Whether to address damage from a storm, plumbing mishap, or otherwise, water damage restoration is an intensive process. In best-case scenarios, it only takes a few days but can take weeks. Why does it take so long?
Water cleanup spans more than simply removing water from a property, as water damage can have an unseen and lasting impact. Water removal and mold remediation companies complete a range of steps to treat buildings for odors, bacteria, microbes, and other harmful agents that can make their way into furniture, carpeting, and floorboards through outside water.
Both to expedite the process and minimize the chance of secondary damage, such as mold, the experts at SERVPRO, a leading water damage restoration company in Fort Worth, stress the importance of calling for emergency water restoration services as soon as possible after water exposure.
The Water Damage Restoration Timeline: What to Expect
1. Emergency Water Restoration and Removal
First, if a burst pipe, washing machine, or other appliance caused the flooding, the restoration company will turn off the water at the source. Next, large, truck-mounted pumps suck the water from inside the property.
This process can take several hours, depending on how much water is present. After that, they take steps to dry the property and restore safe humidity levels. That often takes at least 72 hours, even with help from industrial dryers and dehumidifiers.
2. Salvaging and Removing Furniture
Unfortunately, furniture and valuable items are often lost after flooding. The remediation company will work to salvage what they can and then recycle, throw away, or donate whatever will not be kept. How long this will take varies in length depending on the number of damaged items.
3. Mold, Stain, and Water Remediation
Treating carpets and furniture is relatively straightforward and quick. It generally only takes a few hours.
However, the danger with water damage is how it affects hidden areas in a home. Even clean water can lead to mold in any fabric or carpeting. If enough water has gotten to wooden walls or flooring, it can cause the wood to warp and degrade.
Inspectors will check beams, walls, and other structural components to ensure the safety of the home’s residents. Some restoration companies also test for asbestos before working on any building materials, and waiting for the test results can take 24-48 hours.
4. Disinfecting and Deodorizing
Once the property is treated for mold, it is deodorized, disinfected, and thoroughly cleaned. This process takes less than a day and finalizes the water restoration process.
Other Time Factors
Many of these phases of water damage restoration have very variable timeframes, based on factors such as:
- The amount of water in the property
- How long water was in contact with the property
- How long it took to stop the source of the flood
- The source of the water (clean drinking water, sewage, floodwater, etc.)
- The size of the property and what parts of the property were involved
- How quickly the residential or commercial water damage restoration company was contacted and responded
About SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth
SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth has served the community in Keller, TX, and surrounding areas since 1967, offering reliable water, fire, and storm restoration as well as mold remediation and commercial cleaning services. They are part of a nationwide franchise with more than 1,700 locations but are locally owned and operated.
Contact Information:
4200 Glenview Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76117
Phone: (817) 741-5737
Email: office@servpronortheastftworth.com
