Top Locations for Where Water Damage Occurs | SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties

12/13/2023 (Permalink)

Water damage won't last for long in your property when you call SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties!

How many of your appliances do you rely on to get through your busy week? How many of them rely on water to function? Whether you are loading up a dishwasher for what feels like the thousandth time or clinking ice into your drink, you are constantly surrounded by water in your home. 

While that easy access to water allows us to get more things done around the house with less effort, the risk of suffering water damage as a result of a malfunction or leak is always present. Knowing where to look and what to do if you do discover water damage can help you stay in control. 

Where to Look

One of the first obvious places to check for water damage is anywhere that is directly connected to the outside elements. Windows, doors, skylights and vents can all experience cracks, gaps or sagging that can invite water inside your home. Run your hands over your window panes and check around your doors for new puddles after every rain.

Other common locations are leaky pipes or loose water connections around your home. A single deteriorating seal that connects your water pipe to your kitchen sink can slowly start to drip and then turn into a gush of water. The same goes for any exterior water lines. A dripping spigot that continually drips onto the ground near your foundation can eventually leak down and into your home via a tiny gap or crack in your concrete foundation. 

Your Appliances

Any appliance that relies on water to function also can leak or malfunction at any time, leading to serious water damage in a short amount of time. Routinely pull your washing machine and dishwasher out from the wall to check behind and beneath them for signs of water damage or water spots. You should also keep up with routine maintenance on these machines to reduce your risk.

If you do discover a water leak coming from your appliance, stay calm! Simply shut off the appliance and then head to your utility room to shut off power to the area. If your water valves are in your utility room, turn off the appropriate water valve as well. If not, head back to the room that the leak occurred and look for the water valve leading from your appliance and close it. 

The next step is to get us on the phone!

Why a Professional Restoration Matters

Water has the innate ability to leak and seep into the tiniest of cracks and crevices and can get behind walls or under floors instantly. If your water leak travels to places that are hard to dry out on your own, it can quickly cause structural integrity issues and even spark large mold infestations.

Our team can arrive quickly and stop all this from happening! We will remove the standing water, dry out excess moisture and tackle repairs all at once so you can recover faster and more completely. Don’t wait! Call us as soon as you discover water damage.

Spotting water damage should always prompt a call to SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties. Contact us today.

Avoiding Broken Water Pipes

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

As we all know and understand, winter and cold temperatures can cause pipes in your home to burst. As the colder weather steps-in, and temps drop across the nation, those that experience regular freezing temperatures are more susceptible to busting pipes and damage throughout the home/facility. There are
a few tips to help prevent this from happening.
In fact, freezing temperatures can significantly increase the odds of bursting pipes, and this is one of the most common causes of property damage to homes across the country. The most vulnerable pipes are those running thru unheated interior spaces, and those that back-up to an exterior wall. Even those that run thru cabinets and exterior walls can freeze as well. There are some simple steps to take that can significantly improve your odds and avoid broken water pipes.
Open kitchen and cabinet doors, this allows the warmer air to circulate around and in the plumbing areas
that are usually closed-off. Do this especially if your kitchen sink is up against an exterior wall. Always be sure to remove ANY chemicals/cleaners if you have any small children or pets in the home. Keep garage doors closed; some homes have plumbing pipes running thru the garage areas. Let cold-water drip from a faucet, keep your thermostat at no less than 55-degrees, and consider insulating your pipes from the cold air.
So, for not much more than a cup of coffee at a fast food restaurant, you can avoid the headache of broken water pipes, the clean-up involved, the loss of precious keep-sakes and your insurance
deductible. Definitely something to consider before Father Winter comes to town.

