Call SERVPRO® After Your Interior Flood

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® is the best choice for restoration after water damage.

Even the slightest amount of flooding or leaking pipe can cause an unimaginable amount of damage. Water can begin damaging floors and furniture as soon as it hits them, so fast action is required to protect your home or business. At SERVPRO® of Ojai / Montecito, our rapid action and trained staff will achieve the best results in making your hardwood floors like new again. SERVPRO® is the best choice for restoration after water damage.

Potential Damage to Hardwood Floors

• Crowning: The planks arc upward due to excessive moisture
• Cupping: The planks bend downward and curve due to excessive moisture
• Buckling: Planks lift from place in the floor

To avoid this damage, SERVPRO® responds as quickly as possible to begin water cleanup and removal. Our team at SERVPRO® of Ojai / Montecito is given industry leading training to handle the extraction, drying and replacement of flooring that has been damaged thus far. We use controlled methods to remove specific flooring safely. Additionally, our team will contain the water to further control contamination of unaffected areas. Following our restoration and treatment of the damaged area, we sanitize the home to ensure it’s “Like it never even happened.” Call SERVPRO® of Ojai / Montecito at (805) 669-6662. We are the best water restoration team, ready 24/7/365!

SERVPRO: Here to Make Your Life Easier

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO, we take pride in strong customer service and experts in the industry. Our team has years of experience and constant training.

Did you experience a fire, a flood or a plumbing problem in your home or business? There’s no one better to call for your reparations and restorations than SERVPRO® of Ojai / Montecito. We will make it “Like it never even happened.” Our quick and professional response team will know just what to do when you need assistance.

Highly Trained Professionals

Our restoration technicians are experts at restoring salvageable items from water or fire, and they document their work every step of the way. We guarantee our team will do their best job on your remediation and/or restoration project.

Customer Care

At SERVPRO, we take pride in strong customer service and experts in the industry. Our team has years of experience and constant training to ensure we do the best job in getting your home or business back to normal after we come through it.

Easier Insurance Claims Process

Insurance claims can be confusing and challenging, but we are here to help. Our team assists you in documentation for a quicker, easier insurance claim experience.

Don’t wait, the technicians at SERVPRO® of Ojai / Montecito are waiting to assist you today! Give us a call at (805) 669-6662, we are 24/7/365.

What to do After a Flood

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

If you experience a flood on your property, let our experienced team of franchise professionals assess the flooding for any potential water damage.

Even while in a drought, Southern California is an area of high flood risk. Floods, when not treated properly, can potentially result in hundreds of thousands in damages. Heavy rain is just one potential cause of flooding. In reality, there are a variety of ways that your property could flood.

Top 3 Common Causes of Floods

1. Poor drainage
2. Broken pipes
3. Damaged foundations

Floodwater often becomes contaminated with sewage and chemicals, and it is unsafe to live in these conditions. It’s important to keep pipes in good condition as water damage is costly to repair.

If you experience flooding in your home perform the below actions to help keep damage down, but only when it is safe to do so:

• Stop the flooding from its source
• Turn off electricity (take extra care to avoid any moisture or collected water)
• Safely evacuate the structure affected by flooding

Once in a dry, safe location:

• Contact your insurance company
• Document the flooding (Take note of what was damaged by the water)

If you experience a flood on your property, let our experienced team of franchise professionals assess the flooding for any potential water damage. We will get your home back to pre-flood condition. Contact SERVPRO® of Ojai / Montecito at (805) 669-6662 to begin the flood restoration, we are 24/7/365.

Mold, the Water Damage Unseen

3/22/2022 (Permalink)

Understanding the early signs of mold or water damage will help to minimize the extent damage can occur.

Mold thrives in unseen places, and less rather than more property owners are successful in identifying mold. In order to be vigilant, understand the importance of carrying out proper inspections and maintenance. Inspections should be performed at least twice a year, especially for those who live in areas where temperatures and moisture levels rise and fall frequently.

Inspecting for Mold

Check for water damage at the same time you inspect for mold growth. Water damage typically provides the prime spot for mold growth to occur. See below for the more common signs of water damage.

