Tag: flooding

How to Prepare for Flood or Water Damage

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how to prepare for flood or water damage

National Preparedness Month, which is recognized every September, serves as a reminder for families and communities to be prepared for disasters and emergencies. One of the best ways you can be prepared during this month is by gearing up against flood and water damage. September also happens to be a month when hurricanes and heavy rainfall are common and if handled improperly, can lead to severe problems for homeowners. If you want to take measures against water or flood damage but you don’t know where to start, don’t worry. The experts are RestoPros are here to provide some tips on how to prepare for flood or water damage.

1. Emergency Plan and Kit

If you are faced with a situation where your house begins to flood, you will most likely be in panic mode. However, that can be prevented if you have taken some measures to prepare yourself and your family with the right tools and planning. Here are some things in mind while coming up with an emergency plan and creating an emergency kit:

  • Your emergency kit should most definitely include flashlights, necessary medications, copies of personal documents and cellphones with chargers. The Red Cross goes into further detail about the items you should have in your kit. Take a minute to look over their guide and even take the quiz at the end to ensure you’re fully prepared!
  • Pay attention to all flood alerts. Remember: A flood or flash flood WATCH means that a flood is a possibility. A flood WARNING means flooding is already occurring or is about to occur. If you get a warning, take precautions immediately.
  • Come up with a household evacuation plan based on this helpful template.
  • Take measures to protect your home. Flood damage can cause severe destruction to your home’s foundation, appliances and furniture. Consult a professional about raising your furnace, water heater and electrical panel to floors that are less likely to be affected by flooding. Move furniture and other valuables to safe places. 

2. Install A Sump Pump

A sump pump is an important appliance to have, especially if you live in an area where there is risk of flooding. It is located in a pit in a crawlspace or basement and is designed to pump water away from your home, should flooding occur. Speak to a professional about installing a sump pump in your home, in order to ensure protection from flooding.

3. Install Backflow Valves

Another way to protect your home from flooding is by installing backflow valves. When flooding occurs, sewage can often back up into a house and even flow into the main water supply line. This can be hazardous for your health as sewage can contain a multitude of waste, toxins and pollutants. Backflow valves block drainpipes to ensure that water flows AWAY from your home and never in the opposite direction.

4. Check Water Pressure

Sometimes, it doesn’t take a big flash flood to cause water damage to your home. Often, it can be caused by unregulated water pressure inside your home. If the water pressure in your home is too high, pipes, lines and hoses might burst which can cause water damage. Water damage itself brings a myriad of problems with it such as high restoration bills and mold growth. Take a minute to use a pressure gauge or regulator to ensure the water pressure in your home is maintained. Ideally, you want the pressure to be between 40 to 60 pounds per square inch (psi).

5. Tackle Any Leaks

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, leaks in different places in your home such as showers, faucets and toilets can waste a lot of water over time – in addition to adding to homeowners’ water bills. Serious leaks can also cause water damage around your home. Monitor your water bill to ensure there aren’t any sudden increases. Check for leaks around faucet gaskets and pipe fittings to confirm if there are any leaks or not. You should also consider installing leak detection devices near places in your home that could be susceptible to water damage.

Stay Prepared with RestoPros! 

We hope this guide on how to prepare for flood or water damage was helpful. If you have any questions about water damage prevention or restoration, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at RestoPros! Call us today at 855-587-3786 or schedule a service online!

How to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

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How to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

Water damage is a serious threat to you and your home, and it doesn’t take much water to do serious damage. The fact is, an undetected small leak can cause more damage than a major leak that’s detected right away. Many plumbing leaks happen in areas where they might go unseen or unnoticed for weeks. Leaks located behind walls, under floors, underground, or those that happen while you’re away can be costly to the homeowner.

What’s more, you also have to think about rain and flood damage, because while homeowners insurance will cover most sudden accidents, it does not cover flood damage or leaks caused by unresolved maintenance issues. Fortunately for you, the professionals at RestoPros – the leading mold and water remediation company for the greater DFW Metroplex – are going to show you a few things so you know how to avoid water damage in your home.

