Flooded Home? We Can Help | SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast

9/22/2024 (Permalink)

Floods can cause major damage to your home! Contact SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast for fast and efficient restoration.

The Seattle area is surrounded by water, and while we love this aspect of our dynamic community, it can also be troubling from time to time. Rising water levels, flooded streets and even heavy rain can create dangerous flood concerns for our neighborhoods.

Runoff from storms or rising water levels can quickly impact our basements or even higher levels in our homes if the situation is severe enough. 

Knowing what to do during a flood situation can help you stay prepared, and knowing who to call afterward can guarantee a complete recovery. 

Responding to Flooding At Home

Floods can be large or small, but it is always frustrating to discover water where it shouldn’t be in your home. Floods could start due to something simple like an overflowing sink, or water can infiltrate your home during an intense storm that is raging outside. 

In any case, try to stay out of the water as much as possible while you are dealing with the situation. Floodwater can be dangerous to handle or even toxic as it can pick up chemicals, storm runoff or even hazardous substances like sewage as it leaks onto your floor. The rush of water can also damage your electrical systems that could charge the water, making it dangerous or deadly to touch.

Stay high above the water line and get us on the phone right away. Our team will ask questions about the origin of the water as well as the current situation, and we will ask you to take photos of the damage you see. These images will become vital parts of your insurance claim process, but they also help us create a more robust recovery plan for you. 

How We Will Remove the Water

Our first priority will be to identify where the water is coming from and address repairs or stop the flow of water however we can. Once your property is secure and the water has stopped flowing in, we can get started on your water extraction and repair process. 

We try to work quickly, as the longer standing water is left in your home, the higher your risk of suffering from mold problems and structural integrity issues.

Once your space is dry and all of the standing water and lingering moisture has been removed, we can work toward your repairs. Water can quickly swell and warp wood, compromise drywall and soak through carpet, so we get right to work reversing this damage and rebuilding your home. When we are through, you would never know that a flood occurred on your property. 

Floods can be serious situations. Call SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast for a quicker restoration. 

Suspect a Water Leak? Where to Look First | SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast

3/22/2024 (Permalink)

Leaky appliances are not something you should have to deal with alone. SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast is here to restore your home. Call us now!

The days can get busy, and it can seem like you are running on autopilot most of the time running around in the morning getting your kids fed, dressed and out the door. So when you step into the bathroom to grab something and notice that your socks are now soaking wet, it can be pretty jarring. Is it a simple puddle or something more sinister?

Water leaks can happen at the most unsuspecting times, and they can cause serious damage behind your walls, under your floors and to your home’s internal structure if they are left to drip and leak. Knowing where they often start can help you stay in control and ready to take action. 

Starting Your Investigation
One of the first places you should check is anywhere that leads to the outside. If there is a crack around a window or a door or a skylight was left open, water can easily get in and wreak havoc all over the place. You should also look at lesser-known areas like wiring holes or outlets. 

If those spaces are dry, move on to the pipes in that particular room. If you have a sink, toilet or tub in that room, check each water line carefully for signs of wear and tear. A worn seal or loose connection could easily be the culprit. 

Up Next: Appliances

Move on to your appliances if you are still coming up short. We all love our dishwashers and washing machines, but they can also be the source for frustrating and extensive water damage. 

All it takes is a single electrical malfunction for your machine to overflow and spill all over your floor! If you start to notice a musty odor when you walk by your appliance, it’s time to pull it from the wall to check behind it.

Signs of moisture can be tricky around your appliances because leaks often happen behind or beneath your machines. When you pull them away from the wall, check for mold growth, water spots or visible puddles. 

Where Our Team Comes Into Play 

Once you track down the source of the problem, your next step is recovery! Responding quickly to water damage is essential to making sure your home doesn’t suffer further structural issues or become the home of a huge mold infestation. Our water damage restoration team is up to the task and is available 24/7 to help.

We will arrive right away to start drying up the water and to get to work fixing the source of the leak. Once the space is dry and secure, we can repair warped walls, change out ruined floorboards and replace soaked carpet. Our team will take care of your home from start to finish.

Don’t ignore signs of water damage. Call SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast right away. 

Preparing Your Seattle Home for Cold Weather: Protecting Against Water Damage

11/7/2023 (Permalink)

Seattle homeowners need to be prepared for the challenges that cold weather can bring, especially when it comes to water damage.

As winter approaches in the beautiful city of Seattle, homeowners need to be proactive in preparing their homes for the cold weather. While Seattle winters are relatively mild compared to some other parts of the country, they can still pose significant challenges to the integrity of your home, especially when it comes to water damage. In this blog, we'll discuss three essential steps that Seattle homeowners can take to get their homes ready for the cold weather, and how cold weather can lead to water damage.

