Top Causes of Water Damage in Homes: Prevention and Solutions

8/20/2024 (Permalink)

Sometimes, home improvement comes with unexpected challenges. When water decides to make a splash, it’s time to take action and restore order.

Water damage is a common and costly problem for homeowners. It can lead to structural damage, mold growth, and a decrease in property value. Understanding the top causes of water damage and how to address them can help you prevent costly repairs and maintain a safe, dry home. Here’s a closer look at the leading culprits behind water damage and what you can do to safeguard your property.

Broken Pipes

One of the most frequent causes of water damage is broken or burst pipes. Pipes can break due to freezing temperatures, corrosion, or high water pressure. Frozen pipes are particularly troublesome in colder climates, as the water inside them expands and causes them to crack. Keeping an eye on your pipes and insulating them in vulnerable areas can help prevent this issue.

Roof Leaks

A leaking roof can lead to significant water damage, especially during heavy rain. Roof leaks often stem from damaged shingles, cracked flashing, or clogged gutters. Performing regular roof inspections and addressing issues promptly can prevent leaks from turning into more serious problems.

Faulty Appliances

Appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters can malfunction and leak, causing water damage to surrounding areas. Routine maintenance and prompt repairs can help minimize the risk of leaks and water damage from these appliances.

Clogged Gutters

Gutters are designed to direct water away from your home’s foundation. When gutters get clogged with leaves and debris, water can overflow and seep into your home’s foundation, causing damage. Keeping your gutters clean and clear is essential for effective drainage and preventing water damage.

Sump Pump Failures

Sump pumps play a crucial role in preventing basement flooding, particularly in areas prone to heavy rainfall. A malfunctioning sump pump can lead to significant water damage in your basement. Regularly checking your sump pump and having backups in place can help ensure it works when you need it most.

Foundation Cracks

Cracks in your home’s foundation can allow water to seep into your basement or crawl space. These cracks might be caused by settling soil, poor construction, or weather conditions. Addressing foundation issues and sealing cracks can help prevent water intrusion and protect your home’s structural integrity.

Understanding these common causes of water damage can help you take proactive measures to prevent them. If you do experience water damage, professional restoration services can address the issue quickly and efficiently, minimizing damage and restoring your home to its original condition.

Don't Let Water Wait

8/22/2023 (Permalink)

When a disaster occurs in your home or business, it typically comes and goes. Fires burn and then they die out, wind blows through your neighborhood and then disappears, but water works a little differently than other types of damage. Water stays, and in many cases it continues to get worse and worse.

If you find an area in your flooring, walls, ceiling, appliances, etc. that is affected by water damage, it must be coming from some source. If that water is not removed and the source fixed, then the damage caused by that water will only grow. Oftentimes, it will turn into a nasty mold problem that nobody wants to have to deal with. The longer you wait to mitigate the problem, the more of a problem it will become!

Water damage can also come in many forms such as rotting wood, rusting metal, or even something as simple as mold or mildew. Sometimes it can be very hard to spot, but if you think you’ve spotted the beginnings of a water issue in your space, give us a call for an inspection so we can help you as soon as possible! When it comes to any type of disaster in your home or business, the sooner it is caught and remediated, the better. We are here for you no matter how big or small the disaster may be!

Water and Mold in Your Home

9/15/2022 (Permalink)

Rain is great for your yard but not to get inside your home.

Many people wake up from a rain storm to a wet basement. It may be from the foundation or could be a pipe leakage, sub pump failure. Many things could have happened and you will want to determine how it happened to get the right person out to repair.

In all the cases though you are going to want to call an expert in helping you to dry out your basement. That expert would be SERVPRO of Carroll County.

We can get right to work in getting the water up, drying the structure etc. SERVPRO has the knowledge as to what can be dried and saved and what is better off being throw away. 

Did you know that organic materials like paper, fabric, wood, leather can start to grow mold in as little as a day? Let SERVPRO help you save as much as possible of your things.

SERVPRO of Carroll County is here to help 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

(410) 857-5332

Understanding Types of Water

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage is always inconvenient, no matter the type of water causing it; however, understand which type of water you're dealing with can be crucial to minimize destruction until our professionals arrive.

