Water Damage Removal & Restoration in Torrance, Redondo Beach, and Long Beach

Should I try cleaning up my home's water damage myself or hire a professional?

The first thing to consider is safety and health hazards. Electrical hazards and slip & fall hazards are the most common. Second, if you can safely do so turn off power to the flooded area and remove excess water. Any valuables should be secured and protected from further damage. Water damage is very progressive so quick action is important.

This is an incredibly technical field of study with constantly evolving technologies that allow professionals to dry buildings completely within 2-3 days with little or no demolition with CLEAN WATER. Typically water damage is far more progressive than what is visible without special tools (thermal cameras, moisture meters and hygrometers are crucial).

Any water has completely different protocols and major health hazards will likely be present (and made worse) if the steps needed are not taken. There should be no need to "disinfect" carpet in a clean water loss. You cannot truly sanitize a porous surface such as carpet and you do not need to apply chemicals other than cleaners if the water is from a clean source and dried within 24-48 hours (thorough cleaning is all that is required).

To dry carpet, sub floor, hardwood & walls quickly without mold, you must have very specialized equipment(often a heat drying application), a sound understanding of temperature/humidity control and moisture meters to measure moisture content to verify that materials have been dried properly. These situations should only be handled by a certified, highly experienced technician.

Time is a huge factor and many water damage situations do not require professional help. If there is concrete flooring with glue down carpet, or floor tiles over concrete with little or no wall damage with clean water then a person can certainly handle their own water loss with the right equipment, desire and a little training.

To dry a structure with sub floor, drywall, padded carpet, plaster, hardwood floors, behind cabinets, in a crawlspace or large area it could very well mean permanent loss of property value, refusal of insurance coverage and serious health risk to occupants.

Reputable contractors warranty their work for at least 3-5 years, have liability and pollution insurance, hold IICRC certifications, provide a thorough water damage report when work concludes (we provide a 25 page report documenting everything that takes place including all of the temperature, humidity and moisture readings), have good references and yes will charge for their services like any other professional. The Better Business Bureau and Angies list are good resources as well.

Like any professional, liability is a huge factor, the average company will likely have several hundred thousand dollars in specialized equipment, a team of certified professionals with years of experience and tools to determine (and show you) the extent of damages both visible and hidden.

There is a reason insurance companies suggest calling in a restoration firm. And not because they want to spend thousands of unnecessary dollars. It is because we save them thousands and thousands of unnecessary dollars. These savings come from rapid drying which can prevent the need for demolition, preventing mold growth, preventing bacterial development, preventing law suits and getting the home owners back in the area quickly and safely.

Another major factor is documentation and warranties. When a property is sold you must disclose water losses or risk major law suits. When handled properly by professionals this is no problem. You have the documentation and we are only a phone call away.

In Summary yes, many small water damage situations do not require the cost of professional restoration firms. However when needed we can be an invaluable resource to you in your time of need.