Should I Clean Up Water Damage Myself (DIY)?

When you own a home, discovering standing water or previous water damage is a significant problem. Unaddressed water damage can lead to mold growth or further structural issues in the home. While many types of molds are harmless, some are toxic and can be hazardous to the home’s occupants.

The flood and water restoration process require a thorough approach to minimize the risks involved. You should understand the complexities before you decide to clean up water or flood damage yourself. This is true whether the water resulted from a natural disaster, flood water, burst pipe, leaky faucet, or another source.

The Water Damage Restoration Protocol

Every step of the professional water damage restoration process serves an important purpose, culminating with your home being returned to its previous pre-flood condition. A restoration company can help ensure that these steps are followed and that all moisture is removed from the affected area of your home.

  1. Inspection and assessment – Understanding the full extent of the damage so that you have an accurate scope of the work that needs to be completed.
  2. Water removal – Ridding the area of any remaining water so that clean-up and repairs can get underway.
  3. Drying and dehumidifying – Returning the environment to its previous state, so it is inhospitable to future water and mold growth.
  4. Cleaning and sanitizing – Removing any residues, mildew, or mold and making the area more inhabitable for home occupants.
  5. Complete restoration – Removing contaminated materials to restore the area to its previous condition.

Each step of the water damage cleanup process requires thorough care to ensure that there is no threat to the home’s structure and that the area is inhospitable to mold.

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What You Should Know About Water & Flood Damage Before Taking a DIY Approach

A minor leak is a different story than an event with significant water pressure – If the job doesn’t entail significant water extraction or the need to dry the area out, it might be suitable for a DIY approach. An example might be a drain line’s slow drip leak (with no water pressure). At the very least, it could be handled by a plumber, handyman, or drywall specialist. These experts might be able to tell you if a restoration company is necessary. The key is to determine whether the leak appears small and contained.

It may take more than a shop vac, fans, and dehumidifiers to restore the area – Water restoration and remediation is an intensive process. A shop vac may not be enough to rid your home of significant amounts of standing water, and a few house fans won’t be as effective as professional-grade blowers. A professional restoration company will also use moisture detectors to ensure that the water damage cleanup is complete. There is an extensive process involved with restoration work that you may not be able to replicate without years of experience and expensive equipment.

The risk for mold, mildew, and other contaminants increases with time – When water is allowed to penetrate carpet, flooring, padding, drywall, or insulation, it creates a hospitable environment for mold and mildew. The drying process for these items can take weeks,  and when mold or mildew is involved, it can take more time and become more expensive to mitigate.

Home insurance is your friend – Your home is your most valuable asset, and as such, it should be protected. If you’re considering the DIY approach to save money, it’s important to remember that homeowner’s insurance typically covers water damage. A professional water restoration company will work alongside your insurance company to ensure that your home’s impacted areas are restored to pre-loss condition.

Hire a Flood and Water Restoration Company

While small projects such as a leaky pipe may lend themselves to a DIY approach, any significant amount of standing water in the home might be a job more suited for a professional restoration company. The flood and water damage restoration protocol is detailed and must be thoroughly followed to ensure that the impacted area of your home is returned to its previous condition.

If you have standing water in your home or suspect water damage, it’s important to act fast. Contact Total Restoration of Texas right away!

Ryan did a fantastic job with a second opinion we needed. On time and knowledgeable, a great asset to your company.
Kevin D.
They can out right away fixed the water problem and called me with a estimate of the repairs before they started the work. Would recommend due to the quick...
Anthony D.
Great company. Showed up morning of our flooding. Worked on saving damage to furniture. The started clean up. Very professional. Did a fantastic job, contentious of our property, and helped us through all aspects of or restoration. Followed through on all promises made sure we were happy and satisfied. Highly recommended.
Steven W.
These guys were awesome! Came out immediately upon our flood and did the needed demo/cleanup.Jason, the owner has been amazing throughout the entire...
Meghan D.
We worked closely with Ryan when we discovered water damage in our master bedroom. Ryan did a fantastic job of diagnosing the problem (leak from roof) and explaining the mitigation plan. Ryan was very communicative/thorough throughout the process. Kylie (Office manager) was equally as helpful when it came to dealing with the insurance company regarding the claim. I would highly recommend Total Restoration of Texas based on my experience!
Dan B.
I had a pretty sizable leak coming from my primary bathroom upstairs and dripping down into my downstairs living room. I called a few companies, and had...
Brian R.
They have been helpful from day 1. Very amazing service and responsive. They worked with our insurance company and provided an amazing service.
Rishi T.
Total restoration did a great job on our home. They did prioritize based on the home condition unlike other services. They were fast and very professional...
Veena D.
The company you hope you don’t need, but are great when you do. Ryan was on-site in minutes to start the restoration. He explained what he was doing and why which I appreciated. Communication was great and Ryan was always accessible.
CJ
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Beyond your walls and ceilings, we’ll also take care of every little thing that matters.

  • Content Inventory, Cleaning, and Storage
  • Electronics Cleaning
  • Furniture Repair
  • Photo / Art Repair and Restoration

We restore flood-damaged homes and offices in these Austin-area communities:

  • Austin
  • Bee Cave
  • Buda
  • Cedar Park
  • Georgetown
  • Kyle
  • Lakeway
  • Leander
  • Lockhart
  • New Braunfels
  • Pflugerville
  • Rollingwood
  • Round Rock
  • San Marcos
  • Sunset Valley
  • West Lake Hills

Water damage? Let us handle the mess.

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