Water Damage Restoration Chicago 773-885-8528

Preventing Water Damage In The Basement

More than a few of us grew up in houses with basements that flooded regularly, usually the result of a drain just outside the basement door that was always clogging up. If there were a large number of trees around the home, it would be very difficult to keep the drain open, and the basement water headache would never fully go away.

The CleanUP Guys understand the basic problems that are inherent to basement water damage, most notably mold, and are prepared and equipped to handle even the most severe water and mold damage issues that may occur as a result.

If you have a basement, be of good cheer; 98% of basements will suffer some form of water damage at some point in their existence. Basements are low lying areas by their very nature, and as such are prime targets for water to accumulate.  Water loves to run downhill….so you do the math, which in this case means 2 + 2 = a flooded basement.

So how do you defend your home against this problem? We believe that you start early on, making your best defense a good offense, and taking action before things start getting damp.

A waterproof basement is probably not realistic, but you can make regular inspections, looking for cracks in your foundation wall, broken window seals, leaky pipes...anything that might let water in. On the outside, check and make sure all drainage vents, gutters, and downspouts are unclogged and working properly, and check to see if your surrounding landscape is sloped away from your home (as it should be). Improper landscape slope can send water flowing the wrong way very quickly.

You can also protect what is in your basement. Basements tend to be storage spaces, and as such, a lot of valuable family possessions can be kept there. Find some way of elevating them, keeping them off the floor, either by using shelving or blocks. Remember it only takes an inch or so of water to cause hundreds or thousands of dollars in damages.

The addition of a sump pump or sump pit can go a long way towards preventing water damage, draining water out away from your home before it has the chance to accumulate and become a problem.

If all else fails, contact your local, IICRC certified waterdamage restoration company, the professional service providers at The CleanUP Guys. We are available 24/7 and able to serve all of your repair needs.

Water Damage Chicago 773-885-8528

Types of Water Damage

The water damage in your home or business needs to be addressed according to the type of water involved. There are various levels and severity when it comes to water damage, each one requiring its own unique approach when it comes to drying, cleanup, and restoration.

Water damage is basically broken down as follows:

Category 1 Water – Also known as Clean Water, this is water that is fairly uncontaminated from the source (faucets, toilet tanks, drinking fountains, etc.) and poses little to no threat if ingested by or exposed to humans or animals.

Category 2 Water – Also known as Grey Water, this is water that may contain some contaminants which may cause some illness or discomfort if ingested by or exposed to humans and animals. Sources of Grey Water include dishwasher and washing machine runoff, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine but no feces.

Category 3 Water – Also known as Black Water, this is water that is highly contaminated at the source and may cause serious illness or discomfort if ingested by or exposed to humans and animals.  Black Water is almost always the result of sewage backup or overflow, flooding from rivers and streams, toilet overflow with feces, and stagnant liquid that has begun to support microbial growth.

It is important to keep in mind that while none of these categories of water will improve on their own, it is possible for them to become more severe. Category 1 Water may become a Category 2 if allowed to remain standing and untreated for a given period of time (usually around 48-72 hours).

Whatever level of water damage restoration you may be dealing with, it is imperative that you contact a qualified, competent, and certified water damage restoration provider, someone with the training, tools, and techniques to eliminate the water damage threat in your home or business.

Water Damage Chicago 773-885-8528

WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION SERVICES

Drinking water right after a burst pipe, overflowing river, hurricane, or very similar predicament typically impacts far more than the home's content material which might be directly impacted. The procedure of restoring a home to its pre-loss state is referred to as water damage restoration. Any drinking water damage to a residence can be a destructive and stressful period for the family, but getting it fixed need not be a difficult process.

Steps you can take to get the water damage restoration assistance you need:

Use the expert services of a specialist in water damage restoration. In an unlucky scenario like this, it is important that you are equipped to employ the services of a corporation that specializes in treating water damaged properties, no matter if this may well be from internal injury (burst pipes) or exterior damage (flooding, storms, hurricanes). It is typical that carpet cleaning businesses might claim to present a water restoration service, even so they are likely to not have the experience essential to handle a project of this sort.

You might contact various community organizations: In the approach of searching for the proper contractor to seek the services you need, is critical to make contact with a business that knows exactly how to handle your particular water damage need.  Even in these distressful conditions like this, it is imperative to choose the right company. If able, get individual referrals from household members or buddies who may well have been in a related situation, or go on-line and search for community organizations that have a fantastic range of good reviews subsequent to their business name. Obtaining the right extremely educated water damage crew is essential to acquiring a home dried and restored to a significant standard.

A temptation might be there to choose the cheapest estimate, even so it is important to contemplate all components in the selection-generating method, as it is significant that the organization is able to offer you a skilled team that is equipped to get the job completed the appropriate way, and with the right equipment.  Whether flood cleanup, water damage cleanup, basement water damage or wet carpet drying, make sure you know what you’re getting, as each process is handled a bit differently.

Never hold off in getting repairs carried out. If positioned in a circumstance where significant water problems has been brought into home, it is important that the operation is carried out as shortly as possible, to minimize below surface damage from high humidity, which can lead to damage to the integrity of a framework and more importantly, the progression of a mold infestation.

Once this occurs and is not abated, it can ruin a property and mold remediation because absolutely necessary, and at a greater cost than pure water damage help.  Give some thought to the company you choose to handle your family’s water damage issues and/or mold damage concerns.  You’ll be glad you did!