8 tips for choosing a water damage company – before disaster strikes

None of us want to think about the possibility of a burst pipe, flooded basement or other water disaster in our home. While you can’t foresee all circumstances that would lead to water damage, preparing yourself just in case can be the best defence.

We recommend choosing a water damage restoration company before the need arises, and we strongly advise taking the time to understand your insurance cover. Here are several tips for choosing a qualified water restoration company, as well as questions to ask your insurance company.

How to Evaluate a Water Restoration Company

Tip 1: How do I know if I’m hiring a qualified company?

Look for a company that employs technicians certified by the British Damage Management Association (BDMA). This is recognised internationally as a knowledgeable industry voice and resource. It serves as an independent, non-profit standard-setting and certification body to set and promote high standards and ethics and to advance communication and technical proficiency within the inspection, cleaning and restoration service industries.

Consumers know that when they hire a BDMA certified technician or firm, they have hired an expert who will ensure that services are completed in accordance with the industry’s highest standards.

Tip 2: If my home is damaged by water, will everything need to be replaced?

Rapid response is key to preventing further damage and water contamination. Don’t try to clean up the water yourself. Call a water restoration company and your insurer right away.

Professional restoration technicians understand the need for quick response. The longer the remediation is delayed, the higher the cost of restoration. Certified restorers have the knowledge to test materials and apply the restoration techniques required to return the items to their pre-incident condition.

Tip 3: What type of vacuums and specialty extraction tools do you use?

You want the latest technology in vacuums and extraction equipment to ensure the quick and complete recovery of your home. At Rainbow International, we use power extractors, moisture meters, thermal imaging cameras, low grain refrigerant dehumidifiers, heat boost boxes, DADS Mats, air movers and HEPA 500 air scrubbers. This ensures that all damage is quickly located and mitigated.

All of our drying equipment is dramatically  more powerful than anything you can buy at an equipment hire outlet. Our commercial grade dehumidifiers, for example. The Dri-Eaz LGR 7000 XLi that we use costs about £1,700 and can remove 111 litres per day of moisture from the air at saturation, allowing the area to dry thoroughly. The best dehumidifiers at your local hire store can only pull 15-35 litres per day.

Tip 4: On a clean water loss, how do you know the carpet and cushion have been adequately extracted?

BDMA-Certified technicians will use state of the art meters to test levels of moisture in all materials (we also digitally photograph these and map the points where we take readings so the when we come back to check the drying progress we can accurately assess the progress of drying and manipulate any equipment to better aid in the drying process.)

Tip 5: How do you determine how much drying equipment to leave at each job?

BDMA-Certified Technicians, like the ones on our team at Rainbow International, will calculate the equipment utilising a formula that factors in the size of the affected area, type of water, building construction, layout, outside and indoor conditions. (If it’s below freezing or hot and humid outside, this can affect the drying process, as can Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning known as HVAC.)

Tip 6: What types of meters do you use to test moisture content in structure materials like carpet and cushion, sub-floors, wood, concrete, tile, and drywall?

You want a company that uses the latest technology, it is essential for the best results. At Rainbow International, we use both penetrating and non-penetrating meters, depending on the material, as well as infrared cameras.

Tip 7: What type of documentation do you complete to prove that you have dried the structure properly and that it was returned to a pre-loss condition that will not promote mould growth?

Choose a restoration company that provides detailed documentation of equipment used, work performed, readings, test results, and photos. At Rainbow International, our technicians use a Rapid Structural Drying and Moisture Mapping process to thoroughly assess the damaged area and document the drying process. By being thorough, we get it right the first time. This reduces the severity of a major water loss by 30 to 40 percent compared to traditional drying methods.

It also saves you and your insurer money and reduces the time you spend living out of your home or in a “construction zone.”

Tip 8: How do you keep the affected areas in the structure separate from the unaffected areas?

A quality water disaster recovery company will isolate the damaged area properly, speeding the drying process and preventing the spread of moisture to unaffected areas. We use polythene containment to set up temporary walls or to close off open doorways, known as tenting, so our equipment can be as efficient as possible.