1. Insulate Your Home

Seattle's chilly winters can cause heating bills to skyrocket if your home isn't adequately insulated. Inadequate insulation can lead to heat loss, which not only makes your home less comfortable but can also create conditions for water damage. Here's how:

a. Frozen Pipes: When the temperatures drop, poorly insulated pipes can freeze, and as the water inside expands, it can cause pipes to burst. This can lead to extensive water damage. To prevent this, make sure your pipes are properly insulated, and you can even leave your faucets dripping during particularly cold nights to keep water flowing.

b. Roof Leaks: Inadequate insulation in your attic can lead to heat escaping from your home, causing your roof to warm up. When snow on your roof melts, it can create ice dams along the eaves, which can force water under your shingles, leading to roof leaks. Proper insulation and ventilation in your attic can help prevent this issue.

2. Check and Maintain Your Gutters

Rain is no stranger to Seattle, even during the colder months. As temperatures drop, the rainwater can freeze, leading to ice accumulation in your gutters. When ice builds up in your gutters, it can block the flow of melted snow and rain, causing water to back up under your roof, leading to leaks and potential structural damage.

To prevent this, homeowners should:

a. Clean Gutters: Before the cold weather sets in, make sure your gutters are clean and free from debris that could obstruct the flow of water.

b. Install Gutter Guards: Gutter guards can help keep debris out of your gutters, reducing the need for frequent cleaning.

c. Check for Leaks: Inspect your gutters for any signs of leaks or damage. Repair or replace damaged sections to ensure proper drainage.

3. Protect Against Condensation

Condensation can be a hidden threat to your home during cold weather. When warm, humid air inside your home meets the cold surfaces of windows, doors, or walls, it can create condensation. Over time, this moisture can lead to mold growth, wood rot, and other forms of water damage. To protect your home against condensation:

a. Maintain Proper Ventilation: Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to expel moisture, and make sure your home has proper ventilation to allow the moist air to escape.

b. Use Dehumidifiers: If your home is particularly humid, using a dehumidifier can help control moisture levels.

c. Seal Gaps and Cracks: Ensure that your home's envelope, including windows and doors, is properly sealed to prevent warm air from escaping.

Seattle homeowners need to be prepared for the challenges that cold weather can bring, especially when it comes to water damage. By insulating your home, maintaining your gutters, and protecting against condensation, you can ensure that your home remains cozy and dry throughout the winter months. Remember that preventing water damage is not just about avoiding costly repairs; it's also about safeguarding the comfort and safety of your loved ones during the chilly Seattle winters. So, don't wait – start preparing your home today!

General Trends in Seattle Properties with Water Damage

9/29/2022 (Permalink)

Property owners breathe a sigh of relief when the SERVPRO team from Seattle arrives swiftly for water damage restoration.

Experienced SERVPRO Crews Ease Seattle Water Restoration

Most materials exhibit clear signs when exposed to water, including color alterations or changes in physical form. Since other patterns might also develop, knowing them can help you understand the water damage better and resolve the problems at your Seattle home conveniently.

Although exposure may be uniform in your Seattle home, the water damage is rarely consistent. Some changes occur almost instantaneously, while others take time to develop. The differences based on time are broadly categorized into two groups - primary and secondary damages. A seasoned water restoration team like SERVPRO can quickly tell you which secondary issues to expect and whether there are any ways to prevent them from developing. We also find practical solutions to resolve primary damages.

Common primary damages:

• Wood swelling
• Carpet backing delamination
• Rusting metal surfaces
• Buckling of floorboards

Wood is widely used in structural areas like frames, floors, and trim. Many furniture items also include some wooden parts. Wood is naturally porous, so any water accumulating on its surfaces is progressively absorbed into the material's core. As the moisture content rises, the physical form of the wood also changes, which manifests as swelling. Swelling is a fully reversible form of water damage if adequately managed. Our SERVPRO technicians facilitate controlled drying by using dehumidifiers or creating drying chambers to ensure wood dries at a pace that does not lead to permanent form distortion.

Some of the materials exposed to the water are made of different substances. For instance, a carpet has fibers at the top and a couple of backing layers. Backings are usually held together by adhesives. Soaking them for some time and subjecting them to physical pressure leads to the deterioration of the bond, which can lead to separation, known as delamination. Our SERVPRO IICRC-Certified technicians expedite water extraction on carpeted surfaces. We also minimize physical pressure, such as dragging heavy furniture over surfaces or foot traffic.

Moisture Tendencies

Apart from the physical traits of materials or the activities carried out within the property after a water intrusion, moisture also has some characteristics that influence the outcomes. The primary point to note when handling moisture is that nature always seeks equilibrium, which results in consistent patterns such as wetness spreading through materials as it moves from high pressure to low pressure. Any wet materials also dry given sufficient time. However, the water does not magically disappear; instead, it is released into the surroundings. In some instances, such release triggers secondary damages.

