Water damage is prevalent throughout Chicago—water, water, and more water. Water is everywhere, and we need it to sustain our lives. Our pets require it, and plants depend on it to grow and thrive. What would we do without water? Sometimes, we wish we could escape it, especially when there is too much in all the wrong places. It certainly seems to have a mind of its own. Those droplets that combine to form flowing or standing water can completely inundate a property, causing significant stress and anxiety, especially when the situation feels beyond our control.
A drip from a hot water tank or a leaky faucet is somewhat manageable, but when water gushes out of a pipe, a burst hose, or a spigot that won’t shut off, it can lead to disastrous consequences. Then there’s rain. While it feels nice on our faces, and as the song goes, “raindrops keep fallin’ on my head,” excessive rain can turn that pleasant experience into a serious source of pain and heartache.
We’ve seen customers try all sorts of remedies to stop water from doing what it wants to do. Remember, earlier we stated that it seems to have a mind of its own. Nothing seems to stop it from traveling where it wants. In the industry, we call it the “T” syndrome. For travel. Let me explain. Water travels in a T format. Straight across a flat surface and down any cracks or crevices it finds. This causes it to get into areas that could be difficult to get to or locate. The larger the building or facility, the greater the damage that can result. The more porous materials a property has, the greater the chance that many of the items in the property will need to be either thrown away, refurbished or replaced. This happens when a multi-unit building such a condo, or court-way building experiences water damage from the top down. The tenant at the top of the building gets water in his/her place and it trickles down into the units of the tenants below, sometimes going all the way down to the basement or storage facility. Extensive damage like this takes time to remediate and make sure that all the excess moisture and condensation has been properly taken care of.
Some people have spent thousands of dollars on mechanisms, pumping systems, and flood prevention equipment designed to signal when heavy water is infiltrating a property and activate automated systems to keep the area virtually dry. However, if we are called to address the issue, what does that indicate? It suggests that the system didn’t work. While I don’t mean to criticize any program or effort to prevent catastrophic water damage or flooding, it’s important to acknowledge that water has a mind of its own. When it gets out of control, nothing can stop it. The problem arises when too much water accumulates at once, overwhelming the system—even the most innovative and advanced equipment. For example, a sump pump can become overloaded by a vast flow of water and may burn out. We have encountered properties with two sump pumps that both failed due to the heavy water flow. Do you see my point? There is only so much we can do to prepare ourselves.
The unfortunate reality of water damage in Chicago is that it can mix with various outside elements, such as sewage, dirt, grime, mold, and bacteria. This often occurs during heavy rain or when there is a backup. When sewage is involved, the result is a toxic environment saturated with harmful bacteria. It’s disheartening when this happens, and our first thoughts often revolve around questions like, “Whose fault is this? Why did it happen? Could it have been prevented?” In some cases, the answer is yes, while in others, it may not be possible to prevent such incidents. Numerous factors contribute to a water intrusion event, including the type of piping involved, the source of the water, drainage or plumbing issues, the involvement of the neighborhood sewage system, potential overloads in the main system, and even human error. Frequently, the answers to these questions become clearer once the cleanup and restoration process begins or when a plumber is called to assess the situation. Or if a plumber has been called out to assess the issue. And at this point, it is essential to add this: IF YOU HAVE A PLUMBING ISSUE, AND THE WATER WON’T GO DOWN ON ITS OWN, PLEASE, CALL A LOCAL PLUMBER BEFORE YOU CALL A RESTORATION TEAM OUT TO YOUR PROPERTY! Unless the property is vacant, many clients have called us in desperation to move forward, only to realize they first need to call a plumber to fix the broken pipe, address the drainage issue, or rod a line. This is where property owners must exercise caution. Many plumbers claim they can handle the cleanup and restoration aspects of a flood or water damage emergency. However, that’s why we are here; we have been trained specifically for this purpose. Those plumbers are not certified to perform professional water damage restoration or sewage cleanup, removal, and sanitizing in Chicago. When individuals try to handle multiple aspects of a job, it often results in subpar work. Typically, it’s the property owner who ends up paying someone else to perform the cleanup correctly and at a professional standard. Don’t be misled. It’s the same situation if we, as the professional restoration company, attempted to handle plumbing issues just because we have a few plumbing tools but lack the necessary certification, license, or training. It’s best to leave the services needed to the service provider who specializes in the particular discipline for that job.
Things to do When You Get Water Damage Everywhere in Chicago
But is there anything you can do to arm yourself or prepare to avoid such water intrusion? Well, as we said before, water, especially a lot of it, has a mind all its own. But should this happen to you, then take these necessary steps to help you wade through the damage and possibly prevent a worse tragedy ahead of time:
- Clear debris from above and around storm drains
- Clear the basement drain of clogs so water can drain out
- Clear gutters of debris so water can flow through the downspouts
- Keep valuables off the basement floor, relocate them to upstairs if possible
- Quickly dry out soaked items to prevent mold and microbes
- Wear proper PPE, boots, gloves, masks before cleaning up a flooded basement
- Avoid standing water, especially if electricity is near and on
- Shut off electricity at the main source before stepping into water
- Frequently wash hands with soap/water to remove dirt and bacteria
- Call a professional restoration and water damage company
We hope you never have to experience water damage or flooding in your property in Chicago. However, with the heavy storms and rain, it may only be a matter of time before it happens. If it does occur, follow the steps mentioned above. Don’t panic; you can navigate this situation and emerge on the other side, able to share your experience of dealing with unexpected water intrusion. Water is everywhere, and you never know when that storm will strike, when a sewage backup might occur, when a pipe could burst, or when a neglected plumbing system might fail. All these factors can lead to a serious water damage emergency that you cannot ignore.
Keep the list handy and write down the number of a local restoration and cleanup company, like The CleanUP Guys. You can reach us at any time for water damage restoration, flood cleanup, sewage backup cleanup, mold remediation, fire damage, basement cleaning, and more! Give our friendly staff a call today at 773-885-8528.