What IS Water Damage Restoration?

10/30/2024 (Permalink)

Wood flooring with a puddle of water forming, and leading to water damage.

Transforming Water Damage into Safe Living Spaces:

Water Damage Restoration is the process of fixing and restoring a water damaged home, or office, with the intention of restoring it to its original condition before the water event. However, this can only be done after the water mitigation. The importance of Water Damage Restoration and Water Mitigation ultimately comes to a person’s health! By removing excess moisture, SERVPRO can eliminate a breeding ground for dangerous molds which will lead to a healthier living environment.

The Hidden Dangers of Ignoring Water Damage:

Water damage can lead to health effects, as excess moisture attracts rodents and insects, creating electrical hazards.

Leading the Charge:

In the constant battle of Water Mitigation and Water Damage Restoration, SERVPRO® is a leader in water cleanup and restoration. We have seen it all! If you need Water Mitigation and / or Water Damage Restoration, just remember, SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster™!

Water Damage? What you can expect when you call SERVPRO.

1/3/2023 (Permalink)

Loki, our snack manager, doing the final check of a loaded trailer.

One of the most common calls we get is for Water Restoration Services. It can be very stressful when there is water damage in your home, and you might not know what to expect, especially if this has never happened before.

Here’s what you can expect when you call:

• Our receptionist will take your information and try to help walk you through the process. Once we get all the required information from you, we will dispatch a team to respond to your home.
• When the technician arrives, they will be thorough and quite literally walk you through the process, explaining what they see, what they’re doing and why. Our technicians are experts in this industry and will be more than happy to answer any of your questions and guide you through the process.
• Once the equipment is placed, our technicians will continue to monitor and make sure affected areas are drying properly.
• We work with almost every insurance company in the country, if a claim is filed, the office staff will speak to your adjuster and work directly with your insurance to make the process as streamlined as possible.

We understand the process and want to help you understand it as well. Even though these situations can be overwhelming, we are here to help you.

Do's and Don'ts of Water Damages

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

When it comes to water, it can cause more damage than you think. Water can easily fit in crevices and cracks, finding its way just about any where in your home or business. Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to water damages.

Do’s:

Most important- Shut off the source of water if possible and if you cannot do so, contact a qualified party to get the water shut off. This will save your home or business from getting more damage.

Turn off the circuit breakers for the wet areas. For your safety, its important to disconnect any electrical activity near a source of water.

Remove or prop up wet furniture or upholsteries for even drying and to prevent further damage.

Don’ts:

Leave books, newspapers or other colored items near wet carpets or walls, this will help avoid staining.

Use TV’s or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.

Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water, this could cause possible electrical shock or do serious damage to the vacuum cleaner.

The Three Categories of Water Damage

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

Water damages come in all shapes and sizes and also come in different categories. These categories are Category 1 Water Damage: Clean Water Damages, Category 2 Water Damage: Grey Water Damage, and Category 3 Water Damage: Black Water Damage.

It is important for our SERVPRO technicians to understand the different sources these categories fall under. Each category is to be treated differently to ensure that our clients are not living in a contaminated area. Category 1 water is the least severe on the IICRC scale and this includes broken pipes and water supply lines. Also, it can include things like overflowing sinks and bathtubs and really any toxin-free water.

The next level up from that is a Category 2, “grey water”. This is water that comes from overflowing toilets or washing machines. Even though this water may not be harmful to humans, we still have to remove any affected items and completely disinfect the area.

The most severe is the Category 3 Water aka Black Water. This is the most extreme kind of water and requires immediate action because it might result to serious health risk. Black Water includes things such as sewage, flood water, and seawater. Anything that has been touched by Category 3 water will need to be removed from the property and the dwelling will need to undergo some serious disinfecting.

If you or someone you know has a water damage in their home or business, give us a call at SERVPRO of West Pasco, 727-847-3000.

The Science of Drying

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know there is actually a science behind the process of drying? Having the knowledge of psychrometrics is essential to restoring a water-damaged structure to its pre loss condition.

