Why the First 48 Matters..

4/8/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Durham Water Damage timeline to avoid Mold growth

You may have heard of the ground-breaking television show, The First 48, where homicide detectives in major cities race to apprehend killers in the first 48 hours after the crime is discovered.  In the realm of water damage the first 48 hours are also extremely critical.

Imagine this real life scenario; a bathroom sink is left running with the plunger fully depressed.   The water overflows onto the counter down the vanity, onto the tile floor, and proceeds into the carpeted hallway, and begins to intrude into the living space below, affecting the ceiling and walls.   The mess is discovered a few hours later when the homeowner returns from the store.   What the homeowner does next is critical to minimizing the affects this water damage will have on the home and its contents. 

Time is of the essence.   If the homeowner tries to handle it himself by only shop vacuuming the water up, running some home fans and an in home dehumidifier, the situation can easily go from bad to worst.  This is because what started as a Category 1 water loss, (a water loss originating from a clean source) has now turned into a Category 2 (a loss with significant chemical, biological or physical contamination).  Without the proper extraction methods, demolition processes and drying protocols secondary damage will occur when water remains in contact with the structure and its contents for an extended period of time.  These damages can include swelling of furniture, mold growth, delamination of carpet, and cupping and crowning of floors. 

The first 24 to 48 hours are essential in the mitigation process and in the reduction of cost. 

To properly mitigate your water damage situation call the professionals at SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County at 919-596-1242.