Archived Water Damage Blog Posts
Water Damage? What you can expect when you call SERVPRO.
1/3/2023 (Permalink)
Our snack manager, Loki, managing a loaded trailer ready to dispatch to a water damage.
One of the most common calls we get is for Water Restoration Services. It can be very stressful when there is water damage in your home, and you might not know what to expect, especially if this has never happened before.
Here’s what you can expect when you call:
- Our receptionist will take your information and try to help walk you through the process. Once we get all the required information from you, we will dispatch a team to respond to your home.
- When the technician arrives, they will be thorough and quite literally walk you through the process, explaining what they see, what they’re doing and why. Our technicians are experts in this industry and will be more than happy to answer any of your questions and guide you through the process.
- Once the equipment is placed, our technicians will continue to monitor and make sure affected areas are drying properly.
- We work with almost every insurance company in the country, if a claim is filed, the office staff will speak to your adjuster and work directly with your insurance to make the process as streamlined as possible.
We understand the process and want to help you understand it as well. Even though these situations can be overwhelming, we are here to help you.
Hernando County 24- Hour Emergency Water Damage Service
7/21/2021 (Permalink)
Here at SERVPRO we work 24-7 to help our clients with any emergency water damage that might occur!
SERVPRO of Hernando County is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.
We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (352) 683-3730.
We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Hernando County has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.
What to Expect
When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.
Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:
- Your name and contact information
- Your insurance information (if applicable)
- The street address of the water-damaged home or business
- When did the flooding or water damage occur?
- What caused the water damage (if known)?
- Is there electricity available (on-site)?
About SERVPRO of Hernando County
SERVPRO of Hernando County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
Water Damage Do's and Don'ts
4/13/2021 (Permalink)
When it comes to water, it can cause more damage than you think. Water can easily fit in crevices and cracks, finding its way just about any where in your home or business. Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to water damages.
Do’s:
Most important- Shut off the source of water if possible and if you cannot do so, contact a qualified party to get the water shut off. This will save your home or business from getting more damage.
Turn off the circuit breakers for the wet areas. For your safety, its important to disconnect any electrical activity near a source of water.
Remove or prop up wet furniture or upholsteries for even drying and to prevent further damage.
Don’ts:
Leave books, newspapers or other colored items near wet carpets or walls, this will help avoid staining.
Use TV’s or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.
Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water, this could cause possible electrical shock or do serious damage to the vacuum cleaner.
Three Categories of Water Damage
4/13/2021 (Permalink)
Water damages come in all shapes and sizes and also come in different categories. These categories are Category 1 Water Damage: Clean Water Damages, Category 2 Water Damage: Grey Water Damage, and Category 3 Water Damage: Black Water Damage.
It is important for our SERVPRO technicians to understand the different sources these categories fall under. Each category is to be treated differently to ensure that our clients are not living in a contaminated area. Category 1 water is the least severe on the IICRC scale and this includes broken pipes and water supply lines. Also, it can include things like overflowing sinks and bathtubs and really any toxin-free water.
The next level up from that is a Category 2, “grey water”. This is water that comes from overflowing toilets or washing machines. Even though this water may not be harmful to humans, we still have to remove any affected items and completely disinfect the area.
The most severe is the Category 3 Water aka Black Water. This is the most extreme kind of water and requires immediate action because it might result to serious health risk. Black Water includes things such as sewage, flood water, and seawater. Anything that has been touched by Category 3 water will need to be removed from the property and the dwelling will need to undergo some serious disinfecting.
If you or someone you know has a water damage in their home or business, give us a call at SERVPRO of Hernando County, 727-847-3000.
Science of Drying
4/13/2021 (Permalink)
Did you know there is actually a science behind the process of drying? Having the knowledge of psychrometrics is essential to restoring a water damaged structure to its preloss condition.
