How Can I Get Three Inches Of Water Out Of My Home?

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Need water removal Somerset? Call SERVPRO, we will be right there.

To Remove Any Amount of Water in Somerset, Call SERVPRO Specialists

Spring weather gives all of us cabin fever, especially this year. When what is supposed to be a safe place becomes a possible threat, water removal from your Somerset home suddenly turns into the most important task for you and your family. SERVPRO is here to help you draw out not just the standing water, but also remove any possible threat left behind.

It looks impossible, how do you get started?

We start with your call to us. Our operator gathers all the information we can so our teams arrive with the right equipment needed to return your home to the same dry, safe condition it was before the water in your Somerset home interrupted your life. 

Can you remove all of the water?

Yes, we start with the standing water or the water that you can see and feel as it laps over your shoes. This is the easiest to remove, but it also involves some of the largest, and loudest devices in our equipment inventory; water pumps.

The pumps we use may look like a giant water-vac but is much more efficient. Our commercial-grade pumps are adjustable to match the level of the water without damaging the surface of the floor it rests on and is slowly destroying. 

The pump sizes start with a unit that can sit in an entryway while the operator uses it to draw out the water from your living room or den. Larger models have the pump sitting outside the home while one or more operators use a set of longer hoses to draw water out of basements and other areas of the home. Our biggest pumps are truck-mounted for use in very large homes or commercial facilities. 

Is that the end of the water? 

No, even the most effective pump leaves some water on the surface. It also leaves water trapped in carpets and between floorboards. To remove this much lower level of water, specialists use smaller devices like extraction wands and other equipment designed for the task.

• Extraction Wands – These are our primary tools for drawing water out of carpets and off the surface of other floorings. Like the pumps, they also come in various sizes to match the amount of water and the surface where it rests. In small rooms and carpeted closets, an operator can wear the vacuum part of the wand as a backpack so there is no tripping hazard with power cords while carefully removing the trapped water. 

Larger extractors include devices that an operator can ride. These are designed for extended use in large, carpeted areas. The operator can guide the self-propelled machine and adjust the vacuum to protect the carpet from the delamination or separation of the carpet layers. If needed, there is also a heating element useful to speed the drying process. 

• Drying Pads – These are ideal for very small amounts of water, especially in tight areas like small closets with concrete or wood floors and underneath items that cannot be moved like water heaters. Specialists carefully lay them down to cover the affected area and quickly remove them when the pad is saturated. The pads are also useful to dry floors after lifting the carpet and removing the pad underneath. 

All right, the water is gone, but my home still feels damp. What about that?

The damp feeling means the humidity level or amount of moisture in the air is too high. It may also indicate there is water trapped in furniture and drywall panels. To remove it, specialists use equipment to force moisture out and into the air where they force it out of the home. 

• Air Movers – Specialists use these to push moisture out of the drywall and other property. They adjust the speed, temperature, and airflow direction for the best result.
• Dehumidifiers – Team members use these to pull moisture from the air. Depending on the humidity level, the machines can draw out 25 gallons of water every 24 hours. 
• Exhaust Fans – Specialists place these in doorways and windows to pull out the damp air. This action augments the efficiency of the dehumidifiers and the air movers. 

OK, the water and moisture are gone. Is that it?

Almost; your SERVPRO team now inspects everything affected by the water once last time. They check for signs of rot in fabric, rust on metal surfaces, and splitting or cracking of wood flooring and furniture. If there are no other signs of water damage, the team leader brings you through your home for a walk-through and then happily turns it back to you.  

At SERVPRO of Southeast Somerset County, our teams work tirelessly to clear your home of water and return it to you in a dry, safe condition. If you have had even a minor water spill in your residence, call us today at (908) 251-9097 to learn more about what we can do for you.