Archive for the 'Water Damage Cleaning' Category
July 1st, 2011 by admin
Cleaning water damage can be a messy affair. You’ll need the right tools and equipment and training to get the job done right. Our technicians are trained and experienced in all kinds of water damage restoration and cleaning. 
We did this job a few days ago. The family that owned this rental property had just cleaned the place and were about to lease it out to new tenants when they discovered water in their basement. The line to the water softener had ruptured, shooting water everywhere in the basement.
Cleaning basement water damage can be tricky but fortunately we got the call soon enough from the owners of this property and were able to remediate the damage without incident. They had waited a few days to call us, which often ends in disaster because of the rapid growth of mold in warm environments like this basement.
We extracted the water from the carpet, discarded the saturated carpet pad, scored and cut out the damaged drywall, sprayed anti-microbial agents to prevent mold growth, and set out fans to dry the basement for a few days. The basement was easy to access because of the location of the garage. We made quick work of this job and were able to save the home from further mold damage.
Flood water damage and damage caused by leaky pipes can cause major headaches for homeowners. Always contact a professional immediately whenever you encounter water damage in your home. Letting it be for a few days is a big no-no! If you have any questions about water damage repair or black mold removal, give us a quick call and we’ll help save you a lot of time and money! Our trained water damage cleaning experts are always on-call and can help at a moment’s notice.
May 26th, 2011 by admin
If your home or business has ever experienced water damage any time during its lifetime, there’s a very good chance that you could have water damage mold risks just by occupying the property. Water damage mold typically starts with a very simple leak or accident but can end up causing serious health issues.
It is essential that water damage cleaning and mold removal be conducted by experienced professionals that have extensive training and experience in the industry. That’s because there are so many ways that the job can be botched! When water isn’t cleaned properly right after flood water damage, it is usually sealed back up under the carpet or behind drywall or furniture. That’s when the real problem starts for most homeowners.
Mold loves humid, stagnant environments where there’s an abundant organic food source. Drywall paper and carpet pad provide mold with ideal food sources. If water is sealed underneath, it can’t dry effectively and over time mold will grow unabated.
When we clean water damage in a home or business, we make 100% certain that the area is completely dry before any new building materials or furniture are re-introduced into the affected area. Our experienced water damage restoration professionals will apply the right anti-microbial agents and decontaminate affected areas using HEPA vacuums and other such industrial equipment.
By cleaning water damage correctly the first time, you avoid having to do black mold removal later. If black mold is already present, then doing mold removal correctly the first time will help ensure that you and your family aren’t exposed to potentially harmful microbial organisms. These organisms can affect your lungs and respiratory system and can be potentially fatal, particularly for young children and the elderly.
Contact us today if you need help to repair water damage in your home or business. We’re available 24/7, 365 days a year. Our technicians are very professional and thorough. Don’t let water damage destroy your peace of mind. Call us today!
May 3rd, 2011 by admin
Are you the victim of a recent water damage problem? Are you struggling to figure out what to do to clean flood water damage in your home or business? Don’t let water damage or black mold in your property overwhelm you. You have a friend in the water damage restoration business! Our technicians are certified and highly skilled to make sure that water damage in your property is fixed quickly and correctly.
Don’t rely on amateurs or DIY to fix your property. Cleaning water damage on your own can cause a lot more damage if you’re not very careful. That’s because black mold can easily accumulate in any areas you miss. You will need to spray down the affected areas of your property with anti-microbial agents to kill mold growth on the spot. You will also need to dehumidify the property and open up any enclosed areas (see drywall water damage) so that black mold removal isn’t required later. That can spell disaster unless you’re well insured. Mold removal is time-consuming and very expensive.
Do you have carpet water damage in your home? Are you worried about the costs of water damage mold cleaning and repair? Talk to one of our technicians by calling us today. You won’t regret it. We can walk you through the process, help you file your insurance claim, whatever is needed to get the job done right. Water damage restoration is our passion. We love helping homeowners get their properties back into ship shape! Don’t let water damage get you down. Call the pros!
April 14th, 2011 by admin
Cleaning water damage can be a daunting task. It’s just one of those things that most people aren’t prepared for. It happens quickly. It happens without warning. And it can be devastating to your property and personal belongings. So it’s a good thing you’re here, doing research online to find a good partner for your water damage repair needs.
