Take Steps to Prevent Plumbing Leaks

7/10/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta Counties can help at the drop of a hat when you experience any water emergency.

Plumbing leaks are no joke. They can spring up instantly and cause dramatic and costly damage before it can be brought under control.

In fact, the average household in the U.S. experiencing a leak loses 10,000 gallons of water per year—with over 1 trillion gallons nationwide combined yearly! While no one knows whether there is going to be an accident, there are still numerous methods to decrease the chance of a costly plumbing leak in the house.

By maintaining your plumbing, you can lower the risk of a plumbing leak and reduce the damage if one happens. Let’s consider what areas you can regularly inspect and maintain to prevent water damage in the home:

Appliance Water Supply Lines. Every appliance that uses water has water supply lines that are generally made up of plastic or metal tubing. As a result, it is critical to monitor these lines on a regular basis. Keep an eye out for corrosion, discoloration of the pipe itself and the flooring and walls around it, as well as calcium buildup in the supply line. One common modern preventive measure would be to consider upgrading to flexible stainless steel when replacing these lines.

Water Heater. Be sure to follow the maintenance instructions on your water heater carefully. A water heater can burst due to old age and devastatingly flood the room around it in minutes, potentially causing severe and costly damage to your home. A water heater should be inspected by a professional plumber every few years, and if it’s in a location where a leak would be truly devastating, consider installing a leak detector.

Drains. All sinks, disposals, showers, tubs and toilets should be consistently maintained and clean of debris. Make sure that you and other family members are aware of what should and should not be flushed or poured down the kitchen sink. Additionally, if you have a family member that is an over-consumer of toilet paper, consider installing a bidet to prevent build up in your pipes.

Finally, if a leak has sprung out of control, it’s important to know where the main water valve is and how to shut it off. It’s essential that everyone in the home is aware of how to shut the water main line off in the event of an emergency, considering you never know when the emergency can happen.

SERVPRO can help at the drop of a hat when you experience a water damage emergency. Call the experts at SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta Counties. We are available 24⁄7 to respond immediately and get the job done professionally.

Water Damage in Your Bathroom

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

Should you experience any water damage, call SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta Counties, We are available 24/7.

Because bathrooms use a lot of water, it’s likely that some of that water may seep into the walls and flooring, producing water damage. And if you’re not careful, you might wind up with damage that requires considerable and costly efforts to restore.

In fact, the average cost of bathroom water damage repairs is over $3,000 in the U.S.

While there is always a potential that water can cause damage in your bathroom, if you follow these easy steps, you can avoid costly water damage. Prevent water damage to your bathroom by following the advice below.

Check for Leaks. Check for symptoms of leaks on a regular basis, such as discoloration or soft spots on walls or floors as well as musty odors. Test the walls and floors by pressing in to them to see whether certain places are softer than others. Look for leaks under vanities and around the shower or tub and verify that there isn’t any leaking. If any of these issues occur, track out the source of the leak and get it repaired.

Ensure Proper Sealing. Properly sealing areas of your bathroom that could otherwise allow water to leak out into your walls and flooring can make all the difference when it comes to preventing damage to your bathroom. Prevent water from leaking behind walls and under floors by replacing broken, damaged or missing tiles in your shower, flooring and backsplash. In the same way, ensure your sealing is fresh and working properly. Replacing cracked or failing grout and caulking around sinks, tubs and showers with a silicone-based bathroom-grade caulk can make all the difference in water-proofing your bathroom.

Continually Inspect Your Bathroom. Maintain your leak-free bathroom by regularly checking the floor and walls for water after showering or bathing, drying or removing it immediately if there happens to be any. Additionally, don’t let any water stay standing in the shower or tubs by draining it completely. This helps to prevent the harm that standing water might cause.

SERVPRO has the expertise to assist you with all forms of recovery from water damage. When you discover water damage in your bathroom, call the experts at SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta Counties. We are available 24⁄7 and seven days a week, including all holidays because disasters don’t wait—and neither do we.

Do you need a sump pump?

