Water Damage Restoration: Swift Solutions for Property Protection

4/11/2024 (Permalink)

Water damage can strike your home or business without warning, causing extensive damage and disruption to your daily life. At SERVPRO of Mentor, we understand the urgency of water damage restoration and the importance of responding swiftly to mitigate further loss.

Here's how we address water damage and restore your property:

1. Emergency Response: Our team is available 24/7 to respond to water damage emergencies. We arrive quickly to assess the situation and implement immediate measures to prevent further damage.

2. Water Extraction: Removing standing water is the first step in the restoration process. We utilize powerful pumps and extraction equipment to extract water from your property swiftly and efficiently.

3. Drying and Dehumidification: Once the standing water is removed, we initiate drying and dehumidification to dry out the affected areas completely. Our technicians monitor moisture levels and use specialized equipment to ensure thorough drying.

4. Mold Remediation: Excess moisture can create an ideal environment for mold growth. We conduct thorough mold inspections and remediation to prevent mold from spreading and causing further damage to your property.

5. Structural Repairs: Water damage can weaken the structural integrity of your property. Our team is trained and equipped to handle structural repairs, including drywall replacement, flooring repair, and more.

6. Content Cleaning and Restoration: Water damage can affect your belongings, furniture, and personal items. We offer content cleaning and restoration services to salvage and restore as much as possible, helping you recover sentimental items and minimize losses.

At SERVPRO of Mentor, we understand the stress and uncertainty that comes with water damage. Trust us to provide swift and effective water damage restoration solutions, so you can get back to normalcy as soon as possible. Contact us today for professional water damage restoration services.

A Willoughby, Ohio Water Damage Restoration Project for the Books

10/24/2023 (Permalink)

In November of 2022, SERVPRO of Mentor was called to complete a water damage restoration in Willoughby, Ohio. The origin of the issue stemmed from the refrigerator’s main supply line, and swift action was necessary to avoid further damage from occurring both at and surrounding the source.

To learn more about how we were able to answer the call and provide our water damage restoration services, review our case study or reach out to our team today.

Why This Home Needed Our Water Damage Restoration Services

After an initial assessment of the water leak in this Willoughby home, our team determined that the damage was a Category 2, Class 3, meaning that there was a moderate level of contamination which had the potential to affect the structural integrity of the home’s foundation.

Though the refrigerator leak was the source of the damage, our team was concerned with the extent of the water seepage in both the kitchen and the living room. The confirmed affected areas upon inspection included the vinyl plank flooring and cabinets in the kitchen, as well as the carpet in the living room.

How Our Team Managed This Willoughby Water Damage Repair

Based on our thorough observation and notes regarding the extent of the damage, our team at SERVPRO was able to create a plan of action and get to work. As always, safety and preventative measures were followed before any cleanup was conducted. This included containing the Willoughby, Ohio water damage restoration only to the affected areas, laying out non-skid floor protection, and removing any of the existing debris present in the kitchen and living room.

Once it was time to conduct our water damage restoration services in Willoughby, our steps for cleaning up the kitchen included:

• Packing up cabinets, detaching sinks, and capping water lines
• Removing the counters and cabinets from the kitchen
• Tearing out the vinyl plank flooring and cove base
• Conducting flood-cut drywall operations

Though we did all that we could to salvage the kitchen cabinets, four out of five of them were too damaged to reinstall. So, as the customer and the insurance company mutually agreed on, the cabinets were disposed of off-site.

As for the living room, the steps for cleaning up the water damage included the following:

• Detaching the base trim and flood-cut drywall
• Lifting the carpet and tearing out the pad
• Steam cleaning and performing EPA measurements

After the main cleanup for this Willoughby water damage repair was finished, ongoing monitoring of the affected areas, as well as outlines for completing the project, were conducted the following day to ensure the project was wrapped up before our departure.

