Recent Water Damage Posts

Water Damage in Winter

12/11/2023 (Permalink)

Modern plumbing systems have made accessing running water in homes a straightforward task. It allows residents to engage in everyday activities like bathing, washing, or enjoying a glass of iced tea directly from the tap. Despite these conveniences, unexpected plumbing incidents can turn this luxury into an unanticipated problem.

Whether residing in a house or a condominium, harsh winter conditions, especially during extreme temperatures, pose a significant risk of water damage. Failing to address frozen pipes in cold weather can lead to cracks and ruptures, causing water to overflow into different areas of the home.

The consequences of water damage unfold swiftly, causing floorboards to warp and infiltrating porous materials like sheetrock and drywall. Addressing the issue promptly is crucial to prevent further damage. In the unfortunate event of such damage, seeking professional help is recommended. Companies like SERVPRO have the expertise to mitigate both structural and cosmetic water damage efficiently.

SERVPRO® Technicians take necessary precautions to ensure the safe execution of their work. Properly assessing the damage involves considering factors like the extent of moisture and the types of materials involved, such as carpet, insulation, wood floors, and baseboards. Additionally, the layout of the room, including walls, windows, cabinets, and closets, is taken into account to determine the optimal placement and number of air movers. The correct angle of equipment is also crucial, ensuring that air effectively carries away moisture without bouncing off walls.

The mantra "We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster" is not merely a slogan for SERVPRO; it defines their commitment. With technicians available 24/7, ready to respond promptly, residents experiencing water damage in their homes are encouraged to contact SERVPRO without delay.

It's best to be prepared

9/20/2023 (Permalink)

One of the most damaging and devastating things you can ever experience as a homeowner is a flood.

There are many causes of household flooding that can include:

  • Heavy rains
  • Sewer back-up
  • Malfunctioning sump-pump
  • Pipe burst

No matter what the cause, you should know what you should do if your house floods. Taking care of the problem earlier will help you to reduce the amount of damage and can make the clean-up and repair easier.  It's best to call a professional when dealing with water damage in your home.  The certified technicians at SERVPRO® of South Louisville know exactly what steps to follow in order to prevent further damage, and to get your home cleaned up and dried out so you can get back to normal.

The first several days after a disaster are critical to preventing unnecessary secondary damages like mold. SERVPRO suggests the following steps to help minimize additional damage to your home, business and possessions.

  • If the water has entered the structure through the flooding of a creek, stream or river, or if it has filtered through insulation during its intrusion, it is considered black water and could be hazardous to your health. Avoid contact with contaminated items as much as possible.
  • Take the greatest caution while entering your home, and wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing when dealing with flooded areas.
  • Do not attempt to operate any electrical equipment while standing in wet or damp locations.
  • Throw away all foods - even canned goods - that have encountered flood waters.
  • Remove and prop wet upholstery and pillow cushions for drying. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
  • Place fans at 45-degree angles to walls and move large furniture away from walls to create the best air circulation.
  • If your home has a crawlspace, be aware excess moisture in this area can often foster mold growth.

SERVPRO also recommends having a three-day supply of water for each member of your family - including pets - along with non-perishable food, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries and a flashlight. Citizens should also keep in mind things like necessary medications and insurance documents.

Water Damage due to sump pump failure

10/4/2022 (Permalink)

Today SERVPRO of South Louisville received a called about a sump pump failure in a customers home. Sump pumps don't last forever, aside from electrical interruptions the sump pump has a life expectancy of only 10 years.

We arrived on site and most of the water had already dried up but the customer was very aware of the risk of mold after standing water has been in your home even if it was a short period of time. After the water was extracted SERVPRO placed several dehumidifiers and air movers in the basement to pull all of the moisture out of the air to prevent any possibility of mold becoming a problem for the customer. Sump pump failures are more common than people think, SERVPRO suggests people perform regular maintenance by regularly pouring a bucket of water in it to make sure it start immediately, making sure the vent hole is clear with no blockages, and making sure all pipes are tightly connected. Another option to make sure the battery isn't a concern is "deep cycle batteries" they are made to use a steady amount of energy over a long period of time so they are less likely to fail as quickly.

