Water Damage Restoration in San Rafael, CA

Water Damage Restoration in San Rafael and Marin County

When water gets into your home, the first few hours matter most. PuroClean of San Rafael provides 24/7 water damage restoration across San Rafael, Marin County, San Francisco and Sonoma County, from the first call through drying and repairs.

A live, onshore answering service picks up every call, day or night, and reaches our on-call team right away in an emergency. Everyone on your job site is a PuroClean employee, never day labor. We’re an IICRC Certified Firm, and we follow industry drying standards and document every step.

We work for you, the property owner, not the insurance company. We explain what we find, talk through your options, and give you an estimate. If it’s an emergency, we can start right away while the full scope comes into focus.

The Water Removal Process:

1. Our technicians will initially remove damaged materials that we will either restore or discard. These materials include baseboards, insulation, furniture, upholstery, carpeting, carpet padding, fragile wood, drywall, and more. 
2. We dry and disinfect the affected areas after removing the damaged items. We typically use specialized tools such as air movers and dehumidifiers in drying.
3. Our technicians will then handle mold damage in the restoration process. We will quickly disinfect and restore mold-infected surfaces to prevent the spread of mold.

Emergency Water Extraction

We begin by extracting any standing water in your home or business using high-grade equipment strategically placed to remove all the water from the area.

1. The first step requires immediate water removal through our advanced pumping machines. After extracting the water, we will remove and either store or discard all affected belongings and structures.
2. Once PuroClean of San Rafael‘s technicians complete the process, they will remove the equipment and dispose of the water elsewhere. 

Drying & Dehumidification

We identify all areas requiring this process, isolate them, and prepare them for drying and dehumidification. 

1. We must remove belongings and upholstery to ensure the thorough completion of the drying and dehumidification process.
2. Your local PuroClean of San Rafael technician will place air-moving machines around the isolated area when ready. Keep in mind that these machines are loud. The fans will focus on areas of the house or business that contain moisture to extract any trapped water. 
3. Next, dehumidification will pull the water into the air and through the fans. All of the water pulled out will be disposed of by the PuroClean technician in another location.
4. PuroClean of San Rafael technicians will monitor moisture levels to ensure a proper drying process. Once moisture levels return to normal, we will place removed items in their original locations.

Carpet Restoration

Carpet restoration is PuroClean of San Rafael‘s process to restore your damaged carpet to its pre-loss condition.

1. The first step is to find the source of the water damage, as this determines whether or not your carpet is salvageable. 
2. If the findings in step one indicate that the carpet is salvageable, we will remove any remaining water through water extraction. 
3. Then, high-grade air-moving fans will remove moisture from the carpet to prevent mold growth. 
4. PuroClean of San Rafael‘s technicians will update you and your insurance agent during drying. 
5. Once the carpet is dry, we will remove all equipment from the area and put all belongings back into place. 

Water Damage Do’s and Don’ts

Repairing water damage is very important, but the safety of all parties is our main priority. Whether mitigating or restoring water damage, the following tips will help reduce the risk that you will suffer a setback due to a rain event, flood, faulty plumbing, or leaking A/C or roof. 

What to Do

1. Turn Water Off: Shut down your home’s water supply and call a plumber for repairs. 
2. Use Caution: Watch your step as floors may be slippery. Also, watch for trip and fall hazards, as well as for exposed electrical wires.
3. Remove Water: Mop up as much water as possible. In cool weather, open windows to speed drying; in hot weather, if safe, switch on your A/C. 
4. Prop Up Upholstery: Remove all loose cushions and prop up upholstered furniture. 
5. Manage Area Rugs and Obstacles: Remove rugs and pick up any items that may be sitting on the floor. 
6. Dry Storage Containers: Open wet suitcases and storage boxes and dry them in the sunlight, if possible. 
7. Protect Valuables: Move paintings and other artwork to a safe, dry place.
8. Dry Clothing: Immediately dry all garments. Hang fur and leather goods to dry at room temperature. 
9. Protect Furniture: Place aluminum foil or plastic under furniture legs on wet carpeting. Open drawers and cabinet doors, but do not force them open to dry out their interiors. 
10. Call PuroClean Immediately: Call PuroClean of San Rafael at (628) 888-2911. Our trained technicians are highly skilled in water damage restoration.

What Not to Do

1. Don’t Use a Vacuum Cleaner: Only use a wet vacuum equipped to handle water. DO NOT USE your regular household vacuum.
2. Don’t Operate Electrical Appliances: DO NOT USE TVs, radios, computers, ceiling fans, or any other electrical appliances while standing on wet carpets or stone, concrete, or tile floors. 
3. Don’t Touch Outlets or Plugs: DO NOT PLUG OR UNPLUG any electrical appliances or touch anything plugged in. 
4. Don’t Turn Up the Heat: Keep interiors cool because mold grows in heat and moisture. 

Water Damage Risks Specific to Marin Homes

Marin’s mix of hillsides, older homes and low-lying neighborhoods causes water problems we see again and again:

• Winter storms and runoff. Heavy rain can push water through hillside foundations, retaining walls and below-grade rooms.
• Low-lying and tidal areas. Homes near the Canal, Santa Venetia, Corte Madera and Larkspur are exposed to street flooding and high-tide events.
• Older plumbing. Many homes in San Rafael, San Anselmo, Mill Valley and Ross still have aging supply lines and drains that fail without warning.
• Crawlspaces and subfloors. Water that collects under the house often goes unnoticed until floors warp or odors show up. We use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find it.
• Sewer backups. Contaminated water calls for a different cleanup protocol than a clean-water leak.