While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, the team at SERVPRO of West Pasco is trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages. If your business or home suffers water damage, SERVPRO of West Pasco will:

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet, to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.
• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

What exactly does it mean to help “speed up Mother Nature”? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material–but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is, nature takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out.

SERVPRO of West Pasco has the tools and equipment to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls, and much more. We also use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business.

The bottom line? In New Port Richey, Trinity, Hudson and beyond, our team has the training and equipment to help make water damage “Like it never even happened.”  

Client Satisfaction

3/10/2021 (Permalink)

Pleasing ALL of our clients' needs.

In this line of work there are always different requests that our clients might have. We accommodate those needs to the best of our ability. Those needs could be requesting unmarked vehicles for privacy purposes, having our technicians not wear SERVPRO uniforms, or even not discussing work performed at the property. A lot of commercial clients request that we do things in a certain manner so that their potential customers do not know that SERVPRO is working for them. When this is the case, our goal is to be as discrete as possible. This past week we actually experienced this while doing work for a large commercial client who were very concerned with their clients believing something was wrong with the building. No SERVPRO vehicles, no SERVPRO uniforms, nothing that could distinguish us from any other client. We had to meet at a parking lot down the street from the location, we did not speak about the project to anyone, we just got in, did what we had to do and got out. With a tight deadline of just five days, we managed to complete 12 rooms all while being super discrete. The customer was extremely happy that we were able to meet all their needs. This is a small example of how SERVPRO of West Pasco goes above and beyond for customer satisfaction!

Our Sense Of Normal

10/8/2020 (Permalink)

Our team finally gets together for our monthly all employee meeting after COVID 19

On Friday, October 2^nd, we had our first all employee meeting since the start of COVID. While it was not how we usually get together to celebrate the previous month's achievements, it was great feeling that small sense of normal we’ve all been missing. While we spread our chairs out 6 feet apart in the parking lot and ate prewrapped breakfast sandwiches, we reminisced on life before COVID. We also announced our 6 employee of the month awards that we were not able to give out. We are so proud of the way our team has stepped up through these trying and unpredictable times. Between COVID 19 and the influx of hurricanes this season there has been many sleepless nights while our team scrambles to help those in need. We’re grateful for the compassionate, hard working men and women that dedicate their time and energy to helping our community every day!

SERVPRO vs Hurricane Sally

9/24/2020 (Permalink)

Hurricane Sally was a very destructive Category 2 Atlantic hurricane which became the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. state of Alabama since Ivan in 2004. Numerous watches and warnings were issued in anticipation of the imminent approach of Sally and several coastline counties and parishes on the Gulf Coast were evacuated. The area between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, took the brunt of the storm with widespread wind damage, storm surge flooding, and over 20 inches (510 mm) of rainfall. Several tornadoes also occurred as well. That’s when our team decided it was time to act. We relocated our current storm team that was finishing up work from hurricane Laura and pushed them towards the Florida/ Alabama coast. When we arrived the devastation was apparent. We quickly began assessing the damage in the area and started helping local residents get their homes back. When a natural disaster occurs SERVPRO of West Pasco is here to help. If you suffered any damage from the recent hurricanes, or you do in the future, give us a call.

SERVPRO of West Pasco Introduces Matterport

8/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of West Pasco Introduces Matterport

With technology constantly improving, SERVPRO of West Pasco likes to stay up to date with the times, which is why we’ve included Matterport Pro 2 to our emergency service procedures!

What is Matterport?

To simplify, this innovative, cloud based, powerful 3D platform lets you turn any space into an accurate and immersive digital twin. This is a standard tool that we use with many positive attributes. Not only does this device reduce time for our technicians, it reduces the amount of site visits from adjusters as well. By using this technology, our trained and certified technicians can upload the damage directly to your insurance company and yourself. This greatly reduces any insurance disputes on what may or may not have been affected by the initial damage. We can also attach virtual tags to show moisture in certain areas of your home or business. With the amount of time and resources saved, we are able to improve our CAT event response by nearly quadruple.