Water Damage Repair and Restoration

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damage Repair and Restoration

When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals respond immediately and use advanced equipment and techniques to remove the water quickly. They closely monitor and document the drying process to verify your property is dried properly and thoroughly.

Please refer to our Water Damage Tips - Until Help Arrives Guide and follow these tips to protect yourself and your property.

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals

Let us Show you why SERVPRO has so many happy customers in our area, we will make your home or business “Like it never even happened.”

When water damages your home or business, SERVPRO is here for you

4/22/2022 (Permalink)

It is very important to know where the water shut off valve is in your home and/or business.  Knowing how to quickly shut the water off during an emergency can save you extra time and money when it comes to cleanup and restoration after the water loss.  

SERVPRO has a wonderful marketing team that is ready to help you be more prepared before a disaster strikes with our ERP (Emergency Ready Plan) program.

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Advantage

As many as 50% of businesses close down following a disaster, according to the latest research. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. And knowing you are "Ready for whatever happens" speaks trust to your clients and employees that in the event your business is affected by a disaster, they don’t necessarily have to be.

By developing a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business.

Please reach out today and one of our representatives can walk you through the steps to get your complementary plan started right away.  

Standing Water Can Lead to Big Problems Than You Realize

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

 

It goes without saying that the walls of your home where not meant to hold standing water.  When you are faced with a water damage in you home from a busted pipe, water heater, washing machine or even a leaky roof. 

It is very important to act quickly to remove the water, and begin drying the affected areas in your home.  Not only does this increase the does it increase the ability to restore affected materials such as hardwoods, it makes mold growth less likely.  Mold can make a bad situation much worse! 

In a few short days mold spores can spread throughout the your home and increase the scope of work needed to get your home back in the shape you have come to expect.  SERVPRO professionals can help minimize the chance for mold to take over and get you back to living your life

SERVPRO Is Here To Make Water Damage “Like it never even happened.”

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

You can feel confident when you call SERVPRO of South Louisville.  We have trained professionals available 24/7/365 to answer your call for help.  Our team is certified to clean up any mess you might find in your home or office.  

Recently, our team was called to a sewage loss where a toilet overflowed on the second floor.  This is not something a home/business owner should tackle on their own.  At SERVPRO of South Louisville we have the proper PPE equipment and sanitation materials needed to mitigate the disaster.  We have the training and knowledge to know what items can be restored and what items must be disposed of depending on the water category. 

SERVPRO can take care of every step of the process from demo, dryout, and reconstruction.  We are your one stop shop when it comes to disaster restoration.  

If you find yourself in need of our services don't hesitate to call. We have a live person available 24/7 to answer your call.  502-452-1298

Indoor Plumbing Is Wonderful - Not When It Gets Clogged Though!

12/8/2021 (Permalink)

Clogged bathtub Residents noticed the plumbing backup in this bathtub.

One common cause of water damage in a home comes from the modern marvel of indoor plumbing.  Although common it presents a special set of circumstances and protocols.  In the case of plumbing back up,  water is often contaminated with various bacterias that can be very harmful to a home and its residents.  SERVPRO technicians are specially trained to remove water and other affected materials to make your home safe again.  Special protective equipment must be worn and the water and materials must be discarded in a proper manner, and the areas need to be disinfected. 

Don't subject yourself to this burden,  we are here to help you no mater the situation.  From overflowing washing machines, to toilets and shower drains, allow SERVPRO to make it "Like it never even happened."

Flooding happens; Are You Ready? (Spoiler Alert: We are!)

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

Floods Rank As One Of The Most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States.  Whether you live near a coastline, along city streets, in the mountains, near a river or even in the desert, there is a potential for suffering flood damage.

If a flood happens in your home or business, there are some very important rules you should follow!

-Stay away from flood waters. If you come up on a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet.

-If you approach a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.

-Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water. Keep your pets out of the water too.

