Water Damage Mistakes to Avoid in Your Home!

3/15/2022 (Permalink)

For Fast and Professional Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration, call on SERVPRO of Port Charlotte

Common Homeowner Water Damage Mistakes to Avoid!

When you home suffers from a water damage event, the process of minimizing damage and restoring a property to its original condition can be stressful time. Unfortunately many homeowners are not fully aware of the proper process for cleanup and restoration and make common mistakes while trying to help. These mistakes can make restoring a home even more challenging. 

Following are some helpful tips that can help homeowners avoid common mistakes, which will reduce the cost, time, and stress for making a water damage event "Like it never even happened." 

Mistake #1: Trying to self-clean and restore their home after a water damage event.

We have all been there; we want to save time and money so we try to take on a project in our home. Water damage to your home should not be treated as a normal project. If you the amount of water is covering multiple rooms or has shown damage to cabinets or other structural components, you do not want to just try and mop it all up and put a fan or two on it. The problem is most homeowners do not have the right experience and equipment to properly handle a water damage. Water easily seeps into areas that you may not know to look or have the ability to check. Properly drying out building materials is a difficult task and one best left to a professional.

Mistake #2: Not Calling a Professional Soon Enough.

One of our taglines at SERVPRO is 'Faster to any size disaster.' This isn't just a fancy and good sounding branding effort, it is because arriving and acting fast is a critical aspect of effective water damage restoration. Water tends to spread fast, traveling behind walls, cabinets, appliances, and underneath flooring. Once that happens, mold can grow and further damage walls, furniture, and other materials. Mold can begin to grow less than 24-48 hours after water exposure depending on other circumstances in the home (humidity level, pre-existing water damage, temperature, etc.). 

To quickly find the source of the water damage and shut it off, and then to immediately begin the water extraction and drying process is crucial for your home's restoration. Calling a professional water damage cleanup and restoration company is the best way to do that. 

Mistake #3: Not Taking Safety Precautions.

Being in a home that recently suffered from a recent water damage evet can be dangerous, especially if the water damage came from flood waters, sewage back up or other 'category 3' type sources. Along with potential biohazard contaminations, potential slips and falls from wet flooring and stairways can also create a dangerous situation. Care must be taking when operating any electronic device or appliance because turning on electronics or touching electronic devices can result in electric shocks or further damage to the property. 

Saturated building materials can fail, and debris can lead to slips and falls.  The best thing a homeowner can do after eliminating the source of the water (if possible) and calling a water restoration company is to leave the building and stay out.

Mistake #4: Not Realizing the True Amount of Damage to Your Home.

The amount of damage caused by a water damage event isn’t always immediately visible. If you take the "Do It Yourself" approach and only clean up the visible water, you will most likely discover mold or unpleasant odors lingering in furniture, floors, and walls in the near future. 

To properly evaluate the true amount of damage from a water event, you must follow through with industrial standards for cleanup and deodorization. This may include antimicrobial treatments or sanitization processes and is something a professional restoration company is best suited to handle. 

A proper evaluation of the damage is also vital for insurance reasons. Some insurance providers will deny claims where homeowners attempt repairs themselves or delay calling a professional to document the damage. The best way to ensure a policy covers the full cost of a restoration is to work with a reputable restoration company and contact them immediately.

SERVPRO of Port Charlotte works with all local, state, and national insurance companies, and is a preferred vendor for many of them. If your home suffers from a water damage event, call us 24/7 365 days a year at 941-629-0966. We are here to help.

For Fast Cleanup and Restoration Response, Call SERVPRO of Port Charlotte!

12/3/2021 (Permalink)

Port Charlotte Residents: We provide immediate service day or night!

SERVPRO of Port Charlotte provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster in the Port Charlotte area. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
• Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment 

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – 941-629-0966

Residential Services

Whether your Port Charlotte home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us.  Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to strike your Port Charlotte commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business. Learn more about our commercial services: 

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

SERVPRO of Port Charlotte is Faster to any Water Damage Event

4/6/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Port Charlotte is available 24/7 365 for emergency water damage services.

If your home or business is suffering from a water damage event, you do not want to wait for someone to respond only from 9-5! Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Port Charlotte provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more.  SERVPRO of Port Charlotte arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – 941-629-0966

Water Damage Timeline

Within Minutes

• Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
• Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
• Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
• Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall begins to swell and break down.
• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
• Furniture begins to swell and crack.
• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
• A musty odor appears.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

• Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
• Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and corrode.
• Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
• Paint begins to blister.
• Wood flooring swells and warps.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

• Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
• Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.

