Archived Water Damage Blog Posts

The Importance of Water Safety

7/7/2021 (Permalink)

For many people, the summer means cookouts, swimming, and having fun with those we are closest to. And while swimming can be a great way to cool off in the summer heat, it is important that we are keeping an eye on all and any children tempted by the cool water, no matter how hectic and busy the parties may get.

Here are some tips provided by CPSC.gov to ensure your child's safety this summer!

Staying Close, Being Alert and Watching Children in and Around the Pool

Always keep an eye on your children around any body of water, and never leave them unattended!
Make sure your child is aware of basic water safety tips
Keep small children away from pool drains, pipes, and other openings to avoid entrapments
Make sure to keep a telephone close by whenever you are near a body of water
If a child is missing, look for them in the water first
Share safety instructions with family, friends, and neighbors, so everyone will be alert

Learning and Practicing Water Safety Skills

Make sure both you and your child know how to swim if you will be in the water
Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly
Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in any water emergency

Following these tips and being aware this Independence day will not only keep your child safe, but it will give you peace of mind, so you can enjoy the holiday to the fullest!

Bathroom Safety

7/7/2021 (Permalink)

If you have little ones chances are you have or will experience the not so fun joy of a toilet overflowing. With little ones it is usually rubber duckies and whatever item looks fun for them to see going down the drain. If caught quickly this is typically a quick fix but if left unattended a toilet can overflow out of the bowl and to your beautiful bathroom floors. It may seem minor but this could lead to water damage, mold, and possible bio hazard( sewage water). If this happens here are a few steps if you feel it safe you can take on your own:

confirm what is actually clogging the toilet (toys, toilet paper etc.)
scoop the water out of the bowl and clean up spillage
use a plunger
use an auger
purchase a de-clogger
stop water from flowing into the toilet bowl
call a professional (if the previous steps do not work you can always call a professional to fix the clog and repair any damage caused)

Water Damage? What do I do now?

7/6/2021 (Permalink)

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help

Give us a Call Today - SERVPRO of Roanoke

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Roanoke has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration - in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect When You Call

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions including:

Your name and contact information
Your insurance information (if applicable)
The street address where the water damage occurred
When did the flooding or water damage occur?
What caused the water damage (if known)?
Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Roanoke

SERVPRO of Roanoke specialized in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke, or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO's corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Do you know where your Main Water Shut off is located?

7/6/2021 (Permalink)

Knowing how and where to shut off your home's water supply is as important as knowing how and where to turn-off or reset an electric breaker or replace a fuse.

Every home was required to have a main water shut-off valve installed during initial construction. So for most emergencies, shutting-off the proper inside valve is very important.

Basements:

The shut-off valve is typically located near the front foundation wall. The main water may have come through the concrete floor or through the wall. The valve is typically within 3-5 feet of where the main water enters. In some cases, the main water may enter in a different area, like a laundry room, up through the floor, near the water heater or furnace.

Crawl Space Plus a Basement

The shut-off valve may be where the water enters the basement or in some older homes, the shut-off may be inside the crawl space. If the latter is true, you may want to consider a secondary valve located in the basement.

Crawl Space With No Basement

The shut-off valve will typically be located near the water heater or under the kitchen sink, but anywhere is possible. As with a situation where there are a crawlspace and a basement, the valve may be inside the crawlspace; in which case, you may want to consider a secondary valve located up in the living space (near the water heater or under a sink).

Slab-On-Grade Construction

The shut-off valve will typically be located near the water heater or under the kitchen sink, but anywhere is possible.

SERVPRO of Roanoke will provide you free water shut off tags for your home. Call us today and get yours!

Water Leak Tips

4/29/2021 (Permalink)

Water leaks are subtle and may go unnoticed until they lead to a larger water damage or water bill! These tips provided by the Water Damage Defense website will help you to get a handle on your water leaks before they turn into a big mess. Water trapped behind walls or paneling make it an ideal place for mold growth.

Water Bill Checks

Make sure to monitor your water bills. If you notice the bill has a sudden increase, there is a good chance there may be slow leak and to ask your local water company to take a look.

Check Your Meter

Test out your home water usage and meter accuracy. Check your meter and try not using the water in your home for two hours. After the two hours see if the meter has changed this is another indicator of a leak.

Food Dye Trick

To check your toilet for leaks, put a drop of food dye in the tank. If you see that the colored water is in the toilet bowl in under 15 minutes, you probably have a leak. (Make sure you flush your toilet a few times after doing this, as to not stain your toilet)

Fix Leaks and Drips Quickly

As soon as you see a leak or drip, make sure you fix it as soon as possible. These are usually cheap fixes if you catch them at the beginning. Always dry as much as possible to mitigate further damages.

Use Water Leak Alarms

Use water leak alarms as well as automatic water shutoff systems to make sure you catch leaks quickly.

Following these tips and tricks can help you catch sneaky leaks before they become a bigger issue. Water leak alarms average in price as low as 9.00 – and as high as 200.00.

Flood Damage and Awareness

4/8/2021 (Permalink)

In the Spring Virginia takes time to bring Flood Awareness to the state. Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster yet research shows many Virginians aren’t prepared. Floods aren’t limited to mapped flood risk areas. In fact, many of the 2,000 homes that were flooded in 2016 during Hurricane Matthew were outside the mapped floodplain. Also, hurricanes don’t just hit coastal Virginia. In 2018, Hurricanes Florence and Michael tore through central and western areas of the state. After Hurricane Michael, the Dan River region alone suffered around $12.9 million in damages (DCR) Flooding doesn't only occur during hurricanes or named storms. In February 2020, southwest Virginia communities had severe flooding from days of heavy rain, bad enough where some had to be rescued from their homes. The flooding resulted in damaged buildings and road closures. Tides can also impact flood risk, and they’re not only found along the coast. Tidal waters extend inland to places like Richmond and Fredericksburg, as well as north, like Alexandria and Arlington. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science developed a map that forecasts water levels to help visualize the magnitude and impacts of coastal flooding, its called Tidewatch. Anywhere it can rain, it can flood that’s why it's extremely important to be prepared.

