A Typical Water Cleanup
10/8/2019 (Permalink)
When there is a water spill, it is essential to clean the affected area thoroughly, a process which involves various steps. Clean is a relative state, so the steps involved depend on the level of cleanliness that you need to achieve. The three levels of cleanliness are sterile, disinfected and sanitary. For a residential property reaching sanitary condition is usually sufficient because it eliminates any health risks. We have IICRC certified technicians that can clean your property after water loss to achieve the sanitary level of cleanliness.
Removing any water left standing after the spill is a crucial step during water cleanup. If the water originates from a dirty source such as a faulty appliance, it might contain wastes that might soil, or even stain the contents in the house, if left unaddressed for long. Our SERVPRO technicians handle this by extracting the water within the shortest time possible. We have different types of equipment to match the type of extraction needed. We can use submersible pumps if the pool is over two feet deep or truck-mounted water extractors for lower levels.
After removing the standing water, various soils and debris might be left necessitating various cleaning actions including the use of chemical agents and mechanical processes such as agitating the surfaces. Our SERVPRO technicians use pressure washers or brushes where mechanical action is needed. We also have various professional cleaning agents to remove dyes and other stain-causing materials. We evaluate the material involved to ensure we use the right agent. For instance, we do not use chlorine bleach on wool and silk or when removing stains from rust.
Bad smells are likely to develop after a water spill incident. The causes vary depending on the specifics of the incident. If the water spilled contains debris, such debris might reach concealed spaces causing the bad smells. Even clean water might dissolve or push ordinary debris such as pet wastes into hidden crevices resulting in smells that do not go away even after cleaning is done. Our SERVPRO technicians combat this by deodorizing the affected property. If there is a carpet, we treat both sides with an EPA-registered disinfectant then use a fogger to apply a deodorizing agent. On hard surfaces, we use mop application