  1. Invest in a Leak Detector.

Leak detectors are a great way to ensure that you know about a possible leak before it has time to do any damage. While these gadgets used to cost a lot, they’ve come down in price over the years. Some of the most popular brands are available for less than $50 and should have enough sensors to cover your water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator, and washing machine. The sensors work by detecting moisture. If they detect moisture where there shouldn’t be any, they send a notification to your phone, alerting you to the trouble.

  1. Check Your Gutters for Obstructions.

One of the more common ways water enters you home is through the roof. Sometimes that’s because you have damage to your roof or are missing shingles, perhaps due to a storm or high winds. The other way is much sneakier in its attack. Rather than pounding its way inside the home, it reverses directions and sneaks in through perfectly good shingles. Shingles are designed to be a watershed for water flowing down your roof, but they don’t work so well if that water reverses direction. When gutters and down spouts are obstructed and clogged with debris like leaves and vermin, they begin to act like a dam of sorts. As water backs up behind this dam, it enters home by travelling in the opposite direction the shingles were designed for. This can cause major damage to walls, ceilings, and electronics.

  1. Annual Maintenance Checks.

All pipes, lines, and machines that produce or carry water need to be inspected once a year for signs of wear or damage. Think of it as your home’s annual physical. Like putting off getting a check-up from your doctor, putting off your home’s inspection can lead to more problems and damage later. Nothing lasts forever, so do yourself and your home a huge favor this year and schedule an annual check-up with a qualified professional. These inspections can detect problems to come before those problems come for you.

 

While we hope these tips will help you avoid water damage in your home, they’re no substitute for an experienced professional. The water damage experts at RestoPros have a long-standing reputation for expertise, professionalism, and hard work. If you’re looking for a skilled and highly trained technician for mold testing, mold remediation, water damage restoration, or HVAC duct cleaning anywhere in the Dallas Metroplex, call us at (855) 58-RESTO (855-587-3786) to schedule an appointment today!

Protecting Against Flooding Dangers

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The rainy season in Texas can be difficult to predict.  With sudden flare-ups of flash flooding and jumps between clear skies and hailstorms, dealing with a storm is less about responding to the weather forecast and more about general preparation for storms.  Still, in the event of a flood, as most residents are going to face one at some point or other, knowing how to respond to protect yourself, your home, and your belongings is essential.

Dealing with a Flood

We’ll start with the most urgent, what to do when your home is already being flooded.  Regardless of whether your home is being flooded by a burst pipe or excessive rain, the response is roughly the same.  The main difference is, if the flooding is due to a pipe, turn off the main shutoff valve first.  Then:

  • Turn off the circuit breaker to the flooded areas
  • Do not enter the water without protective clothing if a black- or grey-water line has broken
  • Use a shop-vac to begin pumping water out of the room
  • Remove water-logged items for drying immediately
  • Dry carpets, walls, and furniture immediately, seek professional drying services if needed
  • Have your home inspected for mold after the flood has been cleaned up and all areas are dry
  • Repair any damages to pipes, walls, roofing, or foundation

Once a room has been flooded, it’s a race against time to save as much as possible.  Especially during the rainy season it’s always a good idea to store valuables and items that cannot be replaced on high shelves where they’re less likely to be affected by flooding.  This kind of preventative step is essential to dealing with any kind of storm damage or flooding.  What follows are some other prevention measures you can take to deal with flooding before it starts.

Know Where Your Shutoffs Are

Make sure you know how to access all the water shutoff valves in your home.  The most important of these is, of course, the main water shutoff valve.  For any major leak or burst pipe, the first thing you should do is shut off water to the problem area, so know where your shutoff valve is located.

You should also remember to turn this valve off when you go on vacation.  First, this helps reduce water consumption if there are any drips or leaks.  Second, it will prevent an uncontrolled flood of water if something does go wrong while you’re out.

