Do I Need To Make Plans For Water Removal From My Gatlinburg House?

5/19/2020 (Permalink)

Seemingly small things can cause a lot of water damage. SERVPRO is available 24/7 to meet your water damage restoration needs.

SERVPRPO Can Help You Create and Implement a Restoration Plan That Addresses the Water Spill Faster or More Effectively 

Making plans for water removal from your Gatlinburg house after a pipe burst or other sudden water release may sound like an unnecessary or unusual way to respond. However, having a plan helps in many ways, including expediting the restoration process. 

What goes into water removal plans to save Gatlinburg Homes after water spills? 

Water loss situations in Gatlinburg are unique, so a new plan is necessary for each incident - even when it happens more than once in the same house. The plan may depend on the intensity of the water loss or the layout of your house. Typical issues that you have to factor in when preparing for the restoration include: 

• The percentage and type of wet materials involved
• Area covered by the spilled water
• The source of the water
• The level of damage to materials 

Although most of the spilled water pools on surfaces around the property, various materials absorb the rest. Such absorption can significantly slow the removal process since drying wet materials is not as fast as extracting water from surfaces. Drying relies on evaporation, which is 1200 times slower than extraction. Establishing which materials are wet, and the level of moisture absorbed ensures any tactic that can help improve the removal speed is applied. Our SERVPRO technicians inspect the loss site physically to find the wet materials. We also use both penetrative and non-penetrative moisture meters to test the level of wetness in materials. 

Knowing the amount of water that needs removing helps in calculating the time it might take or determining the other resources needed to complete it. Unlike measuring water held in a container, estimating the amount of spilled water is complicated. However, measuring the total area covered by the water spill can reveal approximately how many gallons are involved. Since water extractors and dehumidifiers have ratings of how many gallons, or pints they can remove over a specific period, estimating the amount of water involved helps determine the time needed to handle the removal process.

The water source also influences the water removal process in Gatlinburg, especially if such a source is not clean. Removal in such a case also involves cleanup steps such as the application of detergents and rinsing. Such steps lead to the repetition of some steps such as extraction, thus prolonging the removal process. Our SERVPRO crews have several automated cleaning equipment, including wet vacuums and pressure washers that help expedite cleaning processes. 

Why is it necessary to estimate the water removal time?

You might believe that once water spills, cleaning, and drying the property is the only thing you can do to restore it to its preloss state. However, water is a universal solvent that readily damages many materials through extended exposure. Luckily, most of the damages are not instantaneous, and with quick action, you can prevent or minimize them. Estimating the time removal might take can help you marshal enough resources to complete extraction or drying before permanent damage happens. 

What typical timelines should I be wary of during water removal? 

• Stains on carpets can happen immediately
• Rotting in wood can happen within 7-10 days
• Mold development can start within 24-48 hours 

Sometimes the damages that happen depend on the combination of items you have in your house. For instance, if carpeting covers the floor of the house, the water spill threat is amplified by the presence of items that can release dyes or other substances that stain the carpet. Our SERVPRO technicians prioritize removing area rugs, books, draperies, and metallic or wooden furniture legs from contact with the wet carpet to save it from stains. 

When is demolition necessary during water removal? 

Controlled demolition helps improve the water removal process in many ways, including creating better access to enclosed areas. Typical reasons for such demolition include: 

• Removal of materials damaged beyond repair
• Removal of vapor barriers
• Removal of materials to reduce their drying time 

A wide range of materials can act as vapor barriers in your house, including wallpaper, 4-mil polyethylene paper installed behind drywall, felt paper under hardwoods, and gloss or semi-gloss paints. Demolition can involve removing entire pieces of materials, such as when our SERVPRO technicians make flood cuts or remove minimal materials such as when we punch vent holes to circulate dry air into cavities to quicken drying. 

SERVPRO of Sevier, Jefferson & Cocke Counties can help you address a water spill at your Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, or Jefferson City home "Like it never even happened." Call us at (865) 429-8885 at any time.