If you live in Pembroke Pines, FL or anywhere in the Miami-Dade area, there's a big chance that you've already asked for a water restoration service. But you may be still confused between restoration and mitigation. In this article, we are going to talk about the difference between water restoration and water mitigation.
In the later part of this blog post, we are going to talk more about the water restoration, what it does, and what are the critical things that you should know about it.
Some, if not most, bad things happen without warning. For example, water that pours inside your house during heavy rain.
If you're not lucky enough, you would be spending countless hours trying to take the water out.
Another situation would be a pipe burst while you're away for a weekend vacation. And when you return, everything is soaked with water.
When this happens, you need a trusted water damage restoration company to fix all your water damage woes. You may have encountered terms such as water restoration and water mitigation. But that can be a little bit confusing, right?
Water restoration and water mitigation are just two of the most common terms used when you deal with water damage. The problem is, many people would think that the two terms have the same meaning. But the truth is, there's a fine line between the two terms, and these small differences have a more significant impact - finance-wise.
Why is that so, and why it's so important to learn the difference? That's because some insurance companies cover only mitigation while some only consider water restoration. Learn more about the difference between water restoration and water mitigation by reading on in this article.
WHAT IS WATER MITIGATION?
Water mitigation, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or FEMA), is the process of minimizing property loss caused by water damage.
Under water mitigation is a set of meticulous processes, which include cleaning, disinfecting, restoring, and drying a property back to its original look - or at least back to its look before the water damage happened.
Of course, not all water property damage is the same - some have milder damage while some are in critical condition. That's why it's crucial to do water mitigation so you'd know the extent of the water damage and find the best solution to fix all problems at the most minimal cost.
THE WATER MITIGATION PROCESSES
Although not all water mitigation cases are the same, all cases go through the same processes. Below are the methods that each water mitigation case goes through.
Situation Assessment
Assessment is the first step in water mitigation. Once water damage happens, the very first thing to find out is the cause.
Is it the leaking pipes? Is it the rain water coming in from the gutter? Or is it the faulty faucet? Whatever the reason is, this process will take you to the core of it.
When data are gathered, the information is used to determine what kind of treatment should be done.
Aside from the cause, another thing to assess is the extent of the damage. When it comes to water damage, there are three categories.
These categories are white, grey, black. White means the water in the area is clean and only needs drying up and repair if necessary.
Grey means the water may have some microbes, while black means there is a big chance that bacteria, molds, and viruses are present in the water. To confirm the status of the water, the crew is going to take a sample of the water and have it examined in a dedicated facility.
Action Planning
Once the situation assessment is finished, the next process is going to be more on planning the course of action. As mentioned, each water damage is unique, so each case is scrutinized thoroughly to know how to attack the situation and remove the water fast and cost-efficiently.
Extraction and Drying the Water Out
After planning the action and strategy, it's time to clean up the whole mess. Water damage restoration experts start by fixing the cause of the problem and removing the water away from the property. It's going to take high-tech extractors, industrial floor, and sub-floor drying systems to take the water out even in hard-to-reach areas.
Once the water is removed, it's time to get rid of the residue and moisture caused by the water.
Though the water is gone, the damage continues if the moisture from the structure and air is not eliminated.
This time, it's going to take dehumidifiers, industrial dryers, and freeze-drying machines to contain the moisture.
This way, molds and mildew won't have any more areas to grow and thrive. This process also dries items such as books, carpets, and essential archives.
WHAT IS WATER RESTORATION?
Water damage restoration pertains to the steps and processes done to clean up a property whether residential or commercial after a water damage incident.
Aside from water damage restoration, you may have heard of other terms, such as water extraction, flood cleanup, and - of course - water mitigation.
Do know this by now, that all of these terms belong under the same umbrella of water damage restoration.
All the terms mentioned have different functions, but they are all pivotal in making any water restoration successful.
BENEFITS OF WATER RESTORATION
You see, water damage doesn't come announced. As mentioned, it can affect your business or home anytime, and it can come in many forms - from flooding your area down to deteriorating your walls or ceiling.
The common causes of water damage include leaking water pipes, water seepage, and storm bursts. And the worst part of experiencing water damage is that it can bring harmful effects, such as making your house a perfect host for bacteria, viruses, and molds.
Of course, you wouldn't want that to happen to your home, your family, and your business.
So, what to do? If you have reached this part of the article, you have already known what to do. Getting a professional water damage restoration company can help you address the issue that water damage brings.
