Long Term Effects of Storm Damage

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

What You Need to Know About the Long-Term Effects of Storm Damage

Do you think that post-storm water damage dries without help? If you do not treat this potentially serious issue immediately, take a look at what you need to know about the long-term effects of water damage.

Flooring Failure

Water that seeps into your home and floods your flooring can sink through carpets and padding. The result is a damp rug that is slow to dry. But what happens if the rug feels dry to the touch?

In some cases, you can dry and restore storm-damaged or flooded carpeting. This does not mean you should attempt to save your carpets without help. Failure to properly dry the carpets or the padding underneath can cause additional problems for what lies underneath.

Your regular home vacuum can't pull water from under the carpet's surface. Likewise, a fan or other type of similar drier will not reach beneath into the padding. This means what may feel like a completely dry carpet can hide a wet, moldy, or dirty pad. If you have wood flooring under your carpets, a damp pad could cause serious damage over time.

The longer the moisture sits on the wood floor, the more likely the cellulose fibers in the material will soak up excess water. This can warp the wood and cause permanent damage. While other types of flooring, such as tile, may not warp, the constant presence of water can still cause problems.

To prevent warping and other related issues, contract a professional storm damage restoration company as soon as possible. If you do wait, the professional may still have ways to treat the area and restore your home's flooring.

Faulty Furniture

Your flooring is not the only part of your home that is subject to the long-term effects of storm-related water damage. If water sits on your furniture, it can also cause permanent damage. The type of damage your furniture sustains after a flood or storm depends on what it is made from.

Hard, non-porous plastic surfaces are relatively easy to clean and dry. Provided no evidence of mold growth or bacterial contamination exists, you can wipe the item with your choice of household cleaner and dry it with a towel. But if the furniture in question is made of wood or is upholstered, you will need a professional restoration expert's help.

What happens if you wait to call this professional? Like with carpeting, the water could soak through upholstered items and into the padding underneath. This can result in internal mold growth or damage wooden support frames. This destroys the integrity of the item and can cause complete failure.

Again, like with wood floors, wooden furniture can soak up water and warp. Water can also cause spotting on the surface or swelling. Even though the initial water damage may have happened days or weeks ago, a storm damage professional may still have the ability to restore these items.

Weak Walls

Water damage can extend from the floors and furniture to the walls of your home. Like with other types of water damage, the longer moisture sits on your walls, the higher the likelihood that your home will have permanent problems such as mold growth, warping, or other similar issues.

Like with flooring, a dry wall surface does not always mean everything underneath is free from moisture too. Long-term water exposure can result in seepage through drywall or plaster. The underlying wood and other building materials can warp or rot. This can cause serious or extensive structural issues. A restoration professional can evaluate the situation and create a treatment plan.

Here Whenever You Need Us

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

Storms do not check to see what our schedule is like, nor do they check the clocks. They often come at the most inconvenient time. This is why SERVPRO is a 24/7 business. We do not pass up the opportunity to help in case of emergency.

Whether the storm is a winter snowstorm or a spring thunderstorm we are ready for action during or after hours. This is very important to us because these types of damages and repairs require immediate attention. A quick response is critical in limiting a secondary loss during a storm event.

With any type of storm, water is present and wreaks havoc on one's home or business. Response time is one of our top priorities to ensure water does not become a bigger issue than it already is.

Call SERVPRO 

Water Damage from Contaminated Water

4/23/2022 (Permalink)

What to DO:

-Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.

-Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

What NOT TO DO:

- Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas. 

- Turn on the HVAC system in there is a possibility of spreading air.

- Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contamination.

-Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas. 

          Harmful Waste 

(Sewage, bloodborne pathogens, etc.)

What to DO:

- Stay out of effected areas.

- Call emergency service personnel if the situation is life threatening.

- Treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated.

What NOT TO DO:

- Attempt cleanup of any kind.

- Touch or handle items that might be contaminated with bodily fluids

Facts About Storm Damage

3/2/2022 (Permalink)

Is Storm Damage Covered by Insurance?

Storm damage may be covered by your insurance policy, but you’ll need to reach out to your agent to get specifics about your particular coverage. It’s important to note that your home must be maintained to a reasonable standard. Otherwise, it could be hard to prove that the storm was the cause of the damage versus a lack of proper maintenance and general wear and tear.

