Recent Water Damage 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.
Wesley Chapel 24- Hour Emergency Water Damage Service
7/27/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel 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 - (813) 929-9898
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 Wesley Chapel 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 Wesley Chapel
SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel 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.
The 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 Wesley Chapel, 727-847-3000.
The 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 pre loss 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 Wesley Chapel 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 water damage, SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel 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 Wesley Chapel 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 Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes, Dade City, and beyond, our team has the training and equipment to help make water damage “Like it never even happened.”
SERVPRO's 1-4-8
4/7/2021 (Permalink)
Here at SERVPRO we have a 1-4-8 timely assignment. This is to help reduce claims loss expenses. If there is water pouring into a business or a home, time is of the essence. This is the reason we created this guideline. When it comes to any emergency situation, a SERVPRO employee will contact you to arrange a time for service within an hour. Within four hours of the loss coming in one of our SERVPRO trained professionals will be on-site and start the mitigation process. This would be extracting water or anything else that needs to be done to control the situation. Lastly, within eight business hours of the on-site arrival the client will receive a verbal briefing of the scope and the communication with the adjuster will begin. If the client is self-pay, we will have a verbal briefing with the client to see what they want to do to proceed. This really sets us apart from our competition because we strive to exceed our clients expectations by removing fears that the client might have after experiencing a loss, and they will see results in a timely manner.
Client 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 Wesley Chapel 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 Wesley Chapel is here to help. If you suffered any damage from the recent hurricanes, or you do in the future, give us a call.
Lightning Damage in Wesley Chapel?
9/11/2020 (Permalink)
Let’s talk about lightning. Lightning strikes can cause significant damage to your Wesley Chapel home or business and unfortunately are extremely unpredictable. Often you will not see signs of the damage at first due to the damage hiding in attics or inside walls. We suggest that after lightning strikes your home or business that you call the fire department immediately even if you do not see obvious signs of damage. It is also good to remember to call your electrician after a lightning strike to run an electrical diagnostic test.
According to the NFPA from 2007-2011 the U.S. Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 22,600 fires per year that were started by lightning.
Lightning bolts are estimated to reach up to 50,000 degrees.
SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel has experienced the aftermath of a fire caused by a lightning strike. The odor, the charred insulation within the attic or walls. SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel has an experienced team to handle any size fire or water loss.
If your home has been hit by lighting count on SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel to make the fire damage “Like it never even happened.”
Generator Safety Tips During Storm
7/27/2020 (Permalink)
Generator Safety
When you live in Wesley Chapel, 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 Wesley Chapel is here for you. Give us a call 727-847-3000.
Day 8: The Day No One Laughed
4/8/2020 (Permalink)
Day 8
They have all been exposed.
Every one of them.
The smiles, the chuckles, even the belly laughs...
Each morning, we hold the Work-In-Progress meeting, and until last week they happened around a white table in our conference room. I cannot help myself from making a joke or two. Admittedly, some of the attempts at humor are not good, but complete bombs are rare – at least that is what I thought.
The in-person meeting brings at least a few laughs, but attempting jokes on Zoom meetings is a different beast. They generate nothing. I think everyone might have been pretending to laugh the whole time. Maybe it was just a pity laugh - ugh, the worst kind.
In their defense, they have a variety of excuses to choose from to explain the crickets. “I did laugh but I was on mute and by the time I could unmute the subject had moved on.” Or, “I was laughing but the internet connection was unstable and I had to reboot my internet browser,” “I accidentally hit ‘leave meeting’ because I was laughing so hard,” “You cannot see me laughing because my hand is in front of my face and I am muted.”
Lastly, “No, you are right I am not laughing because it was not funny anyway and it is annoying being on this Zoom call wishing three other people on this call would understand what the mute button actually accomplishes so forgive me, nothing is actually funny right now.”
All this time I misread the crowd, I guess they really are the more serious type. Maybe I should look into introducing complex spreadsheets into our Zoom meeting and ask everyone to take part in explaining a different section. That actually sounds worse.