Forms of secondary damage:

• Wallpaper softening and peeling off
• Moistening and crumbling ceiling tiles
• Mildew and mold growth

Unlike the readily reversible primary damage, addressing secondary water damage requires elaborate procedures. In some cases, the deterioration in materials is so significant only replacement can resolve it. For instance, water accumulating on ceiling spaces causes the panels to sag. Crumbling is also a likely outcome of the weight and moisture action. Mold development is another significant problem since it consumes materials causing significant rot-like decay. Most materials cannot withstand extended mold growth, whether structural framing, paneling, or surface finishes. Our SERVPRO teams include Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians who can handle mold issues.

SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast has significant experience dealing with water damage cases. Call us at (206) 362-9295 to help make it "Like it never even happened."

Can Water Cause Long-term Damage to a Home?

7/31/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless of how the excess water gains entry into your home, team SERVPRO can help. Our technicians can root out the cause and then fix the damage.

Properties with Water Damage in Seattle Can Steadily Deteriorate Without Professional Intervention

Moisture can affect a property in several ways. Liquid water can absorb into materials leading to shrinkage, warping, and buckling. High relative humidity caused by water intrusion can also increase the likelihood of mold damage or rot in building materials. 

Using water restoration companies in Seattle can safeguard your home and make sure it does not suffer unnecessary damage after water intrusion. Qualified technicians can accurately assess the short, mid, and long-term effects of moisture in a property. Using nationally-recognized protocols and methods, we can ensure that your home returns to its normal, preloss condition.

• The primary objective of water restoration technicians (WRT) is to place a complete drying procedure for your home.
• Drying a property uses a range of equipment to adjust humidity, temperature, and airflow.
• SERVPRO can quickly mobilize air-movers, dehumidifiers, and portable heaters to recover your home efficiently and effectively. 

Drying a property thoroughly is essential to mitigating losses. Contact SERVPRO® for water restoration at (206) 362-9295.

Avoid Costly Damage in Seattle with Water Mitigation Services

6/25/2022 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO to remove water and mitigate the damage to your Seattle home's hardwood flooring

Available 24/7 in Seattle, SERVPRO® Offers Water Mitigation and Restoration

In simple terms, water mitigation is the process of response and action whenever you have a water-related emergency within your Seattle home. Whether you have flooding from burst pipes or an overflowing second-floor bath, you need someone to get there fast to begin remediation. SERVPRO offers prompt, efficient water mitigation to help you avoid immense costs and disruption in your home. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, making us the number one team in the area for water removal services and drying!

Water mitigation in Seattle is a complex process involving urgent measures to rid your home of damage. In some circumstances, it will not be limited to water extraction alone. It may also include restoration, repair, and mold remediation.

What does SERVPRO do for water mitigation?

SERVPRO’s IICRC-certified water restoration technicians (WRT) have a multitude of techniques and tools at their disposal to facilitate mitigation and restoration on your property. Steps often include:

• Examination of your premises to determine the root cause of the water emergency.
• Classifying the water damage with a ranking of 1 to 3 so we know how to proceed. With category 3 being the most hazardous, you and anyone inside your home must not come into contact with the water.
• Drying and extraction begin after the inspection and classification. We use fans, dehumidifiers, pumps, and specialized tools to help us remove as much water as quickly as possible.
• Removal of damaged contents from the water-impact zone. Items get sorted and tested for salvageability. Contents we are unable to salvage gets disposed of. Things we can clean and dry get separated and treated before storing as the rest of the restoration takes place.
• Proper cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces begin with the help of anti-microbial and anti-bacterial products.
• Reconstruction and replacement of materials, as needed, using controlled demolition.

At SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast, we always make it “Like it never even happened” with the help of our proven water mitigation process. Call us at (206) 362-9295!

Where Can You Find Professional Water Cleanup Services When Disaster Strikes?

5/13/2022 (Permalink)

Our technicians are prepared with the training and state of the art equipment your property needs after a water incident.

SERVPRO® Professionals Provide Emergency Water Cleanup Services in Seattle and the Surrounding Areas.

Your Seattle home or business can develop an unexpected water intrusion at any time. Acting quickly when this happens is the key to minimizing water damage. Calling a professional water cleanup provider will help mitigate damage to your property.

What Can You Expect When You Call SERVPRO for Water Cleanup?

SERVPRO has 24-hour emergency water cleanup services in Seattle. A highly trained crew will arrive at your home or business and set up a staging area. This area will have all the equipment they need to mitigate water damage. Here is the type of  equipment you can expect to see:

Pumping Equipment: If there is standing water, the crew may use a submersible pump. 