Clean water can be from a broken pipe/water source, or even rainwater. 

Clean water becomes gray water after it has been left untreated. Untreated water allows for bacteria and fungi to grow and the water then becomes contaminated. This water can become hazardous. 

Black water is typically caused by sewage damage or natural disaster flooding. Black water should ALWAYS be handled by professionals. 

How do you minimize the damage from these water types?

For clean water:

If you can, shut off the water source.

Turn off any circuit breakers to affected areas. This protects from any potential electrical shock. Do not enter any rooms with standing water because unknown shock risks could be hiding. 

Mop, blot, or wipe down any excess water.

To start drying any damage or soaked upholstery, remove and prop them up to start the drying process.

Move valuables to a safe place

Remove colored items that might bleed or run, causing stains.

Never use a vacuum to remove water. Shock risk is high!

If your ceiling is wet, don't turn on any ceiling fixtures. Don't enter the room is the ceiling is sagging from retained water.

For contaminated water:

Avoid all contact with sewage. Wash yourself thoroughly if you come into contact with contaminated items.

Do not walk through affected areas.

Do not turn on your HVAC system as it could spread contaminated air.

Do not use fans. Air flow could spread contaminants.

If food or personal hygiene products are exposed to contaminated area, discard them.

Water damage can be traumatic, but the cleanup and restoration process doesn't need to be.

The Science of Psychometrics

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

Drying is not a process that should be based on guess work. That's why our SERVPRO of Carroll County professionals are trained in psychrometrics. This knowledge and skill set is essential for ensuring that your property dries properly after water damage, in order to avoid secondary damage and/or mold growth.

When you first spot water in your home, it is completely natural to immediately reach for a towel, mop, or a fan to handle the mess yourself. However, it is important to know, that these DIY methods might not actually solve your problem, and can even lead to more damage. Our crews follow strict industry-approved standards that make our applied structural drying process successful.

Restoration starts with your first phone call to SERVPRO. After you have reached out to us and one of our office admins have taken your info and asked you some more questions to further understand your situation:

• A SERVPRO professional will respond to your location in order to inspect and assess the damage in person. This inspection includes an estimate based on their findings. They carefully inspect your property to detect every component that is wet from the water damage
• Our crews then look to special technology to measure how much moisture is in the wet affected materials, and continuously monitor them to ensure these items and materials are drying properly
• Our professional drying equipment is utilized to speed up the process of Mother Nature, so your property can be dried as soon as possible to get you back to normal and, "Like it never even happened."

If these parts of the process seem confusing, have no fear...SERVPRO is here! Other mitigation companies might not strive to help you understand your situation or our work, but the team member on site is willing and eager to answer any and all questions you might have. We know it can be overwhelming having to deal with any kind of damage in your home, but SERVPRO always does our very best to comfort and inform you in such times.

The bottom line is that SERVPRO of Carroll County has the equipment, sensitivity, and know how to make such stressful situations feel like an absolute breeze!

How to Have a Relaxing Vacation

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

Summertime is a great time for relaxation and travel for most. It's also a good time to get your house checked for leaks etc. so you can take a vacation with a good piece of mind.

Check your home for leaks at the pipes under the sinks and check the water heater for cracks and rust.

Look at the seals around your windows and make sure their in good condition. If you have any shingles dislodged on the roof, now is a good time to have them replaced. 

All the hoses that connect major appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerator ice maker lines need to be checked for kinks, cracks etc. 

Examine your sump pump and check that it is in good condition and clear of debris by filling the sump pit and running the pump. Listen to the motor for strange sounds and watch that the water is going outside. Install a battery-powered backup source in case there is a power outage while you are gone.

Turn off the water at the main if there is no one to check your house. Drain the pipes as a precaution and flush the toilets after . 

If possible have someone check on your house while your away.

We want you to have a relaxing Summer, but nothing is more relaxing then taking the time to prepare your house for your absence!

SERVPRO of Carroll County will be there for you if you need us, no matter what may go wrong! We are there 24/7 and we don't take a vacation.

Check for Water Damage Before Buying a New Home

5/23/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage signs can be left in plain sight at times if you look, so be sure to grab a flashlight when looking at a home to buy!