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Call the experts at SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta to get you back to dry. We are on call 24/7 to take care of any immediate need.

You may have heard of someone talking about their sump pump after heavy rain. Perhaps they were talking about how if it weren’t for their sump pump, their basement would have flooded, costing them big-time in damages.

Let’s take a look and see if a sump pump is right for you and your property.

WHAT IS A SUMP PUMP?

A sump pump is a device that can be installed beneath your home’s lowest point, such as the basement or crawl space. This little but extremely useful tool can help prevent flooding.

The pump is always on standby, waiting to be activated. When the soil surrounding your home gets oversaturated after a heavy rain, excess water flows toward the sump pit, which fills up with water.

The sump pump is activated, and the pump is turned on, removing water from the pit and draining it away. A sump pump prevents the groundwater from rising above the level in which it is installed, preventing flooding. In many ways, sump pumps are essentially immediate flood insurance.

SHOULD YOU INSTALL A SUMP PUMP?

There are many advantages to installing sump pumps if your property needs one. Let’s take a look at the following and determine if you should install a sump pump at your property:

• If you live in a region where there is significant rain and/or snow. Here in Georgia, flooding from storms of different kinds are very common, especially throughout the spring and summer seasons. It’s very common to see basements in this area flood after these storms.
• If your house is in a floodplain, you will want to consider a sump pump. Groundwater levels are more likely to rise after heavy rains, snowstorms and spring runoff in areas with poor drainage and lower elevation properties in valleys surrounded by higher elevation hills.
• If your basement has previously flooded, it is a good idea to install a sump pump, as it’s likely it won’t be the last time.
• If you’ve finished your basement, consider installing a sump pump to safeguard your living space and protect carpeting, furniture and other items in your underground living space from flood damage.

If your basement floods, call the experts at SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta to get you back to dry quickly and professionally. We are on call 24⁄7 to take care of your emergency immediately.

The 411 on Commercial Water Damage Prevention

4/11/2022 (Permalink)

If your business is affected by water damage, reach out to your local restoration expert SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta.

Water damage is often unanticipated and comes in all shapes and sizes, whether it is caused by a flash flood, a burst pipe or a leaky roof. No matter if it is pooling water in your ceiling that can go unnoticed or you’re standing in water up to your knees, water damage can cause significant untimely and costly interruptions to your operations.

In many circumstances, however, preventive measures can be taken to avert severe delays or property damage. The following are a few recommendations to inspect and prepare you in protecting your facility from water damage:

Check for plumbing issues. One indicator of plumping issues could be if you’ve observed a substantial increase in your water bill, a pipe or plumbing equipment is almost certainly to fault. You can check your walls, floors and ceilings for indications of leaks. Discoloration or mildew development is also a reliable indicator that a pipe is damaged or leaking. Whatever you discover, be certain to get it repaired as quickly as possible.

Install a water-sensing device. You can find water sensors available at practically any home improvement store. The devices provide alerts or alarms in the case of a water leak, allowing you to contain the damage and respond quickly. The majority of sensors may be connected to your smartphone or integrated with your facility’s security system, enabling you to get alerts even while you’re not on-site.

Look at the windows and doors. Water making its way indoors from outside during storms or rain is another frequent cause of water damage. Examine the area surrounding your windows, doors and any other exposed locations. Be sure to reseal any gaps or cracks using caulking that is waterproof. Additionally, refinish window or door trim to provide additional protection against decaying seals and trimming.

Regularly inspect the roof. Have an expert inspect your roof to discover places that might leak. Different types of roofing may need different treatments such as sealing on a regular basis to provide an additional layer of protection. Additionally, remember to clean the gutters to ensure that rainfall flows easily away from the roof. Take note of locations that are prone to drainage problems. Along the outside your building, be sure to look for spots that may be prone to water accumulation if the ground gets too wet. Consider getting the help of a landscaper or drainage specialist to do an inspection of the area and provide proper draining.

If your business is affected by water damage, enlist the help your local experts at SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta. We are here to help 24⁄7 whenever disaster might strike.

