Handling Water Damage from Outside Water

7/2/2024 (Permalink)

Mold and water damage often go hand in hand. Here we had to rip out the drywall and drydown the studs before we reinstall the drywall and repaint.

For most homeowners in Wichita water damage is a huge concern when it comes to their property. Broken pipes, drainage issues, or intense storms can all be major sources of water damage to properties, especially Wichita basements. With more storms on the horizon, we decided to put together some information for you to consider in protecting your home from water damage caused by storms. 

Prevention

Preventing water damage from occurring is much cheaper and hassle free compared to the alternative. Drainage is the first thing to look at. Ask yourself, are your gutters clean? How far away do your downspouts deposit the water from your home? Are they being deposited to an area which runs away from your home?

Making sure your gutters are clean and that the water they move goes far enough away from your home alone may be enough to prevent a water damage by itself. If your downspout is not bringing water far enough away, getting gutter extenders or French drains installed can carry that water to an area which slopes away from your home and send that water far away from your foundation.

Check your sump pump and consider how old is it. It is much cheaper to replace an old sump pump than it is to replace an old sump pump after a water damage has happened. Look at getting a battery backup or even better, a water pressure-based backup which will run for a long time even if you lose power or the primary pump. Another issue that can occur is when a sump pump exhaust hose is too close to the home. This will cause the water pumped out to flow back toward the house and back into the sump pumps reservoir. This will cause a constant cycle of pumping the same water out which will eventually burn out your sump pump. Look into more piping or even a gutter extender to send that water further away from your home.

We live in Kansas so we know that even if we do the best we can to prevent these kinds of things from occurring, mother nature still decides whether your basement ends up flooded or not. Fortunately, that’s why we have been here in Wichita for over 20 years helping people out. One of our employees answers the phone 24/7 and we offer emergency services day and night 365 days a year.

If you need help, we are ready to extract water, set up drying equipment, and everything else you need to make your home look "Like it never even happened." That is even more true today now that we offer reconstruction services so we can bring you from flooded home back to ready to host a party while dealing with just us. Call us today at 316-684-6700.

Mold In Your Wichita Home?

10/17/2023 (Permalink)

Mold in your home can cause serious health issues.

We have all been there, looking through the fridge or our cupboards and wondering how long that mystery food has been there, we take a chance and open it up only to be met by a green or blue fuzzy layer. OH MY! You throw it out and never look back. Same goes for your home, when you see that mold infestation on your walls, in your crawlspace, or in the bathroom you want to get it taken care of as soon as possible. SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita offers free mold inspections and we have recently started doing virtual mold inspections directly from your phone.  Much like a cold virus spreads through the air looking for a host, mold spores travel through the air looking for the next hospitable environment to latch onto. Any damp, fibrous material is a prime breeding ground for mold, such as wood, fabric, wallpaper and even paint.

What Causes Mold?

Mold is a form of fungi that sprouts from microscopic spores that are everywhere in our environment. These spores are inactive, however, they will start to activate once the humidity surpasses 70 percent. Once the mold spores spread on surfaces, they begin to reproduce and become noticeable to the human eye. You may not even be aware that there is mold in your home until you see it or smell a damp, musty odor. When performing cleanup of mold, it is important to minimize spreading mold spores by taking some precautions:

• Turn off all fans
• Protect from breezes
• Lower humidity
• Isolate the area
• Isolate moldy objects

How Can Moldy Areas Be Cleaned?

If your moldy area is small, you can attempt to clean it yourself, but be very careful to avoid spreading or breathing in mold spores. If your area is larger, or especially if you suspect black mold, you need the help of a specialist. That is where we come in, SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita technicians are specifically trained to clean mold without spreading spores, we create a negative pressure zone so the mold cannot spread into areas that are not affected while we are cleaning. We also have specialized protective gear that you may not have access to, such as masks and protective suits.

If you suspect you have mold or spreading mold, you need to hire mold remediation expert to resolve the problem and restore your property to its original condition. Call SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita at (316) 260-9011.

Supporting First Responders: SERVPRO's National First Responders Day Event

10/7/2023 (Permalink)

If you would like to sponsor or contribute to this year's event, please feel free to contact us at 316-260-9011.

SERVPRO® offers a wide range of disaster response services, from residential home fires to catastrophic storms that can ravage entire communities. In the course of our work, we frequently follow in the footsteps of first responders and we witness firsthand the incredible work they do for the communities throughout Wichita. That's why we strive to raise awareness, gratitude, and funds for our first responders, because their dedication is a cornerstone of our nation's strength.

National First Responders Day

Last year, we learned about National First Responders Day, which takes place on October 28th. We saw an opportunity to show our appreciation for the first responders in the Wichita area by organizing an event where the community could come together and express their gratitude. With the collaboration of 26 other businesses, we were able to raise resources, funds, and provide over 200 hot meals to first responders in Wichita. We set up a drive-thru where law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS, and other first responders could come and enjoy a hot meal prepared by our volunteers. Many stayed to share their experiences, and we had a great time. Check out the highlights of last year's event on our Facebook live stream.

