Flooding Damage: Water & Mold

11/14/2024 (Permalink)

Following the 500 year flood over 1 year ago in February of 2018, thousands of homes were initiated with water, caused by a record snow fall, then the fast melt when we received a record rain fall.  The St. Joseph River has a flood level of 5'6", this year it hit 33'.  Water entered homes in many ways.  This home had water enter through a crack in the foundation at surface level.  The water came through the flowed down the wall damaging the drywall, insulation and stud work.  Unfortunately the home owner was not in town during the storm; the basement sat 2.5 weeks before anyone noticed the damage.  In that time mold had begun to grow on the entirety of the damaged area compounding the damage and clean up.  SERVPRO® responded to the call in less than an hour. The area was contained to prevent spreading the mold, deconstruction, clean up and the drying process was started within a few hours.

Don’t let disaster disrupt your life. Call SERVPRO today. We’re available 24/7/365, ready to respond to your emergency and make your property “Like it never even happened.”

Stopping Mold After Flooding

9/6/2024 (Permalink)

If your home has recently been flooded, there are steps you can take as a homeowner to fight fast-growing mold.

1. Wear protection: utilize a face mask, nonporous gloves and protective eyewear when cleaning up your home after a flood.

2. Improve ventilation: open windows and doors while in your home to increase air flow.

3. Clean up and dry out: wipe down wet items and surfaces with detergent and water and use fans to help speed up the drying process.

4. Discard soaked items that have been wet for more than 48 hours.

5. Call trained professionals to inspect your home, even if you don't have obvious signs of mold growth.

If you have experienced flooding in your home, follow these steps and rely on the trained professionals at SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski and Fulton Counties to inspect and take care of a suspected mold problem. 

Protecting Your Home From Electrical Fires

9/6/2024 (Permalink)

A fire in your home can be devastating. Avoid the risk of injury, smoke and property damage by knowing the most common causes of electrical fires:

1. Old Wiring - Did you know that the lifespan of electrical systems in homes is 30-40 years but more than 30% of the nation's homes are more than 50 years old? Signs that your home's wiring may need to be updated include an over-reliance on extension cords and circuit breakers that blow or fuses that need to be replaced constantly. Consult with a reputable electrician to find out what updates your home needs to be safe.

2. Space Heaters - These portable heaters are not designed for long-term use. Portable heating devices should never be placed near combustible surfaces such as clothing, curtains, rugs, bedding or furniture. If you choose to utilize a space heater, look for a model that stays cool to the touch and has a built in automatic shut-off feature in case it is accidentally covered or left on.

3. Old, Outdated Appliances - Never use an appliance that has a worn or frayed cord. Never remove the grounding plug from a cord so that it can be used in a 2 prong outlet. That extra prong is designed to only be used with an outlet that can accommodate the extra electricity that this appliance draws. 

Even when taking precautions, electrical fires can occur and have devastating consequences in your home or workplace. If you experience fire or smoke damage, call SERVPRO® of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski and Fulton counties at 574-936-5849 day or night to speak with an experienced restoration specialist. 

Getting Prepared for Spring Rain!

9/20/2023 (Permalink)

While many of us look forward to the changing season of Spring with the warmer weather and the trees and flowers starting to bloom, there is one part that isn’t so great. Springtime always seems to bring plenty of rain and plenty of rain always brings a higher risk of water damage to your home.

Roof Leaks

With the increased showers as well as high winds, roof damage can happen or be revealed as water seeps through your roof and damages your ceilings and walls. To reduce the risk of roof leaks, you should inspect your roof for any damages from the winter and inspect it after every major storm.

The most common cause of roof leaks is a damaged or missing shingle from storms or fallen branches. If you do experience water damage inside your home from the ceiling or wall, you will want to contact a professional from SERVPRO® to inspect the damage, remove the water, an remediate the damage. 

Window & Door Leaks

Another common source of water damage is from old or damaged windows. Water especially from a huge storm can blow into cracks and crevices around your window causing water damage that may not be discovered quickly allowing mold to develop and cause further damage.

