flood damage pittsburgh

Can a House Be Saved After Flood Damage?

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Flooding is one of the most damaging disasters that can happen to your home. Flood damage can be irreversible and can devastate homeowners, especially those who do not have the added protection of flood insurance. There are many factors at play when it comes to being able to restore your home and achieve a successful flood damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh. A professional restoration company can combat all of these.

  1. How Long Water Has Sat- The longer water is standing in your home, the more damage that will happen. Cleaning up flood damage quickly is imperative to a complete restoration. Flood waters can seep through your floors and cause structural elements of your home such as foundation, support beams, and more to degrade and rot. Do not wait to call a professional restoration company after flood damage if you want to salvage your home.
  2. Type of Flood Waters- There are three categories of flood waters and category three is the most dangerous and damaging. This category contains the most hazardous contaminants such as sewage and flooding from natural disasters such as hurricanes. If your home has flooding from category two or three, you will need to contact a professional company to complete your flood damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburg.
  3. Amount of Water- The volume of water has one of the biggest impacts on whether a home can be salvaged after flood damage. More water means more damage and if damage is too great, sometimes trying to do the flood cleanup in Greater Pittsburg can be more expensive than a property is worth and result in a total loss.

The last thing a homeowner wants to worry about after a natural disaster or big flooding accident is if they are going to be able to move back into their home. While nothing can be guaranteed, there is always a better chance of complete restoration if you call the professionals like ServiceMaster to complete your flood cleanup.

If you need flood damage cleanup in your home, call ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh at 412-419-3253 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.

Flood Damage Cleanup | Flooding Complications Homeowners Should Know

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Flood Damage Cleanup | Flooding Complications Homeowners Should Be Aware Of

When you live in coastal communities, you need to be more aware than others of the potential complications that come with flooding, especially during hurricane and storm season. While homeowners on the coast might be more at risk, there are plenty of communities where flooding occurs, and everyone needs to learn about the possible complications flooding can cause in your home. To avoid some of these complications, you need flood damage cleanup immediately after a flood.

  1. Windows Won’t Close Completely-Flooding can cause your window trip to warp, the seals to degrade, and often, after a destructive flood, new windows are needed.
  2. Doors Jam or Won’t Latch-Water damage warps wood and can make your door swell and no longer latch or lock properly.
  3. Cracks, Peeling, Curling of Flooring-Flood damage cleanup can’t always save your flooring after a natural disaster. Standing water can destroy flooring, no matter what material it’s made from.
  4. Sinking Foundation-One of the signs of a sinking foundation is when the front porch or stoop starts to sink and become uneven. You might also notice cracks in the walls or bowing basement walls. The crawl space floor may also soften and sag. This is dangerous and the longer you avoid flood damage cleanup, the worse it will be.
  5. Leaning Chimneys-You might not realize that flooding can damage your chimney, but a leaning or cracking chimney is often a sign that your home has undergone serious water damage.
  6. Mold Damage-Mold can cause allergic reactions, odor, and be damaging to your home’s integrity. The sooner you have flood damage cleanup completed, the less likely you’ll be to have mold growing in your home.
  7. Electrical Damage-Your electrical system is very fragile when it comes to water damage. You might have flickering lights, outlets that don’t work, circuit breaker issues, or can even experience electrical shock and fires.

If you’ve recently experienced a natural disaster you need to have flood damage cleanup done right away so that these complications don’t get out of hand. Sometimes the flood damage complications can be worse than the actual flood.

If you are looking for flood damage cleanup companies, call ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburg.  Our team of service professionals is efficient, professional, and quick at their jobs, which can save you time and money at the end of your remodel project. Call ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburg to discuss your residential or commercial cleaning needs today at 412-528-5986.