We’re constantly striving to provide the best customer experience we can in our clients time of need! If you or someone you know have suffered any damage in their New Port Richey home or business please give us a call at 727-847-3000! 

Day 16: The Day We All Became Epidemiologists

4/23/2020 (Permalink)

The number of expert epidemiologists has risen 3,000,000% in the last 45 days. Traditionally, this is an academic career path that takes nearly a decade of studying, a keen sense for numbers and statistics, requires tremendous discipline and patience and extreme focus. Esteemed within the public health community, these professionals investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury in human populations. Prior to the outbreak, I knew what an epidemiologist did in general terms but I had never talked to one, didn’t know one and had probably never used the word ‘epidemiology’ in a sentence. In the last month and half, I have met and talked to dozens of them. They have honed their craft over the last month by skipping the traditional 7 -10 years of education for 60-second sound bites and regurgitating headlines. Why read the article when you can get the gist from these great memes? I jumped on the bandwagon too and registered for a six-week online course, “Learn the Complexities of Virus Origins, Mutations and Vaccines to Cure Them." They guarantee you pass or your money back. Three easy payments of $49.99, couldn’t turn it down. I cannot even begin to count the number of mistakes I have made in my business. Once I bought an F350 for $4,000 and sold it two weeks later for $700. (Turns out you should check for oil leaks.) I paid a monthly software subscription for three years that we never used – not once. (Turns out watching money literally burn would have been a better use.) I have sent crews to Ohio for flooding in residential basements. Turns out if you live in Florida, there is no reason to go to Ohio for anything. All of this to say, the recovery and the people leading the efforts are going to be challenged, make mistakes and it will not be perfect -- but it will all be okay. The path to any outcome is generally not linear. On the bright side, Ohio is off my bucket list, and in five weeks I can give you an accredited opinion on the virus and pending vaccine.

Day 7: The Day No One Else Was Around

4/8/2020 (Permalink)

Day 7, 5:59 p.m Struggled a little bit today… I like people. I like being around people, I like talking to people and I like interacting with people. I consider myself a people person. I know a lot of different kinds of people and not all of them are ‘people people.’ The longer this drags on, I am starting to understand their thought process more. People I have found, in general, can have a lot of needs. One of my favorite George Carlin rants is when he talks about people’s needs in a way only he could: “We hear this all the time now, ‘My needs aren’t being met.’ You know what I tell them? Drop some of your needs.” If only it were that simple. For now though, the roads are empty, the office is empty, the phone calls are slower than normal and I am wondering when do I get to see all the people again? In the short term, I will handle the silence but look forward to people’s needs, interactions and laughter. I am not sure when this over but until the national TP shortage has ended, the office will remain empty because that is one need that cannot be dropped.

Hidden Damage?

3/18/2020 (Permalink)

You know the old saying “What you can’t see, can’t hurt you,” well I don’t think they were talking about possible leaks in your home. Residential water damages are not always obvious. Sometimes, leaks can go on for months without the slightest indication.

Luckily SERVPRO of West Pasco has the right water detection equipment to help you determine what areas in your home may be affected.

Moisture Sensor-Used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards and walls.

Moisture Meter-Used to determine the actual moisture contact of various materials. This also is the equipment that allows us to monitor the drying process.

Thermohygrometer-Used to measure temperature and relative humidity to calculate and create an environment most conductive to drying. When handling a contaminated loss (CAT 2 or 3), it is not only important to dry the structure, but to disinfect and often deodorize as well.

Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV ) Fogger-Used to atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. It can also inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard- to-reach areas that typical residential products and methods cannot reach.

Thermal Fogger-Used to dispense solvent- based products by creating a dense fog that consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attach to and neutralize odor causing bacteria.

Early detection and treatment of water damage is the key to promoting a healthy living space and getting your domain back.

If you think you may have water damage in your home and would like SERVPRO to come out and check, call us 24/7!