Bubbling walls: 

A telltale sign of mold is bubbling forming on painted walls. These are the areas contain the most moisture and are more likely to bubble up.

Musty odor:

When pipes begin to leak and mildew forms, it will create a very unpleasant scent. This is one of the first signs to check for water damage and mold. The closer you are to the affected area the more extreme the odor.

Rusting in open and/or enclosed spaces: 

Rust is the result of corrosion after the iron particles in an object have been exposed to oxygen and moisture. This can be a sign of excessive moisture in your commercial building. Humidity can also create the optimum conditions for mold growth.

Understanding the early signs of mold or water damage will help to minimize the extent damage can occur. If an inspection happens and a mold infestation discovered, reach out to SERVPRO® of Ojai / Montecito at (805) 669-6662 to return your business or home to its preloss condition.

You Can Control Mold

2/28/2022 (Permalink)

Increase the circulation and raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses.

There are many ways to control the internal moisture of your business or home to help with mold prevention. Review below for a comprehensive list of actions that can be taken to help prevent mold growth.

• Fix any leaks and / or seepage. If water is entering your business from outside, remediation efforts can range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. Water collecting in your basement could be a result from a lack of gutters or water flowing toward the house. Water leaks from pipes or around tubs and sinks are a perfect breeding ground for microbial growth.
• Use plastic coverings over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming up from the ground. Make sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.

• Exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens help to relocate moisture to the outside.
• Increase the circulation and raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. To increase air circulation, keep doors open between rooms, use fans to increase circulatory air, and place furniture away from corners. This promotes better air and heat circulation and carries heat to cold surfaces.

Moisture problems and their solutions vary from place to place. While the Southwest is hot and dry, the Northeast is cold and wet, the South is hot and wet, and the Western states are cold and dry. All these regions have different and complex moisture problems. The area you live will directly affect the remediation process.

What is Gray Water?

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

Burst pipe in wall and deteriorating drywall.

Water Damage is extremely difficult to deal with. Responding in a timely manner is important but take it a step further and prepare yourself in case something should happen to your property. Knowing how to respond is as equally important to responding quickly, prevent further problems from developing by creating an emergency plan. See below for more about where Category 2 and 3 water damage comes from and what you can do to keep your property and family safe with the following information.

How We Determine Next Steps

One of the most critical steps to recovering from water damage is determining what kind of contamination you're dealing with. There are three different types of contaminated water according to The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) which are based on:

• The source of the water damage
• The length of exposure to the structure
• The likelihood of harmful chemicals or contaminants that may be present

What is Category 2 Water?

Also known as gray water or sullage, Category 2 water damage can harbor some amount of contamination that would be harmful to humans and animals. The sources most common to Category 2 water damage are toilet bowls containing urine, dishwasher or washing machine water, and sump pump failure resulting in flood damage.

What is Category 3 Water?

Category 3 is the most extreme and should be handled by the professionals. Also referred as blackwater, this category includes sewage, rising flood waters, seawater, as well as river and ground water. When category 3 water damage occurs, often many items and materials will need to be removed from your property, then after drying has occurred your home will need to undergo significant disinfecting.

Call the Professionals

Our franchise professionals at SERVPRO® here in the Ojai / Montecito area are familiar with the risks associated with water damage to your home. As a leader in the water damage disaster industry, we use proven systems to address water damage when calls come in. There may not be a single source of water damage, so using specific procedures to minimize loss is essential.

How Can Water Damage Structures?

1/12/2022 (Permalink)

Flood cut drywall.

Water damage is never an experience a property owner or tenant wishes to experience. Water is meant to stay in drainpipes, supply pipes, basins, and sinks. It should never run unabated within the dwelling or structure. Simple repairs and maintenance can help you to avoid minor to major water damage.

We do not always experience water damage from hurricanes and floods. More commonly, business and homes experience water damage from:

• small, pinhole-sized leaks in pipes
• poor grading techniques on soil
• gutter blockage
• sump pumps that may be malfunctioning

Many cases of water damage result from non-professionals attempting to remediate the problem(s) themselves without the proper equipment or experience. If left unchecked water damage can increase exponentially and will even rot out drywall and cause mold to grow. Talk with a professional like SERVPRO of Ojai / Montecito when you experience water damage to get best practices and next steps in addressing your loss.

