Flood & Water Damage during a WARM Winter in Bronxville NY 10708
With oddly warm winter weather this season, there have been warm and icy cold "snaps" that are beaking our clients water pipes. It's a "frozen pipe" issue that is the result of older metal pipes contracting and expanding...then breaking. Remember my tips last month about opening cabinet doors, so your pipes get the benefit of heated rooms as well as putting your furthest upstairs faucet on a tiny drip to keep water running through the pipes.
There is nothing more disheartening than walking into the lower level of your home or business, or your garage in bronxville New York 10708, and find yourself knee-deep in icky water (yes, even pros in the business use the word icky). Even when water damage is not excessive or obvious right away, a flood may have occurred under flooring or a cement slab in your home, with potentially negative effects – including that awful "mildew smell" we have all experienced.
It is not healthy for anyone to walk into this water, especially without a pair of good rubber/water tight boots and/or a Hepatitis-B shot. Keep in mind that water runoff from the street or your pristine front and back yards can carry E-coli, bacteria and oil from cars and trucks. It can be harmful to your health, so the first lesson is to stay out of the water, call your plumber, stop the water and call the professionals – that would be us – for help.
Water damage professionals have the equipment and experience necessary to handle the most challenging home flooding situations. Some of our clients have called a local contractor or their "handy man" for help, and these people are great for rebuilding after we dry you out, disinfect with a mold killer and deodorize. We leave the rebuilding to them. However, you want a water certified pro to get your home or business "desert dry" after a flood, and prevent mold growth.
Companies like ours concentrate on service, and background check all of our well-trained crews, all for your piece of mind. Because floods always seem to occur overnight or early in the morning, our Servpro near Bronxville, NY as well as companies like ours are always available and usually work around-the-clock. Often, our clients come home from work to find a level in their house underwater, or arrive at work early to find that their business had a plumbing or other leak. Stop the water first, and then call a professional to get it dry and disinfected.
Again, calling your contractor or handyman, who most likely will not be trained in drying a structure from the inside, can sometimes cause more harm than good. We work closely with some of the top Westchester contractors and they do a great job rebuilding, as needed -- that's after we professionally perform structural drying and daily measuring to prevent mold! Also, if they are not certified plumbers, handymen may not be able to stop the water from continuing to flood your property, or stop mold from growing in a week, or month or so. They are great for rebuilding any damaged walls or floors, of course!
You will want to concentrate on safely drying, deodorizing and disinfecting the areas flooded or damaged by water, or call in a pro. Save the items and belongings that you can, but often your carpet and padding will need to be dried and then removed – when they aren't full of water and weigh a ton. A pro should offer to come in and provide you, and your insurance company if applicable, a free verbal quote on how long the drying process will take. As soon as possible you want to begin "extracting" the water, as the longer the water is in your structure, the more damage to flooring, walls and the structure it can cause.
Here is some more information on water damage companies and how they can aid in various situations:
Equipment Water Damage companies use…
- Moisture detectors, hygrometers and other meters, to measure the extent of moisture saturation and gauge the drying time required.
- Infrared camera may be used to identify water location.
- Submersible and gas-powered pumps for continuous pumping of high-level water may be necessary, especially if the power is out.
- Truck mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal, too.
Sanitizing Agents, Germicides, & Anti-Microbial Treatments
- Deodorization products control odors from excessive moisture.
- Disinfection products stop the growth of bacteria, fungi (and yes, mold is "a fungus among us," and bleach will not kill or prevent mold). We also prevent mildew, and other harmful microorganisms from growing.
Hi-Tech Drying Equipment
- Drying equipment helps prevent swelling and warping of floors, walls and furniture.
- Industrial grade dehumidifiers minimize secondary water damage.
- High-speed air movers create airflow across walls, carpets, pads and furniture, evaporating moisture quickly and safely.
- Some situations call for special drying techniques that require state of the art equipment and training.
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