Mold Growth a Result of Water Damage

2/25/2022 (Permalink)

When an in-door flood goes untreated, mold growth is a predictable result.

When a furnace malfunctions and the radiators overfill with water the end result is an indoor flood. Unfortunately, in this case, the homeowner was away and the causing the damage to be severe. Since it took days for the damage to be addressed and the homes heat continued to operate mold growth was inevitable.

Three (3) common components for mold to grow are moisture, warmth and lack of air-flow. In this instance all three were present thus the result.

SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties was contracted by the homeowners insurance company to restore the property back to pre-damage condition. Remediating the mold growth was certainly part of this process. 

As a full-service restoration company, proudly servicing all of Wayne County, SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties is capable of taking a job this size from beginning to end. We are "always here to help".

Busted Water Line

1/20/2022 (Permalink)

The after effects of a burst water line which ran for several hours causing the entire floor to flood.

Pictured is the after effect of a broken water line which unfortunately ran for several hours before the it could be shut off. The water was so extensive that the entire building flooded.

As you can see the carpet is literally becoming unglued from the water. Even after extraction, the carpet was too badly damaged to save and will need to be replaced. It sort of looks like waves from the ocean.

SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties was able to triage the building overnight and continued the following day. The carpet was removed, drying equipment placed and walls dried. The occupants were displaced for a few days but returned to a safe dry work area. Long hours and hard work led to another satisficed customer. 

Weekend Commercial Water Damage

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

Water seeks its lowest level so in this case a second floor pipe break leads to a flooded underground parking garage.

It was an extremely busy weekend for our water damage clean up technicians. The extreme cold played havoc on water pipes throughout Wayne and Lackawanna Counties. 

The crews were dispatched to a Scranton office building were a second floor pipe in a mechanical room broke in the overnight when the building was unoccupied. The water flowed for several hours before being discovered causing damage on three floors. An underground parking garage was like a lake.

The SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties water certified restoration technicians led by a IICRC crew chief inspected the areas for safety and began the drying out process by extracting the standing water and wet carpets before setting up equipment to facilitate the drying. They worked a long day in cold temperatures to ensure the building could open the following day. Limiting business interruption is a key goal of ours. Mission accomplished.

Furnace Malfunction

1/9/2022 (Permalink)

This is the downstairs celling from a second floor water loss. As you can see the damage was extensive.

Winter time is always a busy time for cleanup and restoration companies. Frozen and burst pipes, along with taxed heating systems produce the potential to cause major smoke, fire and water disasters.

SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties was recently called to a home in Honesdale due to a furnace malfunction. The furnaces water shut off valve stopped working causing water to continually run overfilling it and eventually flooding the two story home. Water was escaping from every radiator in the home. 

SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties were called to help the homeowner restore the property. Although extensive demolition was required, we were able to restore the property back to preloss condition. 

From dry-out to re-build, SERVPRO was there to help.

Creative Drying Techniques

9/21/2021 (Permalink)

One example of the many techniques we use in the drying process.

A recent upstairs bathroom water leak compromised this beautiful hardwood floor at a home in Scranton, PA. SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties created a floor drying system in order to save the hardwood. By tenting the floor we are able to extract the moisture from the wood by using air movers and dehumidifiers. Repairing/saving instead of replacing damaged flooring not only saves money but also the integrity of the home.
If your home or business experiences water damage which requires professional mitigation, call the Scranton area's leader in smoke, fire and water cleanup. Creative drying is just one reason to call SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties to call us at (570) 235-1646. We help make it "Like it never even happened."

Broken Supply Line

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

Broken supply line

Pictured is a broken toilet supply line. Unfortunately this part is a common cause of many residential water disasters. The disaster becomes worse when the homeowners are not home and the water continues to flow unabated from top down. SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties was called by the homeowners insurance company to a home which had three floors damaged by this exact scenario. This seemingly harmless part which most do not even think about caused thousands of dollars in damage. SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties water restoration professionals were able to begin the mitigation process and help reduce any secondary damage. Call us for all your water disasters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are proud to serve Wayne and Lackawanna County.