Dealing with Commercial Sewage Backup

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

Water extraction after flooding occurs.

Sewage backup in your office is not a basic cleaning task. The cleanup process should only be handled by professionals. If signs of sewage backup occur, call SERVPRO of SW Bakersfield to return your business to its preloss condition.

Common Causes of Sewer Backup Issues

Sewage issues are difficult to recover from, however, knowing how they occur is the first step to preventing the worst from happening. Some common reasons why commercial properties experience sewage backups are:

• Stress on your plumbing and sewer system from soil settling in and around your building.
• Misaligned connections or cracked pipes within your plumbing system.
• Tree roots infiltrating plumbing / pipes.
• Irregular maintenance and cleaning. Commercial settings usually experience high-volume and require regular maintenance to make sure facilities stay functioning.

Preventative Measures for Sewage Backup

Here are some preventative maintenance measures that can be taken to lessen the impact of what may occur. See below for suggested guidelines:

• Semi-annual / Annual plumbing and sewer inspections.
• Make sure you use a water pressure reducing valve to limit stress on your building's system.
• Add pop-up sewer release valves if your plumbing system does not have them.

It is difficult and potentially unsafe to deal with sewage backup yourself and is a job that should be left to the professionals. With SERVPROs expert processes, training, and customer experience, we are here to help!

Steps To Minimize Water Damage

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

Water Damage on cabinets

1. Call a professional immediately. They can coordinate your next steps best and get you scheduled for assistance. A professional will give you advice that you can trust. In addition, remember to turn off your water and power to the affected areas. 
2. Take safety precautions. Even if you are aware of the source of water it still may contaminated. Water can be clear and still contain harmful bacteria and other contaminants.
3. Protect your belongings. If you have things that have objective or sentimental value to you or your family, scoop these things up and store them away in a safe place so that they won’t be exposed to water. It can be helpful to put a dry layer (some plywood, plastic, etc.) between legs of furniture and wet ground to prevent water seeping into the legs and deforming it. 
4. Begin water removal. Follow any specific instructions that were given when you were on the phone when you called for help. Don’t do anything potentially dangerous.

SERVPRO of Ojai / Montecito has 24-hour emergency services, so don’t hesitate to contact us. Almost everyone experiences a flood in their home at some point make sure you have a plan to address.

5 Warning Signs of a Burst Pipe

9/23/2021 (Permalink)

Burst pipe and water damage.

Not all broken pipes cause immediate water damage. It can sometimes be a slow leak that eventually causes water damage to your home or business. Be alert to the warning signs of a broken pipe.

1. Fluctuating Water Pressure:

Don’t immediately blame the city. It may be a busted pipe. Pressure changes are hard on plumbing system and can damage pipe fittings.

2. Water discoloration and or smell:

The water has taken on a brownish or “rust” colored feature and or smells of rotten eggs. Fun fact, that rotten egg smell is hydrogen sulfide, a naturally occurring gas that can also form in sewer lines. Make sure to call in a certified technician to handle this type of issue.

3. Recurring sink puddles:

You try to stop any leaks under sinks to no avail. Inspect your home or business carefully just above pipe cover plates, additionally look for damp spots.

4. Noisy pipes/water movement sounds within walls:

If no water is running in your home, you should not be able to hear water. A single broken pipe can influence the water pressure of an entire structure.

5. Rising water bill cost:

Small drips can add up. Make sure to regular check your water bill and plumbing fixtures for leaks to lessen the chance a pipe burst will occur.

How We Dry Your Home After Water Damage!

7/27/2021 (Permalink)

First a detailed assessment must be performed onsite to confirm the extent of water damage which has occurred. Depending on the building materials that are affected our team will provide a detailed scope of work and dry out/mitigation scope of work for your review and that of your insurance adjuster.

