Water Damage Clean-up
where does water
damage come from?
It doesn’t take much for internal water leaks from faulty construction or mechanical failure to cause a great deal of damage. At one drip per second, a leaky faucet can waste over 3,000 gallons of water in a year. A 1/8-inch-wide pipe crack can leak 250 gallons of water per day. A damaged washing machine hose can leak up to 10-12 gallons of water each minute, causing more than 12,000 gallons to spill into your home within 24 hours.
Water damage from external sources is usually sudden, and often devastating. An afternoon thunderstorm can spawn tornadoes that open your home to the elements. Our once-friendly Collier, Lee, Charlotte, or Sarasota County rivers can spill over their banks, sending torrents of floodwaters into nearby buildings. The force of wind-driven rain, especially on our barrier islands of Sanibel, Captiva, and Marco, can penetrate the tiniest of cracks in a wall. Anywhere you have a cable or pipe piercing an external wall (a hose bib, for example), you have a potential spot for water intrusion.
What does water
damage affect?
Water damage affects more than can be seen with the naked eye. The foremost effect of water damage is the growth of mold, which can begin within 24—48 hours. Our sub-tropical climate in Collier and Lee Counties presents a ripe environment for mold growth. Successful mold removal requires the services of trained professionals like ours at Fireservice.
Water can seep into drywall, causing it to crumble, resulting in unsightly and dangerous structural damage to walls and ceilings. Wooden subfloors and interior wall supports can swell, warp, and rot. Water can loosen the mortar joints in concrete block walls and foundation drainage can cause these walls to shift. All types of construction in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties are susceptible to water damage.
Water can also damage electrical systems. Damaged wiring may arc or cause power surges. These
fluctuations can permanently damage appliances and devices plugged into your system.
FireService Water Damage Clean Up
How does Fireservice
clean up water damage?
As a company, Fireservice has been credentialed by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), a global non-profit organization for the Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Industries. This company-wide certification, as well as our technicians’ individual IICRC certifications as Water Damage Restoration specialists, ensures you that we uphold the highest standards established for our industry.
We begin your water damage clean-up with a visual inspection and an infrared moisture assessment to ensure we address both the obvious and hidden damage.
We remove furnishings, floorcoverings, and damaged structural pieces as needed and employ top-of-the-line extractors, air movers, air scrubbers, and dehumidifiers from our arsenal of over 1,200 pieces of equipment from trusted manufacturers to dry out your space.
In the event of a power failure, we use our trailer-mounted, generator-powered portable extractors to do the job. From Marco Island north to Sarasota County, and all points in between, we can reach you with the right equipment to clean up water damage.
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What to do
What you should do in the event of water damage depends on the extent of the damage. Never risk entering a compromised structure — a condition that may not be obvious. If you have been assured by our professionals or a general contractor that your home or building is still structurally sound, you may want to employ any of the following measures, first taking care to suit up in protective clothing, rubber boots and gloves, goggles, and an N-95 mask.
Take photos
before, during,
and after water damage
clean-up
Ventilate
affected areas
in an effort to retard mold growth. Open windows and doors, as weather permits,
to maintain moderate
temperatures.
Throw out any
porous items
that have absorbed water
(carpet, padding, mattresses,
pillows, particle board, etc.)
what can you expect after
water damage clean up?
If your water damage is not significant, and you are handy around the house, you may be able to take care of small repair projects yourself. These may include:
- Replacing ceiling tiles or drywall. Tackle this first, as gravity may cause damaged sections may collapse.
- Cutting out and replacing sections of drywall (being sure the insulation behind it is thoroughly dried out). Generally speaking, if drywall has swelled or sagged 3/8 of an inch or more from the baseline, then you need to replace the entire sheet.
- Caulking and painting walls as needed
- Replacing tile, vinyl, or wood floors that were affected
Before attempting any repairs, be sure to disinfect any materials remaining in the area. Always use the services of a general contractor for repairs to the structural elements of your home or building. Fireservice is a licensed and registered General Contractor and provides remodeling and construction services to help you restore your home to, or better than, its original condition.
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