Recent Water Damage Posts

Frozen Pipes: Christmas and Winter Edition!

11/22/2023 (Permalink)

When water freezes, it expands and because it is confined within pipework (copper or plastic), this puts pressure on the pipes causing cracks, especially at weak points in the system. Then when the water defrosts, it can cause major leaks in properties.

  1. Be aware of this and look for the signs of frozen pipes – this can include a slowing or stopping of the flow to taps or other fittings in your property.
  2. Try not to let temperatures get too cold in your property – and, if you are away over cold periods, consider leaving your central heating on (even at a lower temperature
  3. Check out this Source for more tips: https://leakdetection.co.uk/information/christmas-water-damage-tips/

The initial steps in dealing with a water damage.

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO we're no strangers to water damage, but you may not know what to do, or better what SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles can do FOR you.  

Step 1: Disconnect the power, unplug any electronics, and remove electronics, furniture and movable items immediately.

Step 2:Get rid of the water.  SERVPRO professionals will extract the water with our specialized equipment, not just your ordinary shop vac. 

Step 3:  Dry out the affected area.  SERVPRO professionals will place specialized drying equipment such as dehumidifiers, air movers, and desiccants and monitor it's progress daily until it reads completely dry. 

Step 4: Disinfect and Prevent Mold Growth.  SERVPRO professionals will treat the affected areas with Sporicidin an anti-microbial formulated  to stop the growth of any micro-organisms, including mold. 

Step 5:  Dispose of Damaged Items Responsibly.  SERVPRO professionals will assist you in sorting your damaged items.  Some things will be saved, however some will not.  SERVPRO professionals know how to responsibly handle items that may be recyclable to alleviate the pressure on local landfills instead of simply throwing it all in a dumpster. 

If you suffer a water damage we here at SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help you make it "Like it never even happened." Call us at 812-574-5744

Water Heater woes.

4/29/2021 (Permalink)

A common issue that we deal with day in and day out at SERVPRO are water heater leaks.  A good majority of the time this is cause by a water heater failing and aged past the point of needing replaced.  Unfortunately, the home owner doesn't usually find out about this until its to late. 

Based on the manufacturer's suggested service life, the life expectancy of a water heater is about eight to 12 years. That varies with the location and design of the unit, quality of installation, maintenance schedule and water quality. If your water heater is more than 10 years old, leaks around the base of the tank or if it works erratically, it's probably time for a replacement.

In some cases, repairs and troubleshooting can save your existing water heater. Before you look for a replacement, make sure that an electrical problem, such as a blown fuse or tripped breaker, isn't the reason for the unit's failure. Regular water heater maintenance will extend the life of your unit, and some repairs — such as replacing a pressure relief valve or heating element — are pretty simple.

If the unexpected happens, call the experts at SERVPRO at 812-574-5744 and let us handle the unexpected.  

Rain, rain go away!

4/20/2021 (Permalink)

Flooded basements are a common catastrophe homeowner's experience due to substantial amounts of rain. It's important to mitigate the loss as soon as possible to prevent further damage and mold growth.

Here are a few tips to follow to help prevent a flooded basement:

Focus on prevention. Long before you're in a flooding situation, look around your property for ways to divert rainwater away from your home. Important considerations are extending rain gutter down spouts away from your home and making sure the grade of your yard surfaces slope away from your home.

Clean the rain gutters in the spring and after all the leaves have come down in the fall. Blocked gutters will cause all of the roof water to dump directly against your foundation, increasing the likelihood of basement flooding.


Extend the rain gutter downspouts well out and away from your home.
 Do not connect the downspouts to your foundation footer drain tiles or to underground dry wells. This will only cause the roof water to further saturate the ground and cause flooding in your basement.

Walk around outside in your yard during a heavy rainstorm. Watch to see if water is ponding next to your home and if surface water is being directed toward your home. If this is the case, seek a local landscaper or excavation contractor for advice on ways to regrade your yard so the surface water is directed away from your home.