On the bright side, without all the fake laughs, now our WIP meetings should really zoom.
Terrible, I know. I do see their point, I have to get better.
Hidden Water Damage in Your Home
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 Wesley Chapel has the right water detection equipment to help you determine what areas in your New Tampa 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 Troubles? Top Water Damage Source #2
2/4/2020 (Permalink)
This whole house water damage was caused by the supply line shown detaching itself from the toilet
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 just condensation. Your bathroom is the most humid room in your home, mainly caused by taking hot showers. 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 be concerned with.
- Crack on the tank or bowl. Toilets are built to last, but cracks do sometimes develop. Often times this will start as a hairline crack that can turn 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 starting to pool 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 held 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 cause water damage in your home. If you are unsure of the cause of the leak, call a local, licensed plumber so that they can come out to inspect and fix the problem. Although some homeowners might choose to fix simple problems like a worn out flapper on their own, most causes of a leaky toilet are best left in the hands of a professional plumber.
Water Damage Source : #1
1/28/2020 (Permalink)
Water heaters are a main cause of water damages in homes.
1/13 – Top Sources: Hot Water Heater
In a prior blog we described the top three reasons our customers experienced water damages in 2019. The number-one source of water damages was a leaking or malfunctioning hot water heater. With a few useful tips were about to provide you, 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 its an easy fix. Just grab a wrench and tighten the valve. It is extremely important that you do not over tighten it tho; 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 water from outside of your home 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 play a role in their demise. 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 Wesley Chapel and we will make it “Like it never even happened.”
Mold In Your Home? Now What?
1/15/2020 (Permalink)
While responding to a water damage, our technicians located growth behind this clients saturated vanity.
Imagine this. After a great night's sleep, you wake up, walk into your bathroom and find a small pond on the floor. Immediately you contact SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel to come out to your home to start a water mitigation. While examining the area they locate some microbial growth behind the vanity. Now what do you do?
This is the same scenario faced by one of our clients in her spectacular waterfront condo in Dunedin, Florida. Luckily SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel arrived promptly and – as a firm licensed by the State of Florida as a Mold Remediator – we knew exactly what to do. Microbial growth and the dreaded threat of mold sounds overwhelming, but with a team of trained professionals behind you, it doesn’t have to be. Our technicians and project managers are trained to handle such issues so its “Like it never even happened.”
Here’s a play-by-play of the procedure we use when dealing with any kind of microbial growth. Our No. 1 priority is safety. This is both for our client and our technicians. We protect onsite workers with proper PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) first. Our next step, which is equally important, is placing containment to separate the uncontaminated area from our work zone and minimize the chance for spores to spread. Next we removed all affected material such as the vanity, bathtub, and even the mirror mounted to the wall. It’s crucial to remove anything that could be affected, and if being saved, we clean and treat it before placing it back. It’s worth noting that while working with mold in any situation we always have air scrubbers in place and negative pressure to ensure that we don’t contaminate anymore of the space. Drywall was then detached, all studs and framing treated and cleaned, and the air scrubber was left overnight to get anything that may have been left behind. The final step in treating this kind of disaster is an independent clearance test, in which an independent environmental hygienist collects air samples to confirm any issues have indeed been remediated. This step provides a confirmation that the property is safe for occupancy and that the procedure was successful.
So while mold might seem like a reason to panic, rest assured when you use a firm like SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel.
3 Main Causes of Water Damages of 2019
1/2/2020 (Permalink)
Toilet leak that caused a water damage throughout the bathroom.
With 2019 coming to an end, we are looking back at some of the most frequent sources of water damages we have witnessed this year! Water damages happen every single day and there are so many causes that we could discuss, but here are the top 3 sources we have ran into in 2019, and ways to prevent it from happening to you in 2020.
