Did you know that flooding will affect double the number of people around the world by the year 2030? If you recently dealt with flooding in your home and are wondering what is water mitigation, then you are in the right place. We have put together this short guide to share more about what it is and what you can expect from the process.
Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of water mitigation.
Table of Contents
What Is Water Mitigation?
It differs from water damage restoration because this is done after there is a flood to prevent any water damage from spreading further throughout the home. If there is any standing water this is removed immediately from the home. It is always best to hire a water mitigation specialist to ensure that there is no further hidden damage and to properly stop the water damage from spreading.
How Long Does Water Mitigation Take?
Honestly, it depends on how much damage there is. Usually, it takes up to 72 hours for an average-sized room. The other factor is how long the water sits because it only takes 24 hours for mold spores to develop.
Once a specialist dries up the room or rooms it takes up to one more week to remove any mold and mildew that grew and spread.
The Process
Inspection is the first step in the process because before there is any water extraction they have to know what they are facing. The inspection will classify the type of water and the damages caused.
The lowest amount of water damage is when only a part of a room absorbed a small amount of moisture. The largest amount of water damage is when the materials damaged in the room need special equipment for drying.
A specialist will determine how toxic the water they are dealing with is. If the water came from a clean water source such as an overflowing sink, a pipe burst, or a toilet overflowing then this is considered less toxic.
When there are other ingredients involved then it is considered a bit more toxic, such as washing machine water mixed with detergent. Sewage water or river water is considered the most toxic of all and will require extra precautions.
The next step is removing the water and drying up the home or the room affected. Certain equipment that might be used during this step includes vacuums, air scrubbers, pumps, dehumidifiers, and fans.
Anything that is damaged is then removed including furniture, carpet, and drywall. In some cases, a technician might advise temporarily moving somewhere else or they might provide temporary solutions in your home. Sometimes they will board up broken windows or cover certain areas with tarps.
Feeling Like a Water Mitigation Pro?
We hope that now that you know more about what water mitigation is and what the process entails, you can make informed decisions if you recently dealt with flooding in your own home.
Did this blog post help you out today? Keep browsing our home improvement section for some more tips.