Water Sensing Equipment: This is used to gauge water saturation.

Wet Vacuuming Equipment: The crew will remove water using a truck-mounted or portable extractor using special water extraction tools.

Air Movers and Dehumidifiers: After the crew has extracted the water, they place air movers and dehumidifiers strategically throughout the affected area.

What if Your New Carpet is Soaked?

You can expect your SERVPRO crew to assess the situation and take the appropriate action. Local Seattle area water cleanup technicians can effectively mitigate damage to your new carpet.

These trained technicians will protect your carpet by removing any objects that could stain your carpet. They will then use water extraction equipment to wet vacuum your carpet. This water cleanup process can extract 100 gallons of water from your carpet an hour.

The crew will decide if the carpet and pad can be dried in place. They may be able to use a deep extraction tool to pull water from both the carpet and pad. They can then place air movers and dehumidifiers to complete the drying process.

When your Seattle area home or business is experiencing a water intrusion emergency, act quickly and call SERVPRO® at (206) 362-9295 for help mitigating water damage.

How Do I Perform Water Damage Repair in My Seattle Residence?

3/11/2022 (Permalink)

Quick actions are required when your home is facing water damage. Contact SERVPRO right away for effective water damage repair services.

When You Need Water Damage Repair in Seattle, SERVPRO® Can Help

Water intrusion is a problem that many homeowners face. It may cause a lot of damage, and lead to stress. Professionals can tackle water damage very well to ensure that there is no indication that a house was flooded.

While every case of water damage is unique, SERVPRO has come up with basic steps upon which we train our technicians to provide the most efficient service to our customers. To perform water damage repair in your Seattle residence, we can take steps outlined below:

• Water extraction
• Drying and dehumidification
• Cleaning and sanitization
• Restoration

Water extraction

After we assess the damage, SERVPRO technicians remove the water using powerful water pumps or vacuums. This helps to prevent the spread of the damage to other areas. Our technicians can use moisture sensors to detect water in areas that are hard to access but may still contain water which needs to be dried.

Drying and dehumidification

We dry wet items, and surfaces using air movers and dehumidifiers. The air that touches a saturated material like carpeting has high humidity. Air moving equipment introduces airflow at the surface level and replaces the highly saturated air with drier air to expedite evaporation. Our SERVPRO crew positions enough air movers to create airflow across every wet surface.

If the lower part of several walls is wet and involves damp drywall behind baseboards, we position enough air movers to create a vortex of circular airflow around the walls. Our team can also use desiccant dehumidifiers to dehumidify the building.

Cleaning and sanitization

We clean all the affected items. We also sanitize the building using sanitizers and antimicrobials to prevent growth of mold, which is a health hazard.

Rebuilding

Restoring your house to preloss condition includes performing repairs, like repainting and replacing drywall panels. SERVPRO technicians provide the services required in restoring affected contents and structures into their former state, giving your house its normal splendor.

SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast has the manpower and technology required to repair water damage to make it seem, “Like it never even happened.” Contact us at (206) 362-9295.

Common Causes of Water Damage in Seattle Basements

1/14/2022 (Permalink)

Seattle basement flooding can be caused by many types of emergencies.

Knowing how disasters can occur can help Seattle homeowners prepare for what might happen.

Water damage is one of the most common callouts for our professionals to area homes. As many catalysts that exist for this type of restoration need, it is important to trust experienced professionals that can make the difference with efficient and effective mitigation and content recovery.

Plumbing Concerns and Leaks 

Plumbing can often be one of the main contributors to water damage in Seattle homes, especially during the winter months. Freezing pipes can burst, aging pipes can separate, or pressure fluctuations can lead to leads and disconnections. When substantial water disasters begin, you should follow a clear few steps:

• Shut off the water supply
• Clear contents when safe to do so
• Vacate the basement

Damaged or Malfunctioning Appliances 

With many who have their washing machines or the water heater in the basement, a broken supply line or ruptured hose to these appliances can be disastrous. The situation continues to worsen until the water supply is severed and SERVPRO professionals are notified to get vital mitigation services started as soon as possible.

Flooding and Water Penetration

Yet another common reason that basement levels of residences require water damage restoration and water removal services are penetrating flood conditions. With the likelihood of situations like flash flooding, torrential rainfall, or even ice jamming in rivers and streams surrounding area homes, structures can contend with conditions that introduce several inches or feet of standing water to the basement level.

The basement can be one of the areas most likely to experience water damage in area homes. Throughout a property's lifetime, this lower level can be the most directly impacted by water disasters. Our SERVPRO of Seattle Northeast team understands the urgency of water damage mitigation and arrives quickly when you call (206) 362-9295.