Plumbing and Water Damage Restoration

AFTERDISASTER® technicians and plumbers are well acquainted. We both are engaged in many of the same water damage situations needing our individual services:

• An ice maker connection leaks.
• A clothes washer hose bursts.
• A dishwasher leaks.
• A toilet valve malfunctions.
• A water faucet supply line leaks.
• The sewer line clogs and sewage backs-up into the house.
• A water sprinkler system malfunctions and sprays the entire room.
• One or more pipes freeze, crack, and burst.
• A condensation drain for the air-conditioning system clogs or leaks.
• A supply line to a humidifier leaks.
• Plumbing gaskets inside a faucet develop leaks.
• An old hot water heater rusts and leaks.
• There is new plumbing but a new connection fails to hold or leaks.
• A water fountain supply valve leaks.
• A hot water heating system leaks.
• The wax seal under the toilet deteriorates and leaks.
• The drip pan under the shower floor leaks.
• The drain under the sink develops a leak.
• The sump pump drain in the basement clogs and storm water floods the basement.

In each of these situations clean, gray or black water has been leaked. The plumber is called to stop and repair the source of the leak. This might involve replacing a washer or seal, removing and replacing a damaged pipe or valve, unstopping a drain line, tightening or refitting a loose connection, installing a new appliance, etc. When the source of the leak has been stopped or corrected and any needed new parts have been installed, the plumber’s work is complete.

Many times however, the clean, gray or black water resulting from the leak or backup has come in contact with the property owner’s structure and contents. It may leave these materials anywhere from slightly damp to standing under water. Finishes may deteriorate, metals corrode, laminates buckle, woods swell, drywall soften, electronics develop shorts, ceilings release texture or collapse, stains develop, colors bleed, odors activate, floors cup, doors and drawers swell and stick, etc. Bacteria and mold spores may begin to grow and flourish, even to the point of causing health problems. Sometimes the customer mistakenly thought the plumbing company would take care of the mess and the resulting damage. Who should he contact at this point?

It is the specialty of a water damage restoration company such as AFTERDISASTER® to respond quickly (sometimes even before the plumbing repairs are completed) to provide emergency services necessary to mitigate the damage:

• Containment of the source.
• Protection of structure and contents not yet affected but in harm’s way.
• Cleaning.
• Decontamination, including mold remediation and sewage remediation.
• Deodorization.
• Drying.

Once the disaster is stabilized and the need for emergency services is past, the water damage restoration company will inspect the structure and contents for damage. Repairs and more detailed cleaning may be performed to restore the structure and contents to pre-loss condition.

For many years, plumbing and restoration companies had little communication between them. This has been changing rapidly for several reasons:

• Customers feel abandoned when the plumber completes his work and leaves, but everything is still wet. They ask him for advice. The more the plumber knows about restoration companies, the better he can assist his customer.
• Insurance companies want faster response by the restoration companies in order to reduce the cost of claims.
• Sometimes the restoration company is on a job and discovers the service of a plumber is needed The more the restoration company knows about the plumbing companies in the area, the better it can assist the customer.
• Many times the plumber opens a wall cavity to access a section of plumbing needing repair. He discovers mold growing in the cavity. Knowing that the public is becoming more and more aware and sensitive to mold related health issues, the plumber feels the need for mold remediation before he continues, but will need a qualified restoration company to perform the remediation and repairs.
• Today’s plumbing companies and water damage restoration companies encounter many new problems, new materials, new methods, new tools, etc. that affect both. Sharing knowledge benefits both companies.
• Restoration companies and plumbing companies realize the plumbing and restoration goes more smoothly the more they communicate and coordinate with each other. Working together, they are able to help their customer from start to finish. Customers then feel their interests are served and can become repeat customers or referral sources.

If you are the owner of a plumbing company or know any state-of-the-art plumbing companies interested in serving customers better, contact your local AFTERDISASTER® Business Center today. We can discuss a networking approach to meet the growing demands upon us both.

Who’s mold remediation standards and protocols should we follow? This question perplexes every restoration company trying to offer mold remediation services.

As discussed in recent articles, there is presently no national standard for mold remediation. Most mold remediation service providers have studied the standards and protocols used by New York City Health Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) and specific jobs performed in California and Texas. Professional organizations such as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR) have published articles advancing their own versions of methods and standards. The restoration company seeking certification in mold remediation by these professional organizations quickly discovers the cost for training, testing and certification may exceed several thousand dollars per technician, per course. In addition, certification in mold remediation by one professional organization is usually not recognized for certification by another organization. Until the national standard is written and approved, most restoration companies such as AFTERDISASTER® must attend all the programs available to try to stay as current as possible and at the same time meet as many of the common standards and protocols in mold remediation as possible.

After much training, research and reflection, AFTERDISASTER has developed mold remediation standards we believe will meet our customers’ needs. In the event a microbiologist, industrial hygienist or other related professional is engaged in a specific mold remediation job, we will follow his/her protocols and standards to achieve desired compliance.

Typical mold remediation services generally include:

• Containment of mold in affected areas, including use of air scrubbers/ negative air units with HEPA filtration, to prevent further contamination.
• Removal and safe disposal of unsalvageable materials.
• High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuuming to remove dry particulate of mold affected areas.
• Wet cleaning of affected areas using detergents recommended for mold remediation.
• Application of an antimicrobial approved by EPA for mold remediation.
• Drying of the structure to safe moisture levels (determined by hygrometer measurement).

Due to continued heightened awareness and increased liability concerning mold, it is important you are confident your restoration company is well certified. Contact your local AFTERDISASTER Business Center today to discuss your specific mold remediation needs.