Ground Water

6/2/2021 (Permalink)

Call us at 570-235-1646

Did you know that when water enters your home from an outside source, more times than not its classified as an uncovered loss. This means that the homeowner has to pay out of pocket for the costs of the water damage and sometimes that can be quite extensive.
If flooding is commonplace it is highly recommended that flood insurance be bought. It is usually not part of your typical homeowners policy and not everyone qualifies for it or can afford it. The worst jobs SERVPRO restoration technicians mitigate are these uncovered losses, knowing the individual has to pay for the repairs themselves.
Most policies do allow for a rider that will cover sewer and drain backup if the home has a sump pump. A sump pump failure is typically a covered loss and the premium is not prohibitive considering the downside. Sewer and drain backup is highly recommended.
SERVPRO has had several calls regarding flooded basements. We do our best to attend to each call in a timely fashion with the goal of making the home safe.
if you find your basement flooded, call the water restoration professionals at SERVPRO.

The Importance of a Drying Chamber

12/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO created a drying chamber at this water loss to assist with drying.

Having containment on a water damage job can assist in drying the structure quickly and thoroughly. This saves the customer in both downtime and costs.
Containment allows the restoration company to better control the drying environment. It will eliminate the unaffected parts of the structure from your drying chamber. This will help reduce the amount of drying equipment needed on a particular job and will also help speed up the drying process. Many types of materials are more difficult to dry, so a drying chamber helps in that type of situation.
SERVPRO created this drying chamber during a water damage claim. We strive to reduce business interruption while safely drying the structure.
If your home or business experiences water damage and needs professional mitigation, call the area's premier smoke, fire and water cleanup and restoration company at (570) 235-1646.

Proper Mitigation Procedures

12/17/2020 (Permalink)

Water marks on the subfloor of this home in Scranton.

SERVPRO's highly trained technicians are ready to respond immediately to flood or water damage at your residential or commercial property. We have the experience, expertise, and training to restore your home or business quickly and properly. We use advanced inspection and extraction equipment to find the water and remove it as quickly as possible. Our technicians will monitor and document the drying process to ensure your property is back to normal. Water can travel to areas unseen and cause further problems when not properly mitigated. The photo shows water marks on the subfloor of this home. There was a type of flooring, a carpet and pad on top of this. If we didn't use the proper equipment to identify moisture this may not have dried properly and caused further damage. If you suffer from a flooded home from a pipe or some other source, be sure to let the professionals properly handle the job. Call us at 570-235-1646.

Sewer Backups

11/30/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO was called in to handle this sewage emergency.

Exposure to biological and chemical contaminants can pose serious health consequences. A failure to properly remove such substances can contribute to unhealthy and dangerous environments.

SERVPRO certified technicians are trained to safely remove bio hazardous substances and dispose of them properly in accordance with OSHA and health regulations.

Sewage backups and dark water intrusions are more than nasty, smelly deposits – these damages also introduce harmful microorganisms into a structure. SERVPRO removes the sewage, contaminants, and moisture, to help ensure the structure is properly cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized

Equipped with the necessary safety apparatus and cleaning products, SERVPRO helps turn unsafe environments into clean, safe homes and offices.

Don't take the risk of doing it yourself. Call us for all your cleanup needs: (570) 235-1646

We are proud to serve our local Lackawanna county and Wayne county communities. From Old Forge to Forest City to Honesdale, we are "Here to help".

Creative Drying Techniques

8/24/2020 (Permalink)

Tenting a hardwood floor in order to extract the moisture and save the integrity of the room. Creative drying is our specialty.

A recent upstairs bathroom water leak compromised this beautiful hardwood floor at a home in Scranton, PA. SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties created a floor drying system in order to save the hardwood. By tenting the floor we are able to extract the moisture from the wood by using air movers and dehumidifiers. Repairing/saving instead of replacing damaged flooring not only saves money but also the integrity of the home.
If your home or business experiences water damage which requires professional mitigation, call the Scranton area's leader in smoke, fire and water cleanup. Creative drying is just one reason to call SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties to call us at (570) 235-1646. We help make it "Like it never even happened."