Leaking Toilet? Water Damage Source #2

2/4/2020 (Permalink)

The cause of loss in this picture is the detached supply line leading to the toilet. This unfortunate event caused a whole home to become flooded.

Toilets can develop leaks both internally and externally. An external leak can cause water damage in your home rather quickly, not to mention some wet feet! Today we’re going to talk about some of the most common causes of a leaky toilet in Bay Area homes and what you should do when you encounter a toilet leak yourself! 

• Condensation on the bowl. Before you assume that your toilet has a leak, you should check whether or not the water you’re noticing is condensation. Bathrooms can get very humid, especially during and after a shower. This can cause condensation to drip on your toilet. The amount of water produced by condensation is typically small, and it’s not an issue you need to worry about. 
• Crack on the tank or bowl. Toilets are built to last, but cracks do sometimes develop on them over time. Often times this will start as a hairline crack that develops into something more severe. 

• Rusted pipes. The pipes that lead to your toilet can begin to rust for any number of reasons over time. This can eventually create a crack in the pipe, which will allow water to leak around your toilet. 
• Loose or worn out seal at the base. If water is pooling up around the base of your toilet, there’s a good chance that the leak is caused by loose or worn out parts that bind your toilet to the floor. 
• Loose or worn out tank-to-bowl connections. The tank and bowl in two-piece toilets are bound together by a collection of gaskets, nuts and bolts. If any of these parts come loose, a leak can develop at that area in the toilet. 
• Worn out flapper. Another cause for an internal leak is a worn out flapper. The flapper stops water in the tank from entering the bowl, and if that part is worn out it will cause water to continuously leak into your bowl. 

What should you do if you encounter a leak?? 

Toilet leaks should be taken care of as soon as possible before they waste too much water or damage any parts of your home. If you are uncertain of the cause of the leak, call a local, licensed plumber so that they can come to your house to inspect and fix the problem. Although some homeowners might choose to fix simple problems like a worn out flapper on their own, most of the causes of a leaky toilet are best left in the hands of a professional plumber. If you do happen to encounter a leak that has caused damage to your home, give SERVPRO of West Pasco a call!

#1 Source of Water Damages

1/28/2020 (Permalink)

Water Heaters are the number one cause of water damages in the home.

1/13 – Top Sources: Hot Water Heater  

In a previous blog we discussed the top three reasons our clients experienced water damages in 2019. The number-one source of water damages was a leaking or malfunctioning hot water heater, a trend our colleagues across the country also report. With this knowledge, and a few useful tips, you can take steps to prevent the possibility of any damage in your own home. In this blog, we will discuss a few reasons why water heaters may leak, and what you can do if it happens in your home or business.  

For homeowners with tank water heaters, the most common mechanism for heating water, knowing and paying attention to these common issues can help prevent an unfortunate situation:  

• Drain Valve 

One of the most common reasons for a water heater to leak is a loose drain valve. The drain valve will slowly leak water if this happens. Good news - this is an easy fix. All you need to do is a grab a wrench and tighten the valve. It is extremely important that you do not over tighten it; just turn it enough without forcing it. 

• Too Much Pressure 

When the tank begins to build up too much pressure it can also cause a leak to form. When this happens, the excess pressure will force the water to leak out of the tank to reduce the pressure. Typically this occurs if the temperature on your water heater is set too high. 

Another thing that can lead to excess water pressure is if the exterior water supply to a house comes in at too high a pressure. A defective temperature pressure relief valve can also lead to an excess buildup of pressure in a hot water heater. 

These are all simple fixes but may require a licensed plumber to ensure it is done properly. 

•  Old Tank 

Although hot water heaters are designed to last for a long time, as they approach the end of their life cycles, rusting and corrosion start to cause an issue. When the corrosion gets bad enough, it can start to allow the water from the tank to leak out. When this happens, it is a definite sign that the hot water heater needs to be replaced. If you do not replace it, it can cause complete failure of the tank which in turn could flood your home. 

