Archived Water Damage Blog Posts
Preventing Water Damage In The Spring
3/22/2024 (Permalink)
During the spring season, the risk of water damage rises as rainfall occurs. Water can often enter a property due to structural damage and other issues. Regular inspection and maintenance of your property is crucial in preventing storm damage.
- Clear your gutters and downspouts of any debris. A buildup in your drainage system can cause water to flow near your foundation, rather than away from it.
- Ensure that there are no issues with water pooling around the foundation that can eventually find its way into a structure.
- Windows and doors should be sealed to help prevent water from entering a property.
- Check your sump pump for issues and install a battery backup in case of power failure.
- Inspect your roof for signs of structural damage, such as missing roof tiles. Repair these areas immediately.
Should your home or business suffer water or storm damage this season, SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County can quickly restore the property “Like it never even happened". We provide emergency services for when the unexpected occurs. We also have an entire reconstruction department on standby for storm disasters and other situations where areas need to be restored!
Water Damage in Landisville
11/14/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County stopped out to a local home to perform water damage restoration services after the water softener left a substantial leak in the basement. The standing water had damaged the floors and walls in addition to the furniture and other content in the space. The homeowner had used SERVPRO before for another property, so he gave us a call to quickly mitigate and dry the affected areas.
Once our water restoration professionals had extracted all of the initial water, our air movers and dehumidifiers were placed throughout the space. While air movers circulate the air and help to dry particular areas, our dehumidifiers are utilized to remove the excess water from the air until the humidity in the space is reduced to the proper level for the property. By ensuring proper dehumidification, this helps us to prevent potential mold damage to a structure. Equipment is set for approximately three days or more if needed.
Using our anti-fungal and anti-microbial solution, our team will clean and disinfect the areas, leaving the property as good as new once we exit the premises! We also can provide complete content cleaning services as well as storage and disposal for items that have been affected. Our Reconstruction Department can then provide the finishing touches by restoring what was removed in the process. This includes the installation of components such as drywall, insulation, trim, floors, and carpets in addition to services such as painting!
SERVPRO of Lancaster East and Southern Lancaster County is prepared to restore properties back to preloss conditions after water damage takes place. We take pride in making it “Like it never even happened.”
Oh No- Wet Carpets!
7/8/2022 (Permalink)
Wet carpet.
One of the main issues we face when confronted with water damage is the dreaded wet carpets. How does SERVPRO address this you may wander? First off, we have to assess the extent of the damage. The perimeter of wet carpet and pad can easily be determined with a moisture sensor or an infrared camera. Delamination is the separation of the primary backing from the secondary backing. Delamination can easily occur due to overly aggressive extraction, an improper handling or the wrong pad being installed under the carpet. When saturated with Category 3 water, the carpet will be contained and removed for proper disposal. Carpets that have been affected by Category 3 water will be replaced; if any materially interested party disagrees, we can talk with your insurance company. As for carpet padding – that will be removed and disposed of if saturated with Categories 2 or 3 water.
Basement Water Damage.
7/8/2022 (Permalink)
Equipment is set.
This job came in as a water loss due to a pipe burst in a half finished basement mechanical room with carpet Although the water was turned off shortly after, the drywall, baseboard, and insulation was still affected heavily. We sent a crew out immediately to asses the damage and get to work! Our crew began extracting water from the basement, which took quite a bit as there was over 1 inch! Afterwards, we removed the content that was affected from being stored in the basement. Since there was a lot of content, we called in some extra technicians to make sure we handled this as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once the standing water and content was taken care of and stabilized, we set our equipment and let the magic happen!
Water Loss in Quarryville
7/5/2022 (Permalink)
This photo shows the demolition completed due to a toilet line leak.
This water loss was caused by a toilet line break in the customer's 1st floor bathroom. Although the cause seemed small, the damage was quite large! This "small" leak caused damage to a basement, two bedrooms, and another bathroom! Upon arrival, our technicians extracted any and all standing water in the area. Next, they completed demo in all affected areas in order to begin the drying process. After all demo was complete, the technicians began placing the appropriate drying equipment to affectively dry out the entire area. Within 3 days, all materials read dry and it was almost like "it never even happened", if you get my drift!
Thank goodness they called SERVPRO! Whenever you're in a situation like this, SERVPRO is here to help!
When Water Damage Strikes
5/23/2022 (Permalink)
For more information on recovering from water damage, contact SERVPRO of Lancaster East.
The first 24 hours following a water loss are the most important in preventing secondary or permanent damage. Within four hours of receiving a loss notification, SERVPRO professionals will be on-site to help ensure water damage is handled by completing the following steps.
