How To Clean Up After a Leaking Water Heater

3/22/2021 (Permalink)

A leaking water heater can cause significant water damage.

How To Clean Up After a Leaking Water Heater

A leaking water heater is something no Knoxville, TN, homeowner wants to experience. Whether you have a sudden break that’s expelling a large volume of water into the room or a slow small leak that’s been dripping into your floor and walls for a long time, a failed water heater often results in substantial damage that requires professional water damage remediation. Here’s what you can expect if you’re facing water damage from a broken water heater.

1. Damage Assessment
Always contact a restoration company as soon as you discover the leak. Time is of the essence in any water damage scenario, and the company will likely dispatch one or more remediation professionals to the scene right away to begin the initial assessment. When they arrive, they will first identify the source of the leak and shut it off to prevent any further damage. They then inspect the area to determine the extent of the damage and the contamination level of the water involved.

2. Water Extraction and Drying
Next, remediation professionals remove the excess water caused by your leaking water heater using powerful commercial equipment to extract as much moisture as possible. They may also remove carpet and carpet pads as necessary. After extraction, the surrounding surfaces may appear to be dry. However, porous materials like wood and sheetrock can absorb and retain water. Restoration professionals have special training and equipment to fully dry and dehumidify the space.

3. Cleaning and Restoration
Depending on the contamination level of the water involved, anything in the affected area needs to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after drying. Remediation experts are trained in a number of methods to safely and effectively clean and restore most surfaces and materials to ensure that any dirt, bacteria, mold spores, or other contaminants are completely removed.
A leaking water heater can cause significant water damage. Fortunately, most damage can be reversed with the help of an experienced remediation team.