We are highly trained in water damage restoration. We deal with mold removal and water removal every day. So we know what to do when we get to your property, no matter what your situation. That’s the beauty of our profession. Once you come across enough weird stuff, you start to see patterns in the chaos. You learn a system for fixing water damage. That way, the next job doesn’t seem as daunting, the next one less so, and so on.
Do you have flood water damage in your home or business? If so, call us immediately. We’ll make sure that a qualified technician is at your property in less than an hour. Your technician will help you get through the challenge. You’ll be so glad you called us. Water damage can be extensive and it can happen quickly.
If you are experiencing water damage in your property, do your best to stop the source of the water leak into the property. Remove items from the affected areas as much as possible, always paying careful attention to safety and health hazards such as exposed electrical wiring and sewage contamination. Extract as much water as you can before the water damage cleaning crew arrives. Once that is taken care of, sit back and let us take care of the rest!
April 8th, 2011 by admin
We just did a job last weekend on a home that had a broken basement pipe. We see this a lot this time of year in harsher winter environments. Flood water damage and burst pipe calls due to an increase in freeze/thaw cycles. As a reminder to our clients that live in cold weather environments, always make sure that any area of your home with water pipes is adequately insulated.
This can be a problem if you have an unfinished basement. Your basement might get quite chilly without proper insulation. Check any walls with water pipes and make sure to insulate them properly so the water inside won’t freeze. Another issue you can check in your home is to make certain that the exterior foundation is protected adequately. Any areas where the ground isn’t built up and you have lots of exposed foundation might be subject to colder temperatures. If there’s insufficient insulation in the wall, any pipes will freeze more easily.
Call us if you have any questions about how to prevent water damage or how to do water damage cleaning if you are currently experiencing water damage in your home. Our technicians are on call 24/7 in every major metro area in the U.S. We’re trained and ready to help you repair water damage in your home or business.
March 25th, 2011 by admin
Most people don’t realize that fire and water damage usually go hand in hand. It’s not necessarily intuitive that something that’s on fire would also be wet. But as we know, even when a fire goes out of control, it still has to eventually be put out with water and possibly other fire-retardant chemicals.
Fires really are a dual threat because they almost always involve water damage in the end. Water damage after fire damage becomes a lot more complicated to fix. Charred debris must be removed from the property. Then there’s the issue of soot. Soot can leave a terrible smell in a home even long after the fire and water damage have been addressed. It takes a very special process of cleaning and re-cleaning combined with using effective ozone and anti-microbial treatments to eradicate the smoky smell in a home after fire and water damage.
A qualified water damage repair and black mold removal team can help prevent damage to a home after fire has gutted it. One issue we often tackle after fires is sealing up open roof areas where fire has damaged the ceiling. These apertures must be closed so that secondary water damage doesn’t occur from ensuing rains, condensation, snow, sprinklers, etc. Another water damage restoration issue after fire damage is that of ensuring that the water pipes are all checked before repair to drywall water damage occurs. Fires can create tons of secondary damage if homeowners aren’t careful with their plumbing.
We are experienced water damage cleaning professionals with extensive exposure to pretty much every kind of property damage you can imagine. When fire or water damage affects you and your family, trust your property to an experienced professional. You won’t be sorry! Call us at 1-801-717-7777 if you have any questions or concerns about water damage in your home or business.
March 24th, 2011 by admin
Once upon a time there were three little piggies. One little piggy made his house out of sticks. One little piggy made his house out of stones. One little piggy made his house out of advanced composite and natural building materials from his local supply shop, making sure that everything was built to the latest codes. When the rain came, the first and second little piggies got wet but at least their houses dried. The third little piggy got tons of water in his basement and after a few days he had a major mold problem on his hooves!
It behooves all of us to remember and learn the story of these three little pigs. We live in very air and water-tight homes these days. That can be a very good thing when trying to keep water out but it can also be a very bad thing when somehow water gets — and stays — inside.
We do water damage repair every day. It’s an art and a science. If you want to do water damage cleaning like a pro, follow the water damage restoration tips posted here on our blog. We always recommend contacting a local water damage cleaning professional, at the very least for tips and advice, whenever water damage affects your home or business. Doing things the right way at first can save you a lot of time and money in the longer run.
Our technicians are IICRC-certified and are always equipped with the latest and greatest water damage repair equipment and training to make sure that your water damage cleaning job gets done right the first time. We thoroughly inspect every area of your home on our FREE initial visit to your property. We want to make absolutely sure that there aren’t any hidden water damage problems waiting to happen behind walls or around the perimeter of your home. Call us to day for FREE CONSULTATION!