Protect Your Business With a Water Damage Prevention Plan

3/30/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta is the best cleanup and recovery team in the industry. Contact us for any restoration needs.

Water damage events like floods, leaks and burst plumbing can cause serious damage and create serious headaches for your business—from ruined documents to moldy walls and carpet, there’s a wide range of problems a surprise water situation can cause. But surprisingly few business owners have an actual plan to prevent water damage, even though it can save multiplied thousands in business interruption and other costs.

Many if not most workplaces have a fire plan, but statistically speaking, you’re more likely to have to deal with water damage than a destructive fire, so it’s definitely in your interest to plan ahead and do everything you can to protect your business assets and teams from the damage a water event could cause.

What Should Your Water Damage Prevention Plan Look Like?

Every business is different, and every location and context varies so there’s not a be-all-end-all solution that fits every workplace. It’s vital to understand the needs of your particular business, the extreme weather possibilities in the north Georgia area and even seasonal changes that could increase water damage risks.

But there are a few things that should be included in any water damage prevention plan, including:

• Routine exams and insurance inspections, which can monitor present water risks and leaks and make recommendations about what may be needed going forward with regard to keeping your likelihood of an event low.
• A task force of leaders who have been prepped, trained and equipped with knowledge and tools like water intrusion response carts.
• Expert knowledge of your water shutoff locations and workings, and whether your shutoff involves one main valve or multiple shutoff zones. Make sure teams know who is authorized to enact main water shutoff in the event of a leak emergency.
• Upkeep of service company contracts and authorizations—in other words, make sure you’ve connected with SERVPRO for your free Emergency READY Profile.
• Installation of modern wireless leak detection equipment, which can alert you at the first signs of a problem.

You can’t prevent everything, but being prepared can minimize your water damage and business disruptions. If water damage becomes an issue for your business, contact SERVPRO and we’ll be there right away to help.

Signs Your Pipes Might be Frozen

3/25/2022 (Permalink)

If you have water damage due to frozen pipes, Contact SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta Counties today.

Having the pipes in your home freeze is far more than simply an inconvenience. While you may not be able to use the taps in your house while the pipes are frozen, they can also burst and lead to serious water damage throughout your home.

In fact, the Insurance Information Institute has found that 23% of all the homeowners insurance claims made in the United States are related to water and freezing.

While we tend to think of pipes freezing as something that happens in extremely cold climates, any time the weather falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it is possible for pipes to freeze. Understanding what signs to look for is key for knowing if your pipes are frozen—and if you notice them, acting quickly is a must to avoid costly damage.

Below, we will look at a few key signs that may indicate that you have a frozen pipe on your hands so you can take action right away.

Signs That the Water Pipes in Your Home Have Frozen

No water is coming out of the taps. If you turn on a faucet or tap in your home and do not get water as usual, that may be a sign that your pipes are frozen. Frozen pipes may result in no water flow at all, or they may cause only a trickle to come out of the faucet—regardless, experiencing this is certainly cause for concern.

You experience an odd odor from your tap or drain. If you have an odd odor in your home, and it seems to be coming directly from a drain or tap, that may mean the pipes have frozen. If there are odors in the pipe that are blocked by ice, they will not be able to escape as usual, and will only be able to travel back the way they came.

There is frost on your pipes. If you have pipes that are exposed in your basement, crawlspace or attic, you can check for frost on them if you suspect they may be frozen. Any time frost has accumulated on the outside of a pipe, that is a good indication that you have a full or partial freeze on your hands.

If you have water damage due to frozen pipes, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about our water restoration services and how we can help you.

How Does Water Damage Lead to Mold?

3/14/2022 (Permalink)

If mold invades your home, call SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta today!

Water damage is something that no homeowner ever wants to experience, but unfortunately, it is a rather common occurrence. Between hidden leaks that can pop up in your plumbing system, water seepage in crawl spaces or surprise roofing issues, there are lots of ways that water damage can pop up in a home.