Appliance Maintenance

So many appliances in our homes use water.  The ice machine in your fridge, your instant coffee maker, the washing machine, and the dishwasher are all appliances with direct connections to a water source.  Ignoring basic maintenance for these devices and their connections is a recipe for disaster.  Water storage units like your water heater should be drained and the sediment removed regularly, while water hose connections (such as the one on your washing machine) should be inspected for signs of aging, wear, or seal damage.

Storm Doors and Windows

Damaged frames, loose weather-stripping, and sticky doors are all signs that it’s time to fix your home.  Sticky doors are usually caused by wood that swells due to higher humidity (or a cracked foundation).  When it comes to water ingress, making sure that your windows and doors are sealed against the weather is essentially.  Check the edges of each, making sure that both the frame and the door or window are making a firm seal.  Examine any weather-stripping to make sure it’s not worn away or damaged, and replace as needed.

Protect your Foundation

Always protect your foundation.  The concrete slab beneath your home needs some water in the surrounding soil to keep it from cracking, but too much water will lead to seepage.  Concrete is mildly porous and when water pools next to your foundation it will, eventually, find a way in.  Make sure that gutters are draining away from your foundation, that the ground is always sloped away from the edge of your home, and that bushes and flowerbeds are far enough from the edge to prevent water from pooling.

You should also take care of cracks in your foundation immediately.  Water will cause more damage if it’s able to enter your foundation and will eventually seep into your home as well.  Repair cracks and have your foundation resealed or lined to prevent future damage.

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Flood Insurance Myths

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Flood Insurance MythsWhen you call RestoPros for help with smoke damage, water damage, or a mold infestation, one of the things we do is work with your insurance company.  But to do that effectively you need to have insurance in the first place.  Not all homeowner or renter insurances policies cover every aspect of the home or source of damage.  One of the more misunderstood insurance plans is that of the flood insurance plan.  These plans are neither mandatory (unless you live in a flood prone area) nor are they part of most home insurance plans.

Flood Insurance is Available Everywhere

While flood plains and high-risk areas often require flood insurance for a mortgage or financed home, that doesn’t mean you have to be in an at-risk home to get flood insurance.  Flooding can be a problem during heavy rains or, for certain situations, burst water mains that can flood your home or apartment.  Since flood insurance is separate from standard insurance, it’s worth taking a look and getting a risk assessment.

Flood Insurance Does Not Cover Everything

Take a careful look at what your policy does and does not cover and in what amounts.  Some policies are focused more towards covering physical structures, reducing costs for repairing your building, while others are focused more on loss of possessions.  Read through documents carefully and balance your insurance based on what’s important to you.

At the same time, not all flood insurance covers every instance of water damage.  Flood insurance and water damage are related but aren’t the same thing.  A damaged roof that leaks in water and causes ‘flooding’ is not the same as damage caused by a flash flood.  Some elements are covered by your homeowners insurance and others will be covered through the flood insurance policy you select.  Review both and identify any places where they overlap or spots where the policies fail to cover such as water back-up insurance.  If there’s a hole in your insurance you may find yourself having to cover damages out of pocket.

Once a Flood Plain, Always a Flood Plain

Landscapes change over time.  In the city, as new developments are made and city blocks are restructured, flood plains and flood risks change.  Some sites, such as floodsmart.gov are designed to keep you up-to-date on which areas are at risk and which are now safe from potential flooding.  If you’re concerned that heavy rains in the future may lead to flooding, or are considering purchasing a new home, check to see what the chance of flooding is.  If the risk is high, invest in quality insurance and store valuables in high areas of the home.

Flood insurance is a worthwhile tool and will help to offset the costs of restoring your home from water damage, structural damage and mold growth in the event of a flood.  Insurance is the best way to handle damage to your home in the event of a disaster and is always purchased separately from  regular renter’s or homeowner’s insurance.

