Water Damage Repair: When It’s Time to Ditch the DIY and Call the Pros

11/12/2020 (Permalink)

Water Damage Repair: When It’s Time to Ditch the DIY and Call the Pros

After working a 60-hour week, all Joan wanted when she left the office late Friday night was to unwind by taking a hot bath with a mug of chamomile tea, hummus and cracker platter, and the latest Patricia Cornwell mystery. 

But things took a “wet” turn when she fell asleep in the bathtub with the water running. Joan awoke in a panic hours later to her husband, Steve, screaming her name. He had come home from bowling night to a flooded living room and water flowing down the stairs. The couple assessed the water damage and *thought* they could handle it themselves with help from DIY YouTube videos and bribing their friends with pizza and beer. 

Do-it-yourself vs. calling the pros

What if a tree falls on your home and a storm dumps an inch of water in your now-exposed attic? Or, if your condo’s bedroom shares a wall with a neighbor’s living room that catches fire and is doused with 300 gallons of water? Or, if the dark stain on the ceiling in your daughter’s bedroom is expanding by the day? 

In each of these instances, the wisest decision you can make is to pick up the phone and call in the pros. Or the SERVPROs, if you will. 

Not only does water damage affect your home’s structural foundation, but it also creates an ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow, termites and carpenter ants to move in, and powerful odors to fill your living spaces. To fully restore and dry your property - and have the validation and documentation to back it up - you need specialized training and equipment. And that’s where SERVPRO comes in.

Ongoing training + latest technology = bye-bye moisture

Our local technicians are well-prepared to tackle any water damage emergencies - long before they ever set foot in your home. In addition to earning the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, they complete Employee Certification Training and a 15-day hands-on course. Continuing education classes keep the water restoration team informed on scientific drying principles and the latest technology. 

Their extensive education and training come into play when they arrive at your home with all the tools they need to restore it to pre-water damage condition: Moisture detection and measurement equipment, including an infrared camera. Powerful water extraction pumps and vacuum units to speed the drying process. Industrial strength air movers and dehumidifiers to pull water vapor from the air. And thermal foggers, deodorization machines, and sanitizing agents and treatments to eliminate odors.

Tips to help prevent water damage

While our specialists are available at a moment’s notice for any water damage or restoration emergency, there are a few DIY steps homeowners can take to avoid them. 

1. Clean - Keep those gutters clean to ensure proper drainage and direct downspouts at least five feet away from your home. Whenever possible, slope your yard away from the foundation.
   
   
2. Test - At least once a year, check your sump pump. During heavy storm seasons, test it more frequently. 
   
   
3. Fix - Keep on the lookout for dark spots under pipes and on ceilings. If you notice leaks or dripping pipes, get them fixed. Also, repair cracked caulking and inspect for missing, loose or damaged roof shingles. 

And for Joan’s case, we’ll add one more tip: Self-care is important, but please don’t fall asleep in the bathtub with the water running!

24/7 water damage and restoration assistance

Although SERVPRO of Northwest Charlotte is part of a national network of 1,700-plus franchises, we’re locally owned and operated and part of the Mecklenburg, Lincoln, and Gaston communities. Our water damage and restoration experts are employees, not contractors, which means our team can respond faster to emergencies with a proven water damage restoration process and the most advanced technology and equipment. For questions, contact us anytime at (704) 393-7890 or request help online.