Recent Water Damage Posts

Water Damage in your home

7/22/2024 (Permalink)

When your home experiences water damage, besides the structural concerns, one of the biggest can definitely be your hardwood floors. Hardwood floors are expensive and add both cosmetic and monetary value to your home so, if possible, you obviously want to try and avoid ripping them out and replacing them. There are multiple factors that can play a part in our ability to restore your floors to preloss conditions:

• Moisture Levels – Hardwood floors have a very low moisture content. When water pools on them for long periods of time the moisture gets soaked into the wood and can take weeks to dry out on its own. This can cause the wood to buckle, have raised edges or have the panels separate from each other.

• Time – The type of wood in question plays a role in how quickly water is absorbed and then dried out. Wood rot happens when microbial growth in water is left without treatment in wood and begins to breakdown the wood.

As you can see, there are quite a few factors that decide whether or not you will have to replace your expensive hardwood floors or not, and that it’s best left to the professionals to handle to help increase your odds of restoration. So, if you find yourself in need of water damage restoration, don’t delay and give us a call asap. Our team is waiting to see how we can help you today.

With the correct equipment and training it is possible to save your floors from having to be removed, so it is imperative that you call a professional restoration company like us here at SERVPRO of Newport News.

Removing Water In Your Home

7/22/2024 (Permalink)

When water invades your home, quick action needs to be taken in order to get matters under control and your life back to normal. When water is left to soak into and remain, the greater the water damage and the repair.

SERVPRO of Newport News handles water damage with an inventory of equipment with large and powerful pumps that we can submerge enabling a quicker extraction of the floodwater.  Our machinery will raise the interior temperature so that evaporation happens at a precise rate.

Our trained technicians and supervisors determine the best drying method to utilize to maintain the quality of the water-damaged area and product. For instance, if a wooden floor is dried out too quickly or with extreme temperatures, the floor can be ruined. Our motto is to restore, not replace. So, we work diligently to help ensure that we can save as much of the structure and belongings of the home as possible. This is beneficial to not only the homeowner but to your insurance company too as it helps to save money.  

After the extractor has removed the water, smaller hand-held equipment is used to remove the remaining water found in crevices and baseboards. Once the water has been removed, the drying process begins for the remaining surface dampness and porous household items with the use of our desiccant machines and air movers. An Air Scrubber, our portable filtration system can be used to help clean the air of any contaminants such as dust, gasses, or chemicals in any area.

If you need help with water damage in your home, SERVPRO is here to help

Water Damage After A Dishwasher Leak

9/22/2022 (Permalink)

Give us a call at 757-244-8467

If you find your home flooded from a failed dishwasher, call SERVPRO of Newport News to properly remove the water and repair the damage. 

The Importance of Humidity Levels in a Water Damaged Home 

When you purchase a new dishwasher, you trust that the company who comes to deliver and install it knows what they are doing. However, sometimes you may run into a problem with it not being installed correctly, and you soon have a mess of water flooding your kitchen. You need to act fast to get the water cleaned up before it creates more damage than it already has. 

A leaking dishwasher can put many gallons of water out into your home very quickly. Once you get the water turned off and not flowing anymore, you need help in cleaning up the water damage, so it gets dried properly. SERVPRO of Newport News can come to your rescue anytime you need, so be sure to give us a call. 

As water damage technicians we always make a drying goal for any water damage situation. We also monitor the drying process each day to see whether the goal is being accomplished. A drying goal is a condition that we want to bring about in the affected area of your home. Our goal is to get your home completely dry again and to correct any damage which has happened due to the standing water. 

Our process includes moisture content readings from dry, unaffected contents and the structure. We take readings in percentage for wood materials and in points for materials which are not made of wood. 

Our technicians use drier air to increase the rate of evaporation. Drier air means air with low humidity. A relative humidity of less than forty percent is essential for an efficient drying process. Relative humidity of under forty percent lets us know that the air is dry and thirsty, and pulls more water out of materials. 

