Water Removal In Commercial Buildings | SI Restoration Washington DC and Baltimore Maryland

Note: before reading this article if you are experiencing a water damage situation and need help in the Baltimore Maryland and Washington DC area please call 410-458-5371 Jeff Cohn 24 hours seven days a week.

Understanding Water Damage

Water damage can occur due to various reasons, including natural disasters, plumbing issues, and accidents. It’s essential to understand the severity of water damage to take appropriate action. Water damage can be categorized into three types: clean water, grey water, and black water.

Clean water

Clean Water typically comes from a clean source, such as a faucet or a burst pipe, and poses minimal health risks. Grey water, on the other hand, is contaminated with chemicals or debris, often originating from appliances like washing machines or dishwashers.

Black water

Black Water is highly contaminated and dangerous, containing sewage, seawater, or river water. Understanding the type of water damage is crucial to determine the best course of action for restoration and to ensure the safety of the affected area.

Water Removal In Building

Use submersible sub pumps and portable water extractors with automatic pump outs for commercial properties and buildings .

Our team of experts is equipped with the latest technology and techniques to efficiently remove water from your property. We provide comprehensive water removal services, including water extraction, drying, and dehumidification, to restore your property to its pre-damage condition.Making an Insurance Claim

Insurance Claims Baltimore Maryland and Washington DC

SI Restoration works closely with your insurance company to help navigate the claims process and ensure a smoother experience during water emergencies.

Have SI Restoration do analyses within the first hour to determine if the water damage restoration costs will be under or over your deductible.

Initial Assessment

Our team will conduct an initial moisture assessment of the affected area to determine the extent of the water damage. This includes identifying the source of the water, assessing the type of water (clean, grey, or black), and evaluating the severity of the damage.

This assessment will help us develop a customized plan for water removal and restoration.

Stopping the Flow of Water

Stopping the flow of water is the first step in preventing further damage. If the water damage is caused by a burst pipe or a leaky faucet, it’s essential to turn off the main water valve to prevent more water from entering the affected area.

In cases where water damage results from natural disasters or floods, identifying the source of the water and taking steps to prevent additional water from entering the property is crucial. This may involve installing a temporary roof, using sandbags, or sealing off affected areas. By taking these immediate actions, you can significantly reduce the extent of water damage and protect your property from further harm.

Water removal specialists like SI Restoration have the experience and the calculations to design a plan to perform water removal safely without creating structural issues. Pumping out the water is another issue. Without the right equipment removing the water from the basement can be challenging. Surprisingly, many water damage clean up companies are not prepared to remove several feet of water from a basement.

Instead of taking a few hours, it can take a day or two. Make sure that the company you hire has portable pumps and sub-pumps that can handle the amount of water removal for your specific situation. Also be sure that if you have lost electricity that the restoration company has portable generators. Not communicating the lack of power can create problems and prolong the water removal at your location. In commercial buildings, elevator shafts are where the water will collect.

As you can imagine, water removal in an elevator shaft creates its own unique issues. Elevator shafts, from years of use, have grease, grime and dirt that have accumulated. As well, there are electrical wires and equipment lying inside the shaft.

Lock-Out Tag-Out

The major issue that is forgotten by inexperienced water removal companies and building management is to shut off the power during water removal. Not shutting off power will create a situation where you can get an electrical shock that can result in death. Building maintenance should perform a Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO) before any work inside an elevator shaft begins. (Lock-Out Tag-Out is a safety procedure required by OSHA that locks off the power to any machinery or equipment while service or maintenance is being performed).

Once the LOTO has been performed, the next issue facing the water removal specialists is the environmental contaminants included with the water. The proper way to remove water from an elevator shaft is to extract the water and then dispose of the water following the EPA recommendations as well as state and local laws.

Not doing this, leaves the removal company and building management open to legal liability! Restoration certification from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is crucial in assessing flood water conditions and determining appropriate cleaning procedures. Extraction extract water can be as easy as using a Wet/Dry Vacuum or as difficult as renting large commercial water extracting equipment used to build bridges. Having and utilizing the right tools for the size of your job is the key to effective water removal! Know your water removal situation and what the potential dangers and the safe way to properly remove the water and mitigate the situation. There are so many unique situations from bathroom flooding to an elevator shaft flood removal. SI Restoration has created a simple guide to get you started: Water Damage Guide.

Certified Water Removal and Restoration Certification for Maryland and Washington DC.

SI Restoration water damage restoration cleanup services are available in the following Maryland areas

SI Restoration offers certified in water damage restoration and cleanup services and has extensive experience and leadership in the restoration industry, highlighting their expertise in handling various types of water damage.

Westminster

Addressing water-damaged property promptly is crucial. SI Restoration takes a comprehensive approach that includes water extraction, mitigation processes, and restoration to return properties to their original state.

Drying and Monitoring

Drying and monitoring are critical steps in the water removal process. After extracting the standing water, it’s essential to use specialized equipment, such as air movers and dehumidifiers, to dry the affected area thoroughly. Monitoring the drying process is crucial to ensure that the area is drying properly and to prevent further damage. This involves regularly checking moisture levels, temperature, and humidity to ensure that the drying process adheres to industry standards. Proper monitoring helps in identifying any remaining water or moisture pockets that could lead to mold growth or structural damage, ensuring a comprehensive restoration of the affected area.

Restoration and Cleanup

Restoration and cleanup involve restoring the affected area to its pre-loss condition. This may include removing damaged materials, cleaning and sanitizing the area, and restoring contents. It’s essential to work with a restoration company that has the necessary expertise and equipment to handle the restoration process. The restoration should be done according to industry standards, ensuring that all procedures are followed meticulously. Additionally, the company should have the necessary restoration certification, which guarantees that they are qualified to perform the restoration work. By adhering to these standards, the affected area can be restored efficiently and safely, minimizing the risk of future issues.

Choosing a Water Removal Service

Choosing a water removal service can be a daunting task, especially during a water emergency. It’s essential to choose a company that has the necessary expertise, equipment, and experience to handle the water damage.

Preventing Further Damage

Preventing further damage is crucial for effective water damage prevention during the water removal process. Our team will take steps to minimize damage and prevent the spread of water to unaffected areas. This includes:

• Isolating the Affected Area: We will contain the affected area to prevent water from spreading to other parts of your property.

• Removing Excess Water: Using advanced equipment, we will extract standing water and excess moisture from wet floors, carpets, and other surfaces.

• Drying and Dehumidification: We will use industrial-grade dehumidifiers and air movers to thoroughly dry the affected areas, preventing mold growth and further structural damage.

• Monitoring and Documentation: Throughout the process, we will monitor the moisture levels and document the progress to ensure that all water is effectively removed and the area is properly dried.

By taking these steps, we aim to restore your property to its pre-loss condition immediately and prevent any long-term damage.