Water damage can be hiding anyway but check the high risk areas at least.

Check the walls for spots and stains and don't forget to look around doors and windows.

Check the floors for warping and buckling especially in the basement. Look for white or dark stains on wood floors, damp carpeting and a general smell of dampness and mold.

Check the piping in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, and basement for corrosion around the pipe connections, leaks, or water stains. Inspect the caulking around the bathroom fixtures. Missing or loose caulking could be caused by water seepage. Look for missing grout or signs of mold. Check the water heater for wet spots on the floor and rust on the tank.

Check the attic for stains, mold, and other signs of leaks. The insulation should be dry and in good condition. 

Don't forget to check the outside of the house.  Check the roof for damaged flashing and missing, cracked, or curled shingles. If you see standing water anywhere outside the home, it could be the sign of a problem. The house should be situated on the highest point of the property, with the ground sloping away from the house.

The Art of Psychrometrics

1/12/2022 (Permalink)

Drying is not a process that should be based on guess work. That's why our SERVPRO of Carroll County professionals are trained in psychrometrics. This knowledge and skill set is essential for ensuring that your property dries properly after water damage, in order to avoid secondary damage and/or mold growth.

When you first spot water in your home, it is completely natural to immediately reach for a towel, mop, or a fan to handle the mess yourself. However, it is important to know, that these DIY methods might not actually solve your problem, and can even lead to more damage. Our crews follow strict industry-approved standards that make our applied structural drying process successful.

Restoration starts with your first phone call to SERVPRO. After you have reached out to us and one of our office admins have taken your info and asked you some more questions to further understand your situation:

• A SERVPRO of CarrCo professional will respond to your location in order to inspect and assess the damage in person. This inspection includes an estimate based on their findings. They carefully inspect your property to detect every component that is wet from the water damage
• Our crews then look to special technology to measure how much moisture is in the wet affected materials, and continuously monitor them to ensure these items and materials are drying properly
• Our professional drying equipment is utilized to speed up the process of Mother Nature, so your property can be dried as soon as possible to get you back to normal and, "Like it never even happened."

If these parts of the process seem confusing, have no fear...SERVPRO is here! Other mitigation companies might not strive to help you understand your situation or our work, but the team member on site is willing and eager to answer any and all questions you might have. We know it can be overwhelming having to deal with any kind of damage in your home, but SERVPRO always does our very best to comfort and inform you in such times.

The bottom line is that SERVPRO of Carroll County has the equipment, sensitivity, and know how to make such stressful situations feel like an absolute breeze!

Is the Water Clean?

9/17/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage is always inconvenient, no matter the type of water causing it; however, understand which type of water you're dealing with can be crucial to minimize destruction until our professionals arrive.

Clean water can be from a broken pipe/water source, or even rainwater. 

Clean water becomes gray water after it has been left untreated. Untreated water allows for bacteria and fungi to grow and the water then becomes contaminated. This water can become hazardous. 

Black water is typically caused by sewage damage or natural disaster flooding. Black water should ALWAYS be handled by professionals. 

How do you minimize the damage from these water types?

For clean water:

If you can, shut off the water source.

Turn off any circuit breakers to affected areas. This protects from any potential electrical shock. Do not enter any rooms with standing water because unknown shock risks could be hiding. 

Mop, blot, or wipe down any excess water.

To start drying any damage or soaked upholstery, remove and prop them up to start the drying process.

Move valuables to a safe place

Remove colored items that might bleed or run, causing stains.

Never use a vacuum to remove water. Shock risk is high!

If your ceiling is wet, don't turn on any ceiling fixtures. Don't enter the room is the ceiling is sagging from retained water.

For contaminated water:

Avoid all contact with sewage. Wash yourself thoroughly if you come into contact with contaminated items.

Do not walk through affected areas.

Do not turn on your HVAC system as it could spread contaminated air.

Do not use fans. Air flow could spread contaminants.

If food or personal hygiene products are exposed to contaminated area, discard them.

Water damage can be traumatic, but the cleanup and restoration process doesn't need to be.

