Five Water Damage Tips

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

When you've had a water damage in your home or business you will find there is only so much  you can do on your own. At the end of the day, when water damage is causing you problems, you need professional help FAST to get it cleaned up and get your property restored. If you are in need of water mitigation, contact SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck for the high-quality water damage cleanup and restoration services you need. Our number is 804-966-1400, and we are available for 24/7 emergency services. 

When your property has suffered a burst sewer line, a pipe that is leaking or a natural disaster, it can often leave your home severely damaged. In such situations, it is critical to identify the cause and act quickly to prevent further destruction or possible health concerns.  

It can be enormously stressful to deal with water damage, with it potentially leading to all other sorts of problems down the line. While it’s important to get repairs done by professionals, there are a few things you can do to help limit water damage where possible as well. In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing five DIY water damage restoration tips you can use to immediately begin addressing water damage in your home. 

What Can Water Damage Impact?

Water is crucial for life, but when it gets somewhere it’s not meant to be, it can cause all sorts of destruction. As a homeowner, you should understand what parts of your property are most at risk for water damage. After a storm, flooding, or other type of water damage, always be sure to inspect the following components:

• Drywall
• Insulation
• Wood
• Framing
• HVAC
• Pipes
• Floor coverings
• Etc.

How Severe Are the Damages?

To determine if it’s a water cleanup job you can do by yourself or you should hire a specialist for can be determined by evaluating a number of key factors:

• Water Volume — If you have the right tools, when there is only a small amount of water, you can often manage it on your own. Significant flooding, on the other hand, means it’s time to call a professional. 
• Source of Damages — Certain types of water, such as blackwater and gray water, need to be handled with care, as they may contain contaminants or other health hazards. 
• Severity of Damages — Light damage can generally be handled by homeowners, while significant damage can require more expeditious care and accurate repairs. For example, flooding on an upper floor can lead to water seeping through the floor and into the ceiling in the floor below, causing greater and greater damage the longer it goes unmitigated. 

5 Tips for DIY Water Damage Restoration in Your Home

After getting a picture of the situation, consider the following tips to ensure repairs are done quickly. Be aware that wet materials can start developing mold growth in a day, so there’s little time to wait!

#1: Disconnect Outlets

One of your first priorities after water damage in your home has occurred is to unplug all electronics in the vicinity immediately. You may not yet see the full extent of the water damage, and it’s important to be careful. If electronics become damaged, repairs will generally take longer and be more expensive, with the need for hiring an electrician.

#2: Start Addressing Mold

If you see mold starting to form, there are a few things you can do right away to mitigate it. When it’s a small area, you can cut it out of the wall and dispose of it. It’s also important to stop any air flow in the area to prevent further spread before a mold specialist can stop the contamination. 

#3: Start the Drying Process

While you may not have access to industrial fans, dehumidifiers, and other dry-out equipment that water damage cleanup companies such as SERVPRO do, you can start the dry out process right away. Properly drying out an area will help lessen the damage.

#4: Remove Damaged Materials

Avoid mildew by removing materials such as rugs and insulation that have become waterlogged. Consider focusing on floors and ceilings first, as these areas are the most at risk of causing serious structural damage. 

#5: Disinfect the Area

Water in your home is an open invitation for bacteria and other microorganisms to thrive. Once you remove the damaged materials, disinfecting the area is important to prevent mold and other potentially health-damaging issues before the restoration process fully commences. Spray surfaces with bleach and wipe them down. 

Get Professional Water Damage Restoration Services in New Kent

If you are looking for guidance or professional help with water damage beyond what you can handle on your own, contact the professional SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck for 24/7 support. When your property has suffered water damage, we’re here to get it cleaned up and restored ASAP, saving you on stress and expenses. Don’t wait — get started today! 

With proper care, we can restore your home back to normal. We follow the comprehensive SERVPRO Method for water restoration. Don’t let the expenses or the health hazards become too great — call us now to get the support you need for your home!

804-966-1400 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

Is That a Spiderweb???

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Fire Damage to a home in the Williamsburg area.

Being fire restoration specialists, we have seen a lot of fire damaged homes and businesses in our area over the years.

Fires create heat and release both smoke and soot. Smoke is a vapor made up of very fine particles, while soot is a solid made from powdery or oily carbon and tar.

One of the most common visible instances of fire damage are the black spider webs that seem to spring out of nowhere after a fire.

