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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

What Types of Little Rock Home Disasters Need Professional Water Cleanup?

10/20/2021 (Permalink)

water damaged flooring being removed SERVPRO is proud to be EPA-registered, we make sure any water damage restoration we provide is within the guidelines.

SERVPRO techs have the resources and experience to handle any size water cleanup in Little Rock properties

When you think of a Little Rock home that needs restoration services after water damage, you might envision standing water in every room or a waterfall coming out of a ceiling. However, many of the assistance calls from property owners bring in SERVPRO to have an inch or less of water. The issue is that the water migrates under floors, within walls, and between levels in the floor joists. All of these areas need a proper extract, and drying or costly secondary issues to deal with, such as mold infestation and foul odors, can move in and become a bigger problem than the water.

What Can Happen If I Postpone Water Cleanup in My Home?

When your Little Rock property needs water cleanup, bringing in a professional restoration services company increases the chances for a favorable outcome. Many homeowners make the mistake of

  • Blotting up water
  • Running fans for days  
  • Spraying bleach and water on surfaces after they feel dry

And they assume the water spill situation got handled. That is where the problems can begin, and these secondary issues can be far more costly for a homeowner as they arrive in the form of mold, foul odors, and structural damage.

The major problem with DIY cleanup up water in a home is that it is nearly impossible to successfully extract it all without the use of detection equipment to locate it and extraction equipment. Water migrates rapidly within a structure, and gravity pulls it down through the path of least resistance. Water can:

  • Run into the subfloor
  • Seep under tiles and delaminate them
  • Get absorbed into carpet and padding
  • Wick into sheetrock and ruin it
  • Wind up between stories in a home within the floor joists

What is the Difference in a Water Damage that Just Happened and One that Waits for Removal?

Holding off on calling SERVPRO for professional restoration services is a mistake. Water ages and degrades rapidly, and after 48 hours, the water requires handling as a biohazard. This is immediately true in cases where the water may contain chemicals or sewage. It is vital always to begin the cleanup efforts as rapidly as possible to avoid this scenario.

What are the Signs I Still Have Water in My Home?

A noticeable musty odor can be a giveaway; some part of the damaged area retained moisture. Mold can develop and spread under floors and behind walls for a long time before it gets seen. The colonies often give themselves away with the stains or discoloration on walls or ceilings.

SERVPRO techs use their advanced equipment to locate and trace the migration paths within the home. It is also useful for pinpointing areas that may support mold colonies so actions can get taken to eradicate them or prevent them from being a problem through the use of proactive applications such as antimicrobial cleaning agents and sealants used on areas where the techs performed abatement.

Can Carpets or Upholstered Furnishings Survive Water Damage?

SERVPRO techs inspect each item in all areas for restoration potential through their cleaning methods. If the cleanup begins rapidly enough and the carpet fibers do not show signs of bleeding or shrinkage, there is potential for restoring it. The same goes for area rugs, although sometimes they need to get sent for in-plant cleaning and drying. Washable slipcovers on furniture and pillowcases can get renewed through the use of the Esporta Washing System and come out with zero signs of the former water stains or spots.

The extraction equipment the techs use is the key to lessening drying times. It is not uncommon for techs to do several dry passes over the damaged area to ensure that the maximum amount of moisture gets removed.

Staying Within the Scope of Coverage

When SERVPRO techs take on the task of cleaning up a home with water damage, they also communicate with both the homeowner and insurance adjuster. Nothing gets disposed of without approval, and before restoration actions get taken, the techs verify that the work is under the scope of coverage. The early attention to establishing measures that are covered eliminates the possibility of property owners getting hit with unexpected out-of-pocket expenses related to the restoration.

SERVPRO of Northwest Little Rock at (501) 803-9700 is ready 24/7 to assist local properties with any size or type of water cleanup. The certified technicians arrive quickly and return your home to its preloss condition.

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