Apartments provide affordable and low-maintenance living options for many people. Unfortunately, they come with their own unique set of challenges. For example, residents have to put a lot of trust in the people living above and beside them. If water damage or another disaster were to occur in a neighboring unit, it could very well impact the rest around it.
Even the smallest leaks can cause big problems for the people living in the surrounding apartments. Therefore, it’s important that apartment complex managers hire a professional water damage Poughkeepsie crew to help restore all of the affected units.
Fortunately, residents of Poughkeepsie don’t have to look far for a company they can trust. First Call Restoration has helped to restore countless multi-family residential buildings over the years. This project is just one example of how they were able to address water damage from an apartment air conditioner leak.
The Source of the Apartment’s Water Damage
With the warm summer weather, more and more people are running their air conditioning units. While they help to keep homes comfortable through the summer months, they can also cause water damage if they aren’t working properly. That’s exactly what happened with this project.
An upstairs apartment unit had a small leak in their air conditioner. Eventually, the water made its way into the unit below and led to a small water damage problem in the ceiling. As soon as the tenants discovered the leak, the apartment complex manager was contacted.
They knew that the best way to ensure the unit was repaired properly was to call in a professional water damage company. For that reason, they reached out to First Call Restoration right away.
A Thorough Inspection of the Apartment Unit’s Water Damage
As with any job, First Call Restoration started this project by completing a professional inspection of the property. They take the time to assess the level of water damage as well as the source.
Their access to tools like moisture meters makes it easy to identify hidden water damage in different materials. They checked the ceilings, floors, and other areas of the apartment unit to see how far the leak had spread.
Fortunately, the leak was caught early and the water damage was relatively minimal. The contractors were able to identify that the loss was isolated to a small section of the ceiling and one wall. They also were able to determine that the water damage was caught before it developed any mold.
Customized Water Damage Restoration Plan
Based on the results of the water damage assessment, First Call Restoration was able to come up with a customized restoration plan. For this particular job, they chose to focus on:
- Setting up a Containment Area
- Drying and Dehumidifying
- Removing Damaged Materials
Containing the Affected Area
Even though this was a small job, First Call Restoration always likes to be thorough with their work. For that reason, they started the project by setting up a containment area. This extra precaution helps to protect the home even if there is no mold present. It also keeps the rest of the unit clean through the demolition process.
The contractors were able to effectively contain any dirt, debris, and possible contaminants by setting up protective plastic sheets. They also added floor protection and started a negative air protocol.
Drying and Dehumidifying the Unit
The containment area was also helpful in expediting the drying process. It made the dehumidifiers more efficient by minimizing the cubic footage. The drying equipment continued to run until the moisture meters indicated that all of the excess moisture had been removed from the unit.
Removing Damaged Materials and Making Repairs
The contractors also made cuts in the drywall of the ceiling and wall. Not only did this allow them to remove water-damaged insulation, but it also gave the drying equipment access to the interior of the walls and ceiling to complete the dehumidification process. After the damaged materials were removed and the drying was complete, the contractors made repairs to return the unit to its pre-loss condition.
Learn More About How First Call Restoration Can Help with Other Water Damage Jobs
First Call Restoration has plenty of experience with multi- and single-family homes, so customers can count on their experts no matter what their living situation looks like. To learn more about how they can help with water damage or an air conditioner leak, residents of Poughkeepsie should call right away or fill out their online contact form. The company is available 24/7 for emergency services, so there’s no reason to put it off!
