Water Damage? Follow These Tips for Water & Sewage Restoration!

Water and sewage repairs are serious business and serious science. Backups can be the source of additional damage and health hazards if not mitigated properly. It is essential to begin the drying and dehumidification process as soon as possible to limit damage to structural components and household goods.

DSi technicians are trained and certified in the science of drying and will stabilize the damage to keep it from progressing further.

A structure is not necessarily dry once the visible water is gone. Crawlspaces and basements often require many days of dehumidification. Frequent monitoring of moisture levels is imperative. Our equipment and testing instruments are the best and most current the industry offers and assures you of a complete and thoroughly dry out.

If You Have Water Damage

Do

Call a plumber or other service to stop the source of the water.
Contact DSI Professional Restoration’s 24-hour emergency response.
Turn off the electricity to any affected rooms.
Contact your insurance company.
Place aluminum foil under the legs of wood furniture in contact with the carpet: furniture stains cannot be removed from carpet, and you will limit the damage to the furniture.
Remove potted plants from wet carpet: potting soil can permanently damage carpet.
Move small items and breakables to allow us to begin our work ASAP.

Don’t

Come in contact with the water/debris more than necessary: groundwater and sewage are sources of bacterial contamination.
Use a household vacuum.

Water & Sewer Damage Restoration Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How Long Will This Water Restoration Process Take?

After damage occurs in your home, it makes sense to wonder how long it will take to get your life back. Unfortunately, the question of how long the water restoration process takes doesn’t have a cut-and-dry answer as there are different scenarios depending on the extent of the water damage in your home and what needs to be done. There are two phases of the water restoration process typically.

The first phase is drying all of the moisture in the home. This phase requires removing all of the standing water and drying all of the structures that were made damp from the standing water. This part of the process usually takes around three to five days. The longer the area damaged was wet, the longer it will take to dry out. Remember, it’s not only the exterior that needs to dry but also the interior. Once the drying process is completed, it’s time to restore the home to how it was before the water damage occurred. This step may mean replacing drywall, wood, carpets, flooring, and other severely damaged materials that couldn’t be salvaged. Some homes are back to normal after a few days in this phase, but often, it can take several weeks, if not months. The best way to learn about your particular situation and the estimated time is to speak with one of our experienced professional restoration technicians for a potential timeline.

Q: What Are the Most Common Signs of Water Damage?

Hidden water damage can often be the most devastating to a home’s structure because it goes unnoticed at first until it becomes a significant enough problem that you notice it. Here are some of the most common signs of water damage that you should be on the lookout for in your home:

Spots on ceiling or walls: if you see watermark spots on your ceiling or walls, a leak may occur.
Higher than average water bills: this can signify that you have a hidden leak somewhere in your house.
Bad smells: smelling a damp, moldy, or musty kind of smell could be easily explained away by your pets or a basket of laundry from the gym that needs to be washed, but if you continue smelling it after cleaning or washing the dog, there’s a good chance there’s a leak.
Hearing the sound of water running: you may think that you imagined the noise at first, but if you hear dripping, rushing, or running sounds of water, there’s a good chance that you may have a hidden leak in your home.
Puddles: you may notice a pool of water in your home and think that it was from the window being open or someone dropping an ice cube, but if you clean it up and it comes back, there is probably a water leak in the area.
Paint and wall treatments bubble: if you see that your walls are showing damage with the paint bubbling up, cracking, or flaking off, there’s a good chance there’s a leak behind the wall getting the interior wet, and you’re just now seeing it in the exterior of the wall.

Contacting the professionals at DSi Professional Restoration can often be the best way to protect yourself from leaks as they are trained to identify problems and where the water damage can be coming from in your home.

Q: What Causes Water Damage, Exactly?

You’ve probably heard that water damage is one problem you don’t want as a homeowner because it can be a nightmare, but how does it happen? Learning about what can cause water damage can help you prevent it when possible. Here are some common causes of water damage:

Old windows, doors, or roofs that leak
Clogged up gutters
Leaking plumbing pipes
Plumbing fixtures with rotten seals
Leaking fire suppression systems
A broken appliance water line, such as a dishwasher or washing machine
Bad weather that damages your roof or siding, such as hail or windstorms
Flooding
Water heater leaks
Blocked or clogged drains
HVAC system improperly-working
Sewer line issues

While you can’t prevent all causes of water damage, you can make sure that you maintain your home to ensure that preventable causes don’t cause you to require professional water damage restoration. For instance, check the water lines going into your appliances and have regular maintenance done on your HVAC, plumbing, and other aspects of your home.