Water damage Pacific Palisades

3/19/2015 (Permalink)

Imagine coming home from a restful vacation and finding part of you home full of water. Not very likely? You may be surprised to learn that water damage accounted for $9.1 million worth of property loss between 2007 and 2009, according to the American Insurance Association. While living in Pacific Palisades means that you are unlikely to suffer from excessive rainfall, leaks within your home are not uncommon; it is estimated that 14% of all water coming into American homes is lost due to leaks. Even a small crack in a water pipe, measuring no more than 1/8 inch can leak as much as 250 gallons of water in a day.

Not only can water itself cause extensive damage to your home and your property, it also facilitates the growth of mold which can contaminate the air with its spores, produce an unpleasant odor and cause health problems. If you encounter a flood or a leak, then you need to call in a professional drying and cleaning service who can remove the water and undertake a clean up operation to get your home back in order.

The first step is to stop the ingress of additional water and then set about water extraction using gas powered pumps. Infrared cameras may be deployed to detect water in hard to reach areas. Hygrometers and moisture detectors can then show how much moisture remains in walls, floors, and in the air. Then dehumidifiers and high speed air movers can be moved in to start the drying process.

Dehumidifiers work on the basis that cold air holds less moisture than warmer air. As the dehumidifier draws air in, it is cooled with a refrigerant, condensation occurs and the water is collected in  a tray and then the air is heated before being blown back into the room. It may look straight forward but there is a lot of science behind the positioning and types of dehumidifiers used to produce the best results in any particular location.

Application of antimicrobials and fungicides prevents the growth of any molds, mildew or bacteria. If mold has already started to appear. A full remediation process will be required to isolate and eliminate it. Your water removal proffessionals will also be able to handle the clean up of your possessions or dispose of those which are unable to be brought back to good condition. Experts in a variety of methods, including wet and dry cleaning, according to the items needing to be restored, they will do their best to restore your property to its former condition and leave it looking as if the water damage had not occurred. They will also prepare a full report for submission of a claim to your insurers, with a detailed inventory of your possessions backed up by photographs. Suffering from water damage is an unpeasant experience, but with the right help and support, it can be handled with the minimum of disruption to your life.