Need to research LA water damage restoration? Save The Day Restoration is one of the most trusted water damage restoration companies in California.
This comprehensive guide is the result of years of experience dealing with all types of water damage from pumping it out to restoring our customers’ properties.
Find out about when you need water damage restoration, what water does to your home, residential water damage restoration protocol and more.
What Can Water Damage Do To My Home?
Water damage can ruin your property in a number of different ways.
- Bacteria growth.
- Mold and mildew growth.
- Plywood delamination.
- Rotting wood.
- Rust and corrosion of metals.
- Swelling of composite woods.
- Warped wood.
- Water spots.
The last one, water spots, may not seem too bad. That is, until you consider that water spots often conceal a much bigger problem. Ignoring water spots can lead to burst pipes, structural damage, and even more water damage through leaks.
Types Of Water Damage
There are 3 categories of water damage officially established by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).
Clean Water: Category 1
It may have come from a burst pipe, a leak from an appliance, or rainwater. It’s not dangerous as long as there’s no electrocution risk and you deal with it in under 48 hours.
After that time bacteria can grow in clean water and it degrades to gray water.
Gray Water: Category 2
Here’s where water starts to get dangerous to handle. It’s not always gray in color, but category 2 water is a health hazard.
Bacteria can grow and you’ll probably notice a bad smell. If you don’t act fast, this smell can stick around.
As we mentioned above, gray water can come from clean water that has been left for over 48 hours. It can also come directly from the following.
- Condensate water from freezers or refrigerators.
- Septic tank backups.
- Sump pump malfunctions.
- Sprinklers from putting out a fire.
- Toilet overflows with urine.
- Washing machine or dishwasher water.
Do you have gray water in your home? If so, you should avoid touching it and contact a licensed LA water damage restoration company like Save The Day Restoration.
Black Water: Category 3
Black water is the most dangerous type of water. Again, it may not be black in color, but category 3 water is a huge health hazard. It can carry viruses and bacteria that can make you extremely sick.
What Constitutes Black Water?
If the water in your home has traces of the following, it counts as category 3 black water.
- Flood water from streams and rivers.
- Septic tank overflow.
- Sewage containing feces.
Anyone handling black water needs to have professional grade PPE so as not to catch anything, plus special training.
What Can Black Water Do To The Body?
Accidentally coming into contact with black water can leave you with a range of serious health conditions, including these well-known ones.
- Gastroenteritis.
- Hepatitis.
- Salmonella.
- Tetanus.
The 5 Most Common Causes Of Water Damage
At Save The Day Restoration, we help our customers avoid the need for residential water damage restoration a second time.
So if you’re keen to prevent water damage happening again, pay particular attention to these danger zones in your home.
#1. Appliances
Dishwashers and washing machines do malfunction, so be around when you use them where possible.
And even if the water sinks into the floorboards, you can’t ignore it. This is because it can damage your crawl space and foundations.
#2. Burst Plumbing And Leaking Pipes
Plumbers will only get you so far, even the best ones.
They won’t repair anything related to the structure of your home like the walls or floorboards. The water might be perfectly clean but it will only stay that way for a short time.
#3. Drains
Drain problems can come from toilets, washbasins or appliances. A partially clogged or totally blocked drain is hard to put right. So treating the blockage when you first notice it is the best way to go.
The worst case scenario in the case of a clogged toilet is a sewage spill, so clearing a new blockage should be a top priority.
#4. Water Heaters
Hot water tanks bursting can be hazardous for two main reasons. The scalding hot water and the risk of electrocution. Yikes.
The water is relatively clean. So even if you have a big leak, when we see to it quickly it should be a straightforward water damage fix.
#5. Sewage
Every homeowner’s worst nightmare in the world of leaks. If there’s any good news here, it’s that sewage leaks usually occur in basements.
What Causes Sewage Leaks At Home?
Interestingly, most sewage leaks don’t happen because of toilet paper or feminine hygiene products.
The majority of sewage leaks happen because of fats, oils and grease in the sewage system. It’s not that people dispose of these items down the toilet, it gets into the system through kitchen drains. They harden once they’re cool, and clump together.
Had a sewage leak? Call Save The Day Restoration 24/7 for a professional sewage clean up service.