- Hot water heater
As a homeowner you worry about a lot when it comes to your home and a leaking water heater is one of those concerns. This minor nuisance can turn into a very serious problem before you realize what’s going on. With that said, an issue like this needs to handled in a timely and professional manner.
A small puddle of water can be easily cleaned up with very little damage to your floors if you catch it early. However, this small drip can quickly turn into a flood that will cause damage to your sub-floors and even dry-wall if not addressed.
You may be able to distinguish whether or not the leak is an easy enough repair, or if you will need to replace the whole water heater. Regardless of the verdict, we always suggest hiring a licensed plumber to assess the situation and decide the next course of action needing to be taken.
2.Toilet
Toilets. While having a toilet in your home is extremely convenient, it can cause a lot of damage if it starts to leak. 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 challenging with the number of active parts on it.
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 repeatedly, there could be an issue. Those pools of water 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 Wesley Chapel is here.
No matter how, where or why your leak has occurred, we are here to help. SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel is here 24/7 to mitigate any water loss that may be affecting your home. We’re only a phone call away!
Tricks to preventing Water Damages
7/29/2019 (Permalink)
Disasters that result in water damages are ones that can potentially be prevented with a few tips and tricks from us here at SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel. Listed below are 3 things you can do to avoid damages from water in your home.
- Observing Your Appliances.
Our company has cleaned and restored water damages way too many times to count. Often times these damages are from leaking or broken supply lines from appliances. An appliance that uses water such as a washing machines or dishwasher, typically has a little hose attached to them that serves as a supply line. These hoses can crack or break completely resulting in flooding or water being spilled into the area. To avoid a water mess in your home, regularly check and inspect your appliances and supply lines. Check your developing cracks or kinks in your hose and if found, contact your provider for further inspection replace the hose immediately.
- Regular Bathroom Maintenance
Conducting regular maintenance to your bathroom can help you spot a leak or pooling water quicker, in order to prevent further damages. When cleaning your bathroom area, check for a potential pipe burst under your sink or toilet. In addition, check for pools of water around your toilet, near your tub or shower, and under your sink or vanity. If standing water is found it is best to remove the liquid immediately in order to stop moisture from being absorbed, then possibly growing mold. Doing regular bathroom maintenance enables you to fully inspect your area and notice a potential issue that can result in water damage.
HVAC units can often times cause moisture problems for a home. The best way to avoid moisture problems from HVAC units is to schedule regular services and have your system checked. Having a professional company service your unit, can stop potential disasters from occurring to your home.
Call SERVPRO of Wesley Chapel when encountering unexpected water damages done to your home. (813)-929-9898
Water Damage: After You Give SERVPRO The Call
7/26/2019 (Permalink)
We are on our way to make your water damage a thing of the past.
A disaster has unleashed its wrath in your home or business and you have made the call to SERVPRO for help. Our dispatcher has got a crew ready and they are on their way to you now.
What do you do next? Do you sit and wait? Do you watch as more damage unfolds? Do you try and mop up the standing water? In such a stressful moment it is often very unclear as to what your next actions should be.
Most importantly, do not panic. Our team of highly trained and certified technicians are on their way to you and they are ready to get to work.
As our crew in on their way to clean and restore your damage, there are still actions you could potentially do to minimize further damage to your property. The minutes from when you hang up the phone with SERVPRO to when our team arrives can be critical. If you are experiencing damage from a clean water source (most commonly and overflowing tub or sink, supply line leak, or appliance malfunction), the steps below can be very helpful when waiting for SERVPRO to arrive and get to work:
- 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 Wesley Chapel 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 east Pasco 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 Wesley Chapel team is available anytime by calling (813) 929-9898.
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 Wesley Chapel 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)
Like it never even happened
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 Wesley Chapel 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 Wesley Chapel 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 Wesley Chapel 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 Wesley Chapel, Zephryhills, or Land O' Lakes, SERVPRO of East Pasco 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.SERVPROeastpasco.com/
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