If a flood does strike your home or business, contact SERVPRO! Even minor floods have the potential to cause major damage to a structure when not treated quickly and properly, and the cleanup is often an overwhelming task. We are faster to any disaster, here to help, and ready to use our equipment, expertise, and experience to get you back to “Like it never even happened.”

Let SERVPRO Help Make Your Home Feel Like Home Again After Water Damage Occurs

9/29/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians SERVPRO is nationally known, and locally owned. There is no job too big for us to handle! Call us today!

Your home should be your place of rest. But when water begins leaking-even small leaks in areas you can’t see-your home could quickly become a source of stress. The possibility of potentially harmful mold, rot and unseen damage may affect the value of your home and the health of loved ones.

SERVPRO franchise professionals understand how disruptive water damages can be for your entire family and will help ensure the water is identified, regardless of where it hides.  That is why we offer a twenty four hour emergency response by trained, uniformed restoration professionals. With top-of-the-line equipment and time-tested cleanup and restoration techniques, SERVPRO franchise professionals have the expertise to help make your house feel like a home again.

After all, when it comes to your home and your family, even small disasters can feel like huge problems. So if a water damage occurs in your home, just call your local SERVPRO franchise professional or dial 1-800-SERVPRO. We will be there to help make it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO is nationally known, and locally owned. There is no job too big for us to handle. We want you to feel confident in putting your water damage in our professional hands.

Knowing what type of water damage you have is important

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

Understanding the type of water loss you are dealing with is important to how you mitigate. If you find water in your home and it’s coming from an either an inside or outside source it is essential you know wether it’s  a category 1,2 or 3 water loss.


Examples of a Category 1 loss can include: broken water supply lines, melting ice or snow, falling rainwater.


Category 2 can include: discharge from washing machines and dishwashers, punctured waterbeds, and/or broken aquariums. All of the above have potential to cause sickness if consumed.


Category 3 can include: sewer water, sea water and rising water from rivers due to flooding. All of these can be extremely contaminated and can cause severe reactions.


Knowing how what type of water category you are dealing is vital! That’s why the experts at SERVPRO of South Louisville are on hand.  We can diagnose and take the proper safety precautions and steps to mitigate any category of water.

Roof Leak

3/10/2021 (Permalink)

Roof leaks can happen day or night.  And they can happen even if it's not raining outside.  That's what occurred for a customer last week following the ice storm in Louisville, Kentucky.  An ice dam built up inside the roof following a lot of freezing rain, polar vortex temperatures and snow in the area.  Once the ice began to melt the customer noticed a drip in their master bathroom.  The drywall and light had to be removed, and our technician had to go on the roof to assess the damage.  Once the cause was taken care of the drying process began.

A dehumidifier and air mover were set, the area was monitored daily, and now the room is dried out and ready for reconstruction crews to fix the drywall and replace the light/vent fan fixture.  

The customer was thrilled with the level of service on a weekend.  

Frozen Pipe Preparations

12/4/2020 (Permalink)

Frozen pipes can cause major damage to a home or business.  This is the time of year to be diligent in preparing your home or business so that you don't suffer damage from a frozen pipe.   If you're going to be traveling over the holidays make sure you read the below steps from the Red Cross to be sure your prepared! https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html

Why Pipe Freezing is a Problem

Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the strength of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break.

Pipes that freeze most frequently are:

  • Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines.
  • Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.
  • Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.
How to Protect Pipes From Freezing

Before the onset of cold weather, protect your pipes from freezing by following these recommendations:

  • Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer's or installer's directions. Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless directed. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful, and is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping.
  • Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
  • Add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in these areas.
  • Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. Look in the garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.
  • Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes – even ¼” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.
  • Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
  • Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
  • When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
  • If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
  • If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
  • Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
  • Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
  • Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
  • Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

Be Prepared for Winter Weather

Water Damage while on vacation

9/16/2020 (Permalink)

Have you ever left your house for a vacation and wondered what would happen if a toilet started leaking while you were away?  I'm sure the thought of coming home to a water damage would be the furthest thing from your mind when you are heading out of the door on vacation. 

Well, for an unlucky homeowner when they returned home from a vacation they walked into their kitchen and found a huge mess.  The toilet supply line in the upstairs bathroom had a leak and while they were away the water made its way through the second floor and down into the kitchen below.  

