Water Damage Response And Our GRS Process
Frequently, drying is seen as a simple process, and it can be in certain scenarios. However, if the proper steps are not taken, the results can be catastrophic. Here at Guarantee Restoration Services, our mitigation experts are all trained to follow the strict guidelines as stated by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or the IICRC, which sets the standard for the restoration industry. When dealing with standing water in your property, there are a lot of aspects to consider but none more important water damage response time and initiating the drying process as quickly as possible. Therefore, our team is available 24/7, 365 days a year!
WATER DAMAGE RESPONSE: CATEGORIES 1, 2 & 3
Once we arrive on site, the first piece of information we determine is the category, which will dictate our mitigation procedures. The category tells us the source of the water intrusion. There are 3 categories, which are all given a number to signify the severity of the situation. Category 1 indicates clean water from any broken water supply lines, toilet tanks, or water without additives. Category 2 contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause health problems. This can occur from broken discharge lines or overflowing washing machines. If either of these sits for too long, they can change to a category 3 water loss. Category 3 water is described as grossly contaminated and can contain seriously harmful agents. This is mostly seen with sewage backups and any form of intrusive floodwater, regardless of how “clean” it may look. Both category 2 and 3 require removal of any affected materials, whereas category 1 can be dried in place.
Once our team has concluded what category, we proceed with determining what type and how much equipment we will need. Every loss is different and needs to be treated as such to maintain clarity with anyone dealing with a loss, as well as credibility for any drying institution. If you’re dealing with a category 1 loss, I am sure you’d much rather us save you as much money by avoiding any demolition, right? Well, by utilizing the proper amount of equipment and monitoring, we just might be able to.
WATER DAMAGE RESPONSE: SHOP-VACS, AIR MOVERS AND DEHU’S, OH MY!
Drying is almost equally as important as speed and category. Without proper drying techniques, you could end up with organic growth down the road. We all know what happens when mold shows up to the party, foul odors and a plethora of other problems.
The first step in the drying process is to remove any excess or standing water using a shop-vacuum. Simply put, these machines extract the water. Once the shop vacs are used, our team proceeds to the next step, which is bringing in the dehumidifiers and air movers. While you might not be able to see any water, it can still hide in the carpet, baseboards, walls, and insulation. Depending on how much water got into your property, this will dictate how much equipment is used. Typically, we will place a dehumidifier in each affected room, while being sensitive to how large the room is. We will also place one air mover for every 10 feet of affected wall space. Fans are placed closer to the walls with the dehumidifier prominently in the center of the room. Each fan is placed facing the wall to create circulation around the dehumidifier to eradicate as much moisture from the air as possible. Then, the dehumidifier will pull moisture from the air and deposit it down a drain to finally remove it from the affected areas.
Oftentimes, drying will take more than one day, which is why we monitor this equipment daily. Usually, we will use a non-intrusive moisture meter along the walls to see if they are still wet or if we are ready to remove our equipment. Sometimes, the drying procedure may take longer and organic growth can occur before we get a structure completely dry. Every time we work a loss, we make sure to go the extra mile to ensure your property is safe. This is why in addition to the equipment, we utilize antimicrobials to prevent the growth of any form of mold.
WATER DAMAGE RESPONSE: 24/7 IS NOT JUST A NUMBER
Remember, the most important aspect in dealing with any water damage is speed and response time. If you have a water loss at your house or business, call us at Guarantee Restoration Services, where we specialize in quick and professional solutions. With offices in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Gulfport, we can service anywhere along the Gulf Coast no matter the size of the loss or time of day. Contact us at 800-349-HELP (4357) or email info@guaranteerestoration.net.
Conner Perryman is a Business Development Representative at Guarantee Restoration Services. He has been a GRS team member since May 2018. To connect with him, visit LinkedIn or send him an email.