Spring Showers In The South

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

As we eagerly await the springtime, warmer weather, end of school year, graduation, vacations, beach
visits, or to the lake, always keep in mind, a spring shower, along with hail, or high winds, and heavy rain,
can cause quite a bit of unwanted damage to your home or business.
When water enters your home or business, it brings all kinds of issues with it. Standing water poses
serious issues, starting with ruined furniture, floors, walls, carpet, and in some cases, when it drains to
lower levels, can add to the trouble listed above. Mold also begins once moisture enters the home in the
form of water. Mold has no limits on it's reach; exterior walls, inside walls, carpets, attics, basements,
bathrooms, (due to consistent high temp showers, baths, water splashing about, etc.).
The amount of damage mold can do is serious as well.
Check your roof regularly, or have it inspected. Wipe-up standing water in bathrooms, kitchens, etc.
Check water lines to your appliances; dishwasher, clothes washing machine. Check showers for leaks,
toilets for leaks and check your fridge if it has an ice-maker, water dispenser, etc. Don't forget to check
under sinks too.
We are the Number #1 provider of disaster related services in the country. Fire, Water, Mold, Bio-Hazard,
Cleaning, etc., utilize our highly-trained technicians, our experience and our advanced technology to care
for your home or business.

"Like it Never Happened!"

Flooding Event

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

Floods cause more damage in the United States every year than any other weather related disaster. In
some years, floods can easily exceed over $1 Billion in damage to properties and crops.
A study of over 700,000 commercial businesses and residential properties were surveyed and concluded
that flooding, annually, can cost over $22 Billion in direct loss output and over $24 Billion in lost output
due to downtime. The value of buildings decreases in flood-prone areas as structure damage occurs,
and this also affects the area economically as well.
Most areas prone to flooding aremainly around the eastern and the southeastern United States, with
Florida, Pennsylvania and New York as high-risk areas.
A few ways to safely handle floods are as follows:
-Stay away from running water. Never try to cross a fast moving stream of water. It only takes 6-inches of
rapidly moving water to cause a human to lose ground and be swept away. This is especially the case
while trying to cross on foot, as it is difficult to see or know what is under your feet under the flood water.
-Keep children away from flood areas, contaminated water and fast-moving water. Children are naturally
curious, and likely don't have the ability to determine the safety issues with foul water or a fast moving
stream of flood water. They can be swept away in an instant.
-If you encounter water while driving, DO NOT attempt to cross. In may cases people believe the weight
of their vehicle will keep them safe. This is not the case; due to flood waters rising and moving quickly,
usually there is no way to determine the depth of the water. With less than 2-feet of fast moving water,
you and your passengers can be swept away.
Unfortunately, the national average for annual flood deaths in the United States is 33 per-year. Always
follow the strictest safety guidelines when dealing with flood waters; this can assure you, your family, and
friends make it home safely without injury.

My Pipes Just Burst! What Now?

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding in your home from a busted pipe, what is next-

A busted pipe is one of the last things you want to come home to. The mess and damage it causes is not an easy cleanup. It definitely is going to be easier with some professional help…

Follow the steps below to control damages from a broken pipe:

• Immediately turn off your home’s water supply using the main cutoff valve.  
• Drain your pipes by running cold water through the faucets and flushing the toilets. 
• Thoroughly dry affected areas by running fans for approximately 2-5 days depending on the severity.
• If repairs and cleanup turn out to be more than you can handle, contact your insurance company. Most homeowner policies cover burst pipe water damage, and you should let your agent know you'd like to hire SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties!

Don't wait to give us a call!

We have enjoyed a warm winter so far here in Walker and Winston counties, but February is best known as busted pipes season, so it is important to be ready for the unexpected cold we know very well. By knowing what to watch out for, what to do and who to call, you can minimize the problems from ruptured pipes on a cold winter day.

And remember, our team is always ready to help you clean up a water damage and complete the necessary repairs. We take care of it all, start to finish and we even offer our certified mold remediation services if necessary. When a broken pipe in your home or business tries to ruin your day, give us a call here at SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties and let us get your life back to normal as fast as possible. 

Water Travels Fast!

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

It's a frustrating scenario, where the water ends up after a leak occurs. When a leak is discovered from an appliance or an entryway (window, door, hole), it's important to find out the next steps.

