A decomposed grout or moldy drywall is what homeowners dread encountering in their homes. Not only do they make your house unpleasant in appearance, but they endanger the health of humans. Together, we will look at how to maintain your Chicago, IL, commercial and residential properties to prevent water and mold damage and what to do if mold damage has already happened.
What is Water Damage?
In layman terms, water damage can be described as water that destroys the interior of your home and, in some cases, the foundation of your home. The process could start slow with water spots on the walls or spontaneously with burst pipes. Water damage describes various possible losses caused by water splashes intruding. It will enable the attack on material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, mold growth, bacteria growth, rusting of steel, swelling of composite lumber, de-laminating of materials such as plywood, etcetera.
The damage could be caused by:
· Rainwater that gets in through the roof leads to damage to ceilings and walls.
· A hailstorm that causes window breakage and wets the floor.
· A burst pipe in the toilet or kitchen overflowing and soaking the floors.
The extent of water damage is based on the probable rate of evaporation based on the type of material affected or the degree of wetness in the area experienced by the flood. Knowing the extent of the class of water damage is crucial to determine the equipment that the water damage restoration company will use to dry down the entire structure.
Class 1: Slow Rate of Evaporation
This affects only a small part of a room with low permeability materials. Usually, class 1 is anything under 5% of the total square footage of a room (includes ceilings+ walls + floors), where minimum moisture has been absorbed.
Class 2: Fast Rate of Evaporation
The class 2 evaporation can be experienced when it has affected 5-40% of the total square footage in an area. This involves the ceiling, walls, and floor. In this case, water has affected areas in the entire room and might have climbed to the walls but not more than 24 inches.
Class 3: Fastest Rate of Evaporation
This water emerges from overhead which is heavy rains in most cases. It will affect the whole surface area of walls, ceilings, and carpet. It is said that the room is in class 3 when the total square footage is more than 40% and affects the ceiling, wall, and floor.
Class 4: Specialty Dry Situations
This entails materials with a very low porous ability. This category includes; concrete, gypsum, plaster, and hardwood floor. To dry, these materials need very low humidity.
What is Mold?
Mold is a type of fungus that contains small organisms found in all habitations. They mostly thrive on moisture surrounding areas and reproduce using tiny, lightweight spores that travel through the air, making everyone and everything exposed to them. They appear in green, black, orange, white, or purple.
Molds in small amounts would be considered harmless, but when they land in a damp place in your home, they might start to grow and put your lives and property at risk. The dampness is usually caused by water damage that has not been attended to, and if it is increasing and the spores are released in the air, the mold could lead to health problems when inhaled a lot.
Where Do Molds Grow?
Mold can grow anywhere around your floors, appliances (either mounted or on the furniture surfaces), walls, or carpet. The thing all molds need most to thrive is moisture, so you’re most likely to see mold damage in damp places such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and ceilings. There are three basic categories of water damage, based on the level of contamination.
Category 1 Water –This alludes to a source of water that doesn’t present any amount of harm to people and is categorized as “clean water.” Some examples are broken water supply lines in estates, rainwater, leaky pipes, frozen burst pipes, water tubs, sink overflows, appliance malfunctions that majorly involve water supply lines.
Category 2 Water –This represents a source of water that contains a significant degree of chemical, physical and biological contaminants and may cause sickness or some form of discomfort when consumed or exposed to human beings. It is also referred to as “grey water” and carries microorganisms. An example would be toilet bowls with urine, pump failures, water discharge from the washing machine, and dishwasher.
Category 3 Water – This is also known as “black water” and is considered very unsanitary. This category consists of water sources that affect the indoor environment, such as sewage spills, seawater, water extraction from natural water bodies, storm surge, and even ground surface waters or standing water. This water contains bad agents and harmful bacteria and fungi, leading to severe illness or great discomfort.
Category 2 Water or Grey Water that is not promptly removed from the structure and may remain stagnant may be re-classified as Category 3 Water. A toilet backflow that originates from the toilet trap is considered black water contamination regardless of visible content or color.
Water Restoration
Water restoration in Chicago, IL, entails repairs and reconstruction services purely focused on the drying process and cleaning up the water damage in residential or commercial properties. Water damage restoration companies are usually the first responders following significant damage to a home from floods and fires, water damage, sewage backup, and other major events. The job of a restoration service company is to clean up the mess and preserve a home and its contents so that further damage will not occur. The company feted for the best repair and reconstruction services in Chicago, IL is Powerhouse Restoration, Inc. To understand just how good and effective our residential and commercial water damage repair services are, look at the testimonials from satisfied customers.
How to Apply Water Damage Restoration And Prevention At The Outdoor Space Around Chicago.
To effectively manage outdoor water damage restoration, start by doing the following:
1. Disconnect Hoses After use
Ensure you disconnect your pipe hoses from the faucet after every usage. Failure to do this could result in freezing the standing water from the hose and possibly create an ice block that could stop the water flow and cause burst frozen pipes leading to a lot of damage to the walls and floor.
2. Clean Gutters And Downspouts
It is advisable to clean your gutters at least two times a year to avoid any blockage. Any standing water may create puddles that could damage your foundation. Extract standing water by clearing the way for a downspout to ensure the water removal from the building is steady.
