What To Do When You Have Water Damage

5/8/2024 (Permalink)

Water damage can wreak havoc on your home or property. Water damage can occur from burst pipes, leaking roofs, storms, floods, and hurricanes. The consequences can be devastating, leading to structural damage, mold growth, and potential health hazards. 

When facing these situations, it is best to contact a restoration company such as SERVPRO®. However, here are some simple actions you can take while you wait on a SERVPRO team to arrive at your home. 

Turn off the Power 

Attempt to safely switch off the electricity and gas to avoid electrocution and gas leaks. If unable to do so due to an extensive amount of water in the home, wait for a SERVPRO team to arrive and cut the power off. 

Locate and Stop the Water Source

Identify where the water is coming from. If it is coming from a burst pipe or leaking appliance, turn off the water supply to prevent further flooding. 

If the source of the water is external, such as a storm or flooding, do your best to divert or contain the water from further damaging your home and furniture. 

Remove Excess Water

Use pumps, wet/dry vacuums, buckets, or towels to remove as much water as possible from the affected area. The faster you can extract the water, the better chance you have of preventing further damage and mold growth.  

Move Belongings Out of Water

To prevent further damage to your furniture, move them to another room that is dry. If you have heavy furniture that you are unable to lift and move around, wait for a SERVPRO team to arrive to assist with moving the furniture. 

SERVPRO also specializes in restoring any piece of furniture that has been damaged during the disaster. 

Call your Insurance Company

Once you have done all the above, now is the time to contact your insurance company and investigate what is covered in terms of water damage. Document the damage thoroughly and file a claim with your insurance as soon as possible in order for you to get reimbursed for the costs of mitigation. 

Dealing with water damage is a long and stressful process. Luckily, SERVPRO is available 24/7 with a team of certified professionals who are equipped with advanced equipment to resolve disasters like these. 

SERVPRO, the only restoration company that makes “Like it never even happened” happen. 

How Professionals Safely Perform Water Damage Restoration Procedures in Raleigh

5/18/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Raleigh can handle your water damage restoration with urgency and professionalism. Our team will make it "Like it never even happened."

Raleigh Residents Can Trust SERVPRO for Safe Water Cleanup Procedures

One of the key procedures that technicians perform during water damage restoration is cleaning the structure and all the affected contents. The level of cleaning that we achieve usually ensures that soils and other contaminants do not cause health effects to the building's occupants. Restoration experts achieve the required degree of cleaning by using EPA-approved disinfectants and specialized equipment.

Our SERVPRO technicians do not use a specific water damage cleanup technique in Raleigh when offering mitigation services. Different cleaning situations demand varying cleaning methods for the job to be done right. Before the cleaning job starts, we thoroughly inspect the following areas of the building:

• Check whether the insulation is damaged
• Confirm whether there is any form of damage on the refinishing and painting
• Check whether there is any buckling and warping on the floors
• Confirm whether there is any damage on the carpet seams
• Identify and remove any odor-causing substance

If the water originates from a clean source, restoring the carpeting is possible; our SERVPRO technicians treat both sides using disinfectants. To restore the affected upholstery, we treat them first for mildew and then apply an appropriate deodorizer. Hard surfaces such as floors can be mopped using EPA-certified disinfectants or apply ULV foggers when large areas are involved.

Once the site is clean, drying it is what follows next. We use specialized equipment such as dehumidifiers, air movers, and fans to speed up the drying process. At the end of the drying, we have to confirm that the target areas have attained the accepted moisture levels to prevent mold growth.

Let SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest handle your water damage restoration needs with the urgency and professionalism they deserve. You only need to call (919) 790-1222 to allow our team to make it "Like it never even happened."

What Are the Stages of Water Damage Restoration for Raleigh Homes

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the training and equipment for water damage restoration at Raleigh properties.

Water damage restoration in Raleigh properties is complex, but individual steps fit into designed stages.

Between plumbing leaks and breaks or flood damages, the need for water damage restoration is a constant for Raleigh area homes and businesses. Structures in the Triangle can be quickly and thoroughly impacted by even minor water damage incidents, illustrating the need for experienced WRT-Certified professionals to reach the property fast to help. SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest does more than say We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Site Preparation and Pre-Job Action

Understanding the home's needs and the current damage is necessary before our damage restoration and water mitigation actions can begin in Raleigh. Production management of our SERVPRO team is a competent inspection officer cataloging damage and documenting the spread and severity of water damage events. This phase consists of:

• Damage Assessment – Documenting the impact of damage to the house and tracking moisture movement after a disaster helps guide our SERVPRO team to the most efficient water mitigation solutions that protect the property. 
• Staging – Time and money are saved when we can reach needed equipment and products more easily and consistently. We can prevent cross-contamination through undamaged areas by establishing a transition room next to the damaged areas.  
• Customer Consultation – Our priorities are not always the same as the homeowners, making a consultation a valuable aspect of the water damage restoration plan. We can use gathered information to prioritize what matters most to you.

Mitigation and Damage Prevention

Water mitigation describes the combination of actions SERVPRO professionals take to reduce loss and prevent post-disaster conditions from worsening. These needed efforts change based on the catalyst of the damage and how subsequent effects impede comfortable living. Some mitigative actions include:

• Water Removal Services – Removing surface water involves several industry-leading extraction devices available to SERVPRO restorers, including high-pressure pumps, trash pumps, electric submersible pumps, wet vacuums, and engine-driven extractors. 
• Bulk Material Removal – Building materials can be quickly and overwhelmingly impacted by spraying or flowing water from plumbing damage. Structural collapse or degradation is often easy to spot and requires removal to restore the rest of the property. 
• Content Relocation – SERVPRO professionals scope the property for unaffected areas that will remain clean and dry through the restoration process. These rooms and spaces become temporary storage to protect personal belongings in water restoration zones. 

Drying and Moisture Management

Drying focuses on the most readily available resource in our recovery inventory, air movers. These units have a high-velocity output of warm, dry air that can help promote fast and thorough evaporative drying needs. As centrifugal and axial movers produce a higher humidity and moisture content level as surfaces dry, we must also pair this effect with desiccant and low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers. The progress of evaporative drying tools is continually monitored for production values, and units are increased or moved to suit changing conditions and needs.

Restoring the Original Appearance

Pre-loss condition means achieving the appearance and functions of your property before the damage occurs. Beyond the water damage restoration required to remove threats, your home might still require reconstruction and repairs to achieve this pre-disaster state.

Because water damages remain a continual threat to Wake County properties, our SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest team stays ready to help 24/7 with pre-stocked Green Fleet vehicles. Give us a call today at (919) 790-1222.

Advantages of Fast Water Removal from Raleigh Properties

12/18/2022 (Permalink)

Removing standing water and moisture are cornerstones of SERVPRO's water damage restoration for Raleigh properties. "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO for Quick Water Mitigation in Raleigh

Any water that escapes inside your home threatens almost everything, from the metallic furniture legs and wood furniture to the fabrics in carpets, draperies, and upholstery. The effects of moisture are cumulative, so the longer the materials remain exposed, the more significant the damage. Water removal is the answer to limit problems, especially if done in good time.

The speed of water removal from your Raleigh home depends on many factors, so each incident is unique. You can achieve a faster turnaround if a professional team assists you. SERVPRO responds quickly, sending help within the first four hours of notification, thus providing the necessary resources to facilitate faster removal.

Factors Influencing the Removal Speed

• Amount of water involved
• Level of absorption by materials
• Level of concealment

Some sources, such as burst supply pipes, release significant amounts of water within a short time, while others, like faulty HVAC systems, release small quantities which may remain hidden over a long time allowing accumulation in hidden areas. Our SERVPRO technicians rely on physical observation and specialized measuring tools such as moisture meters to estimate the wetness levels. Penetrative meters are particularly helpful in establishing how deeply the moisture is embedded in semi-porous materials like wood, thus establishing whether there is a need for specialized extraction.

Specialized Extraction

Physical barriers preventing direct access to the intruding water can impair your goal of completing the removal promptly. The barrier can be a resilient floor material such as tiles and wooden floorboards or a panel separating different spaces in a property. Removing the obstacle may be a straightforward way to eliminate the moisture, but it's a destructive option. SERVPRO prefers other solutions, such as using specialized equipment to remove concealed water fast.

Specialized Moisture Management Equipment

• Drying mats
• Self-propelled extractors
• Structural cavity drying equipment

SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest is a reliable partner when you need fast water removal. Call us at (919) 790-1222. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Understanding the Components of Water Removal in Raleigh Homes

7/18/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage mitigation by SERVPRO using advanced drying equipment can often salvage belongs for our Raleigh customers

Mitigation Starts with Water Removal

Standing water can quickly threaten your household with flooding, broken pipes, appliance failures, and other major water damage events. More than this, several types of water removal services might be necessary to avoid costlier structural damage.

Getting Emergency Services Started Early

Water mitigation hinges on early efforts like water removal for Raleigh homes. Because there are multiple ways to reach this goal, we first prioritize the pressing issues like standing water and saturated building materials. The prompt arrival of our SERVPRO professionals ensures no delay in getting these mitigative steps started fast.

What Tools Influence Water Removal Services?

With how important the water removal objective is to the restoration process, it is no surprise that many of the tools and equipment in our inventory are designed for this purpose. We utilize several strategies and approaches to minimize moisture migration through the structure, however possible. Some of the common implements and instruments include:

• Extractors: Water removal services begin with eliminating surface water by using pumps and vacuums. 
• Air Movers: High-velocity blowers promote evaporation of wet materials, often preserving these elements in the process. 
• Special Drying Tools: Some of our equipment is exclusively designed for specific materials that get wet, such as drying mats pulling moisture from plank flooring. 
• Dehumidifiers: These tools help remove water in the air, which can increase with evaporative drying tools like air movers. 
• Positive Pressure Systems: These units (injecti-dry) infuse dry air into the wall systems to promote evaporation of moist cavities. 

Water removal services combine several efforts of our professionals to eliminate as much water and harmful moisture from the property as possible throughout the mitigation and restoration processes. Our SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest team arrives with the tools listed here to get emergency services started as soon as possible and protect your property from avoidable harm. Call now at (919) 790-1222.

Professional Water Removal Tools Make a Difference in Raleigh

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

You can count on our professionals with state of the art equipment to thoroughly dry your property so you can return safely after a water incident.

SERVPRO Offers Water Removal Services for Raleigh Homeowners and Businesses

Nothing compares to professional equipment when you have standing water in your Raleigh home or business. If you have storm flooding, burst pipes, or a significant spill, you need to handle the standing water quickly before it can infiltrate your building materials or migrate into dry zones of your property. SERVPRO is here and ready to go 24/7 with all of the right tools to handle water removal and drying so that your property gets back to normal quickly. 

