Recent Water Damage Posts

Outrageous Water Bill in Ontario?

9/21/2020 (Permalink)

A man is shown examining his water bill for errors. An increase in your water bill could be an indication of hidden water leaks and damage in Kaiser.

Money Running Down the Drain?

Was your water bill higher than usual? In many cases, water leaks can cause your water bill to skyrocket, and if it does, you’ll want to get to the root cause and correct it quickly. According to the  United States Environmental Protection Agency , (EPA), household water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water waste nationwide each year. Water leaks, if not addressed in a timely manner can become costly repairs. SERVPRO® of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser has years of experience repairing water damage in the Ontario and Kaiser communities and offers these tips from the EPA on how to identify water leaks in your home:

  • A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It's likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
  • Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.

Call Us Today

When you find yourself with a water damage emergency of any size, SERVPRO® of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser wants to help. Call us at 909-390-0238. Our water restoration specialists will restore your water damage in Ontario “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO® of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser is Independently Owned and Operated.

Professional Water Damage Restoration in Ontario?

9/15/2020 (Permalink)

brick wall with water stains When water damage strikes, trust SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser

Water Damage Requires Professional Cleaning

You found the source of the water intrusion into your home and had the leak stopped and repaired, but not before the water had the opportunity to damage your floors, baseboards, walls, furniture, and belongings. Fortunately, SERVPRO® of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser has been helping people repair and restore water-damaged homes in the Ontario and Kaiser areas for years and because they are also licensed general contractors, they can supervise and perform the structural repairs too. A lot of surfaces will require professional cleaning after a water damage event, including furniture, upholstery, clothing, and other restorable belongings. We are contents restoration specialists and depending on the type of surface we may clean your belongings by:

  •  Dry Cleaning
  •  Wet Cleaning
  •  Spray and Wipe
  •  Foam Cleaning
  •  Abrasive Cleaning
  •  Immersion Cleaning

Odor Removal and Deodorization and Sanitizing Treatments

We are trained to identify and eliminate offensive odors. Once we have determined the cause, we will use industrial grade air scrubbers and fogging equipment to remove and deodorize the odor. We do not take short cuts by using masking sprays, and we will safely neutralize and eliminate the odor. We may also use antimicrobial, antibacterial or disinfectant treatments to clean your property if needed.

Call Us

No matter what kind of water damage emergency you have, SERVPRO® of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser wants to help. Call us at 909-390-0238. We’ll clean and restore your home or business in Ontario “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO® of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser is Independently Owned and Operated.

Staying Healthy around Standing Water in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

home with flood water When waters rise, we are the team that meets them.

Staying Healthy Around Standing Water in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser:

Standing water of any kind in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser can be a powerful source of disease. Floods can be worse due to the amount of water involved. Even small puddles can pose a risk. 

Different kinds of debris can be found in flood water such as dead animals, rotted plants, and sewage, to name a few. If you have water damage inside your home, watch for debris in the home as well to include rotted food and electrical problems. 

Viruses and bacteria can cause illnesses. To reduce your chances of catching something, SERVPRO of  Northeast Ontario/Kaiser suggests:

  • Washing dirty clothes and towels in hot water. Use bleach if possible
  • Remember that you can shake hands with an infected person and get infected
  • Do not allow children to play in the flood water
  • Wash children’s hands before meals
  • Disinfect toys before letting children play with them
  • Use bleach or other disinfectants on hard surfaces
  • Keep your hands washed

Cuts and rashes can become infected. Protect yourself and others in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser:

  • Avoid flood waters if you have an open rash or a cut
  • Clean cuts or rashes. Cover them with a waterproof bandage
  • Clean cuts with soap and clean water
  • If a cut becomes red, swollen, or is oozing, get medical attention

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Links:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/extreme-weather/floods-standingwater.html

Possible Causes for Water Damage in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

S bend in a water pipe When water damage strikes, SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser is Here To Help.

Causes & Categories of Water Damage in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser:

An old poem has the line, “water, water, everywhere”. When you need to say this in your home or office, you know there is trouble. You may be looking at water damage. There are several different possible causes of water damage in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser.

Causes can include:

  • Leaky dishwashers or washing machines
  • Clogged pipes
  • Leaking roofs
  • Broken toilet pipes
  • Heavy rain
  • Snow or ice

The amount of water damage depends on the amount of water and on the cause of the damage. 

It is also important to start cleanup as soon as possible. The longer your home or business is water-logged, the more damage.

