Water Damage Mitigation – The Complete Guide

Northfield MN

20 March, 2022

9:35 AM

Description

You must first mitigate any further water damage before restoring a property after it has been submerged in water.The main act before restoration can take place is water extraction. This applies to both standing water and any water that remains after a disaster.A water mitigation company may also offer water damage restoration services. However, mitigation and restoration are two different things.This article will help you understand the mitigation process and the tools and equipment used. We'll also answer some of your most frequent questions about the practice.Let's take a closer view of water mitigation and how RestoreMasters may help you in the water cleanup or restoration process.Intro to Water MitigationWhat is Water Mitigation?Water mitigation is the process of assessing, containing, and preventing further damage from happening on a water loss.This is the primary role of any company or individual responsible for water mitigation.Water mitigation involves removing water from the property to restore it to its pre-loss condition.Although mitigation and restoration are two different tasks, you can't restore a property without mitigation. Water mitigation is often followed by water restoration unless the property was in severe structural damage.Water Damage Mitigation ProcessOnce a water damage mitigation company arrives on the scene, it will perform various tasks before water damage restoration can begin.Here are the steps involved in mitigation.1. Stop the flow of waterMother Nature can often cause water intrusion. The water will have stopped coming in by the time the contractor arrives. In other cases, the mitigation company might have to shut off the main water valve, appliance, or faucet on a property. They may also need to make emergency roof repairs and cover the roof with tarps, shrink wrap roofing material, or tarps. A mitigation company's job is to identify the source of the water loss and prevent further damage. Sometimes, the property owners might be unsure or afraid to try to stop the water flow by themselves.2. Assess Mitigation RequirementsThe Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, the premier association for the cleaning and restoration industry, categorizes flood water into 1, 2, and 3. Category 1 water is considered clean water. It is similar to water from the faucet but may have come through a broken water line or an overflowing tub. Category 2 water is also known as "grey water" and may contain chemical contaminants and other debris. Category 3 water is highly contaminated, or "black water." It may contain raw sewage, seawater, and river water. A mitigation company will assess the water's cleanliness and determine if it poses a risk to property occupants. 3. Get water & dry outThe mitigation company will likely remove any standing water from the property and may then deploy portable extractors to extract any water remaining on the property. The next step in water damage restoration is to dry out the affected areas.Water Mitigation vs. Water Damage RestorationWhat is the difference?As we have already mentioned, the key difference between water mitigation and water damage restoration is the process.Water mitigation prevents further damage from happening. It's basically what professional restoration contractors do before they start restoring a property to limit the loss.This could include preserving the property's structural integrity and removing any contents that can be salvaged from the property.In the end, mitigation involves removing water from the property to eliminate any possibility of property damage or further spread.A commercial-grade truck-mounted extractor is used to extract water from the property. It is possible to remove water from carpeting and other soft surfaces using portable extractors.After mitigation is complete, water damage restoration can begin. This is the process of restoring a structure to its pre-loss condition.. What does a water mitigation firm do?It works by assessing, containing, and preventing more damage than has already been done to a property.A mitigation company will arrive on the scene to assess the water quality, contain the existing water, and prevent it from spreading to other areas. Then, they will extract the water from the property with professional extraction equipment.Although it is possible to have different companies respond to and complete these tasks in the event of a property loss, it is often easier for property owners to have one company who does both.Service Restoration can help you with everything from water damage cleanup to mold remediation and smoke and fire damage restoration services to roofing, interior, and exterior construction.Contact us:Service Restoration Le Center125 east minnesota streetLe Center MN 56057(507) 267-3011