Regarding water removal in Raleigh, SERVPRO utilizes different equipment based on the project and the damage present. We bring everything with us on our Green Fleet of vehicles, including tools like inspection devices, extraction tools, cleaning agents, and drying equipment. Everything gets used as part of a carefully orchestrated plan to restore relative humidity (RH) and limit the damage that takes place.

Extraction Methods and Equipment You Can Count On

The more water we can pull up in a short time will increase your property's chances of successful restoration. While you may want to reach for a wet/dry vacuum to pull up water, nothing compares to the technology SERVPRO uses. Some of the equipment we may use on your project include:

• Extraction Units – We have larger truck-mounted extractors and portable units to pull up water depending on the levels and space we have to work in.
• Light Wands – Also known as carpet wands, these tools help us remove water from glued-down carpeting.
• Pumps – We have a variety of pumps that we may use, including submersible pumps, self-priming trash pumps, electric submersible pumps, high-pressure pumps, etc.

Nothing beats our proven processes and industrial-grade equipment at SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest when it comes to water removal. Call us whenever you require assistance at (919) 790-1222. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster – ensuring your property quickly returns to normal.

Why Professional Restoration Is a Wise Choice for Water Damage In Your Raleigh Home

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can cause significant damage to your home.

Water Damage in Your Home

There are certain things that every Raleigh homeowner worries about at one time or another. Among these is the possibility of falling victim to a natural disaster like a fire or flood. While these circumstances always remain a possibility with the appropriate conditions, internal water emergencies are often far more likely and frequent than any more detrimental disasters.

While water damage to your Raleigh home might come from several different sources, cleaning up this damage and restoring its effects is a similar process across the board. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that even moderate water emergencies can get taken care of with conventional drying techniques and that the problem is in the past. Unfortunately, without properly cleaning up water damage and drying the area thoroughly, you could be allowing worsening losses to occur.

Fortunately, our SERVPRO technicians get trained to handle all manner of water emergencies and ensure that the job gets done right. This restoration process begins with a thorough inspection of the immediate damage. We also use thermal imagery to inspect the areas that are out of the line of sight for persistent moisture, and a broader range of damage you could not initially tell was there.

Working quickly to dry the area and clean up the mess are both standard practices of our SERVPRO professionals. Once the site has gotten sufficiently dried using air movers and dehumidification equipment, a better inspection can occur with your home's structural components and building materials to ensure that they are as strong and stable as they should be. Overly damaged materials might require removal and reinstallation to complete the restoration process.

Water damage in your home might come from many potential sources, but overcoming the effects is rarely something that you should handle on your own. Even smaller-scale water damage can have severe impacts on your home if the appropriate, thorough measures do not get taken to ensure the area is cleaned and dried adequately. Trust our SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest technicians to help you through every possible effect of water damage. You can reach us anything by calling (919) 790-1222.

Who Can Handle Water Extraction Fast for Best Results in Raleigh?

2/14/2022 (Permalink)

All you need is SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest for all your Water Extraction needs. Call (919) 790-1222.

Raleigh Residents Trust SERVPRO for Water Removal and Drying

One of the more frustrating situations to encounter is interior home flooding that leaves your property in disarray when you own a home. A home flood in Raleigh is often challenging to navigate, especially if you have never dealt with water infiltration in the past. Not only can a massive spill or overflowing tub bring on severe damage, but it can be complete chaos that uproots your life. The good news is SERVPRO has the equipment and training to bring your home back to pre-emergency condition with extraction and drying!

It is normal to wonder what can be done to save you time and money after having water spilling into your home. The truth is that water extraction in Raleigh gets done in a fraction of the time with SERVPRO than any DIY ever could. We specialize in water remediation, extraction, drying, and restoration so that you can sit back and focus on other areas of your life despite this traumatic event. 

Some of the common causes of interior flooding in the home include:

• Foundation cracks
• Sump pump failure
• Overflowing toilets, tubs, or sinks
• Aging pipes that crack or burst
• A leaking roof from storms
• Appliance failures, i.e., washing machine, water heater, dishwasher

What About Storm Flood Insurance?

Insurance coverage may be one of the first things that come to mind when you have a home flood. Whether or not you are covered depends on your carrier and your chosen policy. Some flood zone areas call for homeowners to have additional policies for coverage. Traditional insurance will not usually cover flooded homes within a flood zone. The good news is that we are here to assist with documentation so that your insurance claim goes as smoothly as possible.

Water extraction, drying, and controlled demolition are just some of the ways we can help here at SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest. Give us a call at (919) 790-1222. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster!

Raleigh Homeowners Trust SERVPRO with Water Damage Restoration

1/20/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians know all the steps to take after water damage strikes in your home.

SERVPRO’s Advanced Tech Makes Water Damage Restoration of Raleigh Homes Efficient 

Implementation of modern technology can significantly improve the outcome of water damage restoration of your Raleigh home. SERVPRO techs use a perfect blend of traditional and contemporary tech to speed up the drying and reduce long-term damage after a water incident. 

What makes SERVPRO so efficient during water damage restoration of your Raleigh home goes beyond the advanced equipment we use. Our techs understand the science behind the process and spend countless hours training to use specific pieces of equipment, making them experts. 

How do SERVPRO Techs Use Heat in the Water Cleanup of Raleigh Homes?   

A heat and air exchange drying system involves using an indirect fired furnace to heat the airspace of your Raleigh property. Heating the indoor air can speed up the drying process by-.

• Increasing the humidity ratio of the air 
• Allowing the surface moisture layer to evaporate
• Decrease the vapor pressure, promoting evaporation of water from wet material

The indirect-fired furnace takes dry outdoor air and heats it before introducing it into the drying zone. Techs usually set up indirect-fired furnaces outside the structure. The process air stream is then ducted into the building.

Portable Electric Heaters

If heat needs to be directed toward a particular building area rather than heating the entire airspace, SERVPRO techs use portable heaters. These systems are designed to heat materials and focus heat on limited areas as needed. Most of these units use heat exchangers to transfer heat from hot coils to air streams produced by air movers.

Call SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest at (919) 790-1222; our techs are available round the clock to answer your questions. 

We Fight Water Damage in Your Raleigh Area Home So You Don't Have to

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. We are here to help 24/7 365 days a year.

SERVPRO's Technicians Arrive Quickly to Help Prevent Secondary Damages

Having severe water damage on your Raleigh property can potentially cause significant problems over time. You need to address water issues as soon as you find them and give your home the best chance at a full recovery. 

Today, it is common for homeowners to seek professional help to address water damage issues found in their Raleigh area home. You may not have the expertise, time, or tools necessary to perform all of the needed repairs alone, and there is nothing wrong with that. Times have changed, and you no longer need to work a full-time job only to come home to fix the toilet or a broken appliance, never getting time for yourself.

Today, some highly-trained professionals offer to perform these services for you. Places like SERVPRO maintain a regular crew of IICRC-industry certified technicians that perform a wide variety of repairs, including cleanup and restoration for any part of your home. We offer you personalized services, free of judgment and ridicule, providing you with excellent alternatives that make taking care of your home easier.

Water Damage Restoration Trained Technicians

SERVPRO technicians train gruelingly, making them exceptionally qualified to provide you with the best results possible. Our technicians help you make the most out of unforgiving situations using the latest methods and equipment available. Our services are available to homeowners and property managers throughout the area, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Calling us gives you access to trusted members of the restoration community that you can count on to provide you with answers to disasters that occur on your property.

Whether you have a backflow in an upstairs toilet or water damage caused by a recent storm, SERVPRO can provide you with the necessary services to recover quickly and efficiently. You only have to make one call to have it all; we offer full-service solutions, making your restoration as stress-free as possible. 

Make the most of what is available to you; call SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest to receive quality results to water damage issues in your home today. (919) 790-1222

How Can Property Owners Perform Water Damage Restoration in Raleigh Homes?

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

Water damages everything in your home, from flooring to possessions. SERVPRO is on call 'round the clock for all your water damage restoration needs.

They Should Involve Reliable Water Damage Restoration Experts in Raleigh for Professional Services

The most common water damage problems homeowners face includes faulty water heaters, leaking faucets, and burst pipes. Unless you treat excess water in your home immediately, it can lead to electrical hazards, structural damage, and mold growth. Water damage restoration experts like SERVPRO can help when the worst happens. Our team of experts is one call away, offering expert guidance and solving problems fast.

SERVPRO’s team of restorers is available 24/7 to provide you with emergency water damage restoration services in Raleigh. We use advanced equipment and tools to help us handle water damage of any magnitude in a brief period. Our highly trained technicians also use innovative equipment and strategies to deal with the various challenges we face during the restoration process. Since water seeps into multiple surfaces, we can use moisture sensors to detect moisture in carpets and padding, helping us determine the severity of the damage. 

Regardless of the cause of water damage, the restoration process usually involves these steps:  

• Thorough inspection
• Water removal
• Effective drying
• Cleaning and sanitizing

Delaying the water removal process can increase the magnitude of the destruction. We act fast to minimize damage by using our hi-tech drying equipment. SERVPRO can use several centrifugal air movers to dry the affected surfaces. These tools help in increasing air movement in the property leading to a high rate of evaporation. Since water can bring about electric hazards, we can use portable ground fault circuit interrupters to protect our equipment and your appliances.

SERVPRO restorers have access to various unique but approved products that help us clean and sanitize the affected area. We can use microban mixed with a nonionic detergent to clean and sanitize your property. The product is effective against a wide range of bacteria. It also helps combat any odors present on the property.

Water damage restoration requires special equipment and products. Contact SERVPRO of North Raleigh and Wake Forest to get your home to its preloss state, “Like it never even happened.” Talk to us today at (919) 790-1222.

Why is Water Mitigation Important for Raleigh Residents?

7/20/2021 (Permalink)

Trying to wrap your head around water damage can be frustrating. Reach out to SERVPRO of North Raleigh and Wake Forest today.

Water Mitigation Can Help Reduce Losses and Prevent Secondary Damages. SERVPRO Can Help Mitigate Water Damage in Your Raleigh Home

When water empties into a home environment, it begins to attract microbes and can immediately absorb any pre-existing dirt or grime. A water spill can often worsen over time as micro-organisms reproduce, which can cause a clean water spill to escalate into a grey or black water scenario quickly. The process of preventing water from degrading and damaging materials in the home is mitigation. Mitigation can help with:

• Water damage repairs
• Water clean up
• Burst pipes

The main proponent of water mitigation in your Raleigh home is to drain and dry the property as quickly as possible. Wet surfaces and materials can easily break down with prolonged exposure. SERVPRO technicians guarantee to arrive on-site within four hours of notification of loss to help reduce the likelihood of water damages becoming permanent. Water mitigation relies on:

• Expert organization, including setting staging areas, tracking water migration, and assessing materials.
• High-powered machinery to pump out water or dry the indoor environment efficiently.
• Effective cleaning methods specific to the type of materials, such as emulsifying powders for carpets or disinfectants for hard floors. 

