Recent Water Damage Posts

Water Leak In Your Home? Call SERVPRO of Kirkland

10/28/2024 (Permalink)

Water heater malfunction Water heater malfunction in Seattle, WA

A malfunctioning heater could expose your home to water-related incidents. Water heaters are generally built to last for decades of high usage and can be costly to replace. However, the sheer volume of water passing through a heater during the winter months can cause year on year corrosion of the steel storage tanks. When these leak inside of an airing or heating closet, they can cause significant amounts of harm to your property. 

A heater with corrosion can start to leak over time, leading to water damage in your home. The likelihood of tanks bursting increases when there is steel corrosion, which can have a sizable impact. Performing regular maintenance checks and replacing the anode rod inside your water heater when necessary is the best way of avoiding water emergencies. However, accidents do happen, in which case you should have a firm backup plan in place to limit the losses to your property's structure.

One potential challenge SERVPRO technicians have in restoring structure around a large appliance is restrictive access. Typically, heating systems are built into closets or small enclosures out of the way of the main rooms in your house. These enclosed areas increase water migration because water builds up in a concentrated area, which can lead to water problems inside the cavities of your home. 

Water restoration technicians with experience can duct seal the enclosure and attach dehumidification hoses into the area to speed up the evaporation process rapidly. Since water extractors are likely to be unable to dry such a small space effectively, SERVPRO relies on closed-system dehumidification to dry. We may also need to assess the adjacent walls as well as the subfloor of your property to see how far excess moisture is traveling.

Water heater failure can cause extensive harm in small spaces. Contact SERVPRO of Kirkland at (425) 820-0080!

FASTER to your Kirkland Water Damage

5/10/2023 (Permalink)

Vehicles responding to Emergency Call Emergency call in the community, a sprinkler had gone off in a retirement home. SERVPRO of Kirkland responded immediately.

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Kirkland provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more.  SERVPRO of Kirkland arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – (425) 820-0080

Water Damage Timeline

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.

Hours 1 - 24:

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

48 Hours to 1 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 1 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 risks to occupants.

About SERVPRO of Kirkland

SERVPRO of Kirkland specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Certifications

  • RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
  • OCT - Odor Control Technician
  • CRT - Color Repair Technician
  • WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
  • UFT - Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician
  • LCT - Leather Cleaning Technician
  • SRT - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician
  • AMRT - Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
  • CCT - Carpet Cleaning Technician
  • ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program
  • ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician

SERVPRO of Kirkland Tackles Water Damage Regardless of the Source of the Water

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

Leak in Kirkland home The dishwasher leak caused damage to the ceiling, walls, floors and homeowners contents. This photo is taken from the downstairs library.

Water damage restoration is not all about extracting water from a structure and ventilating the area so that drying can take place. Professionals in this area understand the drying theory and how to apply its principles to achieve the drying goal. Don't make the mistake of thinking that placing drying equipment and spraying products are all that professionals do during the restoration process! We are going to look at the various aspects that professionals consider when attending to such incidents.
 
The amount of water in your property after a water damage event is also crucial. Our SERVPRO technicians start by determining its source - it can be black water, gray water, or clean water. Clean water does not contain waste products, and it is usually water from a treated source. It can come from faulty appliances, overflowing sinks, leaking roofs and burst pipes. Fewer health risks are associated with this category of water; though, it ceases to be clean once it flows across the soil. In most cases, carpets and pads exposed to clean water are salvageable. 
 
Gray water is also known as category 2 water, and it carries waste products - minus human waste. If your washing machine malfunctions and overflows, the water it dumps on the floor is under this category. It may present health risks if a person drinks, touches, or experiences any form of contact. Our SERVPRO team thoroughly cleans carpets exposed to gray water and replaces saturated pads. 
 
Category 3 water is known as black water - though it does not means the water must be black. It is majorly unsanitary water with much debris which exposes humans to health risks. Burst sewage back-ups and floodwater are examples of its sources. It is advisable to replace porous materials, pads, and carpets that are contaminated with black water. 
 
