Drenched and Damaged: The Do's and Don'ts of Water Damage

3/28/2023 (Permalink)

Water damage can be a serious problem, give SERVPRO a call at the first sign of a water loss.

Water damage is one of the most common causes of home damage. It can happen to anyone, and it can be devastating, but it's important to remember that there are steps you can take to minimize damage and speed up recovery time. In this post, we'll cover what to do after water damage occurs and what not to do in order for you to get back on your feet as quickly as possible.

Water damage can wreak havoc on your home and possessions

Water damage can cause a lot of damage to your home and possessions. Water can cause mold, mildew, corrosion, and structural damage. It can also lead to fire hazards or electrical hazards. If the water gets into your walls or ceiling it could also cause serious property damage, not to mention all the damage that can occur to your personal belongings.

Turn off the water and electricity in the affected area

The first thing you should do after a water damage incident is turn off the water and electricity. If you don't know how to do this yourself, call a professional who can help you with it.

If you leave either one on, it can cause more damage to your property than just leaving them off would have done. Also, if there were any electrical appliances plugged into an outlet that was underwater (like a washing machine or dishwasher), they pose a serious risk and could cause extensive damage.

File an insurance claim

It can be difficult to think about filing an insurance claim when you're still in the midst of dealing with the aftermath of water damage. However, it's important to do so as soon as possible. A professional will come out and assess the damage, then give you an estimate on how much it will cost to fix and replace everything affected by the damage. The sooner this happens, the better: often times people wait too long before filing their claims (or don't file them at all), which can result in lower payouts from their insurance companies or even denial altogether.

This isn't just true for homeowners; renters should also keep these tips in mind when they experience similar problems!

Call SERVPRO

If you find yourself in a situation where water damage has occurred, SERVPRO of Northern Queens can help. They have the equipment, experience, and training to deal with all types of water damage, from burst pipes to hurricanes. In addition to their expertise, they are available 24/7 so that they can respond immediately after any disaster strikes your home or business.

Don't delay calling a professional mitigation company

If you are dealing with a water damage situation, it's important to understand that the longer you wait to call a professional mitigation company, the more damage can occur.

There are two main reasons why people delay calling in a professional: they don't want to be charged for something that could potentially be fixed on their own, or they don't believe there is any damage done.

Doing anything yourself when dealing with water damage can be dangerous and should never be attempted unless you have experience doing so! If not done correctly, it could lead to additional problems down the line such as mold growth or structural instability.

Don't use a vacuum to clean up water damage.

If you've ever had a leaky roof or burst pipe, then you know how frustrating and expensive it can be to deal with water damage. The last thing you want is for the cleanup process itself to cause further damage.

Vacuums are great at removing dust and dirt from carpets and floors, but they're not designed for use on wet surfaces--and in fact, may make matters worse if used improperly. For example:

• Vacuums don't have an airtight seal around their filters; this means that any moisture sucked up by them will seep back out into your home as soon as you turn off the machine.
• Most vacuums aren't designed for use with liquids either; some models may leak through their hoses or even short-circuit due to electrical components being exposed.

Don't attempt to repair electrical devices that have been damaged by water.

Don't attempt to repair electrical devices that have been damaged by water.

Electrical devices can be dangerous, and if you don't know what you're doing, it's best not to try. You might end up causing more harm than good. In addition to being at risk of electrocution or shock, there are other risks associated with repairing electrical equipment yourself:

• You may damage the device further by working on it yourself. This could lead your insurance company (if applicable) refusing coverage for any future repairs needed on your property.
• Trying to repair an electrical device on your own will likely void any warranties that might exist on the device.

Water damage is a serious problem, but it doesn't have to be the end of your home or possessions. By following these tips and calling SERVPRO of Northern Queens immediately after water damage occurs, you can minimize damage and speed up recovery time.

What to Do When You Discover Water Damage

2/5/2023 (Permalink)

When your ceiling is leaking water, give SERVPRO a call

Water damage is one of the most common disasters that can happen to a home. It has the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damage, but luckily it's not too difficult to prevent. In this blog, we'll tell you what to do when you discover water damage in your home or business.

Shut Off Water

Once you've noticed a water loss, it is important to shut off the water supply to the affected area. If you have a shutoff valve near the leak, turn it off. If not and you need to shut off the main water supply, do so immediately by shutting off your main water valve.