Flooding- A Non-covered Loss

7/30/2020 (Permalink)

Heavy rains caused this basement to flood. Floating objects in a basement is never a good thing.

Did you know that when water enters your home from an outside source, more times than not its classified as an uncovered loss. This means that the homeowner has to pay out of pocket for the costs of the water damage and sometimes that can be quite extensive.
If flooding is commonplace it is highly recommended that flood insurance be bought. It is usually not part of your typical homeowners policy and not everyone qualifies for it or can afford it. The worst jobs SERVPRO restoration technicians mitigate are these uncovered losses, knowing the individual has to pay for the repairs themselves.
Most policies do allow for a rider that will cover sewer and drain backup if the home has a sump pump. A sump pump failure is typically a covered loss and the premium is not prohibitive considering the downside. Sewer and drain backup is highly recommended.
Today, with all this rain and a saturated landscape, SERVPRO has had several calls regarding flooded basements. We do our best to attend to each call in a timely fashion with the goal of making the home safe.
if you find your basement flooded, call the water restoration professionals at SERVPRO.

Categories of Water

3/18/2020 (Permalink)

This is a Cat 3 water loss because it was a sewer backup in a basement.

A categorization of the level of contamination of water in a damaged structure is required to perform loss assessments and evaluation activities. The category of water contamination must be considered so that the correct procedure can be established for processing water damaged structure and materials. Water damage is divided into three (3) categories.

Category 1: Water that originates from a sanitary source that does NOT pose a substantial harm to humans. Examples include: broken water supply lines, tub or sink overflow, melting snow and ice, falling rainwater, broken toilet tanks and bowls that do NOT contain contaminants.

Category 2: Water contains a significant level of contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if consumed by or exposed to humans. Examples include: discharge from dishwashers or washing machines, overflows from toilet bowls with some urine but no feces, broken aquariums and punctured water beds. Also, any water that has traveled through building materials.

Category 3: Water that is grossly contaminated and can contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Elderly, anyone under the age of two, anyone with a compromised immune system, respiratory problems or allergies should not occupy the job site until the home or building is safe. Examples include sewage, toilet back-flows that originate from beyond the trap, all forms of flooding and other contaminated water entering or affecting the indoor environment.

SERVPRO is an IICRC certified firm and able to professionally assess any water disaster for health and safety reasons as well as the proper drying techniques. We are the premier water mitigation and restoration company.

Sump Pump Failure

2/20/2020 (Permalink)

When a severe storm hits, homeowners may experience excess water in their basements or the lower levels of their home. A sump pump is an important tool that can help protect your property by controlling water and keeping your home dry.

Sump pumps are typically found in the lowest part of a house, such as a basement, and are usually installed by a professional in a specially constructed sump pit. The sump pumps primary job is to pump water outside and away from the home. There are generally two types of sump pumps: pedestal and submersible.

How to Keep Your Sump Pump in Good Condition

Once installed, consider the following maintenance tips to help ensure your sump pump is ready when you need it. Check the pump at least once a year to make sure it is still in good working condition.

• Is the sump pump plugged in?
• Is the power cord in good shape?
• Is the drain hose connected properly?
• Is there any debris in the area that could clog the pump and prevent it from working properly?
• Pour water into the sump pit to test if the sump pump starts up automatically and quickly drains the water.

Since sump pumps run on electricity, consider installing a battery backup to help ensure yours will not fail, even in the event of a power outage. If you have installed a battery backup, during your test of the sump pump installation, unplug the pump to ensure that it will function properly on battery power.

Contact a professional if your sump pump is not working properly.

Finally, consider obtaining optional coverage for water backup or sump discharge or overflow. Many homeowners' policies do not cover water in the basement.

Broken Supply Line

2/20/2020 (Permalink)

Broken toilet supply line caused a three floor flood at this home.