To prevent excessive losses after a water leak, contact SERVPRO of North Raleigh and Wake Forest for water mitigation at (919) 790-1222.

Avoid Continuing Water Damage Problems in Raleigh

6/3/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO deploys advanced equipment to dry structures in Raleigh following a water damaging event--from a small leak to a pipe burst.

Elimination of Water Drips Prevents Hidden Damages from Expanding

Many people view home maintenance as a checklist, taking care of routine or obvious problems one by one. A mysterious puddle of water gets mopped up every few days without much thought, or a persistently musty-smelling bathroom gets a regular scrub and an air freshener. SERVPRO recommends an evaluation of unexpected dampness and odors as hidden water damage can be the cause.

Water damage in your Raleigh home can be stealthy, fine cracks in a pipe or a loose connection dripping water over time. Failing to install or use an exhaust fan in a bathroom or kitchen allows humidity to soar, dampening walls enough for mildew or mold to take hold. These types of seemingly minor water incursions are prevalent and eventually create severe harm to your home if ignored. Our highly trained technicians know where to find concealed water incursions and how to restore the damage they cause.

Left untreated, even tiny amounts of water soak into the structure of a home. Wood swells, rotting out under sink cabinets or producing warped areas on a hardwood floor: drywall crumbles and ceilings sag, the paint bubbling and peeling. Anywhere water lives, mold can take up residency, proliferating between walls or under tiles. SERVPRO crews unravel the mystery of this damage, finding the leaks and measuring the moisture content of your home’s building materials and air. Then we formulate a plan to abate the leaks or excessive humidity and the damage they caused.

We expose the wet areas any way possible, open cabinet doors, remove kick plates to extract standing water, and position air movers to thoroughly dry the spaces. SERVPRO crew members punch holes in drooping ceilings or stained wall areas to release water and permit airflow to move the remaining moisture out. Technicians check out steamy spaces and recommend opening windows or, preferably, adding and using exhaust fans consistently. Powerful dehumidifiers and sometimes heaters aid the restoration effort. If mold is present, our workers trained in EPA-approved remediation techniques manage microbial outbreaks.

SERVPRO is committed to restoring current water damage and educating on strategies to avoid problems in the future. After the structure dries, repairs and refinishing complete the job. We focus on restoration, never suggesting radical tear-outs and remodeling when proven recovery methods bring your dwelling back to its condition before the hidden destruction.

Involve SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest as early as you can when you notice persistent moisture, discoloration or warping of floors and walls, or a moldy smell. Call (919) 790-1222 day or night to schedule an inspection by our experienced team.

How Can Water Damage Remediation Help Raleigh Residents?

4/20/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO will be on the scene within 4 hours of the initial call. Water damage restoration is a specialty of ours, call now!

SERVPRO Water Cleanup Technicians Can Reduce Losses and Return your Home to a Sanitary State after Water Intrusion

Raleigh is a vibrant city in the American south that has established itself as a powerhouse for scientific research and study. The city itself is one of the fastest-growing in the country, with 474,069 permanent residents spread across 147 square miles. Raleigh's sheer size has seen it divided into specific regions, including the downtown and midtown districts. For most visitors, the downtown is among the top destinations with its thriving business districts, historic buildings, art and science museums. Navigating the neighborhoods of Raleigh is straightforward. The city is an example of a planned city created in the late eighteenth century as the capital of North Carolina. As a planned city, it operates on the grid system with only the historic downtown district representing the sprawling neighborhoods of an unplanned township. 

The city in North Carolina has played a key role throughout American History. It was at the center of the American Revolutionary War and a stronghold during the Civil War a century later. During the civil rights movement, Raleigh again took center stage with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today; the city is lined with testaments to, particularly, African American history, with the Luther King Memorial Gardens among some of the highlights. While Raleigh celebrates its rich heritage, it remains an innovative and modern city. Several galleries are exhibiting contemporary artists from the international stage and numerous interactive science and history museums. Eating out in Raleigh is a chance to enjoy the famous southern hospitality and pit barbecues renowned the world over. 

• The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is enormous and holds one of the largest permanent collections in the southern states. The museum also includes a three-story theater for educational exploration of the early life on earth. Group tours are available, while many exhibits at the museum are specifically designed to engage young children.
• Pullen Park is a great place to relax and unwind after a busy day downtown. There are 66 acres of kept land to explore here with boat rentals and kayaking along the river. Alongside the sports fields, tennis courts, and swimming pools, a stunning open-air amphitheater host shows throughout the summer. 
• Taste Carolina is a gourmet food tour that transports guests across the distinguished delis, restaurants, steakhouses, wineries, and barbecue joints that litter downtown Raleigh. The tours are available for group and corporate bookings. 

SERVPRO Water Cleanup Technicians Can Help Remove Bacteria and Return your Raleigh Home to a Sanitary Condition 

Water intrusion worsens over time. It is vital that you reach out to professional services on the first discovery of a water issue. Sometimes what might seem like a benign problem can be causing serious damage. Homes are full of cavities that, when wet, can become hotbeds for microbial growth activity. 

SERVPRO helps with:

• Flood restoration
• Water damage restoration
• Water clean up

Microbial growth is a concern for any professional water cleanup service in Raleigh. As a homeowner, microbes can contribute toward unpleasant odor, discoloration of decor, and even break down organic matter in your home. Water contains microbes that can become worse without fast-drying and remediation procedures. 

• We use specialty drying equipment such as air movers to ensure cavities, wall joints, and crawlspaces do not harbor moisture. 
• Our technicians follow guidelines for indoor hygiene from the S500. A nationally recognized institution. 
• We can apply biocides or anti-microbial chemicals to your home to prevent the buildup of water contaminants. 

To rescue your home after water intrusion. Contact SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest for water cleanup at (919) 790-1222.

How are Large Volumes of Water Extracted from a Property?

3/17/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the equipment to create barriers, targeting the water damaged areas.

SERVPRO Can Utilize Professional Water Removal Equipment for your Raleigh Home

North Carolina's capital city, Raleigh, is affectionately known as the 'city of oaks' due to the huge number of oak trees found in the center and downtown areas. The current population of 474,069 is estimated to be one of the fastest growing in the United States. People consistently flock to attend reputable universities or seek employment in globally recognized financial, medical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. Raleigh's prominence as a global leader in innovation is evidenced by its local university North Carolina State University, and its presence within "the research triangle," which refers to the three-leading research centers; the remaining two are in Durham and Chapel Hill.

Raleigh's city is an early example of the grid system defining many of the USA's major cities. Planned cities were intentionally created and drawn up rather than developed organically from a collection of villages or hamlets. Raleigh was intended to become the United States' capital by Secessionist forces during the American Revolutionary War. Modern-day Raleigh has consistently been voted one of the best places to live and work by financial magazines like Forbes. Several leading technology companies such as Imangi Studios and PRA Health Sciences headquarter in Raleigh.

• The Carolina Hurricanes are the most high-profile sports team in Raleigh and play their hockey in the NHL. Games take place at the PNC Arena, which seats 18,680 ice hockey fans on match days. The Arena is also home to the Raleigh Firebirds, which play Basketball in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) division.
• Located on West Jones Street, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences features one of the largest collections of dinosaurs, walk-through dioramas, live animals, and education initiatives in the South East. The center won the National Medal for Museum Service (IMLS) in 2014.
• For local history, the Historic Yates Mill County Park is a 154-acre plot of land that features an authentically restored, water-powered gristmill. The mill is the oldest surviving architecture from that period in North Carolina, and regular educational tours occur with the Yates Mills Associates and North Carolina state university.

SERVPRO Can Prevent Water Migration and Mitigate Loss in your Raleigh Home

Large bodies of water can cause significant damage to a home environment. A water intrusion issue can rapidly dilapidate your home's contents and structure since water naturally moves from wet to dry areas. Water migration happens quickly and can result in cavity damages within the home's design. SERVPRO technicians can remove water quickly and dry cavities to prevent damage.

• Wall cavities can be inspected using a borescope that allows technicians to see cavities' condition without demolishing walls.
• Air-movers can be fitted with flex hoses to circulate warm air into cavities and dry them.
• Maintaining temperature above dew point throughout restoration is essential to preventing condensation inside wall cavities.
• Variations in using injecti-dry systems with tubes and hoses

Protect your home after water intrusion. Contact SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest for water removal at (919) 790-1222.

How Can Raleigh Homeowners Remove Water Damage?

2/26/2021 (Permalink)

Water can quickly damage the flooring in your home. Contact SERVPRO for water removal and remediation efforts.

SERVPRO Offers Premier Service Among Water Restoration Companies

Homes across America experience copious amounts of water damage each year, and pipe leaks and appliance failures can add to any homeowner’s stresses. Unfortunately, an estimated one in 50 homeowners experiences the stress of home water damage each year.

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) -accredited Raleigh water restoration companies like SERVPRO respond quickly to disasters 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How Do SERVPRO Techs Restore Wet Carpet and Pad?

SERVPRO professionals implement various tools and techniques to restore a home’s carpeting. These include:

• Lifting carpet and pad so that air movement and dehumidification equipment can dry underneath it
• Extracting moisture with carpet wands and rover vacuums
• Controlling odors with EPA-registered antimicrobial solutions

Unsalvageable carpet can be removed from the property with the permission of homeowners and insurance adjusters. SERVPRO technicians can reinstall and re-seam both new and restored carpet and pad or provide a new pad for salvageable carpet.

Call (919) 790-1222 for service from SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest, which numbers among the area’s premier water restoration companies.

Raleigh Area Homes Face Potential Water Damage from Many Different Sources

11/20/2020 (Permalink)

When you experience water damage in your property. Call the experts at SERVPRO right away.

Various Types of Leaks Could Turn Your Raleigh Home into a Water-Damaged Mess

Over the past few decades, North Carolina has experienced a population boom and undergone rapid development. This is especially true of the state’s Research Triangle region, located roughly within conceptual lines connecting Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Specifically, the zone received its interesting geometric title due to the imaginary triangle formed by the area’s three major universities and the research park located within the polygon’s confines. Research Triangle Park, created in 1959, is the largest research park in the United States with over 300 companies that, in total, employ an estimated 65,000 people. The park is a hotbed of high-tech research and development, and the area it is in shares some similarities with San Francisco’s Silicon Valley region.      

Why So Many People are Making Raleigh Their New Home

The Research Triangle, in recent years, has become a popular place to relocate to for many reasons. These involve everything from enhanced educational and employment opportunities to greater access to recreational resources. Some of the varied specific reasons more people are choosing to call the Triangle home are:

It offers them more employment opportunities in diverse, high-paying professional fields.