Sometimes, the damage is minimal and the dry out plan can happen very quickly with minimal cost. If this is the case an insurance claim may not be required as it the cost of mitigation will be less than your deductible amount possibly. In other instances where the damage is more significant, we are able to communicate all aspects of the scope and cost in a timely fashion. We divide the process into (3) phases. Phase (1) initial moisture mapping, and or fire mapping, stabilization through the use of engineering controls and equipment. Phase (2) is to assess our client’s contents such as furniture, artwork, clothing. Phase (3) is a detailed reconstruction estimate itemizing the building repair scope of work and cost to be performed.  

There are many different types of equipment that can be needed for a significant loss. Some of this equipment includes:

• Dehumidifiers
• Air movers
• Water extraction vacuums
• HEPA vacuum, both backpack and canister type
• Submersible pumps
• Moisture detectors
• Hygrometers
• Infrared
• Floor mat drying system
• Desiccants

Five Things To Know About Water Damage

7/17/2021 (Permalink)

A pipe burst just happened in your home in Ojai, California, or Montecito, California and you might be wondering what to do next and how to avoid water damage. There are a few things you should know to prevent long term problems after flooding, 

1. Damage Can Happen Numerous Ways

A waterline may break, a storm could lead to flooding, or you might have a leaky seal around a window. No matter what type of water damage you could be worried about, a SERVPRO professional should still be able to help. Give us a call! 

2. Repairs Should Be Taken Care of Quickly Once Discovered

Any time you have any water damage, whether, from a pipe burst or roof leak, it’s important to make repairs as quickly as possible. A quick cleanup may help save your home from more costly problems long term.

3. Untreated Damage Can Cause Long Term Problems

Fix all the damaged areas as soon as possible. Putting off repairs can lead to additional issues like warped wood or mold growth.

4. Affected Areas Can Be Restored

Remember that no matter how bad the damage may appear at first, a restoration company should be able to conduct cleanup and repairs. With a little time and work they can soon have the space looking “Like it never even happened.”

5. A Professional Can Help

Anytime you think you may have flood water issues of any kind, call SERVPRO for details. We are here to help!

Quickly Repair and Restore a Water Damaged Home with SERVPRO

1/29/2021 (Permalink)

Proper structural drying and dehumidification is very necessary to prevent warping or rotting of dry walls and flooring in your home after a water damage. If moisture levels are not properly regulated by trained technicians, you will start to have a foul smell and mold will quickly grow in less than 24-48 hours.

Water quickly absorbs into the interior sheet rock, wall insulation and then into wooden studs of building. If interior studs or surfaces are left moist, water and mold can jeopardize the building structure integrity or cause foundational issues.

Fortunately, most water damage is caught in time with proper water extraction cleanup, dehumidify and a minor repair that prevents future structural problems. For water damage related to flooding in your home call SERVPRO of Ojai/Montecito. 

Untreated Water Damage in Your Home

1/13/2021 (Permalink)

In the event of water leakage, flooding, or other water disasters, it is a sure bet that a little bit goes a long way. A small, slow drip and a sudden, significant flood can both do extensive damage to your home and property and present serious health risks if left untreated. In many cases, the safest way to clean up a water mess is to call on the expertise of water damage restoration professionals who can remove the water and affected materials by following a safe and thorough process that eliminates contaminants. Attempting a clean-up on your own is risky because you place yourself in danger of coming in contact with contaminants, and you can’t be sure that you’ve properly removed all dangerous or damaged materials. If you have a persistent water issue in your home or have incurred water damage of any sort on your property, acting quickly to remedy the situation is the best way to limit property damage and protect your family from health issues that arise as a result of neglected water damage.

7 Most Common Causes for Water Damage

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

About 40% of all homeowners have experienced a loss from water damage. The good news is that 93% of all water damage could have been prevented with the right knowledge. Here are 7 items to be aware of that can cause water damage in your home. 

1. Damaged Pipes

2. Appliances

3. Clogged Drains

4. Natural Disasters

5. HVAC

6. Sump Pumps

7. Structural Damage

Residential water damage can be caused by natural disasters, clogged drains or damaged pipes. Water damage is a headache to any homeowner but with the expertise of SERVPRO of Ojai/Montecito we can be on the scene immediately and remediating the damage. Our teams are specially trained and have extensive knowledge in how to deal with all sizes of water damage.