Measurements for relative humidity are however not as accurate as specific humidity readings. Reaching low relative humidity readings does not mean the structure is dry 100%, so we use specific humidity readings to make sure the humidity in the affected area is going down. When it is thoroughly dry, the specific humidity in the area should be the same or lower than the specific humidity in an area which was not affected. 

SERVPRO of Newport News ensures your home is dry again before we say the job is complete. Doing this avoids any additional damage in your home in the Hampton Roads area such as mold growth, give us a call (757) 244-8467 when you have a water damage problem

Air Movers After Water Damage

9/22/2022 (Permalink)

Give us a call at 757-244-8467

Have you ever had a leak and think "Hey I think I can clean this up myself?" I know I have. 

Here at SERVPRO we use professional equipment like air movers. 

Air movers help circulate air to dry every bit of water we can and FAST.

Air movers help move large amounts of air over surfaces to dry them. Air movers also help the dehumidifiers work to their optimum performance.

We have quite a few different air movers depending on the job type. 

We have velo air movers, shara air movers, ace air movers, axial air movers.

The most common air mover we use is the ace movers. The ace mover are awesome at directed large amounts of air in any direction with hardly any power. We love them!

If you have any water damage you can always call SERVPRO of Newport News at 757-244-8467 as were open 24/7

When Its Time To Change A Leaking Toilet

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

Toilets can cause water damage very quickly, if your toilet is clogged and you flush it so many times thinking one more flush will do it, it will start leaking all over the floor. The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in any Newport News house and once the toilet starts getting too old, problems start to begin. 

When it's time to replace your toilet:

  1. Constant Clogging
  2. Cracks
  3. Plentiful Repairs
  4. Excessive Age
  5. Wobbing
  6. Inefficient Flushing 
  7. Surface Damage 
  8. Built Up Mineral Deposit

Don't wait until the last minute to change the toilet as waiting too late can cause unnecessary water damage. Here at SERVPRO of Newport News will be glad to help, we will make it as “Like it never even happened.” If you experience any type of water damage you can give us a call at 757-244-8467 

Were always ready no matter what time you call. 

Difference In Water Color

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

When water damage occurs there can be different types of water. To start there are three different types of water. Clean water, greywater and black water. Knowing the difference can help when trying to remove water damage. 

“Clean” water is free of contaminants and is not the type to pose an immediate threat to your health, much like its name infers. This water can come from:

Broken water lines

Malfunctioning appliances

Toilet holding tanks

Snow melt and rainwater

Cleanup will be the easiest for damage from this type of water damage since there are fewer microbes living in the water. But after a 48-hour period and contact with the surfaces of buildings, clean water can change to category two, which is gray water. 

“Gray” water is where water damage cleanup and restoration can become a bit more complicated. It may pose a health risk due to chemical or biological contamination. That slight contamination in gray water means that it will have to be properly and thoroughly treated before safe consumption.

Gray water is a product of dishwashers, aquariums, showers, etc. Also, the 48-hour exposure time applies here as well, with gray water turning into black water if not treated.

“Black” water presents a hazard and is the most serious of the three classifications because it is considered highly contaminated by harmful chemicals and biological matter. This includes floodwaters containing soil and all sewage waters.

Sewage carries with it contamination caused by microbes, including bacteria, protozoans, molds, fungi and more—many of these can be harmful to humans.

Diseases that can be transmitted by black water are:

Cholera

Typhoid

Hepatitis

Gastroenteritis-type illness

When dealing with water damage you want to leave it up to the professionals when trying to get it cleaned up. Here at SERVPRO of Newport News were always ready to help as were open 24/7 and 365 days a year. 

Water Damage After a Dishwasher Leak

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Give us a call 757-244-8467!

If you find your home flooded from a failed dishwasher, call SERVPRO of Newport News to properly remove the water and repair the damage. 

The Importance of Humidity Levels in a Water Damaged Home 

When you purchase a new dishwasher, you trust that the company who comes to deliver and install it knows what they are doing. However, sometimes you may run into a problem with it not being installed correctly, and you soon have a mess of water flooding your kitchen. You need to act fast to get the water cleaned up before it creates more damage than it already has. 

