Carpets & Flooring
CRI Articles
IEHA Articles
IICRC Articles
Features
Water is the lifeblood of civilization - a necessity for life and health of man, animal, and plants. However, water also has the power to wreak havoc as a silent thief, stealing peace of mind and ruining property. [Note: Ad or content links featured on this page are not necessarily affiliated with IICRC (The cleantrust) and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by IICRC (The cleantrust)].
Life's Unexpected and Unwanted Surprises
(True Story) Bill, an architect and husband of a family of five, woke up as he always did on Monday morning, groggy and in need of a cup of coffee. He went to the kitchen to start breakfast, but noticed a creaking sound from the floor near the refrigerator. Even the stance of the ‘fridge seemed a bit off. Baffled, he wrote off the tipsy ‘fridge as a figment of a sleep-fogged mind and decided to ignore the floor-creaking sound for now. He had many things to do and didn't want to be late, so he performed his daily morning ritual, then off to work he went. Shortly before his work day was to end, he received a phone call from his wife, who just arrived home, and was shocked when she told him there was a hole in their kitchen floor, and that the refrigerator was sitting on wet earth three feet down through that hole.
What happened? After getting a professional inspection and assessment for repairs, the culprit that caused the mess was a leaky water line to the refrigerator's ice maker - slow enough to break down the wood and erode the floor's structural integrity, but not fast enough to create a noticeable puddle of water that could have helped identify the leak early on.
Repairs were costly. The hole in the floor wasn't all that needed repairing. Due to the abundance of moisture over an extended period of time, the wood surrounding the hole had lost much of its strength. Also, unhealthful mold and mildew had grown under the sub-flooring, under the linoleum, and into the wall behind where the ‘fridge sat. How do you get mold out of a wall? Unfortunately the refrigerator itself was damaged and had to be replaced. And although Bill shot down the idea, Bill's wife did hint that this would be a perfect time for a complete kitchen remodel.
Although it's been many months since the "disaster" - as Bill calls it, he still refuses to hook up a new water line to the ice maker.
Steps to Right the Wrong
A leaky water line can do more than cause property damage - it also disrupts a daily way of life, causing stress and worry, and other unwanted financial and mental headaches. To repair the damage and situation, hiring an IICRC-certified cleantrust professional is recommended. They are trained and experienced to:
• Identify moisture sources
• Evaluate mold growth (visible or suspected)
• Contain damage to the smallest area possible
• Physically remove contamination
• Dry materials to help ensure that mold will not return
• Perform or recommend procedures for returning property to a pre-loss condition.
Attempting difficult mold cleanup and structural repairs without the proper know-how may be an invitation for future problems, as well as other health and safety concerns. Why not do it right the first time by hiring an IICRC-certified cleantrust professional?