About SERVPRO of Port Charlotte

SERVPRO of Port Charlotte specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Certifications

• WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
• CCT - Carpet Cleaning Technician
• RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
• ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program
• UFT - Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician
• AMRT - Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
• OSHA - Other Training
• SRT - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician

Affiliations

• MOGCI (Manager of Gulf Coast Inc.)
• Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
• REALTORS® of Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port-DeSoto, Inc.®
• CAI WEST FLORIDA CHAPTER

Avoid Water Damage in your home with these 5 Tips!

1/14/2021 (Permalink)

You can be prepared to reduce the damage or

Here Are A Few Simple Tips To Get You Started

Water damage can result in a lot of costly repairs for your Port Charlotte home. By following these tips, you can actually avoid or reduce the losses following a water damage event.  

1. Fix Leaks as Soon as You Find Them.
Even the smallest pipe leaks can cause massive amounts of damage. The moisture that accumulates from a dripping pipe can cause mold growth, mildew growth, dry rot and several other unnecessary issues. Avoid these problems by fixing leaky pipes as soon as you discover them.

2. Set an Appropriate Water Pressure.
If your home's water pressure is too high, then you run the risk of inflicting unnecessary damage on your pipes. Broken pipes are one of the biggest home flooding culprits, so you want to make sure you're doing everything possible to keep them functioning properly.

3. Regularly Inspect Your Appliances.
Your pipes aren't the only possible water cleanup culprits. You should regularly inspect household appliances, such as your washing machine, dishwasher, toilet and any other device that uses water. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for each device while doing so.

4. Regularly Clean Your Gutters.
Your home's gutters are designed to collect water that runs off of the roof and divert it away from your property. If these gutters become obstructed, then water begins to pool on the roof and run down the sides of your house, resulting in basement flooding. Avoid unnecessary water damage by scooping debris out of the gutters on a regular basis.

5. Keep a Close Eye on Your Water Bill.
Sometimes, the only way to figure out whether or not there's a leak in your home is by checking your water bill. If you notice an unnecessary spike, then chances are there's a leak somewhere in your home that's wasting water.
Avoiding water damage is significantly easier than cleaning it up. The above steps can help prevent unnecessary damage, but they cannot guarantee complete immunity. Contact water remediation experts like SERVPRO of Port Charlotte if your home has suffered damages.

Flooded Kitchen? These tips are for you!

10/1/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Port Charlotte for expert water removal and to restore your home after a water damage event.

You wake up in the morning to an odd smell and noises coming from the kitchen. As you walk toward the kitchen, you suddenly feel your socks are wet and it hits you: you have a water leak in your kitchen!

Now is not the time to panic, but to take action. Use these tips to not only minimize the damage, but hopefully to be prepared if this ever happens to you.

First things first - Be Prepared for water damage in your home:

• Know where you water shutoff is! One of the first things we ask when you call us for a water damage, is has the source of water been controlled. Quite often the leak happens before your faucet shutoffs, so knowing where your household water shutoff is is vital. Most of the times it will be in your garage, on the side of your home, or near the street. If you are not sure, ask your HOA, your utility department, a neighbor, or your home inspector. If there is not an easy to access water shutoff for your home, it is a wise investment to have one installed if possible.
• Once you have the water shutoff, ensure the safety of your home and anyone in there, including your pets. Water that runs through walls, carpets, cabinets, etc. can become contaminated, so you want to avoid exposure or the possibility of a pet attempting to drink the water.

If you do have flooding in your kitchen and home, the primary focus should be safety:

• Is it OK to stay in the house?
• Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns.
• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.
• Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful!

What To Do After a Kitchen Flood:

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer.
• Gather loose items from floors.

What NOT TO DO after a Kitchen Flood:

• Don't leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.
• Don't use your household vacuum to remove water.
• Don't use household appliances.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

If you have a water damage emergency, call (941) 629-0966. We will make it "Like it never even happened."

Port Charlotte Florida 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

10/21/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Port Charlotte is ready to help anytime you need us for a kitchen, bathroom, home, or business water damage or flood.

SERVPRO of Port Charlotte is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (941) 629-0966

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Port Charlotte has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Port Charlotte

SERVPRO of Port Charlotte specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Certifications

• WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
• OSHA - Other Training
• RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
• CCT - Carpet Cleaning Technician
• ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program
• AMRT - Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
• SRT - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician
• UFT - Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician

Affiliations

• CAI WEST FLORIDA CHAPTER
• Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
• Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Association of REALTORS® Inc