Recent Water Damage Posts

Don't Let Sewage Turn Into Mold

7/9/2024 (Permalink)

wood flooring with mold on a bathroom floor Mold growth on the floor due to the sewage.

Left untreated, the moisture and bacteria from a sewage loss may cause microbial growth.  SERVPRO of Freehold has experience with remediating a loss in which sewage was left untreated, causing mold to form on the drywall and floor. In such an instance, all flooring, drywall, doors and trim must be removed. Dehumidifiers are placed and remaining stud beams, subfloor, and stationary objects are cleaned and sanitized. A special antimicrobial solution can be painted to the affected areas to prevent mold from reforming on the treated surfaces. This is usually the most important step in the mold remediation process.

In an effort to prevent the timely remediation of mold, a sewage loss must be mitigated immediately. Our team of SERVPRO professionals are trained to extract and clean the discharge from the area before placing drying equipment to remove any remaining moisture. Faster to any disaster, SERVPRO of Freehold is always ready to take on even the largest sewage losses.

Latest Technology

4/19/2024 (Permalink)

hand placing a black meter to a wall Using advanced equipment at a water loss.

SERVPRO of Freehold is using the latest technology in disaster recovery to ensure fast and efficient service for all emergency projects. Mastering industry standards, utilizing advanced equipment and providing continuous training to team members allow our business to be a leader in emergency recovery.

When on site at various losses, our technicians use a range of energy-saving equipment to dry, deodorize, and purify air and structural materials as needed. Specialized machines and environmentally- friendly cleaning agents are used to properly disinfect structures affected by fire, water or mold.

Advanced monitoring tools allow our technicians to accurately determine the moisture level of building materials affected by water. The tools make it simple to confirm the materials are successfully dried at the completion of the job. Our team utilized the inferred camera pictured on a commercial loss in Howell, NJ to check for moisture behind a wall which did not appear to be wet from the outside.

All technicians receive ongoing training and certifications in accordance with IICRC standards, which are a series of guidelines and processes necessary for performing emergency mitigation services. The training also updates the staff about the availability of innovative new equipment and tools which can provide them with greater capability in the field. Additional training is provided whenever equipment is updated.

SERVPRO of Freehold is dedicated to obtaining cutting-edge technology as it continues to become available. Equipped with innovative tools and knowledge, the franchise is always ready to take on emergencies large and small with complete accuracy.

Waterproofing To Prevent Storm Damage

2/8/2024 (Permalink)

water rushing down a rocky hill in front of houses Flash floods occur suddenly during heavy rains.

It is very important to identify and correct possible points of entry for water during a storm situation. Rushing water, flash flooding, saturated ground and heavy rain can enter homes and businesses through weakened areas in the structure or a lack of proper drainage systems. Paying attention to potential issues in fair weather can prevent major damage when extreme weather arrives.

Be sure to check the gutter system to ensure there aren’t any clogs and to confirm they are properly draining water away from the structure. Pay attention to evidence of runoff in the vicinity of the building and have a special drainage system installed to prevent water from seeping in during inundating water events. Inspect basement windows, door and walls for openings or improper sealing to prevent floodwater from entering; groundwater intrusion is generally excluded from coverage in general homeowners’ policies. Consult with certified professionals who have expertise in drainage, waterproofing and landscaping for precise evaluation and proper corrective measures.

Utilizing foresight and taking the time to fortify homes and businesses from storm water can prevent costly damages while keeping interiors clean and dry no matter when and how severe weather strikes!

How Electrical Outlets Are Affected By Floods

1/9/2024 (Permalink)

When floodwaters rise to the height of electrical outlets, a common result is loss of power. However, in some cases the resulting sparks and damage can create a fire in a house, apartment, or commercial building.

There are many restoration companies which specialize in water damage, but very few have the experience that can handle fire damage and water damage like SERVPRO. For decades, we have been in the business of restoring homes to original condition. Our expert response teams can pump out a basement and scrub away smoke residues with equal ease.

