With Spring right around the corner, there is always the uncertainty of whether water levels will rise to a point that may cause flooding at your business, outbuildings, or home. At DryHero in Lincoln, Nebraska, we work as your advocate to preserve and protect your water damaged property. Our experienced team of professionals will work directly with your insurance company to document your damage and submit claims documents to them. Leaving the messy clean-up details to us can give you peace of mind knowing the job will get done right by DryHero.
Assessing Water Damage
Water damage restoration is a methodical process. Water detection and mapping is crucial because not all water damage is visible. Inexperienced homeowners, and even contractors, may not always know where to look for hidden problems. It really is best to trust a professional to do this. DryHero provides this service for free in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska.
The first 48 hours can be critical. If there has been flooding in your home or business, you want to remove carpet and any upholstered furniture, stuffed animals, or other similar types of items that may have come in contact with contaminated floodwaters. It’s important to start drying out any flooded areas within 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Clean and dry your house or business and everything in it. Properly cleaning all areas in your business, outbuildings, or home helps to remove contaminants such as bacteria and viruses. Ensuring that all spaces are dry minimizes problems from mold.
If items like carpets, paper, clothing, or other absorbent materials can’t be completely dried, then it is wise to dispose of them to prevent any mold from occurring. For insurance purposes, be sure to take plenty of photos of the damaged items that you end up discarding so that you have a record of them and can be reimbursed accordingly.
Steps to Water Damage Restoration
At DryHero, we use a three-step process when performing water damage restoration.
Step 1: Water Removal and Extraction
This is the process of removing the bulk water by any effective means possible. Vacuums, pumps, flood extractors, gas-powered submersible pumps, and even squeegees can be used. Electric pumps and normal vacuums are used with caution due to electrical hazards.
Step 2: Structure Drying
Once the main water removal is complete, the real water damage mitigation begins. Step 2 is making sure that everything is really dry. Without sensitive water detection instrumentation, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to determine if a material is wet. Surfaces may appear dry, but in reality, may be quite wet. By creating an environment conducive to significant evaporation, hygroscopic materials can be effectively dried. Industrial low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers, airmovers, fans, blowers, air scrubbers, and auxiliary heat sources help us accomplish that. This drying process can take a single day to several days to complete, depending on the types of materials being dried and how long the water damage went untreated.
Step 3: Repair, Reconstruct & Restore
During Step 3, DryHero works to restore your home or business to its pre-flood condition (based on your insurance policy). This involves the repair and reconstruction of the property, including cleaning, repair, and disinfecting of all items and structures that have been damaged by the water. This is the most significant phase of the process that can involve any or all of the following:
- Treating of carpet and carpet pad
- Inspection of electrical devices by a qualified electrician
- Repair or replacement of drywall, flooring, or ceilings
- Reconstruction of areas or rooms in the home or business
Protecting Yourself During the Cleanup
Where there is water or flood damage, there will be bacteria, chemicals, and other toxins all around. You need to protect yourself and others from coming in contact with these contaminants. Here are some safety tips to minimize exposure to them:
- Cover your body by wearing pants, long sleeves, boots, and rubber gloves.
- Protect your eyes with goggles or safety glasses.
- Wear an N-95 respirator or mask to cover your nose and lungs.
- Use soap or cleaning products with a disinfectant for killing germs. Never mix bleach with other cleaning supplies in the same bucket.
- Open windows and use fans to pull fumes from your work area.
- Spray down areas by misting to contain dust and vacuum the dust with a wet/dry shop vac.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you are done cleaning.
- Talk to your healthcare provider first if you have any health issues, such as asthma, allergies, or other breathing issues.
We Can Help you with your Flood Damage!
If you experience flood damage, contact the professionals at DryHero for a free estimate. We’ll come out and assess the total damage, and give you an expert appraisal on what needs to be done to restore your property. Let DryHero help you. Call us today at 402-438-2379.