What’s Involved in the Water Damage Restoration Process?
If you’ve noticed your wallpaper seems to be bubbling up on the wall, there are some unexplained water stains on the floor, or your home constantly has a damp, musty odor, then it’s likely that you require water damage restoration services. Through the restoration process, a water restoration specialist can help assess your home’s water damage and develop a plan to address any mold services you may need, such as structural drying, sanitizing, or removing standing water. And not only do water restoration services help fix any current issues, they can also help you prevent any further water damage to your home.
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What Are the Common Causes of Water Damage in Homes?
There are several different things in your home—including structural, plumbing, and appliance-related issues—that can cause water damage.
Some of the structural parts of your house that can cause water damage include:
- Clogged gutters and downspouts
- Leaking roofs
- Water leaks in hard-to-see areas, such as crawl spaces or behind walls
Plumbing-related water damage is generally caused by:
- Blocked shower or sink drains
- Defective sprinklers
- Dripping shower head or faucet
- Leaking or burst pipes
- Overflowing toilet or tub
- The plumbing was not installed correctly
- Sewer system back-up
- Sump pump failure
And appliances in your home can also cause water damage if not properly maintained, including:
- Dripping water heater
- HVAC system condensation build-up or clogged drain lines
- A leaking dishwasher or refrigerator
- Malfunctioning washing machine
- Wall or window-mounted air conditioner leak
Signs of Water Damage
Not all signals of possible home water damage can be easily seen, so it’s essential to familiarize yourself with all the potential signs so you can schedule professional water damage restoration services as quickly as possible for the best result.
Signs that you may have water damage in your home include:
- Bowing ceiling
- Bubbling or peeling paint or wallpaper
- Damp carpeting or furniture
- Discoloration on baseboards or windowsills
- Drenched insulation
- Musty, damp odor throughout the house
- Odd water sounds, such as dripping
- Pooling or standing water
- Unexplained high water bills
- Visibly growing mold
- Warped floor or ceiling
- Water stains on walls or ceilings
How Do Professionals Assess the Extent of Water Damage?
A water restoration professional uses a variety of tools and techniques to determine whether your home has water damage, and if so, the extent of the damage.
One of the main techniques a specialized mold remediation professional uses is conducting a visual inspection of your home. If they see mold growing, a sagging ceiling, or peeling wallpaper, there is likely water damage that needs to be addressed.
Water restoration professionals also use a variety of different tools to help them evaluate if there’s water damage in your home and how extensive it is. These include:
- Air Quality Assessment: Restoration professionals can use special air pumps to take samples of the air in your home to check its humidity level and also look for the presence of mold volatile organic compounds (MVOCs).
- Borescopes: These are very small cameras attached to bendable cables that allow restoration professionals to see leaks that may be very hard to see, such as in an HVAC system. They can also be used to look behind a wall by drilling a small hole in the wall and passing the borescope through.
- Digital pH and TDS Meters: These specialized meters help assess the type of water that is causing the damage by reading the water’s acidity or alkalinity and its concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS). Knowing these numbers is vital for detecting contamination that could possibly corrode pipes or cause health and safety concerns.
- Hygrometers: A handheld device that helps a restoration professional determine the humidity levels of different areas of your home.
- Moisture meters: Handheld devices that can quickly measure the moisture content of a part of a house, such as a wall or ceiling, which can help them find hidden water leaks. Moisture meters are also used during the drying process to make sure water-damaged areas are drying properly.
- Thermal imaging cameras: These cameras use infrared technology to detect any odd temperature readings that may be caused by water damage. Thermal imaging cameras are a great tool for helping restoration professionals detect hidden water damage, such as behind a wall.
How Long Does the Water Damage Restoration Process Typically Take?
The timeframe of your water damage restoration service is dependent upon the extent of the water damage, taking anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The water restoration process begins with a full mold service inspection of your home and assessment of any water damage:
- Your specialist will first do a visual inspection of the area where you suspect water damage.
- They will use a variety of tools to help determine whether you have water damage and if so, its extent.
- Your water restoration professional may also wish to take samples of air or standing water in your home to check for contaminants.
Once your restoration professional has collected all the information they need, they will present to you their findings and their suggestions for fixing any found water damage, which may include:
- Air filtration
- Application of antimicrobial treatments to stop future mold growth
- Debris removal
- Dehumidifying humid areas
- Thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing any water-damaged areas
- Mold remediation
- Repairing or restoring home structural elements
- Replacing damaged home elements, such as baseboards, flooring, and carpeting
- Removal of standing water
- Plumbing inspection
- Using air movers and other types of fans to dry any waterlogged areas
- Vacuuming with HEPA filters that trap any microscopic contaminants
Is Water Damage Restoration Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Depending on your home insurance policy, water damage restoration services may be covered for damage that is sudden and happens due to an accident, such as:
- Appliances with broken hoses
- Burst pipes
- Damaged walls or floors
- A leaking roof caused by a storm or accident
- Mold remediation (in some instances)
- Overflowing toilets
If your water damage occurs over time or is due to neglect or improper maintenance, then your home insurance policy will generally not cover it. Most home insurance companies will also not cover any water damage caused by backed-up sewers, or any destruction caused by storms, floods, and other natural disasters.
It’s always important to take a few moments to review your home insurance policy in case you ever need to have water restoration, so you fully understand what is and isn’t covered.
Compare Local Quotes for Water Damage Restoration Service
There are several causes of water damage in a house, including structural, plumbing, and appliance-related issues. Water damage restoration services can help assess the extent of any water damage and develop a plan for fixing it. Homeowners insurance may cover water damage that is sudden or accidental, but not damage that occurs over time or is due to neglect.
If you’ve found signs of water damage in your home, it is critical to get a water restoration professional out to your home as quickly as possible for the best possible outcome. American Home Quotes makes it easy to find water restoration experts in your local area who are fully vetted and have years of experience.
Finding water damage in your home can be a stressful time—let American Home Quotes make the restoration process easier by calling 1-877-761-3059 to start comparing water restoration professionals near you.