The area gives them easy access to the educational resources of top-rated private and public universities, including those of Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and relatively nearby Wake Forest University.

It provides residents with more socializing and shopping options, as well as greater access to high-quality medical services since it is located in a major population center that is relatively close to substantial cities like Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte.

The region’s climate tends to be much more pleasant and moderate than those in other parts of the country; the Triangle has a good sunny-to-rainy day ratio, is not too arid or wet, does not usually suffer the excessive heat of the Deep South, nor the unbearable cold of the North, and rarely experiences heavy snowfalls.

Residents are within close reach of multiple diverse recreational resources, including the Great Smoky Mountains to the West, the Outer Banks to the East, and various parks, lakes, and waterways in North Carolina’s interior.    

The Triangle is near the midway point between New York City and Miami, making it convenient for those with connections to both cities.

As you can clearly see, it is no wonder why so many people have been migrating to Raleigh and its environs over the past half-century or so.

Problems the Population Boom and Rapid Development Have Caused

While population increases and development in the Raleigh-Durham area have fueled its economic growth and raised its standard of living, they have also led to various problems. These issues, which affect both the region in general and certain unfortunate homeowners individually, include:

Substantial rises in rates of crime and other related urban problems

Increased traffic congestion on local roadways

More air and waterway pollution

The growth of unsightly urban and suburban sprawl

Excessive losses of farms and woodlands

More rapidly built, poorly constructed housing.

As the Research Triangle’s population has grown, the region has increasingly experienced urban issues like elevated rates of murder and other violent crimes. Also, due to the ever-increasing demand for housing, homelessness has quickly become a concern as local residential options are becoming too expensive for some to afford. Moreover, the area’s convenience and picturesque natural beauty have been severely reduced by increased traffic and pollution, the rampant spread of development, and the steady disappearance of natural environments.

Troubles Associated with Shoddily Constructed Housing

Oftentimes, trendy boomtowns suffer from a “Gold Rush” mentality. Such a mindset drives unscrupulous profiteers to rush into an area to exploit those seeking to live and earn their fortunes there. Some Triangle area homebuilders are, in fact, profiteers that show little concern for constructing well-built homes and are only concerned with making a fast buck. As a result, there are more than a few local homes that may suffer from the following problems:

Poorly constructed, leaky roofs.

Ineffectively planned drainage systems

Areas around openings, like door frames and windows that are improperly sealed

Poorly designed or sealed appliance connectors.

Improperly designed or assembled pipe networks.

Anyone of these potentially hidden issues could make your residence a money pit susceptible to expensive water damage. So, remember to have properties professionally inspected before purchasing them.  

With all that said, your helpful neighbors at SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest are experts at successfully remediating water damage. In fact, we are one of the most highly rated water damage restoration companies in the Research Triangle region. So, if you ever experience the hardships associated with a water-related event, do not hesitate to call us at (919) 790-1222 for assistance.      

As a Raleigh Area Resident, How Can SERVPRO Help Me?    

SERVPRO offers numerous services beneficial to residents of Raleigh and the surrounding communities. These offerings include professional inspections for those looking to purchase homes or find suspected water leaks and related damage. Of course, we are also able to help homeowners overcome the effects of water leaks and standing water in various ways. As a local that is either planning to buy a home or is already a homeowner, our skilled technicians can do the following things for you:

Perform a thorough home inspection, using moisture sensors/meters, Thermo hygrometers, and infrared cameras to identify potential or current water-related issues

Remove standing water from your residence with wet vacs and powerful extractors

Thoroughly dry your home with air movers, dehumidifiers, and sophisticated Injectidry systems.

Treat water-impacted surfaces with antimicrobial and deodorant-spraying foggers.

Completely rebuild all destroyed parts of your residence.

Our efforts generally help you avoid buying troublesome properties or recover from water damage you have suffered.

As one of the most experienced water damage restoration companies in Raleigh, SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest can handle almost any water-related issue. So, if you ever need help with one, contact us at (919) 790-1222.

Why Is The Science of Drying So Important to Water Cleanup in Raleigh?

9/18/2020 (Permalink)

For water cleanup backed by scientific principles, call SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest at (919) 790-1222.

Raleigh Homeowners Need Water Cleanup Services They Can Rely On

Every homeowner in Raleigh has dealt with a water spill, whether from a toppled glass or an over-enthusiastic toddler soaking the bathroom at bathtime. When mopping up spilled liquid, most people do not stop and think about the science of it. After all, you are not in high school experimenting, you are merely keeping your home clean.

However, if you need water cleanup in Raleigh, the water damage restoration team you choose must understand drying science. A thorough understanding of the scientific principles means more effective work and a better result.

Why is the science of drying so important?
The science of drying means understanding how temperature, humidity, relative humidity, airflow, and the amount of water present, affects the drying process. Understanding the underlying principle is the difference between knowing that air movers and dehumidifiers can help remove moisture and understanding how that process works.

If the remediation team properly understands the science behind drying, they know:
    •    What kind of equipment to use to dry your home
    •    How to position devices for the best results
    •    Which monitoring tools to use when assessing water levels
    •    How to know when something is thoroughly dry, not just surface dry
    •    How to search for hidden damp patches

A well-informed team will get you better results because they know how to carry out drying to maximum effect. They also understand how to find hidden moisture and deal with it, which helps to prevent fungal growth in the future.

What does a restoration team need to know?
Before commencing water cleanup, SERVPRO technicians must understand:
    •    How temperature and humidity levels affect drying conditions, and how to manipulate temperature and humidity to create an optimum environment
    •    How to measure the amount of moisture air is capable of holding versus how much moisture it is currently holding
    •    How vapor pressure and dew point affect drying
    •    How water moves between solid, liquid, and vapor states

Armed with this knowledge, technicians can calculate the best placement and settings for extractors, pumps, air movers, and dehumidifiers.

How does SERVPRO ensure its technicians understand the principles of drying?
SERVPRO trains all our technicians to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards. The IICRC is the industry-standard body for restoration certification, and they have training programs that cover every aspect of water cleanup and repair.

All our franchise owners attend a fifteen-day hands-on course at our central training facility to ensure they understand every remediation aspect. Our teams also have access to ongoing e-training to help them stay updated with the latest industry best practices and drying techniques.

Because SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest has access to nationally-accredited training courses, you can rest assured your home is in good hands.

What is the difference between open and closed drying?
One of our team's critical decisions is whether to use an open or closed drying system to dry out your home. But what is the difference?

An open drying system means exchanging the humid air inside your home with the drier air from outside. For open drying to be effective, technicians must accurately measure the humidity of both inside and outside air. We equip our teams with a range of equipment, such as thermo-hygrometers, to measure the air's moisture content.

Open drying means opening doors and windows and using air movers to bring about the air exchange. Because our teams understand the science of drying, they know how many air movers to use and where to position them.

A closed drying environment does not use air from outside but instead focuses on removing moisture from the indoor air. The technician will close off the affected area and use air movers and dehumidifiers to remove the air's moisture. In some cases, they will also use a negative air machine.

Whether to use closed or open drying depends on many factors, including the humidity levels inside and outside, the temperature, the weather, and any security concerns regarding leaving doors or windows open. Constant monitoring helps our technicians keep the drying process on track.  Because our teams are well-versed in drying science, you can trust them to make the right call.

What happens after the water cleanup?
Once the SERVPRO team has removed water and dried your home, we deodorize it. We aim to leave your home “Like it never even happened,” and deodorization is an essential part of making your home feel fresh and clean again.

We use air scrubbers, charcoal filters, fogging, and spot cleaning as needed to remove odors from your home.

Our team will check in with you a week after cleanup to make sure you are satisfied.

For water cleanup backed by scientific principles, call SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest at (919) 790-1222.

Why Is Monitoring A Vital Part of Water Mitigation?

8/14/2020 (Permalink)

Sometimes we have to remove structural elements like flooring and drywall to thoroughly dry your home.

Raleigh Residents Can Rest Assured Their Water Mitigation Project Is Under Control

People living in Raleigh know that sometimes when it comes to home maintenance or disaster mitigation, you need to call in the professionals. Dealing with a water loss event in your home is frustrating – why make it even worse by trying to handle everything yourself?

For water mitigation in Raleigh, look no further than SERVPRO. Our professional water cleanup service includes professional monitoring to ensure the job is complete. What is monitoring, and why does it matter? Let’s take a look.

What are the steps for water mitigation?

Water monitoring occurs after several other restoration steps. First, our teams:

• Assess the situation and make a plan
• Remove any structural elements, such as drywall that are not salvageable
• Make sure the building is safe and secure, so we begin work
• Extract water from your home
• Clean your home and belongings

Once all this is complete, we set up drying equipment. Our drying kit includes dehumidifiers and a range of different air movers.

What is water monitoring?

Water monitoring means setting up our drying system and then leaving it to run for a while (usually around 24 hours.) After the dryers have run for a while, we come back and test the moisture levels to assess how well the drying is going.

What tests does SERVPRO carry out?

Monitoring begins with a visual assessment where our teams check out the overall look and feel of the area and assess whether all equipment is still funning as it should Then, we use the following equipment to assess drying progress:

• A penetrating moisture meter to assess moisture levels in materials that can be probed such as carpet, carpet backing, or soft furnishings
• A non-penetrating moisture meter reads moisture levels in materials that cannot be probed such as hardwood flooring, tiles, or cabinetry
• A thermal hygrometer to assess evaluate the temperature and humidity

We use these tests to ascertain if drying is proceeding according to plan and make any necessary adjustments.

Proper monitoring means there is no guesswork involved – we rely on facts and figures, so you know our results are accurate.

For a thorough water mitigation service, you can rely on, call SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest at (919) 790-1222.

More about Raleigh.

Is Professional Restoration Best for Water Damage in Raleigh?

6/19/2020 (Permalink)

We have premier equipment and technologies that can make these disasters “Like it never even happened.”

Water Damage Restoration In Raleigh

When water losses occur in your Raleigh home, there are several advantages to choosing our SERVPRO restoration.

A prompt response to water loss emergencies in your Raleigh home works to ensure that the situation does not get out of control. From malfunctioning appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and water heater tanks to breaches in the plumbing from unexpected cold snaps or aging fixtures, these emergencies can have many different sources that all require unique approaches to resolve.

Determining what is best for your home often falls to professionals capable of restoring water damage in Raleigh residences. A singular restoration event can feature dozens of recovery tasks in a specific order. Considering how finite the timeline is after a loss incident, having professionals like our SERVPRO team begin these steps as soon as possible can help to protect more of your home and its contents. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, so we have a 24/7 response to threatening disasters that can destroy your home.

What Can You Expect from Professional Restorers?