Inspection
SERVPRO professionals will inspect affected areas to determine the extent of water damage and will review the inspection with you to answer any questions before beginning the work.
Emergency Services
SERVPRO professionals will take steps to help protect your home or business, as well as personal property and other contents, from further damage by extracting the excess water and preparing the area for drying.
Monitoring
To help ensure your home or business and belongings are dried to appropriate industry standards, a SERVPRO professional will monitor the drying process. The updates will be consistently communicated with you.
Restoration Services
SERVPRO professionals will repair structural materials, reinstall carpets, and clean affected areas of your property and contents. A final walk-through of the job site will be conducted with you to help ensure the property was returned to its preloss condition.
It's The Water You Don't See
4/4/2022 (Permalink)
All technicians use moisture meters to read the moisture levels of affected materials at a water loss.
Even small water damages have the potential to cause serious structural and indoor air quality issues over time.
The key to avoiding costly future restoration is to handle every water problem as a real threat to your property. SERVPRO professionals have the equipment, training, and experience to find and dry unseen water before secondary damage occurs. The proper equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing the damage expense during a fire or water loss.
When time matters, technology, and equipment must be counted on to perform. SERVPRO professionals will answer your call with fast action and a full arsenal of drying equipment. Here are a few of the tools used by your SERVPRO professionals.
Moisture Sensors are used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards, and walls.
Moisture Meters are used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture tester provides accurate readings, allowing SERVPRPO professionals to monitor the drying process.
Thermohygrometers measure temperature and relative humidity. When armed with this information, SERVPRO professionals can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized.
Ultra Low-Volume (ULV) Foggers will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas.
The bottom line? SERVPRO professionals have the training and equipment to make it "Like it never even happened."
Winter Worries
5/25/2021 (Permalink)
Frozen pipes are no joke!
Winter weather can bring about more issues than
just slippery roads and a sidewalk to shovel. If you live where temperatures sink below freezing level, you are also at risk for frozen pipes and ice dams, which can create a major disaster at your home or property.
FROZEN PIPES
Frozen pipes are often those exposed to the cold weather, such as those outside your house, or in cold areas such as basements, attics, garages, or
kitchen cabinets. A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located, but typically the rupture is caused by the backflow pressure between the water source and the blockage. A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly.
To prevent pipes from freezing, here are a few steps you can take, according to The American Red Cross:
- Be sure to completely drain water from swimming pool and sprinkler lines, as well as outside hoses.
- Open kitchen cabinets to let warm air near the plumbing.
- When the weather is extremely cold, let water drip from faucets that may come from exposed pipes.
- Keep your heat set to the same temperature both day and night.
ICE DAMS
Ice dams can be a little-known, but major problem during the snowy season. They form when heated air melts roof snow downward into
water dammed behind still-frozen ice. When the
trapped water cannot safely flow or run into the gutter system, it can backflow under the roof ’s shingles and into the structure’s interior areas, as well as causing gutters and shingles to move or fall. Icicles can be an initial sign of an ice dam, according to Travelers.com. To spot ice dams inside, “check for water stains or moisture in your attic or along the ceiling of exterior walls of your house. Water stains or moisture may be an indication that an ice dam has formed and water has penetrated the roof membrane.” Removing an ice dam as soon as it is found is vital to helping prevent damage to your property and can be done using heated cables, a roof shovel, or calcium chloride ice melter.
If winter weather causes water damage to your
property, your local SERVPRO of Lancaster East Professionals are only a call away, 24/7, ready to restore to preloss condition.
Emergency Water Damage Tips
5/11/2021 (Permalink)
Be sure to follow these safety tips during a water damage loss.
- Shut off the water source, if possible or contact a qualified professional to stop the water source.
- Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.
- Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
- Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
- Move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents, and other sensitive valuables to a dry place.
- Do not enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers, or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.
- Do not use a household vacuum cleaner to remove water! This could cause electrical shock or damage to the device.
- Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet or enter the rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
The Science of Drying
5/11/2021 (Permalink)
State-of-the-art dehumidifiers and air movers are placed accordingly in the damaged areas in order to complete the drying process.
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, your professionals at SERVPRO of Lancaster East are trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages. If your business suffers water damage, your professionals at SERVPRO of Lancaster East 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 materials-but only if the air is drier.
The only problem is, nature often takes too long, and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out.
Your professionals at SERVPRO of Lancaster East have 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. Your professionals at SERVPRO of Lancaster East also use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business.
It's not only the equipment but the technology too! SERVPRO has developed DryBook™, a proprietary tool that provides real-time documentation and updates on the drying process and helps ensure industry drying requirements are met. With DryBook™ Mobile, you have the ability to know exactly where your property is in the drying process.