Don't panic—remaining calm is one of the most important steps toward getting this situation under control!

Shut Off Electricity

If you've found water damage to your home, the next thing to do is shut off the electricity. This is a safety precaution and should be done regardless of whether or not there is visible damage.

If there's no obvious source of flooding (like a pipe burst), turn off the main breaker. If you're not sure where this is located, call an electrician before proceeding any further with repairs.

If there's an electrical fuse box in your house, turn off its circuit breaker(s). Again: if this isn't something that comes naturally or easily to you, please call an electrician before attempting anything on your own!

Call Your Insurance Company

If you have water damage, don't wait until it's too late. Call your insurance company right away and file a claim so that they can start working on getting you your compensation. You will want to make sure that you inform them of all of the damages that have occurred so that they can cover them in full.

Document the Damage

Next, you need to document the damage. Take photos of all affected areas so that they can be included in your claim, this will help reduce any confusion about what happened or how much money you're owed in restitution from your insurance company. Take pictures of everything you can, including:

• The damaged areas of your home or business
• The location and extent of any standing water (if applicable)
• Any damaged furniture or other items that need to be removed from the area immediately

Most restoration companies, such as SERVPRO, will take care of the entire insurance claims process for you.

Seek Professional Help

If you find yourself in a situation of water damage, it's important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Water is one of the most damaging elements that can occur in your home or business, and even small amounts can cause serious issues if not addressed quickly.

If you are like most people, this may be the first time you've encountered a loss of this magnitude. You might feel overwhelmed by all of the steps involved with getting back on track after experiencing a flood or other type of water damage. Don't worry! The professionals will walk you through each step so that everything goes smoothly for you and your property.

If you've ever had a leaky pipe or water damage, then you know how stressful it can be. Whether the issue is in your home or office, there are many things that need to be addressed immediately. You may have experienced water damage before, but hopefully, this article will help you better understand what needs to happen after such an unfortunate event occurs.

What Happens When a Toilet Overflows?

11/8/2022 (Permalink)

A toilet overflow is a serious issue that can cause some major damage to your home.

How Does a Toilet Overflow Happen?

A toilet overflow is a serious issue that can cause some major damage to your home. Water damage can lead to mold and other problems that require extensive cleanup efforts. The main causes of overflows are too much toilet paper, clumps of waste, or roots growing into the pipes. 

Once the water flows over the bowl, it will start to overflow.

If you hear running water in your toilet bowl, this can mean that the toilet is overflowing.

When a toilet has reached its capacity and begins to overflow, it will cause water to spill out of the tank onto the floor. This happens because there isn't enough room for all the water inside the tank to go down into your bowl at once.

When that happens, you'll need to turn off your home's main shutoff valve right away so that no more wastewater flows into your home. If you don't do this quickly enough, wastewater could start flowing into other parts of your house.

A clogged toilet is a common household issue that can cause plenty of problems if left unchecked.

A clogged toilet causes backups, overflows, and sewage backups. Regular maintenance can prevent this from happening in the future, but sometimes it's unavoidable for any number of reasons. If you do find yourself with a clogged toilet you can either try to fix it yourself or call an experienced plumber to help you out.

How to deal with a flooded toilet and how to prevent it from happening again.

It’s important to know how to deal with an overflowing toilet, as well as how to prevent one from happening again.

Preventing a Clogged Toilet

If you’re concerned that your toilet is clogged, there are several things you can check before calling a plumber. First and foremost, try plunging the drain by putting the end of the plunger into the toilet bowl and then pushing it down hard enough to create suction. Then pull up on the plunger handle at least ten times so that water can flow through normally. If this doesn’t work for some reason, try using one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of vinegar to soften whatever may be blocking your pipes. This should help clear away any debris that might be causing problems with drainage flow through your pipes. 

If this isn’t working either (or if these steps aren’t even possible because your bathtub has overflowed), it might be time to call an emergency plumber in order to have them come out and complete repairs—especially if large amounts of sewage have made their way onto floors or other surfaces within reachable distance from where people will be standing during regular use periods when someone might slip on something slippery like that!

If you find yourself with a flooded toilet, call SERVPRO of Northern Queens at 718-971-1585. We can help you with any type of water damage, and we are available 24/7. Our expert technicians will quickly assess the situation and provide you with a solution. Our team will be happy to help you clean up the mess and prevent future issues from occurring.