Fortunately, fire damage which is caused by a flooded outlet is usually small and is mainly just smoke damage. In either disaster, removal of drywall is critical so that the workload is not as difficult to deal with. However, the rising smoke can leave residue higher up on the walls, requiring more panels to be removed. Ceiling tiles can also require cleaning after a fire as well.

When an outlet is damaged by water, it needs a replacement from the hardware store, which typically costs less than $5 apiece. The spot where the fire begins, the point of ignition, would be the outlet in this case. The wires leading to the outlet are melted to the outlet box and may require cutting from above where there is any damage. It is important to inspect the rest of the building as well to ensure the fried wires did not compromise any other building materials.

If the damage runs very far back along the wires, then they require replacing so the new outlet is in the original location. Our technicians are trained to run new wiring from any point in the structure back to the breaker box if it is needed to rebuild the wiring system of your home or business. This task is much easier once a different team member removes the flooded drywall, exposing the drywall for easier access.

Dealing with damage from a flood can be a very difficult and stressful process. Restoring your home and property from both requires professional treatment and care from experts with a nationwide support network or equipment. We are ready to help you whenever disaster strikes.

Floors Were Saved After A Water Loss

10/30/2023 (Permalink)

Black rectangular mats on a wood floor. The wood floors were saved using drying mats!

When this 3 story Rumson home was flooded, the insurance agent said he did not think we could save the floors. He was very surprised when we saved the wood floor without needing the homeowner to move out for demolition. The insurance company and the homeowner were thrilled with the work our team did.

Upon arrival to the home, our technicians inspected the flooring to see if it could be salvaged. Since the wood floor was not showing an extremely high moisture content, the technicians decided to use the Injectidry system in an attempt to save it from removal.

The Injectidry system works by utilizing extraction mats placed over wet sections of the wood floor. The mats are connected to a special machine which directs air below the floor in an attempt to dry underneath it quickly. Dehumidifiers are often placed alongside the system to assist in removing as much moisture from the surrounding area as possible.

After the system ran for four days, the mats were removed to revel the wood had dried exceptionally well and would not need to be replaced! The homeowner was so overjoyed to hear we were able to save the flooring. The Injecti-dry system is an innovative tool often used by our franchise to alleviate costly, time-consuming repairs for our customers.

Broken Kitchen Supply Line

10/16/2023 (Permalink)

Hand pulling a pan out of a lower kitchen cabinet Water can travel everywhere during a water loss.

When a supply line breaks, the water will travel far and wide inside a structure. This home in Old Bridge, NJ just had a new kitchen installed before the water damage. After investigating the extent of the damage, it appeared that the cabinets may not had been affected. Once the cabinets were opened up, it was discovered the contents inside were soaked. Since the homeowners called SERVPRO of Freehold right away, the emergency technicians were able to save the cabinets by drying them in place.

Before our team arrives to help, clear contents out of any locations where water can accumulate to dry out as much as you can. Please keep your safety in mind and make sure any appliances that are plugged in are removed to prevent electrocution. Safety is the number one priority of our SERVPRO team; it prevents dangerous situations for the technicians and the customers as well.

SERVPRO of Freehold is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us at 732-431-4440, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

See What ChapGPT has to say about SERVPRO Freehold

2/23/2023 (Permalink)

Looking for a reliable and efficient action-packed restoration company that can handle any disaster? Look no further than SERVPRO Freehold! Our skilled team of restoration experts are equipped to handle any emergency with lightning-fast response times, state-of-the-art equipment, and cutting-edge techniques. Whether you're dealing with water damage, fire damage, mold infestations, or any other type of disaster, we're the team you can count on to get the job done right. From the moment you call us, our team springs into action to assess the situation, develop a customized restoration plan, and get to work restoring your property to its preloss condition. Don't let disaster get the best of you - call SERVPRO Freehold and let us take care of everything!