At SERVPRO of Kirkland, we respond immediately to storm, mold, fire, and water damage disasters. Call us at (425) 820-0080 and let us make your property “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Kirkland is Here for Your Water Damage Needs

7/18/2022 (Permalink)

Local Residential Home's Crawlspace had a pipe leak. Local Residential Home's Crawlspace had a pipe leak.

There are Numerous Water Cleanup Services, but SERVPRO is One of the Best.

SERVPRO of Kirkland got a call from a Local Commercial Business in the witching hours of a Saturday morning. This Local Business needed water extraction immediately and gave the SERVPRO of Kirkland Disaster team a call. Within a couple hours, we rounded our team out of their sleep and arrived on the job site. We were able to extract the water by early morning and assess the damage and where to go from there. Throughout the next few days, we set up our state-of-the-art Injectidry System, Air Movers and Dehumidifiers to get the job done quickly and efficiently. The building's manager was pleased with how fast we responded and how efficient we were in returning the building back to running order. By the end of the work week, we were able to dry per IICRC Standards and get them on their way to reconstruction.

What Makes SERVPRO a Good Choice for Water Cleanup?

There are several reasons why our company is an excellent choice when you need Water Mitigation in the Kirkland Area. Most importantly, we have the training, professionalism, and experience to do the job right. A few things to know about our company:

- SERVPRO of Kirkland is Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification IICRC – certified
- Has years of experience helping Kirkland-area Homeowners and Commercial Businesses clean and restore their homes and places of business
- Employs technicians who are highly-trained, skilled, and certified in tasks, like water damage restoration and applied structural drying per IICRC Standards.

In addition to being expertly trained and skilled in handling all of your water cleanup needs, we also have the necessary tools to do the job correctly. Some of the state-of-the-art tools we use are:

  • Extractors 
  • Injectidry systems
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Air movers
  • High-tech foggers

SERVPRO of Kirkland is open 24/7 for all your Water, and Fire Emergencies. Call 425-820-0080!

Top 5 Water Damage Issues in Homes

7/18/2022 (Permalink)

Water Extraction in a Local Commercial Business due to a faulty sprinkler head. Water Extraction in a Local Commercial Business due to a faulty sprinkler head.

Water damage in homes can be brought about by many underlying issues, but some of these issues are more likely to be the cause than others. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety completed a study to find what causes the most water damage in homes, and here are their findings. (*Tip – Make sure you know where your main water line is and that it is able to turn off)

  1. Plumbing System Failure - There are two types of plumbing system failures. The first is frozen pipes in which you would need to drain before winter comes (when the main water supply is off). The second would be material failures such as piping, fittings, molding and resin defects, etc.
  2. Plumbing Drain System Failure - Most failures occur when the sewer drain backs up and overflows into the home or is a result from material issues such as leaking or corroded pipes.
  3. Toilet Failure - This will happen if you have faulty valves or clogged drain lines. You should inspect your toilet’s inner workings about every 6th months.
  4. Water Heater Failure - These typically happen when your water heater has had some internal damage due to rusting, leaks, etc. *Tip – Know how old your water heater is by checking the serial number. The serial number contains the date that the water heater was manufactured.
  5. Washing Machine Failure - The cause behind washing machine failure usually from the supply-line, machine overflow or drain line failure.

What you should and should NOT do in the event of a water damage

These are DO's and DON'TS Emergency Tips for water damage. These tips will assist you in taking proper action to help reduce damage and increase the chances of a successful restoration before help arrives.

Sanitary Water-Clear

DO:

  • Shut off the source of water if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.
  • Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.
  • Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.

DON'T:

  • Do Not Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may occur.
  • Do Not Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.
  • Do Not Leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items including furniture with stain on wet carpets or floors as this may cause staining.

Contaminated Water-Gray, Black or Sewage

DO:

  • Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

DON'T:

  • Do Not Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
  • Do Not Turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.
  • Do Not Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants.
  • Do Not Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated area.

In the event of a water damage, make sure to call SERVPRO of Kirkland for your emergency Water and Fire damage mitigation. Contact us at (425) 820-0080! We are open 24/7/365!