March 11th, 2011 by admin
Why do we devote so much time and energy to repair water damage? Why is water damage restoration such a big industry in the United States and worldwide? It’s because water contamination poses very real threats to our health. Anyone who watches the news lately can tell you all about the devastating effects of tsunamis and avalanches and floods. These natural water damage events can be catastrophic.
What many people don’t know is that the effects of natural water damage events such as tsunamis and floods can be even more devastating after the water recedes. That’s because when water infiltrates our homes and businesses, if not cleaned up immediately and properly, it will often quickly bring diseases and infections.
Bacteria and fungi love water. Just give them a water source, food source (see drywall water damage) and the right ambient conditions and you’ll soon discover how out of control these growths can get. We deal with water damage mold everyday. Sometimes it just takes a simple fix. Most of the time, however, it takes a keen eye and the right equipment to know which areas — and people — are most at risk for water damage contamination.
If you or your family have been recently affected by water damage, call us. We are water damage cleaning experts. Our black mold removal experts and water removal teams will be on the job within 60 minutes of receiving your call to make sure that you and your loved ones are protected. Black mold and flood water damage are serious issues. Don’t take them lightly. Let us help you assess the water damage situation so you can get your life and property back to normal as quickly as possible.
February 9th, 2011 by admin
Flood water damage can easily happen to any home owner. You might think that everything is fine — that your home is protected against water damage — and then all of a sudden water is pouring inside in places you least expected. If you find yourself in this unenviable position, there are a few things you should know that can make a world of difference in helping minimize the damage and getting your home back on its feet.
Flood water damage most often occurs in basements. Indeed, the majority of our water damage restoration work comes from basement water damage calls. The reason is simple. Basements are the easiest point of entry for water when it swells from nearby flooding, rains and/or ice melt runoff. 
The first tip to minimize flood water damage is to stop the water flow coming into your home. Have a shovel on hand so you can move earth around your foundation to divert water away from the house. The earth should never come above the top of the foundation (where the cement or cinder block walls meet the wood framing). Flood water damage usually occurs when the ground isn’t graded properly away from the foundation and the water seeps into cracks between the framing and foundation wall.
The next tip to minimize flood water damage is to move furniture and carpet and any personal belongings out of the way. All too often we see homes where the owner was worried about lifting the carpet and carpet pad. They want to save money! Ironically, people end up spending a lot more on mold removal and new carpet than they would have to bring in a carpet installer to re-lay a few small sections of carpet. Remember that wet carpet pad almost always needs to be replaced. It’s relatively cheap and easy to do, so when flood water damage affects your basement or home upstairs, pull that carpet back and throw away any wet carpet pad. This allows the carpet water damage to dry more quickly — which is nearly impossible if wet pad is present.
Finally, to prevent flood water damage, periodically check your rain gutters and roof shingles to ensure that they are properly protecting your home from water damage. This means going up into your attic space to check for leaks and going outside when it rains to make sure that there are no clogged rain gutters and that the rain is being diverted properly away from the foundation. Pay close attention to any window wells. Window wells should be back filled with gravel so water can drain away from the bottom of the windows when flood waters surge.
Call us if you have any water damage cleaning or water damage repair questions. Our technicians are always ready to help!
January 7th, 2011 by admin
Balanced Drying — Creating ideal circumstances for drying out a closed environment through the use of humidity reduction (dehumidification), air flow and temperature control over time. The goal of a balanced drying system is to ensure that the rate of evaporation never exceeds the rate of dehumidification.
Condensation — The process of changing a gas (or vapor) into a liquid by extracting heat.
Dehumidification — The process of removing water vapor from the air.
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Dew Point — The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor and water is literally squeezed onto surrounding objects and surfaces in the form of condensation.
Dry Bulb Temperature — The measured temperature of air using a traditional thermometer.
Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) — A balanced condition where the moisture content of structural components and contents within a closed environment has stabilized in relation to the relative humidity and temperature of the surrounding air.
Evaporation — The process of changing a liquid into a gas.
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Hygroscopic — Absorbing moisture. Hygroscopic materials readily absorb moisture and/or water vapor.
Permeance — The ability of water vapor to pass through solid materials.
Primary Water Damage — Damage that occurs to structures and contents as a direct result of contact with water or contamination.
