water damage restoration pittsburgh

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.

Water Disaster Restoration Services in Greater Pittsburgh | Effects of Water Damage in Your Home

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Water disaster restoration services can be costly, but it is essential to address water damage issues as soon as they occur. Ignoring them could cause more damage and even more costs. ServiceMaster is a trusted company providing water disaster restoration services, so you can call us and let us deal with the adverse effects that water damage could cause your home. 

What are some of the effects that untreated water damage can cause on your home?

Health Risks

Dripping water is vulnerable to the rapid spread of bacteria and viruses. Lack of effective treatment could lead to contamination on the floors and walls. These contaminants cause serious health problems such as skin conditions and respiratory diseases. At ServiceMaster, we provide water disaster restoration services to help prevent the risk of infections and diseases.

Mold Growth

Wet areas and damp spots are faultless targets for mold growth. Your bathroom can easily attract molds. ServiceMaster is a trusted company that can help detect and treat mold growth. Reach out to us anytime to address this issue and restore your home to a clean state.

Structural Issues

Water damage poses a massive risk to the structural integrity of your home. Water causes wood to swell. When this wood contracts, it causes cracks which further affect your home’s structure. If you are experiencing this problem, reach out to ServiceMaster to help fix the issue.

Breakage and Malfunctioning of Appliances and Wiring

Home appliances are the most expensive things to repair in your home. Water damage could result in breakage and faulty functioning of appliances. Hiring ServiceMaster to inspect your wiring is the best way to fix this problem.

 

ServiceMaster is the leading water restoration company in the country. We are a skilled and qualified team. Reach out to us today at ServiceMaster for water disaster restoration services to get back your life quicker.

Water Disaster Restoration Services in Greater Pittsburgh | How to Acquire Restoration Equipment

Posted on by Matt Nelson

With the right skills, you can perform DIY water disaster restoration; however, you may not have the right tools for the job. The easiest way to go about this would be to hire equipment, even though it is advisable to seek professional help in such instances.

 On this note, if you need water disaster restoration services in Greater Pittsburgh, ServiceMaster is a reliable company. Our team is trained and equipped for any damage.  

If you hire equipment for restorations, here are the tools you need to keep in mind. 

 

Water Damage Dehumidifier

 Dehumidifiers are designed to suck up moisture from water-damaged items and surfaces. When renting out one, make sure it is designed for commercial use to ensure it can handle extensively.

Air Scrubbers

 Also called HEPA filtration/negative air machines, air scrubbers are used to filter and get rid of airborne particles. They are essential for cleanup and can help eliminate mold spores in a water-damaged area.

Drying Fans

Your regular fan at home might not do the job in a water disaster. Commercial-grade fans are designed to circulate air in small to large areas while ensuring the effective removal of moisture in the process.

These are commonly used tools for DIY water removal in a water disaster. They can be helpful; however, you might not get the most use out of them, especially if they are all new to you.

 

At ServiceMaster, we advise letting professionals handle water disasters not only for your safety but also to prevent further damage to your home.  Our team provides water disaster restoration services in Greater Pittsburgh and comes with the right tools for effective and prompt restoration.

Water Damage Restoration in Greater Pittsburgh | Water Damage Timelines and What to Do

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Owning a home isn’t all roses, as water damage emergencies can occur anytime. But you can never be prepared for a flooded basement, a clogged toilet, or a leaking roof. In such a case, professionals for water damage restoration can come on board and restore your home’s functionality. 

Timeline

 Water damage happens in a second’s split. That’s why it’s crucial to start restoration on time. That way, moisture doesn’t get absorbed into porous material around the house, preventing structural damage at the very least.

How long a property is exposed to water damage will influence the extent of the damage—knowing that water damage happens fast calls for home and business owners to act promptly.

Within Minutes of Water Damage

Water damage happens within minutes of flooding a room. All the walls, floors, and furniture are saturated with excess moisture. Furniture finishes begin to bleed, resulting in carpet stains you don’t want to imagine.

Within Hours

Within hours of a dishwasher leak, the damage will depend on the number of hours it goes without restoration. Waiting up to 24 hours may leave you with swollen kitchen walls, table legs, flooring, and cabinets, if not tarnished metal surfaces, or a musty odor at worst.

Within a Week

A weeklong water damage from burst pipes can destroy your home’s components. After 48 hours to a week, you will be dealing with water damage, swollen and warped doors, windows, furniture, and floorboards that won’t open easily, wall paint blisters and mold spores in these spaces, and rusted metal appliances.

This kind of damage will require professional intervention. Service Master provides water damage restoration in Greater Pittsburgh, helping you clear the mess and get your home back to regular operation.

Beyond One Week

Suppose no one’s around for more than a week, and a home flood happens. In that case, grave water damage (oversaturation resulting in mold colonies) and restoration are inescapable. We’re talking about extensive structural rebuilding and replacement of damaged things here.

 

 ServiceMaster is a call away if you are looking for water damage restoration in Greater Pittsburgh. Our professional team will take charge of the situation and restore your home to functionality.

Water Disaster Restoration Services in Pittsburgh | Common Sump Pump Issues 

Posted on by Matt Nelson

A sump pump is a submersible machine intended to clear the water at the lowest point of home or business. They are commonly used in basements to prevent flooding when water collects there. That means, if they are faulty, there is a possibility of flooding in the home. 

 

The good thing is that ServiceMaster responds quickly, and in a water disaster, they will help restore the property. They provide water disaster restoration services in Pittsburgh and the environs.

 

Below are the most common sump pump issues you should look out for. 

 

Strange Noises

 

Most sump pumps on the market are silent in operation or very low in noise produced. If your sump pump makes a loud noise when pumping, it could be a sign of worn-out or damaged parts. 

 

The louder the sump pump gets, the more likely it has faulty mechanical parts. It may be repairable, but it may be time to get a replacement if it has been operating for over ten years. While at it, consider ServiceMaster for water disaster restoration services in Pittsburgh. 

 

Rapid Vibrations

 

Another common issue is rapid vibrations, usually caused by damaged impellers on the machine. The sump pump vibrates excessively when these components are bent or worn out. These impellers are designed to put as little stress as possible on the shaft as they spin.

 

A damaged impeller causes an imbalance resulting in excessive vibrations. Unfortunately, they are hard to bend back to shape for functionality. Therefore, you will have to replace the sump pump with a new one.  

 

A sump pump is a valuable device, but a minor malfunction can bring about a water disaster in your home. ServiceMaster is here to take the restoration job up and save you the hassle. They provide water disaster restoration services in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas.