The Water Damage Restoration Process starts long before a leak occurs. It begins with your HVAC contractors doing thorough water management reviews to ensure that the entire home has been completely cleaned and sanitized and is not contaminated with bacteria or mold.
There are two standard processes for performing a thorough water damage restoration assessment. In some cases, both processes are used together, but in other cases, the former standard process is only used when the latter is not used.
Leaking sinks, baths, showers, toilets, sinks, basins, tubs, toilets, and faucets that appear and seem to be clogged may be the start of the long process of drying and sanitizing. This may be difficult for you to do alone.
To help you with the drying and sanitizing of the kitchen areas, you might want to first try an alternate method for doing your water damage assessment. You may consider enlisting the help of a professional water remediation company or wet-cleaners. Although this approach may take longer than doing it yourself, it can save you money in the long run, and you will probably be able to get the job done faster than attempting it yourself.
The process of water damage assessment should start immediately after noticing that there is a problem. Regardless, of whether you suspect a leaking toilet, toilet bowl, sink, bathtub, washing machine, or water heater, the first step is to verify the problem by contacting your water providers. If the problem continues, your next step will be to hire a professional water company or wet-cleaner to complete your water remediation assessments.
The next step is to determine the severity of the problem that you have detected. This assessment step will help you determine the extent of the damage, and your next task will be to determine what repairs and maintenance need to be done to prevent the problem from recurring.
Now that you know the severity of the problem, it is time to undertake the inspection and water-damage assessment. It’s a good idea to arrange for an emergency plumber to be on standby in case the repairs cannot be completed immediately. If you are unable to ascertain the problem yourself, hiring a professional plumber is highly recommended.
For those homeowners who live in homes with newer models of water heaters, the water loss assessment will be slightly different. Typically, the assessment will be based on the manufacturer’s installation manual, however, most problems that you may detect during the initial water loss assessment can also be detected by using a flashlight. Using a flashlight will allow you to see the various components of the unit, including the interior panel assembly and baseboard.
The most common water leakage occurs within the units, where water can usually be seen seeping through the seams, into the vent and then onto the floor or furniture below. It is important to check and repair the leak immediately before it causes further damage.
Another common water leak is inside of the cooling unit. You may notice the top of the unit starts to work overtime, because the metal plates in the top will be overheating, causing it to expand and eventually burst. It is important to contact your water provider right away so they can arrange for a replacement unit to be installed.
On the other hand, water leaks may not always be visible. A leaky water supply line may occur behind the drywall, where moisture has found its way inside the wall cavity. Often these water leaks are accompanied by an odor or foam that smells like sewage, which indicates a mold or mildew infestation. It is important to contact your water provider right away and get rid of the molds and mildews with a mold removal solution.