When water damage strikes your Colorado Springs home, the overwhelming question becomes: what can be saved and what needs to go? Understanding which items are salvageable after water damage can help you make informed decisions and potentially save thousands of dollars in replacement costs. The restoration experts at ServiceMaster of Colorado Springs have compiled this comprehensive guide to help you navigate these challenging decisions.
What Determines if an Item Can Be Saved?
Before diving into specific items, it's important to understand that water damage restoration success depends on several factors: the type of water involved (clean, gray, or black water), how long items were exposed, and the materials affected. Professional water damage assessment is crucial for making the right decisions about your belongings.
10 Items That Can Often Be Saved After Water Damage
1. Hardwood Flooring
Quality hardwood floors can often be restored through professional drying and refinishing processes. The key is acting quickly to prevent warping and cupping. Engineered hardwood may have different salvage potential depending on the water exposure duration and subfloor conditions.
2. Solid Wood Furniture
Well-constructed solid wood furniture pieces can frequently be restored through careful drying and refinishing. The natural properties of solid wood allow for expansion and contraction during the drying process, making restoration more feasible than with composite materials.
3. Electronics (If Dried Properly)
Surprisingly, many electronics can be saved if they're professionally dried before being powered on. Water damage restoration specialists use specialized drying techniques to remove moisture from sensitive components, though success rates vary by device type and exposure time.
4. Important Documents and Photographs
Professional document restoration services can often salvage water-damaged papers, books, and photographs through freeze-drying and other specialized techniques. While the process can be expensive, irreplaceable items like family photos and legal documents are often worth the investment.
5. Clothing and Textiles
Most clothing items can be successfully cleaned and restored after water damage, especially if treated promptly. Professional textile cleaning can remove contaminants and odors, returning garments to pre-loss condition in many cases.
6. Non-Porous Surfaces and Fixtures
Items like ceramic tiles, glass, metal fixtures, and sealed stone surfaces can typically be cleaned and disinfected effectively. Their non-porous nature prevents deep water penetration, making restoration more straightforward.
7. Appliances (Depending on Exposure)
Large appliances may be salvageable if they weren't running during water exposure and can be properly dried and inspected by qualified technicians. Professional evaluation is essential to ensure safe operation after restoration.
8. Sealed Canned Goods
Commercially canned foods in undamaged containers can often be saved if properly cleaned and disinfected. However, any cans with dents, rust, or compromised seals should be discarded for safety reasons.
9. Jewelry and Precious Items
Most jewelry and precious metals can be cleaned and restored after water damage. Professional cleaning can remove contaminants and restore these valuable items to their original condition.
10. Vinyl and Linoleum Flooring
These synthetic flooring materials can often be cleaned and restored, especially if the water didn't penetrate underneath. A professional assessment can determine if the subfloor remains intact and dry.
5 Items You Should Always Discard After Water Damage
1. Mattresses and Box Springs
These items absorb water rapidly and are nearly impossible to dry thoroughly, creating ideal conditions for mold growth and bacterial contamination. Flood damage restoration professionals consistently recommend replacement for health and safety reasons.
2. Particle Board and MDF Furniture
Composite wood products swell and deteriorate when exposed to water, losing their structural integrity. Unlike solid wood, these materials cannot be effectively restored once water-damaged.
3. Cosmetics and Medicines
Any personal care items or medications exposed to floodwater should be discarded immediately due to contamination risks. The potential health hazards far outweigh any cost savings from attempting to salvage these items.
4. Baby Items and Toys
Anything used by infants and young children should be replaced after water damage exposure. The risk of contamination and the difficulty of ensuring complete sanitization make replacement the safer choice.
5. Insulation Materials
Wet insulation loses its effectiveness and can harbor mold growth. Whether it's fiberglass, cellulose, or foam insulation, water-damaged materials must be removed and replaced to maintain your home's energy efficiency and air quality.
Professional Packout and Content Restoration Services
When water damage occurs, ServiceMaster of Colorado Springs offers comprehensive packout services to protect your salvageable belongings during the restoration process. Our team carefully inventories, photographs, and removes items from the affected area to our climate-controlled facility.
By combining on-site water damage mitigation with off-site content restoration, we maximize the number of items that can be successfully saved while ensuring your property is properly dried and restored.
Trust the Professionals at ServiceMaster of Colorado Springs
Making decisions about water-damaged belongings requires expertise and experience. The restoration professionals at ServiceMaster of Colorado Springs provide thorough assessments and honest recommendations about what can be saved versus what needs replacement.
Contact us immediately after water damage occurs to maximize your chances of successful item recovery and restore your Colorado Springs home to pre-loss condition!