3. Look After Your Trees And Vegetation
It is aesthetically pleasing to have a beautiful canopy of trees and green vegetation, but these beauties must not wrap around your pipes and break them. It is safe to minimize any form of landscaping near the home utility pipes, especially those too big.
In case of water damage to your outdoor spaces, the most advisable thing would be to call our experts to effectively clean what needs cleaning and restore what needs restoring while minimizing contact with harmful objects. For instance, our team is equipped with the right gear and equipment to handle a burst maintenance hole or water exposed to electrical current. Trying to DIY the above could have disastrous outcomes.
How To Apply Water Damage Restoration And Prevention In The Indoor Space Around Chicago.
Indoor water damage restoration and prevention entails the following:
1. Know Your Water Main
Most plumbing experts say that the main water shutoff is perhaps the most important plumbing feature in any premise. This is because it supplies water to the entire house through the distribution of other pipes.
2. Investigate And Fix Leaky Plumbing Promptly
If you ever find a water leak, investigate it immediately and ensure that the drying process is thorough. These small leaks in Chicago neighborhoods may cause serious damage to the property if not taken care of.
3. Take a Homeowner Insurance
An insurance company is ideal because it covers sudden accidents in homes or independent franchise businesses licensed around Chicago. In case of burst pipes, fire damage restoration, storm damage restoration, mold damage, and others, a restoration company like ours can help you seamlessly navigate the compensation process. It is important to note that a claim process concerning water damage caused due to lack of maintenance is not covered on a standard homeowner insurance cover policy in a Chicago home.
4. Install Water Detection Devices
A water detector is a small electronic device that sounds an alarm when its sensor is in contact with moisture. Its main benefit is detecting low moisture levels or slow leaks that often go unnoticed. Install it near water heaters, sump pumps, washing machines, dishwashers, and toilets to prevent extensive damage and mold growth.
5. Check Your Water Pressure and Water Bill
If the water pressure to your home is set too high, pipes and hoses may fail under pressure. Buy a water pressure gauge at a local hardware store, attach it to an outside faucet, and turn the faucet to full force. The gauge will give you a reading of the home’s water pressure.
Also, if your average cost of the water bill usage has jumped from one month to the next without any significant explanation, investigate whether there is leakage.
Mold Remediation
Around any premises:
- Consider using dehumidifier movers and air conditioners when experiencing hot and humid severe weather to minimize the amount of moisture in the air.
- Ensure you regulate the indoor humidity to 60% or below. Invest in a hygrometer or an air mover who will help measure that. It is available in major home improvement centers in Chicago.
- Ensure that you have high-velocity air movers that are always clean and that the drain lines are free from any blockage and flow properly. When the temperature of a place goes down, the air is less likely to hold moisture and condenses on cold surfaces leading to mold growth. Therefore, it is important to keep a house warm when the climate is cold and with fresh air.
- Add insulation to cold surfaces, such as exterior walls, floors, and windows, to reduce condensation.
- Ensure you dry areas by involving a cleaning Services Company if the need arises within 24 – 48 hours to ensure mold remediation
- Fix leaks and seepage. The ground should slope away from your house. If water is entering the house outside and following the drying process options, it ranges from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing.
- Open doors between rooms to increase circulation, which carries heat to cold surfaces. You can also improve air circulation by using fans and moving furniture from wall corners.
In the kitchen:
- Ensure you use exhaust fans to remove the moisture whenever you are cooking.
- Inspect the kitchen sink or any other water source to see if they need repair.
- Clean and empty refrigerator drip pan frequently.
In basements and crawl spaces:
- Be sure crawl spaces are well ventilated by using fans and having vents installed in outside walls if necessary
- Consider painting concrete floors and using area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpet in basements.
- Have your basement floor cleaned by the cleaning services from time to time if neglected, and have plumbers check for leaks or ice dams that occur after snow and have them repaired in the required drying process if necessary to avoid basement flooding.
In the laundry room:
- Vent your clothes dryer to the outside. Have the duct in the vent cleaned at least once a year to promote mold remediation.
- Avoid leaving damp clothes in the laundry basket or dryer. Wash and dry them promptly.
In bathrooms:
- Use exhaust fans to ensure water removal and moisture to the outside.
- Use area rugs, which can be taken up and washed often instead of wall-to-wall carpeting
- Check for leaks around basins and tubs and ensure that antimicrobial treatments occur frequently.
- Open a window when showering.
Whether in your home or a local business, you can get any water damage and mold assistance from Chicago’s leading water damage and mold control company, Powerhouse Restoration.
. Whether you are in Logan Square or any part of Chicago, the team has experts in residential and commercial properties with experienced certified technicians able to detect the full extent of the damage, perform the extraction, perform drying and dehumidifying tasks, and cleanup of debris and waste. Water damage can seem devastating when it happens, but full recovery is often possible if you act fast and attend to the affected area promptly. Because time is vital in water issues, we offer a 24-hour emergency contact service. Call us today at 847-758-8308. Our restoration services from the most experienced technicians in the region will no d0ubt leave you less distressed than before!