Professional restoration differs significantly from DIY approaches that you can begin on your own. Our technicians have premier equipment and strategies taught by standard-setting firms like the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA.) We can offer a fast and confident approach to water emergencies at all hours of the day through the coursework to obtain certification in Water Restoration (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), and other relative niches. While the individual steps and methods of accomplishing the various phases might differ, water recovery often follows a specific pattern:

    •    Extraction
    •    Content Management
    •    Controlled Demolition
    •    Drying
    •    Cleaning

What Is the Best Choice to Remove Standing Water?

As you might expect, extraction is one of the most vital elements of water loss recovery. Removing surface water can prevent flooring materials and other exposed construction materials from becoming saturated by pooling liquid. Carpeting and wood flooring are often the most susceptible surfaces to begin absorbing standing water, which can happen immediately. Similarly, contents throughout the structure can also absorb this pooling water and become irreparably damaged. Your personal belongings can often get protected during the initial stages of mitigation through relocation to a safer area of the house or by getting moved to our SERVPRO facility. Regarding extraction, several potential tools can help, often chosen based on the severity of the present damage:

Submersible Pumps – Submersible pumps are one of the ideal water removal choices when a substantial volume of standing water exists in the damaged areas. With continuous, quiet operation, electric submersible pumps can quickly reduce the amount of water damage.

Truck-Mount Pumps – With widespread threats where massive homes or businesses are contending with higher volumes of water damage, truck-mount pumps can extract this pooling threat at a rate of 300 psi.

Wet Vacuums – Wet vacuums offer versatility to water removal needs that your property might have. These units can move easily from one point to another and support several attachments, making them a universal tool in the recovery effort.

Can Water Get Removed from Exposed Flooring?

Flooring is often one of the materials most heavily impacted by pooling water and moisture concerns. With migrating loss effects moving through the house, absorption can happen quickly, especially with porous materials like carpeting and hardwoods. Addressing these wet surfaces involves some of the specialty water removal and drying tools in our inventory, including:

    •    Carpet Wands
    •    Drying Mats
    •    Air Movers

What If Your Home Needs Reconstruction?

While every loss situation does not equate to controlled demolition and build back needs, there are several instances where a need for reconstruction is unavoidable. With a team of licensed contractors in-house to help, we can offer experienced hands for material removal and a prompt transition between mitigation and build back. In many scenarios, prolonged saturation and exposure can lead to a need to remove and reinstall flooring materials like linoleum tiles, carpets, and wood plank flooring. It is always the focus of our SERVPRO team to restore before replacement when it is cost-effective to achieve this.

Understanding how professional restoration works can save you time and offer some peace of mind during a traumatic experience. With our SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest team available 24/7, we can provide a fast and reliable response to water loss emergencies. We have premier equipment and technologies that can make these disasters “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (919) 790-1222.

5 Things To Know About Water Damage

5/27/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage restoration in Millbrook, NC

5 Things To Know About Water Damage

After a pipe burst at your Millbrook, NC, home you might be wondering what to do next and how to avoid water damage. In order to prevent long term problems after flooding, there are a few things you should know.

1. A Professional Can Help

Anytime you think you may have flood water issues of any kind it’s important to contact a local water damage restoration service. They can help remove the water, dry the area, and make any repairs that may be needed.

2. Damage Can Happen a Number of Ways

It’s important to note that water damage can happen in a number of ways. A water line may break, a storm could lead to flooding, or you might have a leaky seal around a window. No matter what type of water damage you’re worried about, a professional should still be able to help.

3. Repairs Should Be Made Quickly

Any time you have any water damage, whether, from a pipe burst or roof leak, it’s important to make repairs as quickly as possible. A quick cleanup may help save your home from more costly problems long term.

4. Untreated Damage Causes Long Term Problems

It’s important to fix all the damaged areas as soon as possible. Putting off repairs can lead to additional issues like warped wood or mold growth.

5. Affected Areas Can Be Restored

It’s important to remember that no matter how bad the damage may first appear to be, a restoration service should be able to conduct cleanup and repairs. With a little time and work they can soon have the space looking “Like it never even happened.”

After a pipe burst in your home, it’s important to remember these five tips in order to help prevent long term damage. Contact a restoration service as soon as you can, look for various types of damage, make repairs quickly, don’t leave damages spaces un-repaired, and remember that restoration is possible.

4 Steps Landlords of Older Properties Should Take

5/12/2020 (Permalink)

Commercial water damage restoration in Rolesville, NC

4 Steps Landlords of Older Properties Should Take

Older properties have a few advantages such as charm and location, but they can be difficult to maintain, especially for landlords. Plumbing issues can haunt landlords and operators of apartment complexes. Many of the systems are outdated. Obsolete pipes made of polybutylene not only frequently crack and break but they also affect the quality of the drinking water. If the goal is to avoid constant repairs and frequent complaints from tenants, a landlord should try these solutions.

1. Schedule Inspections. Regular plumbing inspections can catch small problems before they get big and expensive. They can also prevent expensive problems with water damage that destroys flooring and creates other issues such as mold growth. Plus, an expense that is planned for is often easier to manage than a surprise bill.

2. Replace Polybutylene Piping. This product was popular in the 1970s and the 1980s because it was inexpensive and easy to install. Unfortunately, it doesn't belong in a rental unit plumbing system, or anywhere else for that matter, for a number of reasons. Repeated repairs will just result in more repairs. The solution is to replace the pipes with CPVC, copper, or some other suitable material.

3. Partner With a Mitigation Company. The services of a professional water remediation franchise can come in handy for a number of circumstances. Water restoration experts arrive quickly on the scene and take care of a water problem 24/7 and 365 days a year. A local company in Rolesville, NC, is Faster to Any Size Disaster. Certified technicians have the training and equipment to handle water leaks, toilet overflows, and broken pipes.
4. Monitor Sewer Lines. Tree roots and other obstructions can cause sewage overflows and backups. Regular maintenance can clear away dangers to sewer pipes.
Problems such as polybutylene piping and other outdated components complicate the lives of landlords. A professional response to a water problem can make their work easier.

The Best Way to Dry and Restore Water Damaged Hardwood Floors in Raleigh

10/17/2019 (Permalink)

Water damages hardwood quickly. SERVPRO has the know how and equipment to restore your flooring. Call us today!

Salvaging Hardwood Flooring After Water Damage in a Raleigh Home

While most insurance policies offer coverage for replacing floors, there are many situations where homeowners can save money by drying instead, especially with solid hardwood. Other types of flooring, including engineered hardwood and laminate, are more prone to structural damage, delamination, and other issues that make replacement preferable. Solid hardwood's durability makes it more salvageable and safer to reinstall.  The durability saves you time and costs when it comes to reinstallation, staining, and refinishing.

If a sudden pipe leak causes water damage to floors in your Raleigh residence, professional disaster mitigation technicians at SERVPRO can restore your flooring to its preloss condition. Commercial-grade equipment an eco-friendly, EPA-registered antimicrobial cleaners work in tandem to salvage floors, subflooring, and other structures in the home that are affected by water. Technicians always work with both homeowners and insurance adjusters to handle damages and restoration per local, state, and federal regulations.

SERVPRO works fast not only to save flooring but also to preserve the layers of infrastructure that support it. Without proper mitigation, water damaged floors can become distorted and start cupping or buckling. These conditions can also become host to mold and wood rot that affect the safety and integrity of hardwood floors.  After dispatching a team to your home, they can use wanded extractors and back-mounted pumps to collect any remaining standing water. Thermal imaging and penetrative and non-penetrative moisture measurement tools can be used to assess the extent of damage to floors and subfloors. We replace non-salvageable planks as needed.

Desiccant dehumidifiers are often necessary to tackle the remaining moisture in hardwood planks due to hardwood's low evaporation rate. These types of industrial dehumidifiers collect moisture from surrounding surfaces by passing it over desiccant materials like silica gel. Heat then evaporates the collected water into an air stream which vents outside of the home. If odors from water damage are evident, OSHA-approved cleaners and ultra low-volume (ULV) fogging deodorizers can be used to eliminate odor-causing particles.

SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest serves the community by being Faster to Any Size Disaster. Call (919) 790-1222 today to have a team at your home in mere hours.

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Removing Standing Water in Morrisville Homes with Wet-Vacs

9/13/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the tools and the power to take down the water damage in your Morrisville home.

Let us help remove your water damage issues in Morrisville.

While standing water can present substantial stress for Morrisville homeowners, cleaning up the mess has to be a priority. In many cases, property owners have left the extraction of this threat to the trained professionals of our SERVPRO team. With the extensive inventory of removal tools and our well-trained collection of qualified water restoration specialists, we can offer effective and efficient recovery solutions regardless of when disasters strike.

Water removal in Morrisville homes often involves multiple layers of powerful machines and tools available to our professionals. We keep these tools stocked on ready trailers prepared to roll out from our facility at the first sign of trouble. If you have the situation relatively contained, however, you might want to rely on your ability to remove standing water. In many cases, you can complete much of this work with the deployment of a wet/dry shop vac.

Often, homeowners have little knowledge of the full functionality of their wet/dry vacs. Even if you have purchased the unit to handle bouts of standing water in your basement after a heavy rain, many still use the machine as a reservoir tank – dumping out the contents every time the unit fills. In truth, our SERVPRO wet-vacs, much like the machines that you can purchase at home improvement locations, have a discharge functionality.

By hooking a hose up to both the suction end and a discharge hose on the other side, you can direct water flow to wherever you want. Often hoses can be increased in length endlessly, giving you as much distance to cover as you require. This approach can often manage even several inches of standing water, though it does not help to address a saturation or exposure issues that might have occurred since the disaster began.

The professionals that we can maneuver to your address at the initial signs of water loss can work to not only address these extraction needs that you have, but also manage rapid drying solutions. This focus can help to protect installed construction materials from requiring removal and replacement from overexposure.

Whether you need a second opinion for the restoration you attempt, or you want to leave the recovery of your home to our competent SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest professionals, we are here to help. Give our team a call anytime that you need us at (919) 790-1222.

If you would like to know more about Morrisville, click here.

Don’t Just Sit There! Start Your Water Damage Remediation in Raleigh Now. 

7/8/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage in Raleigh can cause major headaches if not done correctly. Call the professionals at SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.

Removing Persistent Malodors after Water Damage in your Raleigh Property

One element of restoration is the combating of smells referred to in the industry as removing malodors. Unpleasant aromas can come from several sources. Sometimes, the odor is residing inside furniture or wall cavities but only becomes noticeable once the water has loosened pre-existing grime or soiling. There are also microbes present in water which may be odorous themselves or, if the water is contaminated, then raw sewage, animal carcass or mold could be causing odor. 