Our 24 Hour Water Remediation Services

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Carroll County is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Carroll County has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Carroll County

SERVPRO of Carroll County 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.

Coming Home to Water Damage

6/29/2021 (Permalink)

There is nothing worse than coming home to find water damage on your property. Whether your water damage is from a storm or an overflowing toilet, the damage is real and must be dealt with correctly and swiftly since water can spread quickly.

If you find standing water all over the floor, the natural instinct is to pull out the bath or beach towels to dry up as much water as possible. While this is better than doing nothing if it is not contaminated water. You may need to call the experts at SERVPRO of Carroll County to get professional help. Shop vacuums are resourceful to help remove standing water, but they will fill up quickly and they are not efficient at removing moisture from carpeting and padding. Regardless of the efforts made, the water travels quickly, and may have already found its way into ventilation systems or ducts. Sometimes the signs of water damage may take a few days to show up on the surface, such as warped floorboards, peeling paint, bulging walls, or lifting tiles.

SERVPRO of Carroll County has equipment that can help located the water that you can't see before you see the damage.

Call SERVPRO of Carroll County right away to help with any amount of water loss, large or small.

(410) 857-5332

Being Prepared for Water Damage

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

Heavy rainfall can cause some pretty annoying issues for your property. A flooded basement is commonplace when it comes to problems in your Carroll County home. There are a number of reasons why your basement could be susceptible to flooding, including:

• A blocked or failed sewer lateral pipe
• Heavy rain causes surface water to pool around your home
• Storm sewer backup
• Sanitary sewer backup
• Foundation drainage failure
• Water supply-line break or hot-water tank failure
• And many more!

We know we say it often, but it really is so true that if flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your health and safety. Standing water not handled right away can potentially cause even more severe damage to your home’s structure. The longer you wait, the worse the problem will get.

The bottom line: a flooded basement can jeopardize your health, safety, and your home’s integrity. It’s worth making a call to SERVPRO of Carroll County and let our trained, professional crews handle the situation safely and correctly. We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals.

Why should we be your go-to for flooding situations in your CarrCo home or business?

• We are available 24/7 days a week
• We’re a Preferred Vendor to many national insurance companies
• We bill the insurance directly – one less thing for you to worry about
• Our technicians are highly trained in Water Restoration Techniques
• We use s500 IICRC Restoration Standards,
  advanced inspection and extraction equipment

Basement flooded or questions about flooding?

Feel free to call us ASAP (410) 857-5332

Showers and Flowers

5/27/2021 (Permalink)

April showers bring May flowers, right? Well when you live in Maryland, July showers can bring August flowers, or February showers can bring March flowers, or just about any combination of months can bring showers and flowers! We live in a wacky state with a lot of wacky whether, and with unpredictability comes possible damage to your homes or businesses! Water damage is not fun to deal with and can really put a “damper” on things (yes, the pun was intended).

We’ve had a couple flash floods recently in our county and that means we need to be ready for any degree of water damage. Make sure your gutters are in order, fix up any cracks in your concrete, and do your best to waterproof your home using caulk or other certified waterproof material! Remember that SERVPRO of Carroll County is here for you. From wood corrosion to appliance damage to a waterlogged carpet, we’re ready for any issue you may face during this rainy weather!

Commercial Water Damage

1/15/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding and water damage events that affect Carroll County commercial properties are often complex with many issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large-scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In most instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility. Our Technicians are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. When an emergency situation arises in your business, please call SERVPRO of Carroll County 410-857-5332

Drying Hard Wood Floors

9/21/2020 (Permalink)

Water losses often migrate to the flooring of your home, making it necessary for our restorers to dry up many types of materials. Cleaning up water from the floors of your Carroll County home can be more complicated and complex than it initially appears. While many homeowners understand what is necessary to remove surface water and pooling after a loss incident, often underlying concerns like absorption and migrating water beyond the surface goes unchecked and unmanaged.

Water damage in Carroll County homes can vary significantly based on the source of the emergency. Plumbing breaks and appliance failures can often leave your home contending with higher volumes of water, sometimes even hundreds or thousands of gallons. Within minutes, some sensitive materials used in flooring and wall systems can begin absorbing the standing water. Removing surface and trapped water from these materials involves several advanced tools and technologies available to our responding SERVPRO technicians. 

