water damage

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 | Is it Possible to Get Mold Out of Carpet?

Posted on by Matt Nelson

A little bit of water and wet carpet never killed anyone, but a serious mold growth outbreak could cause fatalities if not properly mitigated. One of the main focuses of water damage restoration company is preventing mold growth after water is removed and belonging or structures are completely dry. Homeowners often believe they can simply use a shop vacuum to suck out the water and soak up the excess water out of the carpet with towels and their water damage is solved; however, there is much more you need to do to have complete mitigation and get mold out of your carpet.

Cleaning Mold from Carpets

The best way to clean mold from carpets is to hire a professional water damage restoration company that is trained and licensed in mold removal. There are several steps to take for proper mold removal.

  1. `Thorough Cleaning- Carpets that have mold must be thoroughly cleaned with commercial grade carpet shampoos for mold.
  2. Drying- After the carpets are cleaned, they will need to be dried completely using commercial fans and dehumidifiers. The drying process is the most crucial step of the mold removal process.
  3. Deodorize- Mold always leaves behind a musty smell, so deodorizing is especially important. Homeowners can use retail grade carpet deodorizer products, but the professional water damage restoration company will have the absolute best products that will not take multiple applications.

Homeowners need to be aware that some carpets cannot be saved. If the mold growth is excessive, mold has grown into the padding and flooring underneath, or the carpet has started to degrade due to the water damage, it will be better to do a full replacement. The water damage cleanup company you are working with can help you decide whether your carpets are going to be salvageable or not. Often carpet cleaning or replacement can be covered by your flood insurance coverage.  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 Restoration | Can Hardwood Furniture Be Salvaged After Flooding?

Posted on by Matt Nelson

Flooding is one of a homeowner’s worst nightmares because there can be such a massive amount of loss. You might be tempted to rent a dumpster and throw out anything and everything that got saturated with water; however, before you throw away your family heirlooms of hardwood furniture, you should partner with a water damage restoration company to help you salvage your belongings.

Hardwood is not always automatically ruined when it gets wet. High quality furniture will be treated to help withstand moisture and water but will still rot when exposed to moisture or saturated for extended periods of time. Although water damage restoration may save your furniture, there may still be damage such as water stains after remediation.

How to Salvage Saturated Hardwood Furniture

When salvaging hardwood furniture, the first thing you need to do is remove the furniture from the water and begin the drying out process immediately. Water damage restoration companies will use dehumidifiers, commercial fans, and other techniques to ensure complete drying happens.

Even after the wood is completely dry mold growth will need to be prevented. There are products that can be used during cleaning that will kill any mold that may already be growing on the furniture.

If any parts of the hardwood are damaged, you may be able to find a carpenter to repair large pieces that need to be replaced. When the wood swells, you may be able to sand the surface to even or level it back out. Small cracks caused by expansion of the wood can be filled in with wood glue. The last thing you can do to restore your furniture after water damage restoration is re-stain or repaint the furniture.

Restoring furniture, floors, walls, or personal belongings after a flood or water damage can be difficult and without the proper methods being used, your efforts could prove useless. Therefore, hiring a professional water damage cleanup company is so vital.

If you have water in your Crawlspace, ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburg can help if you call 412-424-6755.

Water Damage Cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh | What You Should Know About Flood Waters and Carpet

Posted on by Matt Nelson

When you are dealing with a flooded home, one of the main concerns you will have will be what can be saved from your belongings, flooring, and carpets. Professionals who handle water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh have many tips and tricks they can use to restore your carpets so they can be saved instead of needing replaced. This will save you time and money on your restoration process, but there are many factors that will go into the determination.

How Will Flooding Affect the Carpet?

There are three distinct categories of flooding and each will impact your carpet differently.

Category 1 flooding comes from clean water that is not mixed with any contaminants. When a pipe bursts or rainwater comes in through a leaky roof and soaks the carpeting, if it has been saturated for less than 48 hours, the carpeting can usually be saved through drying, cleaning, and sanitizing.

Category 2 flood water is also called greywater and is water that is contaminated and can make you sick if consumed or if it touches your body. Examples of category two flooding includes overflowing washing machines or dishwashers, toilet backups and overflows without waste, aquariums that shatter, or failed sump pumps. When you need water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh for category 2 flooding, you will need to have the padding replaced, but the carpet can typically be salvaged.

Category 3 flooding is blackwater and extremely dangerous. Sewage, flooding from bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, or seawater, hurricane or storm water, or anything else with dangerous pathogens. Water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh for category 3 flood incidents calls for carpet replacement.

No matter what kind of flood waters you are dealing with, there are other factors that need to be considered before determining if the carpet can be saved including how saturated it is and how long the water has been sitting. The best way to make sure you can salvage your carpets is to call a company that does water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh such as ServiceMaster within hours of the flooding.

Call ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh for all your water damage cleanup needs at 412-960-1653 or visit us on Facebook.

Water Damage Cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh | Why Do Basement Foundations Crack?

Posted on by Matt Nelson

When homeowners see cracks in the basement it is always cause for concern. Cracks can indicate a significant structural problem with your home that needs to be addressed right away. Luckily, cracks don’t always mean you’ll have to undergo a major construction project. Often, there are simple DIY fixes that can go a long way to keeping your basement dry and avoiding water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh. The best way to avoiding these structural issues however is to know what causes them.

  1. Poor Drainage- Having inadequate drainage around your home is the most common reason your basement will start to have cracks. Drainage involves more than just a good gutter system, however. Your yard needs to be properly graded and your irrigation systems need to be on a timer. If your drainage is poor, you will be making frequent calls for water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh.
  2. Concrete Shrinkage- After the basement floor is poured and the concrete dries, slight shrinkage will occur that can lead to small, hairline fractures in the flooring. These cracks can appear for up to one year after pouring the basement and are not a major cause for concern. Homeowners can seal the cracks to avoid leaks of water or radon gas.
  3. Concrete Settling- The floor slab can crack as it settles and the less supported section can sink, causing the surface to become uneven. These cracks will need to be leveled and stabilized by a professional. You’ll need to fix this issue immediately to avoid water seepage into your basement and having to handle water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh.

Sometimes there is nothing you can do to prevent a basement flood. Cracks can appear spontaneously, especially if the weather has been disastrous. Check your basement frequently during times of heavy rain to ensure there are no sudden risks of flooding that will leave you needing water damage cleanup in Greater Pittsburgh.

If you didn’t catch the basement crack in time and your basement is flooded, call ServiceMaster of Greater Pittsburgh to handle the water damage cleanup at 412-528-6077. You can also visit us on Facebook.