After water damage in Raleigh, there may be several different sources contributing to malodor. Sometimes an odor disperses naturally once the property is dry. SERVPRO technicians can mobilize a range of tools such as industrial water extraction equipment, air movers, or dehumidifiers to dry your home. We may even use a drying tent, to isolate a particular area and provide concentrated drying techniques- this process can sometimes quarantine sources of odor as well. 

After a property has dried, you may find that odors persist. Since the source of an odor is tough to pin down, we may need to use a multi-faceted approach to controlling it. SERVPRO can place deodorizing pellets inside cavities which can mask an odor until it disperses naturally and no longer poses a problem. In situations where odor persists, we may combine thermal fogging or light deodorant sprays to surfaces in general. Both methods can be instrumental in pairing with odors and neutralizing them rather than covering up the smell. 

SERVPRO is capable of controlling immediate odors in your home, but can also take steps to ensure future odor problems are kept to a minimum. During service, we can apply anti-microbial and biocide treatments to surfaces, carpets, and flooring. If repainting is required, we can create a base layer using special anti-microbial paint to prevent mold from forming and causing issues. 

Our technicians communicate with you every step of the way and can pass on an inventory of work completed to your insurance adjuster on your behalf. Contact SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest at (919) 790-1222. 

Click here to see more about Raleigh. 

Our Team Is Prepared To Restore Your Raleigh Home After A Water Damage Disaster

6/12/2019 (Permalink)

We are available 24/7, 365 days per year. We have the equipment and expertise to remove the water and restore your property.

SERVPRO - Remediating Water Damage To Raleigh Kitchens

Despite the Falls and B. Everett Lakes, plus various creeks and more nearby, most Raleigh residents deal with water problems from causes like failing dishwashers and broken water heaters. Even smaller amounts of water from these items can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in repair and replacement.

Common types of water damage to Raleigh homes after either appliance failure are in the kitchen. SERVPRO restoration teams train to restore linoleum and sub-floors when possible and replace them when needed.

When water damage remains too long on linoleum, it can cause the glue holding it in place to loosen, forming pockets of air and water. For small air pockets, team members can press them flat again using a flooring roller. For larger pockets, they carefully make a tiny pinhole, then use the roller to slowly squeeze out the air and force the vinyl back into place. Once the affected area is flat again, specialists seal the pinhole with vinyl glue. The process is similar to water pockets or bubbles except that specialists make a pinhole in each one to drain the water, regardless of size.

If they are unable to press the linoleum back in place with the flooring roller, SERVPRO specialists can, at the owner’s direction, cut away the affected section and replace it. They can also lift and dispose of the entire vinyl floor if needed, then replace it with new linoleum.

In homes where the water soaked into the floor while the family was away on vacation, it can damage the sub-floor support structure. Team members can dry these areas using air movers, and make repairs such as replacing several 2x4s. If the floor is severely compromised, the team leader recommends the homeowner bring in a general contractor for repairs.

At SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest, our teams take every step to return each home to its original, pre-damaged condition. If your home has suffered through a recent water issue, contact us today at (919) 790-1222. We are here for you.

See more about Raleigh.

Fast Water Removal Limits Damage to Raleigh Kitchen

5/31/2019 (Permalink)

To ensure that your water damage is properly taken care of, call SERVPRO today.

SERVPRO can help you limit your damage.

During cleanup from water damage in Oak City homes, the extraction phase is one of the most crucial. The reason is that the more water we can pull out of carpeting, furnishings, or the structure, the faster the drying phase goes.

SERVPRO answered a call from a homeowner in Raleigh with water damage, who needed water removal in their kitchen area from a supply line leak under the sink. During the initial phone call, our technician verified with the homeowner she turned off the water and put down towels to help absorb the water until we arrived.

We arrived on-site a short time later and immediately deployed our portable pumps to extract any water left. We carefully scope water loss events precisely to ensure we remove all excess water in the room. Our moisture detection equipment showed water migrated behind the baseboards, and the hollow area under the cabinet showed elevated moisture levels.

To let maximum airflow under the cabinet area, our SERVPRO technicians removed the baseboards and positioned the air movers attached to the Injecti-Dry to direct air into the interior wall and cabinet spaces. We have different types of dehumidifying equipment that we use in tandem with the air movers to port out the moisture the air movers bring to the surface.

Once the kitchen was dry, we used our probes to confirm there were no remaining areas of excessive moisture. Mold is always a concern after a water loss. By lowering the moisture levels and following up with thorough hand cleaning with our professional-grade antibacterial and antifungal solutions, we inhibit the potential for mold to become an issue.

After completion of the water loss mitigation, our SERVPRO technicians gave the homeowner a list of the actions we took for remediation of the damage from the water, and we made a list of the necessary repairs the homeowner would need to have completed for restoring the home to its preloss condition. 
Call SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest at (919) 790-1222 when you need assistance with water removal. We have the equipment and experience to handle any water loss event and are available 24/7 because We're Faster to Any Size Disaster.

To learn more about the aspiring City of Raleigh, NC click here.

The Best Way to Dry a Water Damaged Basement in Raleigh

4/11/2019 (Permalink)

You can trust the SERVPRO Brand to restore your water damaged basement.

Use Water Removal Services in Raleigh to Restore Your Basement After a Leak From Malfunctioning Appliances

Basements are popular due to their ability to increase the value of a home and add extra living space to it among other benefits. Nonetheless, they are one of the areas that are most prone to sustaining water damage because they are in the lowest part of a home. If you have a washing machine or water heater in your basement, they are potential hazards if they malfunction or become clogged. Water in the basement is often a significant issue when the sump pump is not working. You have to remove the water, dry everything and address any mildew or mold present. It is often best to let the experts handle basement flooding.

If you are searching for professionals who offer water removal services in Raleigh due to a flooded basement, SERVPRO is the right company to call. Our well-trained technicians can use sophisticated equipment to clean your basement so that your home is comfortable to live in again. Extracting unwanted water is vital in completing property restoration after water loss.  

Our technicians can use pumps and truck mounted vacuums to remove water from your basement. We can also use submersible pumps to remove most of the water and then use wet/dry vacuums to remove the rest. Our water removal services offer several benefits, including preventing mold growth and other secondary damage in the affected areas. Our technicians extract as much water as possible from the affected areas so that they can dry faster. Pumping more water out of a structure reduces the need to use dehumidifiers for lengthy periods.  

Here at SERVPRO, we do our best to solve the problem our customers are facing within a short time. We are trained to seek out hidden water damage. Water can be captured or flow in seemingly unlikely places. Our technicians can identify all wet materials through moisture inspections involving thermo-hygrometers, moisture detection devices, and infrared technology. We also remove contaminated materials from the affected areas to prevent microbial growth.  

When there is unwanted water in your basement, SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest can assist you in removing it before things get worse. Contact us today at (919) 790-1222 to get your basement water removal done professionally and quickly. We serve several local communities, including Raleigh, North Hills, and Morrisville. 

Read more about Raleigh here.

How Professionals Remove Water From Your Raleigh Home

11/14/2018 (Permalink)

Water can damage everything it touches, from the structure to furniture. Removing water quickly is important to restoring your home.

Choosing an Appropriate Drying System during Water Damage Restoration in Raleigh

There are several ways in which water damage incidents affect your property. For instance, if your wooden furniture stays in the water for an extended period, then it may swell, crack, or even break. Quick response is the best way of dealing with such incidents when they take place in your Raleigh home. We have to physically extract the water from your property by using pumps and portable/truck-mounted extractors. 

After using physical means to extract water from your water damaged Raleigh property, our SERVPRO technicians select an appropriate drying system. As water evaporates from wet surfaces, it gets added to the surrounding air as moisture. When the temperature of the room lowers with time, the moisture in the air can condense and cause secondary damage. The drying system that we choose must address this concern and remove the moisture as soon as it accumulates in the air. 

When it is necessary to exchange the moist air in the room with the outside air, which is usually drier, our SERVPRO technicians use an open system. During this technique, we may ventilate the building using air movers or fans, or even open the windows. We use this process when the air outside the structure has more than 20 gpp relative to the air within the building. Since the weather can change at any given time, it means the open system is efficient under certain conditions. 

Sometimes it is necessary to close off the site from the unaffected areas of the structure and the outside air. Under such circumstances, we use a closed system. We use dehumidifiers and air movers when controlling the indoor environments to yield the needed results. Irrespective of the drying system our SERVPRO technicians settle on, we work towards achieving a balanced drying system. Under such a scenario, we remove as much water vapor from the surrounding air as the fans or air movers put in. 

SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest can restore and clean your residential or commercial property after it experiences water, fire, storm, or mold damage. You can learn everything about our 24-hour emergency services by calling (919) 790-1222.  

Raleigh’s population in 1800 was 669. For more information about Raleigh, click here.

Upstairs Bathroom Leaks Result in Downstairs Damage in Your Home in Raleigh

10/3/2018 (Permalink)

A leak in the upstairs shower caused a water stain on the downstairs ceiling.

Leaky Drains in Upper Stories can Create Water Damage in Ceilings in Raleigh

Even smaller-sized homes in Raleigh have a multitude of places where things can go wrong. Small cracks in materials, corrosion, normal wear and tear, and accidents can all create damaged and broken things that let additional damage happen to the same elements as well as other locations.

Downstairs water damage in your Raleigh home can occur when any leaks in drains or water lines create water damage below the floor and affect ceilings downstairs. SERVPRO can handle this predicament by repairing small plumbing issues and getting the area dried out. Once we have accomplished this, we check for water damage that affected the strength of the floor's framework. You may have noticed soft spots in your floor. These often appear before larger deficits. Rebuilding these must occur before we can continue with the restoration of visible parts of floors, ceilings, and any affected walls.  

Having a stable, sturdy framework in place and repaired plumbing that no longer leaks means we can begin working on re-establishing a normalized moisture content. We cut away and remove those materials that sustained water damage and get these ruined boards, sections of flooring, and rusted nails out of your home. Drying out damp materials keeps them from becoming damaged and keeps restoration expenses low.  

Soft spots in floors are not the only sign of water damage. Ceilings can also start showing discoloration and staining where water bleeds through to the paint. Staining does not always indicate water damage severe enough to necessitate the removal and replacement of the ceiling. Desiccation can often save your ceiling if caught in time and mitigation work begins soon after. SERVPRO technicians can then repaint the surfaces, restoring the room “Like it never even happened.”  

Just as floors can become soggy in the room where leaks exist, the ceiling below can also retain water. This extra weight can cause the ceiling to become misshapen, bowing downward from the load. Our technicians can drill a series of weep holes from which the water can drain away. Afterward, we patch these holes, and we reattach the drywall to the ceiling's framework. We complete the restoration with a fresh coat of paint in your choice of color.  

SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest can get your home back to normal again after water damage sneaks up on you. Serving New Light, Rolesville, and Leesville, our IICRC-certified technicians help residents protect their property by performing the latest mitigation and restoration techniques. Call us at (919) 790-1222 to reach our 24-hour service line.

Raleigh is known as the ‘City of Oaks.’  Learn more interesting facts about Raleigh by clicking here.

Preparing Now Can Help Reduce Your Need For Water Removal Services In Raleigh

9/13/2018 (Permalink)

When your property sustains a flood or a broken pipe, you need a company that can dry things out for you with rapid water removal services.

Water Removal Services

September is National Preparedness Month, and SERVPRO wants to help those living in our local communities become prepared for disasters that might strike. Many accidents involve water that invades homes and businesses, either through natural weather events or from incidents that only affect the interior of one house.

When your property in Raleigh sustains a flood, a fire, or a broken pipe, you need a company that can dry things out for you with rapid water removal services. SERVPRO technicians are both certified by the IICRC and Faster to Any Size Disaster, saving homes from worsening damages. Water spreads quickly, and as it does, costs increase significantly. Water does not need to be dirty to damage your home's furnishings or your family's belongings.

SERVPRO technicians know the latest methods in quickly removing the water that can slowly destroy your home. Because our services always match the magnitude of the disaster affecting your family, you never need to worry about paying for machinery we never used, nor about us not having the necessary equipment to do the job correctly. You play an essential role in defending your home from disasters involving water, also. Your actions can grow in scope far beyond shutting off the main water valve, stocking food, or filling sandbags.

The Ready.gov site breaks September into four weeks, with the first two devoted to making and practicing disaster response plans and learning skills to save lives. Invasive water poses several risks, including drowning and electrical shock. You can more easily prevent either of these by practicing a plan that your family puts together. After a life-threatening incident occurs affecting a loved one, knowing how to respond can save their life.

Emergency responders are often overwhelmed with disaster calls when an entire community floods, causing response times to increase drastically. Becoming a first responder for your family can thwart a tragedy and keep it from becoming a permanent loss. While we at SERVPRO can help restore your home and belongings with water removal strategies and drying out your home, we, unfortunately, can never undo the loss of life.

SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest wants your family and all those in Brookhaven, Sandy Plain, Leesville, and Six Forks to use September to become more prepared for disasters that can strike any time of the year. Our water removal services help in successfully mitigating many types of damage, just as your preparedness can aid your family when they come face-to-face with disasters involving storms and floods. Call us at (919) 790-1222 for professional and skilled technicians who can assist you in rapid mitigation of these and other misfortunes.

Click here for more about Raleigh.

Secondary Water Damage in Raleigh Residences can Include Mold, Defects in Wood, and Corrosion

8/5/2018 (Permalink)

Water damage in any part of your home needs to be remediated as it can quickly lead to mold. Contact SERVPRO right away.

Team SERVPRO Thoroughly Remediates Water Damage in Your Home to Help Prevent a Mold Infestation

Water coming into your home through pipes and leaving through the drain system keeps things in Raleigh perfectly normal. Anything that changes this, such as the development of a small leak or drip, can slowly cause problems. Small crevices in your home's siding or roof can also give water from rain or snow a way into your house's interior.
 
When your home sustains water from any source, water damage in Raleigh can happen quickly. Allowing this moisture to just evaporate into the air can lead to problems later. Secondary water damage in the form of mold growth can appear anywhere in a home. This occurrence is possible because water vapor travels in the air, pushed along by your home's air currents.
 
Microbes in the air also end up in the same area that moisture accumulates, making it easy for these spores and mold particles to start colonizing on your house's interior surfaces. Any wood items in the area not only provide cellulose for the microbial population to consume, but these pieces also serve as a reservoir by retaining the moisture inside them. The water vapor absorbed can also warp wood while slowly deteriorating particle board components. Metal pieces such as hinges or sliding lock can become rusted because of the elevated humidity.
 
SERVPRO sends in technicians to mitigate the damage caused by water and moisture, removing damaged materials that we cannot restore while cleaning and repairing as much as possible. Our technicians know the most effective methods for restoring items damaged by both water or mold. Replacing rusted items is often more cost-effective than cleaning and oiling them to undo the corrosion caused by heavy moisture in the air.
 
Our workers also spend time drying out your home to prevent further difficulties. We want to make your home like it was before any water damage existed. Call SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest at (919) 790-1222, so we can help you restore your Leesville, Brookhaven, or Sandy Plain home "Like it never even happened."

Click here for more about Raleigh.

A Severe Storm Can Make Your New Hope Home In Need Of Water Removal Services

7/5/2018 (Permalink)

When a severe storm rolls into town and causes flooding inside of your home, you're going to need water removal services.

Water Removal Services

When a severe storm rolls into town and causes flooding inside of your home, you're going to need water removal services. A window left open can allow hundreds of gallons of water to pour into your basement home gym, endangering the expensive equipment there. Metals that are left exposed to water can rust, and electrical devices can malfunction.

When your New Hope home is in urgent need of water removal services, it is fortunate that help is not far. When it comes to water flooding your home, it is best for the longevity of your residence that you call for professional help as soon as possible. The faster our technicians can get into your home and begin the remediation process, the better it is for your gym equipment.

SERVPRO can bring specialized tools to remove the water from your home. Depending on the nature of the water, we can use extractors, wet/dry vacuums, and submersible pumps to remove it. If it is not a significant volume of water, we can merely remove the water and pump it away from your house. However, if the volume is significant, we can bring truck mounted tools to carry the water away from your home.

Once we have extracted the water, we can inspect the structure of your home for any water damage. If any of your electrical gym equipment is shorted out, SERVPRO can send it away to be carefully inspected. If it cannot be fixed, we can help you claim anything that you lost with your insurance company.

Finally, the last thing our experts can do for your home is to make sure that it is up to dryness standards. Our SERVPRO technicians can use tools like dehumidifiers and ventilation fans to create an environment that fosters evaporation. Once your home is returned to an acceptable moisture level, and we have cleaned the space of any grime and dirt, the remediation is complete.

Do not hesitate if rainwater finds a way into your home. When you need damage remediation services, reach out to SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest by dialing (919) 790-1222. We strive to make you feel "Like it never even happened."

Click here for more about New Hope.

Cleaning Up After Water Damage In Raleigh

1/18/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Has Industry-Leading Pumping Equipment for Water Removal from Raleigh Properties.

Fast Water Removal Mitigates Damage to Your Home--Call SERVPRO

There may be a number of causes of damage to your Raleigh home or commercial property, but whatever the reason for the damage it needs to be dealt with quickly. The longer the problem is left, the harder and more expensive it can be to put right. SERVPRO has experts in water removal and damage restoration, and we are confident that we can help with the problems you are experiencing.

The most important thing to remember in cases of water damage in Raleigh is that quick action is the key. SERVPRO can be contacted at any stage of the water removal and damage restoration process but for expedient results call when you first notice any excess water so that we can see the process through from start to finish. We can respond to your call quickly and can get started on assessing the extent of the damage straight away. We use tools such as moisture meters to help us find out exactly how much water we are dealing with and this allows us to plan our next steps accordingly. Of course, puddles of water can be suctioned up quickly as we search for hidden water and moisture.

We can remove all excess water through the use of water pumps. These can be either truck mounted or portable, depending on the location of your property and how much water there is to remove. When all traces of visible water have gone, then we use drying mats and air movers as well as a range of other techniques to ensure that there is no moisture left behind. Strategically placing dehumidifiers capture the remaining airborne moisture. This reduces the likelihood that any mold might develop and also ensures that all surfaces are ready for any restoration work to begin.

Our SERVPRO technicians are trained to IICRC standards for water damage restoration. This assures our customers that they are getting the very best and professional service carried out on their property.

You should call SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest as soon as you notice any signs of water damage in your property. We are available 24/7 at (919) 790-1222. We also serve the areas of New Hope and Brookhaven.

Click here for more about this city.

How Flood Damage can Affect Your Raleigh Residence when Appliances Malfunction

11/13/2017 (Permalink)

Accidents can happen from broken or worn out pipes. If your home is flooded as a result, contact SERVPRO for quick remediation.

SERVPRO Technicians Arrive Quickly After a Water Damage Incident in Your Home

We know that protecting your Raleigh home from damage is a recurring task that you take seriously. Your home is one of your most substantial investments and provides the majority of your family's protection. Making sure it remains intact and damage-free ensures that your family stays protected from the elements and other dangers.

One problem that occurs in homes is flood damage in Raleigh caused by a broken water line. Washing machines, dishwashers, or ice makers can quickly flood a home when the line supplying the water breaks or comes loose. Even a partial detachment can create a catastrophe. Water heaters can also cause the same issues and with even worse complications than the other appliances.

All too often, once installed, these lines rarely receive a second thought. Without thinking about these, inspection of those same lines does not happen as it should. While homeowners can help prevent these from happening, this is only true when a loose hose or worn out hardware is detected before a problem happens. Timely inspections cannot eliminate all problems, only decrease their possibility.

Because accidents happen with even the most diligent care, SERVPRO offers 24-hour service. Every second counts when your home is taking on water, so we respond when you need us, for your convenience. When we arrive, we arrive ready to start removing the water, helping your home recover from the water that slowly but steadily sets in throughout your home.

The water coming from water lines is clean and drinkable, until it hits the floor and becomes contaminated. Even if your home is spotless, residues from cleaners and home care products can mix in the water and spread to areas where they then cause damage. If we can remove the water quickly enough, and if several other factors are favorable, the chances of saving any carpeting increase.

Just as we take extraordinary measures to dry a wood floor, there are newly developed methods that can now restore carpeting. However, these measures usually fail when flooding comes from outside sources because of the amount of contamination. If interior-sourced water stagnates inside your home, this can also cause these measures to become ineffective.  

SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest wants to help your family recover after flood damage, including helping you retain your current carpeting. Call us at (919) 790-1222 for the latest in technological advances and equipment used by IICRC-certified technicians who care about your family and your home.

For more information about the City of Raleigh, North Carolina visit:  https://www.raleighnc.gov/

Water Damage in a Raleigh Home's Kitchen or Pantry

10/20/2017 (Permalink)

When mopping water can seep under appliances causing a build up water damage.

SERVPRO Can Detect Hidden Water Damage in Your Kitchen

Storing your cookware in an easily-accessible location in your Raleigh residence helps make meal preparation a smooth process. Sometimes, when in a rush, it might seem unimportant if these items remain damp when you put them away. This dampness can accumulate, though, and cause problems in your home if you allow this to happen repeatedly.

Raleigh homes with water damage can suffer other consequences. Microbial growth is almost impossible without an abundance of moisture. Other pests, such as rodents and insects, find homes with damp areas much more inviting than they do drier homes. Removing the damaged areas can make your home less likely to succumb to invasions by pests in the future.