Psychrometry — The study of relationships between water vapor, temperature and air and their combined effect on human health and various structural components (and contents) under varying conditions.
Relative Humidity — The ratio expressing the amount of water vapor suspended in air relative to the amount of water vapor the air would hold if it were completely saturated at that temperature.
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Saturation — The condition where air or materials hold the maximum amount of water or water vapor possible for a given temperature and pressure gradient.
Secondary Water Damage — Damage that occurs through humidity absorption.
Sublimation — The process of changing a solid directly into a gas (bypassing the liquid stage).
Vapor Pressure — Pressure exerted on surfaces by adjacent gases.
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January 6th, 2011 by admin
Water damage restoration professionals are accustomed to taking two key environmental readings throughout the water damage cleaning process. These readings are temperature and relative humidity (RH). Temperature and relative humidity are important for cleaning water damage because they give restoration professionals a relative measure of the amount of water vapor that the air inside a property can hold. Understanding the relationship between temperature and humidity is essential to properly restoring your property to its pre-loss condition.
As mentioned, RH gives us a relative measure of water vapor. RH combined with temperature can be used to calculate the specific humidity, vapor pressure and dew point for various areas of the water damage job site. Specific humidity is the actual weight of moisture (vapor) in the air. Vapor pressure is the force exerted by water vapor on the surrounding environment. Dew point is the water vapor saturation point, or the point at which air becomes saturated with moisture vapor. Once the dew point is reached, any decrease in temperature (remember, warmer air can hold more water vapor) or increase in humidity (amount of water vapor in the air) will cause water to literally get squeezed out of the air, which causes condensation and can be very damaging to structures and contents involved in water damage restoration jobs.
Specific humidity provides us with a more reliable basis, compared to relative humidity, for making decisions about the conditions and methods that should considered when drying a property. By lowering specific humidity, we can dry the property more efficiently and quickly. Specific humidity is directly correlated with vapor pressure. In other words, as specific humidity rises and falls, so does vapor pressure. Like specific humidity, as vapor pressure decreases in a room, the faster the structure and any contents can dry.
Cleaning water damage is no simple task. There is a tremendous amount of research and education that goes into each and every water damage repair job. Please call us if you have any questions or concerns about water damage restoration, mold removal, water removal, drywall water damage or any other related issue in your home or business.
January 5th, 2011 by admin
There are four main factors that must be considered when drying a property that has experienced water damage. Cleaning flood water damage can be a complex process. However, the techniques and equipment used by industry professionals all come down to these basic principles. By understanding these factors, you can better monitor the drying process in your water damage restoration project.
1. Extraction — building materials such as drywall, carpet and carpet pad can hold a tremendous amount of water. In order to properly dry a property that has been exposed to water damage, the first step that should be taken is to remove as much water as possible. Cleaning water damage first means extracting water. This can be done with basic techniques such as mopping or soaking towels. For larger jobs, commercial-grade equipment may be needed — equipment including immersible pumps or specially designed truck-mounted water extraction vacuums. Proper water removal means that the property can start drying out faster and more efficiently. It is estimated that it takes 300 times longer for properties to dry by dehumidification than by extraction.
2. Evaporation — Evaporation is the process of transforming water from a liquid state to a water vapor state. Evaporation happens as water wicks upward and outward through materials. As air flows over these saturated materials, small amounts of water escape into the air, raising its relative humidity and drying the material. One essential aspect of this process that many property owners forget is that evaporation does not guarantee that the property is still dry, since increased relative humidity in a property can cause just as many problems as saturated materials.
3. Dehumidification — Once the relative humidity of a property reaches the air space’s saturation point, water will start to reappear on surfaces. This can be a huge problem since high relative humidity provides mold with an optimal growing environment. Properties can be dehumidified through open or natural drying as well as closed or mechanical drying. Proper ventilation is a crucial aspect of proper dehumidification.
4. Temperature Control — Warmer air can hold more water vapor. Thus, the warmer the air inside a property where water damage cleaning is being conducted, the less likely it will be that the air will reach its saturation point. This facilitates proper evaporation, provided that the air is vented externally at some point.
Water damage restoration involves using the right techniques and equipment to balance these factors of water removal / extraction, evaporation, dehumidification and temperature control. Contact us at 801-717-7777 if you have any questions about these principles of restorative drying in water damage environments.