How Do I Avoid These Common Water Damage Situations Happening In My Home?
When you keep all these well-maintained, you’re much less likely to need Los Angeles water damage restoration in the first place. Here you will learn how to protect your home from water damage.
Water Damage Classifications
Great LA water damage restoration companies like Save The Day Restoration use this scale to classify water damage.
Class 1: You Caught It In Time
The best case scenario. Probably only a small area of your home has been affected.
Also, there aren’t too many water-sensitive items or structures damaged. So there’s moderate to no damage to drywall, carpets, unvarnished wood and so on.
Class 1 emergency? Call in the water restoration team now and there shouldn’t be any lasting damage.
Class 2: Some Damage
In a class 2 case, several rooms have typically been affected by water. Water-vulnerable materials such as carpet, drapes and drywall have gotten wet.
Class 3: Rapidly Spreading Damage
There’s more significant damage to high-absorption materials now. The water is rapidly spreading, and this could be along ceilings, insulation, walls or pooling on the ground.
Class 4: Low Permeating Materials Affected
Even materials that you’d hope would be waterproof are taking on water. These include concrete and hardwood.
It’s a more complex job now to remove the water because it’s in internal, hard-to-reach areas. Also, the water damage restoration needed is likely to be more extensive.
When Should I Call A Water Damage Restoration Company?
People who aren’t in the residential water damage restoration trade are often under the misconception that water damage will go away.
While water will eventually dry on its own, it’s better for the structural integrity of your home to contact leading LA water damage restoration company, Save The Day Restoration.
We recommend that you call us as soon as you find water damage whether it’s from a leak, storm or flood. That’s because the sooner we get going, the faster, simpler, and more economical it will be to fix.
The longer you leave sitting water the more it will cause damage that can’t be repaired, and you’ll need to replace. This holds true even if the water was originally clean.
How Do I Restore My Home After Extensive Water Damage?
The most important thing to do is to stay safe. Water and electricity can be a deadly combination. You can also slip, fall through weakened floors or have a waterlogged ceiling collapse on you.
Get in contact with a licensed and insured Los Angeles water damage restoration company like Save The Day Restoration. Then sit back and we’ll do the following in no time.
- Test the water for pollutants so we know how to deal with it.
- Pump all the water out.
- Dry the area thoroughly with industrial-grade equipment.
- Decontaminate your home if necessary
- Restore the structure of your home.
While we’re restoring your home we’ll pay special attention to weak points. Water can swell wood and weaken drywall. If you’ve had mold it can eat into walls and floors so we’ll test everything.
You can rest assured when you get back into your home it will be strong and safe. All our reconstruction work is high quality and lasts for years to come.
Water Damage Restoration Protocol
What’s industry best practice for restoring your home?
- Check for and eliminate hazards at your home.
- Test the water for pollutants such as sewage.
- Treat the water according to how dirty it is.
- Pump it out.
- Dry the area with powerful fans.
- Sanitize the air with air scrubbers.
- Remove damaged furniture and structures.
- Carry out high-quality repairs.
It’s important to note that LA water damage restoration shouldn’t be left to just anyone. You need a licensed and insured team like Save The Day Restoration to do it right.
If you don’t choose a licensed team, they may not follow established water damage restoration protocol correctly, or at all.
Water Damage Restoration Timeline
It’s impossible to say for sure how long it will take for your home. However, the water damage restoration timeline will be longer the more of these factors are present.
- There was deep water.
- Your home is large.
- Your property was wet for more than 24 hours.
- The water that affected your home was gray or black, meaning moderately or very contaminated.
- The water has swollen or warped wood.
- Your drywall got wet.
You must be keen to get back into your home. So it’s paramount to only choose from top-rated water damage restoration companies like Save The Day Restoration. That way you’ll know we’ll do a good job, and promptly.
How To Prevent Water Damage To Your Home’s Exterior
When you’ve been in the LA water damage restoration business for over 15 years, you’ll know a thing or two about how to prevent damage from happening.
- Keep downspouts and gutters clear of leaves and other debris.
- Caulk your windows.
- Get missing shingles replaced promptly.
- Install gutter guards so that rain flows away from your home.
The above should be done as often as necessary.