Make sure to inspect around your windows and doors for cracks or old caulking that has peeled or cracked off. You can usually caulk any small cracks or crevices to ensure water doesn’t seep into your home causing damage.

Broken Sump Pump

If you have a basement, you understand the importance of a sump pump. Without one water can seep into your basement and cause lots of damage. One of the most common causes of a flooded basement is a sump pump that stopped working.

To prevent this from happening, you can do three things. You can get a backup battery for your sump in case the power goes out. You can get a backup sump pump that is usually set to come on if the water rises above the normal level for your working sump pump. So if your working sump pump either stops working or can’t pump the water out fast enough, you backup will kick in.

The last thing you can do is install a water sensor alarm on the floor near the sump pump. While you may still have some water damage, at least you will be able to catch it fast and have a SERVPRO professional come out to pump out the water and dry out your basement.

Foundation Cracks

If the foundation around the base of your home and the basement walls cracks, water can seep into the basement or crawl space. A sump pump won’t help you since the water is seeping through the walls as opposed to being channeled to the sump pump.

Usually people discover foundation cracks after a big storm or when a gutter is clogged and the water is falling right by your house. Repairing foundation cracks can be a very expensive job depending on the situation but without the repair, there is no way to prevent the water leaking into your basement or crawlspace.

It never hurts to walk around the perimeter of your home checking for any potential foundation cracks as well as checking any bare walls in your basement and/or crawlspace.

Call the Pros of SERVPRO for Water Damage This Spring

If you should suffer water damage whether from Spring weather or a cracked pipe or an overflowing bathtub or toilet, call the water damage cleanup experts at SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski and Fulton Counties at (574) 936-5849 for 24-hour emergency service. 

At SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski and Fulton Counties, we have specialized equipment, professional training, and certifications that allow us to restore your home to its pre-water damage condition.

For Immediate Services

8/16/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski and Fulton County provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
• Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment 

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 

Residential Services

Whether your home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us.  Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to strike your commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business. Learn more about our commercial services: 

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

Fire Prevention For Your Home

8/16/2023 (Permalink)

A fire in your home can be devastating financially and emotionally for your family. Although there is no way to prevent every fire, there are steps that you can take to minimize your family's risk of being victims. 

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside sleeping areas and outside bedroom doors. Check once a month to be sure these alarms are functioning and replace batteries as needed.

Decide on a fire escape plan with your family members and practice this plan often. Establish a safe place to meet outside of your home in case of fire or smoke.

If you see smoke or suspect a fire in your home, get out immediately and call for help. Never go back inside the home for any items or pets.

House fires can happen even when all precautions are taken. If your home has suffered a loss due to fire or smoke damage, call SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Puaski and Fulton at 574-936-5849. Our specially trained technicians will be there within hours to assess the damage, answer your questions, and make your home "Like it never even happened."

Window & Door Leaks

8/16/2023 (Permalink)

While many of us look forward to the changing season of Spring with the warmer weather and the trees and flowers starting to bloom, there is one part that isn’t so great. Springtime always seems to bring plenty of rain and plenty of rain always brings a higher risk of water damage to your home.

Roof Leaks

With the increased showers as well as high winds, roof damage can happen or be revealed as water seeps through your roof and damages your ceilings and walls. To reduce the risk of roof leaks, you should inspect your roof for any damages from the winter and inspect it after every major storm.

The most common cause of roof leaks is a damaged or missing shingle from storms or fallen branches. If you do experience water damage inside your home from the ceiling or wall, you will want to contact a professional from SERVPRO to inspect the damage, remove the water, an remediate the damage. 

Window & Door Leaks

Another common source of water damage is from old or damaged windows. Water especially from a huge storm can blow into cracks and crevices around your window causing water damage that may not be discovered quickly allowing mold to develop and cause further damage.

Make sure to inspect around your windows and doors for cracks or old caulking that has peeled or cracked off. You can usually caulk any small cracks or crevices to ensure water doesn’t seep into your home causing damage.