This Year's Event

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting our second National First Responders Day event this year. With even more business partners than last year, we are looking forward to serving some delicious homemade BBQ to our first responders. The event will be held on Saturday, October 28th, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at the Central Christian Church parking lot located at 2900 N Rock Rd.

If you would like to sponsor or contribute to this year's event, please feel free to contact us at 316-260-9011.

Cleaning Your Commercial Dryer Vents

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

Lots of companies do their own laundry, such as country clubs, fitness centers, and schools, just to name a few. With businesses it can be hard to keep up with the maintenance and cleaning of large commercial equipment. Preventing a lint fire in your business takes little time and effort, and it can help save you thousands in fire restoration services costs. Here are three ways you can remove lint from a dryer.  
 

1. Clean the Screen to Prevent a Dryer Vent Fire

 
Clean the lint from the dryer’s lint screen after every load. This helps prevent a fire, and it also helps your laundry dry faster. One thing that a lot of people don’t know is that it’s also helpful to clean the screen in warm, soapy water every two weeks to help remove built-up dust and small bits of debris that could cause a lint fire. Be sure to thoroughly dry the screen before putting it back into the dryer.  
 

2. Clean the Vents

 
Over time, pieces of lint get trapped in the vents and can eventually block airflow from the dryer. When that happens, you are at a much higher risk of fire damage happening to your home. SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita will come into your business, assess your vents, and clean them out.  
 

3. Deep-Clean the Interior of the Dryer

 
Because lint pieces can be small and light, they often make their way to the dryer's interior. If not addressed, the pieces of lint can quickly build up and cause blockages, which can be a fire hazard for your machine. It is so important to keep up with the cleaning in your dryer and its vents, this is one step you can take to help protect your business and your employees from the scary possibility of a fire.  

If you need your dryer vents cleaned, or if it’s too late and you need a fire restoration company to help you get back to your preloss conditions, give SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita a call at (316) 260- 9011. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

Candle Alternatives in Wichita KS Home

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

During a storm you might lose power and use a candle to provide light. Candles are also great to have around your house for aesthetic purposes, and for a nice fragrance. They can also present a danger as candles are estimated to be the cause of 15,000+ fires every year. Additionally heavy candle use can cause soot damage to accumulate on your walls and ceilings. If you are unable to use candles in your Wichita, KS home or would just prefer something safer, there are several candle alternatives to consider. 
 

1. Flashlights

Battery operated flashlights are great to keep around your house just in case of a power outage. The most apparent use of a flashlight in an emergency kit is lighting your environment, indoor or outdoor.   Making sure to have a high-quality flashlight will mitigate this danger significantly. In addition to lighting the way at night, flashlights can be used to find people who require rescue, and a great tool for people who need rescue to signal for help.  

2. Headlamp

Like a flashlight (only way cooler) a headlamp will help provide light, hands free. These are great to keep around the house and especially in kids’ rooms. Headlamps are an easy and fun way to teach kids about storm safety. 

4. Flameless Candles

 
If you still want the ambiance of a candle, try a battery-operated candle. These items look like regular candles but do not put your home at risk. Some battery-operated candles even come in various scents, and some have a flickering light reminiscent of a flame, so you can easily create the atmosphere that you want. 

 
Home fires can be such a traumatic experience and fire damage remediation services can take a long time to complete. Using candle alternatives is just one way that you can reduce the chances of an emergency in your home. Give SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita a call if you experience storm or fire damage to your home or business (316) 260-9011.  

A Leak Under your Wichita KS Sink

7/23/2022 (Permalink)

The pipes in the cabinet beneath a kitchen sink are a perfect example of potential water damage waiting to happen. This could be due to bad pipe connection, frozen burst pipes, or even just old hardware.
A leak under the sink could go unnoticed for days or even weeks. Even if the leak is small, it can eventually cause considerable damage if left unnoticed. One red flag for an out of sight broken pipe is a sudden spike in your water bill when you haven’t changed anything.

If you have a pipe leak in your Wichita home, the first thing you should do to prevent more damage is to shut off the water supply. Then call SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita to come inspect the damage and help advise if you need to call your insurance company. We try to help you avoid a claim if possible because that can increase your premium or even get your policy canceled. One way we do this is by restoring and drying down wet materials instead of ripping them out. During our inspection we are typically able to give a general estimate on the price of the mitigation and clean-up which you can use to determine whether filing a claim is necessary.

Whether your home or business has been damaged by significant flooding or a simple leak, your kitchen repair often requires the attention of water remediation specialists who can restore the area quickly, give SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita a call at (316) 260-9011.

Pretesting Your Items After A Fire

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita, our technicians use pretesting to determine the scope of the loss, type of fire loss, and the method of cleaning for areas that have been affected. Pretesting helps determine what items are restorable or repairable vs. those items that will need to be replaced. Every surface is different and will require a certain method of cleaning.  