Our Final Thoughts on This Water Damage Restoration in Willoughby, Ohio

At SERVPRO of Mentor, we want to share our water damage repair expertise with customers in need. That is why we work with families from start to finish in order to create a definitive plan and completely eradicate the water damage at its source. Our team of experts is also proud to serve the following areas and beyond:

• Mentor
• Perry
• Mentor-on-the-Lake
• Painesville
• Painesville-on-the-Lake
• North Perry
• Fairport Harbor
• Madison

Overall, our team wants to ensure that your water damage restoration needs are fully met, whether a problem arises during the day or even when an unexpected leak occurs in the middle of the night. Let us provide the proper cleanup and restoration to your home to make it feel like the damage never even happened.

Contact SERVPRO for Water Damage Restoration Services!

If you’re looking to learn more about how the SERVPRO of Mentor can assist you with all of your water damage repair needs, do not hesitate to contact our team today. We look forward to assisting you!

Know the Facts: US & Ohio Water Damage Statistics

4/11/2023 (Permalink)

We are "here to help" handle your home or business's water damage restoration needs!

It's no secret that April showers are the start of Ohio's rainy season. Despite the name, April is only the 4th rainiest month in Ohio, with May, June, and the rainiest, July rounding out the top three.

As we work our way through the wet season, it's important to understand the facts of water and storm damage.

National Water Damage Facts & Stats

- 14,000 people in the US are affected by water damage every day.

- The average insurance claim to repair a water damaged home is $11,605.

- 99% of US counties experienced a flood from 1996-2019.

- 98% of US homes will experience water damage in their basements at least once.

- Even the smallest leak can increase the average water bill by 10%.

- In 2020, almost 20% of home insurance claims were due to water damage and freezing.

Ohio Water Damage Facts & Stats

- In Ohio, 540,863 properties have more than a 26% chance of being affected by severe flooding in the next 30 years.

- In 2021, at least 142 people died in flooding incidents, 64 of which were driving.

Water damage, whether it be from flooding or a storm, can be a difficult process to deal with. Luckily, SERVPRO of Mentor is equipped to handle all of your water damage restoration needs! From the drying process to reconstruction, we work with all insurances to get your home or business looking "like it never even happened."

We Dry Your Documents Following Water Damage

11/22/2022 (Permalink)

Does your home or business have important documents that are important to your well-being? In the event of water damage at your home or business, SERVPRO of Mentor offers document drying services for those important files or personal papers.

Vacuum Freeze Drying
Items containing moisture are frozen and dried using various vacuums and pressures to achieve sublimation (direct conversion of a solid into gas without passage through a liquid stage – think dry ice).

Digitizing 
With the new age of technology, digitizing records and documents has become a standard practice in most industries. This eliminates the need to have massive file storage rooms and allows us to access records at the click of a button. If your file room was damaged by water and needs to be cleaned, dried, or decontaminated, digitizing might be a good choice to eliminate the need for hundreds or even thousands of documents and records in storage.

Gamma Irradiation 
Gamma irradiation is a process used for cleaning/disinfecting and decontaminating documents or other consumer goods. In gamma irradiation, high-energy photons are emitted from an isotope source (cobalt 60) producing ionization (electron disruptions) throughout a product. In a category 3 water loss situation (sewage or flood water), documents are not only dealing with that water, but also are infected with all types of bacteria. If this is the case, decontamination is a must. In living cells, these disruptions result in damage to the DNA and other cellular structures. These photon-induced changes at the molecular level cause the death of the organism or render the organism incapable of reproduction. The gamma process does not create residuals or impart radioactivity in processed products.

Certified Destruction
Unfortunately, many business and government agencies have to dispose of counterfeit, faulty, expired, or contaminated materials. All entities need to be certified that their products and materials are destroyed. The guarantee of certified destruction is to protect one’s liabilities, brand image, or proprietary information. We guarantee certified destruction to give you peace of mind that your documents are disposed of properly.

If you find yourself in need of document drying or restoration services, be sure to call SERVPRO of Mentor!

Basement Water Damage Restoration

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

We handle all of your water damage restoration needs, from your attic to your basement!

