drying. You’ll need to change the blotter paper at regular intervals as it becomes saturated with absorbed water.
  • For papers or books you can’t immediately deal with, place these items in zip-lock bags and put them in the freezer. Freezing at least stops the process of deterioration and mold growth until qualified water damage experts can take over.

For professional expertise in salvaging documents after water damage, contact the experts at Rytech, Inc.

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4 Things to Do Immediately After a Bathroom Flood

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There are a number of opportunities for bathroom flooding. Second only to the basement, it’s the room in the house most likely to experience water behaving badly. A clogged toilet overflows when flushed, or a water supply line leaks under a bathroom sink, or someone starts filling a bathtub and forgets—any of these can turn water loose in the bathroom.

You can’t undo what’s already happened. However, taking the right steps after bathroom flooding can minimize immediate consequences as well as help reduce the amount of professional water damage restoration required in the aftermath.

  1. Turn off the water supply. If it’s just a single fixture like a toilet overflowing, there’s an individual shut-off valve on the wall behind the fixture to cut off water and stop the flooding. If (as sometimes happens), the individual shut-off valve to a fixture is frozen because it hasn’t been turned off in years, it’s a good idea to know in advance the location of the main water shutoff valve for the whole house and how to operate it to shut the water off there.
  2. Turn off electricity to the bathroom at the circuit breaker panel. In a flooded indoor room, electrocution is always a hazard. If there’s a lot of water loose in the bathroom, you don’t want to enter that soaked environment with outlets and light fixtures still “hot” with electrical power. If you’re uncertain about which circuit breakers control bathroom power, have an electrician clear the room before entering.
  3. Remove standing water. Use mops, old towels and floor squeegees to get standing water up off the floor and into buckets or down a drain. If you have a wet/dry shop vac in the house, you can utilize that, as well. Get any soaked bathroom rugs out of the house, too.
  4. Circulate air continuously. Open windows and/or bring in fans (be careful of using extension cords in wet areas) to keep air moving and dry the area as well as to reduce residual humidity in the air.

For professional water damage restoration after a bathroom flooding event, contact Rytech, Inc.

 

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How to Prevent Broken Water Pipes

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Take a few steps to prevent broken water pipes and reduce your chances of expensive water damage and mold contamination, too. The most common cause of catastrophic water inundation isn’t outdoor flooding, it actually originates indoors with your own plumbing. A ruptured residential water supply line can release up to 50 gallons per minute. How many minutes will elapse before you are able to turn off water to the entire house at the main shutoff valve? Worst case scenario: Suppose you’re out of town for a few days when it happens?

Compared to all other alternatives, anything you can do now to prevent broken water pipes is clearly the preferred course.

prevent broken water pipesGet Your Pressure Checked by a Plumber

Water pressure in the main municipal water line is too high for residential plumbing. It’s typically reduced by a regulator valve located at your water meter or where the water supply line enters your house. If the regulator’s defective or improperly adjusted, indoor water pressure may be excessive and cause a ruptured pipe. In most cases, household water pressure should not exceed 65 p.s.i.

Don’t Put up With Leaks

Pinhole leaks, dribbles or seepage from indoor water supply lines, no matter how minor, should never be dismissed as “normal.” In most cases, the leakage you can actually see is only the external indication of major corrosion inside that may cause a total rupture — or a weakening joint that may blow out any day now. Visually inspect all the water supply lines for any signs of dripping or seepage, past or present, and call a plumber now if you see any.

Replace Galvanized Pipes

If your home was built in the 1970s or earlier, it may have galvanized steel piping. Over the years, this material internally rusts and corrodes, becoming prone to sudden failure. Galvanized pipe that is 40 years old is at the end of its expected life and should be replaced now with copper or PEX as a preventive measure to avoid flooding.

The water damage professionals at Rytech, Inc. are ready with more advice to prevent broken water pipes.

 

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Rytech’s 4 Components of Success

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Over the past 20 years, water damage restoration and mold remediation have advanced from a contractor’s sideline to a mainstream branch of building science. Research and technology targeted toward the process of drying homes and commercial structures have identified the most effective techniques in the process known as applied structural drying (ASD).

