Water damage can happen very quickly and create serious problems for your home in just a short amount of time. Whether it’s an overflowing appliance, plumbing issue, or burst pipe, water can quickly spread throughout your drywall, insulation, flooring, and structural materials. The longer moisture sits untreated inside building materials, the more expensive and difficult the restoration process will be.
Acting quickly is the key to minimizing damage and preventing mold and mildew growth in your home. Here, we’ll walk you through some of the most important steps you should take when dealing with water damage to minimize the damage to your home and the cost of restoration services.
How to Stop the Water (Even If You Don’t Have a Plumber)
When you first notice a burst pipe or a pipe leak, the most immediate priority is stopping the flow of water. Even a small drip can waste a surprising amount of water over time. The best thing to do is shut off the water supply to that area of your home. For example, if the leak is at one of your fixtures, you may be able to use one of the fixture shutoffs to stop the flow of water to that location.
However, a leak may be coming from one of your main plumbing lines where a shutoff on one of your fixtures won’t work. If so, you’ll want to turn off your main water valve. This is the main valve that shuts off water to all the different plumbing supply lines and fixtures throughout your home. It’s important that every homeowner knows exactly where their main shutoff valve is located. They also need to ensure that the path to get there is free from debris so they can quickly turn it off.
Here are common locations for main water valves.
- In the basement
- Near the water heater
- Inside a utility room
- Near the perimeter wall where water enters the home
- In a crawlspace
- Outside near the water meter
If you’re dealing with a minor water leak, there are some temporary things you can do to fix the situation until a licensed plumber or water mitigation company can handle it. For example, putting a bucket underneath the pipe to catch dripping water is a simple and effective strategy. Using towels or mops to absorb pooling water will decrease the amount that can soak into the surrounding building materials. Your main goal should be removing as much standing water as possible from your home.
When water comes into contact with your electrical system, it can pose a big danger. Avoid touching any electrical equipment and consider shutting off power to any affected areas in your home. Avoid walking through standing water if there’s any chance that electricity may be passing through it. For example, if the water level rises above your outlets, it’s likely to be live. In severe flooding situations, ceilings that trap water can weaken and collapse unexpectedly. If you see any sagging areas where water is accumulating, it’s best to prioritize staying away from them to prevent harm.
Finding the Source of the Leak
After you’re able to stop the active flow of water, the next step is to identify the source of the moisture problem. Some leaks will be very obvious, like a burst pipe releasing a large amount of water. However, hidden pipe leaks can be behind your walls, above your ceilings, or underneath your flooring, which can be much more difficult to locate.
Visible vs. Hidden Leaks
Some examples of visible leaks include appliance leaks, overflowing toilets, dripping plumbing fixtures, and burst pipes. Hidden leaks tend to quietly damage your home for weeks or even months before they become obvious. In many cases of hidden leaks, water will travel through insulation, ceilings, walls, or flooring before it becomes visible. Just because you see water warping your flooring or a water stain on the ceiling doesn’t mean that it’s coming from that direct location.
When You Need Professional Leak Detection
Professional leak detection service is necessary when you’re dealing with a hidden water leak, and you can’t identify the source. Many water restoration professionals use specialized equipment like thermal imaging cameras and acoustic listening devices to locate hidden moisture. This eliminates the need to unnecessarily tear out your walls or flooring in large sections.
Instead, professional leak detection can find the exact source of the leak to help minimize the intrusion to your home for repairs. Early leak detection is one of the best ways to significantly reduce the amount of repair work and demolition needed.
How Experts Detect Hidden Water Damage
Professional water mitigation companies use a variety of advanced tools to identify hidden moisture problems inside your home. These technologies allow experts to track water quickly and accurately. These tools are especially helpful when homeowners are struggling to find the source of their water leak.
1. Moisture Meters
Moisture meters are simple handheld devices that are used to detect moisture levels inside building materials like insulation, flooring, drywall, and wood. This helps determine how far the water has spread behind the surface, even though it may appear dry from the outside. These become especially useful because water often travels much further than you may realize at first glance.
2. Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging cameras are another valuable tool that allows experts to perform a quick water damage inspection by detecting temperature differences behind your ceilings, floors, and walls. Anywhere there’s a major temperature difference can indicate hidden moisture accumulation. Wet materials often appear cooler than dry materials on a thermal imaging camera.
Why Fast Water Mitigation Saves You Thousands
When you experience a burst pipe or a pipe leak in your home, getting fast water mitigation can help save you thousands in repair costs. Letting water seep into the structural components of your home can cause them to deteriorate and affect the structural integrity of your home. Mold can start to grow within 24 to 48 hours. Mold growth can damage belongings and create indoor air quality concerns. Additionally, putting off getting repairs can potentially jeopardize your homeowners’ insurance claim, leaving you paying out of pocket for more expensive repair bills.
What to Expect During Water Mitigation
When you call us for water mitigation services, the first thing we’ll do is come out and inspect the property. This will allow us to determine the extent of the damage, locate any hidden leaks, and formulate a game plan for treatment. Our first major step is extracting any excess water from your property.
We use industrial equipment like dehumidifiers and vacuums to remove excess water. We’ll then get to work drying out the structural components of your home and belongings. We’ll monitor the entire process to ensure that everything is completely dry and restored.
Top Mistakes Homeowners Make After Water Damage
One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make when they experience water damage is waiting too long to get help. Trying DIY drying techniques typically doesn’t go deep enough to reach the hidden water damage that will quickly turn into mold and mildew growth. Not calling in a professional or documenting the damage are two major mistakes homeowners should avoid.
When to Call a Water Mitigation Company
When you experience a burst pipe, it’s important to act quickly to minimize the damage. If water has seeped into your carpets, walls, or belongings, professional water removal should begin as quickly as possible. With over 20 years of industry experience, Allklean Water Removal and Carpet Cleaning is your 24/7 emergency water damage restoration company. If you need water removal in Spokane, WA or Coeur d’Alene, ID, contact us today.
