Dealing With a Water Loss in Spring Valley California

5/18/2018 (Permalink)

Spring Valley California and Jamul CA are in San Diego County, and it is very beautiful there. There are mostly sunny days, and the last thing that anyone would think of would be a flood. However, at times the rain is so intense that flooding is a possibility. Even so, it is possible for someone in their home to have a leaky pipe or a pipe that breaks. This can cause water damage just as severe as a flood.

When a home suffers flood damage or water damage, it can be just as bad as a fire or a storm that has high enough winds to do damage to property. Whenever water arrives unexpectedly in enough quantity to soak your belongings, they are as good as gone. When this type of water in home or water in business damage occurs most of your belongings become soaked and very susceptible to bacteria and mold which is impossible to get rid of.

Items such as sofas, pillows, pictures, carpeting, padding, draperies, tapestries, drywall, electrical systems, and other items that soak up water will all be ruined. The first thought might be to attempt to salvage some of these things, but it is hopeless to try to do so. The mold and bacteria will soon set in, and it is impossible to dry out these items.

Mold
Mold is an organism that grows from a tiny spore that floats through the air. All it needs is a moist spot, a dark place, and no moving air. Once a spore lands and finds these conditions, it will grow. It grows rapidly too. One small patch can grow over an entire wall in a week or so.

An individual should not try to wipe off the mold because it has roots. People should not expose themselves to the mold because it begins giving off spores as it grows and if inhaled can lead to health and respiratory problems. Mold will grow on just about any surface except glass. Mold has to be treated by experts and killed so that it doesn't grow back.

Bacteria
Bacteria usually comes in with the flood water and simply grows from there. If the flood is from the outside just about anything can be in the water from raw sewage, chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum products, soil and some other harmful items. Once this type of water touches anything, the items will be contaminated and will need to be thrown out.

The Process
A mitigation of water in home and water in business types of flood damage must be removed by specific processes such as water removal and drying processes. Usually, the water can be removed with high-speed pumps if there is standing water and the flood has stopped, or the pipe that broke is repaired.

Once the water cleanup process is completed, a drying process can take place by using industrial style fans that create air movement over the area that was flooded. This process can take up to two to three days before things begin to get dry.

The air movement that is created by the fans does a lot to take care of the surface moisture, but with items that soak up the water, there is no hope of ever salvaging those items. They will have to be thrown out and discarded because the mold and bacteria will find them to be wonderful homes for their growth.

Mitigation of the area continues with any minor water cleanup of the area and the sanitation of the area. A complete sterilization of the area must take place to kill all of the bacteria and mold so that it won't grow back later. This is a very thorough process, and no area must be missed because if it is missed, the mold and bacteria will have a foothold from which to flourish.

When everything is removed that soaks up water and the area has been cleaned and sanitized, reconstruction can commence. Drywall and even some studs may need to be replaced along with wiring and wall sockets. Flooring and carpeting may need replacement as well as molding and finishing of wood.

Painting and finishing may need to take place, and then new furniture and fixtures can be put into place. In many instances, if the damage is invasive enough an entire rebuilding process may need to take place. This may seem to be a lot of work and expense, and it is. However, you don't want a drop of water or any contaminants to be left for that can start a cycle of deterioration over time that can stay hidden for a long time, only to appear years later.

Precautions

Even though floods are rare in California, they do happen. Particularly in the San Deigo County areas of Spring Valley and Jamul, CA where the sun shines most of the time and flooding is the farthest thing from the residents' minds.

One thing that homeowners and business owners can do is to locate the place in the building where the shut-off valve is for the entire building. If there is a broken pipe, that is the first place to go, as long as you don't have to walk through standing water. If standing water is in a basement, for example, you don't always know if it is covering up an electrical socket. If you should touch or walk in the water, it could electrocute you. But if is located outside or in an accessible place it should be turned off.

Keeping an eye on the weather situation is a good idea if an extraordinary amount of rain is expected. Make plans to leave home if a flood is imminent from a possible heavy rainfall. Have a place to go that is away from a flood area, and itemize what you will need to take with you, such as important papers, keys, and some extra clothing.

Flooding may never happen, but if it does, you will need to act fast and have a good presence of mind as to who to call and where to go. Visit http://www.SERVPROspringvalleyjamul.comfor more information on water loss and restoration services.