• Condensation 

Sometimes the hot water heater will trick homeowners into thinking there is a leak when there is in fact nothing wrong. It is normal and natural for condensation to show on the outside of the tank. When cold water first enters the inside of the tank, it can lead to condensation when the outside air is hot. This is not an issue to be concerned with. 

Regular maintenance and awareness can help mitigate the possibility of a hot water heater leak and a house flood. If you experience a flood in your home, be sure to call SERVPRO of West Pasco and we will make it “Like it never even happened.” 

You Have Mold, Now What?

1/15/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage in this condo has caused mold to develop behind the vanity

Picture this. You wake up, walk into your bathroom and find a puddle on the floor. Immediately you contact SERVPRO of West Pasco to come out to your home to start drying it out. While inspecting the area they notice some microbial growth behind the vanity. WHAT NOW?  

This is the same scenario faced by one of our clients in her gorgeous waterfront condo in Dunedin, Florida. Luckily SERVPRO of West Pasco arrived quickly and – as a firm licensed by the State of Florida as a Mold Remediator – we knew exactly what to do. Microbial growth and the dreaded threat of mold sounds ominous, but with a team of trained professionals behind you, it doesn’t have to be scary. Our technicians and project managers are trained to handle such threats so its “Like it never even happened.” 

Here’s a play-by-play of the process we use when dealing with any kind of microbial growth. Our No. 1 priority is safety. This is not only for our technicians but for our clients as well. We protect onsite workers with proper PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) first. One of the most important next steps we take is placing containment to separate the uncontaminated area from our work zone and minimize the opportunities for spores to spread. Next we detached all affected material such as the vanity, bathtub, and even the mirror mounted to the wall. It’s crucial to remove anything that could be affected, and if being saved, we clean and treat it before placing it back. It’s worthy to note that while working with mold in any situation we always have air scrubbers in place and negative pressure to ensure that we don’t contaminate anymore of the space. Drywall was then removed, all studs and framing treated and wiped, and the air scrubber was left overnight to get anything that may have been left behind. The final step in treating this kind of disaster is an independent clearance test, in which an independent environmental hygienist collects air samples to confirm any issues have indeed been remediated. This step provides a confirmation that the property is safe for occupancy and that the procedure was successful.  

So while mold might seem like a reason to panic, rest assured when you use a firm like SERVPRO of West Pasco. 

Top 3 Water Damage Sources

12/31/2019 (Permalink)

Leak caused by a toilet in the bathroom.

With the end of year rapidly approaching, we are taking a look at some of the most frequent causes of water damages we have seen in 2019! Water damages happen every day and there are more causes than we can count, but here are the top 3 sources we have come across this past year, and prevention tips you can use in 2020.

1. Hot water heater

Most people know that when their water heater is leaking, it means bad news. This minor nuisance can turn into a significant problem before you know it, so it is something that should be handled quickly and professionally.

A small trickle of water can be easily cleaned up with minimal damage to your floors if caught early. However, this small trickle will soon turn into a flood that will cause damage to your sub-floors and even dry-wall if left unattended.

You may be able to determine if the leak is an easy enough repair, or if you require a brand new water heater. Regardless of your findings, we always recommend reaching out to a licensed plumber to look at the situation and either repair the leak or replace your water heater altogether.

2. Toilet

Most of us have dealt with a leaky toilet at some point. It is one of those household problems that cannot be left unattended for long or it can cause serious damage to your home. Detecting the cause of leakage can be somewhat of a challenge because of the number of working parts that go into it.

Depending on the location of the leak from your toilet, it can also change the type of loss you have from a standard water damage to a sewage loss. This can cause more damage than a standard loss and require a larger, more detailed mitigation.

 3. Ice Maker supply line

An occasional puddle under the fridge could be stray splashes from the water dispenser or a few dropped ice cubes. We’ve all accidently kicked an ice cube or two under the fridge, but when it happens over and over, you’ve got a problem. Those ponds on the kitchen floor are sure signs that your refrigerator ice maker water line is leaking.

