3 Ways to Protect Your Home From Water Damage | SERVPRO of Fayetteville

11/20/2023 (Permalink)

Suffering from home water damage is no way to live. Call SERVPRO of Fayetteville today! We are here to help.

Suffering a water disaster is overwhelming no matter how it happens. Even just a small amount of water can have a huge impact on your home. Water disasters are one of the most common home insurance claims, so it is important to know how to reduce your risk as much as possible. 

Water leaks can happen anywhere, but these three locations are often where they start! Check these places often and perform routine maintenance tasks to stay as dry as possible. 

Check Your Plumbing

Leaks behind your walls can be hard to spot, especially if they are occurring behind your walls. Check all pipes leading from your faucets, sinks and tubs often for drips or signs of wear and tear. Even a simple deteriorating line of caulk can invite water to sneak out of a pipe or water line, which can quickly get worse.

Water is constantly flowing to and from your home behind your walls and under your floors, so investigate any new dripping sounds or the sound of running water in any room. A single clogged drain can easily block up a pipe and lead to a watery mess somewhere in your home. 

Keep Gutters Clean 

Keeping your gutters clean is another reliable way of preventing significant water damage. Heavy rain can easily overwhelm a clogged gutter system, which will force the water to back up onto your roof or pour over the side of your home. 

Even the smallest gap can invite water into your home, or your foundation may become overwhelmed and water will start to flow into your basement.

Grab a ladder and a buddy and get to work! Routine cleanings are important, especially after a particularly strong storm or during the fall season when all the leaves are making their way to the ground. Remove as much debris as possible and be sure your downspouts are pointed away from your home.

Check Your Roof

Another important water damage prevention task is to check your roof often for signs of damage. Obvious impact damage due to a fallen tree during a storm will be easy to spot, but oftentimes it's the damage that goes unnoticed that can cause serious problems over time. 

Missing or broken shingles, gaps along your roofline or sagging of any kind can invite rain into your attic that could leak down your walls. Address any repairs yourself or have a professional come out to help you seal your attic back up again.

Suffered water damage? Call SERVPRO of Fayetteville right away.

HVAC Condensation Can Cause Water Damage

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

High temps mean more condensation from your HVAC

When your HVAC creates condensation, that water needs somewhere to go and those lines can become clogged quickly. This can cause your emergency line to either break or your drop pan to overfill and that water needs somewhere to go! So what should you do if this happens causing water damage?

• Call an HVAC company to service your unit. This is probably the easiest and most efficient method, but unfortunately the most expensive.
• Check to make sure your primary condensation line, usually located near the ground outside the home in an area of high foot traffic, is slowly dripping water when your HVAC is on.
• If your primary line is not dripping check the secondary line, usually located somewhere like above a window or door as to be more noticeable when dripping.
• If the primary, or both lines, are not dripping while the unit is on, find a way to flush out or remove the potential blockage. The cleano  ut will usually be located close to the HVAC main unit. Make sure you thoroughly research how to properly clear your lines before attempting to!
• Check your HVAC unit drip pan, make sure it has no holes or rust around it. If it is damaged you may need to have it replaced.

SERVPRO^® of Fayetteville will come out and perform a free moisture inspection on your Birmingham residence or commercial property if you believe you may have had a potential accident. We get an estimate to you or begin communication with your insurance. If you HVAC leaking, call SERVPRO^® of Fayetteville! 

Water loss - DO and DON'T

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

If you have a Category 1 or a "Clean Water" Water Damage at your home or business here are some tips to follow: 

DO:

• Shut off the water source of water if possible, or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.
• Turn off circuit breakers for wet ares of the building, when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.
• Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.
• Use wood clothes pins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors.
• Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with carpeting or floors.
• Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature. 

DON'T:

• Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist. 
• Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment  are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.
• Leave books, newspapers, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpet to cause staining. 
• Leave Oriental rugs or other colored rugs on wet wall-to-wall carpets to cause staining.
• Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water possibly causing electrical shock or damaging the vacuum cleaner.
• Use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.
• Turn on ceiling fans if ceiling is wet, or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water. 

Water and Hardwood Floors DO NOT Mix Well and Here's Why.

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage is never a good thing for your home but it’s especially true for your hardwood floors. In fact, one of the most common questions we’re asked is whether or not a customer’s wet hardwoods can be saved. The answer to that depends, but it helps if you understand why it’s bad to begin with.

How Water Warps Hardwood Flooring

When water floods areas with hardwood floors, the material tries to absorb the water. Unfortunately, excessive moisture forces the wood to expand, which can cause warping or cupping. This is why we always encourage water damage victims to extract as much water as possible while they wait for help to arrive.

Saving Water Wet Hardwood Floors

In some cases, we can save your hardwood floors. If the water is quickly extracted and there isn’t significant warping, then we can use a drying process specifically designed for hardwood floors. But if the flooring was exposed to moisture for a significant period of time and shows major signs of warping, then your hardwoods will need to be removed and replaced.