Broken Sump Pump

If you have a basement, you understand the importance of a sump pump. Without one water can seep into your basement and cause lots of damage. One of the most common causes of a flooded basement is a sump pump that stopped working.

To prevent this from happening, you can do three things. You can get a backup battery for your sump in case the power goes out. You can get a backup sump pump that is usually set to come on if the water rises above the normal level for your working sump pump. So if your working sump pump either stops working or can’t pump the water out fast enough, you backup will kick in.

The last thing you can do is install a water sensor alarm on the floor near the sump pump. While you may still have some water damage, at least you will be able to catch it fast and have a SERVPRO professional come out to pump out the water and dry out your basement.

Foundation Cracks

If the foundation around the base of your home and the basement walls cracks, water can seep into the basement or crawl space. A sump pump won’t help you since the water is seeping through the walls as opposed to being channeled to the sump pump.

Usually people discover foundation cracks after a big storm or when a gutter is clogged and the water is falling right by your house. Repairing foundation cracks can be a very expensive job depending on the situation but without the repair, there is no way to prevent the water leaking into your basement or crawlspace.

It never hurts to walk around the perimeter of your home checking for any potential foundation cracks as well as checking any bare walls in your basement and/or crawlspace.

Call the Pros of SERVPRO for Water Damage This Spring

If you should suffer water damage whether from Spring weather or a cracked pipe or an overflowing bathtub or toilet, call the water damage cleanup experts at SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski & Fulton Counties at (574) 936-5849 for 24-hour emergency service. 

At SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski & Fulton Counties, we have specialized equipment, professional training, and certifications that allow us to restore your home to its pre-water damage condition.

Storm Season

8/16/2023 (Permalink)

If you've been outside lately, you will notice that it is that time of year again...The rainy season! And along with rain comes roof leaks.

Roof leaks can cause all sorts of damage to homes. They can be small, or they can cause large floods. 

However they come, if your home suffers water damage from a roof leak, SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski and Fulton counties can restore it. 

Many times you don't realize your roof is leaking until a major event happens. Slow leaks can build up over time and become large leaks that become noticeable. It is important to have a professional who can assess the damage and look for signs of secondary damage such as Mold from prolonged leaks over a period of time. 

If you suffer water damage from a roof leak give us a call today, we are ready to help. 574-936-5849.

You Can Count On SERVPRO for Cleanup and Restoration

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO 

SERVPRO of Marshall, Starke, Pulaski and Fulton Counties specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

SERVPRO Can Help You Recover From Even The Worst Flooding

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Running a business brings many challenging. Managing employees, keeping customers happy and building an economically sustainable building is always on your mind. Environmental damage to your building could be devastating. The repair and cleanup costs alone could be detrimental. Loss of work time could put you behind the competition. With a proactive attitude, you can reduce the flood damage in your workplace.

Check Out Waterproof Materials

Thanks to advances in building materials, there are several options you can explore to repel or resist water. These efforts may not completely keep an area dry, but they can be effective in helping you salvage important equipment, tools and structural components. Some items to consider include:

• Putting a layer of waterproof veneer on the walls.
• Add waterproofing to the floors.
• Waterproof furniture

Wise Selection

Lowering your risk for flood damage may start before you even open the doors of your company. Carefully choose a location for your building. By consulting engineers and other experts, you can review areas prone to floods and choose to build elsewhere. Constructing on higher ground should put you in much safer territory.

Raise Them Up

If you have experienced water issues or flooding at work before, avoid additional damage by raising bookshelves, cabinets and equipment off the ground. Often, water comes in through the floor, especially on ground or sub-ground levels.

Proper Drainage

Storm damage can be severe after heavy rainfall, especially if your building is ill-prepared to send water away. Make sure the property has functional rain gutters and downspouts that divert the water far from the foundation of your building. Check these areas regularly, especially immediately following a storm.
Though you can have peace of mind to know that qualified flood remediation specialists can help you recover from even the worst flooding, you want to avoid as much damage as possible. Be responsible and use these strategies in your emergency planning.

So give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to help make things "Like it never even happened."