Who Do I Call After A Storm?

SERVPRO provides many of the services you may need after a storm blows through your area. We provide emergency roof tarping and board-up services to help prevent additional damage from the elements and provide security to your property. This service may be needed immediately if your property was damaged by falling trees, hail, high winds, tornado debris or fire. A SERVPRO location near you offers 24/7 emergency service and is available to help.

How Long Does it Take to Fix Flood Damage?

The time it takes to fix flood damage depends on the severity of the flood. We’ll inspect your home or business and discuss with you the severity of damage and our plan to help return your property back to preloss condition. We’ll then work to remove the water that shouldn’t be there using pumps and water extracting equipment. Once the excess water is gone, we use dehumidifiers and other specialized drying equipment to help return the area to its normal moisture level. This is a closely monitored process, with our teams continually making adjustments to equipment to help ensure the area is recovering as quickly and as safely possible.

Winter Wind Damage

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

Mid-Michigan has had allot of heavy winds lately, putting allot of pressure on the exterior of your home.  Wind can leave your roof exposed and that is especially dangerous when entering the cold winter months. Snow and ice can build up over time and cause further breakdown of the exposed area. When fall comes around and everything outside thaws, the water will begin to slowly leak inside. Water works very quickly and can make its way down the drywall and into the flooring before being detected. When water has a chance to sit mold begins to grow. At this point everything must be removed, cleaned, and replaced. Always inspect the exterior of your home after any type of storm and if you are in need or repairs, call SERVPRO of Port Huron 24/7, 365 days a year!

What Happens when Water Gets Under your Ceramic Tile?

6/8/2021 (Permalink)

Tile can withstand small quantities of water but if your home has been flooded and you are thinking of leaving the effected tile untouched, there are a few important things you should know. Water that has found its way under ceramic tile can cause mold growth. If that mold is not taken care of it can become very dangerous. Mold spores can lead to health effects and will eventually compromise the structure of the tile itself.  

This is where your insurance company steps in and asks you to call SERVPRO of Port Huron. Our trained professionals will come in, asses all damage and identify potential future problems that you may not have known to check for. Our Project Manager will work directly with you and your insurance adjuster to repair or replace all damaged areas.  

With 24/7 on-call technicians, we are faster to any size disaster.

Prepare your Home Before the Storm

4/26/2021 (Permalink)

Once again all of Michigan has a winter storm advisory!

Here are some quick tips to protect your home 

keep your pipes warm- insulate pipes in the cold parts of your home and leave cabinets open to allow warm air to reach the pipes

Check your roof- Large amounts of packed snow can cause your roof to collapse so be on the lookout

Carbon-monoxide detectors- Poor ventilation is a huge risk factor in the winter months. Keeping a detector on each floor of your house can help keep your family safe

Generator- A generator can be pricy but will keep you warm in the case of a power outage and save you money by protecting your pipes from freezing

Emergency kits- Incase of a power outage be sure to have flashlights, candles, battery powered radio and extra batteries on hand

As always SERVPRO of Port Huron is here to help with highly trained technicians ready for your call should your home or business be affected this winter.

810-966-7900

Roof Damage From High wind Events

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

We have received a ton of calls for roof repairs after all of the high winds we have seen lately. 

If your home has taken a beating from high winds, the damage is not always obvious. Damaged shingles may look fine from the street and the issues may not reveal themselves until after some time has passed. 

Damaged shingles can lead to a leak in the roof. The leak will be small and hard to notice but may make its way through your homes siding or roofs waterproof material. These small areas allow moisture and pests to enter your home.

The wind can also cause the roof decking to lift away from the framing. Even the slightest lift can lead to loose screws and nails. If this happens it may take only one more high wind situation to completely lift the roof decking away from the home. 

The damage your home sustains will depend on several factors. These include:

• Direction of high winds
• Type of home construction
• Materials used for roof and siding
• Age of home

 When you have your home assessed for damaged by SERVPRO professionals, they will look beneath the surface to find the hidden damage.

Did you know that wind damage is often covered by your insurance company? 

Check your homeowners policy to learn the details about your coverage. Most policies include reimbursement for roof and siding repairs due to wind damage.