Provide emergency power.
 Install an automatic emergency generator to provide electric service for essential circuits like your furnace or electric heat, well pump, refrigerator, septic tank pump and sump pump in the case when power is lost. Without emergency backup power, you may return home to unnecessary basement flooding, frozen water pipes and a flooded septic tank.


Install a sump pump.
 An automatic sump pump should help keep water leakage normal amounts of rainfall from building up in the basement. As long as the sump pump tank has an opening in the lid, the sump pump will act like a huge floor drain and keep the water from getting deep.


Install a backup sump pump.
 The sump pump is your first line of defense against basement flooding. However, the most reliable sump pump available in the industry is still a mechanic device and can fail. A backup sump pump system, preferably with at least a battery-operated pump, configured with a switch device to begin working if the main is out of commission, greatly reduces the chance of flood. Some systems come with additional security features such as an alarm that goes off whenever the battery operated is started


Make an emergency family plan.
 Plan ahead with your family so that everyone has each other cell phone and other contact numbers. If you live in an area that is prone to historic flooding, plan ahead of time where you'll be able to stay until flood waters subside. Keep in mind that all your neighbors will probably need housing too. As local hotels are usually inundated during flooding events, try to arrange ahead of time with some local family members away from the flooding area to have temporary housing if ever needed.


Have flood insurance.
 Add flood insurance onto your existing homeowner's policy. Flood insurance is provided by the government and is fairly inexpensive. In the USA, if your home insurance agent does not provide flood insurance, contact FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for local agencies that do.

You can trust our experienced team to take care of you and your needs. SERVPRO is here to help make it "Like it never even happened." Call us at 812-574-5744

Source:  https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-a-Basement-from-Flooding.

Follow these steps if you ever find yourself with water damage

4/16/2021 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO we're no strangers to water damage, but you may not know what to do, or better what SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles can do FOR you.  

Step 1: Disconnect the power, unplug any electronics, and remove electronics, furniture and movable items immediately.

Step 2:Get rid of the water.  SERVPRO professionals will extract the water with our specialized equipment, not just your ordinary shop vac. 

Step 3:  Dry out the affected area.  SERVPRO professionals will place specialized drying equipment such as dehumidifiers, air movers, and desiccants and monitor it's progress daily until it reads completely dry. 

Step 4: Disinfect and Prevent Mold Growth.  SERVPRO professionals will treat the affected areas with Sporicidin an anti-microbial formulated  to stop the growth of any micro-organisms, including mold. 

Step 5:  Dispose of Damaged Items Responsibly.  SERVPRO professionals will assist you in sorting your damaged items.  Some things will be saved, however some will not.  SERVPRO professionals know how to responsibly handle items that may be recyclable to alleviate the pressure on local landfills instead of simply throwing it all in a dumpster. 

If you suffer a water damage we here at SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help you make it "Like it never even happened." Call us at 812-574-5744

Washer worries!

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

Getting new appliances in the home can be very exciting!  It can be easy to overlook if something wasn't hooked up properly in the excitement of getting something new!  

Our team at SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles answered a call on Saturday of a laundry room being flooded.  The home owner had moved their washer out to clean behind it and once put back forgot to put back the drain hose properly.  One minute the home owner was watching tv while the laundry was getting done.  The next, the whole laundry room is getting flooded out because the washer is now draining all over the floor!  

Luckily our experts moved fast and was able to save the floor with minimal mitigation because it was caught early.  This won't always be the case so please be carful when installing new or replacing your washer.  

In the unfortunate and unexpected event that your laundry room does flood, call the experts at SERVPRO to get you back on your feet!

812-574-5744

Hotel floods

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

Our team at SERVPRO received a call from the Clifty INN about a bathtub overflowing and flooding out the bathroom. Being a hotel, that flooding affected the lower floor as well causing multi level water damage.  

Our team at SERVPRO was able to arrived on scene, extract all water. left on the floors and added our air movers and dehumidifiers on each level to start the drying out process.  

