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What is water mitigation?

Heavy rains fill the basement with floodwater. Leaks behind the bathroom wall create mold growth that quickly spreads.

These are just a few examples of property disasters that need professional water mitigation.

Don’t confuse the process with water restoration.

Both services are essential to recovery. However, you can’t restore your home or business without mitigating the water damage first.

This guide covers everything you need to know.

WHAT IS WATER MITIGATION?

Water mitigation is the first step in a process that addresses water damage. Mitigation prevents further damage from occurring and involves water removal, moisture control and structural drying.

Think of water mitigation as an emergency response that contains the initial impact. It minimizes secondary water damages such as buckled floors, crumbled drywall and widespread mold growth.

Water mitigation sets the stage for full service repairs and property-wide restoration.

WATER RESTORATION VS WATER MITIGATION:

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

Now that we’ve covered water mitigation basics, let’s take a look at how it’s different from water damage repair and restoration. This comparison outlines both processes and the different steps involved in each.

HOW DOES WATER MITIGATION WORK?

  • Inspection and Assessment – Mitigation technicians inspect the property, assess the level and type of water damage and take care of any necessary emergency repairs and building board-up.
  • Water Extraction– Deep standing water is pumped out of the property using truck-mounted water extraction systems. Teams follow up with specialized vacuum equipment that removes residual water from porous surfaces.
  • Structural Drying– Structural drying involves a range of industrial-grade equipment such as wood floor and subfloor drying systems, high-volume air movers, heavy duty axial fans and desiccant dehumidifiers.
  • Property Stabilization– This is achieved by applying site-specific drying techniques that minimize secondary water damage. For example, the drying equipment can be focused on crumbling drywall or buckling floors. Addressing secondary water damage stabilizes the property and preps it for restoration.
  • Site Cleanup– As the drying phase progresses, water mitigation crews clear out debris, identify salvageable items and begin the cleanup process. This includes disinfecting all affected surfaces and materials.

HOW DOES WATER RESTORATION WORK?

  • Material Tear-Out– The water damage restoration process begins by tearing out damaged materials such as soaked drywall, buckled flooring and warped baseboards.
  • Repairs and Replacements– Materials that aren’t badly water-damaged are assessed to determine if they can be repaired or must be replaced.
  • Mold Removal – Water damage technicians locate and remove all mold in affected areas and confirm that interior humidity levels are stable and back to normal.
  • Complete Restoration– This final phase of work involves repairing, rebuilding and replacing interiors so that the property is restored to its original condition.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER MITIGATION?

Water mitigation techniques differ depending on the water source. For example, water from a broken pipe is usually classified as Category 1 clean water. In these cases, water damage crews follow industry standards for mitigation.

Category 2 gray water poses a bigger challenge. Common sources for this type of damage are backed-up sump pumps, ruptured disposal lines or leaking washing machine hoses. Mitigation crews address potential contamination and chemicals that might be present in Category 2 water.

The mitigation process for Category 3 black water requires specialized equipment and products. Black water carries dangerous pathogens and hazardous chemicals that soak into affected materials. Technicians follow stringent OSHA, CDC and EPA regulations for Category 3 water mitigation.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WATER MITIGATION AND RESTORATION

If you’re dealing with water damage in your home or business, you may be thinking about taking care of it yourself. Consider these misconceptions and risks before you take on the work.

MISCONCEPTION 1: REPLACEMENTS ARE CHEAPER

Don’t assume that replacing damaged belongings and furniture saves money. The cost of restoration is often much lower than what you’d pay for new items. A full-service restoration company knows how to identify and clean salvageable furnishings and items such as appliances, electronics and personal belongings.

MISCONCEPTION 2: AIR DRYING IS COST-EFFECTIVE

Your property will eventually dry without mitigation. However, air drying isn’t cost-effective. Moisture that remains in floors and behind walls degrades materials and compromises their condition. It breeds unhealthy mold growth that spreads through the damp environment. The delayed cost of addressing these problems quickly increases.

