flood damage cleanup

Flood Damage Cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh | What To Do When Your Home Is Flooded With Sewage

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Flooding is an inconvenience that can affect a home’s structure calling for extensive repairs. Despite the cause, there are several things to do to respond to flood damage. Hiring experts is the best way to help restore your home quickly. At ServiceMaster we offer flood damage cleanup services in Greater Pittsburgh.

What do you do when your home is flooded with sewage?

Ensure Safety

It is essential to ensure that your family is safe from the flood. Highly contaminated water poses serious health risks. And if you come into contact, make sure to clean your hands thoroughly and wear personal protective equipment during cleanup.

Address the Source of Flood

Unless the flood is caused by nature, ensure you address the sewage backup. Make sure you seal or turn off any water source in the home. This helps avoid accidents during cleanup and recovery. ServiceMaster is just a call away to help check the cause and fix the damage.

Notify your Insurance Company

When flood damage occurs, you should call your insurance company. This is necessary as they can advise on the steps to take and cover the restoration expenses. If you live in Greater Pittsburgh can reach out to ServiceMaster for flood damage cleanup while you address the damage with your insurance company.

Document the Flood Damage

This involves taking photos and other evidence of the flood damage. This is important for filing incident reports with the authorities and claims with the insurance company. Make sure you document everything, from the cause of the flood to the damage it has caused your property.

Inform a Professional Water Restoration Services Company

Reaching out to a reputable flood damage cleanup company is crucial. They can offer general cleanup services and restore your home to its pre-damaged state. ServiceMaster is an able team with skilled personnel in areas of water restoration.

Clean-up after flood damage can be dangerous and exhausting. If you are in Greater Pittsburgh, visit us at ServiceMaster to restore your home to its full functionality.

How to Prevent Home Flooding | Flood Damage Cleanup

Posted on by Matt Nelson

You can protect your home and prevent floodwater from the destruction of your property. But if it does suffer from floods, count on ServiceMaster for restoration of your property. Our team provides flood cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh, helping you settle back into your home after damage. 

Here are some tips for preventing home flooding. 

Understand Your Flood Risk | Flood Damage Cleanup

To prepare and proof your home accordingly, you should know your area’s flood risk. You can check the Federal Emergency Management Agency portal for information on your area’s flood risk. 

Inspect and Maintain Your Home

Keeping your home in the best working condition can reduce the risk of flooding. Inspect the foundation and basement and fix cracks. Inspect the sump pump and repair any issues to keep basement flooding at bay. 

Run a thorough inspection of the plumbing line to ensure no leaks, broken pipes, and faulty faucets. If you find extreme damage, get professional flood damage cleanup professionals for effective and timely restoration.   

Modify the Landscape

Hore a landscaper to have your yard graded to drain water away from your home. They can also raise any low areas that may collect water. Lastly, plant and maintain grass and shrubs to prevent erosion. 

Home Drainage Manitenance

Inspect the drainage system from roofing to the sewer line. You want to make sure there is free flow of waste and rain water to prevent flooding in the event of a storm. Hire a professional to clean the cutters, fix broken downspouts and unclog  the sewer drains. 

Floods occur unexpectedly but with a properly maintained home and the right prevention strateges in place, you can hack this. If you are looking for reliable flood cleanup in Greater Pittsbrugh, call ServiceMaster and let us take care of the mess. 

Flood Safety Tips from Flood Damage Cleanup Experts

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Floods can be destructive to your property and risk your health. When floods occur, the first thing you should do is call flood cleanup professionals for the job. ServiceMaster provides flood damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh and can come on board to help you restore your home after floods.

Here are tips for flood safety.

Pest Control

Pests such as mice, raps, termites, and ants are attracted to moist areas. If flooded areas are left unattended, they can be breeding grounds for these pests, which can later pose health risks and destruction of your home’s components.

Seal off the Damage

Sealing off the damage will prevent further destruction of your property when floods occur. The best idea would be to get professionals for effective restoration. If you are in Greater Pittsburgh, you can count on ServiceMaster. Our team provides flood damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh and can help you clean the mess and get your property back in order.