While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, the team at SERVPRO of Hernando County is trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages. If your business or home suffers a water damage, SERVPRO of Hernando County will:
- Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet, to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
- Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.
- Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.
What exactly does it mean to help “speed up Mother Nature”? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material–but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is, nature takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out.
SERVPRO of Hernando County has the tools and equipment to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls, and much more. We also use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business.
The bottom line? In Spring Hill, Brooksville, Hernando Beach, Weeki Wachee, and beyond, our team has the training and equipment to help make water damage “Like it never even happened.”
Entrepreneur Magazine 42nd Annual Franchise 500 Ranking
4/5/2021 (Permalink)
Entrepreneur Magazine 42nd Annual Franchise 500 Ranking:
SERVPRO ranked #1 in its category in 2021, rounding out the TOP TEN for the year. SERVPRO of Hernando is proud to join the #1 brand in cleanup and restoration. This is SERVPRO's eighth time in the top 10. Last year, our growing company was 27th! This year's accomplishment rounds out a couple of big years of growth, and it helped catapult the company back into Entrepreneur's top 10.
SERVPRO of Hernando County is an emergency service, first respond company. We can handle any job, not matter the size.
As your local fire, water, cleanup, and restoration company, SERVPRO of Hernando County's IICRC certified professionals will make it "Like it never even happened."
Thank you to all our past customers who have helped grow this fantastic company into what it is now, and we look forward to helping our future clients with whatever needs come forward!
Customer Satisfaction
3/10/2021 (Permalink)
Pleasing ALL of our clients' needs.
In this line of work there are always different request that our clients might have. We accommodate those needs to the best of our ability. Those needs could be requesting unmarked vehicles for privacy purposes, having our technicians not wear SERVPRO uniforms, or even not discussing work performed at the property. A lot of commercial clients request that we do things in a certain manner so that their potential customers do not know that SERVPRO is working for them. When this is the case, our goal is to be as discrete as possible. This past week we actually experienced this while doing work for a large commercial client who were very concerned with their clients believing something was wrong with the building. No SERVPRO vehicles, no SERVPRO uniforms, nothing that could distinguish us from any other client. We had to meet at a parking lot down the street from the location, we did not speak about the project to anyone, we just got in, did what we had to do and got out. With a tight deadline of just five days, we managed to complete 12 rooms all while being super discrete. The customer was extremely happy that we were able to meet all their needs. This is a small example of how SERVPRO of West Pasco goes above and beyond for customer satisfaction!
2020 Hurricane Season
12/8/2020 (Permalink)
Of course, with it being 2020, it only suits that we had the most active Hurricane Season in the U.S. since 1916. Of the 30 named storms, 13 developed into hurricanes, and six further intensified into major hurricanes, with one, Hurricane Iota, attaining Category 5 strength on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Of the 30 named storms, 12 made landfall in the contiguous United States. In late August, Laura made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane, becoming the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in Louisiana. Laura caused at least $14.1 billion in damage and 77 deaths. Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall in The Bahamas and North Carolina, both times as a Category 1 hurricane, caused an overall $4.725 billion in damage. While we are always equipped and ready to help when a disaster strikes, our hearts break to see the damage these storms can cause to unexpecting homes and businesses. If you ever find that you’ve acquired damage to your home or business during storm season, please don’t hesitate to call us at 727-847-3000. SERVPRO of Hernando County is here to help.
SERVPRO vs Hurricane Sally
9/24/2020 (Permalink)
Hurricane Sally was a very destructive Category 2 Atlantic hurricane which became the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. state of Alabama since Ivan in 2004. Numerous watches and warnings were issued in anticipation of the imminent approach of Sally and several coastline counties and parishes on the Gulf Coast were evacuated. The area between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, took the brunt of the storm with widespread wind damage, storm surge flooding, and over 20 inches (510 mm) of rainfall. Several tornadoes also occurred as well. That’s when our team decided it was time to act. We relocated our current storm team that was finishing up work from hurricane Laura and pushed them towards the Florida/ Alabama coast. When we arrived the devastation was apparent. We quickly began assessing the damage in the area and started helping local residents get their homes back. When a natural disaster occurs SERVPRO of Hernando County is here to help. If you suffered any damage from the recent hurricanes, or you do in the future, give us a call.
