Learn How to Deal with Water Damage Remediation in West Milford
3/8/2022 (Permalink)
The Risk of Microbial Growth during Water Cleanup in West Milford Homes
A clean water spill in your property may seem like a relatively benign issue. However, large quantities of water that contact structure or contents can become contaminated rapidly. Microbes and microbial growth are present in all types of water. The longer water is present in the property, the greater the likelihood of the water itself becoming contaminated. In terms of your home and contents, more contamination results in the increasingly expensive replacement of materials. Contacting an experienced restoration handler can help control microbial growth, thereby limiting losses.
Timeframes are crucial for water cleanup duties in West Milford and the surrounding area. Microbes- including bacteria, fungi, and viruses- multiply in a typical home environment. Conditions for the growth of microbes are a food source, ideal temperatures, and moisture. Food sources are abundant in a home environment, including woods, insulation, dirt, and paper. With moisture from leaky plumbing or insecure roofing, a clean water emergency can quickly deteriorate into a grey or black water emergency.
Microbial issues get worse as time passes. The first duty for a SERVPRO water damage restoration technician (WRT) is to remove excess moisture through evaporation. We achieve this using extraction equipment for efficiency. Tenement buildings that have restricted access can be restored using portable extraction units. A larger surface area may benefit from more powerful truck-mounted extractors. Once excess moisture is vacuumed or pumped out, the remaining task for SERVPRO is to remove moisture using rapid air movers.
Rapid air movers establish air circulation at a surface level while heating elements to raise the surface temperatures and further encourage evaporation. A side-effect of this process is increasing humidity levels, leading to ideal conditions for microbial growth. A SERVPRO restorer can control relative humidity using dehumidification to combat this side-effect. Reducing relative humidity to below 60% can control microbial growth and prevent secondary damages, including mold infestations.
Properties with water issues are also at risk of bacteria, fungi, and virus growth. Contact SERVPRO of Wayne at (973) 546-4977 for professional restoration.