Cleanup Steps To Deal With Water Damage

Water damage often catches us when we are unaware and unprepared, leaving us wondering what we are supposed to do next. At HOUZPITAL, we know how overwhelming water damage cleanup can be, which is why we are here to give you a list of steps you should take when dealing with water damage in your Hartford home.

Water Damage Cleanup

  1. Find and stop the source of the water. If water is still flowing or leaking into your home, you need to get it stopped right away to mitigate any further damage and before any cleanup can begin. It is also important to know where your main water line shut off valve is located; turning this off can help stop the flow of water into your home until you can address the source of the water.
  2. Remove and dry the water. This is the most important step in water damage cleanup because the longer the water is present, the worse the damage will be. You have to act fast to remove standing water and begin drying out the area to prevent mold from growing and materials from deteriorating. This step often requires wet/dry vacuums to adequately remove standing water, industrial fans and air movers to increase airflow, and dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture from the air and thoroughly dry out all the water.
  3. Repair or replace damaged materials and belongings. Depending on the extent of the water damage, porous materials like carpets and drywall may have to be removed and replaced. Wood floors, trim, and window/door casings may be salvageable if thorough drying was achieved before any warping or cupping resulted from the water damage. Other wood pieces like furniture may need to be sanded and re-finished to adequately repair them. Removing damaged materials from the area needs to be complete before the next step can begin.
  4. Cleaning and sanitizing. Water damage often leaves mud, muck and grime behind, and, depending on the source of the water, could even contain harmful contaminants and bio-hazardous chemicals. You want to be sure that all surfaces are properly cleaned and the areas has been thoroughly sanitized to prevent any further microbial growth and ensure all harmful contaminants, dirt, and other impurities are removed from the area. Be sure to use industry-approved cleaning agents that will not cause further damage to surfaces.
  5. Final rebuild, repair, and restoration. Once all the above steps have been completed, it is time to put your home back together. If areas of drywall have to be removed, new pieces will be reinstalled, and damaged flooring will be replaced. This is the step where all the final touches are made to return your home to its pre-loss condition. Depending on the availability of materials and workers to install them, this step could end up taking some time. The best bet to get the entire water damage cleanup process done quickly and correctly is to call in the professionals at Atlantic Restoration. Our team of trained and experienced water damage cleanup professionals are standing by to take your call so we can respond quickly and get the water stopped. We have all the equipment and tools necessary to remove water and dry the area efficiently and thoroughly, and we even have the ability to make any necessary repairs to your home.

When your home suffers from water damage and needs cleaning up, save yourself the stress and call HOUZPITAL.

What our clients are saying

"You guys have handled many water, fire and mold claims for my insurance customers. The service is excellent and the response time is impeccable, my customers have been beyond pleased with the service... HIGHLY recommended!!!"

— Holly McLin blue testimonial stars

"When we had water damage to our newly remodeled first floor, we called Atlantic Restoration (N.K.A HOUZPITAL) and they were at our house within 20 minutes. The entire process was handled efficiently and professionally from beginning to end. We were very pleased and highly recommend this company!"

— Coral Lord blue testimonial stars

"My father's old family home had frozen pipes that burst and there was extreme water damage throughout the home. My father called Atlantic (N.K.A HOUZPITAL) on a Saturday morning and Greg and his entire crew including a plumber & electrician arrived at my family's home within an hour of my call. From start to finish they were a pleasure to work with. They dealt with our insurance company and adjuster to ensure the entire loss was covered. I highly recommend Atlantic (N.K.A HOUZPITAL), they are an extremely knowledgeable company with amazing staff and customer service."

— Courtney Peluso blue testimonial stars

"I recently experienced an incident involving sewage back-up into my basement, but fortunately found Atlantic Restoration and Remodeling Group (N.K.A HOUZPITAL) for the clean-up process. They were extremely responsive and sent a crew that same evening. They came back for two additional deep cleans, which made a huge difference not only in appearance of the basement itself, but the smell. I initially contacted Servpro because I was unfamiliar with other options, but I am so glad that I found Atlantic (N.K.A HOUZPITAL) instead. They were responsive, professional, and affordable. I would highly recommend this company!"

— Shelley Tarantula blue testimonial stars

"Desperate to pump out a flooded basement. Not a high ticket insurance claim item. Took a chance and called Atlantic (N.K.A HOUZPITAL). Carlos called, showed up in less than an hour, and went right to work with the pumps. It was more complicated than we thought, and he set us up with another contractor who could do what he wasn’t equipped to do. (Snake the main drain). Contractor also showed up when he said he would. Carlos also left a dehumidifier overnight to dry out as much as possible. Amazing contractor. Lose the number for Servpro. This company is awesome!"

— Cindy Hetu blue testimonial stars

"Ryan was very professional and easy to deal with when he came out to assess the damage. I was amazed that he had a crew come out so quickly after his inspection to start the cleanup. I can't describe how pleased I am with the work that the techs did. Jennifer, Juan, and Dylon were the technicians who did the work. I'm also happy how easy the company made it for me to go through the nightmare cleanup process and getting what I needed to get done very promptly which made it a dream vs a nightmare. Thank You to everyone involved."

— Mike Coppola blue testimonial stars

"I called them right away and asked the secretary to have someone come out and look at the damage I had and she said she will have someone reach out to me when they can come out.. not even 5 min hanging up with her Ryan called me and asked if he can come right away. He was so proficient and so knowledgeable and so easy to talk to.. def recommend especially Ryan he is very good and he did all the work with the insurance company and I didn’t have to worry I knew Ryan would get it done for me!!!"

— Tamara Carrasquillo blue testimonial stars

"HOUZPITAL was great, very communicative and the work came out great. Very nice staff that was always available to answer questions. Special shout out to Chanel and Gabby for being so helpful throughout the process."

— M P blue testimonial stars

"In March of this year our home received wind and water damage. The President/Owner came to our house and spent about 2 hours explaining what HOUZPITAL would have to do to restore our home. The restoration took several months. We are completely satisfied with all the work that was done. All the people at HOUZPITAL are very professional, courteous, and concerned about what was done. We would highly recommend them."

— John Nickolenko blue testimonial stars

"We highly recommend HOUZPITAL. From the very beginning, it was clear that they genuinely cared.

Gabby is an exceptional project manager who oversaw this project with such skill and compassion. Every aspect was handled beautifully - the planning, the attention to detail, the timeline, and the coordination of the crews. Everyone who worked on our home was professional, thoughtful, and respectful.

Your kindness, especially in the way you treated my dad, meant more to us than you know. We are incredibly grateful for the care and dedication you put into this project."

— Dan & Sandy S blue testimonial stars

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