While water damage is an inconvenience, it can lead to an even more pressing concern: mold growth. Mold growth thrives in damp places, so any time water works its way into an area it should not be in, there is a high chance that mold will find its way there as well. Below, we will look at why mold and water damage are so closely related so you can be on the lookout for any signs of growth.

Why Water Damage Often Leads to Mold

**Mold loves humidity.** The nature of water damage can vary, but in incidents where there is flooding or general dampness in an affected area, the humidity levels can get rather high. Basements, laundry rooms and bathrooms can all turn into very humid areas, which can create the ideal environment for mold to take hold. Ideally, the humidity in an area should stay below

50% at all times in order to discourage mold growth.

**Mold spores need moisture to grow.** Many people are surprised to learn that mold spores are everywhere—in nature, mold aids with the decomposition of organic material, and its spores spread via the air. Therefore, mold spores are always floating around looking for an ideal place to land, which is how they wind up in homes (often after hitching a ride on clothes, shoes or pets). However, mold spores require moisture to grow, so while they may work their way into homes, if they cannot find an area with moisture that they can grow, they will not be able to

reproduce.

**Mold grows well in contaminated waters.** Oftentimes, water damage is caused by water that is not necessarily clean, such as rainwater or floodwater. Mold can grow especially well in these types of waters because of all the bacteria that is already present, making water damage of this type especially susceptible to mold growth.

*If you are curious about how mold remediation works, we are here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our remediation services or to report mold damages.*

What Types of Places Are Likely to Attract Mold Growth?

3/3/2022 (Permalink)

If mold invades your home, call SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta to evict it!

Mold growth can be a frightening thing for homeowners to deal with. It is an insidious and stubborn problem that can cause significant damages if not treated quickly and professionally by mold remediation experts—but how do you know if you are at risk of experiencing mold growth?

One of the only positives about mold is the extremely specific conditions that it needs to grow. Mold is only likely to be found in a few places where the environment is right for it to be able to take hold.

Below, we will be taking a look at what these places are so homeowners know exactly where to keep their eye out for these harmful spores. Preventing mold and treating it quickly when it does arise is the best way to stop the issue from getting out of hand.
The Places Where Mold Is Likely to Grow

**In bathrooms and laundry rooms.** Mold thrives in areas with high moisture content, so anywhere that experiences regular and high humidity—such as bathrooms and laundry rooms—is likely to be a haven for mold. Establishing consistent airflow and mitigating the humidity in these areas can go a long way in preventing mold from ever growing in these places.

**In basements and crawl spaces.** Basements and crawl spaces are often popular spots for mold to be discovered because of how ideal their conditions are. Not only is humidity typically high in these areas, but they are also often dark and may even experience water damage from ground seepage if they are not properly weatherproofed. Dank odors and condensation in these areas are often a sure sign that mold is likely to take hold.

**In areas that have experienced water damage.** Water damage is a serious issue for several reasons, including the fact that it is likely to give rise to mold growth if it is not treated properly. Whether the water damage is from a hidden leak in the plumbing system or a flooding issue, it is important that it be addressed quickly by water restoration professionals to completely remove the moisture and ensure that mold is not likely to become a lurking threat.

*If you are in need of mold remediation, water damage restoration or would simply like to learn more, we are here 24/7 to help. Contact us today to learn more about our services.*

What Conditions Are Right for Mold to Grow?

3/3/2022 (Permalink)

Mold can make you feel sick. Call SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta if you have mold in your home.

Mold growth is a complicated issue for homeowners to have to face. While mold can only grow if the conditions are right, there are many instances where this is the case—and once mold establishes itself, it is extremely difficult to fully get rid of it without professional help with the remediation process.

Fortunately, the conditions where mold is likely to grow can be abated in most instances. Because prevention is so important when it comes to mold management, today we will be looking at the conditions that are ideal for mold to grow and how they can be prevented.

The Conditions That Mold is Likely to Grow In

**Warm, humid conditions.** Mold requires moisture to grow, but it does not always have to be standing moisture that allows it to start its process. Humid areas, such as bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms, are prime candidates for mold growth in the home. When the air in an area becomes saturated with humidity, it can lead to high moisture throughout the room which can allow mold to become established.