Discovering what works and discarding what doesn’t is the essence of all advancement in technology and science. At Rytech we’ve distilled the process down to a few fundamental principles that consistently produce a successful outcome in mitigating water damage and mold contamination. While no two projects are exactly the same, laboratory testing and real-world results have identified four general components of ASD success that are critical in most cases.

Extraction

Getting the water out is priority one. For every minute water and moisture remain in an indoor environment, ongoing damage exacerbates. Cutting-edge technology — such as the high-powered Hydro-X extractor as well as the Water Claw — aids in fast water removal without the need for expensive and destructive dismantling. Water extraction today is 35 percent more efficient and effective.

Enhanced Airflow

A water-damaged home requires a higher rate of continuous fresh airflow. Most home ventilation systems including fans and other devices don’t move the volume of air required to support the drying process and prevent further moisture migration. Specialized, high-volume fans purpose-built for water damage scenarios are standard equipment on any project.

Dehumidifying

Extracting humidity from the air inside a flooded structure is every bit as critical as removing standing water. High humidity infiltrates the entire house and is a major cause of secondary damage including toxic mold growth. Utilizing refrigerant-based industrial dehumidifiers to condense water vapor and/or silica gel desiccants to absorb it knocks down damaging indoor humidity.

Temperature Moderation

Temperatures that are too high or too low are bad for effective water damage mitigation. Maintaining indoor temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees is the optimal range for effectively using humidity reduction and water extraction technology.

For more, ask the professionals at Rytech about how these components work together to make water damage recovery in your home successful.

 

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Home Repairs After A Flood – What To Expect

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flood-damaged houseThe extent of necessary home repairs after a flood can seem overwhelming. Because of the diversity of expertise required for effective flood recovery—not to mention safety factors that pose real hazards to the inexperienced—most home repairs after a flood are not a do-it-yourself project. Professionals in water damage recovery and mold remediation, as well as qualified local contractors for structural issues, form the necessary team to achieve restoration after major flooding. To remove some of the X-factors, here are critical repair issues you can expect after a flood.

Ceilings, walls and floors. Sagging, saturated ceilings should be punctured and drained, then replaced. Wallboard that has been water-soaked typically disintegrates, requiring new material. Affected walls need to be opened up and drained. Wet insulation inside walls usually must be discarded. Vinyl or linoleum flooring installed over wood sub-flooring may need to be taken up in order to dry the floor.

Structural issues. While concrete block usually dries well, the foundation of the house may be affected by flooding. Water is very heavy and a flooded basement often imposes damage on concrete foundation and basement walls. Also, a wet basement generally requires professional drying techniques to fully eliminate residual moisture that will trigger mold contamination.

Electrical matters. Water and electricity don’t mix. Electrical system components contacted by water including the main electrical panel, wiring and individual outlets will require, at minimum, inspection by a professional electrician. While modern plastic-covered wiring can withstand exposure to water, many other elements of the electrical system will probably require replacement.

HVAC systems. If your gas furnace was contacted by water, it must be inspected by an HVAC professional before being turned on again. Indoor air conditioning components including the blower in the air handler should also be checked before electricity is restored to the unit. Flooded HVAC ductwork can retain moisture as well as wet mud and silt. Draining and cleaning ducts is necessary to prevent mold growth and deterioration.

 

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Best Tools and Practices for Flood Damage Drying and Cleanup

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Today, remediating flood damage and drying a structure is a formalized process driven by extensive research and sound scientific principles. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has established criteria to classify types of water damage as well as compiled best practices to achieve effective, efficient results. The remediation process is implemented using industrial-grade equipment engineered specifically for professional water damage recovery. These standardized procedures and tools ensure consistent results that meet industry guidelines for successful remediation.

Water Damage Classification

The IICRC divides water damage incidents into three levels, depending on the source of the water:

  • Category 1: Clean water from a source such as a ruptured water supply pipe.
  • Category 2: Gray water – Water soapy or dirty from a washing machine overflow, leaking dishwasher, etc.
  • Category 3: Black water – Toxic water from a sewage backup, outdoor flooding or other contaminated source.