Visions of soaked baseboards and mold behind the walls flash before your eyes, but have no fear, SERVPRO of West Pasco is here.

No matter how, where or why your leak has occurred, we are here to help. SERVPRO of West Pasco is here 24/7 to mitigate any water loss that may be affecting your home with one simple phone call.

How to Avoid a Soppy Mess

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

Certain accidents or disasters that result in water damages can be unpredictable, however there are some tips and tricks you can follow to help lessen the risk of flooding in your home or business.

• Observing Your Appliances

 No matter what the appliance is, if it requires water it will typically have a supply line. One of the biggest ways we see here of homes with water damages comes from supply line leaks or breaks. These little hoses that are attached to your appliance can leak or break completely. When this occurs, water is displaced throughout the space uncontrollably.

Watching your appliances and checking their supply lines can potentially save you from water damage. If you regularly check your supply lines, there is the chance you will notice before things take a turn for the worst. A strange kink in the hose, or little crack can grow into a big break causing extensive water damage. To avoid this, check your hoses, look for potential problems, and get a replacement, before the damage is done.

• Regular Bathroom Maintenance 

Similar to watching your appliances, conducting regular bathroom maintenance can potentially save you from a disaster. As you attending to your bathroom this may help you notice any pooling water under the sink, near the shower, or around the toilet. Finding this can result in getting the necessary help quicker, before the damages worsens or grow.

Whenever water is found, in any shape or size, it is important not to allow it to sit and get worse. Standing water allows for moisture to be absorbed and possibly grow mold.

• Checking your HVAC Unit

Having an HVAC system is one way to have moisture problems in your home. Finding someone to come service your system is always in your best interest when attempting to prevent water or mold damages. Knowing your system is clean and in tip top shape allows you to check that off your list of how to prevent water damages in your home

For any unexpected disasters give SERVPRO of West Pasco a call to make it “Like it never even happened.” (727)-847-3000

What To Do Until Help Arrives

7/26/2019 (Permalink)

On the phone with SERVPRO

After you hang up, knowing SERVPRO is on the way to begin to mitigate your water damage, what should you do?

First, don’t panic. The trained professionals from SERVPRO of West Pasco have the training, experience, and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.”

But you can use those precious minutes to minimize further damage.

If you are facing water damage from a clean source, such as water supply lines, appliance malfunction, or tub or sink overflow, take these steps as soon as you’ve called SERVPRO for help:

• Shut off the source of the water.
• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if the access panel is safe from electrical shock.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting
• Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.
• Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors
• Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors

Call SERVPRO of West Pasco for Restoration Services after Hurricane Michael

10/15/2018 (Permalink)

While waiting to see where Hurricane Michael would decide to make landfall, your main concern was more than likely for the safety of your family and loved ones. Since the beginning of hurricane record keeping in 1851, there has never been a Category 4 hurricane to make a direct landfall in the Florida Panhandle. Bringing along with his 150 mph sustained winds were storm surges in excess to 6 feet through the Bay Area causing flooding and corresponding damages to local home and businesses.  Now that the storm has passed through and damages have been assessed, what is your next step?

There are ways for you to get the ball rolling on cleaning up and restoring your Pasco County property. First thing is to understand the risks involved with a situation like the one you are facing. Severe weather systems, like Hurricane Michael, can damage the structural integrity of your home, making it unsafe to enter without appropriate precautions and inspections.

One of the first things that you need to understand about hurricane damage is that the longer restoration takes to begin and complete, the worse the situation stands to get. From openings in the exterior of your home to allow for more water and flood damages to the threat of mold growth, our SERVPRO professionals can arrive quickly to help mitigate the effects of the storm until the official restoration process can begin. Consider that floodwaters from these storm systems are contaminated with chemicals, pesticides, vegetation and perhaps even animal feces.

