Water damage puts you in a tense situation. The water tends to damage everything that comes in its way. Walls and floorboards get damp with standing water. A water leak or a flash flood can ruin everything. It can even damage the foundation in the worst cases. And only drying the water does not help in this case. You need to remove embedded moisture as it poses a mold infestation risk.
In such a situation, all you can think of is hiring a water damage restoration firm. These companies are equipped with commercial machinery and methods to extract water and restore the property. But you won’t want to hire just any firm for that matter. You should select an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company.
Many times, you might have come across this term while hiring cleaning agencies. A certification substantially raises the firm’s credibility. But why should you hire an IICRC-certified company? Read this blog to learn more about the importance of this certification and more.
What Is IICRC Certification And Its Significance?
IICRC stands for the “Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification.”
The institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to setting standards in the cleaning industry. It was earlier named the International Institute of Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning in 1972.
All the cleaning organizations that want to set themselves apart need to acquire this certification. The IICRC board of directors screens the applicant firms to match its standards. It also provides training and runs certified schools as well. The organization also offers a listing in its global locator. It is accessible to professionals and consumers.
The IICRC provides continual support to certified firms with free educational content and marketing materials. There are many certification courses through which any organization can get its technicians trained. This certification is a hallmark of knowledge of the latest industry standards and techniques.
Now that you know the basics of IICRC, let us look at some of its benefits.
To Read More About IICRC Check Out This Blog: [About IICRC]
Benefits Of Choosing An IICRC Certified Water Damage Restoration Company
↪ Quality Work
IICRC-certified professionals go through rigorous training. It involves both technical and professional aspects. These technicians are employed in various water damage restoration projects to gain experience. With years of experience, they have become experts in different water damage situations.
Thus, when you hire an IICRC-certified company, they have all the required certifications. For example, a water damage restoration company will have other certifications like mold remediation, structural drying, commercial drying, building moisture thermography, etc. It makes them qualified enough to handle such situations professionally. And with experience and knowledge comes quality. An experienced technician will be able to deliver quality work in the worst water damage situation.
↪ Experience To Handle Equipment
Water damage is not a regular occurrence. Often, a leaky faucet, a burst pipe, or a flash flood cause it. So, every time a household vacuum cleaner won’t be able to do the trick, You will require commercial dryers and air movers.
Water damage restoration does not involve simple drying. It needs a proper inspection to determine the level of damage. Based on this, the technicians choose the correct techniques. They use advanced equipment that is available commercially. It requires skill and training to handle such equipment.
↪ PinPoint The Source Accurately
A burst pipe or a leaking roof is not the only reason for water damage. It can come from other sources as well. You might scan the entire house, walls, and floorboards, but find no signs.
Water damage is a tricky situation. First, you need to inspect and find the actual source of water. Then, you need to look for structural damage, mold, drywall cracks, etc. These help track the exact origin to determine the category of water. There are three categories of water damage. Category 1 water is from clean sources like taps, faucets, and tanks. Category two water is contaminated and comes from washing machines or dishwashers. Category 3 water comes from unsanitary sources like sewer pipes, toilet overflows, and streams.
It is crucial to identify the correct source of water in a property. It helps to formulate remediation techniques. A trained and certified technician can do so easily. They have experience handling various water damage situations and can thus expertly point out the source.
↪ Assess Damage Properly
An inundated property has more damage than your eyes can see. Water seeps inside floorboards, walls, and trimmings. The wet patches appear after a significant amount of moisture has built up. Moist walls show flaking paint and chipping drywall. Likewise, it also leads to mold infestation. Also, a different category of water impacts the property structure differently. For example, a category one water (from a clean source) that affected a concrete floor minimally looks different than a category three water (from a highly unsanitary source).
Talking about other components like wood, it shows different signs of damage. Sometimes, the obvious signs are not visible readily. It does not mean there is no damage if no cues are apparent. You need to hire water damage and restoration experts. They possess hi-tech equipment that helps them to assess the moisture level accurately.
↪ Handle Large Scale Projects
A trained water damage technician can handle any mess. They get experienced in dealing with varied water damage throughout their career. These technicians can identify the areas that need immediate attention.
A team of IICRC-certified technicians can handle various aspects of water damage remediation. They can prioritize the work, assess the damage, and employ suitable techniques to get through. Experts also restore the property to its earlier stage.
The Bottom Line
Water damage is a stressful event. You might be overwhelmed thinking about what to do and what not to. Walls, floorboards, and even foundations get damaged in such a situation. Not to mention, the carpets, upholstery, and other belongings might need replacement.
You require a reliable and professional water damage restoration team to help in such stressful circumstances. Many registered firms assist, but are they IICRC certified? You must ensure any firm you are engaging for damage restoration has this certification.
As discussed above, IICRC certification establishes the standards for the cleaning industry. Thus, technicians who undergo it practice the highest level of standards. Not only technically, but the workers get trained in managerial aspects. It leads to their holistic development to stand out as the best professionals in the industry.
Take time to check all the certifications, licenses, and other statutory compliances met by the firm. These factors tell a lot about the firm’s credibility and standing in the marketplace.