IICRC Best Practices and Tools

  • Verify the house is safe to enter.
  • Identify the source of water and stop the flow.
  • Start industrial-grade dehumidifiers and run continuously to prevent secondary water damage from high indoor humidity.
  • Perform baseline moisture measurements using moisture detectors, hygrometers, infrared cameras and other technology to establish extent of water infiltration.
  • Remove saturated furniture including mattresses, cushions and other absorbent materials from the house. Take steps to protect furniture and other objects still left inside.
  • Mop up or vacuum pooling water from hard surfaces.
  • Use high-volume directional air movers to accelerate drying of flooring, walls and ceiling.
  • If Category 1 water damage, utilize professional extraction equipment to remove water from carpeting and pad. For Category 2, remove pad and dispose before extracting water from carpet. For Category 3, dispose of both pad and carpeting.
  • Remove absorbent building materials that are saturated and cannot be dried, such as drywall and ceiling tiles.
  • Apply biocide to all wet surfaces to prevent microbial growth including mold.
  • Repeat moisture measurements at intervals to track drying process and determine when drying goals have been achieved.
  • Replace any saturated building materials with new material.
  • Clean and disinfect the area of the premise affected by water.

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How Long Does Water Damage Take to Occur?

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water damage

Most people associate water damage with an isolated incident, such as a ruptured pipe or overflowing appliance. However, it’s actually a dynamic process that continues to worsen over time unless intervention by water damage recovery professionals is applied.  Interior building materials and construction methods are generally not waterproof. Therefore, water loose inside a structure travels far and fast, causing damage wherever it goes. During that time frame, the clock is also ticking on serious secondary consequences such as toxic mold contamination.

While the extent of damage depends upon factors such as the origin and volume of the water, the general timeline is fairly predictable. Here’s how a bad water damage incident becomes worse as time passes.  

The First Minutes 

Absorbent materials such as drywall, carpeting, mattresses and padded furniture in the immediate vicinity of the incident will be soaked and retain water. Paper possessions such as books, photographs and other items stored near the floor may be saturated and permanently ruined. Water pooling on hard surface floors may begin to spread beneath baseboards.  

After One Hour

Water damage continues to expand beyond the immediate space where the event occurred, infiltrating the interior of walls and seeping into adjacent rooms. Paint on wet walls will begin blistering.  If the damage originated on an upper floor, water may be dripping through ceilings into rooms below by now.  Spreading water may contact electrical wiring or outlets, presenting a potential electrocution hazard inside affected rooms.

After Several Hours

Household flooring will be permeated by standing water and moisture will saturate the plywood sub-floor below. Soaked drywall in walls or ceilings may lose structural integrity and swell, sag and possibly collapse. Seepage of water may continue downwards into the basement, damaging HVAC components and infiltrating ductwork.

The Next Day

Moisture contacting dormant spores present in any structure begins triggering active mold growth. This will be followed by release of airborne reproductive spores, spreading contamination throughout the enclosed indoor environment. Pungent odors caused by mold and mildew permeate the house. Metal appliances and electrical wiring that have been wet now begin to rust, corrode or deteriorate.   

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Water Damage: What to Do Before Help Arrives

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water damage

Water damage waits for no one. Once the initiating event occurs, a fast-moving timeline is triggered. Water is naturally invasive and spreads rapidly inside structures. When coming face-to-face with a water damage incident in your house, it’s important to take a deep breath, and then do what needs to be done. Here are some important steps in the sequence.

  • Shut off the source. If the water originates from a broken pipe, ruptured water heater or other common plumbing-related cause, turn off water to the house at the main shutoff valve. Be prepared by knowing in advance the location of the shutoff valve. Test it twice a year to confirm that it turns easily. Contact a plumber if it doesn’t.
  • Be careful. Turn off electricity to affected parts of the house at the main electrical panel if it’s in a dry area and safe to access. If you can’t, call an electrician before entering saturated rooms or stepping into pooling water or danger zones like a flooded basement.
  • Make important calls. Two contacts should be made immediately: your homeowner’s insurance provider and a certified water damage remediation company. If you’re unable to immediately reach the insurance company, most insurers realize that the time-critical nature of these incidents requires fast response by professionals and advise summoning qualified water damage experts before contacting the company.
  • Avoid any contact with raw sewage that may be present in a sewage backup incident. Leave it to professionals.
  • Where possible, manually move standing water out of the house. Open exterior doors and use push brooms or floor squeegees to push pooling water outside. Mop up water or blot it up with towels or other absorbent materials.
  • Remove soaked rugs, saturated padded furniture, wet mattresses and other large absorbent materials from the house.
  • Move important papers, photos, paintings, etc, out of wet rooms and into dry rooms furthest from the water to prevent secondary damage due to water vapor.
  • Open windows and run fans to establish cross-ventilation and exhaust damaging high humidity. If it’s operational, run the HVAC system fan continuously to keep air circulating.