Guarding Against Water Damage Inside Your Home
If you’d like to ensure you don’t need residential water damage restoration again, keep a close eye on these.
- Appliances.
- Faucets.
- Hoses.
- Plumbing.
- Showers.
To beat water damage before it takes hold, keep a close eye out for these signs.
- Cracks.
- Dampness in the basement, crawl space or attic.
- Discoloration or lumps in the walls or ceilings.
- Loose caulk.
- Mold.
- Peeling paint.
- Roof damage.
- Rusting metal.
- Stuffy or unpleasant smells.
- Swollen drywall, wood, laminate or plywood.
Regularly having a good look for these signs of water damage can keep you from having major repairs in the future.
How Long Does It Take For Water To Ruin Wood?
Time is of the essence when wood’s involved in water damage. Wood doesn’t like long-term water exposure, especially if it’s untreated or unvarnished.
The water damage process is faster if the weather is hot, if it’s a wooden floor or wooden furniture on the ground, or if the water is dirty.
Swelling After Exposure To Water
It depends on the type of wood of course, but porous varieties can swell after just a few minutes.
Warping With Water
Typically 24 hours is all it takes for warping which is hard to put right again.
Mold Growth
Again, mold is pretty greedy and can start to eat away on your floorboards, beams or furniture in a day.
Rot From Water Damage
Rot can start to take hold in wood in a month, especially if it’s untreated or sitting in water.
Preventing Water Damage On Wood
Proud of that gorgeous wooden floor? Let’s keep it that way. Here are a couple of tips to keep your wooden floors and items of furniture intact.
Use Humidifiers And Dehumidifiers
In California we might need both humidifiers or dehumidifiers according to the weather conditions. When you keep your home at optimum humidity, wooden items will thank you. When wood is healthy it won’t crack, swell or let moisture in.
If you already have water damage on a hardwood floor, you should call a good LA water damage restoration company like Save The Day Restoration. With a hardwood floor the stakes are too high to just hope it dries out.
Reseal Hardwood Floors
About every 7-10 years should do it. A hardwood floor that’s in good condition is better at withstanding a short amount of time covered in water.
Keep Furniture Varnished
A simple coat of varnish could be the difference between having to toss your furniture in the case of a leak or flood, or not. So if the varnish on your furniture has seen better days, think about having it sanded and re-varnished.
Store Off The Floor
Anything on the floor will contribute to keeping that area wet. So shoes, pet bedding and boxes for example are better stored off the ground.
Protecting Laminate Flooring From Water Damage
If you have a leak on laminate flooring which has even tiny gaps, the water can flow into the space below. Then, homeowners may believe they have dried the area when they haven’t, only to be faced with extensive repairs down the line.
Want to save yourself from serious residential water damage restoration in the first place? This is how to treat your laminate flooring so it’s fully waterproof.
#1. Caulk expansion gaps.
#2. Use silicone on it.
#3. Finish with a polyurethane top coat.
Why It’s Important To Call A Professional LA Water Damage Restoration Company
If you have more than a small leak, there’s pooled water or you suspect the water has drained into the floorboards, it’s important to call in an experienced water damage team.
A large quantity of water won’t drain away or dry any time soon. That is, unless you have professional-grade pumping and drying equipment and a crew that knows how to use them.
You’re Against The Clock Now
If you have water damage in your home, you should call Save The Day Restoration as soon as you can. Even with clean water leaks, mold can grow after about a day, which is a huge health hazard and needs to be professionally removed.
Every second you wait means that water is seeping into the structure of your home and belongings.
You’ll salvage most stuff the faster we can get there and deal with it. And the cleanup and restoration process will be simpler and more economical.
Why Choose Save The Day Restoration For Your Water Emergency?
Save The Day Restoration is one of LA’s most trusted companies for a reason. Here’s an overview of what we can offer you.
- 24 hour services.
- No risk to your health.
- Fully trained and certified employees.
- The latest high-tech equipment.
- We can reach water in places you can’t.
- Our team can help you with insurance claims.
- A great long-term investment in your home.
Save The Day Restoration Is The Clear Choice For LA Water Damage Restoration
Call our emergency line at any time of day or get in touch by email, and we’ll send our experienced professionals out, sharp. We can also handle cleaning and mold remediation at your Los Angeles property.