A leaking dishwasher can put many gallons of water out into your home very quickly. Once you get the water turned off and not flowing anymore, you need help in cleaning up the water damage, so it gets dried properly. SERVPRO of Newport News can come to your rescue anytime you need, so be sure to give us a call. 

As water damage technicians we always make a drying goal for any water damage situation. We also monitor the drying process each day to see whether the goal is being accomplished. A drying goal is a condition that we want to bring about in the affected area of your home. Our goal is to get your home completely dry again and to correct any damage which has happened due to the standing water. 

Our process includes moisture content readings from dry, unaffected contents and the structure. We take readings in percentage for wood materials and in points for materials which are not made of wood. 

Our technicians use drier air to increase the rate of evaporation. Drier air means air with low humidity. A relative humidity of less than forty percent is essential for an efficient drying process. Relative humidity of under forty percent lets us know that the air is dry and thirsty, and pulls more water out of materials. 

Measurements for relative humidity are however not as accurate as specific humidity readings. Reaching low relative humidity readings does not mean the structure is dry 100%, so we use specific humidity readings to make sure the humidity in the affected area is going down. When it is thoroughly dry, the specific humidity in the area should be the same or lower than the specific humidity in an area which was not affected. 

SERVPRO of Newport News ensures your home is dry again before we say the job is complete. Doing this avoids any additional damage in your home in the Hampton Roads area such as mold growth, give us a call (757) 244-8467 when you have a water damage problem

With any leak it's the water you don't see that causes the most damage

5/17/2021 (Permalink)

There is no such thing as a small disaster. Especially when the water you don't see contains bacteria. Water damage can affect the value of your property. Before you get out the mop bucket and box fan to try and clean it up yourself, consider how this will affect your property.  

SERVPRO of Newport News understands how disruptive unseen water damage can be for your business. For this reason, SERVPRO of Newport News offers 24-hour emergency response. 

Before you risk further damaging the value of your facility by attempting to clean up the mess yourself, call SERVPRO of Newport News! 

Trained and equipped to quickly dry and protect your facility and contents... 

A mop and common cleaning products may not be enough for serious water instructions. SERVPRO of Newport News is trained to safely clean and restore your building, utilizing the following procedures: 

  • Identify the source/type of water. 
  • Measure temperate and humidity for drying analysis. 
  • Survey the extent of damage and inspect the premises. 
  • Perform emergency water extraction. 
  • Apply necessary treatments. 
  • Utilize drying equipment and monitor drying.  

Give SERVPRO of Newport News a call at 757-244-8467. We are available 24/7, and 365 days a year!

How To File Your Insurance Claim

8/10/2020 (Permalink)

757-244-8467

Having a water damage problem in your home can be a stressful situation. To make sure that you’re being compensated for your trouble, it’s important to understand how to correctly file an insurance claim. Here are some tips to keep in mind before you make a claim for water damage in your Kempsville/Military Circle home.

    Determine What Your Insurance Will Cover

In most cases, an insurance company will only cover certain types of water damage. This is a crucial point to consider as you work on preparing your claim. Some of the forms of damage that may not be covered by insurance include:

Gradual pipe leaks

Seepage from cracks

Damaged areas of roof

Steady toilet leaks

If you're facing a more serious problem such as a flood, your claim is more likely to be approved. It’s important to discuss your specific damage with your insurance adjuster to have a clear idea of what to expect during the claim filing process.

    Ask Questions

If you aren’t completely sure about something when making your insurance claim, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, whether you’re looking for information about your state’s claim filing laws or want to confirm that your pipe burst is covered by insurance. Ensuring that you have a clear understanding of your expectations can help the process go more smoothly.

    Keep Track of Lost or Damaged Items

In order to effectively support your damage claim, you need to keep records of all of your lost or damaged items. Make a list of any articles that have been harmed or destroyed completely by the event that caused water damage. It is also a good idea to hold on to these damaged items before your insurance adjuster visits so you can provide physical proof of what you lost.

Filing an insurance claim is only one step towards having peace of mind. Contact water damage restoration specialists immediately to prevent excess water from causing further damage to your home.