Soot tags are thread-like chains made from carbon and tar released as a fire burns. They are also called soot webs because they look so similar to spider webs or cobwebs. In fact, most people assume they actually are spider webs covered in soot.  It will often take a few days for the soot tags to appear.  We here at SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck have the expertise to help identify soot damaged areas in your home or business. 

Call SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck for any and all fire needs at 804-966-1400 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

Be Prepared for The Worst

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are one of Mother Nature’s most destructive forces and can come in all shapes and sizes. They are often unpredictable and when you are in their path it's difficult to escape them.  

There are 5 different types of Tornadoes.

Rope tornadoes

Cone tornadoes

Wedge tornadoes

Multi-vortex and satellite tornadoes

Waterspouts and landspouts

Regardless of the type, each and every tornado can be dangerous with destructive winds that could put lives and property in danger.

When you hear an alert whether it be a watch or warning be prepared

Tornado Watch - issued when conditions are favorable for tornado development. People located in and around the watch area should keep an eye to the sky and listen to their NOAA weather radio all hazards or tune to local broadcast media for further weather information. The watch is intended to give you time to prepare and time to review your safety rules.

Tornado Warning - issued when a developing tornado has been detected by National Weather Service doppler radar or a reliable report of a tornado has been reported. A tornado warning is usually issued for portions of one or two counties, for an hour or less. The storm could also produce large hail and destructive straight line winds. If the tornado warning includes your neighborhood or work place, you should seek safe shelter immediately.

Check out the National Weather website for more tips on safety and tornadoes https://www.weather.gov/bmx/sps_torsafetyrules

If you have storm damage at your home call SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck to help.

804-966-1400

Reference: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/identifying-natures-dangerous-whirlwinds-a-guide-to-5-types-of-tornadoes-2/432293

Be Prepared for The Worst

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are one of Mother Nature’s most destructive forces and can come in all shapes and sizes. They are often unpredictable and when you are in their path it's difficult to escape them.  

There are 5 different types of Tornadoes.

Rope tornadoes

Cone tornadoes

Wedge tornadoes

Multi-vortex and satellite tornadoes

Waterspouts and landspouts

Regardless of the type, each and every tornado can be dangerous with destructive winds that could put lives and property in danger.

When you hear an alert whether it be a watch or warning be prepared

Tornado Watch - issued when conditions are favorable for tornado development. People located in and around the watch area should keep an eye to the sky and listen to their NOAA weather radio all hazards or tune to local broadcast media for further weather information. The watch is intended to give you time to prepare and time to review your safety rules.

Tornado Warning - issued when a developing tornado has been detected by National Weather Service doppler radar or a reliable report of a tornado has been reported. A tornado warning is usually issued for portions of one or two counties, for an hour or less. The storm could also produce large hail and destructive straight line winds. If the tornado warning includes your neighborhood or work place, you should seek safe shelter immediately.

Check out the National Weather website for more tips on safety and tornadoes https://www.weather.gov/bmx/sps_torsafetyrules

If you have storm damage at your home call SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck to help.

804-966-1400

Reference: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/identifying-natures-dangerous-whirlwinds-a-guide-to-5-types-of-tornadoes-2/432293

How to Prepare Your Home for A Storm

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Tornadoes are one of Mother Nature’s most destructive forces and can come in all shapes and sizes. They are often unpredictable and when you are in their path it's difficult to escape them.  

There are 5 different types of Tornadoes.

Rope tornadoes

Cone tornadoes

Wedge tornadoes

Multi-vortex and satellite tornadoes

Waterspouts and landspouts

Regardless of the type, each and every tornado can be dangerous with destructive winds that could put lives and property in danger.

When you hear an alert whether it be a watch or warning be prepared

Tornado Watch - issued when conditions are favorable for tornado development. People located in and around the watch area should keep an eye to the sky and listen to their NOAA weather radio all hazards or tune to local broadcast media for further weather information. The watch is intended to give you time to prepare and time to review your safety rules.

Tornado Warning - issued when a developing tornado has been detected by National Weather Service doppler radar or a reliable report of a tornado has been reported. A tornado warning is usually issued for portions of one or two counties, for an hour or less. The storm could also produce large hail and destructive straight line winds. If the tornado warning includes your neighborhood or work place, you should seek safe shelter immediately.

Check out the National Weather website for more tips on safety and tornadoes https://www.weather.gov/bmx/sps_torsafetyrules

If you have storm damage at your home call SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck to help.

804-966-1400

Reference: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/identifying-natures-dangerous-whirlwinds-a-guide-to-5-types-of-tornadoes-2/432293

Don't Worry, We Are Here to Help!

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

We are here to help!

