24/7 Emergency Service
The Progression of Water Damage
5/5/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Sioux Falls is your 24/7 water restoration expert. Call us right away if you need immediate service.
A dripping faucet or a little water spot may not seem like a big deal, but you should never underestimate the amount of damage moisture can cause. On average, a household leak can lose up to 10,000 gallons of water per year.
Water can quickly damage floors, walls and any soft surface it comes into contact with. Addressing an issue immediately can mitigate damage, and following this timeline can help produce the best result.
Every household has a one in four chance of incurring flood damage over a 30-year period in a high-risk area. Knowing your next move after spotting water is essential.
The first 24 to 48 hours after a flood or other water damage are the most crucial. Some of the items in your home will begin to take on water immediately and become victim to its terrible effects.
Upholstery and other furnishings will quickly soak through, and wooden items will swell as moisture moves through. Personal items such as photos and books are subject to warping beyond recognition.
Mold can also begin to form in this timeframe. The faster moisture is addressed in the home, the less damage there will be.
At SERVPRO, it is our goal to “restore vs. replace” in order to help you save both money and your irreplaceable keepsakes. In our restoration process, if we are unable to salvage items, we will communicate directly with you and handle all removal so that your home can continue to dry out.
Once the first day has passed, water damage will continue to progress fast. Mold spreads like wildfire when there is excessive moisture. Once mold has set in, even the home’s structure is at risk for damage.
Any surfaces that are porous such as wood and walls will become increasingly compromised, while metal surfaces begin to corrode.
Standing moisture should be avoided at all costs as the effects could be both catastrophic and irreversible. The more time that passes, the higher the cost and greater the efforts to restore will become, while the risk to the structure of the home increases.
Our process at SERVPRO starts as soon as you make the call, hopefully within the first 24 hours. The first step of the service process begins with water extraction, aiding in spread prevention and structural damage, as well as reducing drying time.
Floors, furniture and other large items will likely require cleaning, sanitizing and deodorization. Once the majority of the water is removed, our specialized team will use equipment leading in the industry to dry water that can’t even be seen.
Once these steps are complete, we will begin assessing for any needed construction to your property in order to restore your home back to preloss condition. This could include a minor repair or a complete rebuild of an area of your home.
We can simplify the restoration process by working with you through the initial damage assessment all the way to any needed reconstruction. SERVPRO will constantly update you on each step and get you back in your space faster.
Regardless of the type of water damage sustained, SERVPRO has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover. Contact us 24⁄7 when you need a dependable team to help you recover.