Clifty Inn has used SERVPRO in the past because they know that our experts and professional gear gets the job done quick and efficiently.

Put the experts at SERVPRO to work for you!

812-574-5744

Water spicket burst

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

Sunday is usually a day of rest and relaxation but getting a call in the afternoon about a water damage is just part of the job for us here at SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles.  

We arrived on site and the source of the water had stopped but the damage had been done.  We evaluated the damage as pretty minimal and we extracted the excess water and put equipment down to start the dry out process. 

The dry out only lasted 4 days and the family where set to get back to normal.

Don't let water damage ruin your weekend.  Call SERVPRO at 812-574-5744 and let us do the dirty work!

Prevention is key!

3/16/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage is very unpredictable and usually leaves the customer with costly repairs. While many homes and buildings are protected against fire damage by installing fire alarms and detectors, only few have protected their properties against water damage. What makes it worse is that water damage, oftentimes, is unrecognizable until the damage caused is already huge. The best way to prevent water damage and costly repair services, it is important to protect yourself, your home, and your business against it by following the tips below.

  • Perform regular inspections and maintenance on your plumbing systems
  • Repair and protect your home or building’s exterior

  • Winterize any exterior water shutoff valves each winter to protect from frozen pipes.

Finally, in case water has penetrated your home, the best option to take is to call a professional water damage repair services to minimize the damage caused. SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles has professional tools and water extraction systems that can quickly remove water inside your home or building and prevent the damage from spreading.

Don't let water back ups ruin your day.

3/16/2021 (Permalink)

The heavy rains can easily overwhelm your septic systems under the right circumstance.  Once that back up starts it can cause sever contamination throughout the home.  Thankfully this back up only contaminated the basement. 

The team was called out to Hanover Collage to assist the contaminated clean up as well as drying down the basement.  Our next step was to do an extensive clean up using our anti-microbial chemicals to make sure the pathogens and hazards are neutralized.  

The customer was able to get their basement back in order and life back to equilibrium. 

Be prepared to save you personal belongings

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

One of the most common topics after a client suffers water damage is how and what they can save from water damage.  Unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer to this question. Every water damage is unique in some sense, so what can be saved is really on a case by case basis. However, here are some guidelines that you can use to make the best decision possible.

What Type of Water Damage

Determining whether the water that damaged your personal belongings is clean or contaminated will be a big factor in whether or not it can be salvaged. Obviously, if you are dealing with clean water, the chances of you being able to save some of your belongings are higher.  Even though it may be possible to restore something that is damaged by contaminated water, it is more than likely not worth the health risk that it may bring.

Porous vs Non Porous Materials

Porous materials such as fabrics, wood, and paper are very good at retaining water. This also means it increases the chance of other dangers like mold growth, and damage beyond repair. This is not always the case and if handled quickly and properly, many times these items can be saved as well. On the other hand, porous materials like marble, metal, and porcelain - among others - usually have no problem being restored. Since there is really nothing for bacteria and mold to root itself in, a simple cleaning is usually no problem.

The Amount of Time the Water Saturated

Another factor that will come into the equation of determining what can and cannot be saved is how long the materials have been wet for. The longer an item sits in water, the deeper it can penetrate. As you can imagine, this makes it increasingly more difficult to bring it back to its normal state. The perfect example of this is wooden furniture. It takes quite a bit of time for it to really absorb and become completely water logged. If you get personal belongings out of the standing water and begin the drying process right away, you have a good chance of being able to save them.

Factor in the Replacement Cost

Water damage restoration of personal belongings is no different than any other type of repair. You will always want to evaluate how much it is going to cost to repair something versus simply replacing it. Is the item you want to save really worth paying a professional to do work on it? Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not.

You should also take into account that paying for restoration does not guarantee your item will be returned to its original state. If that’s the case, you’ll have to replace the item anyways.

