Disaster-scale events such as this year's flooding across large regions of the Prairies make headlines and history. But the ugly truth about water damage across Canada is that it can happen anywhere, anytime.

And few of us are ready.

Last winter, Toronto "had a frozen-pipe season that basically lasted from the 20th of December to the end of February," recalls John Parker, who runs a disaster restoration division of ServiceMaster in north Toronto.

The news wasn't any brighter on the West Coast. Warren Groom runs a similar company in Vancouver, where January's heavy rains flooded his ServiceMaster franchise with calls about seepage and backed-up drains.

David Lazarowych, Business Edge
Homeowners should utilize professionals to check basements for possible mould damage.

In Alberta, the dank smell of wet carpet and a few centimetres of sodden drywall is all that lingers in some of the homes that sustained minimal water damage after heavy rains flooded rivers and swamped sewer systems last month.

But a warning to homeowners across the country: Dismiss that smell as an annoying and potentially seasonal side effect of too much rain, and you set yourself up for a much bigger battle with mould and possibly even structural damage.

Like others in the business of cleaning up property damaged by water, Scott Templeman, senior project manager with Calgary's Servpro Disaster Restoration, says it's easy to pinpoint the No. 1 mistake homeowners make in the aftermath of water damage.

While the hardest hit are the most apt to call their insurance companies, shoot photographs or video of the damage and call in specialists in disaster restoration, those with less noticeable damage often don't do enough, he says.

When water from the outside infiltrates a home, it also brings in bacteria and other microbes. Even in bone-dry Alberta, mould needs just 48 to 72 hours to grow, so homeowners in Ontario and on the "wet" coast can just imagine how fast it can march through their own damp basements.

Mould damage is not covered by homeowner insurance, adds insurance agent Jacqueline Heninger of Van Helden Agencies Ltd. in Calgary. That exemption underlines the need for homeowners to take mould seriously in its earliest stage.

Templeman agrees. His bottom line? If there's water between the plastic vapour barrier and your wall, you've got a problem that needs fixing.

"The biggest problem we find is a lot of homeowners downplay the damage and try to do the cleanup themselves," agrees Shane Field, manager of the disaster services division of Magiclean Cleaning Services Inc.

Field urges homeowners to have water damage professionally assessed. Because insurance rarely covers water damage, unless linked to sewer backup or broken pipes (and that may depend on your coverage), a homeowner may opt to do the work him or herself. Working with a professional assessment at least ensures you have the best information.

Homeowners are also cautioned against trying to "cover up" water damage, or to equate disaster restoration services with renovation services. That's a costly mistake, says Field, who estimates the cost of a future mould cleanup "is probably 10 times the amount of a water (damage) restoration job."

Fees are commensurate with training, protocols and the fact "it is an emergency service," adds Vancouver's Groom. Restoration companies meet specific standards regardless of whether the task involves art restoration, carpet cleaning or drywall replacement.

Those with rental properties may want to pay particular attention to water damage - and visit their investment even if tenants don't report a problem. In the months and years to come, a mould report could lead health officials to demand a cleanup within a particular timeframe. "It's always cheaper to fix it straight away," notes Field.

Homeowners should also recognize the different approaches required to restore fresh, grey or blackwater damage, adds Jamie McDonald, owner of First General Services, a restoration company that focuses on insurance claims.

McDonald says disaster restoration protocols, based on the science of microbial activity, dictate what happens when different classes of water flood into a home. With blackwater (sewage), anything made of particle board or stored in cardboard boxes should be discarded.

Even freshwater damage may be too much for carpets if they're not professionally dried, and the work required to dry underpads may not be worth the effort (and price), says McDonald.

Parker admits some homeowners dismiss professional restoration services as too expensive. His own Toronto-based firm charges at least $500 to send out a crew. Parker says the charge is based on the quality and speed of service, since his crews are trained to protect people and structures from the long-term impact of water damage. (That fee is deducted from the final bill and may even be partly refunded if the job is smaller than expected.)

To prevent small problems from becoming big problems, Parker also reminds vacationing or work-absent homeowners that water damage due to sewer backup or pipe breakage is only covered by insurance if someone checks your home every day.

Convinced some problems are preventable, Parker also recommends homeowners ensure their pipes are well insulated to protect against temperature extremes. He's seen new homes in the Toronto area that are built to code, but are unnecessarily exposed to the risk of pipe breakage during particularly cold periods. If you're not sure about your pipes, especially those in bulkheads along exterior walls, get a professional opinion, warns Parker.

In areas susceptible to heavy rain, Groom suggests homeowners "ensure that your drainage tiles are in good order and not damaged.”

He recommends calling in a tile specialist every two years for a routine maintenance check.

Homeowners can also learn from experience, says Cam Crawford.

Ten years ago, Crawford's home in High River south of Calgary sustained significant water damage, under circumstances similar to this year's widespread flooding across southern Alberta. Professional disaster restoration staff treated the affected areas with anti-bacterial agents and, as per the accepted restoration protocol, replaced the lower 130 cm (four feet) of basement drywall.

Putting experience to work, Crawford was better prepared for the heavy rains that caused a local river to flood its banks this June.

His altered landscaping increased flow away from this home. He also kept 300 burlap bags in his garage. When needed, they were filled by volunteers, then used to fortify his home.

At Crawford's home, an ounce of prevention equalled several gallons of cure.

Apply the same plan-ahead logic to pipe insulation and drainage tile checks, or a review of how valuables are stored in boxes on your basement floor, and other homeowners may also be able to convert that defensive strategy from liquid gallons of dirty water to hard dollars and cents.

TIPS FOR THE VICTIMS Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. offers a few tips to help restore a home after water damage - and after you've phoned your insurance company and recorded damage with photographs or video.

* Plan: Set up a step-by-step plan of action. What stays? What goes?

* Supplies: Assemble gloves, masks, pails and mops, chlorine bleach, plastic garbage bags, non-ammonia dishwashing detergent and large containers to soak bedding and clothing.

* Store papers: Place valuable papers in the freezer until you have time to work on them.

* Clean up: Add a small amount of chlorine bleach to standing water, then remove that water with pails, mops and a wet/dry vacuum.

* Remove: Remove all soaked and dirty materials, including wet insulation and drywall, furniture and appliances.

* Top down: Working from the top down, remove all materials at least 50 centimetres above the high-water line.

* Wash: Thoroughly rinse (hose) all surfaces wet by the floodwater. Wash and wipe with a chlorine water solution (1:1) mixed with a small amount of non-ammonia detergent. Rinse again.

* Ventilate: Dehumidify the house until completely dry.

(Joy Gregory can be reached at joy@businessedge.ca)