Flooding and other kinds of water exposure can happen to any house or home owner, even in warm, and sunny Texas. Floods can occur at any given time when rivers exceed their water level and overflow into towns and cities. These kinds of disasters have been occurring more and more lately and many experts blame the changes that are happening in our world on the climate. Aside from natural disasters, houses and other buildings might also need the services of water damage companies if and when a pipe bursts or there is a persistent leak in the abode. In Houston, there are several older houses which may be more prone to leaky pipes than newer houses because of the use of older metal pipes. These metal pipes tend to rust and deteriorate when exposed to the elements and can even burst during colder, snowy weather. Plastic or rubber pipes may be flexible and more resilient but there are circumstances when these might leak or burst as well.
Other circumstances that can cause water damage to a house or building include, but are not limited to, an overflowing washing machine, forgotten faucet or bathtub, as well as a malfunctioning sump pump in the basement. Water damage is actually just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to not taking any kind of action after a flood or burst pipe. Merely drying up the surface and cleaning up the house will leave the structure of the house open to mold and mildew infestation, not to mention accelerated rotting and deterioration of the damp wood and concrete.
Water damage companies focus their efforts and services on structures, buildings and homes that may have been exposed to flooding, overflowing and leakage. Home owners should be aware of the health hazard of molds growing in the house. Even if it is not toxic black mold growing indoors, some kinds of molds can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma attacks. The following services will help the home owner take back their health and feel better about themselves.
Assessment and Inspection
When a client calls or makes contact to make an appointment, most, if not all the, professionals who work in this industry will be eager to help out. The key is to have a thorough inspection in which the expert will assess the extent of the damage and recommend what best to do to rehabilitate and repair the structure of the building.
Removal and Extraction
In order to start the rehabilitation and repair process, the water should be thoroughly removed from the area. The removal is usually done with the use of equipment that will bring minimal damage to the house. A pump is usually brought along by the experts and disposal of the water is also part of the process.
Drying and Dehumidification
In order to work well and efficiently, the flooded area should be dried as soon as possible. A dried area will make rehabilitation and the use of electric tools and equipment easier. Another reason why it should be dried immediately is to prevent the growth or mold and mildew which thrive in damp, dark places.
Sanitizing
Aside from the actual cleaning process that water damage companies offer their customers, sanitizing the place is also a priority. This is so that bacteria, germs and viruses that may have been brought along by the flood are killed. Fungus such as mildew and mold like to live in dark, damp places which can also be conducive to the growth of harmful bacteria and viruses.
Rehabilitation and Restoration
Some areas of the house or building might need to be rehabilitated or restored. The companies that focus on water damage services have trained experts who can restore whatever it is that has been damaged by the flood or leak.
These are some of the more important services that are being offered. Some companies have other services that might not be in others; these depend on the needs of their community and the people who live in it.
