To put it plainly, water damage in your house is a very serious problem. Not only can it ruin your belongings and put the structural integrity of your home at risk, but it can also endanger you and your loved ones. For this reason, water damage restoration services are absolutely vital in preserving the well-being of those who live in your home.
What Qualifies as Water Damage?
In general, water damage is pretty self-explanatory, right? Well...not exactly. Most insurance companies define water damage as sudden and accidental. That is, the damage didn’t occur over time (like a leaky kitchen faucet) or due to flooding.
Your Insurance Company Probably Won’t Cover Gradual Water Damage
If a pipe bursts and standing water ruins your furniture, drywall, flooring, and so on—it’s probably safe to say your insurance company will call it water damage and cover it. If a leaky faucet ruins some cabinets over a period of a few weeks, your insurance company may not be so forthcoming with your claim because they can say the problem was avoidable on your end.
Flood Insurance Is a Completely Different Policy (Usually)
Flood damage is usually considered a different problem by insurance companies and is usually covered by a completely separate insurance policy.
Don’t Worry: Water Damage Restoration Services Can Still Help
Water restoration companies can fix all these problems but the exact cause may determine who ends up paying for the damage.
The good news is that a quality water restoration service will work with your insurance provider on your behalf to get you the best deal.
(Bonus: check out this article if you're curious about the differences between water extraction vs. water mitigation.)
How Long Does It Take for Water Damage to Show?
Generally speaking, it depends on how severe the source of the water damage is. If a pipe bursts and water is gushing out everywhere, the damage is of course going to be obvious right away.
However, there are situations where the damage may be more subtle. Small leaks or excess moisture in enclosed spaces can cause plenty of damage over time. In cases like these, you might notice an odd smell (mold and/or mildew), warped or cracked furniture and flooring, a clammy feeling, and so on.
Fortunately, good water damage restoration teams should be able to fix the problem regardless of its source.
How Do You Restore Water Damage?
...By hiring a water damage restoration team, of course!
If It’s Serious, Don’t DIY It!
Unless the problem is isolated to a small space where you can clearly see where the water is coming from and what it has damaged, you should hire a professional team for water damage repair.
Why? If you can’t see the source of the problem then there’s a good chance water is finding its way into other places you can’t see. If water or excess moisture is able to collect in tight spaces (like behind your drywall), there’s a very good chance that mold and mildew as well as structural damage can occur. These are problems that absolutely need professional attention like mold remediation!
Hire a Pro (That Has Special Equipment and Training)
Seriously, we can’t say this enough: if your house has a serious water problem, you need emergency water damage restoration services. Quality teams use specialized equipment to extract and decontaminate your home so that it’s A) safe to return to, and B) the problem is solved the first time around.
Plus, water damage restoration specialists are trained to handle water issues. Sometimes, the cause of water damage isn’t as obvious as it appears and an expert will be able to tell the difference. This is especially important if water damage is causing structural problems in your home (you don’t want to live in a home with a damaged foundation or walls, right?).
Pro Water Damage Restoration Services Can Also Fix Mold Problems
The longer water damage exists in your house, the more likely that mold will develop too. Luckily, good water damage restoration services also offer equally good mold mitigation services and sewage backup repair!
While it might be safe to handle a tiny mold problem on your own, anything beyond the leftovers in your fridge (gross!) or a small smattering of mold in a bathtub probably needs professional attention.
If you don’t properly remove an infestation, it’s likely to come back within a few days to a couple of weeks. A pro team will know how to handle a real infestation so that this doesn’t happen.
Call All-Water Restoration in Orange County for Water Damage Restoration
Overall, water damage is a serious problem worthy of professional attention. If you need water damage restoration in Orange County, All-Water Restoration can help!
Our services are top-notch and we can arrive at most locations in Orange County within an hour of your call. Plus, we also service Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties!
For a free phone consultation, please feel free to call the number on your screen or visit our contact page for more options.
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