**Poorly ventilated areas.** Mold spores are spread via the air, so when areas are poorly ventilated, it is much easier for mold to settle in one spot and begin to reproduce. This is doubly concerning as areas with poor air circulation are also typically areas with high humidity, which can create an even more ideal environment for mold spores to land in. Installing fans or other types of air flow system in areas without much ventilation is a great way to prevent mold.

**Any area with untreated moisture damage.** Mold will often establish itself around water damage, as it thrives on moisture. Any area that has a buildup of moisture is ripe for mold growth, which means hidden leaks are often first identified by the signs of mold around the area. This is why it is so important to have water damage abated quickly and professionally when it occurs, because the longer it is left untreated (or if it is untreated properly), the worse a mold problem is able to become.

*If you are in need of mold remediation or would like to learn more, we would love to help. Contact us today to learn more about our mold remediation services!*

So You’ve Got a Sewage Backup

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

Sewage backup can be a serious problem, reach out SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta to learn more.

Water damage can be rough stuff in any form. Burst pipes, flooding and appliance issues all create difficult situations in their own right. But a sewage backup can be an entirely other level of both nastiness and danger.

Sewer problems can be the result of civil sewer systems that have aged past their primes, tree roots growing into sewer lines or blockages of a sanitary sewer main. Regardless of the cause, however, one thing is clear (or literally probably not clear at all)—sewer backups introduce toxins into your home, and they leave a difficult cleanup job in their wake.

When you find yourself faced with sewer damage, here are some things you should do immediately upon discovering the damage to ensure your safety and get things under control until your local SERVPRO team arrives.

Evacuate anyone vulnerable from the area. This includes seniors, children, even pets—anyone who may suffer more readily from the toxins sewage can introduce into your home’s atmosphere. Keep them safely away from the backup area until restoration is complete.

Shut off your main water supply and electricity if it’s safe to do so. If you can get to your power panel and water main safely, use them to stop the flow of water and decrease the odds of your water backup causing an electrical fire. Don’t do this if your electrical panel is under water, or if you would have to stand in water to turn it off. If you can’t safely shut off your own power and water, call your utility companies and have them do it.

Open windows in the affected area to encourage ventilation and get some fresh air flowing in.

Document your situation and take lots of photos for your insurance company. Be sure to include any items that have sustained damage, as these will be important for your insurance claim process.

Add a little bleach to standing water, if you can do so safely, so that the chlorine in it can do some disinfecting work and prevent the spread of bacteria. Don’t touch stained or affected areas, and don’t come in contact with what could be very dangerous water.

Don’t forget to call SERVPRO. We’ll be there quickly, get things cleaned and managed thoroughly, and we can work with your insurance company on your behalf.

Regardless of the cause of your sewage problem, SERVPRO has the tools and techniques to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Sewage backup is a serious problem, but we can take care of it and restore your home after the damage. Contact SERVPRO anytime to get the pros on your side.

The So-Called 100-Year Flood

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

If flooding or other water damage cause trouble for your home or business, contact SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta.

Flood probability is based on a number of factors, and scientists and engineers use a specific set of criteria to determine the likelihood that rivers may flood in heavy storms. Flooding can happen wherever it rains, and it can cause troubles like 2019’s sudden troubles in Conyers; but there’s a certain term on which much of our flood conversation hinges: the “100-year flood.”

It’s a rather foreboding term, one that definitely makes the listener aware that it’s something to be concerned about. But what exactly is it? Is it a general term, or are there actually 100-year floods we can measure and predict?

First, a 100-year flood is a very real, scientific measurement, as opposed to a general declaration like, say, a gullywasher or deluge. Without getting overly technical, a 100-year flood is, in theory anyway, a flood that statistically should only occur about once every 100 years.

In other words, based on data from nearby rivers, bodies of water, elevation levels and other factors, a 100-year flood is a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.

This kind of flood is also known as a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood.

