When it comes to caring for your home, one of the biggest threats out there to protect it from is water damage.
According to industry research, 98 percent of basements in American homes will experience some form of water damage at some point or another. And when it comes to notable losses incurred from water damage and repairs, 37 percent of American homeowners have voiced this struggle.
Water damage can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to your home and insurance fiascos. Sometimes, you are up against the elements and water damage is inevitable, but there are ways to prepare against water damage threats and methods for water damage restoration.
3 Types of Water Damage
When it comes to understanding water damage, there are three types: grey water, clean water, and black water.
Greywater damage is water damage that might have contaminants that could potentially pose a health hazard or illness to individuals who come in contact with it. An example of grey water damage is your dishwasher discharge.
Clean water damage is uncontaminated and does not pose a health hazard or illness to any individual. An example of clean water damage is overflow from your sink.
Finally, black water damage is heavily contaminated and individuals should avoid contact with it in order to avoid serious illness or even death. An example of black water damage is a sewage spill.
Common Causes of Water Damage
One of the most uncontrollable causes of water damage is a natural disaster or other weather-induced events. You might also have a slower build-up of collected water over time in spaces you don’t realize, such as a crawl space or attic that then spreads to other areas. Water damage can also be a result of malfunctions of a variety of water systems in your homes such as plumbing systems and HVAC systems.
Many people also incur water damage in their home when pipes leak and burst or from home appliances that go haywire.
Ways to Salvage a Water Damaged Room
One of biggest factors when it comes to water damage restoration is time. That means the faster you act, then the more likely you are to save important items and other structures in a water damaged room.
First, one of the best things to do is make efforts to dry out the room. Start with natural methods first, such as opening up doors and windows to allow the regular circulation of air if it’s not too humid outside. Then, you can also manually move air around the room to help dry it out with the aid of fans and other machines.
Next, you’ll want to try and dehumidify the room. If there is still a lot of water build up in the damaged room, pumping out the remaining water is also an important part of the process.
Other small techniques for salvaging a room include placing moisture absorbing materials throughout the room, freezing photos and paper items, and removing incredibly soaked objects.
In addition to taking these kinds of steps after a water damage incident, it can be a good idea to call and consult professionals. There are many companies out there that offer specialized repair services for water damaged properties, such as All Dry USA at https://www.alldryus.com/.
Tips for Preventing Future Water Damage
Staying aware of all the different things happening in your home is essential for preventing future water damage incidents.
One thing you can do is to regularly replace the water hoses on your household appliances like dishwashers and washing machines to ensure that they aren’t breaking. Make sure you and your family understand leaks as well and how to turn off the water if this occurs.
Another thing you can do is to get your plumbing systems and heating/cooling systems inspected regularly by a professional plumber and look for warning signs there yourself, such as signs of moisture, noisy pipes, and rust-stained water.
Armed with your new knowledge, hopefully, you will be able to avoid the nightmare that is water damage. But should your home still be struck, now you know the first steps you can take to salvage and restore your damaged room?
Author: Zeke Daldy
