The terms “water mitigation” and “water restoration” are often used interchangeably.
However, that is not accurate because they are not the same thing. So what’s the difference between the two?
That’s exactly what we are going to discuss today!
What Is Water Damage?
Water damage is an umbrella term that refers to all types of damage that was directly or indirectly caused by excess water, including:
- Floor, wall, and ceiling damage
- Carpeting damage
- Furniture damage
- Personal belonging damage
- Mold damage
What Is Water Mitigation?
Water damage mitigation is the process of preventing further water damage.
Here’s what it entails:
- Identifying the source of the water and stopping its flow.
- Determining water damage category: clean water, contaminated water, or grossly contaminated water.
- Salvaging everything that can be salvaged — including carpeting, furniture, and personal belongings like books and electronics — by removing it from the affected areas.
When water damage experts arrive on the property, they start with water mitigation, get the situation under control, and only then move on to water restoration.
What Is Water Restoration?
Water restoration is the process of restoring the property affected by water damage to its original condition or at least as close to it as possible.
Here’s what it entails:
- Extracting standing water with specialized equipment. Depending on the situation, that can mean using a truck-mounted water extractor, a portable water extractor, a submersible water pump, or all three.
- Drying the affected areas with specialized equipment. Typically, this involves using commercial-grade humidity meters, dehumidifiers, and air movers, as well as dry-wet vacuum cleaners.
- Eliminating the existing mold. Excess water often causes mold proliferation due to increased humidity. That’s why water restoration companies usually also provide mold remediation services.
- Preventing future mold growth. Once all mold is removed from the affected areas, they need to be sanitized with specialized anti-microbial chemicals. Otherwise, the mold might come back, which would necessitate repeating the remediation process.
- Repairing structural damage. Water can cause damage to the floor, walls, and ceiling, potentially compromising the structural integrity of the building. This might introduce the risk of a partial or complete collapse, making that building unsafe to reside in. That’s why water restoration companies tend to also provide reconstruction and remodeling services.
Why It’s So Important To Address Water Events And Emergencies ASAP
The most common mistake that people make when dealing with water events and emergencies is waiting too long to address the situation because they underestimate the speed at which water can cause damage.
Even a minor water event like a kitchen sink leak can quickly lead to mold proliferation that might present health risks to the people living in that house or apartment, especially if it goes unnoticed for an extended period of time. You’d be surprised how often “mysterious” health problems turn out to be caused by mold exposure!
Meanwhile, with major water emergencies, such as your entire basement getting flooded, the quantity of excess water means that with every passing hour, the risk of irreparable damage to carpeting, furniture, and personal belongings increases, as well as the risk of structural damage to the building itself.
Also, in extreme situations like that, it’s not just mold that you need to be concerned about healthwise, but also various waterborne pathogens that might be lurking in standing water. Handling it can be really dangerous, especially if we are talking about the category 2 contaminated water or the category 3 grossly contaminated water.
In short, the longer you wait, the more damage all that excess water is going to cause, the more health risks the occupants of that house or apartment will be exposed to, and the more money you will need to spend in order to restore the property back to its original condition.
Should You Handle Water Events And Emergencies Yourself Or Call The Experts?
When people notice excess water, they often attempt to fix the situation themselves.
That’s understandable if you are under the impression that all water restoration experts do is show up, mop up a few puddles, and leave, you’ll probably decide to just do it yourself and save some money.
However, this is a misconception. The truth is that water damage mitigation and restoration are complex processes that require protective gear, specialized equipment, and specialized chemicals, not to mention relevant training.
It’s important to understand that attempting to do it yourself might lead not just to further water damage but also to health problems related to mold and waterborne pathogens, especially if you end up mishandling water that seems clear but is actually contaminated or even grossly contaminated.
That’s why we recommend calling a water restoration company the moment you notice excess water, regardless of how minor it might seem. The sooner professionals start mitigating water damage on your property, the less severe that damage is going to be, which also means lower restoration costs.
Reputable water restoration companies usually offer free consultations so you should be able to discuss your situation with an expert and get a quote for free.
On top of that, you might also get some helpful tips on what to do until their team arrives on your property, which can help reduce the water damage and therefore the restoration costs even further!
Our Water Damage Mitigation And Restoration Experts Can Help You Restore Your Property!
We started out nearly 20 years ago as a regional disaster response unit.
Since then, Greenlight Restoration Solutions has grown into a full-service remodeling, remediation, and restoration company.
Water damage mitigation and restoration is one of our areas of expertise. Whether you are dealing with a minor water event or a full-blown water emergency, we can help you get the situation under control and restore your property!