The water saturated the drywall causing it to fall on the countertop.  The water was pooling all over the hardwood floor below.  

Luckily the team at SERVPRO knew how to handle the situation.  They quickly found the source and shut off the water, started cleaning up and extracting as much water as they could.  Then they set up drying mats to do their best to save the hardwood floor.  To the homeowners delight the hardwood floor was able to be saved which saved the customer time and money.

The great bleach vs mold debate.

5/8/2020 (Permalink)

Contrary to popular belief bleach will not kill mold. In fact, as much as the infamous fragrance of bleach triggers us to think that it is clean and disinfected, bleach does not disinfect porous surfaces. Linoleum, wood, cloth or even drywall will not be disinfected by using bleach. Using bleach actually can encourage mold to grow into a toxic mold because it's providing the mold with moisture needed to multiply and spread. When trying to eradicate the mold color, bleach is a good choice but will not inhibit the growth of mold. We are proud to share that we choose family-friendly, kid-friendly and pet safe products for our customers when remediating mold. Compared to using bleach which is corrosive and has toxic fumes. Our products will not harm your home or your surfaces. Partner those agents with state of the art equipment to aid in the remediation as well as a highly trained staff and you have a win.   Choose SERVPRO of South Louisville and know the job is done right. 

Got Flooded Electronics?

1/17/2020 (Permalink)

Water and electronics rarely go well together. When you call in commercial water damage restoration professionals, they can give you advice on the best ways to deal with these flooded electronics, along with these tips:

• Avoid Power: Plugging in any water-damaged computers is not a good idea. You want to keep the power off to ensure the inner workings of the electronics are not fried more than they already are. If you add power, you may give the circuits a chance to short.

• Assess Damage: The truth is that some equipment should be salvageable and other pieces may have to be thrown away. Figuring out which is which requires a professional to assess your electronic damage.

• Dry Out: If a piece is deemed worthy of restoration, you need to make sure it is completely dried out before the fixing actually starts. The methods for drying out electronics may vary, but experts may want to take your equipment apart to allow it to dry thoroughly.

• Replace Parts: In some cases, you may need to replace certain parts of your flooded electronics. This partial replacement may help you save money and keep your saved documents.

• Restore Data: In other cases, your only option may be to restore lost data to a different device. This restoration allows you to continue your business. However, you may need to buy new equipment.

• Start Claim: Losing large portions of your company's electronic equipment can hurt your business. If flooding leads to you needing to replace most of your electronics, it can cost a lot. Thankfully, your commercial insurance may cover the cost of replacing some of the items. After water fills your commercial space, you may be able to save some of the flooded electronics. In most cases, it is best to work with a professional familiar with electronic restoration.

Water, water everywhere!

1/7/2020 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Louisville we received approximately 75 calls over this past weekend, and the majority or which were water loss related due to rain and winds. As we head into the heart of fall the weather we advise all our customers to be prepared. Sump pump failure is a disaster at this time of the year and its one of the many reasons SERVPRO responds to a water loss, check your homeowners or renters insurance to see if sump pumps are covered, at SERVPRO we run into many clients who are surprised to find that sump pumps are not covered on their policy. Tarp and Board up is another area that here at SERVPRO we can assist with. With leaking or damaged roofs we have a team of on call trained associates that can prevent further water loss or damage from a leaking roof.

Be prepared this Winter. Check your pipes BEFORE they freeze

12/2/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Louisville would like to keep you aware of the possibilities of freezing conditions in the Louisville area and the possibility of frozen pipes. Frozen pipes are often those exposed to the cold weather, such as outside your home, in cold areas such as basements, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.

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 back flow pressure between the water source and the blockage. A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly.

To prevent pipes from freezing, here are a few steps you can take:

  • Be sure to completely drain water from swimming pools and sprinkler lines, as well as outside hoses.
  • Open kitchen cabinets to let warm air circulate near the plumbing.
  • When the weather is extremely cold, let water drip form the faucets that may come from exposed pipes.
  • Keep your heat set to the same temperature both day and night.
  • Wrap outside faucets.
  • Caulk around pipes where they enter the house.
  • Shut off and drain your water system if you are leaving home for several days.

