How to Handle Water Damage in Your Knoxville Property

4/6/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage is insidious, because long after you have cleaned up the mess, there can still be damage lurking behind the scenes that you can't see.

Dealing with water damage 

Knoxville water damage is insidious, because long after you have cleaned up the mess, there can still be damage lurking behind the scenes that you can't see. That's why it's extremely important to do a proper job of water damage repair to restore the damaged space to its previous condition.

Stop the source of the water

Before you start cleaning up, make sure the source of the damage has stopped. If the problem is man-made, such as a burst pipe, make sure the source of the water is shut off. If your water damage was caused by an act of nature, such as a flood, make sure the rain has stopped and the flood waters have receded before starting your cleanup.

Remove the water

You need to get the water out of your flooded property as soon as possible. If you have a floor drain, this can occur quickly, and you may not have to do much work. But more than likely, you will need to get rid of the water using a pump or wet/dry vac, depending on how much there is.

Drying the property and contents

After you get the water removed, you must dry out the space as soon as possible. Ventilate the room as much as possible and bring in fans to move the air around to help dry things out. After running fans for at least 24 hours, feel walls, floors and ceilings to see if they feel damp. Once they feel dry, bring in dehumidifiers to suck out remaining moisture. Before moving on to restoration, use a moisture meter to check for any hidden moisture in wood and drywall.

Damage restoration

Once the space is completely dried out, you can move on to the task of water damage repair. The first thing you should do is to remove anything porous that was immersed in water. This includes carpet and padding, mattresses and upholstered furniture. You also should remove drywall that got wet. If your moisture meter shows that water remains in wood studs and flooring, you will have to remove those items to prevent the possibility of mold. Items that can be machine washed, such as clothing, towels and small rugs, can be kept. Ensure the space is completely free of moisture before re-installing drywall and flooring.

Water Damage Restoration

Basement flooding or storm damage doesn't wait for regular business hours and neither do we. We respond to your residential or commercial water removal and cleanup needs. Our fast response time and advanced drying methods help prevent secondary damage and mold. Common causes of water damage are:

• Flooding caused by severe weather
• Plumbing leaks
• Sink, bathtub or toilet overflow
• Sewage backup

SERVPRO of Rocky Hill / Sequoyah Hills / South Knoxville is here to help you accomplish restoring your home to a pre-accident condition with the latest in water removal technology and qualified, skilled professionals. Call us at any hour of the day or night, 365 days a year, at (865) 862-8907.