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Prevent Flood Damage with a Sump Pump

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Prevent Flood Damage with a Sump PumpHeavy rains, melting ice, or just a pipe that’s burst after a cold snap can all lead to the same thing:  A flooded basement.  When the lowest point of your home floods, many things suffer.  Carpets and walls are damaged and may need to be replaced.  Timbers can warp after a flood and mold begins to grow and spread.  Water that leaks into the surrounding ground will find its way into your foundation where it eventually leads to a cracked foundation as the ground becomes uneven or the water freezes.  A sump pump is an important tool for keeping your basement from flooding and preventing future problems.

What is a Sump Pump?

New Sump Pump
Brand new sump pump for suctioning collected ground water from a sump pit such as in a basement of a house

A motorized water pump located at the lowest point of your home (typically a basement, cellar, or crawl space).  By placing this pump in the lowest point, water will collect there first.  This submersible pump is activated by heightened water levels caused by flooding.  As soon as the pump is submerged (or the pump’s sensor detects pooling water) it activates and begins pushing water out of your home.

If you’re looking to install a sump pump in your home, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Submersible pumps are easily hidden, since the pump itself rests inside the well. That will make it a little more difficult to maintain in the future, but it does give you a little extra space in your basement.
  • The return flow should be direct away from your home. Older pumps fed directly into city sewers but this practice is no longer ideal (if you have an older sump pump, check with your plumber to see if it leads to the sewer, you may need to update) since it can lead to backed up sewer systems during heavy rainfall.
  • A manual sump pump is usually cheaper, but it won’t activate unless someone turns it on. Sump pumps are a type of emergency flood device, so it’s usually worth it to pay the extra for an automatic pump.

How to Test a Sump Pump

Testing a pump is very simple.  Get a gallon of water (either fill a gallon water bottle or a bucket with about a gallon) and pour it into the pump well in your basement or cellar.  Have someone standing outside where the outflow pipe is to monitor flow there when you do this.

Installed Sump Pump
A sump pump installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.

If your pump is manual, once the well is full turn on the pump and wait until the water is removed.  If the pump is in working order, the water will be removed from the well and the outflow pipe will direct water away from your house (you don’t want it pooling against your home again).  If the pump doesn’t engage, check the breaker circuit to make sure the pump has power.

For automatic pumps, as soon as you pour the water in the pump should engage almost immediately.  If it doesn’t, check the float valve or pressure switch to make sure that there is enough water in the basin to trigger the pump.  If there is, double check the circuit breaker to make sure the pump is receiving power.

If your sump pump isn’t working, get it fixed immediately! Rain storms can be sudden events and getting a maintenance technician to repair your pump mid-storm is a bad idea.  You don’t want to be caught with a flooded basement during a heavy storm.

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How to Dry a Carpet

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How to Dry a CarpetA flooded house is never an enjoyable event.  Burst pipes, a leaky roof, or even damaged appliances can lead to a large enough flood of water that you find yourself dealing with waterlogged carpets.  Aside from being a danger to the flooring and leaving you with wet socks, the extra moisture is a sure-fire way to fill your house with mold.  Knowing how to deal with a soaked carpet is essential.

Small Floods

Small puddles of water are fairly easy to clean up.

Start with a Towel – Spread towels over the wet carpet until you’ve covered the entire area.  Walk across the towels until they’ve soaked up as much water as they can.  Don’t rub at the carpet, simply blot to soak up the water into the towel itself.  Replace with dry towels and keep repeating until the carpet is dry.

Use a Wet Vac – A vacuum cleaner is an effective way to pull the water out of the carpet, especially if it’s started to soak through.  Do not use a regular vacuum for this, you’ll need a wet/dry vac that’s capable of handling water.  Keep vacuuming the carpet until no water is being pulled out anymore.  Maintain a steady eye on the fill level of your vacuum and be sure to dump it out before it overfills.

Forced Air – Finally, use forced air to dry out the carpet.  Keep air circulating with a fan or hair-dryer until all the water has dried.  For larger areas, keeping several fans pointed at the spill is ideal.

