Author: John Samek

Water Damage Cleanup | When Your Bathtub Overflows

Posted on by John Samek

Water Damage Cleanup | When Your Bathtub Overflows

Every homeowner has dealt with an accident in their home involving water at some point in time. One of the most common household water accidents that can happen (especially if you have kids!) is a bathtub overflow. You plug the tub, turn on the water, get distracted, and before you know it, there’s water flooding your bathroom. It happens to the best of us and fortunately, most bathroom floods are easy enough to clean up, although, in worst-case scenarios, professional water damage cleanup could be necessary.

Step to Cleaning Up A Flooded Bathroom

  1. Turn off the Water- This step seems like common sense, but in a state of panic it is easy to forget to do the simple things like turn off the water source. If your bathtub overflows, you should just be able to turn off the handle, but you might also need to find the water shut off valve to your home which is usually located by the water meter or in the basement.
  2. Turn off the Power- If you have a lot of standing water (more than an inch or two) you should turn off the power to the bathroom using the circuit box to ensure that no standing water can become electrified.
  3. Clean Up Standing Water- The first part of water damage cleanup is to remove the water. You’ll need to soak water up using towels, or suck the water out using a wet/dry shop vacuum or carpet cleaner.
  4. Dry it Out- Mold prevention is going to be very important after a flooded bathroom since this area is already a humid, moist place. Once the water is removed, you’ll need to use fans and possibly a dehumidifier to remove all moisture from the bathroom. Fans and open windows will help also if the weather permits.

Special concerns you might need to address for water damage cleanup in a flooded bathroom include dealing with raw sewage or human waste. This type of cleanup needs to be more detailed. And other safety measures need to be taken when cleaning up hazards like sewage.

If you need to call in the professionals, give ServiceMaster of Pittsburgh a call at 412-826-1010.

 

Flood Damage Cleanup | Carpet Cleaning After A Flood

Posted on by John Samek

Flood Damage Cleanup | Carpet Cleaning After A Flood

Flooding is one of the worst residential disasters that homeowners can face. Water can severely damage your home, belongings, and your health, especially if mold has started to grow. This is why homeowners need flood damage cleanup to happen quickly and efficiently. As a rule of thumb, if flooding isn’t cleaned up within 48 hours your carpets and other waterlogged items can end up being a total loss.

Is the Carpet Salvageable After Flood Damage?

Carpets that are removable and area rugs can be sent out for professional cleaning after the water is removed from the room. Unfortunately, carpets that are installed with padding underneath are usually lost after being waterlogged. Installed carpets are nearly impossible to sanitize properly after flood damage cleanup and need to be thrown out and replaced in most cases.

Cleaning Wet Carpets

Not every flooding incident is a total disaster. Carpets that are waterlogged from overfilled tubs, running kitchen sinks, or smaller accidents can be cleaned up by using a wet/dry shop vacuum.  This professional-grade vacuum sucks out the water.

If the carpets have been deeply saturated, but you want to try to save them, you may need to pull up the carpet to ensure adequate drying. You’ll also need to replace the padding underneath to prevent mold and spray with disinfectant after drying completely. There are also deodorizers that can help with the smell of wet carpet as it is drying. Fans and open windows will also help with air circulation, fresh scent, and faster drying.

When it comes to flood damage cleanup, professional mitigation is always a great idea. Mold is always a risk after any kind of water damage and, unfortunately, mold is not also seen or smelled until the growth is significant. Let professionals handle the cleanup.  Calling a professional will remove the water and the stress.  Relax and know the home is clean, sanitary, and free of mold after a flood.

If you’re in need of flood damage cleanup in Pittsburgh, call ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburg at 412-826-1010.

 

Commercial Carpet Cleaning | Not All Cleaning Tools are the Same

Posted on by John Samek

Commercial Carpet Cleaning | Not All Cleaning Tools are the Same

In your residence, you probably have a vacuum and possibly a carpet shampooer that you use to clean your carpets. You might even think that these residential cleaning tools are perfectly adaptable for cleaning commercial carpets. If you own a business, you understand the importance of cleanliness and making a great impression on your customers or clients, but grabbing a vacuum off the shelf from the nearest home store is not the solution for commercial carpet cleaning that you are looking for.

Why Choose Professional Commercial Carpet Cleaning

Your carpets are one of the first things your customers will see when they walk in the door. Dirty carpets give the perception of a dirty environment and your customers want a bright, clean place to do business. Professional carpet cleaning services like ServiceMaster use environmentally friendly chemicals and commercial grade cleaning tools to keep your carpets looking newer for longer.

Some of the benefits:

  • Carpets have uniform appearance
  • Reduce germs, bacteria, mold, and disease
  • Stain removal
  • Reduce effects of wear and tear in the highest traffic areas
  • Restore the natural texture and appearance of the carpet
  • Extend carpet life by several years
  • Gard your carpets against spills by applying Scotchgard
  • Spot cleaning service
  • Custom designed programs

Carpet cleaning services are most effective when they happen quarterly, however business with low foot traffic can still benefit from annual carpet cleaning services. When business owners hire professional carpet cleaning rather than relying on employees running a vacuum or carpet shampooer, they are also increasing the quality of air in their building which can lead to better health outcomes for employees, especially any that have asthma or allergy issues.

Consider ServiceMaster of Pittsburgh for your commercial carpet cleaning needs and get an estimate by calling 412-826-1010.

Water Damage Cleanup | What Causes Water Damage?

Posted on by John Samek

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

Posted on by John Samek

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.