Q&A
Addressing Your Water Damage Concerns
Whether you're dealing with mold, mildew, or any other water damage or air quality concerns, Breath of Life Air Quality is here to provide expert guidance and restoration services. Browse through our comprehensive FAQ section below to find solutions and tips for a healthier, cleaner indoor environment.
FAQs
Yes, unmitigated water damage can damage the wood studs, causing wet rot or rusting metal studs, which compromise structural integrity. Furthermore, the sources of water damage, such as plumbing leaks and exterior water intrusion, can also compromise property foundations.
The water damage restoration process is subdivided into three phases: mitigation, remediation, and reconstruction. The first, mitigation, is inclusive of moisture mapping documentation and securing contents. Installation of dehumidification equipment, strategic demolition of wet building materials, cleanup, and drying. Secondly, the remediation would follow EPA protocols in those instances where mold treatment was required due to a failing mold or air quality test and the microbiological spore count was elevated. The phase concludes with a clean microbiological test. The final and third part of the water damage restoration process is the rebuild or repairs to reinstall contracted building materials.
Visual water damage can have stains of varying colors. On ceilings, due to settling, these stains take on circular patterns. On sheetrock or drywall, the staining appears grayish to brown or yellow if dried, unless mold has developed, in which case the stains may appear black, green, or even purple. Water damage can be wet to the touch or invisible to the naked eye.
The best way to file an insurance claim is to have an experienced, certified restoration professional assist in the process so the claim is documented correctly. The cause and date of loss, along with a detailed description of the damages, are required to file a claim. Insurance claims may also be filed by calling the claims phone number, online, or by the insured's agent.
Homeowners insurance generally covers water damage, including storm damage, plumbing leaks, accidental fires and ensuing water damage from responding fire departments, and "acts of God". Coverage should be closely reviewed for each individual policy. A customer generally has 14 days from the discovery date to report the claim.
Water-damaged wood must be brought to acceptable dry standards within 48 hours of the time of loss to salvage the wood and avoid Replacement. With mold remediation, the wood must be scrubbed with anti-microbials, dried, and painted with an encapsulant. However, once wet rot has set in, the affected wood must be removed.
Water damage with confirmed mold presence as a Mold colony can be seen as yellow, green, brown, black, or purple-red colors and may even have visible mushroom growth.
Water damage or mold presence with wetness smells like damp dump water or a rotting odor.
Mitigation is a part of the Restoration process for drying property structures by leveraging advanced dehumidification sciences and equipment.
Yes, water damage from mold is dangerous and can cause health problems, including cancer and death. Category 3 water damage from sewage, toilet overflows, and hurricanes should also be noted as dangerous due to bacteria contaminants.
Yes, water damages wood by permeating the cellular membranes of the material, causing it to soften and break down. Wood is also a food source for bacterial mold, accelerating its decomposition.
Choose Flood Pros USA, the company with consistent good reviews and technicians with helpful attitudes who are more attentive to your needs and, more importantly, whose primary goal is customer satisfaction.
For water damage in the ceiling, call a restoration company with a mold license and the ability to also handle the repairs if necessary.
As soon as possible so no toxic material will grow from the wet damage.
Homeowners and Associations have shared responsibilities for water damage in the building's common areas.
With water damage, if there is a plumbing leak, this is fixed by a plumber. If there are roof leaks, these are fixed by a roofing contractor. Interior water damage is handled by drying professionals.
Yes, it is easy to fix water damage if it is addressed quickly or, in more complicated projects, correct measures are taken to restore it.
Yes, after 24 to 48 hours
Yes. Vinyl is not a building material that can be properly dried, and it becomes a food source for bacterial growth.
Some appliances are covered, but this is specific to each policy and cause of loss.
You should have a service technician inspect the appliance.
Sublimit places a maximum on the amount available to pay that type of loss.
Any floors, ceilings, walls, or cabinetry wet for more than 48 hours.
The cost of water damage restoration varies from $2000 to $150,000+ based on project details and the extent of damage.
Within 14 days from discovery if the cause of loss is a listed parrel.
Immediately, within 48 to 72 hours of discovery.
The average time for a water damage job is 5 to 14 days for structural damage drying time.
Water damage is not permanent if correct mitigation steps are taken to properly dry and disinfect the property.
Yes, damage happens immediately and requires mitigation action within 48 hours to avoid bacteria growth.
Yes, due to toxic material growth, the damage gets worse and also spreads through the property's building materials and HVAC system.
Yes. Water damage can contain contaminants and should be evaluated by a professional.
Yes, water damage will damage laminate, and it is a food source for mold.
Yes, wood needs to be treated immediately to avoid wet rot, mold, or bacterial growth.
Yes, water damage causes mold due to the fact that there is a moisture imbalance and a food source for bacteria.
Yes, water damages wood floors, but they can be saved if proper mitigation steps are initiated quickly.
Water will not damage granite countertops directly, but it can compromise the seal and cause damage. Granite countertops may break during removal if required in the mitigation of cabinets damaged by water, and this is usually covered by insurance given proper documentation of the cause.
The only way to tell if water damage is mold is to have it professionally tested by an environmental hygienist.
Unless water-damaged areas are opened to air flow and disinfected, it is not reversible.
Flood, it’s more related to outdoors such as flooding from a river or rain but flooding can also refer to water damage of greater magnitude from plumbing or appliances.
Yes, even if the water damage is from a clean source like a faucet, after 48 hours the material has been compromised and should be replaced.
Water damage is considered when water intrusion occurs and affects building materials over an extended period of time.
Water damage restoration includes drying for water damage, mold remediation, fire and smoke remediation, and structural reconstruction.
After experiencing a water damage loss, a property owner should start water damage mitigation and drying right away.
It depends on the extent and/or speed of the drying process. Each individual building material, such as drywall, concrete, wood, etc., must be brought to its own drying standard to avoid mold problems.
The building material composition of the wall, such as drywall, plaster, wood, concrete, etc., will determine the drying standards and methods.
If water gets in the walls, the wall cavity should be exposed by minimally removing floorboards or, when required, cutting out the wall itself. If water is behind the wall, we must get airflow there to dry it and potential antimicrobial cleaners to disinfect it. To solve this, there must be ventilation and a drying process; it depends on the time of the event and the type of water.
Drywall, as a building material type, should be replaced after 48 hours of water damage. Personal property and other materials should be looked at by a restoration professional.
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