The bottom line? Your professionals at SERVPRO of Lancaster East have the training and equipment to help make water damage "Like it never even happened."
Understanding Water Types
5/11/2021 (Permalink)
Our team responds to any size disaster to begin to clean up and restore to get you back in business!
When your home or business suffers water damage, understanding what type of water you are dealing with is critical to ensuring proper cleanup.
There are three types of water. Clean water is water from a broken pipe or another water source; rainwater is also considered clean. The term gray water is used to classify slightly contaminated water. Clean water becomes gray water when it is left untreated allowing bacteria and other contaminants to begin growing, making the water hazardous. Black water is highly contaminated and filled with fungi, bacteria, chemicals and more. Black water is typically caused by sewage damage, flooding or any type of natural disaster. Black water should always be handled by trained professionals.
Consider taking the following precautions to help minimize damage or prevent further damage while waiting for help to arrive.
Damage from Clean Water
- Shut off the water source if possible or contact a qualified professional to do so.
- Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if access to the power distribution panel is safe from potential electrical shock. Do not enter rooms with standing water, as electrical shock hazards may exist.
- 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 to allow more even drying.
- Move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents, and other valuable items that may be sensitive to moisture to a safe place.
- Do not leave books, newspapers, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors as they may cause staining.
- Do not use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water as there is potential for electrical shock or causing damage to the vacuum cleaner.
- Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet; do not enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
Damage from Contaminated Water
- Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Wash your hands thoroughly if you come in contact with contaminated items.
- Do not walk through contaminated areas, as you could spread damage to unaffected areas.
- Do not turn off HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.
- Do not use household fans to dry the structure; air flow could spread contaminants.
- Discard any food and/or products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.
When you have water damage, don't leave your property to chance. Call your local SERVPRO professionals at 717-519-0767!
Resolve to be Ready in 2017
1/20/2017 (Permalink)
Servpro Ready Plan
SERVPRO Urges Lititz, Leola, New Holland and Ephrata Home and Business Owners to “Resolve to be Ready” in 2017
Local cleanup and restoration specialist shares no-cost emergency planning tools that enable fast and effective disaster response and recovery
2017 is the perfect time to think about making some resolutions, according to Donna Barrett, owner of SERVPRO® of Lancaster East. While resolutions typically involve committing to personal changes and reaching goals, Barrett says the single most important resolution both business and home owners can make for 2017 is to “Resolve to be Ready.”
“Preparing in advance to deal with the unexpected can make a world of difference in how quickly and completely property owners can put the pieces of their lives back together,” says Barrett. “Emergency readiness plans are the foundation for effective and timely emergency response.”
Barrett encourages all property owners to take advantage of the no-cost emergency planning tools available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (www.ready.gov/publications), as well as SERVPRO’s Emergency READY Profile and READY Plan Mobile App (http://ready.SERVPRO.com).
For homeowners:
- FEMA resources include guidelines for a creating a Family Emergency Plan and Emergency Supply List, with additional tips for pet owners, seniors, people with disabilities, and even commuters.
- SERVPRO offers their free SERVPRO READY Plan app, which stores critical contact and property information electronically in advance, where it can be accessed with a mobile device in seconds if disaster strikes.
For business owners:
- FEMA offers materials on topics ranging from creating a Business Continuity Plan to an Insurance Discussion Coverage Form in addition to guidelines for creating an Emergency Response Plan.
- For businesses, SERVPRO offers a no-cost facility assessment and assistance in creating a comprehensive Emergency READY Profile® (ERP). The ERP includes information about emergency contact numbers, priority and high/risk areas, shut-off valve locations and more that can then be stored in the READY app.
“The time to gather and store information like emergency contact numbers; insurance contacts; and the location of fuse boxes, fire suppression system controls, and such is before an emergency strikes, not during an emergency,” says Barrett. “Having this information at your fingertips can help emergency responders react as quickly and effectively as possible, helping to limit loss of property and even lives.”
SERVPRO of Lancaster East specializes in disaster restoration, cleanup and repair services, helping to remediate damage, making it “Like it never even happened,” for both commercial and residential customers. For more information on SERVPRO of Lancaster East, please contact Donna Barrett at (717) 519-0767 or SERVPRO8837@comcast.net. For more information on the SERVPRO mobile app and the SERVPRO Emergency READY Program, please visit www.ready.SERVPRO.com.
Scott and Lisa Kachel Job
4/11/2016 (Permalink)
A broken pipe in the ceiling of the Kachel Residence caused this massive water damage. We were able to stop the damage in its tracks and preserve much of the basement materials.
Thanks to a timely response the SERVPRO team was able to restore the Kachel's basement and get them back on their feet!