Building owners in Folsom get hit with burst pipe damage on a regular basis. 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.
Water damage is more common when water enters a building or residence through a storm, flood, or burst pipe. Sometimes the damage is overt and evident, while other times it’s hidden or minor.
The process of repairing water damage is more complex than just drying out the interior. Modern professional water damage remediation techniques such as Critical Control, can often minimize damage that otherwise would need a total structural replacement.
Water Damage Restoration Guidelines are available for your reference. Call a Professional
A lot of times, property or home owners try to tackle water damage using DIY solutions that can be found online. This is inadvisable. There are guidelines to deal with water damage and they require the equipment and expertise of experts. The guidelines can be available in the IICRC Standard Reference Guide, or Professional Water Damage Restoration book. This guide is necessary to ensure professional standardisation of scenarios involving water damage structures or homes, as well as the risks associated with it.
The IICRC guidelines assist restoration experts such as Critical Control to evaluate the kind and severity of the damages on every project.
These guidelines are important for professionals who deal with water damage. In certain situations it is necessary to employ the use of an Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) is essential. An IEP is professional with the training to assess a site for contamination and collect samples, conduct lab tests, and then provide us with the type of water damage.
This is crucial in situations where the occupants of the building could be at risk, there is a likelihood of adverse health consequences, or the occupants are required to determine the suspected contaminants or any other reason for concerned about contamination.
Restoration projects for water damage are classified according to category and class based on the degree of flooding of water.
The water entering the building was classified according to the degree of contamination. Category 1 means that the water is from a clean source such as burst water supply, or tub or sink.
Category 2 water contains the highest levels of contaminants. It can cause illness when it is inhaled or touched. This could include water that isn’t obvious as a risk, such as the discharge from washing machines, or the overflows from toilets.
The water in Category 3 is highly polluted, meaning it could contain pathogenic, toxic or any other harmful agent in it. It can be caused by toilet trap leaks, and water flooding from streams and rivers. This category of water can have pesticides, heavy metals that are regulated, toxic materials, or substances in it.
The IICRC has also created classes to follow when determining the degree of water intrusion to your property. This is basically setting guidelines for the level of saturation of the home or building.
The lowest level of water absorption , and the greatest amount of water is categorized as Class 1. It is the case when water is in contact with less than 5% construction materials that absorb water. This is because most substances that are affected by water don’t absorb or hold water. Concrete, finished/coated wood, plaster or masonry.
Class 2 means that there is significant absorption of water and intrusion. It means that anywhere between 5 and 40% of the floor, ceiling, and wall are made of low-evaporation materials like wood, concrete, plaster or masonry.
Class 3 refers to the fact that around 40% or more of the wall, floor, and ceiling surfaces are porous materials such as carpet, insulation, fiberboard, etc. and also where other materials that do not absorb much water such as plaster or concrete have not been negatively affected.
Class 4 refers to the fact that water has become deeply trapped in the materials that can not easily absorb water like plaster, wood, concrete and masonry. This is why special drying methods are required and longer drying time.
Three ways to remove water from buildings include physical extraction, dehumidification, and the process of evaporation. Eliminating liquid water is, at a minimum, 500 times more efficient than using dehumidifiers or airmovers. The quicker the structure can dry the more effective. The amount of stuff that needs to be extracted will affect both extraction and dehumidification techniques.
Professionals dealing with water damage employ an array of extraction techniques. We make use of a variety of equipment, such as subsurface extraction tools as well as self-propelled tools.
After as much water has been removed, any moisture remaining is then dried by high-speed airmovers.
Submerged objects absorb water and moisture once it’s moistened. The material gets wet or damp as a result.
The degree of saturation is described as the point at which it becomes impossible to contain the moisture. The greater the humidity, the more close the air is to being saturated.
The evaporation stage is the time when water molecules change from a liquid state to a gaseous one. This is called the process of evaporation.
In this way it is will no longer absorb additional water from the atmosphere. The saturation point is the point at which evaporation begins. When saturation is attained the drying process starts.
In the evaporation stage the highly efficient air mover dry the object from two sides. They generate a large airflow over the surface of the object, which is directed through a filter system that covers the entire surface of the object.
Air mover can move 10 to 20 times more air than a fan or an ordinary fan.
The object is dried using airmovers about 10 times faster that in natural conditions where no air mover was employed.
Airflows that are high-velocity dry the surface and absorbs the moisture that is drawn out by airflow.
The most important element in any water damage restoration is heating. We employ a variety of heaters to dry out materials that have been damaged by water.
Electric Heaters They are ideal to dry jobs that require the use of multiple heat sources. It is possible to run several heaters simultaneously due to their many power ratings.
You can also turn down or turn off the electric heater when the task is done, and not affect other heaters. This means you can reduce one heater while increasing the wattage of another to maximize efficiency, and decrease your cost of energy.
Because they emit almost no carbon dioxide and require minimal water, electric heaters are very used in restoration projects. They are more difficult to warm up and need more time to dry.
Hydronic Bioler (TES) Hydronic Bioler (TES) These boilers are able to heat quickly and emit very little emissions. They typically operate using propane or natural gas.
Hydronic boilers differ from electric heat in the sense that they don’t utilize forced-air for distribution of heat. Therefore, it may be challenging to evenly heat a large space with these kinds of heaters. They can also be used for dry work that does not require walls or ceilings to be in the same place.
Hydronic boilers are also often employed when there isn’t enough electrical power to run electric heaters. Because they’re so effective at producing radiant heat, they are able to easily keep your drying space warm, even without an electrical power source.
