Heavy rains fill the basement with floodwater. Leaks behind the bathroom wall create mold growth that quickly spreads. A broken fire sprinkler system at work soaks offices, furniture and equipment.
These are just a few examples of property disasters that need professional water mitigation.
Don’t confuse the process with water restoration.
Both services are essential to recovery. However, you can’t restore your home or business without mitigating the water damage first.
This guide covers everything you need to know.
Water mitigation is the first step in a process that addresses water damage. Mitigation prevents further damage from occurring and involves water removal, moisture control and structural drying.
Think of water mitigation as an emergency response that contains the initial impact. It minimizes secondary water damages such as buckled floors, crumbled drywall and widespread mold growth.
Water mitigation sets the stage for full service repairs and property-wide restoration.
Now that we’ve covered water mitigation basics, let’s take a look at how it’s different from water damage repair and restoration. This comparison outlines both processes and the different steps involved in each.
Mitigation technicians inspect the property, assess the level and type of water damage and take care of any necessary emergency repairs and building board-up.
Deep standing water is pumped out of the property using truck-mounted water extraction systems. Teams follow up with specialized vacuum equipment that removes residual water from porous surfaces.
Structural drying involves a range of industrial-grade equipment such as wood floor and subfloor drying systems, high-volume air movers, heavy duty axial fans and desiccant dehumidifiers.
This is achieved by applying site-specific drying techniques that minimize secondary water damage. For example, the drying equipment can be focused on crumbling drywall or buckling floors. Addressing secondary water damage stabilizes the property and preps it for restoration.
As the drying phase progresses, water mitigation crews clear out debris, identify salvageable items and begin the cleanup process. This includes disinfecting all affected surfaces and materials.
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The water damage restoration process begins by tearing out damaged materials such as soaked drywall, buckled flooring and warped baseboards.
Materials that aren’t badly water-damaged are assessed to determine if they can be repaired or must be replaced.
Water damage technicians locate and remove all wet material. If mold is located in affected areas a licensed mold company, per state law, is contracted to follow all mold removal protocols and confirm that interior humidity levels are stable and back to normal. *Mold spores can colonize within 3–12 days, and mold can become visible in 18–21 days.
This final phase of work involves repairing, rebuilding and replacing interiors so that the property is restored to its original condition.
Water mitigation techniques differ depending on the water source. For example, water from a broken pipe is usually classified as Category 1 clean water. In these cases, water damage crews follow industry standards for mitigation.
Category 2 gray water poses a bigger challenge. Common sources for this type of damage are backed-up sump pumps, ruptured disposal lines or leaking washing machine hoses. Mitigation crews address potential contamination and chemicals that might be present in Category 2 water.
The mitigation process for Category 3 black water requires specialized equipment and products. Black water carries dangerous pathogens and hazardous chemicals that soak into affected materials. Technicians follow stringent OSHA, CDC and EPA regulations for Category 3 water mitigation.
Don’t assume that replacing damaged belongings and furniture saves money. The cost of restoration is often much lower than what you’d pay for new items. A full-service restoration company knows how to identify and clean salvageable furnishings and items such as appliances, electronics and personal belongings.
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Your property will eventually dry without mitigation. However, air drying isn’t cost-effective. Moisture that remains in floors and behind walls degrades materials and compromises their condition. It breeds unhealthy mold growth that spreads through the damp environment. The delayed cost of addressing these problems quickly increases.
If you’re comfortable working with water extraction equipment, you can rent small systems from home improvement centers. If you’re dealing with Category 2 or 3 water, you need to suit up with OSHA-approved PPE gear. Structural drying is a crucial part of the process and requires additional equipment. Overall, it’s easier and safer to let industry-certified professionals take care of water mitigation.
Whether you’re facing water damage at the house or work, it can seem overwhelming. By understanding the difference between mitigation and restoration, you know what to expect from the recovery process
Here at NV Omni, we provide a full line of water damage mitigation services and expert water damage restoration.
We’re your one-stop shop for complete property recovery and we’re here for you 24/7.
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