January 4th, 2011 by admin
If you are currently experiencing water damage or if you have recently experienced water damage in your home or business, you may want to contact a professional, certified water damage restoration professional. A certified professional can help you determine the extent of the water damage and guide you through the restoration process even if you’d like to do some of the work on your own. Whether or not you call a professional, you should consider the following before proceeding with any water damage cleaning project.
Water Damage Health Risks: Does any resident have any known allergies?
You should consider any known allergies before proceeding with water damage repair. Water damage easily leads to mold and bacteria growth if given the right conditions, which include water source, food source (organic matter), proper temperature and air conditions. If any residents have allergies, it is advisable not to be in or around the water damage restoration area. Mold spores can aggravate allergic conditions and cause serious health issues.
Water Damage Health Risks: Does any resident have any sensitivity to chemicals?
Any heightened sensitivity to chemicals may cause health issues during the water damage cleaning process. Mold removal and water damage restoration professionals often use anti-microbial agents to fight mold both before it starts and after it has already started. These agents are applied to water damage areas, including drywall, carpet, floors, ceilings, walls, etc. Some people will develop reactions to these agents. If you are sensitive to chemicals or if you experience any discomfort after chemicals have been applied to your property, consult a health professional immediately.
Water Damage Health Risks: Other health concerns
In addition to allergies and sensitivity to chemicals, you should also discuss the following with your water damage restoration professional before any mitigation work is conducted in your property. Is any resident under the care of a physician? Are any residents under the age of 6 or over the age of 60 years old? Are there any residents with respiratory problems? Do any residents have deficient immune systems?
December 30th, 2010 by admin
Water damage can strike almost anywhere at any time. Having water indoors can cause and aggravate any number of problems related to water damage. The longer an area of your home or business stays wet, the higher the probability that water damage of some kind will take place. Basement water damage and flood water damage in carpet and drywall can be especially problematic, since the real problems can be difficult to see. Property owners can easily be tempted to overlook or ignore some of these primary effects of abnormal water indoors:
1. Water migration. Water can easily migrate from one affected area of a property to another that wasn’t originally affected by the water damage. This happens as a result of the diffusive nature of water. Water wicks quickly into other materials. When cleaning water damage, make sure to check every possible place where the water could have gone.
2. Water saturation. Materials that get wet will almost always begin swelling immediately if they have any porous fibers. Cabinets and drywall swell quickly when damp, which typically causes permanent damage. Since water damage can cause swelling so rapidly in any environment — but particularly where humidity is high — conducting proper water damage restoration as quickly as possible is essential.
3. Water evaporation. Once a room gets wet, including furniture and personal belongings, the water begins evaporating almost immediately. Temperature, initial humidity and the amount of air flow in the room all affect how quickly the water evaporates. Evaporation is an essential aspect of water damage cleaning. However, it can also cause serious problems. If the room is not properly vented and dehumidified during water damage restoration, the relative humidity indoors may rise above 60%, which leads to an entirely new and potentially more severe set of problems.
4. Mold and bacterial growth. If the room stays above 60% relative humidity (RH) for extended periods of time, mold and bacterial spores will start growing. These fungal and bacterial growths can cause serious health issues, particularly for children under 2 and adults over 60 years of age and anyone with allergies or other respiratory issues. Microorganisms multiply rapidly in warm, humid indoor environments. It is essential that these organisms be removed by a professional once they have contaminated any indoor water damage environment.
December 17th, 2010 by admin
Everything is bigger in Texas. Even water damage. Dallas, the third largest city in Texas and ninth-largest city in the United States, is known for big rain storms. Furthermore, since Dallas was originally founded on the Trinity River, many areas of the city also have a high water table. Flood water damage is common in the city and suburbs of the greater Dallas area. We talked to our Water Damage Dallas restoration team about some of the unique considerations for the city.
Water damage Dallas? Talk to an experienced water damage repair and restoration professional. Call our 24/7 Water Damage Emergency Hotline at 1-801-717-7777.
Water Damage Dallas Tip #1: Seal your basement to prevent flood water damage.
Our Water Damage Dallas team tells us that one of the biggest problems in the Dallas involves basements. Basements that have not been properly sealed may allow ground or flood water to seep or spill into the home. You can prevent basement water damage in Dallas by ensuring that the exterior walls of your basement have been back-filled for proper water drainage, that surface water always flows away from the foundation using a slope of earth, and that the interior walls of the basement have been properly sealed to prevent water damage.
Water Damage Dallas Tip #2: Call a professional water damage restoration company before water damage strikes.
