September 26, 2017

Broken pipes/hoses, overflowing washing machines and dishwashers, roof and plumbing leaks, improper windows and doors installation, heavy rain/snow or foundation cracks are just a few of the causes of water damage in homes or businesses. Once a building gets water damage it is important for the clean up to start immediately to prevent bacterial growth and to increase the likelihood of saving furniture, and other personal items. It is also important to assess the severity of the damage and start water removal and drying process. Based on IICRC S500 code there are a few categories and classes of water damage that determine the severity of the damage and based on which the mitigation/restoration process will be performed:

Categories:

• Category 1: clean water, that does not represent a threat to people
• Category 2: gray water, that is contaminated and may pose a threat to people. It may come from broken toilets, sewer pumps.
• Category 3: black water, unsanitary water that contains bacteria or other microorganisms that could be dangerous for people (from sewers, or standing water)

Classes:

• Class 1: the least harmful and the fastest to clean
• Class 2: water has a fast rate of evaporation, but carpets and other elements might have been damaged and it requires more time and effort to dry/remove
• Class 3: water has the fastest rate of evaporation; it comes from sprinklers or other sources and affects the walls and furniture
• Class 4: requires water restoration and drying process (floors and concrete might be affected)

Left untreated, water damage can lead to bacterial growth (mold) which can cause additional damage to your building and can pose long term health risks. Therefore, it is important to contact a water restoration company to handle the mitigation and repairs process, to make sure no damaged areas are left unaddressed. Water restoration companies (such as Ocean Tower) use industry approved equipment and procedures when handling water losses.

If you are standing ankle deep in a flooded house/office or basement first call your insurance agent and after that call us! We can start the mitigation process right away, following these steps:

• Moisture detection: we use moisture meters and infrared cameras to detect all areas affected by moisture
• Water extraction/Handling content: after identifying the wet areas we extract the water, remove drywall, baseboard, insulation, carpet and any other affected content, not before recording them
• Drying process: after the removal of the wet content has been completed, we install drying equipment as needed per industry standards
• Monitor the drying process: our IICRC certified technicians take daily measurements and create moisture maps, that help determine if everything is drying out properly.
• Removal of equipment: once all the areas are dry, the equipment is removed
• Rebuild – bring your unit to “pre-loss” condition.

Have questions about water damage process or you want to be prepared in case disaster strikes? Give us a call. One of our certified technicians will be happy to help.