Recent Water Damage Posts

Water Damage Timeline

12/27/2023 (Permalink)

Flooded basement. Do you know how quickly intrusive water damage can be to your property?

Do you know how quickly intrusive water damage can be to your property? SERVPRO® knows how quickly it can take for even a small amount of water can negatively affect your home or business. 

Within Minutes 

  • Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path. 
  • Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings. 
  • Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets. 
  • Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp. 

One to Two Hours 

  • Drywall begins to swell and break down. 
  • Metal surfaces begin to tarnish. 
  • Furniture begins to crack and swell. 
  • Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain. 
  • A musty odor appears. 

48 Hours to One Week 

  • Mold and mildew may grow and spread. 
  • Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp. 
  • Metal begins to rust and corrode. 
  • Furniture warps and shows signs of mold. 
  • Paint begins to blister. 
  • Wood flooring swells and warps. 
  • Serious biohazard contamination is possible. 

More Than One Week 

  • Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive. 
  • Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risk to occupants. 

Winter Water Damage

12/19/2023 (Permalink)

Icicles hanging from the gutters of a house. With below freezing temperatures, snow, and ice, your home or business could be in jeopardy of water damage.

Michigan winters are known to be brutally cold and large amounts of snow are always expected. With below freezing temperatures, snow, and ice, your home or business could be in jeopardy of water damage. It is crucial that you are aware of the hazards and can prepare, prevent or act quickly if faced with winter water damage.  

FROZEN PIPES  

A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located, but typically the rupture is caused by the backflow pressure between the water source and the blockage. A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly.  

ICE DAMS  

Ice dams can be a major problem during the winter season. They form when heated air melts roof snow downward into water dammed behind still-frozen ice. When the trapped water cannot safely flow or run into the gutter system, it can backflow under the roof ’s shingles and into the structure’s interior areas.  

Cold weather, snow, and ice storms can cause severe damage to your home or business. When these types of disasters strike, immediate action is necessary to prevent additional damage to your property. Our team has winter storm experience, expertise, and the resources to remediate damage caused by winter weather. If disaster strikes your home or business during the winter months, know that SERVPRO® has your back.