Homeowners in Dublin suffer burst pipe damage regularly. Whether you’ve experienced a natural disaster or a localized catastrophe such as a building flood, Critical Control is standing by to respond 24/7.
Damage to water is more frequent when water gets into a structure or house through a storm, flood or burst pipe. Sometimes the damage is evident and apparent. Other times, it’s hidden or not reported.
Water damage remediation is much more complicated than just drying the interior. Modern professional water damage remediation techniques, such as Critical Control, can often minimize damage that otherwise would have required total structural replacement.
Water Damage Restoration Guidelines Are In Place – So Call a Professional
Many times, homeowners and builders attempt to repair water damage with DIY solutions found online. This is a bad idea. Water damage can be controlled by following the established guidelines. These guidelines demand the expertise and equipment of professionals. The guidelines are laid out in the IICRC Standard Reference Guide or Professional Water Damage Restoration publication. The guide was created due to the necessity for professional standardisation of situations that involve water damage to buildings and homes and the dangers they can create.
The IICRC guidelines help restoration experts like Critical Control to evaluate the category and class of damage to each project.
These guidelines are essential for professionals dealing with water damage. In some situations it is necessary to employ the use of an Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) is essential. An IEP is someone who has the skills and training to evaluate a site for contamination and take samples, conduct lab tests, then provide us with advice regarding the nature of the water damage.
This is particularly important in situations where the occupants of the building could be high risk, there is a possibility of negative health effects, the people who live there have a desire to know the suspected contaminants, or some other reason for concern over contamination.
Projects for water damage restoration can be classified into two types according to the extent of the infiltration of water is.
The class has to do with how contaminated the water that entered the structure was. Category 1 means that the water comes from a clean source, such as a water source that burst, or even a sink or tub.
Category 2 water has the highest levels of contaminants. It can cause illness if it is ingested or contacted. This can include sources which may not normally seem like an issue, like the discharge from washing machines or toilet overflows.
Water in the category 3 is severely affected, which means that it may have pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful substances in it. Usually this means contamination from sewage, toilet backflows after the toilet trap and seawater, flooding from rivers and streams or any other water flowing from the exterior of the building. This kind of water could have pesticides, heavy metals, regulated materials or toxic substances within it.
The IICRC has also established classes to follow when measuring the amount of water intrusion to your property. This is basically setting guidelines for the saturation of the home or building.
The lowest degree of absorption by water and the highest amount of water is classified as Class 1. It is the case when water comes in contact with about 5percent or less of building materials that absorb water. This is because most materials that are affected by water don’t hold or absorb water. Concrete and masonry, as well as plaster and coated or finished wood are only a few examples.
Class 2 refers to absorption of water and intrusion. It means that anywhere between 5% to 40% of the floor, ceiling and wall is made of low-evaporation materials like plaster, concrete, wood or bricks and mortar.
Class 3 means that about 40 percent or more of wall, floor, and ceiling materials are porous materials like fiberboard, insulation, carpet etc. Other materials such as concrete and plaster that do not absorb water haven’t been affected in any way.
Class 4 refers to the fact that water has been deeply bound in materials that do not easily absorb water as plaster, wood, concrete and masonry. This calls for special drying techniques and longer drying times.
Three ways of removing water from buildings include physical extraction, dehumidification, and the process of evaporation. Eliminating water from liquids is typically 500 times more efficient than airmovers. The quicker the structure dries the better. Both extraction and dehumidification methods are affected by how much stuff is being extracted.
Professionals dealing with water damage employ different extraction techniques. Some of our tools include tools for subsurface extraction, wands Self-propelled tools, self-propelled instruments, and vacuum squeezers.
After as much water has been removed, any remaining moisture is dried with high-speed airmovers.
Submerged objects absorb water and moisture when it is moistened. The result is that the material gets dampened or wet.
The saturation level is described as the point at which it is impossible to hold the moisture. The greater the humidity, the more close the air is to saturation.
The evaporation process occurs the time when water molecules transition from an in liquid state to a gaseous state. The process is called evaporation.
This means that the object no longer absorbs water from the air. This is called the saturation point. Once saturation is reached, drying will begin.
High-efficiency airmovers dry the object on two sides during the evaporation process. They generate a large airflow over the entire surface which is directed by a filter system that completely covers the surface of the object.
A fan that moves air can move 10-20 times more air than an ordinary household fan.
The item is dried using airmovers about 10 times faster than natural conditions where no air mover was employed.
High-velocity airflow removes the moisture from the surface and absorbs the water drawn out by the air movement.
Heating is a crucial element of any restoration project. To dry out materials that have been affected by water, we use a number of different types of heaters.
Electric Heaters: Electric heaters are great to dry jobs which require the use of various heat sources. You can run multiple heaters simultaneously due to their numerous power ratings.
Electric heat is also able to be turned down or off when the work is in process, without affecting your other heaters. In order to maximize efficiency and lower your energy bills it is possible to adjust the wattage of one heater and increase its wattage.
Since they produce virtually no carbon dioxide and require less water They are popular in restoration projects. However, the only drawback is that they take longer time to heat up, requiring more time for the drying process overall.
Hydronic Bioler (TES),: The boilers quickly heat up and emit very little carbon dioxide. They can be run on propane or natural gas.
Hydronic boilers are different from electric heating in that they don’t utilize forced-air for distribution of heat. Therefore, it may be difficult to evenly heat an area with these types of heaters. They also run at a lower temperature, making them ideal for drying jobs which require ceilings and walls to be left unattended.