Generator Safety Tips During Storm
7/27/2020 (Permalink)
Generator Safety
When you live in Spring Hill, Florida, prepping for hurricane season comes with the territory. If you have a generator on hand for power outages during severe weather, follow the safety tips below from the American Red Cross to keep your family safe:
- Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawl space, or any partially enclosed area.
- To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet conditions. Operate it on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp held up on poles. Do not touch the generator with wet hands.
- Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide (CO) buildup in the home. Although CO is odorless and cannot be seen, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately.
- Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home or property and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.
Following these simple recommendations is an easy way to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones. If your home or business suffers from storm damage, SERVPRO of Hernando County is here for you. Give us a call 727-847-3000.
Day 13: The Day I Licked Cheetos Dust Off My Fingers
4/21/2020 (Permalink)
I am not sure how the idea started; it felt innocent enough when I was first approached and quickly signed off on the deal. A few days passed, I didn’t think much about it and then one day I walked in and there it was plugged in and ready for my money. The first time I walked by it, I swear I heard a whisper that said, 'Put your apple down and get a bag of Cheetos.' Our office has a vending machine. Hopes of not gaining the COVID 19 diminishes with each quarter dropped into its reservoir. A bag of Cheetos is only 50 cents and its RIGHT there. With no one in the office to observe and judge my intake, I have had more than my fair share as of late. I can even be disgusting and lick the powder cheese without anyone seeing – the definition of freedom. Turns out one vending machine is not enough, you cannot have snacks without drinks. So we have a drink machine too. All the soda and energy drinks you can imagine and it even offers Yoo-hoo. Nothing reduces stress like chocolate water sweetened with corn syrup. During this time of quarantining we are thinking about the things we could accomplish. You know, "I am going to start doing (insert here)." It is a like New Years Goal in April. With Tom Brady coming to town, I ordered the TB12 book. I figure now is a good time to start. There is not a single food item within the vending machine that meets the TB12 standards. I was doomed before I started. I did read an article that said it is okay not to do much during the crisis other than survive – I am nailing that, my kind of goal. I read this in The New York Times – so there has to be some credibility, right? On the bright side, my boys think the vending machine is the coolest thing they have ever seen. I now have three bucks in quarters at all times in my truck, so feel free to stop by to commiserate with a guilt-free Coke and a bag of Cheetos on me. Just stay your distance and don’t lick the powdered cheese off your fingers -- because no one wants to see that. -JG
Day 6: The Day Amanda Was Asked To Maintain Her Professionalism
4/6/2020 (Permalink)
Day 6, 4:47 p.m. (Today we turn the blog over to Amanda, who has anchored the office team at SERVPRO of Hernando County for 24 years) Thursday 3/26 was my first day working from home. I was so excited! I was all set up at my dining room table. The day was very busy and I worked longer than my normal shift. I was on a roll. I was unstoppable! I thought to myself: “Wow. This is great. No interruptions / very quiet / when this is all said and done I might ask my superiors if I can work from home 2-3 days a week.” Friday morning – I get up excited! Ready to rock and roll – again. Ughy. Some technical issues. Going from 2 large computer screens down to 1 very small notebook screen is challenging. I’m scrolling all over the place. Where the heck is my QBO page? OMG – did I really just close out of Work Centers for the 4th time in the last half hour? How the heck do I get back to the server?? Oh geez – calls and texts are coming in. People need my assistance. I have to focus. 1:00 pm on Friday – I am now doing laps around my living room – waving my arms and getting loud. Frustration of all the changes and unknown are setting in. Okay. I’m getting louder. I may have let a profanity or 2 slip out. During my semi-moderate “freak-out” – my 17-year-old daughter enters the room and states: “Mother, please, try to remember that you are at work and try to maintain your professionalism!”