To dry buildings and houses that are damaged due to water damage, we make use of low Grain Refrigerant (LGR) Dehumidifiers.
The LGR Home Dehumidifier can extract 170 pints moisture from damp structures which have suffered severe water damage within 24 hours.
The dehumidifier at home is able to remove water from the air in the same manner as an LGR Refrigerant Dehumidifier. It will also remove the 99 percent or more of the mold spores that are airborne by removing condensation.
It is essential to take away flooring that has been damaged by water so that repairs can be completed from the subflooring up.
First, damaged subflooring needs to be removed and replaced. The damaged hardwood boards require sanding down or replaced. To ensure uniformity flooring, all floors should be sanded, then refinished after these repairs have been completed.
Floods can cause significant destruction to your home and make it difficult and expensive. Even if the water is removed from the affected area immediately, there is still a chance that you’ll have to replace the flooring in the future.
After spending time and money to restore your home to pre-flood condition, it would be depressing to discover that the finished results leave something to be desired.
It is crucial to determine the extent of damage as soon as you can. One of the initial issues to address is whether the damaged area needs to be replaced. There’s a chance that the carpet can be cleaned and used once it is dry, and this cleaning can help to eliminate the worries about the growth of mildew and the lingering smells.
You may notice stains on your carpeting , especially if the damage to your carpet was serious. There are times when you have to change your flooring to get rid of the stains. Another reason that might prompt you to consider replacing your carpeting is a strong and lingering smell. It’s time to change your carpet and padding when this happens.
Check to see if the flooring can be dried professionally before deciding whether you want to repair it or replace it. A professional company will aid you in determining the severity of the damages were. We can evaluate whether or not your carpet should be replaced or saved. If the carpet you have is damaged, a few drying methods can cause further damage to it.
Several factors will influence the need for padding or carpet should be replaced.
Do your carpets get professionally cleaned, dried and cleaned?
The carpet’s ability to stay fresh can be compromised if the padding beneath it has been damaged. Even though your carpet is dried quickly, mildew growth can still occur if the padding underneath isn’t dried.
The best way to be sure that your carpet is restored and disinfected after an event of flooding is to engage a professional carpet cleaning company. After the company completes their job, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about the state of your carpeting and decide whether or not to replace it.
The drywall repair procedure varies depending on the severity of the damage. Repairing water damage could be as easy as removing some drywall and then cleaning the affected area and then replacing it.
The flip side of the coin is that significant damage may need to be repaired completely, including fiberglass insulation and wall studs.
Mold spores can be found in drywall damaged by water that is difficult to eliminate. So in most cases, drywall will need to be replaced. We use moisture testing equipment which allow us to identify the extent to which humidity has gotten. This helps us identify the areas that are damaged and limit costs to areas that need to be repaired.
Water can also cause structural damage, as it causes the material to expand or contract. When the wood is saturated with water, it’s much more difficult to break. If the water remains for a long period of time, there could be a significant amount of rot within the wood, which could make it break easily.
To prevent this issue, it’s important to homeowners and property owners to address structural damages from water-related issues with their home immediately following the water or flood incident.
Damage to a home’s foundation can occur for various reasons. While not all issues with water result in structural damage, it’s crucial to address foundational issues promptly to prevent structural damage.
Water damage to the foundation can trigger many different problems depending on how it is addressed. It can lead to serious structural damage if the issue isn’t treated promptly.
Roof Water Damage
Like foundation water damage, roof water damage is also quite common following natural catastrophes. In addition to the possibility of roof leaks, roof damage can cause problems with the walls and the foundation of a house or construction.
Roof leaks can be very expensive and could have major negatives. Leakage in the roof could cause mold to grow that could be fatal. A leaky roof can harm the roof truss system, which can cause structural damage to the roof.
If you don’t fix the leaks in your ceiling promptly, they can cause your rafters decay and soften. Water damage to the roof could result from electrical issues which could lead to the possibility of an electric fire. All of these are good reasons to get roof water damage repaired swiftly following a flood or other damage that is unexpected.
Your home could be damaged by structural damage if the HVAC system fails or is defective equipment is put in place. If you do not have HVAC you’re exposing the inside of your home or business to all sorts of issues. Mold growth can occur and lead to a number of serious health issues.
If you have pipe water damage, the water is most likely coming from a burst pipe in your home. If you’ve discovered a leak, it is crucial to get an expert to stop the water from damaging the structure.
Pipes that burst can cause a amount of damage. When your pipes break they can let water into your home, causing extensive damage and requiring repair of water damage. This is an event that could result in structural damage.
Shut off the water supply and then call an expert IICRC-certified specialist from a company for water restoration such as Critical Control as soon as you spot damaged water pipes.
Water damage cleanup and repair costs will vary depending on the square footage you own. National Flood Services has the following breakdown of pricing per square foot.
Is water damage covered by homeowners’ insurance?
Homeowners insurance policies are usually used if the damage is sudden and accidental. The Insurance Information Institute states that homeowners insurance may provide for the repair or replacement of damaged windows, but not for damage caused by neglect.
Neglect can be described as damage to a surface or an object that is caused by exposure, poor maintenance or general deterioration. According to the American-based Insurance Information Institute, homeowners insurance will not cover damages caused by negligence.
If the damage to your property results from an event that is a flood, it will not be covered under a homeowners policy. Rather, a flood policy would be mandatory. Mortgage lenders might need flood policies in certain areas. Flooding can be caused by storms, flooding ground, overflowing bodies of water, or overflowing or surging bodies such as streams, lakes, rivers and oceans.