Of course, you can’t always prevent water damage. Dallas has big rain storms. When streets are flooding, it is inevitable that some homes and businesses will be affected and will need water damage cleaning. If your Dallas home is currently or has recently experienced water damage, call us. Call us if you live in a high risk area of Dallas or even if you just want to learn a little more about what you can do to prevent water damage before it strikes. You might be surprised that there are a lot of steps you can take today to stop water damage. Save yourself the stress and hassle. An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of care!
Water Damage Dallas Tip #3: Get that water out!
Dallas water damage can quickly lead to black mold. Black mold removal is expensive and time-consuming. After you have stopped the source of the water damage, make sure you get the water out of your property as soon as possible. This doesn’t mean just extracting water. Perhaps more importantly, it means getting all the hidden water out of your property — the water that often does the most damage. You’ll want to completely dry out carpet, behind drywall, personal belongings and dehumidify the air within 48 hours to prevent mold and bacterial growth — especially in a humid city like Dallas!
Water damage Dallas? Call us today at 801-717-7777 for a FREE water damage repair consultation and/or estimate.
December 14th, 2010 by admin
Anyone who knows Atlanta knows that it rains a lot there! 50.2 inches annually on average, to be exact. Where it rains, there’s water damage. That’s right. Do you have water damage Atlanta residents? We know how you feel. We deal with water damage disasters every day and they can be disheartening even as water damage restoration professionals. Here are a few tips from our Water Damage Atlanta team on how to protect your home from water damage:
Water Damage Atlanta Tip #1: Monitor your home for water damage constantly.
Atlanta has a humid subtropical climate. That means hot, humid summers and mild winters. That also means it’s hard to dry out. Anyone who has witnessed the swelling of the Chattahoochee River during torrential downpours can commiserate. With constant Atlanta humidity comes frequent water damage to building structures and contents. Remember that swelling ground water and leaky pipes are always lurking around the corner. Pay close attention to any damp walls or window sills, where black mold could be growing. Water damage happens even when it’s not raining or flooding!
Water Damage Atlanta Tip #2: Call a water damage restoration professional.
Water damage Atlanta? Don’t go it alone. You don’t need to! Our experienced technicians are available to take your calls, answer any water damage questions you might have and provide FREE ESTIMATES on the job in 1 hour or less. Atlanta’s water damage problems are unique to its geography, topography and climate. Call a specialist who knows the area and who can guide you through the water damage cleaning and repair process with the least amount of headache possible.
Water Damage Atlanta Tip #3: If you do have water damage in your home, dry it out as soon as possible.
This might seem intuitive to most people but you’d be surprised how many Atlanta residents we’ve met who had a water damage event and then waited a few days to do anything about it. Time is of the essence whenever water damage strikes. Cleaning water damage safely requires that the property be dried out completely. Since Atlanta is so humid, this means dehumidifying the property with industrial strength dehumidifiers and also running numerous air mover fans for 24-36 hours after water extraction.
Water Damage Atlanta Tip #4: Don’t be afraid to contact your insurance agent.
Our Water Damage Atlanta team often laments that business and home owners are so reluctant to contact their insurance agent when water damage strikes. We understand not wanting to have your insurance premiums go up or coverage be denied as a result from a claim. However, your insurance agent is a valuable resource for you to help you decide whether or not to make that claim and to guide you through the restoration process with a qualified water damage claims adjuster.
Thank you to our Water Damage Atlanta team for their experienced perspective on water damage in the great city of Atlanta! Call our 24/7 water damage emergency hotline if you are currently experiencing flood water damage or any other water damage-related issues in your Atlanta residence or business.
December 13th, 2010 by admin
Water damage strikes everywhere, even in the city of angels. We talked to our Water Damage Los Angeles Restoration team to learn more about some of the specific water damage repair and water damage cleaning considerations that are unique to the greater Los Angeles area.
Water Damage Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has a semi-arid climate, which means that annual precipitation is very low — in the 12 inches per year range. Compare that to Atlanta and Houston, which get about 50 inches per year of rainfall. However, while Los Angeles might seem to be a low-risk area for water-related problems, it is actually very susceptible to floods and residential water damage.
Talk to a Water Damage Los Angeles specialist. Call 1-801-717-7777.
