There is no doubt that flood restoration can be costly, but the cost of having your home properly restored after a flood can pale in comparison to the damage your home can incur if it is not properly restored. Most homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of most flood restoration, but there may be some cases when you can take care of things yourself. Here are three ways to know when it’s time to call in a professional water damage company in AZ.
1. Type of water
When the flooding involves clean water, such as with an overflowing washer or a burst pipe, you may be able to clean up the mess yourself with little risk of long-term damage to your home. Outside water, such as flood water or water from a leaking roof, is generally teeming with bacteria, which can quickly multiply and create a genuine health hazard. When your home become flooded with dirty water, it needs to be specially treated with anti-bacterial agents to keep your home from becoming a toxic environment.
2. How long it has been standing
The longer water stands, the more damage it can cause. Even clean water will stagnate over time. When that happens, it begins to build up harmful bacteria and can become a potential breeding ground for a number of viruses. Standing water will also soak deep into carpet pads and warp wood floors. Drywall is also susceptible to a process called wicking, which pulls water high up into the walls where it is hidden by paint. Over time, this water can warp drywall and even damage the interior wood structure of your home. If water has been standing more than an hour, it would be best to call in the pros.
3. Where the water is located
If you have flooding in an unfinished basement, you may be able to take care of it on your own, particularly if you have concrete walls. Some basements have been specifically treated to prevent against flooding from outside, but that doesn’t prevent flooding from interior pipes, washing machines or water heaters. In that case, however, cleanup should be fairly simple and you can probably get away with tackling it yourself. On upper floors, however, gravity is your worst enemy and if you have flooding in a finished basement, you will probably want to call in the pros to protect your investment.
It is important to always remember that water will seep down into carpets and flooring and climb high into walls where you can’t see it. Your carpet and walls may even feel dry to the touch, but can still be soaked deep inside. The same paint and carpet that keeps you from feeling the water will also keep the water from evaporating, which can create mold, mildew, dry rot and a host of other issues. Call our professional water damage company in AZ today.