Our SERVPRO professionals have the expertise and equipment to overcome the obstacles that stand between your currently damaged property and returning it to preloss condition. We have a rapid response team that is available 24/7 to dispatch our technicians to your home or business and begin the process of limiting the damage and assessing the full scope of the harm sustained to begin restoration as quickly as possible. 

When a hurricane has affected your home, you need to think quickly about securing the right services to help you overcome the damages you have sustained. Our SERVPRO of West Pasco team is available anytime by calling (727)847-3000.

The Four Primary Water Damage Classifications

7/27/2018 (Permalink)

The IICRC’s S-500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration separates water damage into four distinct classes. Each class is based on the severity of the water damage, and they determine what steps must be followed in the mitigation and restoration process. 

Class 1 Water Damage - the least amount of water, absorption, and evaporation. These are water losses that impact only a small part of a room or area of a facility, or large areas that contain materials that have absorbed a small amount of moisture. Little to no carpeted or absorbent material present. 

Class 2 Water Damage – significant amount of water, absorption, and evaporation. These are water losses that impact full rooms or carpeted areas. Walls are wicked less than 24 inches, and moisture remains in structural materials (Concrete, plywood, and particleboard). 

Class 3 Water Damage – the largest amount of water, absorption, and evaporation. These are water losses that saturate an entire area. Walls are wicked over 24 inches or water may have entered from overhead, impacting ceilings, insulation, or sub-floor. 

Class 4 Water Damage – Specific drying situations. Wet materials with low porosity or permeance such as plaster, brick, and stone. These materials can absorb water into deep pockets and can require extended drying times or specialized procedures and equipment. 

SERVPRO of West Pasco is fully certified to handle any class of water damage from accidental or natural events.

Flooding. Do You Know What To Do?

6/28/2018 (Permalink)

Floods can happen everywhere, making them one of the country's most common natural disasters. Flooding poses a greater threat in low-lying areas, near water, downstream from dams. Even the smallest streams, creek beds or drains can overflow and create flooding. During periods of heavy rain or extended periods of steady rains, be aware of the possibility of a flood. Flash floods develop quickly- anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Listen to local weather reports for flooding information. 

Before flooding: 

• Check to see if you have flood insurance coverage.
• Raise your furnace, water heater, or electrical panel if they are in areas of your home that may be flooded. 
• Install "check valves" in sewer traps.
• Construct barriers, such as levees, berms, or flood walls, to stop floodwater from entering the building.
• Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds.
• During a flood or flash flood watch, be prepared to evacuate, including fill your car's gas tank; bring in outside furniture; move valuables to high points in your home; and unplug electrical appliances and move them to high points
• During a flood warning, evacuate if you are so advised.
• During a flash flood warning, immediately seek higher ground.
• Keep your emergency supplies kit, including water, stored in an easily accessible, waterproof place. 

During flooding: 

• If time allows, call someone to let them know where you are going, and check with neighbors who may need a ride.
• Stay out of flood waters, if possible. Even water only several inches deep can be dangerous. If you have to walk through water, use a stick to check the firmness of the ground ahead of you. Avoid moving water. 
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If your car becomes surrounded by rising water, get out quickly and move to higher ground.
• Stay away from downed power lines.

After flooding: 

• Do not return home until local authorities say it is safe to do so. 
• Do not drink or cook with your tap water until local authorities say it is safe.
• Avoid floodwaters, which could be contaminated or electrically charged.
• Watch out for areas in which the floodwaters may have receded, leaving weakened roadways.
• Be extra careful when entering buildings that may have hidden structural damage.
• Clean and disinfect everything that got wet.
• Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewer systems are a serious health hazard. 

The Three Categories of Water Loss

6/27/2018 (Permalink)

The IICRC’s S-500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration distinguishes water into three categories. Each category is defined by the levels of containment or possible containments in the source of the water. 

Category 1 “Clean Water”: Water in this category originates from a clean, sanitary source and poses little to no risk to humans if contacted or ingested. Examples are broken water supply lines, sink or bathtub overflows, or water supplies to an appliance such as a water line to an ice maker. 

