In a recent report published by the Insurance Information Institute (III), statistics revealed that flooding and excessive rain affect more than 14,000 homes every year. While natural disasters are a common cause, faulty plumbing and overflowing bathtubs may also damage your home. Such situations require taking appropriate water mitigation steps, which we will discuss in this guide.
Understanding Water Mitigation Steps
Whether it’s excessive rainfall, unexpected flooding, or leaky faucets, water entering your home can cause serious structural damage. It can also create hazardous conditions, especially if it comes into contact with an electrical source.
To ensure a safe environment for you and your family, it’s important to take the right water mitigation steps, which involve assessing, containing, and preventing further water damage.
While homeowners may be able to extract water themselves and restore their property to its former glory, some situations may require the skills of a water mitigation expert.
What Are the Key Water Mitigation Steps?
If your home is facing an emergency, here are the key water mitigation steps that you should follow:
Step 1: Assess the Situation
This is an important stage that requires careful attention. Assessing the situation can help you plan the next water mitigation steps properly.
There are two systems that professionals use when determining water damage, and these include the following:
- Category: This method helps understand the underlying cause and the level of contamination. It includes the following:
- Category 1: Any source of clean, usable water, such as faulty faucets and overflowing bathtubs, falls under this category.
- Category 2: This category includes contaminated sources of water like a broken dishwasher or a leaky aquarium. It’s also referred to as gray water.
- Category 3: All sources of grossly contaminated water fall under this category. It may include sewage, wastewater, and factory dumps. These contain harmful pathogens, increasing the risk of certain diseases.
- Class: This method helps you determine the extent of damage by assessing the level of water and the amount absorbed by the surrounding surfaces or materials. It includes the following:
- Class 1: Low levels of water with less than 5% of the area affected by water damage
- Class 2: Significant absorption of water with between 5% and 40% of the area affected by water damage
- Class 3: Greater absorption of water with more than 40% of the area affected by water damage
- Class 4: Deep water damage, especially in materials that do not absorb fluids easily
An experienced technician can assess the category and class of damage before determining the next water mitigation steps.
Step 2: Perform Water Extraction
You must remove the standing water to avoid further damage before drying out the space. This requires special tools, such as pumps, vacuums, dehumidifiers, and air scrubbers, which is why it’s important to reach out to a top-rated water damage company.
Step 3: Fix the Underlying Problem
While your property continues to dry, taking certain steps to prevent further water damage is essential. If there’s a hole in the ceiling, for example, you may want to cover it with a tarp or place a bucket right underneath it. These may be temporary fixes, and professional help is required to address the underlying problem.
Homeowners working with a reputable water damage company shouldn’t worry about getting their hands dirty. The technicians will fix the problem temporarily until the right subcontractors arrive to provide a permanent solution.
Step 4: Create a Restoration Plan
Removing water is only half the battle; homeowners also need a plan to restore their property to its original state. Experienced professionals can advise you on what’s salvageable, what needs repair, and what steps should be taken to create a safe environment for you and your loved ones.
Here is a table that summarizes the key water mitigation steps:
| Steps | What to Do |
| Step 1 | Assess the situation |
| Step 2 | Extract the water |
| Step 3 | Temporarily fix the problem |
| Step 4 | Create a restoration plan |
Seeking Professional Water Damage Help? Fine Restoration Has You Covered!
Whether it’s making initial repairs, containing the damage, or cleaning the mess, Fine Restoration is here to help. We offer a wide range of water damage cleanup and restoration services across Kansas City.
Call us at (913) 225-9673 for a free consultation with our experienced professionals!
