4 Mistakes To Avoid When Dealing With Home Water Damage

Water damage is a situation no homeowner wants to experience in their homes. It refers to losses caused by the presence of water in unwanted places, such as the floor, walls, or furniture. Even with full measures in place, your house could still sustain damage in one way or another over time. Should you discover water damage in some parts of your house, how will you handle it? 

Performing corrective measures may not be enough to solve the situation. It would help to know another side of dealing with any problem: the mistakes to avoid. Below are four common mistakes not to make when dealing with water damage:

Working Independently

Today, homeowners are apt to perform DIY repairs. Although commendable, it’s not advisable in all situations, such as when dealing with water damage. If you decide to manage the problem on your own, remember there’s a probability you lack the knowledge to handle the situation. The result may be substandard work that can lead to more problems in the future. Instead, work with water damage or restoration experts. They have the skills and tools to help you reverse water damage. The experts can help with the drying process, among other crucial matters.

When looking for assistance, ensure the third-party help is qualified. Experience and a client portfolio should be a must-have to help you vet their capabilities. Many years in the business is a plus, while the portfolio typically contains before-and-after images to help you assess their services. 

Not Assessing The Type of Water Damage

The type of water damage can vary depending on the kind of water involved and the extent of the damage. Failure to assess the type of damage can make you adopt restoration measures that can worsen the problem. You want to know the best approach to take.

There are three categories of water damage. Category 1 is damage caused by clean water from your taps or tank. Category 2 results from mildly contaminated water, be it from a toilet or dishwasher overflow. Ingesting this water could lead to illnesses. Lastly, category 3 is caused by black water, which is highly contaminated and could contain organic matter and toxic substances like heavy metals.

The source of damage will help you categorize it. Once you identify the type, you’ll know the best course of action. For Category 1, you don’t need special water removal and damage restoration tools. However, for categories 2 and 3, you’ll need special tools to remove the water and handle your belongings after the removal. You might need to disinfect your home and eliminate mold, among other measures. For these categories, it’s best to leave the work to experts. They’re skilled and will know the best approach.

Addressing home water damage requires timely action and a comprehensive understanding of the underlying issues. It’s crucial to approach the situation with an integrated perspective, ensuring that every aspect of the damage is properly assessed and resolved to prevent further complications.” – Ross Kesterson, Founder of Restore Pros

Failing To Address The Source Of Water Damage

Addressing water damage in your home goes beyond removing the water from your floors and drying your household belongings. It’s an aspect some homeowners have yet to grasp. They’ll only remove the water and leave it at that. Failing to address the source of the water damage increases its chances of recurring. Therefore, start the restoration process by identifying the water source.

The source could be a leaking plumbing system, spaces in your doors and windows, or a leaking roof. There are a few other possible causes, but once you pinpoint the source, ensure you address it. For the window and door spaces, seal them with a silicone sealant or weatherstrip them with rubber. You can have your roof or plumbing pipes repaired or replaced should the damage be extensive.

Ignoring The Water Damage For Too Long

As previously stated, some homeowners end the restoration process with water extraction. In most cases, there’s always a probability of damage here and there. Some homeowners ignore the damages intentionally, and others unintentionally. It’s a mistake you want to avoid as a homeowner. One of the reasons people choose to ignore the problem is the lack of finances. However, did you know that prolonging to address the issue won’t minimize your expenses?

The longer you wait, the more extensive the damage gets. Suppose the only initial need was to remove the old paint from your walls and repaint them. However, as time progresses, your walls also get affected by moisture and lose their structural integrity. In this case, you have to replace the wall and repaint it. That will cost you more than it would have had you stopped the damage from progressing.

Therefore, ensure you address all your water damage issues as soon as possible. As stated earlier, it’s best to work with a water damage restoration expert like Protegrity Restoration. They’ll help you identify any water damage in your home while giving you the best solutions.

Conclusion

Water damage is shied upon by homeowners, but every home is prone to it. As a homeowner, you must be ready with the necessary resources to address it. One of the resources you need is insight into handling water damage. This article discusses the mistakes to avoid. Be sure to know this aspect of the problem so that you can act quickly and accordingly.