For more information visit: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dam-safety-and-floodplains/floodawareness

Keep Your Vacation as Stress Free as Possible!

3/15/2019 (Permalink)

Planning a vacation can be a stressful time. The last thing on your mind while packing and preparing to leave is the potential of water damage to your home, but it is something that can be detrimental to a property. The longer the water sits, the more damage it can cause. Below are some helpful hints to sneak into your pre-vacation check-list to ensure you do not come home to a major mess!

Inspect all appliances around your homes, including their hoses.
Make sure your water heater is not showing any signs of leakage.
Check any drains in your garage or basement to make sure they are unclogged.
Look at all pipes under sinks.
Check window seals to ensure that they can withstand a rainstorm.
Shut off your main water.
Drain every pipe once your water is shut off.

Following these steps will increase your chance of having a stress free vacation, but no prevention method is 100%. If you come home to a water damaged home, call SERVPRO of Roanoke, and we will make it, "Like it never even happened."

What to Expect Following a Water Damage

7/5/2018 (Permalink)

The first 24 hours following a water loss are the most crucial in preventing secondary or permanent damage to your home. Within just a few hours of a loss being reported to our team, a SERVPRO Professional will be on-site to help ensure that the water damage is being handled properly and efficiently by completing the following steps:

Inspection

A SERVPRO of Roanoke Professional will inspect the affected areas of the property to determine the extent of the damage. They will also be there to provide a review of the inspection with you to answer any questions before we begin working on your home or business.

Emergency Services

Next, SERVPRO of Roanoke's team of professionals will take immediate steps to protect the home or property and personal belongings from further damage by extracting the excess water and preparing for the drying process. They will explain in detail the needed emergency services step-by-step.

Monitoring

To help ensure your home and personal belongings, or property are dried to appropriate industry standards, one of our professionals will monitor the drying process. The results will be consistently communicated to you throughout the monitoring process.

Restoration Services

Our team will replace structural materials such as drywall and baseboards, reinstall carpets, and clean affected areas of the property and belongings. A final walk-through of the job site will be conducted with you to help ensure their property was returned to the preloss condition when possible.

Be Smarter With Your Water

6/5/2018 (Permalink)

It may be hot outside, but that doesn't mean your water bill has to skyrocket. Here are some helpful tips on how you can lower your water bill this summer!

Fix Those Leaks!
Go around your house and make sure none of your appliances, faucets, hoses, or any plumbing are showing signs of leaks. We've talked about how harmful even the smallest of leaks can be to your home in regards to leaving water damage behind, but they can also drain thousands of gallons of water from your home along with the money you could be saving on your water bill.

Keep Drinking Water in Your Fridge
Fill pitchers or re-usable water bottles with water and store them in your fridge. Not only is this better for the environment by not using wasteful plastic bottles of water, but it will ensure you always have a nice glass of cold water waiting for you without having to run your tap waiting for your sink to get cold. This is a great way to save on your water bill and help keep waste out of the environment.

Fill Up That Dishwasher
Running your dishwasher utilizes less water than washing dishes individually in the sink. Make sure you fill your dishwasher completely to ensure maximum water savings.

Insulate Your Water Pipes
By insulating your water pipes with foam you can buy at a hardware store, you will help your water be able to heat up faster. The foam comes already cut in the shape of the pipe, and all you have to do it tape it up; you will be surprised at the difference it can make. This way you will not waste as much water running your faucet until it heats up.

Trash Those Scraps
The disposal on your sink may save you a trip across the room to the trashcan, but it may be the reason your water bill has increased. It requires water to be running while it is in use, which may be adding on to your bill without you even realizing it.

Use Cold Water For Your Washes
Washing your clothes in cold water gets them just as clean, and it will actually keep colors better than washing in warm water. Cold water washes will save you in water and energy as well!

By starting to implement these tips into your everyday routine you will see how these small changes can make a big difference in your water bill!

Tips for Water Damage

7/5/2017 (Permalink)

Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas. Do not enter rooms with standing water where electrical hazards may exist.

Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping & blottng.

Wipe off any wood surfaces and use clothes pins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors or carpets.

Use aluminum foil or wood blocks between furtniture legs and wet carpeting

Keep a close eye on rivers and streams - be aware of surrounding water!

Call SERVPRO of Roanoke, Montgomery & Pulaski Counties for 24 hour Emergency Service.

Tips to avoid Freezing Pipes

1/6/2017 (Permalink)

Why Pipe Freezing is a Problem

Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the "strength" of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are also subject to freezing.

If your pipes do freeze and cause damage to your home or business, STAY CALM AND CALL SERVPRO, we can make it "Like it never even happened.®"

During a freeze, Take Preventative Action

Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

To Thaw Frozen Pipes

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.

· Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too

Frozen Pipes tips

1/19/2016 (Permalink)

Cold weather has hit our area. Protect your home from freezing pipes:

1. Turn off outside faucets and allow to drain then cover with insulating foam covers.

2. Insulate any exposed pipes under or around house with foam insulation.

3. Open cabinet doors under sinks.

4. Allow interior faucets to drip, both hot and cold.

5. Know where your main water shut off valves are located.

Large Loss Ready!

10/7/2014 (Permalink)

We are large loss ready with the purchase of our own Desiccant Dehumidifier.

Cold weather tips for your home

11/13/2013 (Permalink)