Hidden Water Damage?
3/18/2020 (Permalink)
You know the old saying “What you can’t see, can’t hurt you,” well I don’t think they were talking about possible leaks in your home. Residential water damages are not always obvious. Sometimes, leaks can go on for months without the slightest indication.
Luckily SERVPRO of Hernando County has the right water detection equipment to help you determine what areas in your Spring Hill home may be affected.
Moisture Sensor-Used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards and walls.
Moisture Meter-Used to determine the actual moisture contact of various materials. This also is the equipment that allows us to monitor the drying process.
Thermohygrometer-Used to measure temperature and relative humidity to calculate and create an environment most conductive to drying. When handling a contaminated loss (CAT 2 or 3), it is not only important to dry the structure, but to disinfect and often deodorize as well.
Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV ) Fogger-Used to atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. It can also inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard- to-reach areas that typical residential products and methods cannot reach.
Thermal Fogger-Used to dispense solvent- based products by creating a dense fog that consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attach to and neutralize odor causing bacteria.
Early detection and treatment of water damage is the key to promoting a healthy living space and getting your domain back.
If you think you may have water damage in your home and would like SERVPRO to come out and check, call us 24/7!
Toilet Leak? Top Source #2
2/4/2020 (Permalink)
This water loss was caused by the supply line malfunctioning. This led to the whole house being effected.
Toilets can develop leaks both internally and externally. An external leak can cause water damage in your bathroom, not to mention some wet feet! And any type of leak can be a huge inconvenience, especially if they are left unattended. Today we’re going to talk about some of the most common causes of a leaky toilet in Bay Area homes and what you should do when you encounter a toilet leak!
- Condensation on the bowl. Before you assume that your toilet has a leak, you should check whether or not the water you’re noticing is simply condensation. Bathrooms can get very humid, especially during and after a shower. This can cause condensation to drip on your toilet. The amount of water produced by condensation is typically small, and it’s not an issue you need to worry about.
- Crack on the tank or bowl. Toilets are built to last, but cracks do sometimes develop on them over time. Often times this will start as a hairline crack that develops into something more severe.
- Rusted pipes. The pipes that lead to your toilet can begin to rust for any number of reasons over time. This can eventually create a crack in the pipe, which will allow water to leak around your toilet.
- Loose or worn out seal at the base. If water is pooling up around the base of your toilet, there’s a good chance that the leak is caused by loose or worn out parts that bind your toilet to the floor.
- Loose or worn out tank-to-bowl connections. The tank and bowl in two-piece toilets are bound together by a collection of gaskets, nuts and bolts. If any of these parts come loose, a leak can develop at that area in the toilet.
- Worn out flapper. Another common cause of an internal toilet leak is a worn out flapper. The flapper blocks water in the tank from entering the bowl, and if that part is worn out it will cause water to continuously leak into your bowl.
What should you do if you encounter a leak??
Toilet leaks should be taken care of as soon as possible before they waste too much water or damage any parts of your home. If you are uncertain of the cause of the leak, call a local, licensed plumber so that they can come to your house to inspect and fix the problem. Although some homeowners might choose to fix simple problems like a worn out flapper on their own, most of the causes of a leaky toilet are best left in the hands of a professional plumber.
Top Water Damage Source #1
1/28/2020 (Permalink)
Water heater
1/13 – Top Sources: Hot Water Heater
In a previous blog we discussed the top three reasons our clients experienced water damages in 2019. The number-one source of water damages was a leaking or malfunctioning hot water heater, a trend our colleagues across the country also report. With this knowledge, and a few useful tips, you can take steps to prevent the possibility in your own home. Here, we will describe a few reasons why water heaters may leak, and what you can do if it happens in your home or business.