It hard and sometimes impossible to predict when disaster can happen. With that being said, it is always a good idea to have a backup plan OR you can always give SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck  a call to take care of it for you. We are always ready to help, even if it is a few days after a storm and tragedy doesn't happen until after. Doesn’t matter is you call us the day of or a few days later, SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck is always prepared and here to help make sure things are back to normal for our customers. Give us a call today at 804-966-1400 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

What Should I Do if Lightening Strikes?

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

A storm passing through your community can catch you off guard. After the storm has passed and when it is safe, it is important to assess the property to determine if damage has occurred and get started with any potential cleanup and restoration. SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck is here to help with your Storm Damage Repair.

Below is some helpful information about different types of storms that can bring on damage to your property and how you may be able to protect its value.

Lighting Storm Damage

Lighting can be so pretty to look at  from the comfort of your home but oh so dangerous at the same time, there are three common types of lightning: cloud to ground, cloud to cloud and cloud to air. Cloud to ground lightning is the most dangerous. The ground is mainly consisted of positively charged particles while the bottom of violent storm clouds have negative charged particles.

Winter Storm Damage

Winter Storms not only wreak havoc but also can cause the formation of Ice Dams. Ice dams are caused by heavy snowfall or ice build-up on your roof. These can go undetected and cause many problems, not the least of which is water damage in addition to structural deterioration and leaks. When water builds up in an ice dam, it backs up under shingles, leaks into a house, and causes major water damage to your property.

Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are a problem for several different reasons. While not only creating an inconvenience - more seriously it can cause major damage to your home or business. If you see visible frost on the outside of your exposed pipes, detect slow or uneven water flow across your property, or feel your walls getting damp, it's critical that you act fast. Even if your pipes haven't entirely burst, it's a good idea to reach out to a restoration expert to prevent any further damage.

We Have The Best Equipment

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

When we are called to a water damaged space, it is essential to be able to rapidly determine the extent of water damage in the home or business.

Getting your home or business dry and clean is imperative in the aftermath of damage. With excess moisture, mold and mildew can develop and bacteria can multiply. That’s why SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck uses moisture meters during and after completion of water remediation work to ensure that structures are properly dried.

Moisture meters can reach areas that may be overlooked or not considered as being affected by moisture. These include areas such as basement walls, spaces between layers of drywall, concrete subfloors, and beneath carpet and tile. Identifying potential damage to these lesser-suspected areas can save thousands of dollars in reconstruction later. We evaluate not only the water that you can see, but the water that you can't see that is hidden in cavities. 

SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck  provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

Be Prepared, Know The Signs of Mold in Your Home

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Moldy Kitchen Cabinet in a local home.

As weather continues to heat up you may begin to notice signs of mold in your home. Read below to get a step ahead of these signs and stop mold growth before it becomes a major, and costly problem.

Leaks or Past Water Damage

If you have experienced recent or past water damage, or if you notice there is a current leak in your home, mold growth may have taken place. Mold grows in dark; moist environments and a leak can provide enough moisture for mold growth. Additionally, past floods can contribute to mold growth. To prevent water damage from turning into mold, act quickly to dry up any leaks or spills and if it is major damage, contact a professional remediation company, such as SERVPRO, to clean it up fast.

Smell

If you notice a musty odor, especially one coming from a basement or crawlspace, this is a very good indicator of mold. Even if you can’t see any discoloration, the smell could be coming from behind the flooring or walls where you can see it. By the time you can smell it, steps should be taken to inspect for mold and then clean or remove and affected materials. SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck has the skills to do all aspects of Mitigation to Mold Remediation. 

Is There Mold In Your Commercial Building?

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Mold in Duct work

Williamsburg homeowners and  businesses face the challenge of living where mold is a constant battle. Microscopic mold spores float around in the Earth’s atmosphere, waiting for the perfect warm and moist conditions. Once these conditions present themselves, mold will spread quickly through a commercial building. First, we will inspect and locate the source of the excess moisture and make repairs to minimize the potential for the mold to return. (Sometimes the excess moisture is in the air can be enough to support mold growth.) 

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans
• Contact us at 804-966-1400 for mold remediation services

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

We are highly trained  professionals

• Applied Microbial Remediation Specialist
• Water Damage Restoration Technician
• Applied Structural Drying Technician
• Odor Control Technician
• Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician

We have experience working in all kinds of buildings and workplaces, including:

• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing and Industrial
• Government/Military

Call Us!

We can help all size businesses make it  “Like it never even happened.” Call us at 804-966-1400