6 Steps to the Water Damage Restoration Process in Dallas

7/17/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides water damage restoration to residents in the Dallas area

Water is everyone’s best friend — except when it’s not! When you own a property, sometimes water sneaks in uninvited. Unfortunately, if not treated properly, it can wreak havoc in more ways than one.  

Whether it’s because of an appliance malfunction or a full-blown natural disaster, a water emergency can leave you feeling vulnerable. From damage to your belongings to serious issues with mold, there’s a lot to consider. But, trust us, it’s not the end of your world.

You see, we’ve seen our share of water atrocities. For over 30 years, SERVPRO of North Irving has been a go-to source for Dallas water damage restoration. We know how water “thinks” and we’ve perfected the process for dealing with the problems it causes. If you find yourself in the midst of a water emergency (and you hire the right cleanup and restoration firm), here is what you can expect.

Step 1: Dallas Emergency Contact

A water issue can happen at any time. Sadly, it’s not one of those things you can sleep on before you make a decision on what to do. You need to act quickly.

At SERVPRO, we have technicians available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week because a plan needs to be formulated as soon as possible. This may involve carpet restoration, mold damage mitigation, and even reconstruction. When you get in touch with us, we ask the important questions that help us understand the severity of your dilemma. 

Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Water is a trickster. It’s not always easy to see what it’s doing behind the scenes. Often, it takes a trained eye to see the situation for what it actually is.

When enlisting the help of an experienced firm, there are several actions you should see occur. When we’re asked to perform water damage restoration in Dallas, we work through an efficient inspection and assessment process:

• Within 2 to 4 hours, technicians armed with the appropriate equipment are dispatched to your home.
• Technicians inspect the home to pinpoint problem areas, stop the leak source, and identify the level of water contamination (clean, gray, or black).
• An inspection is conducted to see how extensive the moisture damage is as well as if there are any safety concerns.
• Photos and measurements are taken for the purpose of insurance claims.
• Affected items are moved or blocked so rust and stains don’t set in.

Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction

Wouldn’t it be lovely if dealing with a flooded home or building was as simple as sucking out the water? Well, it’s not that easy BUT it doesn’t mean it’s incredibly hard. With the help of a professional, you can ensure the water extraction step is done quickly, smoothly, and correctly 

Our SERVPRO techs begin the water removal process immediately. Using moisture detectors, hygrometers, or other detection tools, we’re able to determine the extent of saturation. Infrared cameras may be used to “see” into the walls and ceiling. Additionally, carpet and carpet pads are inspected and removed if it’s necessary (if removed, a sample will be saved for your insurance company for their assessment on replacement). And, depending on the amount of water present, we utilize industrial wet/dry vacuums, submersible pumps, or both.

Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification

In some cases, water may be gone but it’s not forgotten. When water mitigation isn’t done right, it can seem like water is no longer present; however, there might be more lurking in walls and other places. This is when mold and other serious problems start to rear their ugly heads. Don’t let this happen to you! Only after water has been properly removed can the drying process begin.

After a SERVPRO team ensures water is removed, a drying plan is formulated. This includes setting professional equipment:

• Moisture detectors to find hidden moisture
•  Air movers to help with evaporation by creating airflow across furniture, carpet, and walls
• Dehumidifiers and desiccant machines to pump dry air and absorb humidity at the same time
• Monitoring technology to “keeps an eye on” the moisture levels 

Also, we visit your property on a daily basis to check the atmospheric pressure and make sure we reach our drying goal. 

Step 5: Cleaning and Repair

The next job to be done is cleaning and repairing items such as clothing, textiles, electronics, and furniture and upholstery. With our water removal and drying processes, it’s possible to restore over 90% of your home’s water-damaged belongings.

Our specialists are trained in recognizing what items can and can’t be salvaged. If anything needs to be disposed of, we work with you and your insurance adjuster regarding the optimal removal process. From there, we restore contents using a variety of cleaning techniques (i.e. dry/wet cleaning, sprays, foam cleaning, abrasive cleaning, immersion cleaning). We also identify and remove unpleasant odors utilizing air scrubbers and fogging equipment. And, we decipher and implement the appropriate sanitizing treatments (i.e. antimicrobial, antibacterial, or disinfectant).

Step 6: Dallas Restoration

Not to toot our own horn, but this is what sets us apart from other companies. As a full-service firm, we can rebuild what needs to be torn out. Of course, we perform several other restoration services as well:

Emergency Building Services

If your property was damaged by a storm, we provide emergency building services such as tarping a roof or boarding up windows. 

Moving Services

If we can’t move affected items to another part of your property, we can move belongings to our secure storage facility.

Repairs

We attempt to bring your property to the state it was before the damage. This may include hardwood and tile floor repairs, drywall removal and installation, painting, and carpet repair and installation. 

It’s worth noting that from step one, we carefully document everything we do so it can be turned into an insurance company. We make a water damage dilemma as painless as possible.

We’ll leave you now with a word of advice: Don’t accept any less than what is described here.

You deserve to get your home back after a water intrusion!

If you’re ever in need of water damage restoration in Dallas, contact us! We’re IICRC certified and the only SERVPRO in Dallas who is Esporta Certified in textile restoration. Plus, we accept all insurance.