Our Water Damage Los Angeles team reports that there are several reasons why water damage is so common in Los Angeles. First, Los Angeles is densely populated. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the U.S. by population, with roughly 10 million residents. High population densities tend to require more water damage cleaning since floods, though perhaps more rare, and pipe breaks can quickly affect numerous households and businesses.
Second, our Water Damage Los Angeles team cites flash flooding as a primary reason why water damage restoration is such a big industry in the valley. Since Los Angeles is essentially a desert, the ground is exceptionally dry. When rains do come, the ground is ill-prepared to absorb excess water, which increases the amount of surface runoff. This runoff can quickly turn disastrous for property owners.
Call our 24/7 national water damage emergency hotline at 1-801-717-7777 to speak with our Water Damage Los Angeles Property Restoration team. We provide FREE estimates and consultations.
Third, water damage is especially common in Los Angeles suburbs that are adjacent to nearby mountain ranges, where snow packs can melt very quickly due to the warm average temperatures in the region. Our Water Damage Los Angeles team reports that the highest concentration of water damage restoration jobs occurs during the spring months coinciding with snow pack runoff.
Finally, Los Angeles property owners are susceptible to water damage simply because residents and businesses aren’t accustomed to or generally prepared for inclement weather. That’s one great reason to live in Los Angeles! But with so many residents in such close proximity, combined with dry desert ground and periodic runoff from storms and melting snow packs, it is no wonder that our Water Damage Los Angeles team reports such a high rate of property damage stemming from water-related events.
Water damage Los Angeles? If you or someone you know is currently experiencing flood water damage, call our 24/7 national water damage emergency hotline at 1-801-717-7777 immediately to speak with our Water Damage Los Angeles Property Restoration team. We provide FREE estimates and consultations. Our technicians are highly trained to handle any and every kind of water damage repair job. Call today!
December 2nd, 2010 by admin
We recently had a large residential water damage restoration job where a simple leak led to a full-scale mold removal project. As we often say, cleaning water damage isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes tedious, meticulous attention to every detail. Let’s review this particular job to illustrate why.
Cleaning water damage, preliminary assessment. The job started routinely with a call to check out a water leak that had taken place behind the washer in the laundry room on the main floor. Unfortunately, the leak had taken place several weeks earlier when the house was vacant. So no one knew exactly how long the leak had been seeping down into the basement.
Cleaning water damage, step 1. Our first step was to determine the extent of the damage without disturbing the affected areas too much. Cleaning water damage requires patience and a keen eye for small, seemingly insignificant details. Being too hasty to repair water damage can lead to more serious problems, like inadvertently spreading mold spores through a property.
Cleaning water damage, step 2. We pulled back the washer and inspected the drywall through invasive (using a probe that goes into the drywall to detect water content) and other non-invasive methods. Knowing that the property had been vacant for a few weeks, we suspected that mold removal would be needed. The occupants had already reported feeling ill on our initial survey, so we sealed off the affected areas to minimize the spreading of and further exposure to any mold.
Cleaning water damage, step 3. We called our industrial hygienist, who came promptly to take samples for laboratory testing. The results came back positive for very high levels of mold not only in the area affected (laundry and basement) but throughout the entire house. We immediately contacted the property owners and informed them of the situation. They arranged for alternate living accommodations through their insurance agent and our crew went to work cleaning water damage and remediating for mold.
Cleaning water damage, step 4. Our team of highly-trained water damage restoration professionals boxed and recorded every article in the home, which we removed to the garage for cleaning. We partitioned off sections of the home to contain the mold by area and then began cleaning every surface of the home with sporicide to kill the mold spores. We ran air scrubbers continuously to extract the mold spores from the air and HEPA vacuumed every inch of the home twice to ensure that the home would pass the industrial hygienist’s final clearance test.
After a week of meticulous cleaning and double-checking our work, the home passed the final lab test and we were able to move the furniture and belongings back into each room. The damaged drywall was repaired and painted and the owners were able to get on with their lives as quickly as possible given the scale of the effort. Cleaning water damage is certainly no easy task, especially when mold removal is involved, but it is very rewarding to know that families can resume normal life activities without the worry of mold-induced illness.
December 1st, 2010 by admin
Whether you are dealing with carpet water damage cleaning, drywall water damage cleaning, basement water damage cleaning or any other kind of water damage cleaning scenario, there are a few helpful tips that will make all the difference.
Water Damage Cleaning Tip #1: Determine the scope of the damage.