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Does Water Ruin Drywall?

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water damage

Because drywall is one of the primary building materials in a home, it’s also a frequent target when water damage occurs. Drywall is inexpensive, quickly installed, and easily cut to size, making it an ideal construction material. Typically utilized to construct walls and ceiling in most houses, however, drywall is particularly vulnerable to water damage originating either above or below.

Water and Drywall
 
Drywall is a rigid panel made of white gypsum mineral rock sandwiched between thick exterior paper. Its main drawback is the fact that it absorbs water readily. This can present significant water-related issues, including the following:

  • Once saturated, drywall tends to retain water and dry very gradually.
  • The absorbent gypsum material draws water up into it like a sponge. Pooling water on the floor that comes into contact with the bottom edge of the panel can be absorbed upwards into the drywall at a rate of one inch per hour as long as the water is still present on the floor.  
  • Wet drywall may lose structural rigidity and sag, bulge, or even collapse completely. Drywall that is distorted by water exposure cannot be restored and must be replaced.
  • If the source of water is polluted by sewage or some other toxic source, the absorbent drywall is typically permanently contaminated and cannot be retained. It must be removed and replaced by new material.
  • Even where there are no structural or contamination issues, the ceiling drywall that has been contacted by water will usually appear conspicuously stained and require repair and repainting.

Mold and Drywall

Water-damaged drywall also creates a very favorable medium for the growth of toxic mold. Because it stays wet for an extended time period and the gypsum is porous, dormant spores will be activated by water exposure and active mold growth will soon infect the panel, both internally and on the external surface of the material. Because treating contaminated drywall is problematic, the most expedient course of action when drywall is infected by mold is usually removal and replacement.

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What Is the Worst Type of Home Water Damage?

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home water damage

 If it’s your home that’s affected, there’s no such thing as good water damage. Even damage from a common source like a broken supply pipe is an emergency requiring professional intervention with proven, specialized techniques and equipment. But, of all potential water damage incidents, what’s the worst-case scenario? If you exclude events like catastrophic outdoor flooding from a hurricane storm surge, many homeowners might agree that a severe sewage backup is about as bad as it gets.  

What’s So Bad About It?

A significant volume of raw sewage—appropriately called “black water”—flowing backward into a home is an indoor toxic waste spill contaminating everything it touches. In addition to issues common with  Category 1 “clean water” damage, sewer backups also impose health hazards associated with bacterial and viral pathogens in sewage, noxious unsafe air, nasty odors, and the fact that saturated porous items—including structural materials like drywall—usually cannot be disinfected and must be disposed of. Often, the home will need to be evacuated until professional remediation is concluded.

Why Does It Happen?

Sewage backups typically result from two causes:

  • A blockage in the sewer line between the house and the street, causing wastewater to reflux back into the home.
  • A widespread event in the municipal sewer system such as inundation by heavy rain, causing city sewage to flow backwards into houses.  

How to Reduce the Risk

To avoid enduring the damage and disgust of a sewage backup, here are two strategies:

Get a sewer line inspection by a licensed plumber. An internal pipe inspection utilizing a video camera may reveal hidden issues that trigger sewage blockages and backups, including:

  • Tree root intrusion, the most common cause of sewage backups.  
  • An ongoing blockage caused by flushing inappropriate items, like paper that is not approved for sewage systems.
  • A collapsing sewer pipe.  

Install a sewer backflow valve. Typically placed in the sewer line just outside the house, this safety device permits sewage flow in only one direction—away from the home. Should the flow reverse for any reason, the backflow valve automatically closes to prevent raw sewage reflux into the house.

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Dealing With Water Damage During the COVID-19 Outbreak

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Water Damage During the COVID-19 Outbreak

It’s unfortunate but true: Water damage in a house happens when it happens, including during challenging times such as these. If an incident occurs in your house during the COVID-19 pandemic, how can you deal with it and still comply with regulations to stay safe and not risk the further spread of the virus? Here are some steps to consider if you find yourself confronted with water damage at this particularly inopportune time.