Basements in Mentor, OH are prone to flooding. SERVPRO of Mentor is there to handle your water damage restoration needs should your basement flood. Water always runs from high to low ground, and this means that under the right circumstances your basement becomes an unwanted swimming pool. But where does the water come from?

• One common culprit behind basement flooding is rain. Excessive amounts of rain in a short period of time can overload basement waterproofing systems, saturating the earth around your basement and then pushing in through foundation cracks.
• Even properly waterproofed basements fail because they can't handle the incoming water load, causing your basement to flood.
• The slope of your lawn can contribute to flooding.

If you have flood insurance, call your insurance provider. If you're not sure, check your plan. Some companies deliberately omit floods and won't cover the replacement of any water-damaged items. Knowing this upfront is very important. A lot of people just assume they are covered from flood damage and are shocked when they find out they are not.

The insurance company will send out an adjuster to assess the damage, take a list of all the items, and call in a professional. Many insurance professionals in our area will tell you to call SERVPRO of Mentor!

Whether you go with insurance or not, you'll want to call an expert like SERVPRO of Mentor. We will handle the mess and get your home back to normal quickly.

Understanding the Different Types of Water

4/21/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mentor utilizes the best technologies to help dry your home or business.

Understanding the Different Types of Water

IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration sets three categories of water that cause damage in buildings. They are summarized as follows: 

Category 1 Water - Refers to a source of water that does not pose substantial threat to humans and classified as "Clean Water". Category 1 water may become contaminated if it mixes with soils or floor coverings, building assemblies, etc... Time and temperature can promote growth and amplification of microorganisms in water, which can cause Category 1 water to degrade.

Examples of category 1 water are: a broken water supply line (including the toilet), and tub or sink overflows. 

Category 2 Water - Refers to a source of water that contains a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contaminants. These contaminants can cause discomfort or sickness when exposed or consumed. This water type carries micro organisms and is nicknamed "Gray water."

Examples of category 2 water are:  toilet bowls with urine (no feces), sump pump failures, dishwasher water discharge, and washing machine water discharge. 

Category 3 Water - Nicknamed "Black Water" and are grossly unsanitary. These indoor water sources contain unsanitary agents, harmful bacteria and fungi, causing severe discomfort or sickness.

Examples of type 3 water are: water sources from sewage, seawater, stream or river water, ground surface water or standing water. 

Category 2 Water that is not promptly removed and remained stagnant may be reclassified as Category 3 Water. Toilet back-ups that originate from beyond the toilet trap is considered black water contamination regardless of visible content or color.

Knowing the classification of your water in your Mentor home may help you understand personal safety concerns and the necessary material and debris removal anticipated.

Handling Water Damage from the Different Types of Water

When your Mentor, OH home or business suffers a water damage, understanding what type of water you are dealing with is critical to ensuring proper cleanup. When you have a water damage, don't leave your property to chance. Call SERVPRO of Mentor. Consider taking the following precautions to help minimize damage or prevent further damage while waiting for help to arrive.

Damage from Clean Water:

1. Shut off the water source if possible or contact a qualified professional to do so.
2. Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if access to the power distribution panel is safe from potential electrical shock. Do not enter rooms with standing water, as electrical shock hazards may exist.
3. Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.
4. Remove and pop up wet upholstery cushions to allow more even drying.
5. Move any painting, art objects, computers, documents, and other valuable items that may be sensitive to moisture to a safe place.
6. Do not leave books, newspapers, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors as they may cause staining.
7. Do not use your household vacuum cleaners to remove water as there is potential for electrical shock or causing damage to the vacuum cleaner.
8. Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet; do not enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Damage from Contaminated Water:

1. Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Wash your hands thoroughly if you come in contact with contaminated items.
2. Do not walk through contaminated areas, as you could spread damage to unaffected areas. 
3. Do not turn on HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.
4. Do not use household fans to dry the structure; airflow could spread contaminants.
5. Discard any food and/or products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

If you experience water damage no matter the category, be sure to call SERVPRO of Mentor to handle your water mitigation needs. We'll help make it "like it never even happened."