What To Do When a Roof Leak Leaves You With Water Damage

11/20/2020 (Permalink)

Over time, roofs weaken due to exposure to the elements, making roof leaks almost inevitable. Unfortunately, leaking roofs lead to water damage and mold growth if they are not repaired within 24 to 48 hours of the water intrusion.

• Move any items that might get damaged by water, such as furniture, electronics, and valuables to a dry area. Cover furniture with plastic sheets if you cannot move it.
• Place a bucket under the leak to collect the water. 
• Water leaks may cause paint on the ceiling to bubble or blister. 
• Locate and repair the leak, call a professional plumber.

It’s also important to act quickly when you have a leaky roof to prevent water damage and mold growth. Call SERVPRO whenever a leak leaves you with water damage in your home.

Always Treat Your Water Damage

11/4/2020 (Permalink)

In the event of water leakage, flooding, or other water disasters, it is a sure bet that a little bit goes a long way. A small, slow drip and a sudden, significant flood can both do extensive damage to your home and property and present serious health risks if left untreated. In many cases, the safest way to clean up a water mess is to call on the expertise of water damage restoration professionals who can remove the water and affected materials by following a safe and thorough process that eliminates contaminants. Attempting a clean-up on your own is risky because you place yourself in danger of coming in contact with contaminants, and you can’t be sure that you’ve properly removed all dangerous or damaged materials. If you have a persistent water issue in your home or have incurred water damage of any sort on your property, acting quickly to remedy the situation is the best way to limit property damage and protect your family from health issues that arise as a result of neglected water damage.

Water Damage Knowledge

9/22/2020 (Permalink)

A pipe burst just happened in your California home and you might be wondering what to do next to avoid water damage. Here are five things you should know to prevent long term problems after flooding:

1. Damage Can Happen Numerous Ways

A waterline may break, a storm could lead to flooding, or you might have a leaky seal around a window. No matter what type of water damage you could be worried about, a SERVPRO professional should still be able to help. Give us a call! 

2. Repairs Should Be Taken Care of Quickly Once Discovered

Any time you have any water damage, whether, from a pipe burst or roof leak, it’s important to make repairs as quickly as possible. A quick cleanup may help save your home from more costly problems long term.

3. Untreated Damage Can Cause Long Term Problems

Fix all the damaged areas as soon as possible. Putting off repairs can lead to additional issues like warped wood or mold growth.

4. Affected Areas Can Be Restored

No matter how bad the damage may appear at first, a restoration company like SERVPRO can conduct cleanup and repairs. With little time and work, we can soon have the space looking “Like it never even happened.”

5. A Professional Can Help

Anytime you think you may have flood water issues of any kind, call SERVPRO for details. We are here to help!

Secondary Damage

8/14/2020 (Permalink)

While water is essential for our survival, it doesn’t suit well in some situations when it comes into contact with materials at work in your office building suddenly in quantities or consistently over long periods of time. An immediate burst of flooding can cause terrible damage, but undetected water over many months or years can introduce secondary damage and other problems such as black mold. It’s important to understand the issues that can arise when gradual water damage occurs.

So, how does flooding start? You can do all you can to try to prepare and guard your business against disasters, but they’re not always possible to predict or prevent. Floods are among one of the most devastating emergencies you could face at work and one of the biggest causes of secondary water damage. Here’s are a few ways how they can start:

• Sewer backup
• Leaky or broken pipes
• Weak roof or missing roof shingles
• Poor drainage
• Water that finds its way into your building’s foundation

What It Could Leave Behind

When water gets on the floor, onto furniture or on the drywall, you may still have some damage even after you clean it up. This is known as secondary damage. From this, you may find fungal growth and other bacteria in parts of your building. It usually requires a trained professional mold remediation specialist to remove. 

What Happens If You Do Find Mold

If you spot mold, there’s a good chance it is black mold. This is not something you should try to clean up yourself, and you definitely do not want to ignore it. A professional crew will use specialized chemicals and processes to get rid of the mold and sanitize the affected area so you feel comfortable resuming your work duties in the building.

What You Should Watch For To Stay Proactive

Parts of your building with high humidity, such as laundry facilities, bathrooms with showers, or exercise rooms, may be susceptible to mold growth before or after a flood. Checking your plumbing systems regularly is recommended as well.