Call Professionals Before It’s Too Late

While it’s possible to save your water-damaged hardwood flooring, time is a critical factor. If you notice water damage in your home, call a professional cleanup and restoration company like our team here at SERVPRO of Fayetteville. We are available for 24/7 emergency services, so if you need help, call us any time at (910)-860-1163

What to do when your Pipes Freeze

2/18/2020 (Permalink)

Froze Pipes can be scary!

Lately, freezing weather has finally been hitting the Fayetteville area! The best thing you can do is know how to keep your pipes from freezing before those below freezing temperatures hit. While common during this time of year, frozen pipes are preventable. SERVPRO of Fayetteville wants to offer some tips on how to keep this from happening in your home or business. Below Consumer Reports listed ways to help prevent your pipes from freezing and what you should do if freezing does occur.

How to prevent frozen pipes

Some of the steps experts recommend may go against your better instincts of conserving water and heat, but the extra expense is nothing compared with a hefty repair bill. Here’s what to do: 

• Keep garage doors closed, especially if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, especially if your sinks are on an exterior wall. (If you have small children, be sure to remove any harmful cleaners and household chemicals.)
• Let the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe—even at a trickle—helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during day and night. Again, during a cold snap is not the time to set back the thermostat at night to save a few bucks on your heating bill.
• If you plan to be away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
• For the long term, add insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in those areas. And to prevent drafts, seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, and at sill plates, where the house rests on its foundation.

What to do if frozen pipes occur

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you may well have a frozen pipe. If a pipe has broken, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve, which is usually at the water meter or where the mainline enters the house. If the water is still running and no pipes have burst, you can take the following steps. (Of course, if you suspect a more serious problem, call a plumber.) 

• Turn on the faucet. As you heat the frozen pipe and the ice plug begins to melt, you want the water to be able to flow through. Running water through the pipe, as cold as it is, will help melt ice in the pipe.
• Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, or a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. As tempting as it may be, do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, a charcoal stove, or any device with an open flame; the high heat can damage the pipes or even start a fire.
• Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. Check all other faucets in your home to see whether you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

Always Look for Water Damage

2/18/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage can be very detrimental to your home or business

The problem is the longer you wait after having water damage the more damage you are actually causing to your home or business. When you have water damage the best thing to do is shut off the water source that is causing the damage. If the damage is coming from something you are unable to cut off them you may need to contact a plumber in your area. Once this is completed then you want to call the professional experts here at SERVPRO® Birmingham to come out and assess the problem. It doesn’t matter the size of the damage we will be able to help get it under control.Water damage can be difficult to spot but some signs you can look for in your home and business:

• Water rings on your ceiling or walls
• Soft or sagging on your ceiling or walls
• Wet or soggy carpets
• Warping in your wood flooring

The best thing to do is call an expert right away before the problem gets worse. Our highly trained technicians are waiting for your call. We have our specialized equipment ready to use to get to your emergency mitigated as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the problem gets worse, call our highly trained team at SERVPRO of Fayetteville at 910-860-1163

Professional Water Removal Strategies Save Hardwood Floors

2/16/2020 (Permalink)

Although all structural components in your Pinehurst home can suffer harm after a water loss, floors take a beating. Some recent innovations in flooring materials such as laminates frequently do not survive a soaking, requiring removal and replacement. Traditional hardwood floors, however, are generally more durable, especially if our Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained team of managers and technicians arrive quickly and begin water extraction services as soon as possible.

Professional Assessment and Planning
Our crew leads and project managers assess every project individually, planning water removal, residence by evaluating the unique circumstances surrounding the disaster. The quantity of water, length of time since the event, contamination concerns, and migration from the original site are some of the aspects considered. We also look carefully at the type and condition of the materials damaged by the water to determine the next steps.

Moisture Location Devices Clarify the Damage Dimensions
SERVPRO uses sensitive moisture measuring and thermal imaging equipment to sketch out an accurate perimeter of where the water on your hardwood floor eventually migrated. Each plank edge permits moisture to seep down to the subfloor, and water can force its way into building cavities between walls at the baseboards. Once the surface sweep of the water extractors completes, it might seem as though all the water is gone, but the sensors show a different story.

Hardwood Floors Respond Well to Negative Air Pressure Strategy
When water soaks the subfloor, that residual moisture can wick back up, exposing the hardwood surface to the risk of permanent distortion. Cupping, crowning, and buckling are all possible unless the moisture content reduces to normal levels. SERVPRO uses negative air pressure to suction the water from multiple levels of flooring materials. Our technicians place floor mats over areas with high moisture readings and attach the mats to hoses connected to high-efficiency extractors. As the moisture decreases in an area, we reposition the mats until readings indicate the water removal goal is met.

SERVPRO of Fayetteville utilizes technological advancements in moisture detection and water removal to protect your investment in beautiful hardwood floors. Call (910) 4860-1163 to schedule a professional water remediation assessment and project planning.