Category 2 “Grey Water”: Water is this category comes from a source that contains significant contamination including chemical, biological, or physical materials. Grey Water has an elevated risk to cause illness and discomfort with any type of exposure. Examples are toilet bowls with urine, sump pump leaks, and discharged water from appliances like dishwasher and washing machines. 

Category 3 “Black Water”: Water in this category is considered very harmful and contains unsanitary agents, dangerous bacteria and fungus, and toxic substances. This category of water has an extreme risk of causing illness and exposure should be avoided at all costs if the proper personal protective equipment is not available. Examples include sewage, seawater, and overflow from rivers or lakes. 

If left unattended Clean and Grey Water can become stagnant and may be considered Black Water. 

If you have concerns with water no matter the source, SERVPRO of West Pasco specializes in Water Damage Repair & Restoration and is a certified IICRC firm.

On Site After A Water Loss

6/12/2018 (Permalink)

Holes in the ceiling, walls and floors, OH MY! No need to fret, SERVPRO of West Pasco is in the process of making it "Like it never even happen."

Normally logging my 40 hours behind the desk creating content and managing our websites, I don't get much on location action. Last week was one for the books, getting to spend an entire day at multiple job locations. 

I somehow managed to convince Project Manager, Tony to let me tag along for the day so that I can get another perspective of just how SERVPRO of West Pasco makes it "Like it never even happened."   

We started the day with a customer who recently suffered a water loss due to a toilet supply line leak and wanted to get an estimate for repairs. Tony took his time, explaining the process and even let me help get measurements to create a sketch (I never realized how much work goes into creating a sketch).   

The next stop was at one of Tony's ongoing repairs jobs. After a hot water heater exploded, water flooded every nook and cranny causing for extensive repairs needed throughout the home. Again, Tony took time to sit with the homeowners giving them the opportunity to be hands on with every aspect of the rebuild, from wall color to picking new bathroom fixtures. The clients appreciated the time Tony spent with them allowing for a smoother transition while repairs were being completed. 

Until last week, I was never able to get a full picture of the entire repairs process nor how much work was truly involved. I tip my hat off to all project managers. Being quick witted and always on your toes, ready to face any challenge thrown at them, is not an easy feat.  A huge thank you to Tony and all our project managers for doing what it takes to make it "Like it never even happened."  

It's not a fan, it's an air mover!

6/30/2017 (Permalink)

Multiple air movers being brought back to the warehouse after expediting the drying process at a water loss.

If water has made its way into your home, whether in Trinity, Hudson, or Port Richey, SERVPRO of West Pasco is here to help.

Our team of Restoration Technicians are trained using IICRC standards to make it “like it never even happened,” using specialized techniques and industrial equipment designed to mitigate damage and prepare the property for reconstruction. Our warehouses and trucks are stocked with equipment that will extract standing water and then, based on environmental conditions, dry the property to prepare it for reconstruction. The most common equipment you’ll see installed are industrial dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, and air movers.

Air movers? When I told my dad about the equipment we use at my new job, he said, "isn't that just a fancy fan?" Funny guy.

An air mover is much more than a fan, it’s an essential tool for mitigating water damage. This devise creates high-velocity airflow, allowing an environment to dry as quickly and efficiently as

possible. Combined with dehumidifiers, it’s a powerful combination that restores the environment to original conditions and is a necessary tool for water restoration.

Advantages of air movers include:

• Energy Efficient: Air movers use minimal power for maximum air flow.
• High velocity: Air movers work great for ventilation and cooling.
• Speeds drying time: Air movers help floors, carpets and wall cavities dry faster.

When the drying process time is reduced so are the chances of a second loss or additional damage, which can include microbial growth.

No fancy fan here, but an essential tool that can save you thousands.

http://www.IICRC.org/consumers/care/water-damage/

http://www.SERVPROwestpasco.com/

Pasco County 24-Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

6/15/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of West Pasco 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 - (727) 847-3000

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 West Pasco 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)?

SERVPRO of West Pasco 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.