Factors that Affect Water Damage Restoration in South Carolina

The Insurance Information Institute reports that one in every fifty insured homes submits a claim for water damage annually. It is crucial to handle water damage immediately to prevent further damage. 

With this in mind, it's often tempting for a property owners to perform do-it-yourself water removal, but when a job isn't properly executed, water damage is only aggravated further. Trust the professionals at ServiceMaster of the Upstate in South Carolina. We have the experience and equipment to properly remove water and repair damage.

Factors Affecting Water Damage Restoration Costs

Estimating water damage restoration costs can be complicated when considering the several factors involved and restoration costs vary on a case-to-case basis. It is important to understand the factors affecting water damage restoration.

Factor No. 1: Size of the Affected Area

The larger the affected area, the more time and money required to be repaired.

Factor No. 2: Quantity of Water

The amount of water involved impacts the extent of the damage. More water increases the risk of it spreading to additional parts of the property.

For example, leaks from a toilet supply system can remit 300 gallons per hour, while a washing supply line can release 600 gallons of water per hour. Large-volume leaks like these are extremely damaging.  

Factor No. 3: Type of Water

Flood or leak water varies from clean to hazardous. The dirtier and more dangerous the water is, the more precautions, treatments, and costs the repair will require.  

Water Categories

Category No. 1: Clean water - no health risk (rainwater, water from sink overflows)

Category No. 2: Gray water - slight health risk (chemically, biologically, or physically contaminated water)

Category No. 3: Black water - significant health risk (water from sewer backups, flooding from rivers and streams, toilet overflows, and stagnant waters)

Factor No. 4: Origin of Water

Water damage is the result of a variety of sources, including broken pipes, sump pump failures, or heavy rainfall, all which will affect the type of cleanup required. 

• Blocked drains

• Clogged gutters

• Faulty appliances

• Leaking pipes and water heaters

• Malfunctioning sprinkler systems

• Natural events (flooding or hailstorms)

• Plumbing issues

• Sewer backups

Factor No. 5: Presence of Water

If water is still present on site, immediate removal should take place to prevent further deterioration in the area. Standing water is removed using dehumidification equipment, moister absorbent materials, and water pumps. Excess moisture is eradicated to avoid mold growth and additional damage.