Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have a water damage emergency?
Did you have a leak that caused water to get inside your home? Did the recent rains seep in through windows, doors, or through the roof? Do you feel your carpet is moist and you’re not sure why? You most likely are experiencing a water damage situation. You are now dealing with water damage. Your best option is to call a specialist as soon as possible. Rapid Restoration will NEVER charge you anything if work is not done. Worst case scenario? You have one of our friendly technicians take 10 minutes of your time to measure the moisture in your home using our state of the art equipment, determine all surfaces are dry and thank you for your hospitality!

What are the dangers of leaving water damage untreated?
The reason it becomes urgent to call a specialist at the FIRST signs of water damage is that if left untreated for as little as 72 hours, mold can begin growing in the affected area, which can amount to much more significant and costly repairs.

Is it safe to remain in the house?
Not sure if your home is safe? It’s definitely time to call a technician who would be able to accurately determine how safe your home is for you, your family and your pets by determining the quantity and variety of mold by conducting a visual test and if needed – air sampling. Generally becomes unsafe to be in your home only after some mold growth, which takes a few days in the worst case, and usually takes months of neglect ‘ since mold may have been growing without your awareness ‘ don’t take chances. Call a professional.

What will happen once I call for help?
Once you call Rapid Restoration you will be greeted by one of our friendly dispatchers at any time of day or night. They will collect some basic information from you. You will be asked to describe the situation in your home to help us understand the kind of tools and equipment that are needed. You may be asked for an approximation of the size of the affected area. If you have digital photos you can email at that time ‘ it is always a great help.

A technician will then be dispatched to your home immediately and will arrive in less than 60 minutes, (or at a time you will schedule with the dispatcher for non-emergencies).

What will happen at my house once the technicians arrive?
Once Rapid Restoration technicians arrive at your home they will conduct a visual test of the situation in your home. It would be helpful for you to guide them and show areas of concern.

You will be presented by our official price list and work authorization, and asked to sign the documents to give your permission for work to begin. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions regarding the documents or the next steps and alert us to any concerns you may have. We know that an emergency in your home is never an easy time ‘ please tell us how we can help to make you more comfortable.

What will happen to my stuff that is in the affected area?
Depending on the size of the affected area and degree of damage your belongings may be handled differently. For small scale damage, items will be moved by hand to another part of the room or of the property. If possible and safe we will leave larger items in the room while covering them tightly for protection. If the entire room or property needs to be cleared to work on, we will pack your belongings and move them away from the site. You will have clear knowledge and access to your belongings at all times. In case of severe mold contamination, please don’t be tempted to move items from the contaminated areas without waiting for the technicians as you may be causing cross-contamination in the rest of your property. Even though it’s easier said than done – don’t worry! We make certain our technicians have the utmost respect for your privacy, property, and belongings.

What should I do with the machines left in my house after the technician leaves?
In cases of water damage to your property where moisture needs to be taken out of materials and our of the air, large machines will be left in your house for a duration of several days, until the property has been dried. Machines will be placed and turned on by the technicians in your house, but they will be left running when they leave. Please realize that this is an integral part of the drying process, and even though it may be inconvenient if you stay in the house while it is being dried because of the sound they make ‘ it’s critical you leave them running. Please keep an eye on the machines once a day or so and alert the technician immediately over the phone if you spot any leakage or anything else that is out of the ordinary.

What services does Rapid Restoration provide?
Rapid Restoration’s certified technicians will wipe down all surfaces, place negative air machines to remove odors, clean all A/C ducts. The wipe down allows the homeowner to repaint over a clean painted surface and not the soot that is left form the fire. Negative air machines and HEPA Machines removes the odor that remains after the fire have been extinguished. Cleaning the A/C ducts removes the residual soot and odor that finds its way into your A/C ducts.

Why is it important to wipe down the walls?
If the soot from the fire is allowed to remain on the walls, it prohibits a fresh coat of paint from attaching to the wall surface. The soot is also acidic, and if permitted to remain on porous services it can destroy the material it is on causing much more damage that the fire caused.

Why must a Negative Air Machine/HEPA Vacuum be used?
A Negative Air machine removes contaminated air and filters it before returning it to the room. It will remove the odor and the fine particulate from the air in the room. A HEPA vacuum will filter the air to even a greater degree than the Negative Air Machine. If the fine particulate matter is not removed from the air, it could cause breathing difficulties for even a healthy person and the particles in the air are acidic and could damage your respiratory system.

Why do I need to have the ducts cleaned?
The ducts need to be cleaned for the same reason as given above. Soot and other particles from the fire will travel into the ducts and settle there. When you’re A/C is turned on, it will blow into the rooms of the hours and 10 settle on the furniture, carpet and walls. It will also be suspended in the air you breathe and could cause respiratory problems for you and your family.

What should I do if there is a sewage spill at my house/office?
Call Rapid Restoration immediately. The sewage could cause serious health problems for you and your family the longer it remains in your house. Rapid Restoration’s trained technicians come prepared with all the sanitation equipment needed to clean and sanitize your residence or business. Our crews are trained to isolate the spillage from the remainder of the property and clean the affected areas. The crews will remove the sewage from your property leaving your property in its pre-sewage condition.

What dangers are contained in the sewage?
This depends on the nature of the sewage itself. These are some of the disease causing organisms in Sewage: Hepatitis A, Respiratory Disease, Bacteria, Bacillary Dysentery, Salmonella and Balontidiasis.

Can damaged carpets be cleaned and re-used?
Sewage-saturated carpets can be ‘saved.’- No. This is a Myth and it is not true. Porous materials, such as carpet, pad, upholstery, bedding, wicker, paper goods, or fabrics that can’t be washed in hot water, they must be disposed of safely.

Is it safe to remain in my home while the sewage is being cleaned?
No, it is not safe. The sewage could contain the agents listed above, plus others, all of which are not healthful. Our technicians wear protective clothing and use respirators. You have no such equipment and why would you want to expose you and your family to the air born agents that could hurt you?

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