If you are unsure about whether or not one of your items could be salvaged, it is best that you get it analyzed by a SERVPRO professional. If you call SERVPRO of Madison Lawrenceburg and Versailles to handle a dry out of your property, we will be able to assist you in assessing damage to your personal belongings as well. To speak to a professional water restoration representative at SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles, contact us @ 812-574-5744 today.  We are always here to help.

Flood Damage?

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

Finding flood damage in your home can create quite a bit of stress; after all, no one likes discovering that their living room has been turned into a water recreation facility. As a result, many homeowners are likely to panic and make poor choices in the hours that follow. You can avoid these mistakes by following the flood damage checklist below:

Ensure your safety

Once you see a flood of water in your basement, it may be tempting to go charging right in, but this is generally a bad idea. First, you need to ensure that you're safe. If the power is still on, you could be electrocuted. Additionally, sewage will make you ill, and the water from flood damage can conceal sharp objects to cut yourself on.

Shut off the water source

Now that you know you’re safe, next you need to ensure that the source of the water has been taken care of. Sometimes, this is as simple as turning off a water supply valve. However, more complex problems, like a flooded sewer line, could actually take a few hours. It's a good idea to call the appropriate professional, like a plumber, right away to give them time to start driving out to your flood damaged property.

Call your insurance

Sure, it's tempting to have your first call be to a flood damage clean-up professional, but there's a chance that your insurance doesn't contract out with them. Instead, it's better to have your insurance's claim number programmed into your phone. Call them, report the flood damage, and then call a professional they contract out with.

Call a clean-up crew

Most flood damage clean-up projects are just too large for you to tackle by yourself. Besides, depending on where you live, you'll likely have mold to clean up afterwards as well. Any money spent on a flood damage clean-up crew will likely be well worth it.

Take pictures and document damage

Your insurance policy will need proof of flood damage if they are going to write you a check. When you're on the phone with your insurance company and the clean-up crew, take photos of the flood damage. Make sure to get detailed photos of valuable items.

If you've planned well, you'll also have pictures of your home in an undamaged state. This lets you prove the state that your house and items were in before the disaster.

Remove what can be saved

Once you've ensured that the area is safe, you have help on the way, and you've thoroughly documented the flood damage, you can begin to remove items out of the area. A word of caution: water is extremely heavy. Any water soaked items will weigh a lot more than you expect. Please, be careful not to injure yourself.

Begin the remediation process

This is where professionals will come in handy. During the remediation process, all excess water will need to be removed, the humidity will need to be brought down to an appropriate level, mold prevention steps will need to be taken, and damaged drywall or flooring will need to be replaced. All of this is a lot of work for one person, so please get professional help.

SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles is locally owned and operated and serves Jefferson, Switzerland, Ripley and Dearborn Counties. 

Source: http://www.SERVPROgreeleywindsor.com

We are your 24 Hour Water Damage Specialists

3/12/2020 (Permalink)

MADISON, LAWRENCEBURG AND VERSAILLES

SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg & Versailles provides 24 hour fire and water damage restoration service in Jefferson, Switzerland, Ripley, Ohio and Dearborn counties.

We specialize in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property. Our staff is highly trained and use advanced equipment and techniques to clean and restore your home.

We are available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. In fact, it's the cornerstone of our business. 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 (812) 574-5744

 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

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.

Understanding Mitigation

3/12/2020 (Permalink)

What is Mitigation?

1. Mitigation enables people to recover more quickly from a disaster.

2. Mitigation lessens the financial impact of disasters. 

3. As mitigation specialists, SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg & Versailles focuses on reducing loss, enabling quick recoveries and lessening costs involved with restoration of property damage events.

Without mitigation the following could take place:

1. A longer amount of time the homeowner is inconvenienced.

2. A longer amount of time business is interrupted.

3. The potential for mold growth.

4. The loss of personal valuable and beloved belonging.

5. Increase in insurance.

One of the keys to mitigation is our immediate response!

The quicker you call, THE BETTER!