Categories of Water Damage in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser:

  1. Clean water. It might come from an overflowing sink or a broken appliance. The water does not pose a threat to people. Keep in mind that any water will become contaminated after it stops flowing.
  2. Gray water. This water is contaminated from the get-go. It comes from broken toilets or sump pumps. It might not look dirty, or it might be brown.
  3. Black water. Like gray water, it might not look dirty. One major source of black water is broken sewage pipes. Another source is any water that has been standing still. 



***

Links:

http://www.thewaterpage.com/water-damage-effects.htm

How to Get Flood Insurance in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser.

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

Cartoon house in a life preserver SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser is Here To Help when water damage strikes.

Water Damage & Insurance in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser.

Did you know that most property insurance does not cover flood damage?

Most insurance rates vary by company. While the rules for insurance varies by state, flood insurance is an exception.

Some homeowners’ policies will cover water damage if the damage comes from:

  • sewer or drain backup
  • sudden & accidental damage from plumbing, heating systems, or air conditioning 

The policy might also cover mold remediation, but not if a flood caused the problem.

How to get flood insurance in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser:

  • Check whether your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). You can still get flood insurance if you live in a low-risk area. The insurance will cost less if you live in a low-risk area.
  • Find an insurance agent in City or County. The NFIP is the only flood-insurance provider, but the government does not sell it. Buy the insurance through an insurance agent. The NFIP sets the rates.
  • If your insurance agent doesn’t know about the NFIP, call the help center at  1-800-427-4661

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Links:

https://www.usa.gov/property-insurance 

www.fema.gov 

Be Prepared for Flooding in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

Since floods are one of the most common natural disasters in the U.S., with an average of 25% of flood claims coming from low-risk areas, SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser has these tips to offer you to help reduce the amount of flood damage when it occurs.

Lower the Risk of Flood Damage Northeast Ontario/Kaiser:

  • Check your county planning department to see if you live in a flood plain
  • Build barriers to stop flood water from getting into the basement
  • Use waterproofing sealants to avoid water damage
  • Back up computer files and keep them in a safe location
  • Install a drainage system or flood wall in your yard
  • The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that flood insurance is available even in low-risk areas
  • Do not keep important information or possessions in the basement
  • Raise equipment off the basement floor
  • Install a sump pump

SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser is here to help remediate flood damage if the unfortunate happens to you.

Links:

https://www.ready.gov/floods

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/readiness.html

Things to do for Water Damage until Help Arrives in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser

5/26/2020 (Permalink)

standing water in living room When water damage causes havoc in your home, call SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser

If your home or business in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser has water damage, you can do some things before help arrives.

Make sure that the building or home is safe.

SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser Wants You to Remember:

  • Waterlogged materials are very heavy
  • Wet surfaces are slippery
  • Make sure electrical power is off before you handle devices
  • Make sure you are standing on a dry area before you turn on the electric power

SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser suggests that you:

  • Remove excess water with mops and/or towels
  • Wipe water from wood furniture or other items
  • Remove wet cushions. Prop them upright to dry
  • Hang up rugs to dry
  • Place foil or blocks between furniture and wet carpeting
  • Turn on dehumidifiers or air-conditioning if it is safe
  • Move colored items from wet carpeting
  • Move artwork to a safe, dry place
  • Move loose items from the floor or counters
  • Start drying items ASAP
  • Remember that mold starts growing within 24 hours
  • Stay away from rooms that have sagging ceilings

Links:

www.fema.gov

Possible Causes for Water Damage in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser

5/26/2020 (Permalink)

pipe leaking SERVPRO of Northeast Ontario/Kaiser is Here To Help when water damage happens.

Causes & Categories of Water Damage in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser:

An old poem has the line, “water, water, everywhere”. When you need to say this in your home or office, you know there is trouble. You may be looking at water damage. There are several different possible causes of water damage in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser.

Causes can include:

  • Leaky dishwashers or washing machines
  • Clogged pipes
  • Leaking roofs
  • Broken toilet pipes
  • Heavy rain
  • Snow or ice

The amount of water damage depends on the amount of water and on the cause of the damage. 

It is also important to start the cleanup as soon as possible. The longer your home or business is water-logged, the more damage.

Categories of Water Damage in Northeast Ontario/Kaiser:

  1. Clean water. It might come from an overflowing sink or a broken appliance. The water does not pose a threat to people. Keep in mind that any water will become contaminated after it stops flowing.
  2. Gray water. This water is contaminated from the get-go. It comes from broken toilets or sump pumps. It might not look dirty, or it might be brown.
  3. Blackwater. Like gray water, it might not look dirty. One major source of black water is broken sewage pipes. Another source is any water that has been standing still. 



***

Links:

http://www.thewaterpage.com/water-damage-effects.htm