Water Damage Resources
When you experience water damage, there are lots of questions that arise. SERVPRO's water damage resources give you the information you need, now.


Flooded Basement Cleanup and Restoration
Too many homeowners have descended their basement steps to find a pool of murky water. Water follows the path of least resistance, finding cracks and holes through basement walls. Flooding can often be attributed to insuffici...
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Is That a Leak in the Ceiling? Know the Signs and What to do About Ceiling Water Damage
Picture this: you’ve just come back from work or a long-overdue vacation, only to find your ceiling gushing water and flooding your living room. Sounds awful, right? Ceiling water damage can cause intense destruction at a rapid pace. But if you know the signs to look for, you have a better chance of stopping a leaking ceiling in its tracks, and gathering the resources for proper repair before furt...Know the Four Classes of Water Loss
Classes of water loss describe the amount of water and the projected rate of evaporation based on the amount and type of wet materials in your home or business. There are four classes of water loss. Keep in mind, this is different from the three categories of water damage for insurance companies.Class 4: Specialty Drying SituationsClass 4 water losses are caused by major water damage, like a sever...Sprinkler Season: When Can I Turn on My Yard Irrigation System?
Residents and business owners in the mountain and western region of the United States are familiar with annual irrigation rules. “Irrigation Season,” or Sprinkler Season, generally starts May 1, and ends October 1, but specific states may dictate different times. Western states mainly use sprinklers to keep their yards in good condition and prevent dry grass, but sometimes these handy devices can ...Can I Keep My Appliances After a Flood?
After water damage strikes, you may be asking: are my water-damaged appliances still usable? No doubt this is an important question, and one that has many factors to consider. Read on for useful tips about how to determine whether your home appliances or business appliances are damaged after flooding, or if they are still operational. And remember, SERVPRO® is always available to assist with water...What Happens if My Sump Pump Fails?
A sump pump is an important part of a functioning household or business. No matter where you live, water is a potential hazard that can leak into your structure, causing unwanted damage. There are also seasonal factors to consider; oftentimes, spring brings about an increase in melting water, which may cause leaks in your basement. So, what should you do? A sump pump may be just what you need. But...Three Categories of Water Damage Most Commonly Covered by Homeowners Insurance
Water damage is serious business, and it can come from many sources, including a flood, broken appliances, burst pipes, and more. But did you know there are three types of water damage? When water damage happens, the next step is cleanup and restoration. Water is categorized by its level of contamination before an action plan can be considered. Because the category of water damage can affect an in...Before a flood happens: How to prepare for high water
Floods aren’t entirely unpredictable. However, depending on where you live, weather patterns and seasons are often good indicators of when rainfall might come. SERVPRO® is no stranger to water damage and knows why it’s essential to know how to prepare for a flood. As experts in water damage restoration, we want to help you plan to prevent disaster. If you don’t have a flood preparedness checklist,...What is the Difference Between Water Mitigation and Restoration?
Water damage mitigation and restoration are major parts of SERVPRO®’s services. But with so many different industry terms used across the restoration industry, we thought it best to explore what we mean by “mitigation” and “restoration” specifically. This article outlines the differences and delves into our processes to help you better understand what types of activities SERVPRO professionals enga...How to Prevent Pipes from Bursting
Having running water in our homes and businesses is so commonplace that it’s easy to take for granted. Whether it’s a kitchen sink used throughout the day, a swimming pool, or the plumbing system in our bathroom, pipes are everywhere, and the dangers of one or more bursting can be significant. Unfortunately, the ubiquity of running water often means we don’t pay enough attention to our plumbing sy...Understanding Basement Flooding
Returning home after walking the dog, a day at work, or a much-needed vacation, can quickly turn into a nightmare upon discovering a basement full of water. How you handle this emergency not only affects the level of damage your home may sustain, but also the safety of those you love.What to do when your basement floods?Start with these steps:Shut off electricity and gas to the area. If you’re not...Why Do Water Pipes Burst?
Pipes are an integral part of any plumbing system, responsible for carrying water to and from various fixtures and appliances throughout your home or business. While they are designed to withstand a certain amount of pressure, water pipes can burst for a variety of reasons, resulting in costly water damage and repairs. In this article, we will explore the common causes of water pipe bursts and pro...Who To Call For A Water Leak or Water Damage
Call SERVPRO® for Quick Action on Water Damage.SERVPRO is a better option than calling and paying for multiple services from different companies, which can be a pain and end up more expensive than going with a single professional cleanup and restoration company. There’s a reason our tagline is “Like it never even happened.”® The decision doesn’t have to be difficult; choose to work with profession...What Does Water Damage Look Like? The Signs of Water Damage
Water damage can come from many different sources, including hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, local flooding, burst pipes, and leaking appliances. It also has many different signs. It can appear quickly or slowly and make its way into your ceilings, floors, and walls, all of which have slightly different signs of damage. If a water leak is left unattended or not noticed immediately, water damage ...I Have Water Damage In My Wall, What Do I Do?