Mold Control and Prevention

Mold thrives in moist areas, and flooding provides the right environment for mold growth. It is crucial to start restoration as soon as flooding occurs to cut the chances of mold growing in your home.

Proper Disposal of Items

When floods occur, items in your home may soak in the water and get destroyed. Chemicals may spill, food might go bad quicker, and books and furniture might be destroyed beyond repair. Dispose of each item properly to prevent water contamination while ensuring proper cleaning.

Stay Out of the Home Until It Is Safe

The best way to remain safe after a flood is to stay away from your home until restoration is complete. Floods pose plenty of risks, from mold growth to contaminated water, so it is best to be away from the affected area until you get the area restored professionally.

ServiceMaster is a reliable company providing flood damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh and the environs. If your home floods, call us and leave the mess for us to handle. Our team is skilled and equipped to manage flood disasters, clean up your home, and get it back in order.

How to Protect Your Home Against Spring Flooding

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Spring flooding is common in the US, thanks to melting snow and seasonal rains. There are a few things you can do to protect your home but before you do, have your flood damage cleanup company on speed dial. SM Greater Pittsburgh provides flood damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh, helping you restore your home effectively.

What can you do to protect your home from floods in spring?

Have an Emergency Spring Flood Plan

You need a clear plan of the actions you will take if home floods. This should include steps you will take immediately flooding occurs and after. Have contacts of loved ones, plan a place to evacuate to if necessary and pack supplies for that season.

Get Clear on Your Insurance Policy

If you live in a flood risk area, take the time to check with your insurance company. Understand what your company covers in the event of a flood. Knowing this beforehand can help you plan around restoration if flooding occurs.

Install a Sump Pump

A sump pump in your basement or foundation can prevent flood damage in your home. These pumps divert water away from your home’s foundation while keeping your basement dry.

Clear Drains and Gutters

Sudden snow melts and rainstorms can bring about floods in your home. Check all the drains in your home and clear the gutters to ensure a free water flow. If flooding occurs, call SM Greater Pittsburgh; they provide flood damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh and can help you deal with the floods.

Consider Flood Detectors

Spring flooding comes with little or no warning, so as much as you may not see it coming, flood detectors can help to some extent.

Prepare for spring floods by implementing the tips above. But, if flooding occurs, do not hesitate to call SM Greater Pittsburgh. Their team of professionals provides flood damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh, taking up the challenge to restore your home.

The Destruction Flooding Causes | Flood Damage Cleanup in Pittsburgh

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Flooding can incur losses, not forgetting how time and effort-intensive it is to deal with. If you happen to face floods and looking for flood damage cleanup in Pittsburgh, ServiceMaster can come in handy to help you take care of the mess.

Flooding has significant effects on the property’s components which can be expensive to repair and replace. Below are the areas where destruction occurs most after a flood.

Issues Drywall Face When Needing Flood Damage Cleanup

Drywall comes as a porous material, meaning any contact with water results in it soaking up and bulging. Drywall acts like a sponge in the event of a flood, becoming a fragile component to handle. This calls for replacement as the damage is usually beyond repair.

Plaster

Plaster, unlike drywall, does not need to be replaced; however, it takes a long time to dry. It is even worse to get back to usual if there are cracks. In this case, it would need to be replaced.

Insulation Issues When Needing Flood Damage Cleanup

Dealing with insulation after flooding can be challenging hence why you need ServiceMaster. They provide flood damage cleanup in Pittsburgh and will assess the condition of the insulation and advice on strategies to repair or replace affected areas.

Most insulation methods use foam sheets that can quickly soak up water in the event of a flood. The food thing is that insulation does not need to be replaced as it dries well. However, if you have muddy fiberglass batts, you should throw them out as they do not get back to shape.

These are some of the areas that suffer destruction after flood damage. With the help of a flood restoration company, you can assess the conditions to warrant repairs or replacements. If you are looking for flood damage cleanup in Pittsburgh, ServiceMaster has a team of professionals to help you settle back into your property.