Water Heater Maintenance

9/2/2020 (Permalink)

Water heaters work very hard for you, providing hot showers, clean clothes, and sparkling pots and pans. So show your water heater some love by following a routine maintenance schedule that will keep it running for its 15-year expected lifetime, and perhaps beyond.

Always maintain 2 feet of clearance around the appliance unless the manual specifically states otherwise. Adjust the thermostat to 120 degrees. You’ll save up to 5% in energy costs for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature, plus you’ll reduce the risk of scalding.

Drain about a quarter of the tank a couple of  times per year to remove sediment and debris. Turn off the cold water supply, hook up a garden hose to the drain valve, then run into a bucket until the water is clear. If the water remains cloudy, briefly open the water supply valve to stir up remaining sediment, and drain the tank again. This also makes the unit operate more quietly.

Identifying Water Damage

2/17/2020 (Permalink)

Mold can grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Stop mold growth, by identifying water damage fast. Here are some simple tips to help you identify water damage:

Identifying water in walls and ceilings may be obvious sometimes. However, it can be very easy to overlook the most common symptoms. The early warning signs of water damage are peeling or bubbling paint or wallpaper. As more water comes into the property, walls and floors become bloated or swollen and may even warp. In severe cases, walls and ceilings may feel soggy to the touch.

Floors and carpets often hide water when the water is located in a corner. Many property owners often overlook the corner when looking for water damage. Floors can obviously be seen as wet, but carpet can hide water more easily. If the carpet feels spongy or soggy, you need to identify the source of that water.

Identifying water quickly is the best way to reduce damage. SERVPRO of Carroll County typically gets a call for mold damage after water was undetected by a slow leak. Protect your property. Identify Water Damage Fast!

Water Damage Class and Category

2/17/2020 (Permalink)

There are 3 Basic Categories of Water

Category 1 originates from a sanitary source and poses no substantial risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure. However, it may not always remain clean after it comes into contact with other surfaces or materials.

Category 2 contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed by humans. It may contain potentially unsafe levels of microorganisms or nutrients for microorganisms, as well as other organic or inorganic matter (chemical or biological).

Category 3 is grossly contaminated and may contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Such water sources may carry silt, organic matter, pesticides, heavy metals, regulated materials, or toxic organic substances.

The 4 Primary Classifications of Water Damage

Class 1 is the least amount of water, absorption and evaporation.  It affects only part of a room or area, or larger areas containing materials that have absorbed minimal moisture.  Little or no wet carpet and/or cushion is present.

Class 2 involves a large amount of water, absorption and evaporation.  It affects at least an entire room of carpet and cushion (pad).  Water has wicked up walls less than 24 inches.  There is moisture remaining in structural materials and substructure soil.

Class 3 involves the greatest amount of water, absorption and evaporation.  Water may have come from overhead.  Ceilings, walls, insulation, carpet, cushion and subfloor in virtually all of the entire area are saturated.

Class 4 relates to specialty drying situations.  Wet materials with very low permeance/porosity (eg. hardwood, plaster, brick, concrete, light-weight concrete and stone).  Typically, there are deep pockets of saturation, which require very low specific humidity.  These types of losses may require longer drying times and special methods.

Carpet Delamination

2/17/2020 (Permalink)

delaminated carpet

Carpets consist of four distinct layers. The face yarn is the topmost, and it’s stitched to the next layer, known as primary carpet backing. Made with a pre-developed piece of fabric, it provides support and enhances the integrity of the carpet. Manufacturers then apply a bonding layer that affixes the primary backing to the final section, known as secondary backing. This piece improves the installation process by improving the carpet’s stability.

 The backing layers may separate when the bonding layer fails. Sometimes it’s due to poor installation, but in other cases it can happen when the carpet is damaged by water. A flood, for example, can leave the carpet soaked for days. That’s just enough time to weaken the bonding agent and cause the backing layers to separate. Even overexposure to moisture during carpet cleaning or due to harsh products can cause the problem. Heavy traffic may also eventually lead to adhesive separation between the carpet padding layers.