At SERVPRO, we install dehumidifiers that remove any problematic moisture from the air and keep it at a comfortable level for you and your family. Complete dryness is not healthy, either, so we use models that you can adjust for your comfort. We recommend for you to check kitchen and pantry shelves to ensure their placement remains level to prevent moisture from running back toward the wall and traveling downward.

Any visible damage that seems minor can hide severely damaged areas, so we check these areas with high-tech devices to reveal where elevated moisture accumulation exists. Water pipes that leak remain one of the most common reasons for water damage, but condensation on appliances can also become problematic. Regardless of the source, we can locate it and put a stop to the problem before it worsens.

For water damage that already affects your kitchen, we first remove damaged materials and then clean other areas of grit and grime that seems to build up in these types of areas. These locations can include behind your sink and underneath the cabinet, under appliances where mop water often seeps, or around windowsills. After completion of our work, your kitchen and pantry areas can function once again as they should, “Like it never even happened.” We know that your kitchen is a focal point in your family's life, and we want to make it a clean place to prepare food and eat meals for everyone in your home again.

SERVPRO of North Raleigh & Wake Forest's employees are trained and skilled Applied Structural Drying Technicians (ASD) who care about the state of your home. We can be contacted at our local number, (919) 790-1222, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call us so we can undo the problems water damage can cause.

For more information about Raleigh, visit https://www.raleighnc.gov/.

North Raleigh Swimming Pool Damages and Safety Tips

6/1/2017 (Permalink)

After Memorial Day pools across Wake County and North Raleigh begin to welcome their first guests of the swimming season. For many homeowners, swimming is an activity best enjoyed in the privacy of their own home, but there are some dangers associated with owning a pool. Other than fire, water damages can be one of the most costly disasters affecting your home. If you are installing a pool this season, whether above ground or below check your county and city ordinances to make sure your new structure is incompliance and check your homeowner’s policy to be certain you are covered.

Pool Safety Tips

Pools are a great way to enjoy the summer and have gatherings with friends and family. Unfortunately, they are also an attractive nuisance. Generally speaking, homeowners are responsible for anyone that uses their pool. Even if they were uninvited! Because your home is probably one of your most valuable possessions it is important to protect it inside and outside. Here are some safety tips every homeowner with a pool should know:

1. Keep lifesaving equipment in the pool area. It only takes a moment for an incident to occur regardless of the swimmer’s skill level. Having lifesaving equipment and those properly instructed in its use can prevent tragedy’s.
2. Store your pool chemicals in a safe area. These should be in a location away from the pool and remember to those pool chemicals away from children.
3. Keep your pool clean. A dirty pools is not only unattractive, it is also a health hazard that could hold you liable. Not only should the pool itself be clean, but the area around the pool needs to be kept tidy. Ideally glass, bottles, and food should be kept away from the pool area. Pool toys and floats should be removed from the pool when not in use so as to avoid tempting small children to reach for the item.
4. Refrain from imbibing while swimming. The CDC states that in 70% of deaths involving adult water recreation there was alcohol involved.
5. Inspect your pool for signs of wear and tear. Ensure your pool is equipped with an overflow system that will drain excess water. Leaks from your backyard pool could flood your lawn or your basement. Discontinue use of the pool upon discovery of an issue and make repairs immediately.

Your local SERVPRO® of North Raleigh & Wake Forest wants you to enjoy a safe summer. We are here for you no matter the time of the night or day.

Source: www.cdc.gov

Top 4 Reasons Why Sump Pumps Fail

1/14/2017 (Permalink)

Top 4 Reasons Why Sump Pumps Fail

A sump pump is a simple piece of ingenuity invented by a US Navy electrician in 1946. Sump pumps do not prevent water from accumulating, but rather they control the water underneath your home and then pumps it back out after the water has collected at a certain point.

For the most part sump pumps quietly take care of your home without much maintenance required. However, when they fail, they often cause huge losses. Here are some of the top four reasons why sump pumps fail.

Overwhelmed – You chose or inherited a sump pump that was the wrong size for the job. Bigger is not always better. If you have a sump pump that is too big for the space, then your pump is likely overworking and will eventually shorten its lifespan. Likewise, if you have a pump that is too small for the space it will result in overwork and eventually shorten its lifespan. The average lifespan of a sump pump is about ten years, although depending on the manufacturer they can range from five to fifteen. Don’t wait until your pump fails you to replace it, if it has otherwise been working properly. Have a plan to replace it at the appropriate intervals to keep your home dry.

Clogged –Small bits of nature, like leaves, rocks, mud and even little critters can clog up your sump pump. It’s easy for a pump to become clogged with debris. Fortunately, it is just as easy to prevent it from clogging as well. A simple protective cover will help keep the debris out, and keep your pump working.  Keep your cover clear, by periodically checking it, about once a quarter. While you’re checking ensure the air vent hole is clear, as well.

Frozen – This January 2017, the Triangle area experienced its first winter storm, Helena. The bitter cold, snow and ice she left in her wake caused many pipes to burst. This is also a dangerous time for sump pump discharge pipes as well. Those pipes are prone to freezing. Unfortunately, it may not be possible to prevent the line from freezing. However, a preventative measure would be to add a secondary discharge line that will allow water to exit even if the main line is frozen.

Lost Power – Storms don’t always mean frozen, sometimes they mean lost power as well. If your water is still on but you home is out of power, and not on a backup generator, then your pump is at risk for backing up and possibly flooding. Make sure to have a back up generator in case the power goes out to prevent flooding.

Regular inspection of your sump pump can help offset some of these reasons for sump pump failure.  If you experience a water loss, you can count on SERVPRO of North Raleigh, Wake Forest & SERVPRO of North Durham to respond quickly "like it never even happened."

Sump Pump Insurance Coverage

1/14/2017 (Permalink)

Sump Pump Insurance Coverage

Sump pump - Most commonly found in basements, this a pump used to remove accumulated water from a sump basin.

You have homeowner’s insurance but are you really covered? If you have a sump pump it can, and most likely will fail at some point. Other than preventative maintenance your only other fail safe is to have the proper insurance for that inevitable day. For preventative maintenance tips, please see our other article on Top 4 Reasons Why Sump Pumps Fail.(SS add hyperlink here internal linking)

Most homeowner’s policies will not cover the sump pump unless you have a specific rider for it. This rider will protect you against failed sump pumps that result in water damage. This would include drains and discharges where water can backup into your home. This rider is not to be confused with a sewer backup rider which covers water backed up into the home from drains, toilets, etc. Depending on where the break occurs, your municipality may not cover the damages to your home and you may be stuck with repairing a sewer pipe as well as removing sewage from your home.

The rider covers you for damage and clean up of water. For some policies, the resulting flood itself may not be covered unless an additional flood insurance rider is on the policy. Also beware of contents coverage. This means, even if you are covered for the flooding, your furniture and pricey electronics may not be eligible for replacement. The extra amount for a rider is nothing compared to the stress that can be caused by having to cover a loss yourself due to inadequate or non-existing coverage.

Having the coverage in itself is not a fail-safe. You must keep the pump in good working condition, and keep it free from debris in order to be eligible for a claim. This is determined by your insurance company adjuster. If the pump is found to be clogged or neglected, your claim may be denied altogether or you may face steep increases for renewal or face being dropped.

After a failure it is important to start the drying process right away. Leaving items wet can potentially lead to secondary damage, which again may not be covered due to the source of the damages. Your local SERVPRO® of North Raleigh, Wake Forest, and North Durham can be on-site with a professionally trained team within hours of your call.

We can repair your damages and get your home back to its incident state… “Like it never even happened.”

Winterizing your North Carolina Home

12/13/2016 (Permalink)

10 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

While the start of winter is not officially until December 21st, the cold weather has already begun making its way towards residents of the Triangle NC area. Though the occasional warm front may tease, winter is coming.

Before an all-out cold front attacks it’s best to have your home prepared by winterizing it. Winterizing your home is not as difficult or expensive a task as you may think. Your home is one of your largest assets. Protecting it as much as possible from disaster can potentially save you thousands.

Most everything on the following list can be done by anyone with even modest home improvement skills.

Identify The Water Line Shut-Off Valve

This important control device is usually located inside the home in newer construction. Once detected inform other members of your household and mark it with a large colored tag. The tag will come in handy during an emergency. After pinpointing the water valve, check that is not rusted and that it can closed completely. If any issues are discovered the valve will need to be replaced right away.

Keep It Tidy

Make sure gutters are clean and downspouts are facing away from the home. Also trim any tree limbs that are in danger of breaking during a storm or under the weight of snow and ice.

Check Your Chimney

Fireplaces keep us warm, but they can also be a hazard in the winter. Don’t let your ashes pile up. Keep the fireplace and hearth clean. An extension of your fireplace is the often neglected chimney. Wood burning chimneys need to have a free and clear chimney cap.

Regular Maintenance When it’s cold outside, you want your heat to work. Routine maintenance twice a year on your heating and cooling system will detect potential problems early and keep your unit running efficiently.

Replace Batteries

The US government reports carbon monoxide-related deaths are highest during colder months. Be sure there are working carbon monoxide alarms in centralized locations on every floor of your home. It’s also a good time to check your fire alarms are in good working order as well.

Clean Filters

A clean furnace filter will not only reduce allergens in your home, but also maintain the health of your heating system. Depending on the type of filter, you can change it once at the beginning of the season and you’re good to go all winter long!

Keep Your Faucets Warm

Now that summer is over, it’s time to put away the garden hoses and pull out the faucet wraps. Wrapping your outside faucet is an easy, economical way to keep it from freezing when the temperatures drop.

Drain Your Tank

Hot water heaters should be flushed once every six months. This is especially important in the Raleigh, Durham, Wake Forest area because of the large amounts of sediment that collects in the bottom of the tank from the regions hard water. Flushing the hot water heater, extends the life and could potentially keep the bottom of the heater from rusting out due to heavy sediment debris weighing down the bottom of the heater floor. While you’re out there, check the pressure relief valve as well.

Wash and Dry

FEMA cites there are close to 2,900 home dryer fires every year. Cleaning the lint trap in your dryer isn’t enough. You will also need to clean the trap on the outside of your home. This trap is easily clogged, but only takes moments to clean.

Cover your AC Unit

Your AC unit worked faithfully during the summer months. Before it goes into hibernation, clean out the drain pans, empty any excess water, and cover your unit for the winter. If you have window units, either remove them to reduce energy costs, or insulate them if removing the unit from the window is not an option.

There are your ten tips for winterizing your home. Preparation is always the best defense. However, if a catastrophe does strike, your local SERVPRO® of North Raleigh, Wake Forest, and North Durham is always here night or day. Disaster never takes a day off and neither does SERVPRO®.