MISCONCEPTION 3: DIY WATER MITIGATION IS DOABLE

If you’re comfortable working with water extraction equipment, you can rent small systems from home improvement centers. If you’re dealing with Category 2 or 3 water, you need to suit up with OSHA-approved PPE gear. Structural drying is a crucial part of the process and requires additional equipment. Overall, it’s easier and safer to let industry-certified professionals take care of water mitigation.

NEED WATER DAMAGE MITIGATION AT YOUR HOME? WE CAN HELP

Whether you’re facing water damage at the house or work, it can seem overwhelming. By understanding the difference between mitigation and restoration, you know what to expect from the recovery process.

Here at GE Restoration, we provide a full line of water damage mitigation services and expert water damage restoration.

Water Damage Restoration

The Drying Process

Hidden Water Damage Restoration

Water damage is not always obvious. Sometimes the water causing the damage is hidden from sight, requiring hidden water damage restoration. Oftentimes, the most serious water damage is caused by a pipe leak within your building’s structure. With a hidden water leak, the damage can go unnoticed for long periods of time. Before you know it, you could have thousands of dollars of damage done.

Once hidden water damage is discovered, it must be remediated immediately to ensure no further damage is done. Even slow leaks can produce gallons of water causing flooding and considerable damage. Hidden leaks can also cause considerable damage to electronics and other valuables. 

At GE Restoration, we are dedicated to helping our neighbors protect their property from damage. We understand the importance of urgent water damage detection and restoration for the health and safety of your home. That’s why we do everything we can to go above and beyond your expectations. When you call our water damage repair specialists, you can expect a fast response time 24/7.

Hidden Water Leak Detection

Leaking pipes are one of the leading culprits when it comes to hidden water damage. Leaks from pipes can go undetected for months to years before causing enough damage to cause burst pipes and flooding.

To prevent leaking pipes from causing catastrophic damage, schedule regular leak detection from our experts here at GE Restoration. We use advanced leak detection tools to identify the source of the water quickly before it becomes a major issue. 

If you suspect water damage and believe it’s due to a hidden leak, call our water damage restoration professionals immediately. When you call us, we will inspect your property to identify any hidden pipe leaks. By catching the problem early, we will be able to stop significant damage from occurring.

Signs You Have Hidden Water Damage

There are several warning signs to look out for that signify you may already have hidden water damage. If you notice any of the following in your home, call GE Restoration right away. Our team of restoration professionals will help you track down the source of water damage on your property and remediate it in no time. 

  • Unpleasant smells: Standing water is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold. If you notice an earthy, musty smell, it is a telltale sign that there is residual water hiding in your building. 
  • Mold growth: When those unsightly green and fuzzy spots show up in your home, it can signify a greater problem with your property.
  • Peeling paint: If there is water present behind your walls, it will eventually begin to show through peeling paint. This is because the moisture saturates the drywall, causing the paint to lose adhesion.
  • Water stains on ceilings and walls: Hidden water damage can manifest in the form of stains and blotches on your ceilings and walls. If you notice water stains on your ceiling, don’t just paint over them and call it a day – they are a warning of water accumulation upstairs. 
  • Sagging ceilings: Water can deteriorate the structure of your ceiling, causing them to sag and become weak. Sagging ceilings are a huge safety hazard, so it’s important to restore water damage before the damage gets to this point.

Damage from pipe leaks can include floor and carpeting damage, damaged subfloors, damage to walls and ceilings, mold, and even considerable structural damage to the building. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 90 percent of water damage from pipe leaks occurs behind walls or under floors. So, you can imagine that the damage can be extensive by the time you notice it. 

Hidden Water Damage Restoration Experts

We understand that dealing with hidden water damage can be a huge hassle, that’s why we strive to make the process as simple as possible. Our water damage contractors will work with your insurance company to make sure your insurance covers the damage.

When it comes to preserving your home, it’s important to have a reliable restoration company to turn to when problems arise. At GE Restoration, we pride ourselves on our commitment to complete customer satisfaction. Our team does everything it takes to keep your property safe.