If you suspect you have roof damage give SERVPRO of Port Huron a call today. one of our Project Managers will meet you at your home, asses the amount of damage and submit an estimate to your insurance adjuster.

SERVPRO of Port Huron

810-966-7900

Preventing Frozen Pipes

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

Port Huron is headed for some single digit temperatures in the next week - here’s some ways you can prevent your pipes from breaking in the extreme cold.

As a general rule, the “temperature alert threshold” for freezing pipes is about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep your pipes from freezing, make sure they are not exposed to temperatures approaching this. Installing pipe insulation, sealing cracks and applying electrical heating tape to your pipes are all good preventative measures.

Make sure that heat is generating throughout your house by keeping the garage door shut, opening the cabinets to circulate heat, never let your thermostat drop below 55 and keep the temperature of your home consistent.  

You can always call SERVPRO of Port Huron 24/7 if you experience damage from a burst pipe.  

Tornado Season Readiness

4/24/2020 (Permalink)

It may be hard to believe with snow hitting the ground but we are actually in the beginning of tornado season in Michigan. Do you have a safety plan to keep you and your family safe?

Make A Plan 

-Talk with your kids and educate them on the difference between a tornado watch, a tornado warning and a tornado spotted.

-Show them what to look for as warning signs. 

•     Dark, often greenish sky
•     Loud roar 
•     Large hail
•     Large dark and low  hanging clouds 

- Discuss where to take shelter if there is a tornado. The basement is always the best place but if you are living in an apartment or a home with no basement then you should go towards the center of the home, away from all windows and doors. 

For more information on tornado safety, visit this site. 

SERVPRO of Port Huron is here to help with any size disaster. 

Cell Phone Alerts

4/24/2020 (Permalink)

Technology has come a long way!  The only way you used be able to receive Emergency information was by radio or television, but there is a better way and that is your cell phone.

Everyone has a cell phone, right?  In this day and age, we couldn’t imagine anyone not owning a cell phone; it’s practically unheard of.  More people own a cell phone than a car or a TV, and could you blame them.  You can watch TV or catch a ride from your phone in minutes.  In 2002, only 62% of U.S. adults possessed a cell phone, and that percentage increased to 95% of Americans in 2016.  Today, cell phones are used for more than just to make calls.   Cell phone capabilities aren’t what they were 10 or even 5 years ago. New technology has helped make our cell phone do practically anything, from GPS services to video chat, to web surfing, and to virtual reality.

Now knowing this, what is the best and quickest way to notify Americans in case of a major emergency?  I’d say through our cell phones!  You can be warned of upcoming dangers by emergency alerts from anywhere, while choosing how you’d like to receive them from your cell phone.  The ability to be warned of oncoming dangers at a moment’s notice can provide you with a jump-start to safety.  Here are 5 different ways to set up your emergency alerts from you cell phone.

1. National updates

Receive updates regarding National Security from Homeland Security, the latest outbreaks from CDC, and computer threats from US-CERT.  These notifications are issued through WEA- Wireless Emergency Alerts.  If you have ever received an Amber Alert it’s coming from the WEA, which is a default setting in most cell phones.

2. Statewide activity updates

Do a Google search for a Public Warning System for your state.  This will allow you to customize your alerts specifically to your state. 

3. Weather apps for smart phones and tablets

You can receive custom weather alerts from your state or city while customizing the level of warning you want to receive.   Apple users can download NOAA Radar Pro and android users can download the app Pro Weather Alert.  These apps can range from $2- $3, and is worth every penny to keep you and your family notified of weather emergencies and dangers.

4. FEMA

The FEMA text message program informs you of safety tips for specific disaster types, and allows you to search for open shelters and disaster recovery centers.

• Apple devices-text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA)
• Android devices-text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA)

5. Survive Alert Center

For those of you that are like me and hate cluttering up your email and social media, this is the resource for you. Stay up to date with the latest disaster/emergency, terrorism, disease outbreak, significant earthquake, and severe weather alerts all from one site.

Water Damage Timeline

4/3/2020 (Permalink)

What happens when water is left unattended..... 

Within Minutes

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

Hours 1 - 24:

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

48 Hours to 1 Week:

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

More Than 1 Week:

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