Homes can flood without warning, whether due to a burst pipe, leaky appliance, or sudden storm. When water damage strikes, you may likely need professional help to restore your home to a livable condition. Part of the process revitalizing your home after a flood includes mitigation. 

Especially if you’ve never dealt with a flooded home before, you may not know what mitigation is. Here, we’ll define water mitigation and its purpose as an emergency service for flooded properties in Denver and beyond.

What is Water Mitigation?

Mitigation is the process that comes before restoration after a flood. It’s generally considered to be a service for emergencies. For example, if you find that your basement has severely flooded, you would contact Denver water mitigators to gain control of the situation. 

The purpose of mitigation is to stop any further damage to the area so that it can be effectively restored. In the case of a flood, mitigation generally includes measures to dry out the area and prevent damage to the subflooring. Specialized tools, equipment, and methods are used in water mitigation to recover a property after a flood. 

It’s also important to know that many of the solutions implemented during water mitigation aren’t permanent. For example, if windows are broken in a flooded property, mitigators may place boards over the windows to prevent further damage. Otherwise, rain, snow, hail, debris, and even wild animals could enter through the broken windows. During restoration, the boarded-up windows would be permanently repaired or replaced. 

The Steps of Water Mitigation

Assessment

First off, mitigators will assess the flooded property. They’ll determine the cause of the flood in order to stop any further damage from the same source. Water damage may stem from a sudden event, like a burst pipe, or an issue that becomes worse over time, like a leaky roof. By pinpointing the exact cause of the water damage, mitigators can more effectively stop the damage in its tracks. 

In mitigation, there are different methods for different types of water damage. So, the water damage will need to be classified to determine the right course of action. Black, grey, and white are the main categories of water damage, based on the level of water contamination. Grey and black water can be harmful and therefore must be approached differently than standing water that isn’t a health threat. 

Devise a Plan

Once the mitigators have evaluated the situation, they’ll make a plan to get rid of moisture in the flooded area. The first priority will be standing water. To remove standing water, mitigators may use floor and subfloor drying systems, industrial extractors, and air movers. This professional equipment can efficiently and safely get standing water out of your home so that the mitigation process can proceed. 

Dry The Area

With the standing water gone, mitigators can address moisture in the structure of the property, as well as in the air. A combination of strategies can be used to dry out the previously flooded area, as well as furniture, carpets, rugs, and belongings containing paper like books and documents. 

Sanitation and Structural Solutions

The mitigation process concludes with sanitation restoring the structure of the area. Structures that were damaged by contaminated water must be thoroughly sanitized to make the area safe again. 

Once water mitigation has been completed, the water restoration process can begin. Restoration may involve replacing or restoring floors, walls, ceilings, and carpeting. Note that water restoration can only start after mitigation has been fully completed. This ensures that the area is safe, sanitized, and protected against further water damage. 

The Duration of Water Mitigation

The water mitigation process can vary greatly in duration. In many cases, it can be completed very quickly. Given that mitigation is an emergency service, it’s intended to provide a fast response to flood damage. The mitigators can simply remove furniture and dry out the area that was flooded to prepare it for the restoration process. That said, the amount of time that water mitigation takes depends on the extent of the damage. 

For trusted water mitigation services in Denver, contact Denver Restoration today. We’ll make your house feel like home again with prompt, reliable service.