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Water Damage? Start Here

Welcome to Do It Yourself Water Damage!

 

I am well aware that you probably aren't here because you woke up this morning and wanted to learn about water damage. While water damage is unfortunate, with the help of DIY Water Damage your home will be back in order in no time! 

 

Step 1: Don't Panic! Keep a level head and if at any time you feel overwhelmed, don't hesitate to find a professional company.

 

Step 2: Before entering the affected area, be sure that all electricity is turned off at the breaker! If you cannot reach the breaker without dangerously entering the affected area. call a professional immediately. No amount of money is worth your life!

 

Step 3: While wearing thick, penetration resistant rubber boots, unplug and remove any electrical appliances or extension cords from the affected area before turning the power back on. If you have standing water, make certain that it does not affect any outlets or other electrical connections. If the water is still rising turn off your water main immediately!

 

Step 4: You must determine the source of the water in your home and classify it in one of the three categories of damage.

 

Step 5: Click here to indentify your type of water damage!
 
Remediating Water Damage Yourself

I greatly admire your ambitions to remediate your own home's water damage! Most people would have immediately called their local water damage restoration company and had them complete the work.

 

That said, please be aware that I must state that you should seek the guidance and advise of an IICRC professionally certified water damage restoration service. Their superior knowledge and expertise is necessary in this situation. It is not worth your health, well-being, and peace of mind to save a couple extra bucks and having mold down the road.

 

Please keep this in mind throughout your stay on DIY Water Damage!

 

PS: If you have not done so already, click here to start your water damage cleanup!

 

Below are the preliminary steps to water damage restoration of your home after it has been affected by water damage. If at any time you feel overloaded, unable, or feel safer having a certified professional water damage restoration company completing the task, you can simply find one through the links on this site.

 

1.    Before beginning your water damage restoration, be sure to have found the source of the water and also the type of the water damage.

 

2.    Required Apparel: Long sleeve shirt, pants, closed toe shoes with a thick (at least ½ inch) sole, rubber boots (that go over your shoes), penetration-resistant rubber gloves, safety goggles (with side protection), and a disposable breathing mask.

 

3.    If you have standing water, try to locate and open a drain so that the water self-drains. If you do have a drain but the water is not receding, and it is not visibly obstructed, you will need to contact a plumber before you attempt to do any water damage clean up. A clogged drain may also be the cause of your problem! On a few occasions, I have seen that the drain was expelling water back into the house!

 

4.    If you don’t have a drain, the plumber you contacted couldn't open the drain, or the water is not receding even with an open drain, you will need a submersible pump. Call around to your local hardware and/or rental stores to see if they have one in stock. If you cannot locate one and your wet / dry vacuum fails to do the job, you may need a professional water damage restoration service.

 

5.    Remove all furniture and other items from within and around the affected area. Move as many items as possible to an unaffected area, as it will be much easier to remediate your water damage without having to constantly stall and move items around. Depending on the size of your affected and unaffected areas, I am aware that you probably will not be able to completely remove all large items. We will simply have to work around them through our cleanup process.

 
Read More Water Damage Restoration Steps...
 
Find a Water Damage Company

If you have decided that doing it yourself wasn't what you bargained for or you just think it will be easier (and safer) for a professional water damage company to do clean up your water damage, you've come to the right place.

 

Unless it is an absolute emergency, I would suggest contacted and talking with at least three different water damage services before you decide on selecting one. I have put together a fairly comprehensive guide in finding and selecting the company that should be first for you. Also included is a must-have list of questions and pointers so that you can easily pre-screen the water damage companies before they even get to your door!

Find a Water Damage Company Now...
 
Types of Water Damage

It is important to identify the type of water problem you have and also the source it originated from. These two concepts are tightly linked, as the source of the water will almost always determine the type of water damage you are experiencing. 

 

The three types of water damage are as follows:

 

Category 1 (Clean Water) -

Clean water that is visibly clear and possesses little or no odor. If you smell any type of fecal matter or urine, your water is either category 2 or 3. 

Common sources of category 1 water is water supply lines such as dishwasher lines, refrigerator / ice maker pipes, sink water lines, and hot water lines used for hot water home heating. Broken appliances such as a dishwasher or hot water heater also fall under the category of clean water.

 

Category 2 (Grey Water) - 

Grey water is also visibly clear for the most part. However, it often has a slightly to mildly foul odor that is noticeable when in the affected area. This water damage must be treated with much more caution than the clean water mentioned above.

Sources of category 2 grey water commonly include a failed sump pump or overflowed toilet.

 

Category 3 (Black Water) - 

Black water is the most dangerous of all water damage. It is a filled with and is a breed ground for harmful contaminants, including bacteria and mold producing organisms. All materials affected by black water damage must be handled with extreme caution, removed from the residence, and discarded of immediately. 

Black water commonly comes from failed ejector pumps, broken sewage lines, water from streams, rivers or seas, and any standing water. Any water with visible fecal matter is most definitely black water. Once again, all materials affected with black water must be carefully but promptly discarded.

 
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