For homeowners with tank water heaters, the most common mechanism for heating water, knowing and paying attention to these common issues can help prevent a disaster:
One of the most common reasons for a water heater to leak is a loose drain valve. The drain valve will slowly leak water if it becomes loose. Good news - this is an easy fix. All you need to do is a grab a wrench and tighten the valve. It is extremely important that you do not over tighten it; just turn it enough without forcing it.
When the tank begins to build up too much pressure it can also cause a leak to form. When this happens, the excess pressure will force the water to leak out of the tank to reduce the pressure. Typically this occurs if the temperature on your water heater is set too high.
Another thing that can lead to excess water pressure is if the exterior water supply to a house comes in at too high a pressure. A defective temperature pressure relief valve can also lead to an excess buildup of pressure in a hot water heater.
These are all simple fixes but may require a licensed plumber to ensure it is done properly.
Although hot water heaters are designed to last for a long time, as they approach the end of their life cycles, rusting and corrosion start to cause an issue. When the corrosion gets bad enough, it can start to allow the water from the tank to leak out. When this happens, it is a definite sign that the hot water heater needs to be replaced. If you do not replace it, it can cause complete failure of the tank which in turn could flood your home.
Sometimes the hot water heater will trick homeowners into thinking there is a leak when there is in fact nothing wrong. It is normal and natural for condensation to show on the outside of the tank. When cold water first enters the inside of the tank, it can lead to condensation when the outside air is hot. This is not an issue to be concerned with.
Regular maintenance and awareness can help mitigate the possibility of a hot water heater leak and a house flood. If you experience a flood in your home, be sure to call SERVPRO of Hernando County and we will make it “Like it never even happened.”
Top 3 Causes of Water Damages
12/31/2019 (Permalink)
Leaking toilet caused a water damage in this bathroom.
With the end of the year approaching quickly, we are looking back at some of the most frequent sources of water damages we have witnessed in 2019! Water damages occur more frequently than you may think and there are more causes than we can count, but here are the top 3 sources we have ran into in 2019, and prevention tips you can use in 2020.
- Hot water heater
Most people know that when their water heater is leaking, it means trouble. This minor nuisance can turn into a major problem before you realize what’s happening, so it is something that should be handled quickly and professionally.
A small pool of water can be easily cleaned up with minimal damage to your floors if you catch it quick enough. However, this small drip will soon turn into a flood that will cause damage to your sub-floors and even dry-wall if left unattended.
You may be able to establish if the leak is an easy enough repair, or if you will need to replace the entire water heater. Regardless of the verdict, we always suggest contacting a licensed plumber to look at the situation and determine the next course of action needing to be taken.
2.Toilet
Most of us have dealt with a toilet leak at some point. It is one of those household issues that cannot be left unattended for a long period of time or it can cause serious damage to your home. Detecting the cause of leak can be somewhat of a challenge because of the number of active, working parts.
Depending on the location of the leak from your toilet, it can also change the type of loss you have from a standard water damage to a sewage loss. This can cause more damage than a standard loss and require a larger, more detailed mitigation. I think we all can agree, sewage throughout our home doesn’t sound very appealing.
- Ice Maker supply line
An occasional wet patch under the fridge could be stray backsplash from the water dispenser or a few dropped ice cubes. We’ve all accidently kicked an ice cube or two under the fridge, but when it happens over and over, you’ve got a problem. Those puddles on the kitchen floor are sure signs that your refrigerator ice maker water line is leaking.
Visions of saturated baseboards and mold behind the walls flash before your eyes, but have no fear, SERVPRO of Hernando County is here.
No matter how, where or why your leak has occurred, we are here to help. SERVPRO of Hernando County is here 24/7 to mitigate any water loss that may be affecting your home. We’re only a phone call away!