In the case of multiple-units, like hotels or apartment buildings, it's even more frustrating. You need to find the travel of water to determine a water restoration solution. Apartments are not an unexpected location for such detective work, as every apartment is typically plumbed separately, yet shares walls, ceilings, and floors with other living spaces. It is not correct for a landlord to respond only to the complaint of one tenant when it is very likely that the water from the leak eventually spreads throughout the building.

Is It Easy to Follow the Migration of Water from Space to Space?

Water is often characterized as moving along the path of least resistance. The truism does not always hold up to scrutiny, as a number of other factors weigh in. For example, if water runs along the outside of a pipe, think condensation on a cold water supply pipe parallel to the floor in a warm, damp basement, some water will drip in a line along the expanse of the pipe to the floor. Instead of just one wet spot below the pipe, there will be many damp areas, tracing on the floor over the length of the pipe. If, on the other hand, the cold pipe is perpendicular to the floor, the condensation will tend to run down that pipe, depositing in a circle around the bottom. Other examples can result in even more varied answers. 

How Do Trained Technicians Follow the Water?

Since water follows pathways not quite as straightforward as some might think, SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties must find more reliable ways to discover where water travels and hides. Our technicians master basic moisture detection strategies during the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training. We use detectors with and without prongs to locate the presence of moisture, helping us trace the outline of a water incursion. For added data, we also use moisture meters to determine levels of water absorbed by permeable materials. The moisture levels become baselines for our Applied Structural Drying (ASD) technicians when we move on to determining drying goals after we remove all standing water.

What About Infrared Imaging?

We also pursue advanced training from the IICRC in Building Moisture Thermography. This higher-level course teaches technicians to use the elements of infrared radiation, thermodynamics, and psychrometry, the science of drying, in an interdisciplinary approach. Developing competence in how these elements work together supports our ability to locate hidden water and moisture when inspecting and restoring building envelopes. Interpretation of the temperature fluctuations is an art, as well as a science and, it helps when tracking down where the water might have moved.

Why Does It Matter? Doesn’t the Water Just Dry Up Inside the Building?

One of the concerning factors to consider is the possibility of mold growth if all water is not removed from every space within an apartment building. Mold spores need only a small amount of moisture to “germinate” and begin their growth curve. Only oxygen, water, and an organic surface upon which to multiply are necessities for molds. No light is required so that mold colonies can breed in between walls, above ceilings, and in any building cavity. Because of the potential of mold damage when wood framing, drywall, ceiling tiles, and other building materials are just slightly wet, landlords must find and make arrangements to remove all water after a leak.

How Do Professionals Get Water Out of Confined Spaces?

Portable extractors can be brought far inside the units of even a large apartment building. The mobile units are much more flexible in uses, fitting in tight spaces much easier than the large yet more powerful truck-mounted variety. The equipment can be carried like a backpack, capable of extracting up to 12 gallons of water before needing to be drained to begin a fresh attempt to remove all the water practical. If the extractor cannot reach moisture, even with extenders, we have to consider some controlled demolition techniques. Options can include:

• Drilling holes in drywall
• Cutting out or removing sections of drywall or paneling
• Taking down ceiling tiles to gain access to a building cavity

SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties has a team of trained professionals ready to put their training and experience to the test when on the lookout for hidden water in a multiple-family residence.

Centrifugal Air Movers

12/28/2021 (Permalink)

This integral drying tool has a distinct purpose in water damage restoration projects. 

Water damage can be one of the most challenging situations that your home or business faces in its life. Because water disasters can get out of control quickly, it is vital to get mitigation and restoration services started as soon as possible.

While water mitigation might hinge on removing standing water, restoration encompasses multiple tasks from cleaning to thorough drying. Several tools are involved in drying your property after surface water removal, including:

• Air movers 
• Desiccant dehumidifiers
• Portable heaters
• Positive pressure systems 

How Centrifugal Air Movers Help Damaged Homes 

Centrifugal air movers provide a concentrated blast of warm air directed at a specific point unexposed building materials or contents. These units promote surface moisture evaporation, specifically at the spots where they are directed.

There are multiple tools and strategies involved in complete water restoration. When your home requires mitigation or recovery, you can trust SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties team to help.