So, does a 100-year flood only occur every hundred years? Well, yes and no. While the average space between them typically does meet that criteria, that doesn’t preclude the possibility of two 1% floods happening in back-to-back decades, years, or even months.

Flooding is unpredictable, but statistically speaking, the 100-year or 1% designation gives us a baseline for estimating the frequency and severity of a certain kind of flood.

Why does all this matter? Well, for one thing, aside from giving us a sense of how bad a flood was or could be, and how likely it may be to occur again, the 1% AEP flood is the basis for the National Flood Insurance Program, which, among other things, requires homeowners within high-risk flood zones to carry flood insurance.

So you can see why it’s important that we have both accurate flooding data and analysis as well as risk prediction. The accuracy of the portrait and prediction of 100-year floods could impact whether your home sits in a high-risk zone or not.

The 1% analysis also helps us plan things like infrastructure, drainage and building needs for flood plain areas.

The last 100-year flooding in our area came in the form of massive floods in September 2009, which resulted in half a billion dollars in damages, and actually reached the 500-year flood designation in some areas, meaning there was only a 0.2% chance of that flood occurring that year in this area.

Flooding isn’t inevitable, but it’s always a possibility when heavy storms overwhelm bodies of water or drainage systems. If flooding or other water damage cause trouble for your home or business, contact SERVPRO for fast, complete cleanup and recovery.

5 Places to Check After a Hard Rain

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can come from a number of places. If you find any signs of damage to your property, call SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta.

We get plenty of rain in the Fayetteville area. The national average for a given city is 38 inches of rain per year, and we beat that average that by more than 10 inches.

Now some of that rain courtesy of your standard, near-daily summer shower. But some of it, as you well know, comes from storms that pack quite a bit more punch.

As a homeowner, it’s incumbent upon you to protect your home as much from water damage as much as possible, or at least to stop it once it’s discovered. So after a heavy rain, here are the places you should check to make sure all is well.

Check your basement. If there’s one solitary place you can anticipate water damage at home, it’s the basement. Homes with basement have a 98% chance of experiencing excess moisture or flooding at some point, so check here first. If you see water pooling, paint bubbling or you smell a damp odor, you may have an issue.

Crawlspaces and attics. Much like the basement, these areas can become inundated with moisture. If you have a crawlspace instead of a basement, it’s subject to the same kind of moisture issues, and attic moisture can reveal to you that there’s a leak somewhere in the roof.

Check on your sump pump. Your sump pump works hard to move water away from your house during a big storm. You should test your pump quarterly, or after any major rainfall.

Examine your gutters. Your gutters catch more than rain, and there are plenty of ways for them to get clogged or even damaged. In particularly heavy rains, gutters can be overwhelmed by water flow, and that becomes even more likely if they are obstructed due to built-up dirt, granules from roof shingles, twigs and leaves.

Inspect your roof. You don’t have to get up on a ladder every time it rains, but after a heavy storm, particularly if you have overhanging tree branches, take a good look at your roof from the ground. If you notice anything that looks off—broken or warped shingles, unfastened flashing or gutters that seem out of place—call a professional to conduct a full examination.

Water damage can come from a number of places at home. If you find a source of water leakage has done harm to your property, call your local SERVPRO for fast, expert help.

The 3 Toxicity Levels of Water Damage

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

No matter the water damage, we can quickly set things right. Contact the SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta team to learn more.

Water damage can happen all sorts of ways, and it can certain cause myriad problems, not the least of which is its potential for toxicity. But how do we determine which water sources are toxic and which aren’t? Why isn’t it safe to touch or swim in floodwater, but rain is fine—aren’t they the same?

These distinctions are very important, and there’s a governing body called the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification that helps us understand them.

Category 1: Clean Water Damage

Damage from so-called “clean” water is the least worrisome kind of damage, and assumes a certain level of cleanliness from its sources—typically things like refrigerators, water supply lines for appliances or even showers.

The nature of this type of damage means most of the damage mitigation involves simple drying, extracting and dehumidifying, and most instances of clean water damage don’t create health worries.