3 Ways to Avoid Water in Your Home
7/29/2019 (Permalink)
While most disasters deem unpredictable and wild, when it comes to water damages there are a few tips you can follow to help lessen the possibility of damages to your home. Listed below are 3 tips you can implicate in your life to help lessen the risk of water damages:
- Observing Your Appliances
In every home that has appliances that use water, often times there is a small hose like object called a supply line attached to the back. This hose is one of the main sources of water damages we see here at SERVPRO. Simply watching and checking in on your supply lines can help you drastically when attempting to prevent water damages.
Supply line leaks occur when there is a crack that develops in the hose or the hose breaks all together, then displacing water all around into the area. To avoid this, regularly inspect your supply lines, looking for little kinks or potential cracks developing in your hose. If found, replace the hose immediately or call a provider to come inspect your appliance for further damages.
- Regular Bathroom Maintenance
Just like watching your appliances, checking around your bathroom and doing regular maintenance can help you avoid possible water damages greatly. When conducting maintenance, check for a potential pipe burst or pools of water near you tub, around your toilet or under your sink. If found, it is best to remove water quickly in order to lessen further damages. Sitting water allows for materials to absorbs moisture and then possibly grow mold. Doing regular maintenance allows you to potentially see an issue in action and stop it, getting the help you might need, before it gets worse.
- Checking your HVAC Unit System
Commonly HVACV Units have the potential to develop moisture problems within your home. To avoid damages from HVAC systems, have a provider do regular maintenance on your system. Having a professional set of eyes on your unit can help eliminate problems before they grow into damages that can affect your home.
When the unexpected disasters hit, give SERVPRO of Hernando County the call to make your damages “Like it never even happened.”
After The Call To SERVPRO
7/26/2019 (Permalink)
Trust that the proper to help you from your water damage are on their way once you have called SERVPRO.
You have called SERVPRO, a crew has been scheduled to arrive at your water damage, what is there to do now?
First and foremost, try and stay calm. The proper people to handle your disaster are on their way and our technicians from SERVPRO of Hernando County have the manpower, expertise, and equipment to handle the damage done to your property after the disaster, regardless of size or severity.
Do not panic. Simply trust in us that we truly can make your damage look “Like it never even happened.”
While our highly trained technicians are on their way, those minutes in between can be rather crucial and there are some things you can do to lessen further damage.
- Shut off the source of the water.
- Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if the access panel is safe from electrical shock.
- Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting
- Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items
- Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying
- Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting
- Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.
- Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors
- Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors
Call SERVPRO of Hernando County for Restoration Services after Hurricane Michael
10/15/2018 (Permalink)
While waiting to see where Hurricane Michael would decide to make landfall, your main concern was more than likely for the safety of your family and loved ones. Since the beginning of hurricane record keeping in 1851, there has never been a Category 4 hurricane to make a direct landfall in the Florida Panhandle. Bringing along with his 150 mph sustained winds were storm surges in excess to 6 feet through the Bay Area causing flooding and corresponding damages to local home and businesses. Now that the storm has passed through and damages have been assessed, what is your next step?
There are ways for you to get the ball rolling on cleaning up and restoring your Hernando County property. First thing is to understand the risks involved with a situation like the one you are facing. Severe weather systems, like Hurricane Michael, can damage the structural integrity of your home, making it unsafe to enter without appropriate precautions and inspections.
One of the first things that you need to understand about hurricane damage is that the longer restoration takes to begin and complete, the worse the situation stands to get. From openings in the exterior of your home to allow for more water and flood damages to the threat of mold growth, our SERVPRO professionals can arrive quickly to help mitigate the effects of the storm until the official restoration process can begin. Consider that floodwaters from these storm systems are contaminated with chemicals, pesticides, vegetation and perhaps even animal feces.
Our SERVPRO professionals have the expertise and equipment to overcome the obstacles that stand between your currently damaged property and returning it to preloss condition. We have a rapid response team that is available 24/7 to dispatch our technicians to your home or business and begin the process of limiting the damage and assessing the full scope of the harm sustained to begin restoration as quickly as possible.