  • First, stop the source of water. If you have an active leak such as a broken water supply line, take steps to stop the flow immediately. Locate the water shut-off valve to the house—it is typically outside, at the point where the main water pipe enters through an exterior wall or down in the basement, if you have one—and turn off the water to the house.
  • Stay out of wet rooms. If you can safely turn off the electricity to affected rooms at the main electrical panel, do so before entering any wet areas. If you can’t shut off the electricity, keep all occupants out of affected rooms.

Make two contacts ASAP for important guidance to help you get through this.

  • Inform your insurance agent. During this pandemic, some homeowners insurance providers are informing policyholders that they are temporarily suspending inspections of certain indoor damage, depending on the severity of the situation. Damage due to water may—or may not—trigger an indoor inspection by your insurance provider until the widespread COVID-19 threat has diminished.
  • Contact a reputable water damage recovery service. Your agent will probably advise you to do this immediately, even without an insurance inspection. Qualified water damage professionals are trained and equipped to respond immediately, even while COVID-19 is an ongoing issue. In fact, some offer specialized decontamination services to sanitize interior spaces that may be contaminated by COVID-19. Professional water damage teams are equipped with full personal protective attire, including respirator masks that meet or exceed the N-95 standard to prevent COVID-19 transmission. All employees are instructed in precautionary measures, including avoiding all physical contact and maintaining appropriate social distancing.

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Five Tips for Assessing Water Damage

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assessing water damage

After the source of water is stopped, accurately assessing water damage is one of the first priorities to begin the restoration process. Not all water damage is created equal when it comes to the origin of water or the amount affecting a particular structure. A full survey of the premises is necessary to accurately evaluate the condition of the home, determine appropriate remediation techniques, as well as calculate an estimated timeline for completion.

Here are some of the factors to consider when assessing water damage:

  • Identify the type of water. Water from a clean source like a broken pipe is considered Category 1 and is generally responsive to standard techniques if the recovery process is initiated within 24 hours. Category 2 water—usually an overflowing appliance or another source of soapy water or slight bacterial contamination—presents more complications. Category 3 water is raw sewage and requires intensive toxic clean-up methods utilizing specialized equipment.
  • Determine the extent. Unless the water is limited to a small pool on a hard-surface floor, it has probably spread elsewhere. The required inspection includes determining the presence of water seeping into or under walls or through the flooring into ceilings below. Moisture meters, infrared cameras, and other techniques are utilized by water damage pros when assessing water damage in unseen areas.
  • Establish the timing. The elapsed time since the water damage incident occurred is relevant. Time is a factor in the likely spread of water inside the house. Moreover, if more than 24 hours have elapsed since the incident, you can assume that toxic mold growth may be an issue in affected parts of the home.
  • Look out for structural changes. Water is readily absorbed by certain building materials such as drywall. If you see sagging ceilings or bulging walls, you can assume that these structural elements are no longer reliable and will have to be replaced in most cases.  
  • Be aware of hazards. Water infiltrating a structure may also contact electrical circuits, HVAC components, and other water-sensitive home systems. Note this damage and also take precautions to avoid possible electrical dangers.

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Can I Stay Home During Water Damage Restoration?

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water damage restoration

If your home requires professional water damage restoration services, should you make reservations at a nearby motel or resolve to remain in the house during the process? Damage due to water is unsettling enough, without having to think about temporarily relocating elsewhere while the recovery process is underway. 

Still, there are definitely times when trying to maintain a normal routine inside a house with significant damage is impractical as well as inconvenient. Here are some guidelines to help you make the best decision.

Where did the water originate?

Water directly from a clean source (Category 1) such as a broken water supply line usually presents fewer issues, should you opt to remain in the house. Water from less-than sanitary sources (Category 2) like washer overflows or roof leakage may still permit occupation of the house but may require closing off certain areas for a limited time, making life less convenient. Category 3 water damage—from toxic sources such as a raw sewage backup into the house—may require temporary relocation for your health and safety.

How extensive is the damage?

