The first step in removing water from a flooded basement or crawlspace is the most important one. Of course, this assumes you have already contacted an emergency plumber in Colorado Springs to fix the source of the flood. Many water damage restoration companies make the mistake of not spending enough time on this critical area.
At AmeriDri we realize that the time spent getting the bulk water out will make a major difference in preventing long term damage to the structure. This is why our state-of-the-art truck mounted drying equipment can remove the water or sewage backup from your carpet, wood, tile or bare concrete quickly and easily. Once the bulk water is removed drying becomes much easier and faster … leaving you with less damage to your walls or ceilings and less costly repairs.
One word of caution, however, if water entered your structure because of hydrostatic pressure from saturated ground soil outside of your basement walls and the water inside your basement is 6 feet high, then removing the water too quickly could bring disaster. In this type of situation we would handle the situation by pumping out the water slowly a foot or two in measured time periods. This would relieve the interior pressure that is pressing on the outward walls and keep your basement walls from imploding.
Fortunately, this is a rare event. The more common water levels can be safely removed quickly by using commercial wet vacuum extraction equipment. The truck-mounted equipment like we use here at AmeriDri can safely remove quantities of standing water on hard surface flooring, or from carpet and pad.
There are a number of tools we use, like the “Water Claw” that provide a greater weight which increases the vacuum seal on the carpet and requires the technician to literally slow down. Failure to slow down when performing water extraction is by far the biggest mistake many disaster restoration companies make.
Another consideration is what to do with the water being removed. Usually, this would mean putting it down the sewage system drain if it’s operational. In most situations our truck mount is used to capture the water and safely remove it to an appropriate disposal site.
A certified water damage expert should also be aware of hidden pockets of saturation. These “pockets” could be inside of walls or ceilings, under floors, or even within insulation. They present a drying challenge and removing moisture from these areas sometimes requires removing sheetrock or other materials. Even though this may increase the cost of the repair it is necessary to prevent microorganism growth from developing and causing future health concerns.
At AmeriDri, Joe Crivello, along with his crew receive up-to-date training in the latest drying technologies and you will be well taken care of. Please call joe today at 719-358-2435 with any questions or concerns if you have any water leaks or water intrusion to your home or office.