Common Causes of Water Damage in Fayetteville Homes

5/5/2019 (Permalink)

Sump pump failure causes significant properly damage in Fayetteville.

Understanding the common causes of water damage related emergencies can help you be prepared. 

All households require proper knowledge to prepare adequately for potential water damage in Fayetteville. For example, did you know that the average age of a sump pump is only 10 years old? Some appliances, plumbing and pumps in your home can develop problems, work less efficiently and even fail over the years. SERVPRO of Fayetteville has identified some of the common causes of water damage in the typical home.

Some of these include blocked drain lines, broken pipes inside walls, failing pumps and malfunction appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

One cause is blocked drain lines which can cause significant property damage. Drain lines can handle large amounts of water as compared to other plumbing in the home. In the event that the pipes become obsolete or overwhelmed, they often burst and release plenty of water to the homes.

Another cause of water damage is failing plumbing including pumps. These include water pumps, sump pumps, and sewage pumps, to mention a few. Industry experts state that the average age of a household sump pump is only 10 years. When there is a power outage or when these pumps develop malfunctions or faults, their functionality is compromised which then causes extensive property damage.  

The appliances in your home are will probably not last forever and when they fail this can lead to extensive property damage. Washing machines, water heaters and dishwashers are prone to deterioration and can fail. This subsequently makes them more likely to cause water damage.  If you experience a water damage related emergency it is critical that the water is removed quickly and properly by a certified team of experts. SERVPRO of Fayetteville is locally owned and operated and is ready to help you 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

If you suffer from water damage as a result, contact SERVPRO.

Call us! (910) 860-1163. 

Cumberland County - 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

4/29/2019 (Permalink)

Timeline of water to expect for our response

SERVPRO of Fayetteville provides 24 hour fire and water damage restoration service in Cumberland County.

SERVPRO of Fayetteville 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 – 910-860-1163

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 Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville

SERVPRO of Fayetteville is locally owned and operated and 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.

Understanding The Causes of Water Damage | Fayetteville and Hope Mills

4/26/2019 (Permalink)

Severe weather is usually one of the first things that comes to mind for many when the subject of water damage comes up.

Storms and flooding can cause catastrophic water damage however they are often not the main culprits. Instead, there are various items in your home that can be responsible for many situations that result in water damage.

Water damage is something that many homeowners will face, with it being the third most common reason for homeowners to file a homeowners insurance claim between 2011 and 2015, paying out an average of $8,861 per claim.

It is important to know the difference between water damage and gradual water damage, and how it can impact insurance claims. Examples of damage that can happen gradually are ongoing situations that have been happening over a period of time, such as plumbing issues in the walls that will cause damage to walls, ceilings or floors, or water damage caused by cracks in the foundation. Unfortunately, many gradual water damage situations are not covered by homeowners insurance, while storm-related water damage usually is.

According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), the leading causes of water damage are:

• Plumbing supply system failures. Per IBHS, plumbing supply system failures are the leading source of residential water losses and cost an average of $5,092 per incident after the deductible. In homes that were 16 to 40 years of age, this was a more frequent occurrence and made up a large group of supply system material failure claims.

• Plumbing drain system failures. This can occur when a sewer drain backs up and overflows into a home or from material breakdown issues. 

• Toilet failures. Toilet failures fall second in line to plumbing supply system failures for residential water damage loss, and can be caused by a faulty fill valve or clogged drain lines. 

• Water heater failures. If your water heater has reached its life expectancy, the tank begins to rust and corrode. This can result in leaking or bursting issues. 

  Washing machine failures. Typically caused by supply hose failures, drain line failures and machine overflows, washing machine failures are one of the top 10 sources of residential water damage losses.

If your home ever experiences any water damage, the professional team at SERVPRO of Fayetteville  is available  24/7 to help with cleanup and restoration and make it look “Like it never even happened.”

Five things that can cause water damage in your home

2/11/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage can result in the loss of equipment and valuables. Here are the top five things that can cause residential water damage:

1. Natural disasters like hurricanes, flash floods, and severe storms can result in water damage through flooding.

2. Pipes and drains can cause water damage if cracks, bursts, and clogs occur. Moisture, bulging, and rusting are all signs that pipes may need to be replaced.

3. Build up of water on the roof can put strain on your house and lead to leakages.

4. Clogs in your gutters from leaves and branches can cause blockages and prevent water from being diverted the way it should.

5. Appliances like air conditioners and washing machines are also prone to leaks. Regularly check any equipment that uses water to ensure that it is working properly.

SERVPRO of Fayetteville is a locally owned and operated restoration company that restores mold, water, and fire damage. A trusted leader in the water restoration industry, SERVPRO offers 24-hour emergency service and specializes in water inspection, water extraction, and drying services. If you face water damage in your home, you can count on SERVPRO to improve and mend any contamination and deterioration in your residence.

Contact the experts at SERVPRO of Fayetteville (910) 860-1163.