Category 2: Grey Water Damage

The next category is referred to as “grey” water. The sources of grey water include sources that aren’t inherently or necessarily toxic, but that could or may be—overflow from toilets, backups from an unfiltered sump pump, or even leaks from a washing machine which could have been holding toxic materials during the wash cycle.

Touching water from these sources may not cause immediate harm, but grey water is still to be avoided as it could cause potential danger all the same.

Category 3: Black Water Damage

“Black” water is the nasty stuff. It carries an immediate, inherent risk of toxicity, sickness or bodily harm, and it requires immediate action for removal to get these risks mitigated. Sewer backflows, broken toilet bowls containing fecal matter and other septic water fall into this category.

It may surprise you, but overflowing ground and river water fall into this category, as does flood water, because they may contain everything from waste to lawn-care chemicals and parasitic organisms. Black water can cause disease and immediate harm, and affected surfaces like carpet or sheetrock must be removed. This water is also the most difficult to deal with in the aftermath, because it requires such care in cleanup.

No matter the water damage or the level of toxicity or danger to your home or family, we can quickly set things right. Contact your local SERVPRO team today to find out how we can tackle water problems of any size or nature.

Flash Floods Are the Most Dangerous Natural Disaster We Encounter

12/13/2021 (Permalink)

If a flood causes water damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta has a custom solution.

Tornadoes, hurricanes and massive radar events get the headlines, and to be sure they are to be respected and prepared for—but the single most deadly weather event in the United States is the simple flash flood. Flash flooding causes more fatalities than any other weather disaster we experience.

Flash floods can destroy roads, take out trees, cause mudslides and even cause boulders to roll out of place. Rising floodwater can create walls of water dozens of feet in depth, carrying away cars and even demolishing structures and bridges.

Single flood events in the last 50 years have caused mass casualties and incurred hundreds of millions of dollars in damage per event.

Don’t take flooding for granted. Often we are tempted to disregard flooding as a potential threat because it seems like a less dangerous weather occurrence than, say, a tornado. This leads us to stay at home when we should evacuate, or to think we can safely drive through a flooded area, when in fact it’s incredibly dangerous to do so.

Create a family disaster plan. Make sure your entire family knows your area’s flood risk, and what to do should an alert be issued. Keep extra supplies at home for instances in which power may be lost or travel capability may become limited. Teach your family basic safety measures, including CPR, first aid and how to shut off your home’s main water valve.

Stay alert. Know your area’s flood risk, and your particular proximity to streams and rivers that may be in flood stage. Listen to area meteorologists and get weather alerts regarding potential flood dangers. Keep an NOAA battery-powered radio to get up-to-the-moment alerts from the National Weather Service. These may instruct you to evacuate or shelter in place.

Take action. When an alert is issued, know where to go and where not to go. A flash flood warning means flooding is already occurring, so you must act quickly to get out of harm’s way. Get to higher ground and avoid dips, washes and low-lying areas. Never drive through flooded areas—the floodwater can cover up all sorts of danger, included a completely washed-away road. It only takes six inches of moving water to get your car off its path, so don’t put yourself in danger to try and save a little time.

Flooding is an often-underestimated risk, but it continues to claim more lives than any other weather event. Don’t risk becoming a statistic. Always be ready for rough weather, and if a flood alert is issued, take action immediately.

If a flood or other weather event causes water damage to your home or business, we’ve got the custom solutions you need to get back in the dry. Contact SERVPRO today to see how we can help.

THE SCIENCE OF DRYING

12/13/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Troup-Coweta Counties has the professional training and equipment to help make water damage “Like it never even happened.”

Did you know there is actually a science behind the process of drying? Having the knowledge of psychrometrics is essential to restoring a water damaged structure to its preloss condition. While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, SERVPRO® of Troup-Coweta Counties franchise professionals are trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages.

If your business suffers a water damage, SERVPRO® of Troup-Coweta Counties will:

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet to help prevent secondary damage from happening.

• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.

• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment. What exactly does it mean to help “speed up Mother Nature”? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material—but only if the air is drier.

The only problem is, nature often takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out.

