24/7 Professional Water Damage Restoration: Trust Experts to Dry & Restore Your Property

24/7 Professional Water Damage Restoration: Trust Experts to Dry & Restore Your Property

At Lindstrom Restoration, our mitigation technician professionals respond to numerous water damage situations in homes and commercial buildings.  One of the first things people ask us is how much the clean-up and dry-down process is going to cost and how long their space will be down.  Unfortunately, the answers are fleeting early on, as each circumstance is different.  The structure and items differ, as does the amount of water that saturates them.  Adding to the complexity, air movement, weather conditions, and light vary. We must dig into the loss further before committing to timetables and costs. 

One thing we do know is that water damage doesn’t clock out until the structure and contents are dry.  Usually, that requires professional water damage restoration, unless the spillage/saturation is minimal.  Unfortunately, in many instances, do-it-yourselfers don’t have the equipment or expertise to do the job properly. They spend hours removing standing water but don’t realize that things like drywall, carpeting (and pad) along with contents remain wet.  In a few days, a moldy smell is the telltale sign that things haven’t dried sufficiently.  By then it is too late. 

Contractors are then subsequently forced to do “flood cuts” of walls, rip out insulation, and toss carpet.  Mold remediation is usually necessary. To do that properly and keep spores from contaminating the entire house, areas must be sealed off.  The cost of remediation and repairs soars, along with the time the area is out of service.  Oh, and did we mention lost time, stress, and frustration?  If home and business owners had brought in professionals early, much of this cost and hassle could have been avoided. 

In extreme situations, people realize the damage is beyond their capabilities.  We recall a massive water damage at a Minneapolis high school that occurred a few years back.  A main water main broke knocking out the power to the building in mid-July.  The temperatures were in the 90’s and outside humidity was high.  The conditions in the basement were dark, hot, and humid with no air movement for at least 2 days over a weekend.  The conditions were perfect for mold development and that’s exactly what happened.  Temporary cooling was not set up in the building for some 72 hours and no drying was done.  The ensuing mold growth was something out of a horror movie.  The gymnasium wood floor buckled several feet.  Yes, water is crucial to life, but can also be very destructive.

There was another residential water damage we remember in an exclusive area of Eden Prairie.  The homeowner was quite wealthy and had three homes in different parts of the world.  His huge house wasn’t occupied for most of the winter.  His heat went out, and he had no one checking the house.  It was a very cold winter, and all the pipes froze.  In total, he had well over two dozen pipe leaks in the house, and in the spring a neighbor saw water running out of his garage and down the driveway.  Inside, the place looked like a giant petri dish.  The dry-down and clean-up required Hazmat suit protection as a precaution. 

Fortunately, most water damage losses are protected by insurance coverage. Here’s something most people don’t know: Almost all insurance agents and adjusters want and require you to take immediate professional action to dry things out properly as the cost of the claim can be much larger when inaction or do-it-yourself response occurs.  Check with your agent for sure about what is and what isn’t covered, as well as what responsibilities you have as an owner, but Lindstrom’s experience is, that policyholders have to keep the damage from getting worse.  In major water damage situations, an insurance agent or adjuster’s advice is to turn to the pros to ascertain and remediate the circumstances.  

When professionals like Lindstrom come into a major water loss, we put industrial-strength dehumidifiers and turbo dryers in various parts of the structure to facilitate rapid drying. Normally, we empty the dehumidifier hoses into drains.  People are amazed to hear how much water generally drains.  We’re talking hundreds (and sometimes thousands!) of gallons.  As you can imagine if that much humidity is left in the air for too long, everything in the house is subject to eventual damage and possibly mold development. 

Generally speaking, the rule of thumb is excess humidity and water must be removed from an inside environment within 72 hours to prevent mold development, but as we said earlier, excessive environmental conditions can change that.  Your small room fans and standard household humidifier are not going to do the job in that time.  Professional expertise and equipment are required.    

As mentioned earlier, homeowners and untrained commercial maintenance workers sometimes spend hours removing standing water with shop vacs and other limited equipment.  What they don’t realize is that inside high humidity continues to damage structure and contents.  Their intentions are well-meaning, but their ineffective results can be disastrous AND a lot more costly. 

Lindstrom and other industry professionals are trained in the science of structural drying.  They earn professional designations provided by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) not-for-profit organization that operates worldwide.  Our professional technicians are schooled to ascertain what equipment and expertise is needed in each application. They are proficient in testing with sensors to determine what is currently wet, and whether structure and contents have been sufficiently dried.  To sum up, handling water damage properly is a critical task that requires professional expertise for several reasons:

1. Timely Response: Professionals can provide a prompt response to water damage situations. Time is crucial in mitigating water damage, as delays can lead to further destruction and the growth of mold and other contaminants. Professionals have the tools and experience to act quickly.
2. Assessment and Identification: Trained professionals can accurately assess the extent of water damage and identify potential hidden issues. They use specialized equipment such as moisture meters and infrared cameras to detect moisture in areas that may not be visible to the naked eye.
3. Proper Equipment: Professionals have access to advanced equipment for water extraction, drying, and dehumidification. This equipment is essential for thorough and efficient water damage restoration. Using improper or insufficient equipment may result in incomplete drying, leading to long-term problems.
4. Prevention of Mold and Bacteria Growth: Water damage often leads to mold and bacteria growth, which can pose serious health risks. Professionals are trained to identify and address conditions conducive to mold growth, helping to prevent its development and ensuring a safe and healthy environment.
5. Structural Integrity: Water damage can compromise the structural integrity of buildings. Professionals can assess the structural damage and take appropriate measures to restore the integrity of the affected areas, ensuring the safety of the property.
6. Insurance Assistance: Dealing with insurance claims can be a complex process. Professionals have experience working with insurance companies and can help document the damage, provide accurate estimates, and assist in the claims process. This can ease the burden on property owners and expedite the restoration process.
7. Comprehensive Restoration: Water damage restoration involves more than just removing water. It requires thorough cleaning, sanitization, and restoration of affected areas. Professionals have the knowledge and skills to handle all aspects of the restoration process, ensuring that the property is returned to its pre-loss condition.
8. Experience in Various Scenarios: Water damage can occur in various scenarios, such as floods, burst pipes, sewage backups, and more. Professionals have experience dealing with different types of water damage scenarios, allowing them to tailor their approach to the specific situation.
9. Compliance with Regulations: There are industry standards and regulations for water damage restoration to ensure the safety and well-being of occupants.  Government laws exist regarding the proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials.  You just can’t empty contaminated water into municipal drainage systems and hazardous waste cannot be legally dumped into everyday garbage collection.  It needs to be properly disposed of through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s approved operators, who will then manage, collect, and dispose of the material properly.  That’s the law.   Professionals are familiar with these standards, regulations, and laws, and adhere to them, ensuring that the restoration process meets the necessary guidelines.

In summary, hiring professionals like Lindstrom Restoration to handle water damage is crucial for a thorough and effective restoration process, minimizing long-term damage and ensuring the safety of the property and its occupants.  Water damage can happen to anyone at any time.  Appliance water supply lines can fail, and ice dams can cause leaks in the roof that allow water to enter the home.  Trees can fall on roofs opening the home to the elements, and fires are put out by massive amounts of water, either by firefighters or by sprinkler systems in commercial buildings.  Finally, toilets often fail and sometimes even toddlers will turn the bath water on and delight in seeing it overflow onto the floor and below.  Water damage can occur from various sources, but what you do about it is crucial.  Call Lindstrom Restoration with any water damage problems 24/7/365 at 763-544-8761.  Don’t wait until the next day!  Water damage does not clock out.