1. Less wood and drywall saturation

2. Less delamination

3. Reduced carpet and furniture stains

4. Fewer warping hardwood floors

5. Less mold/mildew

6. Less contents damage

Give us a call TODAY at 812-574-5744 for you mitigation services.

We are proudly serving Dearborn, Jefferson, Ohio and Switzerland counties.

Frozen Pipes??

2/10/2020 (Permalink)

Frozen pipes are one of the most common and costliest property damage events during the cold winter months. In fact, a burst pipe can result in tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Fortunately, frozen pipes can be prevented quite easily and inexpensively.

How do Pipes Burst?

Contrary to popular belief, pipes do not typically burst where the ice blockage is located. The expansion of the ice against the wall of the pipe does not cause it to break. Rather, after a complete ice blockage in a pipe occurs, the continued freezing and expansion inside the pipe causes water pressure to increase downstream, between the ice blockage and a closed faucet at the end. This increase in water pressure is what causes the pipe to fail. Usually the pipe bursts where little or no ice has formed. Upstream from the ice blockage the water can always flow back towards its source, so there is no pressure build-up to cause a break. Water has to freeze for ice blockages to occur. Pipes that are adequately insulated along their entire length are usually safe from freezing.

Which Pipes are Susceptible to Freezing?

Generally, homes and structures in northern climates are built with the water pipes located inside the building insulation, which protects the pipes from subfreezing weather. However, ex­tremely cold weather and holes in the building that allow a flow of cold air to come into contact with pipes can lead to freezing and bursting.

Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are all vulnerable to freezing, especially if there are cracks or openings that allow cold, outside air to reach the pipes. Research has shown that “wind chill,” can accelerate the freezing process.

Holes in outside walls where television, cable, or phone lines enter can allow cold air to reach pipes. When should you be alert to the danger of freezing pipes? That depends on the climate where you live, but the “temperature alert threshold” is 20 degrees F.

Original Posted by Rich Droste

If you've suffered a water damage due to a broken pipe, call SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles 24\7 at 812-574-5744 or Contact Us Here

SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles is your local Water Damage Restoration company!

12/10/2019 (Permalink)

If you are looking for professionals who have the knowledge and expertise to restore your home and property after it has suffered water damage, then you call SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles.

The water damage restoration professionals of SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles service businesses and homes that have suffered water damage around the Jefferson County area including Vevay, Hanover, Versailles, Aurora, Greensburg, Batesville, Lawrenceburg and beyond.

If you’ve had a pipe burst or a leaky roof or a toilet or tub that has overflowed, call SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles to clean up the mess and restore your home as if nothing ever happened.

When to Call Water Damage Restoration Professionals

Water damage to an Madison-area business or home can be caused in many ways. Heavy storms can reveal roof leaks and foundation cracks that let the water inside. During the winter months, pipes exposed to cold temperatures can freeze and burst.

Toilets, sinks, dishwashers, and clothes washers can slowly leak behind walls, under floors, and inside cabinets. Sewers can back up into basements and through the drains on lower levels of homes.

As you can see, there are many ways water can get into your home and damage it. While one may think that drinking water or rainwater isn’t as damaging as sewer water or black water, that’s not really the case.

Will Clean Water Damage My Home?

While sewer water or blackwater as is it defined can quickly lead to mold growth in a home, clean water can also lead to dangerous mold growth. Blackwater contains lots of dirty bacteria that can quickly promote mold growth by itself.

Clean water can cause mold spores that are naturally present in air and dust can also lead to mold growth. The dangers in clean water leading to mold growth are that clean water can easily go unseen in a home due to the lack of odor when compared to black water.

Clean water or gray water which is rainwater, can leak into a home’s attic or walls or crawl spaces and linger without being spotted. This water can then lead to mold spores activating and growing in these unseen areas. It’s not until the mold spreads to visible parts of the home or causes a musty odor that it is finally found. By that time, the damage caused by the mold can be quite extensive.

