Regardless of the level of damage in your property, you shouldn’t try to tackle the issue on your own. Instead, it’s best to rely on a dependable water damage repair company to prevent any further harm to your residence and to restore it to its initial condition. EHS stands behind numerous water damage restoration projects across Orange County, and beyond, and is ready to answer your call. These are the steps that our regular procedure entails:

Ensuring the safety

The first step of the recovery process should be to ensure everyone’s safety. In certain cases when we’re dealing with more extensive damage, like flooding, evacuation might be necessary. These are some of the precautions that you can take until we arrive:

• Shut off the main power supply to turn off the electricity in the entire home.
• Wear protective clothing like gloves and rubber boots to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals if the water is contaminated.
• Protect your furniture and carpets by removing them out of the affected area.

Removing water and drying out the property

Eliminating all the water and drying up the property is the next stage of every water restoration project. We use advanced extractors, fans, dehumidifiers, and HEPA air filters to accelerate the entire process and prevent further issues, such as mold.

Cleaning up

Finally, once your home is completely dry, our team of experts will be able to estimate the exact extent of the damage, determine what parts of your property can be repaired and what need to be replaced. Unfortunately, not all items may be salvageable, especially if they have suffered extensive damage. Keep in mind that mold needs no more than 24 hours to start growing, so acting quickly is of the utmost importance.

What are the types of water damage?

Based on the levels of contamination of the water, we can single out 3 types of water damage. They include the following:

Category 1 Water Damage (Clean Water)

The first category is the least dangerous and easiest to repair. It is characterized by the presence of clean water that does not contain toxic substances and shouldn’t be harmful to your health. However, you should keep in mind that these stages are not fixed, and that category 1 may progress to the next stage if not handled promptly. This is why you should always contact the experienced professional as soon as you notice the first signs of damage and thus prevent the issue from spiraling out of control. These are some of the most common causes of category 1 water damage:

• An overflowing sink
• A damaged water line
• A leaky bathtub or toilet holding tank, and similar

Category 2 Water Damage (Greywater)

Category 2 damage occurs when your property is affected by greywater. Even though it is not as dangerous as blackwater, it contains a significant amount of pathogens that can harm your health if you are immediately exposed to them. While wearing protective clothing may help in such situations, the safest option is to contact a dependable water damage restoration company near you. Our trained technicians will ensure your full safety, prevent any disease outbreaks and fight the issue before it escalates and progresses to the next category. Bear in mind that this may happen in less than 48 hours, so think on your feet and give us a call asap! The most frequent sources of category 2 water-caused damage are:

• Faulty bathroom appliances
• Leaky water supply pipes
• The hole in the roof, etc.

Category 3 Water Damage (Blackwater)

Finally, category 3 damage is the most dangerous and the hardest to tackle. This water is highly contaminated with various toxins, chemicals, pathogens, and other harmful substances, and you should under no circumstances try to deal with it by yourself. The biggest issue with this type is that when any porous material comes in contact with it, it will absorb the water quickly and be extremely hard to salvage due to the high levels of contamination. EHS takes its job extremely seriously and our experts will do everything in their power to estimate the damage precisely and deal with it in the most effective way. We are ready to handle different sources of blackwater include the following:

• Broken sewage pipes
• Storms, hurricanes and other natural disasters
• Rising water from rivers, lakes, etc.

How much does it cost to repair water damage in a house?

How much it will cost to repair the damage that your property has suffered is difficult to determine in advance. It will depend on numerous factors, such as the extent and category of the damage, how quickly you responded, the size of your property, etc. However, one thing is certain: the sooner you contact EHS, the quicker we will be able to act and mitigate the consequences. In such situations, every second counts and postponing the action can only lead to further complications. We understand that this is extremely stressful for you, and we’ll go above and beyond to help you overcome any difficulties along the way.

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?

In order to know with certainty if your homeowners insurance will cover the damage, you need to take several factors into account, including the source of the damage, the type of your policy, as well as whether it was sudden/accidental, or gradual damage. When it comes to HO-1, HO-2 or HO-8 policies, your coverage is very limited. On the other hand, if you have purchased an HO-3 homeowners policy, you may expect your damage to be covered under the following circumstances:

• Damage due to heavy rain, snow, ice or sleet
• Plumbing issues, such as faulty plumbing, accidental overflowing, or freezing of plumbing and pipes
• A leaky roof
• Faulty household appliances
• Sudden and accidental cracking, burning, or tearing apart of a hot water heating system, an automatic fire protection sprinkler system, etc.

EHS is here to handle a claim for you and ensure that your interests are protected. Give us a call at any time, we promise we won’t keep you waiting.

Is drywall ruined if it gets wet?

Whether or not you’ll be able to save your drywall will depend on how wet it has gotten, and what category of damage you’re dealing with. Speedy action is critical here because the longer it stays wet, the softer it will become, and once mold starts spreading, it will be extremely hard to salvage it. With this in mind, you should always have your trusted water damage restoration company in Orange County on speed dial. Our experts will inspect the affected area, check your drywall for moisture, and examine the interior of the wall as well. After they’ve estimated the extent of damage, they will take quick action and repair or replace the damaged parts of the drywall. If mold has already appeared, you’d better let your EHS professional eliminate it since if not handled properly, mold can spread fast through the spores that get released into the air and affect your health.

How long does it take for mold to grow in wet drywall?

Once your drywall has been affected by water, mold and mildew will begin to set in quickly, often in less than 24 hours. Considering the porous nature of drywall, it can trap an excess amount of water fast, creating perfect conditions for mold and mildew to thrive. Fortunately, if you react quickly enough and contact the professionals, there is a good chance that mold growth can be slowed down and your drywall saved.

Can a one-time water leak cause mold?

Unfortunately, yes. Even though in such cases the amount of damage will be less significant, it can still lead to the appearance of mold. Of course, if you notice the leak timely and have it repaired, the chances of it leading to more serious damage will be minimal. However, since leaks cannot often be uncovered without the use of professional equipment, you should rely on your trusted plumbing company from the area to examine your plumbing system and advise you on the best course of action.

Do I really need mold remediation?

If you’re not 100% sure if your house has gotten infested with mold and if it’s time to contact the experts, you can rely on the following signs to help you figure it out:

• Your home has suffered water intrusion.
  As we’ve previously discussed, moisture and water are often the main causes of mold growth. So, don’t wait until the issue gets more complicated, but make sure to call your mold repair company at the first sign of a leak.
• An odd musty odor in the air.
  Even if the mold is hidden and you can’t notice its presence, you can often smell it. However don’t forget that certain types of mold do not give off this unpleasant smell, so you need to rely on other means of detection as well.
• Stains and discoloration of walls.
  You should look for any change in the color of your walls. For instance, brown, orange and yellow spots on your bathroom ceiling or walls can be reliable indicators of mold presence.
• Health Issues.
  Mold can have many adverse effects on our health. These are some of the symptoms that you should pay attention to, especially if they occur for no apparent reason: coughing, sneezing, nosebleeds, watery eyes, chest tightness, breathing difficulties, fatigue, nausea, etc.

Water damage services in Orange County, CA that you can rely on anytime

At EHS, we know that when Orange County water damage strikes it’s a stressful situation. Often it seems like it only happens in the middle of the night when you most need your rest. If your Orange County home suffers from mold or water-related damage, or you have a plumbing emergency that you need to deal with right now, don’t forget that EHS is here for you. Give us a call right away. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 949-916-0549. Our professionals will arrive at your home in no time, fix the damage, and leave your place cleaner than they’ve found it, returning it to its pre-loss condition! We can also handle your insurance claim.