Proactive & Preventative Water Damage Tips

11/22/2023 (Permalink)

Hey there, homeowners! Let's talk about keeping your castle dry and disaster-free. Nothing's worse than dealing with water damage, am I right? But fear not, because there are some savvy steps you can take to dodge that dreaded bullet.

First up, keep an eagle eye on those pipes. Regularly inspect for any signs of wear, corrosion, or potential pipe bursts. A tiny leak can snowball into a major water damage situation. If you spot issues, fix them pronto or call in a pro.

Next on the hit list: your roof. A sneaky roof leak can wreak havoc if left unchecked. Inspect your roof for missing shingles, cracks, or any spots that seem off. Taking care of these issues pronto can save you from the headache of water damage restoration down the road.

Investing in proper insulation is another superhero move. It not only keeps your home cozy but also prevents pesky problems like frozen pipes, which can lead to—you guessed it—disasters.

Lastly, don't underestimate the power of routine maintenance. Regularly clean those gutters and downspouts to ensure water flows away from your home. Proper drainage is key to avoiding potential pitfalls.

Remember, folks, a stitch in time saves nine. Take these proactive steps, and you'll be the superhero of your household. Cheers to a dry and happy home!

How to Determine if Your Water Damage is New or Old

4/12/2022 (Permalink)

Example of a Water Spot

Water damage is a huge pain for any homeowner or business owner. It could be said that water damage is the most common form of property damage because of the many ways it can take place. Whether it's a major problem or minor, it can happen anywhere and anytime no matter how strong your property was built. Water damage can make everything and anything look bad and unpleasant. 

SERVPRO experts understand the issues you'll have to face in the future if your water damage is kept untouched, especially when you aren't able to see and identify the problem yourself. Water spots anywhere on your property are clues that can indicate a leaking pipe or moisture getting through the exterior of your property from severe weather. Even though it's almost impossible to know exactly how long your water damage issues have been there, here are a few steps to help tell if your water damage is new or old.

Properties History

    1. The first step in determining how old your water spots are is to figure out if your property had recently undergone any damages. You also need to know when the last time your home went through any storms or floods. It's very key to understand what is old and what is new because smaller leaks can take up to a couple of months to appear.

Touch the Water Spot 

    2. If it's a newly formed water spot it will be wet but when you touch it, you will be able to feel that your drywall or ceiling, wherever it is, will still be strong. If the spot you touched is squishy and mushy it is most likely it soaked up a good amount of water over time meaning it's been there for a while.

Inspecting Your Properties Building Materials

3. It's also very important to know what building materials your house or business is composed of because ticker textures of paints and tiles will trap water that is leaking a lot easier than the thinner ones meaning small water spots can indicate substantial internal damage.

It's crucial to get in contact with experts as soon as possible to lessen the damages and cost. Here at SERVPRO of Northridge and SERVPRO of Granada Hills, we have the training, expertise, and resources to handle any size water damage problem you may have. 

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

Overflowing Toilet? Here's What to Do

4/7/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damage Caused by Overflowing Toilet

If you had to deal with an unexpected overflowing toilet just by flushing, you may have sewer damage instead of a minor surface-level problem. To lessen the risk of overflowing water damaging your floors, here are a couple of steps to take note of before calling a water damage restoration specialist and sewage company. 

Stopping the Overflow

Remove the top lid of the toilet and lift the float. As you do this it would be easier if someone else shuts off the water valve that's sitting right behind the toilet.

Mop the Remaining Water on the Floor

Once you have turned off the water and the toilet has stopped leaking, you can start to mop away the remaining water and sanitize the area affected area thoroughly.

Plunge 

Plunging the toilet ensures that all the pipes are cleared out and that there's not any extra blockage causing your toilet to overflow again. In the case, plunging didn't solve the issue, give a call to your local sewage company.

Professional Help 

If you can tell the water your dealing with is sewage water, it's crucial to get in contact with an expert. SERVPRO of Northridge and SERVPRO of Granda Hills will examine and sanitize all the affected areas properly making sure your floors, walls, and baseboards are safe from mold and health concerns from the water leakage.

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

Should You Replace Your Carpet After Water Damage?

4/7/2022 (Permalink)

If your carpet has been affected by water damage whether or not you have to replace it depends on a couple of things.

How Much Water Got Into the Carpet?

If you're only dealing with a spill of some sort you don't need to replace your carpet, as you can always dry it using towels and fans. But if your carpet, the carpet padding, the floor, and subflooring are completely wet it will be a lot harder to dry, making replacing the carpet the ideal option here.

How Long Has It Been Sitting?

After the water has hit your carpet no matter how big or small the affected area is mold could grow within 24 hours. Meaning if your carpet has been untouched for days it's probably best to start shopping for a new one.

Type of Water Damage

If your carpet is wet due to clean water there is no reason to replace it, but if it was damaged due to contaminated water such as sewage water you should consider replacing it or calling in professionals to access the damages and make sure it's not just the carpet you're dealing with.

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

5 Water Damage Restoration Tips You Should Know

10/23/2021 (Permalink)

1. Disconnect Outlets

The first thing to do when you start to see water damage in your home is to unplug all electronics immediately. While you may not see the severe problem of water damage just yet, it’s important to be cautious around appliances. Using this equipment despite the situation could cause electrical shocks or even explosions. 