Pictured is a broken toilet supply line. Unfortunately this part is a common cause of many residential water disasters. The disaster becomes worse when the homeowners are not home and the water continues to flow unabated from top down. SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties was called by the homeowners insurance company to a home  which had three floors damaged by this exact scenario. This seemingly harmless part which most do not even think about caused thousands of dollars in damage. SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties water restoration professionals were able to begin the mitigation process and help reduce any secondary damage. Call us for all your water disasters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are proud to serve Wayne and Lackawanna County.

Winter Preventive Maintenance

11/5/2019 (Permalink)

A small crack like this one pictured can cause a large scale disaster. be pro-active and protect your property with these simple tips.

As the Northeastern Pennsylvania seasons change and the temperatures begin to dip below freezing, its time as a homeowner to do some winter preventive maintenance. The first thing recommended is to drain and shut off the water supply to your outside spigot. By draining/winterizing it, you prevent the line from freezing and a possible busted pipe and a water disaster.

Secondly, insulate any exposed water lines with pipe wrap. This extra added layer of protection is certainly worth the minimal cost and effort it takes to ensure against any possible frozen water lines. 

Thirdly, if there are any small opening/cracks within the structure which will let outside air flow in, cover them with either some type of insulation or caulking. It only takes a small draft to create enough cold to affect a pipe.

SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties would rather have your property protected than respond to a water disaster/flood at your home or business.  

Mold- A By-Product of Water Damage

10/30/2019 (Permalink)

Mold is a by-product of water damage. This home had a previous water damage and failed to properly mitigate it.

One of the main reasons that you should employ a restoration company like SERVPRO of Wayne and Lackawanna Counties to cleanup after your home or business experiences water damage (broken pipe, supply line failure,  furnace malfunction/ hot water heater bursts) is to avoid mold growth. If the water is not properly dried and treated, mold is a natural by-product.

SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties is an IICRC certified company trained to safely restore homes and business back to pre-damaged condition (IE mold free) following any indoor flood. Having certified water restoration technicians and the specialized equipment enables us to return your family or employees to a safe living and working environment. 

We are an emergency services company available 24/7/365 to service the needs of Scranton and the greater Wayne County areas.

Accidents Happen! SERVPRO is There to Help

10/21/2019 (Permalink)

Extracting water from a water soaked carpet after a furnace malfunctioned at this Honesdale home. Extraction is the initial phase.

No matter how much or how well we prepare, accidents will happen. Furnaces will malfunction, hot water heaters will let go and pipes will break. That is why we all purchase insurance. However after years of being in the disaster recovery business, if we have learned anything it's that they never occur at an inopportune time.

SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties responded to a Honesdale home Friday night after the homeowners furnace malfunctioned causing an indoor flood. Water was coming from the radiators causing damage on each floor. To make matter worse, they recently purchased the home.

As an emergency services company, SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties was called by the homeowners insurance company. Our agreements with many of the major carriers requires us to maintain certain standards, one being on-site within 4 hours. This quick response limits any secondary damage saving time and money.

So if your home experiences and accidental disasters, call the company your insurance company calls.

24/7 Emergency Water Damage Service

10/10/2019 (Permalink)

A sprinkler head erupted in this Scranton hotel causing this damage. We responded in the middle of the night to begin the restoration process.

Disasters know no time frame. Unfortunately, many occur in the overnight hours, especially in the commercial market like hotels and nursing homes. While I have actual statistics to back me up, I just know that I have been in these types of places with water dripping from a ceiling more at night than during regular business hours. 

Even if it is my perception, it's still comforting to know that SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties responds 24/7/365 to meet the water damage needs of our commercial clients. We understand that working with commercial properties like hotels and nursing homes demand attention simply due to the population they serve. Whether it be a vulnerable one like nursing homes and senior living centers, or transient ones like hotels; safety is an upmost concern.

A SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties certified water technicians first task on any job is to assess for safety. Standing water, buckled or hanging ceilings, the type of water (Category 1,2 or 3)?All these decision are made first before a plan of action is implemented.

Having a trained and certified water restoration company like SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties ensures that the job of restoring your commercial property will be done by IICRC standards. SERVPRO of Wayne and South Lackawanna Counties is "always here to help".