They are also commonly used in situations where there is no electrical power to run electric heaters. They are capable of producing radiant heat, and they can keep your drying area warm without the need for an electrical source.
We utilize low Grain Refrigerant Dehumidifiers (LGR) to dry buildings and houses that have suffered water damage.
The LGR Home Dehumidifier is capable of extracting 170 pints of water from a damp building that has been severely damaged by water damage every 24 hours.
In addition to extracting water out of the air as a LGR Refrigerant Dehumidifier does, the home dehumidifier will also get rid of as much as 99% of mold spores that are airborne in the air by eliminating condensation.
The floors that have been damaged by water need to be cut up to ensure repairs can take place starting from the subflooring up.
The subflooring has to be removed and repaired prior to. Then the affected hardwood boards need to be sanded down or replaced. Once these repairs are complete then the entire floor must be sanded and refinished to ensure uniformity.
If you have been unfortunate enough to have flooding in your house this can be a stressful and costly experience. Even if water is removed from the affected area immediately, there is an opportunity that you will have to replace your flooring eventually.
It’s a huge shock to discover that your house isn’t in top state after having spent many hours and dollars to fix it.
In this regard, it is essential to evaluate the extent of damage as quickly as is possible. First thing to do is to determine if the damaged area requires replacement. There’s a good chance that the carpet will be cleaned and used after drying and this can help to eliminate concerns regarding the growth of mildew and lingering odors.
If the damage from water has been very severe It is likely that you will have noticeable stains on your carpeting. In certain instances, the only way to get rid of these stains is to replace the flooring. A strong, lingering odor may also be the reason to replace your carpeting. If it is, then you will likely have to replace the padding and carpet.
Next, determine if your floor can be dried professionally before you decide to change it. A professional service will be able to assist you in determining how severe the damage was. Our company will assess your carpet and determine whether it is best to replace it or repairable. Be aware that some of the techniques employed to dry the carpet can further damage the carpet even if it’s already in poor condition.
A variety of factors can determine the need for padding or carpet need to be replaced.
Can your carpets be dried, cleaned and disinfected professionally?
If the padding underneath your carpet has been damaged, this can affect the time that your carpet will remain clean. Although your carpet may have dried quickly, mildew growth may still be present in the padding beneath if it is not dried.
The most secure way to make sure that your carpet is restored and disinfected after an event of flooding is to engage a professional carpet cleaning company. Once the cleaning is complete then you’ll have the ability to take a shrewd decision on the state of your carpeting. You’ll also be able to determine whether you want to replace it.
The process for repairing drywall varies based on the extent of the damage. Repairing water damage may be as easy as removing the drywall portion and then cleaning the affected area and then replacing it.
On the other hand of the coin significant damage could require a complete wall replacement, including walls studs and fiberglass insulation.
Mold spores can be found in damaged drywall, which is difficult to eliminate. Most of the time the drywall needs to be replaced. We utilize moisture testing tools which allow us to identify the extent to which humidity has gotten. This allows us to identify areas of damage and limit costs to only necessary damaged areas.
It also causes structural damage because it causes the wood material to expand and expand and contract. Once the wood is moistened by water, it becomes a lot easier to break. If the water remains for a long period of time, there could be an extensive amount of rot in the wood which can cause it to crack easily.
To avoid this problem, it’s essential to homeowners and property owners to take care of structural damage caused by water-related issues with their properties immediately following the water or flood incident.
There are many reasons water damage can cause to the foundation of a house. While not all issues with water cause structural damage, it is essential to fix foundational issues as quickly as possible to avoid potential structural damage.
Water damage to the foundation can cause a variety of problems based on how it’s treated. It could cause serious structural damage if not taken care of quickly.
Roof Water Damage
Like foundation water damage, roof water damage is also fairly common after natural catastrophes. Roof damage can cause roof leaks and also damage the foundation of a house or home.
Leaking roofs are costly and have serious disadvantages. Roof leaks can cause mold to grow that could be fatal. Leakage in the roof can also result in damages to the roof truss.
If you don’t address the leaks in your ceiling promptly they could cause the rafters to decay and then soften. Damage to your roof can result from electrical faults, which can lead to an electric fire. All of these are excellent reasons to have roof water damage repaired swiftly following a flood or other unexpected damage.
If your HVAC system starts to fail or brand new equipment becomes faulty, this can definitely cause the structure of your home. Without HVAC it is opening the interior of your house or business to all sorts of issues. Mold growth can lead to severe health issues.
Damage to pipes typically caused due to a pipe burst within your home. If you’ve discovered leak, it’s important to call an expert to stop the water from damaging the structure.
A pipe that bursts can cause devastating damage. Water can enter your home through damaged pipes, causing extensive damage. It could cause structural damage.
When you see damaged water pipes stop the supply of water.
Repair and cleanup costs can vary based on the square footage you have. The following pricing breakdown is available at National Flood Services for each square foot
Are water damage covered By the Homeowner’s Insurance?
Homeowners insurance policies are usually applicable if the source of the damage is sudden and unintentional. The Insurance Information Institute states that homeowners insurance will provide for the repair or replacement of broken windows however, it does not cover damage caused by neglect.
Neglect can be described as damage to an object or surface that is caused by exposure, inadequate maintenance, or general deterioration. According to the US-based Insurance Information Institute, homeowners insurance will not cover damages caused by negligence.
A homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover water damage caused by flooding. A flood policy would be mandatory. Mortgage lenders might need flood insurance in specific regions. Flooding may occur as a result of flooding, over-saturated ground, and surging or overflowing bodies water such as rivers, ponds, lakes rivers, oceans, and streams when combined with strong winds.