Water damage resulting from plumbing leaks, flooding disasters, etc. is undoubtedly one of the most destructive problems you can deal with as a house or property owner. Water damage usually occurs at a time you do not anticipate and requires you to act as quickly as possible to mitigate the problem.

The longer water remains in a building, the more it compromises its integrity. This excess water could also result in structural damage as well as mold growth. Therefore, to prevent extensive damage to your property, quick and efficient cleanup and restoration methods like water extraction and water mitigation must be taken.

Why are these steps necessary for emergency water cleanup? Read on to find out.

What is Water Extraction?

Water extraction is the process of removing all standing water from a property to prevent structural damage and hasten the drying process. This procedure aids in reducing the possibility of mold growth and secondary water damage.

Restoration companies often carry out water extraction in an effort to reduce standing water damage and return the property to its former state.

The Water Extraction Process

The procedure of extracting water is best left to experts, as it could be quite a tedious and complex process. Understanding the proper steps to take during water removal helps salvage the situation and makes restoration achievable. The process involved is as follows:

1. Stopping the Water Flow

Until the source of the water is identified and stopped, water removal cannot be achieved. This could be as simple as closing off the main water pipe or as huge as requiring the help of emergency services. After this is done, the next step is assessing the entire situation, including taking note of damages.

2. Draining the Water

Using a wet vacuum or a pump, visible pockets of water are removed to prevent further damage to the property. There may also be other issues, such as loose furnishings and safety hazards, to be concerned with. Therefore, it is important that the electricity be switched off before getting to work.

3. Removing Non-Visible Water

Water may find its way to areas where it shouldn’t be and can remain hidden in some regions of the house, like the walls or within the carpeting. This is why it is important that professionals with the appropriate equipment handle water extraction.

While you may successfully remove the visible water from your home, invisible water can also be damaging, resulting in mold formation and destroying the building structure. To prevent future problems that may be more costly, it is best to remove non-visible water too.

The Benefits of Water Extraction

There are several benefits to getting water extraction services after water damage. This includes the following:

Protecting Furniture and Other Belongings

Standing water ruins furniture and other belongings in the home. However, water extraction makes it possible to remove this water from a building before it has a chance to soak and destroy belongings in the house.

Reducing the Risks of Permanent Damage to Valuables

Water seeping into walls, floors, and other regions of a building can weaken the property’s structure and lead to rot. Water extraction prevents water from seeping any further, consequently reducing the risk of structural damage in the affected area.

Saving Time and Money

This process is quick and cost-effective. Therefore, preventing much worse damages that could be more expensive to repair.

Restoring the Building to its Former Condition

Water extraction restores the home or property to its original condition, allowing the homeowner to move on with their life after a water accident.

What is Water Mitigation?

Water mitigation is carried out immediately after the water extraction process. This procedure involves cleaning solutions, sanitizing, and drying properties in order to minimize the damages incurred as a result of a water disaster. Water mitigation involves taking quick and appropriate action to prevent further damage to property. This process involves the following:

• Removing unsalvageable contents and affected structures, such as upholstered furniture.
• Applying cleaning solution and disinfecting all affected areas
• Deodorizing
• Dehumidifying
• Drying out the property with specialized equipment

Drying is a crucial step in restoration. Skipping this step can compromise the structural integrity of the building and not allow the property to dry out properly. It may take days to a few weeks for a building to dry completely.

For successful water damage restoration, all moisture must be eliminated entirely from the air and structure. This is why water mitigation specialists make use of diagnostic tools like moisture meters for moisture testing and assessing the dampness level.

In order to remove moisture completely from the building and return it to its previous humidity levels additional equipment such as high-speed fans and sub-floor drying systems are used. This procedure prevents wooden floors, walls, and furniture from swelling, rotting, and becoming mold-friendly.

The Benefits of Water Mitigation

Water mitigation is the first step to carry out during water damage control. Here are the benefits mitigation offers:

Quick Restoration

Professional water mitigation services can clean up, dry, and disinfect the building, making it possible for quick restoration.

Mold Mitigation

Mold is one of the biggest issues with water damage in buildings since it can develop anywhere, is toxic, and can result in allergic reactions. Nevertheless, with a professional water damage restoration service, water mitigation makes it possible to prevent and eradicate mold buildup.

Reduced Losses and Costs

Water damage can cause significant losses and be quite expensive to fix, even if the water infiltrated your home for just a few hours. Fortunately, water mitigation reduces these losses as well as the cost of repairs.

Professional Advice

With water mitigation services, you get advice from experts who inspect your property and provide you with professional opinions in regard to the extent of the water damage.

Understanding the Difference Between Water Extraction and Water Mitigation

Water extraction services are designed for significant events like natural disasters, roof leaks, burst pipes, drainage problems, sewage backups, and whatever devastating situation could result in water damage in your home.

This process ultimately removes all the visible water, speeding up the drying process and preventing the risk of further structural damage.

Water mitigation, on the other hand, is more of a professional cleanup done after the water extraction process.  Water mitigation cleans, sanitizes, and dries out the property.

This swift action minimizes water damage by removing unsalvageable contents, disinfecting, and removing nasty smells, as well as thoroughly drying the building structure.

The difference between the two processes is the order in which they come in and the role they play in water damage restoration. Water extraction comes first, followed by the water mitigation process.

Even the smallest amount of water can be destructive, which is why it is important that water extraction be carried out first. In contrast, water mitigation stabilizes the property, keeping its integrity intact and making it fully dry for repairs to take place.

Causes Of Water Damage

When equipment and appliances malfunction, they can pose many issues and result in water damage. Here are some of the known causes of water damage, both domestically and industrially:

In The Home

• Dishwasher: This is one of the major causes of water damage in the home. Misusing them often results in leakage that damages the flooring of the home as well as attracts mold.
• Washing Machine: Washing machines are larger than dishwashers, meaning their level of damage will be greater. When these machines are plagued with leaks, tears, and clogging, they can cause flooding. Most times, the damages go unnoticed for a while before they are realized, further increasing the level of water damage.
• Refrigerators: These are one of the most popular appliances in the home, but refrigerators are prone to water damage issues. Most times, a crack in their plastic or copper water lines can cause water infiltration.

In Industrial Facilities

Flooding, condensation, and leaks are all various ways an industrial facility can suffer water damage. Faulty pipes, damaged fixtures, and worn seals usually cause leaks. While overflowing rivers and streams, heavy rainfall, and broken water sources can trigger flooding, resulting in water damage in an industrial facility.

Why Are Water Extraction and Water Mitigation Necessary?

Water mitigation and extraction stop further water harm to a structure. Both entail removing water while maintaining the structural integrity of the building. If not handled properly, water infiltration can seriously harm a building’s structural elements, such as the foundation, walls, and flooring.

For this reason, both water extraction and water mitigation are important. They both support building safety and guard against health and financial risks brought on by water damage.

Contact A Water Extraction Professional Today

After experiencing water damage, your priority should be contacting a professional water restoration company for water extraction services. Thankfully, Titan Restoration Construction offers quick and effective water extraction services to West Palm Beach, Florida, residents.

Our team of expert technicians works effectively to restore homes and buildings affected by water damage to their original states. We offer all structural repairs and the finishing touches required to get your building back to its former good condition.

Contact us today to learn more about our water damage repair services.