When a hurricane has affected your home, you need to think quickly about securing the right services to help you overcome the damages you have sustained. Our SERVPRO of Hernando County team is available anytime by calling (352)683-3730.
The Four Primary Water Damage Classifications
7/27/2018 (Permalink)
The IICRC’s S-500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration separates water damage into four distinct classes. Each class is based on the severity of the water damage, and they determine what steps must be followed in the mitigation and restoration process.
Class 1 Water Damage - the least amount of water, absorption, and evaporation. These are water losses that impact only a small part of a room or area of a facility, or large areas that contain materials that have absorbed a small amount of moisture. Little to no carpeted or absorbent material present.
Class 2 Water Damage – significant amount of water, absorption, and evaporation. These are water losses that impact full rooms or carpeted areas. Walls are wicked less than 24 inches, and moisture remains in structural materials (Concrete, plywood, and particleboard).
Class 3 Water Damage – the largest amount of water, absorption, and evaporation. These are water losses that saturate an entire area. Walls are wicked over 24 inches or water may have entered from overhead, impacting ceilings, insulation, or sub-floor.
Class 4 Water Damage – Specific drying situations. Wet materials with low porosity or permeance such as plaster, brick, and stone. These materials can absorb water into deep pockets and can require extended drying times or specialized procedures and equipment.
SERVPRO of Hernando County is fully certified to handle any class of water damage from accidental or natural events.
Flooding. Do You Know What To Do?
6/28/2018 (Permalink)
Floods can happen everywhere, making them one of the country's most common natural disasters. Flooding poses a greater threat in low-lying areas, near water, downstream from dams. Even the smallest streams, creek beds or drains can overflow and create flooding. During periods of heavy rain or extended periods of steady rains, be aware of the possibility of a flood. Flash floods develop quickly- anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Listen to local weather reports for flooding information.
Before flooding:
- Check to see if you have flood insurance coverage.
- Raise your furnace, water heater, or electrical panel if they are in areas of your home that may be flooded.
- Install "check valves" in sewer traps.
- Construct barriers, such as levees, berms, or flood walls, to stop floodwater from entering the building.
- Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds.
- During a flood or flash flood watch, be prepared to evacuate, including fill your car's gas tank; bring in outside furniture; move valuables to high points in your home; and unplug electrical appliances and move them to high points
- During a flood warning, evacuate if you are so advised.
- During a flash flood warning, immediately seek higher ground.
- Keep your emergency supplies kit, including water, stored in an easily accessible, waterproof place.
During flooding:
- If time allows, call someone to let them know where you are going, and check with neighbors who may need a ride.
- Stay out of flood waters, if possible. Even water only several inches deep can be dangerous. If you have to walk through water, use a stick to check the firmness of the ground ahead of you. Avoid moving water.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. If your car becomes surrounded by rising water, get out quickly and move to higher ground.
- Stay away from downed power lines.
After flooding:
- Do not return home until local authorities say it is safe to do so.
- Do not drink or cook with your tap water until local authorities say it is safe.
- Avoid floodwaters, which could be contaminated or electrically charged.
- Watch out for areas in which the floodwaters may have receded, leaving weakened roadways.
- Be extra careful when entering buildings that may have hidden structural damage.
- Clean and disinfect everything that got wet.
- Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewer systems are a serious health hazard.
The Three Categories of Water Loss
6/27/2018 (Permalink)
The IICRC’s S-500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration distinguishes water into three categories. Each category is defined by the levels of containment or possible containments in the source of the water.
Category 1 “Clean Water”: Water in this category originates from a clean, sanitary source and poses little to no risk to humans if contacted or ingested. Examples are broken water supply lines, sink or bathtub overflows, or water supplies to an appliance such as a water line to an ice maker.