Water loss due to hot water heater

9/25/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Louisville deals with all sorts of water loss across the city from large to small there is nothing in the city that SERVPRO can't handle.

Recently, SERVPRO of South Louisville was called out to a clients home by a local agent. When we arrived on the scene the ladies hot water heater had gone out, and water had traveled throughout their hallway, and affected the clients vinyl flooring and carpets rooms. 

The average life expectancy of a hot water heater is 8 -12 years. One thing that you can do to help extend the life of your hot water heater is yearly maintenance. One of the things you can do for yearly maintenance is to go to the drain valve and drain the hot water heater to get rid off all of the sediments that begin to settle at the bottom of the tank. 

SERVPRO of South Louisville is here to help no matter what the size of your loss or the type of loss we are always on call and always here to help!

Importance of an ERP for a water loss

9/18/2019 (Permalink)

Having an Emergency Plan in place is imperative when owning or managing a business. SERVPRO of South Louisville offers a complimentary service to any and all clients who don't have a sufficient plan. Emergency Ready Profiles or ERP's are an excellent way to be proactive ahead of any disaster. The plans are compiled by our team of experts and documents with photos and directions all of the sensitive areas in the building.  We tag all of the important shut-offs: For example, the main water shut-off, electrical, sprinkler system, and gas.  It also has all the important information a company would need during an emergency.  Things like insurance contacts, policy information, and local emergency responders.  The plan is available on SERVPRO's Ready App so it can be accessed at any time, any place and has a click to call feature.

This week SERVPRO of South Louisville had one of our customers hit the click to call button after a fire. The fire happened on the very top floor (17th floor) of a downtown high-rise apartment building. The fire caused damage to the main residence where it started. A burnt mattress, smoke and soot damage, but nothing major from the fire.

The biggest problem came from the sprinkler system and the thousands of gallons the local fire department used to eliminate any hot spots. When the smoke had settled the water had founds its way from the 17th floor all the way to the ground level of the building. To compound the problem even more when SERVPRO of South Louisville arrived both elevators were down.

Our crews worked tirelessly to get all of our equipment (130 air movers and 35 dehus) up the stairs and placed on each floor in order to start the dry out process.  After a week of running the equipment moisture tests were performed and we had accomplished drying the whole building out.  SERVPRO of South Louisville also finished the job by doing all the reconstruction to the affected unit.  Call SERVPRO of South Louisville when disaster strikes for quick response.

Sump Pump Failure Cleanup

1/11/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Louisville recently got called to a home where the sump pump had failed and the customer had four inches of standing water in his basement. When SERVPRO of arrived on site there was no longer four inches of standing water but there was still a good amount of water throughout the basement. SERVPRO performed the necessary actions to remove the water and moisture from the basement using extraction methods, fans and dehumidifiers. When the dry out was finished our repair division replaced all the damaged drywall. 

In some cases your home owners insurance may not cover sump pump overflows. This is a good reminder to take a look at your home insurance policy to make sure you have coverage for sump pump failure. Sump pump fails are very common and you might want to make sure it is included in your home insurance policy. This slight increase in your monthly insurance cost could save you thousands of dollars in the future.  

Sump Pump Failure

11/16/2018 (Permalink)

South Louisville suffered an ice storm and many homes and business had power outages across the city. With power outages comes sump pump failures which can cause flooding throughout the home. SERVPRO of South Louisville was dispatched to several dozen homes in the area with inches to feet of standing water in their basement due to power outages. Our certified crews went out to the homes and extracted the standing water, pulled out any saturated flooring and baseboards, then set up dehumidifiers and air movers in the areas needed to get rid of the moisture. One way to prevent this sump pump failure issue due to power loss is to invest in a generator at your home.  Don't hesitate to give us a call if you suffer any water damage in your home or business.  We pride ourselves in excellent customer service and hope to make your disaster "Like it never even happened."