A water damage remediation company is expert in assessing the situation, solving the messy trouble, and preventing it from coming back.
There are many types of water damage, so the time frame and the intensity of the repair and restoration may vary from case to case.
Some instances would just need to remove the water while others require to have the entire building walls replaced. Now that you know what's the difference between water restoration and water mitigation, let's now take a look at what are the benefits of water restoration. Getting a water restoration company to deal with water damage gives many pros to your property.
This is essential, especially in maintaining its selling value (if you're planning to sell it anytime soon). But if you're still wondering what the advantages are, we can provide you three. Read on to know more about the benefits of water restoration
Benefit Number 1: Quick Restoration
Nobody wants to live in a wet, moldy home. At the same time, nobody wants to work in a damp, musty office.
If you have water problems with your residential or commercial property, it's understandable that it can be overwhelming. But the thing is, you don't need to delay it.
When you leave water damage even for a while, it will slowly seep into other parts of your house.
And it doesn't just affect your walls, floors, and ceiling, but it will also damage your furniture, electronics, and appliances. When you work with water restoration experts, expect that they are going to do it as fast as possible.
Doing it slow can aggravate the situation. That's why water damage restoration workers would clean up the damage fast yet efficient to prevent the water from damaging your home or office further.
Benefit Number 2: Mold Prevention
We've mentioned this many times already that molds are the byproduct of water damage.
But with a water restoration service, it's not just the water damage that's being dealt with, but also with molds and mildew.
When there is water-based moisture, there is mold growth. And when there is mold growth, it doesn't only bring ugly and dirty-looking place, but it also poses a threat to everyone's health.
This is where an expert water restoration service comes in. The experts' main goal is to take water out as much as possible and as fast as possible. They will quickly eliminate the growth of molds and mildew and prevent it from coming back using the most excellent disinfecting products. When molds are gone, you can say goodbye to chronic respiratory diseases as well as mold allergies.
Benefit Number 3: Keen Eye For Essential Details
You may want to take the water out on your own, and you can do it quite so.
But the problem is, there is more problem with water damage than what your eyes can see.
Your floor and your walls may dry out, but beneath it, there's still water seeping in.
Also, water can get into vents and ducts, which may cause more problems when not treated properly.
When vents and pipes are not appropriately treated, mold growth occurs and will circulate mold spores all around while bringing musty odor all over your house.
When you hire a water restoration company, that could be fixed. The processes don't just reverse the effects of water damage. Still, they would also assess the smallest details to eliminate the damage 100 percent.
These processes can be tricky and grueling, but at least these is something you won't have to worry about as it's all covered with the service.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WATER RESTORATION AND WATER MITIGATION?
But wait, you may say that sounds just another water damage restoration, so where's the difference.
Well, here's the difference: Water mitigation doesn't include repairing or restoring the property and items.
Water mitigation services only ensure that the damage is prevented during a water damage disaster. Water mitigation only gives temporary relief.
Water restoration, on the other hand, is the whole package. It covers up everything - from the assessment of the water damage down to cleaning up and restoring your entire property.
Water restoration also focuses on cleaning everything that may be affected by water damage, such as ducts and vents.
The process also includes deodorizing these parts of the house and preventing molds from growing.
Bottom line, water restoration is vital because water damage goes far beyond damaging properties, and drying and wiping out simply won't do.
There are many classifications of water damage (you can read about it here). That's why it's important to place the safety of the property and the wellbeing of the people living and working in it as a primary concern.
With both water restoration and water mitigation processes, it's a must to protect the health of the clients as well as to protect the ones doing the dirty work. To do this, all water damage experts must wear personal protective equipment such as overall suits, goggles, gloves, boots, and respirators. This way, workers are protected from inhaling molds and get infected by viruses such as the coronavirus.
TIPS TO HELP YOU HIRE THE BEST WATER RESTORATION COMPANY
If you think your house or business establishment needs the help of a water restoration expert, don't just jump on the phone and dial in the first company you'd see on the web.
Here are some essential tips to know before hiring a water restoration company.
Choose the best water restoration company in your area like Reel Contractors LLC.
Being on top of the Google search doesn't mean it can provide the best quality. You need to gain some more information by checking out other companies as well.
Also, make sure that the one you choose is IICRC certified, and that the company has been around for decades to assure you're really hiring an expert company. Always read the fine print.
Ask for the company's contract, scrutinize it, and ask for a copy. Things to look out for should include their insurance policy. When you have insurance coverage queries, consult your claims adjuster. Also, know what your insurance needs from you when you experience such a loss.
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