Water Damage On Walls? Learn How to Identify Damage and Begin Next StepsWater-damaged walls can arise in the aftermath of floods, fires, burst pipes, severe storms, leaking appliances, or other sources, causing rapid destruction to your living space or commercial property. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, and floods are especially notorious for causing water to accumulate near...How to Tell If Water Damage Is New or Old?
Water Damage Signs Can Indicate Age of Damage When surveying water damage in your home or business, it may be difficult to determine how old the damage is. Often, new homeowners, those moving into an apartment, property owners in between tenants, or even those simply doing some redecorating come across water damage that gives them pause. The question becomes, is it superficial damage that requires...Water Damage Wall Repair
Water Damage in Your Walls? We’re Here to Help.Water damage can come in many forms, and range in severity from a burst pipe or leaking sink to a flooded basement or extreme hurricane damage. If you’ve been struck by water damage in your walls, it’s best to check for signs and try to confirm the severity and scope of damage to best determine a course of action. Ultimately, larger water damage situa...What Are The Signs of Water Damage In Walls?
It’s Important to Dry Out Water Damaged Walls, But First You Should Check for Signs Signs of water damage in walls, whether painted or bare, can run the gamut from paint bubbles to warped and sagging walls, with much in between. In fact, water damage in walls can be devastating to your business or personal property. Whether you’ve experienced a natural disaster, such as a severe flood, hurricane, ...The Water Damage Restoration Process
SERVPRO® has the expertise and equipment to quickly restore your property to pre-water damage condition. We use a scientific approach to water removal and water cleanup that emphasizes monitoring and documenting the drying process from beginning to end. Every water damage event is a little different, and requires a unique solution, but the general process stays the same.Emergency Contact When you ...Water Damage Emergency Tips
What You Can Do Until Help Arrives After any water damage situation, your primary focus should be safety:Is it safe 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 FloodingRemove excess water by mopping and blotting.Wipe excess water f...Inspection and Water Damage Assessment
The water damage restoration process begins with a detailed inspection of your property, including a damage assessment. We'll determine the scope of the damage so an appropriate plan of action can be developed.Identify and Stop the Water Source We'll check for the source of water in your home and business and stop it. The water source must be stopped before the drying process can begin.Stop t...Drying and Dehumidification
After the water removal step, your floors and walls may look dry at first glance, but they are still wet to the touch. Most building materials, like drywall and wood, are porous and will retain significant water. The retained water will cause these materials to warp, swell, or break down and can also cause mold damage.Drying / Dehumidification SERVPRO® will manipulate temperature and relative humi...Water Removal and Extraction
The water extraction step removes the majority of the water from your home or property. By performing a thorough water extraction, SERVPRO® reduces the drying time and helps to prevent mold and secondary water damage. We use powerful pumps and truck-mounted vacuum units to quickly remove hundreds or thousands of gallons of water from your property.Move-Out / Pack-Out If your home requires ext...Your Belongings and Water Damage
Water damage affects not only the structure of your house but also your belongings. SERVPRO® understands that your home is more than a structure; your family’s furniture, clothing, keepsakes, and other belongings help transform a house into a home.Contents Restoration SERVPRO specializes in restoring contents damaged by fire, water, or mold. Their expertise and “restore” versus “replace” mentality...24-Hour Emergency Contact
The cleanup and restoration begins with a phone call. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of damage. A water damage event can be traumatic and when you call, we understand you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. Our specialist will lead ...Water Damage Restoration
Restoration, the final step in water damage restoration, is the process of restoring your home or business to its pre-water damage condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall and installing new carpet, or may entail major repairs, such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.Many SERVPRO® locations offer:Emergency Building Services When...Cleaning and Sanitizing
Your property’s walls, floors, and other surfaces will likely need professional cleaning treatments after water damage. Besides cleaning your property’s structure, SERVPRO® will also clean your belongings, like furniture, upholstery, clothing, and other restorable personal items, damaged by the water. Flooding and water damage often require odor removal and deodorization treatments, since wet mate...Emergency Restoration
Faster To Any Size Disaster24-Hour Emergency Service Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO provides emergency water restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including all holidays. You can expect an immediate response time, day or night.A Fast Response Is Crucial In many cleaning and restoration situations, immediate action is n...