flood damage restoration

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.

 Restoration Services in Greater Pittsburgh | Avoiding Water in the Crawl Space

Posted on by Matt Nelson

One reason that homeowners might need restoration services in Greater Pittsburgh is because of a flooded or water damaged crawl space. Damage from flooding can be extensive in the crawl space, mostly because the water often sits for prolonged periods of time. The longer water sits in the crawl space the larger the risk becomes for mold and structural damage.

Your crawl space can become flooded for many varied reasons—sewer backups or waste line leaks, storm flooding, poor drainage from your home, groundwater swells, and burst pipes. There are a few things you can do to avoid ending up with a flooded crawlspace, however so that you do not end up needing restoration services in Greater Pittsburgh.

  1. Regularly Check Your Gutters- One of the main reasons that crawl spaces flood is pour drainage away from the house. Clogged or broken gutters can cause water to pool near the foundation and leak into your crawl space.
  2. Regularly Check the Crawl Space- After every major storm and at least once per month you should have a look inside your crawl space and make sure there is no standing water. Ignoring your crawl space will allow mold to flourish quickly.
  3. Encapsulate the Crawl Space- Like sealing, encapsulating will keep moisture content in the soil out of the crawl space walls. Proper ventilation is also vital for limiting excess moisture. You can also consider adding insulation.

You may think that a little bit of rainwater or moisture will not be a big deal in your crawl space, but even clean category one water can become harmful after it is stagnant. Water that is not taken care of by restoration services in Greater Pittsburgh will become a breeding ground for not only mold, but insects and other pests. If you have encountered water in your crawl space, whether it is just a damp wall or several inches of water, call a professional company that is licensed and insured to start your restoration process.

If you have water in your Crawlspace, ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh can help if you call 412-424-6755 or visit us on Facebook.

Water Damage Cleanup – Why Is There Always Water in My Basement

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Few people feel good about needing water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburg, especially when the damage is in the basement. Flooding and standing water in your basement can be caused by many things and all of them can be difficult for homeowners to deal with on their own. If you are seeing water or moisture in your basement on a regular basis, you may have a much bigger problem than you realize.

Reasons for Basement Flooding

Basement flooding is something nearly every homeowner will deal with but the companies that do water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburg will always have your back.

There are three reasons why your basement might have constant leaking or flooding issues:

Hydrostatic Pressure is basement flooding caused by oversaturation of ground water in the soil that causes the water table to rise. Pressures rises under the home and the water seeps into the basement.

Lateral Pressure is when looser soil around your home is saturated with water which causes the soil to expand. The pressure against the foundation of the home causes cracks and damage which then allows water to seep through.

Window Well Leakage refers to leaks that come in due to the window wells filling with rain or water and drainage problems. Water will seep through any cracks or gaps, wear down seals, and cause damage to windows and water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburg to be needed.

Places You are Most Likely to Have Leaks in Your Basement

There are a few places where you are most likely to find water leaking into your basement.

  • Cracks in the floor
  • Cove joints
  • Basement walls
  • Mortar joints
  • Windows

Many homeowners believe the reason their basement if flooding is because their sump pump failed; however, the real cause of the flooding is one of those listed above. A sump pump is meant to remedy those issues but can sometimes fail.

When there is water in your basement, the time it takes to cleanup professionally may be something you are not prepared or equipped to handle. Let a professional water damage cleanup company take care of the mess for you!

If you need help with water cleanup, call ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh today at 412-424-6755, or find us on facebook.

What Equipment is Needed to Remove Flood Water?

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Flood waters in your home is the last catastrophe anyone wants to deal with but property owners living around the Allegheny River, risk the dangers of flooding. Some people like to be prepared and have the equipment needed to remove flood waters on hand to try to DIY their disaster cleanup; while others rely on professional water damage restoration company to get the job done right. 

Some of the equipment needed to remove water from your home can be found at any hardware or home store such as shop vacuums, pumps, and dehumidifiers. However water damage restoration companies have access to industrial grade equipment that makes the job go faster and more efficiently. 

Common Industrial Tools for Flood Water Extraction

When it comes to the hazardous conditions that flood waters cause, you want the professional water removal companies handling the disaster cleanup. Some of the tools these companies have at their disposal include

  • Light wands/ carpet wands
  • Deep extraction tools
  • Trash pumps
  • Submersible pumps
  • High-pressure pumps
  • Extraction units
  • Personal protection equipment
  • Industrial grade cleaning products and chemicals
  • Mold remediation chemicals
  • Commercial carpet cleaners
  • Industrial box fans

While some of this equipment can be purchased through janitorial supply stores or commercial sales, the cost will often outweigh what you would spend on professional water removal companies. Relying on a team of people who cleanup flood damage and complete disaster restoration will cost less and take less time than trying to DIY a disaster as large as flooding. 

Cost of Professional Water Removal Services 

Professional water removal services will range in price from a few hundred to few thousand dollars depending on the extent of damage and services needed to fully remediate the property. Luckily, homeowner’s insurance and flood protection add-ons can sometimes help cover these costs. You might also have home warranties or appliance warranties that can be applied to water cleanup if the flooding was a result of sump pump or appliance failure. 

ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburg is here to help you with all of your water cleanup needs. Call us today at 412-376-4645.