Water Damage: Five Things To Know

8/14/2020 (Permalink)

A pipe burst just happened in your California home and you might be wondering what to do next to avoid water damage. Here are five things you should know to prevent long term problems after flooding:

1. Damage Can Happen Numerous Ways

A waterline may break, a storm could lead to flooding, or you might have a leaky seal around a window. No matter what type of water damage you could be worried about, a SERVPRO professional should still be able to help. Give us a call! 

2. Repairs Should Be Taken Care of Quickly Once Discovered

Any time you have any water damage, whether, from a pipe burst or roof leak, it’s important to make repairs as quickly as possible. A quick cleanup may help save your home from more costly problems long term.

3. Untreated Damage Can Cause Long Term Problems

Fix all the damaged areas as soon as possible. Putting off repairs can lead to additional issues like warped wood or mold growth.

4. Affected Areas Can Be Restored

No matter how bad the damage may appear at first, a restoration company like SERVPRO can conduct cleanup and repairs. With little time and work, we can soon have the space looking “Like it never even happened.”

5. A Professional Can Help

Anytime you think you may have flood water issues of any kind, call SERVPRO for details. We are here to help!

Area Disinfection Certification Program

7/29/2020 (Permalink)

As America gets back to business, we all have a new sense of what it means to be clean. In fact, 89% of consumers are uneasy about going back to brick-and-mortar locations. At SERVPRO, we’re dedicated to inspiring confidence in communities across the country as we find our way to a new normal. And we’re doing just that with our Area Disinfection Certification Program.

Our new defensive pathogen disinfecting program goes way beyond standard janitorial cleaning practices. This is a proactive viral pathogen disinfecting. With over 50 years of experience in biochemical spill remediation and decontamination, you can trust SERVPRO professionals to bring a higher standard of sanitizing to the places we gather.

Let us know when you are ready for us to help your facility become certified. When everyone sees our SERVPRO disinfected shield, they will enter with confidence knowing that the #1 choice in clean up and restoration was there.

Contact Genna Grinblat, Executive VP at (818) 730-1434, or email at genna@SERVPROwestcoast.com

Signs of a Water Leak Behind a Wall

12/29/2019 (Permalink)

It can sneak up on you after a water damage goes unnoticed.

There are many potential causes of water damage in your home.  Some sources of water damage, such as floods, burst pipes, and sewage back ups, are obvious and homeowners notice them right away.  However, there are some sources of water damage that are much more difficult to detect such as water leaks behind walls.  Homeowners typically do not notice hidden leaks until they have already caused a considerable amount of damage. Hidden water leaks can be dangerous because they can cause structural damage and also cause microbial growth to spread undetected. While most signs happen out of view here a few to be on the lookout for: musty odors, staining, peeling or bubbling wall paint, warped walls, buckled ceilings and/or floors. All of these signs can point towards a water leak but you need to have a professional come out and take a look. When you find a water leak always call a plumber first to stop the leak and then call SERVPRO to come out and then asses the water damage. Trust a water restoration professional to remove all the affected materials and the possible microbial growth safely.

We Take Your Water Damage Details with Serious Consideration

12/23/2019 (Permalink)

We work as quickly as possible to get you back into your home.

The rains have stopped for now, but plumbing issues still happen to California homes just like they always have. The damage from a broken kitchen sink or a pipe behind a wall is indistinguishable from storm water that finds its way in from under the roof.

Regardless of the source of the water damage to a home, SERVPRO has four key actions we take before moving on to restoring furniture. First, we move every piece of furniture off the carpeting. Next, we clean any furniture stains before we even start to dry the home. Next, we tent all cushions to prevent color bleeding and speed up drying time. Finally, we calculate the restoration cost against the replacement price for the customer.

With that accomplished, our technicians move on to drying and protecting the upholstery. They take the first step by tenting the cushions. Tenting is simply standing the cushions up and leaning them against each other with a sheet of waxed paper between them to stop or at least reduce color bleeding. Now, they place air movers and dehumidifiers underneath or next to them to speed the process. Zippers and most metal buttons quickly rust, so they are hand-dried immediately. We also insert waxed paper between the zippers and cushions and place pads around the buttons to prevent any possible transfer of rust, no matter how small.