Look for the Signs of Water Damage and Call the Experts Right Away

Whenever it rains, it’s always a good idea to check around your home for any leaks. Check the external walls, the ceilings and around windows. If you have a basement or crawlspace, check it for any water entering into your home. Always check around sinks, tubs, showers, and washers for sitting water or even the smallest of leaks. It doesn’t take much water to cause damage to a home.

The quicker you spot a leak or water in your home, the quicker you can call water damage restoration experts like those at SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles to stop the damage and restore your home.  

SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles has the experience, expertise, and tools to properly and effectively remove the water and mold damage and restore your home "Like it never even happened." 

Call SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles today at 812-574-5744 to learn how we can help with fire, smoke, water and mold damage.

The Basics of Water Damage Restoration

11/1/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage restoration training is one of the important skill sets that a team of professional cleaners need in order to offer comprehensive services. This is a service that involves going into a home or business after a wet disaster, such as flood, burst pipes, or snow destruction, and not just cleaning up the mess, but actually drying and repairing the substructures that high volumes of moisture will affect, such as plaster and drywall, wood, concrete, and metal. Mold is a concern, of course, but there can be many other problems related to moisture damage; crumbling drywall and plaster, weakening beams and supports, rusting metal surfaces, and more. If the moisture is left to sit long enough, it will eventually bring the house to ruin. By having professional water damage restoration training, a cleaning crew will be able to properly assess the situation and devise the best plan for repair.

According the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification), which sets the standards for the cleaning industry and water damage restoration training; there are several different levels and classes involved in liquid destruction. From the IICRC’s S-500 standards, there are three categories describing the type of liquid involved.

•    Category 1. This is liquid from a clean and sanitary source, such as faucets, toilet tanks, drinking fountains, etc. But, category one can quickly degrade into category two.
•    Category 2. This category of liquid used to be called grey water, and is described as having a level of contaminates that may cause illness or discomfort if ingested. Sources include dishwasher or washing machine overflows, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine but not feces. 
•    Category 3. This is the worst classification and is grossly unsanitary. It could cause severe illness or death if ingested. It used to be called black water, and sources include sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, toilet overflow with feces, and stagnant liquid that has begun to support bacterial growth.

Next are the classes of destruction.

•    Class 1. The lowest and easiest to deal with, this has a slow evaporation rate. Only part of a room or area was affected, there is little or no wet carpet, and the moisture has only affected materials with a low-permeance rate, such as plywood or concrete.
•    Class 2. With a fast evaporation rate, this level affects an entire room, carpeting, or cushioning, the wetness has wicked up the walls at least 12”, and there is moisture remaining in structural materials. 
•    Class 3. This class has the fastest evaporation rate, and ceilings, walls, insulation, carpet and sub-floors are all saturated. The liquid may have come from overhead. 
•    Class 4. This class is labeled as specialty drying situations, which means there has been enough liquid and time to saturate materials with very low permeance, such as hardwood, brick, or stone.

The education involved in water damage restoration training teaches the technician to tell the difference between all the classes and categories and form a restoration plan based on those factors
. Whether the work is done with a professional, broad-spectrum cleaning company, or if it’s a company limited strictly to moisture damage work, it’s important to make sure the technician has the right knowledge and tools for the job. Infrared probes are used to tell the extent of the destruction, as well as air movers, air scrubbers, different sizes and types of dryers and blowers, special hardwood dryers, and dryers designed specifically for drying the sub-floor and inner wall cavities.  Armed with water damage restoration training and the proper tools, most situations are salvageable.

Our team members   are Water Damage Restoration certified by the IICRC.  If you suffer water damage SERVPRO is only a phone call away.  24 hours a day 7 days a week! 812-574-5744

 SOURCE:  http://www.IICRC.org/the-basics-water-damage-restoration-training-a-23.html

Rain, Rain Go Away

8/22/2019 (Permalink)

Flooded basements are a common catastrophe homeowner's experience due to substantial amounts of rain. It's important to mitigate the loss as soon as possible to prevent further damage and mold growth.