2. Inspect Mold

Certain mold strains are toxic to humans and could pose some serious health risks. Most of the time, mold can spread quickly once it infests an area, so it would be best to inspect for growth to avoid any health hazards. For small issues, you can cut out the affected area, bag it, and dispose of it immediately. However, with serious mold infestations, it's best to call an expert as soon as you can 

3. Dry Water Out

Before more damage occurs, you need to eliminate all moisture and dry out the affected areas. You can use a large-capacity dehumidifier or a fan to circulate air and dry out the wood, carpet, and any other surrounding materials. Although this won’t prevent mold growth altogether, properly drying out the area will help lessen the damage.

4. Remove Damaged Materials

If your absorbent materials, for example like carpet or insulation, are soaked with water, you need to dispose of them immediately to avoid mildew.

5. Disinfect Remaining Areas

Depending on the type of water you are dealing with, it can contain a lot of bacteria. The water could also encourage the growth of mold, so it is important to sanitize immediately. Spray and wipe down the surfaces with bleach so the mold spores don’t grow before you continue with the restoration process.

If you’re looking for assistance or believe the damage is beyond what you can handle, it’s always a good idea to leave water damage restoration to the professionals

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

Leaking Water Heater? Here's What You Need to Know

8/28/2021 (Permalink)

Leaking Water Heater

Determining the location of the leak on the water heater can be the difference from a simple fix or an expensive replacement. For example, if the leak is on the top it would have a higher chance of getting fixed then a bottom leak. All the pipes are at the top so if its leaking its just a simple pipe leak but on the other hand if its on the bottom that would mean the tank itself is damaged and you would need a replacement.

You don't need to try to fix it yourself we could call someone to come and fix the heater as quickly as possible. However, in the case that the leaking caused significant water damage, this could also mean it will be an expensive fix if not dealt with right away. Make sure to call SERVPRO of Northridge & Granada Hills to help with the damages and keep them at a minimum.

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

What to Consider Before Water Damage Restoration?

8/18/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding in Home

The decision of whether to clean up the affected area yourself or call the water damage restoration professionals depends on the situation and these few factors:

The Amount of Water

If you feel like it's only a small amount of water and you can tackle it yourself with the correct tools then go for it. However if, it's a large amount of water you don't think you'll be able to handle definitely contact a professional.

Natural Disaster 

If your home was hit by a flood and your property has significant damages. Follow the steps your local disaster authorities left you and leave the damages to the experts.

Source of Damage 

Figuring out where the water is coming from and what type of water you're dealing with is necessary on whether to handle it yourself or we can call an expert for you. Here are the three types of water you should look for:

Clean Water - This type of water comes from a sanitary water source such as broken pipes and supply lines, and does not pose a risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure. 

Gray Water - This type of water comes from washing machines, dishwashers, and toilets. Gray water contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed due to microorganisms, as well as other organic or inorganic matter.

Black Water - This is the most harmful water and is grossly contaminated. It can contain pathogenic, toxigenic, or other harmful agents. For example, water that originates from sewer lines, drain pipes, river water, muddy water, and any other water that has been untreated for seven days.

Have questions about water damage? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

Causes of Water Damage

8/28/2019 (Permalink)

Standing Water

Knowing what can cause water damage in your home or business can help with prevention of disasters. Take a look at your home for signs of potential problems. A few preventative steps today may just save you from larger water disasters tomorrow.  Here are the 5 main causes of water damage.

• Burst or leaking pipes and hoses
• Faulty or malfunctioning appliances (dishwashers, garbage disposals, and water heaters, washing machines)
• HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning unit) issues
• Clogs in toilets, sinks and tubs
• Backed Up Sewer Lines

Torrential downpours and other weather events are also things to check on when they take place.  If your pipes start leaking and water damage is threatening the integrity of your home or business, trust SERVPRO of Northridge for a fast response and reliable remediation services.

Addressing water damage as soon as possible is vital to prevent further damage to structure, belongings and assisting in the prevention of mold and mildew growth.   

Let our team of highly trained, experienced and professional water mitigation technicians assists you in your time of need. Our services are available 24-hours a day.

Have you spotted signs of water damage in your home or office?

Have questions about water damage? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

Flooding water damage

8/28/2019 (Permalink)

warped flooring due to water damage

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Northridge provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more.  SERVPRO of Northridge arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – (818)993-9339

Water Damage Timeline

Within Minutes

• Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
• Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
• Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
• Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall begins to swell and break down.
• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
• Furniture begins to swell and crack.
• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
• A musty odor appears.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

• Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
• Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and corrode.
• Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
• Paint begins to blister.
• Wood flooring swells and warps.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

• Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
• Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.

About SERVPRO of Northridge

SERVPRO of Northridge 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.

Top 5 Causes of Water Damage

12/27/2017 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO of Northridge clean up your Northridge home.

Knowing what can cause water damage in your home or business can help with prevention of disasters. Take a look at your home for signs of potential problems. A few preventative steps today, may just save you from a larger water disasters tomorrow.  Here are 5 main causes of  water damage.

• Burst or leaking pipes and hoses
• Faulty or malfunctioning appliances (dishwashers, garbage disposals and water heaters, washing machines)
• HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning unit) issues
• Clogs in toilets, sinks and tubs
• Backed Up Sewer Lines

Torrential downpours, and other weather events are also things to check on  when they take place.  If your pipes start leaking and water damage is threatening the integrity of your home or business, trust SERVPRO of Northridge for a fast response and reliable remediation services.

Addressing water damage as soon as possible is vital to prevent further damage to structure, belongings and assisting in the prevention of mold and mildew growth.   

Let our team of highly trained, experienced and professional water mitigation technicians assist you in your time of need. Our services are available 24-hours a day.

Have you spotted signs of water damage in your home or office?

Have questions about water damage? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339