Stay calm, but take action. Panicking will not make the situation easier. Call an emergency water removal company right away. The sooner you call, the sooner they’ll arrive. Time is of the essence if you want to save your possessions from water damage. You can call your insurance company if you’d like, but your emergency flood response company will be contacting them for you anyway. Your time is better spent moving your belongings (if the area is safe to be in).

Use extreme caution. If the water level is high enough to reach your outlets or any running appliances you can risk electrocution. Depending on the source of the water, it can also contain toxins from sewage. If you are certain that there is no risk of electrocution and your feet are protected you should consider moving your most water sensitive possessions.

This depends on the amount of flooding and water damage. A small leak from a crack in your foundation may cause an inconvenience, but not cause significant damage. You should call a water removal service if your possessions need drying, if your carpet becomes saturated with water, or if the water will last long enough for mold to begin growing.

Typically within an hour or two. Several circumstances may change the arrival time, such as your location and if there is a catastrophic event that’s causing many people to have water damage simultaneously.

Water mitigation is the process of reducing or preventing the amount of water damage after a flood or leak. The exact steps vary with each situation but generally consist of stopping the source of the water and quickly preparing the area for drying before items become more damaged.

Water remove is the process of removing all standing water from the property and water extraction by means of specialized equipment on carpets, possessions, and furniture. This is done after the source of the flooding is addressed.

Water remediation is the process of ridding a water supply of various types of contaminants. Oftentimes if someone refers to water remediation after a flood to their property they are actually referring to the processes of water mitigation and removal.

Assuming you have insurance yes. Many homeowners don’t realize that their insurance will pay for the cost of the water removal, drying of your possessions (which is usually the most important thing to people), and the cost of repairs. Since insurance covers the cost (you’ll still have your normal deductible), all you have to do is make sure you choose the right company.

No. If you are not making excessive insurance claims throughout the year your insurance company will not raise your rates after a claim. While we cannot speak on behalf of every insurance company that exists, this is quite standard.

No. There are many types of mold that are not dangerous. What makes mold dangerous is the type of mold, quantity of mold, and the sensitivity to mold of those exposed.

It’s impossible to give an exact number or statistic for several reasons. The amount of exposure will depend based off several variable such as type of mold, tolerance of each person exposed, age and allergies.

Not every instance of mold growth requires professional mold removal. As a general rule if you find mold that’s approaching 10 square feet (or a 1 x 1 meter area) you’re most likely going to need professional mold removal. By that stage the growth has likely already sent more mold spores into unseen areas behind walls, in cracks, beneath carpets and/or into fabrics.

Mold testing is the process of taking either an air or surface sample to determine both the mold count and mold type.

A mold count is based on the measurement of the number of mold spores in a cubic meter of the air. The higher the count, the greater the chance you’ll need professional mold removal and your likelihood of symptoms will be.

In practice there is no difference. In this industry both mold removal and mold remediation are commonly used terms to describe the process of containing, removing, and preventing the continued growth of mold. If you want to be extremely technical and make a distinction between the two phrases you might say that mold remediation is a more accurate phrase since 100% mold removal is literally an impossibility as mold exists everywhere whether you see it or not.

Yes. All the products and processes we use for mold remediation are safe for humans and pets. While the process and chemicals used for mold removal are safe, if your building contains toxic mold it may still benefit you to leave the premise while the mold is being removed to limit your exposure to the mold itself.

While every situation is unique the general process of mold removal is inspection, containment, air filtration, removal, cleaning and (optionally) restoring any structural items that needed to be removed during the mold remediation process.

You should not touch or disturb the mold. This will cause the spores to spread and will make your problem worse. Do not blow air onto the mold, attempt to dry, wipe or remove it yourself.

This largely depends on what caused the mold. If your mold removal is related to a water damage claim then the answer is yes, since mold remediation is part of the flood and water damage restoration process. If the cause of your mold is not related to a water damage/flooding insurance claim the answer is usually no.

Water damage restoration is the process of removing all water from a structure, drying all possessions, preventing mold growth and any necessary structural repairs.

Yes; if you have insurance and file a claim for water damage that has just occurred. Your insurance will cover the cost of the water removal, drying of your property and possessions, and all related construction repair costs.

No; assuming that you haven’t made excessive claims that year which would trigger your insurance company to look into you. While we cannot speak or every insurance company, this is the general rule.

Don’t. Your insurance is covering the cost, so find the right company and call right away. The longer you wait the more damage will occur and the more likely it will be that mold will begin growing.

Mold can become a problem within 24-48 hours. Though you may not see any mold growth on walls or floors, it often begins growing in unseen areas such as behind drywall, baseboards, or beneath your carpet.

This greatly depends on the situation. Typically within the first 24 hours standing water is removed and the water is extracted from floors and carpets. For the next several days industrial grade drying equipment will be used to fully dry the structure and your possessions. During this time mold prevention processes are also done. Once everything is fully dried any necessary repairs (such as replacing ruined drywalls, carpet, baseboards, etc) are done which can vary in completion.

Yes. Nothing done in the water damage repair process is harmful to you, your family or pets. While you can live in your home during the water damage restoration you may not want to. If the damage is excessive you may find more comfort in a temporary residence since your water supply and electricity can be affected, and the noise of construction may be an inconvenience.

Water damage repair is more than removing standing water. Even if your standing water has been removed, your building’s structure still may be saturated behind walls and within subfloors. Mold can also become a large problem in as little as 24-48 hours.