You first need to understand what kind of water damage cleaning situation you are dealing with. In other words, what was the root cause of the damage? Did your basement flood because of a burst pipe? Did your kitchen flood because your kids left the water on and the sink was clogged? Did your window well fill up because of a leaky irrigation pipe outside? Is the problem systemic, requiring a permanent solution, or was it a one-off? Could the root cause easily happen again? Did it happen in the summer or wintertime? What are the atmospheric conditions like outside? In the home? Is mold visible or am I concerned about mold damage? These and other questions are all important factors in helping you assess the scope of the repairs needed.
Water Damage Cleaning Tip #2: Determine the scope of the repair.
Before you start worrying too much about how much the repairs are going to cost or if you are going to make a water damage cleaning and repair insurance claim, it’s a good idea to make an objective assessment of the repairs that will be needed. First, determine the short-term scope of the repair. Do you need a plumber? How about a water extraction machine to remove standing water? Which parts of the home are involved and will you need a general or sub-contractor to make repairs? Will you be able to stay in your home? Will mold removal or mildew removal force you to make adjustments to living accommodations? A water damage professional can help you determine the scope of the damage, repairs needed and come up with an action plan that addresses both in a timely, efficient, safe manner.
Water Damage Cleaning Tip #3: Make an action plan.
Finally, once you have assessed the scope of the damage and repairs needed, sit down with your insurance agent and water damage professional and anyone else who will be involved in the water damage cleaning and restoration process to formalize an action plan. It doesn’t need to be too complicated, though it may help to be more thorough if you’re dealing with a larger scale disaster situation. Understanding the implications, costs and timeline involved in any disaster cleanup effort will substantially reduce your anxiety and discomfort during the process.
November 30th, 2010 by admin
Basement water damage cleaning involves an unlimited number of variables. How to respond to the water damage situation depends on the unique conditions surrounding each particular incident. Proper training and experience are essential in getting the desired outcome with as little inconvenience and as much speed and safety as possible.
Basements are the most commonly flooded areas of homes in residential neighborhoods. This post focuses on three common scenarios we see in residential flooded basements.
Unfinished Basement Water Damage
If you’re lucky, your basement water damage is limited to an unfinished area of the home. In this fortunate scenario, be sure to address the source of the problem quickly with a qualified, licensed professional as needed. Make sure that water isn’t lurking behind a obscure wall or object before you start cleaning the basement water damage. Once you’re satisfied that the water damage is limited to an unfinished portion of the basement or home, use a commercial water extraction unit to pull water from the concrete floor and a dehumidifier to pull water from the air. Remember to take relative humidity measurements before, during and after the water damage cleaning process to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Basement Water Damage – Carpet Only
Depending on the basement water damage situation, you might have just wet carpet. Again, be sure that you’re not missing something behind a wall or piece of furniture. Once you’ve identified where the wet carpet is, use a commercial water extraction unit to pull water directly from the carpet, carpet pad and concrete floor underneath. Remove the carpet. Throw away the pad. Extract any excess water. Set the carpet back down and dry it with air movers in conjunction with a dehumidifier. Once the carpet and room are dry, re-install the carpet with new pad. You’ll be tempted to save the pad and not pull back the carpet in order to save a buck and all the hassle. In our experience, that’s typically a costly mistake, as carpet that has been saturated with water rarely dries underneath damp carpet. Instead, it becomes a breeding ground for mold. Better to play it safe.
Basement Water Damage – Carpet and Drywall
Finally, if you’re unfortunate enough to have basement water damage involving drywall and carpet, make sure to follow the steps outlined above. You’ll also need to cut out any wet drywall. Wet drywall doesn’t dry out fast enough (before mold starts growing) because the rock is sandwiched between two paper layers, which hold the moisture inside. A qualified professional uses invasive and non-invasive tools to measure the moisture content inside walls. The trick is to remove just what’s wet and leave the rest. We recommend scoring the drywall in increments of 2 feet from the floor since replacement sheets are 4 x 8 feet and this will make the job easier for the contractor who fixes the drywall. Remember to remove any insulation in affected areas so you can get air flowing behind the drywall. Just replace the insulation.
Flood water damage and damage caused by leaky pipes can cause major headaches for homeowners. Always contact a professional immediately whenever you encounter water damage in your home. Letting it be for a few days is a big no-no! If you have any questions about water damage repair or black mold removal, give us a quick call and we’ll help save you a lot of time and money! Our trained water damage cleaning experts are always on-call and can help at a moment’s notice.