Large Floods

When it comes to larger flooding, or a room where all of the carpet has been soaked, more drastic measures will need to be taken.

Move Furniture Out – Remove all large furniture.  You need to clear off the carpet so that you have access to the entire floor.  Never try to clean around furniture.  The water will simply damage both furniture and carpet while you’re trying to clean up.

Use a Wet Vac – Just as with small spills, use a wet vacuum to remove all of the excess water.  For a large carpet you will have to dump out the tank several times.  There are a few other ways to pump water out of a carpet, such as a hot water extraction unit.  The main goal is to remove as much water as possible.

Check for Soaked Matting – For larger spills, the matting underneath the carpet is likely to be soaked through.  Even if you remove all the water from the carpet and dry it out, the matting will re-soak the carpet as long as it stays wet.  Simply walk across the carpet and listen for squelching noises.

Raise Carpet Corner – you need access to the matting beneath the carpet.  Go to a corner of the room and pry up the edge.  Use work gloves and pliers to pull the carpet free, then fold the corner over so you can see the padding beneath.

Force Air –  Just as with a small spill, adding ventilation will dry out the carpet and the padding.  Place a fan to blow air under the carpet to start the drying process.  Use the exhaust hose from your wet/dry vac and place it under the carpet.  The warmer air will help to dry the carpet quickly.  Finally, rent or purchase a dehumidifier and run it in the room.  This will speed things up greatly.

Call Professionals

If all else fails, or you want the certainty of a dry carpet without having to worry about floor damage and mold growth, call a professional.  RestoPros specializes in water damage remediation and removal.  Rather than trying to tackle flood damage yourself or having to rent specialize tools, seeking help from a professional is faster and far more efficient than trying to do so on your own.

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Water Restoration Do’s and Don’ts

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Water Restoration Do’s and Don’tsNo one likes finding water in their living room (a fish, maybe).  Water in any room, when it isn’t contained to a tub, sink, pipeline, or water glass is a sign of a bad day.  While the instant reaction may be to dive in and take care of the problem, sometimes that can be more hazardous than you first realize.  Standing water can come with a lot of health hazards you aren’t expecting.  The beginning steps of water restoration in the home are crucial.

Don’t Rush In

Small spills from leaking roofs, excess AC condensation or a leaking appliance are usually fine to deal with, but flooding with more than an inch of water on the floor can be dangerous.  Grey- or black-water lines that have breached and are adding to the problem pose a health hazard.  Electrical contacts, especially from lower electrical outlets and appliances are a huge risk for flooding.  Before even setting foot into a flooded area, shut off power and water to the room to limit the danger.

Remove the Water

Calling a professional for serious flooding is essential, especially during a storm.  Don’t step into the water.  You could trip or injure yourself on hidden obstacles that have shifted during the flooding.  Instead, drain the water using buckets without stepping into the water if possible.  A wet/dry vac is even better.  Simply run the vacuum line into the room with the outlet set to pump outside.  Before any restoration can begin, the water (and it’s source) need to be dealt with.

Dry everything and Toss What Can’t Be Saved

When a professional company dries out a room, we bring in heavy-duty air movers, industrial desiccants, and dehumidifiers. For small spills you’ll want to do something similar.  Use absorbent pads and desiccants to remove water from carpets.  Take linens, curtains, and other fabrics out to air-dry (or use a dryer if possible).  Place dehumidifiers in the room to speed up the drying process, and add fans to help move fresh, de-saturated air through the room.

There are somethings that can’t be saved.  Wallpaper may need to be replaced.  If the flooding is bad enough, you’ll need to pull out the carpet and replace it.  Often furniture is too badly damaged to be salvageable.  Anything that can hold water and has dark spaces is a possible harbor for future mold and mildew.  Other items are simple going to have permanent damage from flooding.  This is why it’s important to store easily damaged papers and water-sensitive materials in a high place.  Books, documents, and photos are all very difficult to salvage when water is involved and most of the time they end up having to be thrown out.

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