Water Mitigation

Water mitigation is an important part of the damage restoration process. Water removal, drying and dehumidification are crucial for preventing secondary water damage. The most efficient way to remove water from a flooded area is by using powerful submersible pumps, wet/dry vacuums or through gravity drainage. After the water has been removed it must be checked to make sure that all of the standing water has been removed before beginning with the drying process. This will ensure that no microbial growth takes place during the drying process which could lead to extensive structural damage or financial loss due to toxic mold contamination.

After removing as much standing water as possible, you can begin pumping out any shallow groundwater until it becomes clear. If there isn't enough time to remove the water and access is available, humidifiers and dehumidifiers can be used to help control humidity during this process; if time becomes too short, though, it may become necessary to do the rest of the restoration work under controlled conditions. Let us help out with Water Mitigation in your home!

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If you are unable to pump out groundwater yourself because it will take too long or because there is no room for equipment due to structural damage, many water mitigation companies such as ours, offer services with using heavy equipment and pumps on site or removing standing water with a high pressure industrial hose. You can find out more about our process here.

Chemical Additives: These are used to aid in the removal of free product. They may be necessary if a large amount of oil based contaminants remain in the water after using a skimming process. The most common chemical additive utilized helps break down the remaining oil emulsions and turn them into a form that will allow for safe disposal through normal sewer means.

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The water mitigation process in water damage restoration can be divided into four steps:

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1. Containing the Water

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Containers like dams and gutters are installed in order to contain the water in one area, preventing it from causing further damage. This is done before any other step in the process because if containment fails, all subsequent work becomes useless due to secondary issues caused by the flood or leak. Once an adequate dam has been created, workers begin pumping out any standing water present on the site. Any remaining debris must either be removed by hand or with small pumps. Taller buildings often require scaffolding so that equipment can reach higher areas. If there is a major leak that makes containment difficult, special machinery may be needed for extraction of oil or other hazardous materials.

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2. Drying the Surrounding Area

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It is impossible to dry a flood zone without proper air circulation. After all standing water has been removed, fans and dehumidifiers are installed in order to dry out the walls and other surrounding areas of a flood site. If the building's insulation has been damaged from moisture, this step will often require replacement as well. The fan installation must be done properly for this step to work effectively, so it necessary that the right equipment is purchased or rented beforehand. In cases where severe mold growth has occurred due to flooding, primer may need to be applied before drying can begin due to potential health risks involved with exposure to toxic spores. Moisture meters are used during this period to ensure that all affected materials have been reached.

 

3. Extracting Moisture from Individual Items

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In the third step, extraction machines are used to remove excess moisture from individual items affected by a flood or leak. A smaller version of a dehumidifier is often sufficient for this process. In cases where there is still standing water present, pumps and heat-movers must be used to clear it out before equipment can extract remaining moisture from items at ground level. When dealing with insulation and other porous materials, dampening and vacuuming machines may also be necessary in order to clean these objects thoroughly without causing damage to them during the cleaning process.

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4. Cleaning and Sanitizing

 

Once all excess moisture has been removed, the final step is for our team mates to clean and sanitize the site. This involves washing any affected items with soap or detergent, disinfecting them, scrubbing away stains, and generally restoring them to their pre-flood condition.