The adage "fire is a good servant," but "a bad master" also applies to water. Water can cause extensive damage to your home, and dealing with it can be scary, draining, and expensive. Homes are supposed to be our safe havens, and such a disaster can be unsettling and severely depressing.
When this happens, however, you can take a breather by hiring a water damage restoration company to assist you. They are experts in cleaning, clearing, and restoring your home. That decision will either make or break you, and it’ll determine how smooth the restoration process will be.
You must react to water damage promptly to save your house from further destruction. This article will expound on how to find and hire a reputable water damage restoration company for your home restoration needs.
What Causes Water Damages
Nothing is more painful than walking into your home and discovering inches of water on the floor. However, this is only one example: water can cause varying degrees of damage to your property. The worst part is that it can happen at any time.
Here are the common causes of water damages:
● Floods
Areas prone to natural calamities such as floods and hurricanes are more likely to suffer water damages. Unfortunately, these kinds of destructions are severe enough to destroy thousands of properties at a go.
● Pipe Leakages
The danger about leakages is that they’re mainly detected when it’s too late since the pipes are inside walls or enshrouded by concrete. Water ends up accumulating over time, causing molds to grow on your damp wall.
● Clogged Gutters
Gutters collect a lot of silt, leaves, and branches that settle on the way and obstruct water flow when it rains. Water then overflows along the channels' edges, causing water damage to the floors, balcony, and walls.
● Blocked Drainage System
Foreign objects such as hair, dirt, and toiletries may clog your kitchen and bathroom drainage systems. This causes backflow of dirty water into the house producing unpleasant odors. The smell can be disturbing due to the build-up of hydrogen sulfide.
● Faulty Appliances
At times household appliances like washing machines can have faulty or cracked pipes. This will inherently cause water damage to your house. You should always check out pipes and hoses to your household appliances as they are susceptible to damage.
What Does a Water Damage Restoration Company Do?
Water damage occurs up to a certain level of destruction; thus, restoration may vary depending on the scenario. After the scope of the work is determined, repairs are carried out in stages.
1. Precaution Measures
If you live in a flood-prone area, water restoration companies may offer protective measures against a hurricane or flood damage. This includes the use of tarps and placing board-ups on openings that water would use to flow in.
2. Removing Water
Gallons of water settle on the floor of your property as a result of extensive water damage. To prevent mold formation and growth, you must remove the water as soon as possible. Commercial pumps and vacuum cleaners are used by restoration companies to drain the water.
3. Heating and Dehumidification Process
This is the process by which air is heated while moisture is removed. The air is passed over hygroscopic chemicals during the process. Which then reacts by emitting heat and absorbing moisture from the surrounding air.
Dehumidification is vital as water and moisture will hide in places you can’t access or see in the case of water damage.
4. Drying Furniture and Appliances
Emergency water damage restoration service ensures all your belongings are restored to default. Your sofas, carpet, and home appliances will definitely be soaked in water. They’ll be dried out using industrial humidifiers and air movers.
5. Repair Services
Floods are destructive and may end up damaging your walls, doors, and house interiors. Depending on your agreement with the company, repainting may be required.
However, your house may need major construction repairs and renovation. This may require you to move temporarily until it's done.
What to Check When Hiring a Water Damage Restoration Company
To hire the best restoration company after water damages to your property lookout for the following attributes:
1. Get Quotations from Different Companies
Companies charge different rates depending on the scope of the job and the amount of damage done to your property. The average cost of restoration services is $4000. Depending on your location and the type of property, the price will fluctuate or reduce.
To get the best value out of your money, you need to request quotations from different companies and gauge what will work for you. The companies will do a thorough assessment of the damage to get a clear view of what exactly needs to be done. A quotation will be handed over, and you have to make sure you get the services at a competitive rate.
2. Responsiveness to Emergency
The degree of damage to your property depends on the responsiveness of the water damage restoration company. The company you choose should have a hotline and operate 24/7 to respond to your needs anytime. To prevent further damage, the responsiveness of the team should be top tier.
You wouldn't want a scenario where the water has burst out inside the house, but the company is nowhere to be seen or heard. You need a team that’ll be at your beck and call in case of any water damage that raises the need for an alarm. Contact 1-800 Water Damage company for water damages services.
Companies tend to take more clients than they can handle. You wouldn't want to take chances with a company with a lot on its plate and inadequate human resources. Test their availability by how fast they answer your inquiries and queries.
3. Certification and Credentials
The water damage restoration industry is self-regulated, where industry players set the standards. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't check out any credentials. Below are the set industry-standard credentials you should look out for:
IICRC Certification – It’s set by board professionals to familiarize companies with the industry. From the standards to ethics to terminologies and techniques. Claim adjusters and insurance companies are more likely to work with IICRC certified professionals because their training provides them with sufficient industry knowledge.
Bond coverage - Beyond the general liability cover, a bond covers any damage that could occur on the job by the company’s actions. This guarantees you that you won’t pay a penny in case of further damage caused by the company.
4. Get Referrals
Firsthand information from people you know is the best insight you could get about a restoration company. You may want to choose a company that someone has experienced their services and would totally recommend. Professionalism is key.
Formalize any questions or queries for which you require clarification or assurance. Inquire about pricing; was it fair or justifiable concerning the work done, and did they work out everything? Learn about the company's responsiveness during an emergency.
Third-party referrals are also worthwhile. Scroll through social media to see what people are saying about the water damage restoration company you are to consider.
5. Works Well With Your Insurance
A reputable water restoration company is required for an insurance claim to be valid. In the event of compensation, insurance companies recognize restoration companies that have the necessary credentials and accurately represent the damage.
Typically insurance agents demand investigations to be done to understand the cause of the water damages. An IICRC certified company can report their findings, and insurance will trust the credibility of the report.
Reduce Losses by Hiring the Best Water Damage Restoration Company
Flooding and leaking water pipes may lead to extensive damages to your home. The great thing is that you can restore the property and minimize the losses you bear. That’s why you should be keen when looking for the best water damage restoration company.
The idea is to pick a highly responsive company that offers quick and reliable water damage restoration services. Also, you need specialists who’ll advise on various safety precautions to follow after water damage. The idea is to disconnect all electrical appliances and manage all hazards.
To find this company seek referrals from the right group of people and compare quotes. The objective is to pick a highly reputable water damage restoration company that charges affordable fees. In addition, review this company’s certifications and ensure that it has the right insurance coverage.
See our other blogs for more content on real estate and home improvements.