Category 1 or 2 water affecting only one room or a limited area of the house is usually something most people can live with while restoration is underway. However, widespread water throughout the home, such as occurs due to major flooding, may present electrical and structural issues as the recovery process is ongoing. In that case, you’ll probably be more comfortable and safer elsewhere.

Can you deal with the disruption?

Professional water damage restoration crews are trained to go about their work efficiently, respecting privacy, and causing as little disturbance to residents as possible. However, the fact is, remediating significant water damage requires the use of powered equipment, including water extractors, high-volume air movers, and indoor dehumidifiers, as well as various manual procedures and tasks crews must perform to get the job done. Any of these factors might potentially disrupt normal peace and quiet and put a crimp on daily activities. Just keep it in mind when considering whether to stay or go. 

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Five Water Damage Questions to Ask Your Insurance Agent

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water damage questions

The time to ask water damage questions relating to your homeowners insurance is before you’re ever faced with filing a claim. Certain aspects of water damage coverage aren’t the slam dunk you might expect. Any doubts you have should be cleared up by your agent at the time you purchase the policy or seek to alter coverage. Here are five water damage questions that should be asked and answered before the need arises.

What do “overflow” and “discharge” mean?  These terms commonly found in homeowners’ insurance policies relate to general types of water damage. “Overflow” encompasses events like an overflowing washing machine, toilet, or other plumbing fixture or appliance. Examples of “discharge” include incidents such as broken water pipes or a ruptured water heater.

Is damage due to leaky or ruptured pipes always covered? Not necessarily. Most policies stipulate that the event must be “sudden and accidental.” In other words, if you fail to repair a chronic leak in a pipe that eventually ruptures, coverage may be denied.

Is water damage resulting from a leaky roof covered? It depends. Water damage due to a sudden event like a tree limb falling and damaging the roof during a storm is probably covered. Water damage occurring due to long-term neglect of roof maintenance, however, may not be covered.  

What does the term “flood” refer to in insurance language? For insurance purposes, a flood refers specifically to an inundation of more than one home originating from an outdoor body of water. While a standard homeowners policy typically covers a basement “flooded” by a ruptured indoor pipe, for example, it does not cover damage due to an outdoor “flood” as defined by the insurance company. For that type of flood, you need a policy provided by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) managed by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

Is mold contamination covered by homeowners insurance? Yes, but only if the mold resulted from common types of water damage specified in the insurance policy. Attic mold caused by a leaky roof that was ignored for an extended time, for example, isn’t likely to be covered.

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How Long Should I Use a Post-Leak Dehumidifier

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Comprehensive water damage recovery—including prevention of secondary effects such as mold contamination—means extracting all the moisture from the house. This includes the major volume of water you may see pooling on floors, saturating carpets, or flooding the basement. Powerful extractors, high-volume air movers, and pumps are utilized by water damage professionals during this phase. 

However, effective water damage recovery also means drying out the moisture you can’t see: seepage under and inside walls, wet building materials like drywall, saturated floor substrate, as well as damaging high water vapor content in the air. To remove those additional sources of water damage, use of high-volume professional dehumidifiers is critical.  

The Professional Approach

Consumer-grade home dehumidifiers typically can’t remove more than 5 to 7 gallons of water over a 24-hour period, an amount insufficient for significant damage. Commercial dehumidifiers utilized by water damage professionals extract over 20 gallons of water per day from indoor air and multiple units are typically deployed inside a water-damaged house. The ultra-dry indoor environment created by continuous dehumidification eliminates hidden water from the structure, draws absorbed moisture out of building materials, and keeps indoor humidity continuously low.

How Dry Is Dry Enough?

The question frequently arises about how long a dehumidifier needs to run after water damage. The only responsible answer is: “As long as it takes to dry the house.” There’s no set time requirement and duration can range from only 12 hours up to several weeks in very extreme circumstances. The volume of water involved, the extent of the spread inside the structure, the type of construction materials affected and other variables play a role. However, here are a few general guidelines:

  • In average cases, recovery professionals keep dehumidifiers and high-volume fans running continuously from 24 hours up to four days to achieve acceptable dryness. 
  • Moisture meter readings in various parts of the structure are one specification that determines dryness. Generally, moisture readings of 6% to 8% in specified building materials are considered dry.
  • To prevent the activation of mold growth, the indoor relative humidity should be effectively stabilized below 50%. 

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