It may be necessary to dampen the entire fabric of a piece of furniture to keep a uniform color. Then, water extractor wands are used to draw out any moisture evenly. We use a variety of upholstery tools to ensure the nape of the fabric is carefully brushed out to its correct form as it dries.

Restoring furniture damaged from broken plumbing is an intensive, drawn-out process. To do it correctly takes a professional restoration company. SERVPRO of Ojai/Montecito is ready to walk you through every step and make sure you understand the costs associated with restoration, replacement, and when to choose. 

Common Causes of Water Damage - That Aren't Storm Related

11/13/2019 (Permalink)

Many people believe the weather is the leading cause of water damage, but in reality, non-weather-related issues account for more residential water damage claims. Here are some of the most common causes of water damage:

• Plumbing Supply System Failure - This involves any of the pipes that are bringing water to your property’s plumbing system.
• Toilet Overflow - One-third of toilet failure claims cited an overflowing or clogged toilet as the source of damage.
• Water Heater Failure - Most often due to a tank reaching or exceeding its life expectancy.
• Drain System Failure - This involves any of the pipes or structure carrying liquid/waste away from your plumbing system.
• Washing Machine Overflow - More than 50% from supply hose failure.

Some of these can be prevented while others are almost inevitable. If you or someone you know suffers a water damage in their home you should always call out a professional.

Different Categories of Water Damage

8/14/2019 (Permalink)

A simple flooded sink led to major water damage.

If you are dealing with a water damage you will probably hear technical language about your property that you are not used to. Instead of not understanding what is going on here are some definitions of different types of water damages:

• Category 1 Water Loss: In this case, the water damage is usually as a result of overflow from the bathtub or sink and leakage from malfunctioning appliances. The water is usually colorless without any odor and as such, does not pose any health threat to your family since it contains no pathogenic agents.
• Category 2 Water Loss: This type of water damage is usually associated with toilet overflows. It could be grey in color and have an odor. When this type of water spreads within your environment, the occupants of the home are exposed to risks of bacterial infection as the water contains harmful microorganisms. It is important to rid the home of such water before further damage is caused.
• Category 3 Water Loss: This is the type of water damage that gives serious concern to homeowners. The water is usually colored black with very bad odor. It contains lots of harmful parasites and bacteria that could easily invade other parts of the house if not treated with the urgency it requires. When this happens, not only is your property at risk, your health and that of your loved ones are also at risk.

Always call a water damage professional such as SERVPRO to help deal with your loss, even if you think you can handle it.

Tips to Prevent Water Damage

8/14/2019 (Permalink)

Be proactive when it comes to water damage and the signs.

1. Inspect your roof. If your roof begins to deteriorate roof leaks can develop without you even noticing.
2. Clean the gutters on your house. Poor drainage weakens your foundation and can lead to cracks which can cause uneven pathways for water to find its way inside.
3. Seal your windows. This is one of the easiest ways to protect your home from water!
4. Check your pipes. You should inspect your pipes at least once a year; over time pipes can corrode, rust, and decay all of which can result in leaks.
5. Test your sump pump. This is your first line of defense against your basement potentially flooding. These pumps are used to pump water that has accumulated in a sump basin away from your home to a storm drain.

Help your home to stay dry in your home and be aware of the warning signs! If you suspect water damage in your home you should always call SERVPRO of Ojai/Montecito.

Water Heater Damage

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

Everyone has a water heater in their home, it is very common for them to have issues. But you can be rest assured that SERVPRO of Ojai/Montecito has the tools and the staff to get you back into your home quickly. Here are some tips to check in on your water heater!

1. Check your water heater's age. Once your water heater reaches it's life expectancy it is much more susceptible to a leak or burst.

2. Clean out your water heater regularly. This includes removing sediments and flushing the tank regularly every 6 months. 

3. Placement matters. Most people store their water heater in the garage because it is "out of sight" which also means it is "out of mind". The biggest mistake made is waiting for your water heater to start showing troubling signs, such as leaking, before people replace or try to fix them. 

Always call SERVPRO for any of you water loss needs.