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WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION
IS BEST LEFT TO A PROFESSIONAL
 What Should You Do If This Happens To You?
Whether it's a leaky roof, a broken pipe, or the overflowing washing machine, about 1,200,000 homes a year in the U.S. alone experience one kind of water damage or another.
Maintaining the proper insurance 
coverage would be the prudent thing to do. But what if this happens to you? Let me tell you, it's not a job for that old
dusty shop-vac. Water Damage Restoration is best left to a professional.
There are many hazards that can prevail during and even long after your attempt at your own flood clean up. Besides slippery wet floors and possible electrocution, there are many other hazards of flood restoration to consider:
All water poses potential health problems. It is the single leading cause of disease in the world. The pathogenic potential of water should never be underestimated. Pathogenic is defined as causing disease or harmful to its host. Biopollutants are the biggest problem indoors. Their growth is common because of humid environments, incomplete drying or pre-existing presence of bacteria, mildew spores and other contaminates.
Toxic and disease causing molds and mildew from even the smallest flood can overwhelm your home.
Prolonged exposure to excessive moisture enables microbes to flourish. If a water-damaged environment is not promptly and properly restored, many environmental microbes, such as
odor-causing bacteria and fungi (e.g. Aspergillus and Penicillium molds) will colonize, grow and amplify on building materials. These microbes will eventually contaminate the indoor air and create health risks for those who live and/or work there.
Often people tend to hope that whatever water wasn't picked up will dry up in a couple of hours. A couple of days will pass, and I'll get a call from a customer who will say, "We had a flood a couple of days ago and there's an awful smell now."
Trust me, you don't want to breath microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC's). Meanwhile
the customer will wonder why the rest of the family has headaches and flue like symptoms.
It is important that quick drying measures are used to avoid microbial growth. Water Damage Restoration isn't just sucking up water, it's a science. Understanding the relationship
between temperature, humidity, and air flow (phsycrometrics) can help to speed drying and minimize damage. In most water damaged buildings, hygroscopic material such as walls and furniture, can absorb quickly trapping moisture. Even a wall that may look or feel dry to the touch may contain excessive moisture. Even concrete can be very porous and absorb enough moisture to harbor mildew. Moisture probes and specialty designed water extraction and drying equipment is needed to decontaminate and dry inside walls and other complex structures.
So what should you do if this happens to you? There are steps you can take to help minimize water damage and speed up mitigation:
Do:
1. Eliminate the source of water if possible, or contact appropriate parties
(ie: Plumber) to eliminate the water source or to make necessary repairs as required.
2. Call a certified water damage restoration firm. You may be given special instructions depending on your situation and needs. Carpetech
Restoration Services provides emergency flood water extraction and
structural drying. We will respond quickly to your flood emergency by calling (250) 490-6499.
3. If there is no risk of electrical shock, turn off circuit breakers supplying electricity to wet areas; unplug and remove any small electrical devices currently located on wet floor coverings or other wet surfaces.
4. Remove and secure small furniture items as possible to minimize rust or stains and expedite restoration.
5. Place aluminum foil under legs of wood furniture, especially antiques that may permanently stain carpet.
6. Hang draperies and pin up furniture skirts as possible to prevent contact with wet floor coverings, minimizing damage such as water marks, browning, dye transfer or migration.
7. Remove books, shoes paper goods, fabrics, potted plants or other items that may stain the carpet
8. Remove and secure breakables, moisture sensitive or high-value items from affected areas.
Don't:
1. Use your home vacuum (wet/dry) since electrical shock may result, as well as damage to the equipment itself.
2. Place newspaper on wet surfaces since ink transfers easily.
3. Walk on wet surfaces any more than necessary in order to minimize safety hazards and to keep from spreading damage and possible contaminants.
4. Activate the HVAC system, as this may serve as a means of spreading contaminants.
5. Adjust indoor temperature unless instructed to do so by a qualified restoration technician.
6. Enter an area that has standing water because of potential electrical shock hazards.
7. Forget to call your insurance company.
Be aware that time is a critical factor and delays in loss mitigation and restoration may result in adverse health and safety effects and additional damage to the structure and contents. Quick remediation is the key to minimizing damage. Acting fast by calling a professional water damage restoration firm is the best choice when dealing with any flooding or mildew problem.
CRS Water Damage Restoration Technicians can help to identify the needs and requirements of proper water damage restoration.
When choosing a restoration firm, choose a firm with experience and training. Look for a reputable restoration firm certified with the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification
(IICRC).
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