Water Damage Cleanup | What Causes Water Damage?

One of the biggest dangers to your home is water damage. Whether the damage happens because of natural disasters, accidents, water can harm the structure of your home.  And more importantly, it can pose major health concerns to your family. Responsible homeowners understand the causes of water damage and the proper steps to be taken for water damage cleanup.

Common Causes of Residential Water Damage:

Although water damage can happen for many different reasons, the most common reasons you might find yourself needing professional water damage cleanup include:

• Plumbing Leaks
• Broken/Burst Pipes
• Clogged Toilet
• Moisture in the Walls
• Leaking Roof
• Cracks in Foundation
• Natural Disaster
• Overflowing Sink or Bathtub
• Appliance Leaks or Flooding

Fast and efficient water damage cleanup is the most important factor in mitigating these disasters, no matter what the cause of the water damage. Professional services like ServiceMaster are typically available 24/7, 365 days a year to ensure that you have rapid response to help solve life’s biggest curveballs.

Cleaning Up Water Damage

Mold and bacteria can begin growing within hours, so water damage cleanup needs to begin immediately after the damage occurs. You should always cut the power to the home or room where standing water is located. You’ll also need buckets, rags, mops, gloves, a shop vacuum or other suctioning tool to remove the water. Cleaning up after water removal will require fans and dehumidifiers for drying, bleach, gloves, all-purpose cleaner, rags, and buckets. You might also need to consider respirators or masks depending on the severity of the damage.

Some water damage cleanup will also need to include mold mitigation or specialized cleaning for waste removal or other hazardous substances. A good rule of thumb for homeowners is that if the standing water is deeper than a few inches, you should call for professional restoration and cleanup services.

When you’re in over your head in water damage, call ServiceMaster of Pittsburgh at 412-826-1010.

Mold Removal | Getting Rid of Mold in Crawl Spaces

Mold situations are one of the worst nightmares a homeowner can encounter. Not only does mold indicate a huge problem happening inside your home, mold can also be hazardous to your health. Tackling old issues immediately is important, but there are some parts of houses that aren’t frequented often such as attics, cellars, and crawl spaces. Mold removal in these places nearly always requires professional assistance because by the time a problem is realized that problem is usually quite far out of hand.

How to Tell if Mold Is in Your Crawl Space

The most obvious signs of mold are the visual ones. Take a flashlight into your crawl space and scan over the walls and ceiling, paying close attention to corners and seams. Mold can look like dark blotches, white patches, or like fuzz growing up the wall or down from the ceiling.

Another telltale sign of mold is a musty smell emanating from your crawl space. Mold may not be visible at first, but the smell often will be noticeable.

Why Is Mold in You Crawl Space?

Mold thrives in humid or moisture rich environments that are cool and dark. If your crawlspace has water damage from a leak or flood, or the ventilation is poor which causes higher humidity, mold can easily and quickly grow.

Cleaning Mold in Crawl Spaces

Before starting mold removal, homeowners need to understand that the EPA recommends any mold problems that spans more than ten square feet be mitigated by professionals. Homeowners who already suffer from weakened immune systems or respiratory ailments should not attempt to enter the crawlspace that has mold if the problem is widespread.

If the mold problem is isolated or small, cleaning up the mold can be done DIY style using rags, water, mold removal cleaners or bleach, a brush, gloves, and a mask. Eyewear should also be considered, and all skin should be covered. Once the mold is gone, the reason for the mold needs to be addressed and fixed. A professional mold remediator can help homeowners pinpoint the source.

If you’re ready for mold removal in Pittsburgh, call ServiceMaster at 412-826-1010.