Category 2 “Grey Water”: Water is this category comes from a source that contains significant contamination including chemical, biological, or physical materials. Grey Water has an elevated risk to cause illness and discomfort with any type of exposure. Examples are toilet bowls with urine, sump pump leaks, and discharged water from appliances like dishwasher and washing machines.
Category 3 “Black Water”: Water in this category is considered very harmful and contains unsanitary agents, dangerous bacteria and fungus, and toxic substances. This category of water has an extreme risk of causing illness and exposure should be avoided at all costs if the proper personal protective equipment is not available. Examples include sewage, seawater, and overflow from rivers or lakes.
If left unattended Clean and Grey Water can become stagnant and may be considered Black Water.
If you have concerns with water no matter the source, SERVPRO of Hernando County specializes in Water Damage Repair & Restoration and is a certified IICRC firm.
https://www.IICRC.org/members/?id=50276478
On Site After A Water Loss
6/12/2018 (Permalink)
Holes in the ceiling, walls and floors, OH MY! No need to fret, SERVPRO of Hernando County is in the process of making it "Like it never even happen."
Normally logging my 40 hours behind the desk creating content and managing our websites, I don't get much on location action. Last week was one for the books, getting to spend an entire day at multiple job locations.
I somehow managed to convince Project Manager, Tony to let me tag along for the day so that I can get another perspective of just how SERVPRO of Hernando County makes it "Like it never even happened."
We started the day with a customer who recently suffered a water loss due to a toilet supply line leak and wanted to get an estimate for repairs. Tony took his time, explaining the process and even let me help get measurements to create a sketch (I never realized how much work goes into creating a sketch).
The next stop was at one of Tony's ongoing repairs jobs. After a hot water heater exploded, water flooded every nook and cranny causing for extensive repairs needed throughout the home. Again, Tony took time to sit with the homeowners giving them the opportunity to be hands on with every aspect of the rebuild, from wall color to picking new bathroom fixtures. The clients appreciated the time Tony spent with them allowing for a smoother transition while repairs were being completed.
Until last week, I was never able to get a full picture of the entire repairs process nor how much work was truly involved. I tip my hat off to all project managers. Being quick witted and always on your toes, ready to face any challenge thrown at them, is not an easy feat. A huge thank you to Tony and all our project managers for doing what it takes to make it "Like it never even happened."
It's not a fan, it's an air mover!
6/30/2017 (Permalink)
Multiple air movers being brought back to the warehouse after expediting the drying process at a water loss.
If water has made its way into your home, whether in Brooksville, Spring Hill, or Weeki Wachee, SERVPRO of Hernando County is here to help.
Our team of Restoration Technicians are trained using IICRC standards to make it “Like it never even happened,” using specialized techniques and industrial equipment designed to mitigate damage and prepare the property for reconstruction. Our warehouses and trucks are stocked with equipment that will extract standing water and then, based on environmental conditions, dry the property to prepare it for reconstruction. The most common equipment you’ll see installed are industrial dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, and air movers.
Air movers? When I told my dad about the equipment we use at my new job, he said, "isn't that just a fancy fan?" Funny guy.
An air mover is much more than a fan, it’s an essential tool for mitigating water damage. This devise creates high-velocity airflow, allowing an environment to dry as quickly and efficiently as possible. Combined with dehumidifiers, it’s a powerful combination that restores the environment to original conditions and is a necessary tool for water restoration.
Advantages of air movers include:
- Energy Efficient: Air movers use minimal power for maximum air flow.
- High velocity: Air movers work great for ventilation and cooling.
- Speeds drying time: Air movers help floors, carpets and wall cavities dry faster.
When the drying process time is reduced so are the chances of a second loss or additional damage, which can include microbial growth.
No fancy fan here, but an essential tool that can save you thousands.
http://www.IICRC.org/consumers/care/water-damage/
http://www.SERVPROhernandocounty.com/
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