SERVPRO® of Troup-Coweta Counties has the tools and equipment to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls, and much more. We also use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business.

It’s not only the equipment but the technology too! SERVPRO® has developed DryBook™, a proprietary tool that provides real time documentation and updates on the drying process and helps ensure industry drying requirements are met. With DryBook™ Mobile, you have the ability to know exactly where your property is in the drying process.

The bottom line? SERVPRO® of Troup-Coweta Counties has the professional training and equipment to help make water damage “Like it never even happened.”

The Astonishing Power of Water

9/13/2021 (Permalink)

The power of water can wreak havoc on your home. If you have any damage, contact the SERVPRO of Troup-Coweta right away.

The most common type of natural disaster in the United States, and indeed, the world, is flooding. Globally flooding accounts for 40% of all natural disasters, but in the United States, an even more incredible 90% of all disasters involve flooding.

And yet for some reason we are often prone to downplay the physical danger of flooding or tempt fate when it happens. Flooding isn’t quite the same spectacle as hurricanes or tornadoes, so perhaps that plays a factor.

But whatever the reason, it’s good to be reminded that water is one of the most powerful forces on earth, and flooding is not to be taken lightly.

Flooding and Pedestrian Danger

You’re in every bit as much danger stepping into floodwater as you would be jumping into a raging river. You may think, “It’s only a few inches of water, how dangerous could it be?” The short answer: very dangerous.

Would you go outside in an EF5 tornado? When you step into floodwater traveling as slowly as seven miles per hour, you’re stepping into an equivalent force per unit area as the winds from the most dangerous cyclones.

You may not believe this, but it’s real: At 25 mph, floodwater carries the same brute force as wind traveling at almost 800 mph—that’s faster than the speed of sound.

Six inches of water is enough to take you off your feet, and six inches is enough to drown a full-grown adult, especially if you slip and fall face first. Don’t attempt to walk in floodwater.

Flooding and Vehicular Danger

First of all, simply don’t drive in storms that are producing floodwaters. Pull over on high ground if you’re already stuck out in it, but definitely don’t make any travel you don’t absolutely have to make.

If you see flooded roads, even if it doesn’t look deep, turn around. Nearly 50% of all flood fatalities are vehicular in nature.

Six inches of water is enough to stall or otherwise hinder most commercial cars, and a foot of water is enough to flip or overturn vehicles altogether. Two feet of rushing water is enough to carry trucks and SUVs completely away, leaving you in peril with absolutely no control.

Add to this inherent danger the fact that floodwaters can completely wash out roads and bridges, then cover it up so you can’t see. This level of danger is never worth the risk—turn around and stay safe.

The incredible power of water can also wreak havoc on your home, causing damage of all kinds. If floodwater makes a ruckus at home, contact SERVPRO and let us help you recover.

Flooding Can Happen Anywhere

8/31/2021 (Permalink)

When catastrophic water damage happens to you, SERVPRO® of Troup-Coweta Counties can help.

According to the National Weather Service (NOAA), “Approximately seventy-five percent of all Presidential disaster declarations are associated with flooding.” NOAA lists the most common flood hazards in the United States as:

• Flash Flooding

• River Flooding

• Storm Surge and Coastal Inundation from Tropical and Non-Tropical Systems

• Burn Scars/Debris Flows (Caused by Wildfires)

• Ice/Debris Jams

• Snowmelt

• Dry Wash (Caused by heavy rainfall in dry areas)

• Dam Breaks/Levee Failure

Just because you haven’t experienced a flood doesn’t mean you won’t in the future. In fact, 20% of all claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were for policies in low-risk communities. On average, floods cost $3.5 billion in annual losses in the U.S., and commercial flood claims average more than $75,000 (NFIP).

When catastrophic water damage happens to you, SERVPRO® of Troup-Coweta Counties can help. They can help you prepare ahead of time with an Emergency Ready Profile® (ERP), or respond to any size disaster to begin cleanup and restoration to get you back in business as soon as possible. SERVPRO® of Troup-Coweta Counties is ready to help make it “Like it never even happened.”