Water: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Elusive water damage. Have you ever witnessed the disappearing water trick where a magician causes water poured into a cup to vanish, as if into thin air magically? (Spoiler alert: sodium polyacrylate, the stuff in disposable diapers, is first put in the bottom of the cup to soak up the water!)

But water will still disappear even without any magic involved. It’s very adept at hiding and can be exceedingly hard to find. It sometimes hides so effectively that it can’t be detected unless special moisture meters are used. Why is this important to know? Even though water is essential for life, it’s also one of the most destructive elements that can attack your northside Chicagoland home or business.

It Can Run (Water Damage)

Chicago water damage can be elusive because of the way that it moves. It spreads like the letter “T,”  moving out and downward from its source. Even if water still looks to be setting, it isn’t. Gravity continues pulling it down onto the surface of the material it rests on. As it moves, it spreads and soaks into whatever porous (allowing liquid or air to pass through) materials it comes into contact with. But after spreading out and down, it also has another trick. It can also move up. It does this by wicking action. For example, water sitting at the base of drywall can wick up the wall at one inch per hour for the first 24 hours!

Because water damage can meander, it can easily hide inside insulation, behind walls and cabinets, and in subfloors. Even if a surface feels dry, there may still be moisture hiding underneath or inside it. This can mean for your Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, or Lakeview home or business that secondary damage like mold or warping can occur. It can even ruin expensive hardwood floors.

But it Can’t Hide 

If you have, or even if you suspect you may have, water damage, it’s essential that a professional from The CleanUP Guys comes out and tests for moisture with specialized moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras. With this equipment, we’ll be able to locate the confines of the affected area and show you the scope of the damage. Then, our techs will remove and dry the moisture to ensure no further damage occurs. We have highly trained professionals who know what it takes to remove water damage, dry rot, mold, mildew, and carpet water damage.

Why do we do this? Because water can’t hide from The CleanUP Guys!

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