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A Complete Guide to Water Damage Repair in Chicago

When frozen burst pipes flood your basement, the mess is obvious right away. Hidden leaks can go unnoticed unless you know what to look for. Regardless of how it happens, you’re facing water damage repair.

As Chicago’s leading water damage restoration company, we see it every day.

Homeowners dealing with water damage in the house wonder what to do first. Our pros here at ServiceMaster by Lake Shore want to help. That’s why we’ve developed this guide to water damage repair for Chicago, IL residents as well as those living in the suburbs.

What Is Water Damage Repair?

water removal chicago
Removing water with a wet vac is part of water damage repair.

You won’t find the phrase in the dictionary, but water damage repair covers a specific set of actions. It applies to small DIY jobs and large cleanup projects.

Whether you do it yourself or call industry professionals, the process breaks down into these three phases:

1. Mitigation

Water damage mitigation is a first response that prevents damage from spreading. Technicians address the water source and stop the flow. They extract standing water from affected areas, begin structural drying and stabilize water-damaged walls, floors and ceilings. The work includes initial site cleanup and disinfecting.

2. Remediation

Water damage remediation removes residual water from affected materials and surfaces. As the drying process continues, water damage cleanup and sanitizing techniques prep the site for restoration. These steps are followed by damaged material tear-out and mold remediation.

3. Restoration

Water damage restoration includes drywall repair, as well as floor and ceiling replacement. Certified technicians salvage and restore furniture, appliances, electronics and personal belongings. This last phase returns a site to its pre-damage condition.

When Do I Need Water Damage Repair?

basement flood in chicago home
If your Chicago basement flooded, it warrants immediate water damage repair.

When water splashes out of the kitchen sink, you take care of the mess with a mop and cleaning supplies. When a broken dishwasher floods the kitchen, you need water damage repair.

Large volumes of water soak into floors, baseboards and drywall. This results in problems such as wood rot and mold growth. Without repairs, water damage quickly spreads through surrounding materials.

These are the most common causes of water damage in Chicago homes:

  • Broken water supply lines
  • Leaking appliance hoses
  • Clogged kitchen and bath drains
  • HVAC drain line issues
  • Frozen burst pipes
  • Roof leaks from rain or snow dams
  • Sewage backups and toilet overflows

Our city’s aging infrastructure can be another source of water damage in area homes and businesses. Over the past 10 years, heavy rains have overwhelmed the sewer system and resulted in serious problems for property owners.

The damage includes Category 3 black water contamination and requires cleanup by certified water damage technicians.

How Do I Repair Water Damage?

When you’re dealing with water damage, it’s important to get started as quickly as possible. We defined the three main phases of the process. Let’s apply them to DIY cleanup and restoration.

These six steps outline how to repair water damage in your Chicago home or business.

1. Stop the Water Flow

Before making repairs to burst pipes or leaking supply lines, turn off the water coming into your home at the main shutoff valve. If you’ll be working around appliances, turn off the electricity too.

2. Assess and Repair

Take a look at the water source so that you can determine what supplies you’ll need for repairs. Often, leaking pipes can be fixed with a patch kit from the home improvement center. If the weather isn’t too humid, circulate fresh air through the affected area by opening windows and doors while you work.

3. Remove All Water

Mop up as much standing water as possible. In ground-floor rooms with exterior doors, you can use a large push broom to move water outside. It may be necessary to rent a wet vac for water extraction from carpets and floors.

4. Start the Drying Process

If you’re dealing with wet floors and walls, remove door trim and baseboards. Set up large fans in opposite corners of the affected area, and run them continuously for several days. A large dehumidifier speeds up the drying process.

5. Clean and Sanitize

Once you’re finished with water removal, clean and sanitize affected materials. Bleach and water work well on non-porous surfaces, but treat porous materials with a product designed for this type of cleanup.

6. Tear Out and Replace

Finally, tear out materials that can’t be salvaged. Patch or replace damaged drywall. Check floors and subflooring for signs of water damage. In the case of wet ceilings, confirm the condition of ceiling tiles and support beams.

Who Do I Call to Repair My Water Damage?

servicemaster of lake shore water repair chicago van
If you see these vans around town, you’ll know we’re on the job helping a resident recover from water damage!

When you call a plumber to fix leaking pipes and broken supply lines, he or she only addresses repairs. A full-service water damage contractor like ServiceMaster of Lake Shore in Chicago handles repairs as well as cleanup and restoration. Letting one company take care of everything often saves time and money on both residential and commercial jobs.

You can also get help with backed-up sewer water in the basement by contacting Chicago’s Water Management Department. The city doesn’t repair burst pipes or leaky plumbing, but they do address infrastructure problems that can affect your property.

What Does Water Damage Repair in Chicago Include?

water damage drying equipment chicago
Water damage repair involves using an array of professional water damage equipment including dehumidifiers and air movers.

When you’re dealing with water damage, it’s best to call a company that offers a complete line of water cleanup services. Their technicians quickly restore your home or business to its pre-damage condition.

These are just a few of the benefits that come with hiring water damage professionals:

  • Fast plumbing repairs
  • Water extraction and structural drying
  • Water-damaged ceiling repair
  • Certified mold removal and remediation
  • Category 3 water damage cleanup
  • 24/7 emergency water damage repair
  • Help with insurance claims for water damage

How Much Does Water Damage Repair in Chicago Typically Cost?

Water damage repair costs are based on several factors, including square footage, extent of damages and water type. In general, the average cost of water damage repair in Chicago runs between $3,000 and $8,000. The figure can be higher for extensive damage to a commercial property.

In most cases, business property insurance or homeowners insurance covers the cost of water damage repair.

How Long Does It Take to Repair Water Damage?

The time involved in commercial or home water damage restoration depends on the job size. Technicians take care of the water source right away. Cleanup time varies from several hours to several days. The drying process usually takes between three and five days.

Generally, large water damage repair projects can be completed in one week.

Do You Need Water Damage Repair at Your Chicago Home or Business? We Can Help!

We know you can handle small water damage cleanup jobs, but we’re always ready to help. Our teams take care of everything from burst pipe repairs to property-wide cleanup and restoration. We’re here for you with 24-hour water damage repair services too.

When you want Chicago’s best water damage repair, call us here at ServiceMaster of Lake Shore: 312-707-8597