Here are a few tips to follow to help prevent a flooded basement:

Focus on prevention. Long before you're in a flooding situation, look around your property for ways to divert rainwater away from your home. Important considerations are extending rain gutter down spouts away from your home and making sure the grade of your yard surfaces slope away from your home.

Clean the rain gutters in the spring and after all the leaves have come down in the fall. Blocked gutters will cause all of the roof water to dump directly against your foundation, increasing the likelihood of basement flooding.


Extend the rain gutter downspouts well out and away from your home.
 Do not connect the downspouts to your foundation footer drain tiles or to underground dry wells. This will only cause the roof water to further saturate the ground and cause flooding in your basement.

Walk around outside in your yard during a heavy rainstorm. Watch to see if water is ponding next to your home and if surface water is being directed toward your home. If this is the case, seek a local landscaper or excavation contractor for advice on ways to regrade your yard so the surface water is directed away from your home.


Provide emergency power.
 Install an automatic emergency generator to provide electric service for essential circuits like your furnace or electric heat, well pump, refrigerator, septic tank pump and sump pump in the case when power is lost. Without emergency backup power, you may return home to unnecessary basement flooding, frozen water pipes and a flooded septic tank.


Install a sump pump.
 An automatic sump pump should help keep water leakage normal amounts of rainfall from building up in the basement. As long as the sump pump tank has an opening in the lid, the sump pump will act like a huge floor drain and keep the water from getting deep.


Install a backup sump pump.
 The sump pump is your first line of defense against basement flooding. However, the most reliable sump pump available in the industry is still a mechanic device and can fail. A backup sump pump system, preferably with at least a battery-operated pump, configured with a switch device to begin working if the main is out of commission, greatly reduces the chance of flood. Some systems come with additional security features such as an alarm that goes off whenever the battery operated is started


Make an emergency family plan.
 Plan ahead with your family so that everyone has each other cell phone and other contact numbers. If you live in an area that is prone to historic flooding, plan ahead of time where you'll be able to stay until flood waters subside. Keep in mind that all your neighbors will probably need housing too. As local hotels are usually inundated during flooding events, try to arrange ahead of time with some local family members away from the flooding area to have temporary housing if ever needed.


Have flood insurance.
 Add flood insurance onto your existing homeowner's policy. Flood insurance is provided by the government and is fairly inexpensive. In the USA, if your home insurance agent does not provide flood insurance, contact FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for local agencies that do.

You can trust our experienced team to take care of you and your needs. SERVPRO is here to help make it "Like it never even happened." Call us at 812-574-5744

Source:  https://www.wikihow.com/Protect-a-Basement-from-Flooding.

Steps for Handling a Water Damage

7/1/2019 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO we're no strangers to water damage, but you may not know what to do, or better what SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles can do FOR you.  

Step 1: Disconnect the power, unplug any electronics, and remove electronics, furniture and movable items immediately.

Step 2:Get rid of the water.  SERVPRO professionals will extract the water with our specialized equipment, not just your ordinary shop vac. 

Step 3:  Dry out the affected area.  SERVPRO professionals will place specialized drying equipment such as dehumidifiers, air movers, and desiccants and monitor it's progress daily until it reads completely dry. 

Step 4: Disinfect and Prevent Mold Growth.  SERVPRO professionals will treat the affected areas with Sporicidin an anti-microbial formulated  to stop the growth of any micro-organisms, including mold. 

Step 5:  Dispose of Damaged Items Responsibly.  SERVPRO professionals will assist you in sorting your damaged items.  Some things will be saved, however some will not.  SERVPRO professionals know how to responsibly handle items that may be recyclable to alleviate the pressure on local landfills instead of simply throwing it all in a dumpster. 

If you suffer a water damage we here at SERVPRO of Madison, Lawrenceburg and Versailles are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help you make it "Like it never even happened."!! Call us at 812-574-5744