Mitigation Techniques

5/31/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Streamwood/ Bartlett/ West Chicago City extracts out moisture under carpets and replaces carpet pads to reduce the risk of delamination and mold from forming.

The current storm season in Bartlett/ Streamwood area has hit our area with massive amounts of rainwater. Despite the millions of gallons of water that have fallen out of the sky, it is the hundreds of gallons from failed appliances, leaky pipes and failed sump pumps that cause the majority of damage to homes.

Water damage to Bartlett/ Streamwood homes primarily affects walls, carpets and floors. SERVPRO technicians train to remove any standing water, extract it out of surfaces, and take quick drying action to prevent secondary damage.

We start with removing water. Depending on the depth, we begin with commercial grade pumps to draw out the majority of it and then switch to water extraction wands. These two devices help us to not only get the water out but to draw moisture out of carpets and floorboards carefully.

Drawing out moisture helps lower the risk of delamination in carpets. It happens when the water softens the adhesive in the carpet which causes the layers to separate. That allows bubbles to form between the layers and carpet fibers to loosen and pull away when vacuumed. The risk of delamination is why we remove the pad from underneath every carpet. It is a source of water that soaks every inch of a carpet it touches.

Floorboards absorb standing water, and even pressure treated wood can start to twist and buckle after a single day under just an inch of it. The extraction wands allow SERVPRO restoration specialists to pull water from between the individual floorboards, reducing that risk of damage. Quickly removing the water also helps reduce the chance of mold infestation in floors, carpets and drywall.

To speed along the drying process, we use air movers to force warm, dry air over and under the carpets and floors. Our specialists can adjust both the temperature and speed of the airflow to dry out both types of flooring without splintering the wood or heating carpet adhesive too quickly and forming air pockets. Mold spores cannot expand and grow without a source of moisture, so this technique will help prevent any further damage.

If you have a leaking refrigerator, out dated sump pump, or a split water line leading to your washer machine, SERVPRO of Streamwood/ Bartlett/ West Chicago City is here to help you restore your home to its original, dry condition.

Call us at 630-562-9212