People often fail to handle water damage in time, nor do they use proper equipment to get rid of water or mold that develops after it strikes. Many people do not deal with water damage in time, causing costly damage to their homes and businesses. If your home has been damaged by water, you should hire an IICRC-certified professional to ensure your family avoids health problems.
In the aftermath of flooding and storms, a family can suffer financial losses and damage to their home. The average cost of water removal alone is $2,700. Cleanup and restoration add thousands more to the bill, and a foot of flood damage can cost nearly $20,000. While the average water damage insurance claim is $7,500, uninsured people face more staggering out-of-pocket costs.
It is therefore common for people to try and save money. One of the first mistakes they make is not facing the full scope of the problem. Procrastinating can lead to worsening water damage, penetrating building materials and increasing restoration costs. When people do seek help, they don’t seek out certified experts.
A certified expert should instead be contacted and consulted as soon as possible. IICRC is an organization that sets industry standards for inspection, cleaning, and restoration of damaged properties and trains experts. Certified technicians and customers alike have come to trust its Clean Trust logo as a symbol of trust.
According to IICRC standards, there are three categories of water, which are usually referred to as “clean, gray, and black.” Clean, or Category 1, water is safe for human consumption when it is released. It is slightly contaminated — either due to mixing with soil or from exposure to contamination in walls or floors inside a building or home. Category 2 water can cause discomfort or sickness.
If ingested, Category 3 water, or “black,” can cause disease, and even death. During storm surges, sewage backups, and floods, soil bacteria, agricultural products, decaying animals, insects, and animal droppings can all get carried along with it. As it flows across the ground, flooding is assumed to be unsanitary. When it is trapped in structural cavities, bacteria multiply and produce malodors.
Water Damage Prevention Tips for Uninsured Consumers
The exhaustive list starts with prioritizing safety after a flood. To minimize direct contact or inhalation of microorganisms in water, people should wear gloves, respirators, and splash goggles. In addition to opening the windows to air out a flood-damaged building, electrical shock hazards should also be removed.
It is recommended that they use shovels or rakes for debris removal, and that they sanitize those tools after they have finished using them. The wall closures (drywall, paneling) should also be removed. insulation materials exposed during wall removal, leaving only materials that are durable and minimally porous. Materials that trap unsanitary water and should be removed include carpet, cushion, pad, felt, and sheet vinyl, along with laminate flooring. These materials are prone to absorb water, causing odor which promotes rapid microbial growth, potentially leading to health problems.
The services provided by a certified professional include flushing contaminants from salvageable surfaces with pressure washing, vacuuming the rinse water as soon as possible, applying biocides (which kill microorganisms) to salvageable surfaces, and drying out structures with specialized fans and dehumidifiers.
With an IICRC-certified water damage restoration professional, consumers know they’re getting a professional who can assist them in restoring their property and protecting their families as well.