Handling the Damage from an Overflowing Toilet

3/7/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage from an overflowing toilet can be a big mess to clean up. However, for those who only live in the Valley for part of the year, coming back to your winter home to find the results of an overflowing toilet can be even more stressful as the elapsed time between the incident and cleanup leads to additional damage. Here’s what you should know and what you should do.

How much damage can a toilet really cause?

When a toilet in your home overflows, the damage can be immense, whether the tank malfunctioned or there was a clog in the bowl. Damage can be compounded when the bathroom is located on the upper floor of your house since the water can seep down to the lower levels, often undetected. Water can affect flooring systems, ceilings, wall cavities, and possible insulation in a case like this. It’s good to remember that not all the water damage from an overflowing toilet can be seen, so it’s good to call in the pros at SERVPRO, especially if the damage happened while you were away.

What to do when a toilet overflows
 

An overflow from a toilet in your home requires water removal and help from a professional water damage restoration company such as SERVPRO. You must act fast in a water emergency such as this to prevent further damage, and we understand that. We are always standing by to help you with the knowledge and the tools that are needed.

How SERVPRO helps

Restoring your home to pre-damage conditions involves the removal of water, decontamination, and drying of the home and materials. When it comes to water extraction, we use vacuums and pumps to get rid of all the standing water. We start this step as soon as possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold and degradation of building materials and furnishings. Of course, we will take into consideration if the water damage has been sitting for a while and will act appropriately to address long-standing damage. Drying and dehumidification can begin once water is removed This step gets rid of any remaining moisture. It can take several days to complete, and we monitor our equipment daily to ensure an optimal drying time. Thermal sensors and moisture sensors and infrared cameras can help detect hidden pockets of moisture. It’s critical that all moisture is removed to prevent mold and odors. Any belongings that were affected must be cleaned and sanitized to stop any bacterial and mold growth. Antimicrobial treatments are given to draperies, carpeting, and clothing. This also helps stop odors from forming.

The restoration process after water damage
 

The final step is restoration. Restoration is a significant step in the process. It may involve replacing materials such as insulation and drywall that got wet and were torn out. Sometimes, it is merely replacing a few panels of drywall. More severe cases need entire walls replaced. We call certified contractors in for help with this process. SERVPRO technicians will consult with homeowners every step of the way, and do their best to restore all belongings, walls, carpeting, etc. to pre-damage condition. In some cases, building services may be required depending on the extent of water damage and possibly mold for long-standing water damage issues.

Call SERVPRO of Phoenix for water damage

SERVPRO of Phoenix wants to ensure your home is fully restored and safe again for you and your family. When you have a water damage emergency, no matter how long ago the damage was, reach out to us right away at (480) 503-2090, so we can help you clean up your home as quickly as possible.