We use several methods of cleaning your contents, including: 

• Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to wet cleaning. 
• Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues. 

• Spray and Wipe -Effective for items that can’t withstand wet cleaning. 
• Foam Cleaning - Used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if wet cleaned. 
• Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned. 
• Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product. 
   

Every fire damage event is a little different, and requires a unique solution, but the general process and approach stays the same. We have a method that has been perfected over the years and the tools and chemicals that are needed to get you back to your preloss condition. Call SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita to have a professional come in and figure out the best course of action. Our 24/7 emergency line is 316-260-9011! 

Hail Damage in Wichita KS

4/18/2022 (Permalink)

In Kansas one of the top causes of roof and home damage is hail. Hail can not only harm property such as homes, businesses, and vehicles, but can cause harm to livestock, and even humans. Hail is formed by raindrops being carried upward by a thunderstorm's updrafts into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere and freezing. Even though it is cool to see, the sound of hail hitting your car and roof will make any person cringe.  

According to NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) hail causes around one billion dollars a year in damage. Last year, Kansas had over 20 thousand claims due to storm damage. If your roof or windows are damaged by hail, then that can cause leaks into your home or business, which can result in water damage.  

Kansas Estimated Storm Losses According to the KS Insurance Department: 

Year: 2011 

Number of  Claims: 197,255 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 1,095,030,000 

Year: 2012 

Number of Claims: 96,775 

Amount in Storm Losses:$ 400,335,000 

Year: 2013 

Number of Claims: 86,990 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 284,604,290 

Year: 2014 

Number of Claims: 46,400 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 112,396,455 

Year: 2015 

Number of Claims: 54,870 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 173,637,443 

Year: 2016 

Number of Claims: 51,708 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 107,260,873 

Year: 2017 

Number of Claims: 47,736 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 194,599,103 

Year: 2018 

Number of Claims: 37,719 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 72,223,491 

Year: 2019 

Number of Claims: 60,140 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 276,577,312 

Year: 2020 

Number of Claims: 32,834 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 126,813,439 

Year: 2021 

Number of Claims: 20,510 

Amount in Storm Losses: $ 141,369,410 

Not only does SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita have the knowledge and expertise for water, fire or mold damage, we can also handle making sure the reconstruction gets taken care of. Being in the business for over 20 years in the Wichita area has given us a long list of trusted peers to help with your reconstruction process. If you find your home or business affected by hail or storm damage, give SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita a call at 316-260-9011. 

Common Plumbing Problems in Commercial Buildings

4/9/2022 (Permalink)

Plumbing problems in your commercial building can cause big issues. Due to heavy use, commercial bathrooms need special attention. The smallest leaks can cause not only an increase in your water bill but can cause future mold growth that will need remediation. Here are the most common issues a commercial bathroom can experience: 

1. Toilet Clogs

While most toilets in a commercial building are built for heavy use, they are still prone to clogs. Clogs in commercial buildings can be so much worse than those in a house. Most often residential toilets store water in their tanks. The water from the tank then pushes out the water and waste in the bowl when it is flushed and re-fills the bowl with clean water. Commercial toilets, on the other hand, receive water from a water supply line at a high level of pressure. If it clogs and floods the bathroom, this can force you to hire water damage restoration professionals. 

2. Leaks

Leaking pipes and faucets can be problematic for numerous reasons. While small leaks may not seem like a big deal, they can lead to a lot of wasted water over time, high increases in your utility bill, as well future mold issues if not dried correctly. If you notice a leak, be sure to have it fixed as soon as possible and call SERVPRO to inspect the area for additional water damage. 

3. Broken Toilet Handles

Excessive clogs are not the only thing that can be a problem with commercial toilets. They also are more likely to have a broken handle due to excessive use. Over time the toilet’s flush handle can become loose or break-off completely and allow water to continually flow into the tank or bowl between flushes.  

4. Sewage Blocks

Another thing that's worse than leaking pipes is a sewage block. Your main sewer line is responsible for draining all of the waste water that goes down the drains, so if it clogs it could quickly turn into a large problem. This can lead to foul smells throughout your business, water backups, and more. Water from sewer system backups should be considered very dangerous. The water is grossly unsanitary and may contain bacteria and viruses that could cause serious illness.  

SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita provides free inspections on commercial properties which can help identify the entire scope of water damage which is often larger than you can see. Additionally, we provided free Emergency Ready Plans or ERPs to businesses which can drastically reduce the size of a potential loss. Call us today at 316-260-9011 to get your ERP started before anything goes wrong on your property! 

Workplace Safety

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

The workplace is where most people spend about a third of their life, around 8+ hours a day, and usually 5 or more days a week. Whether you work outdoors, or in an office there are dangers in any work environment. It is important that companies provide the knowledge and tools to provide a safe workplace for their employees.  

Here is a list of workplace safety tips that are a great starting point and should be a part of your daily routine:  

1. Use equipment, tools, and machinery properly 

1. Wear necessary safety gear 

1. Keep your area clear from clutter 

1. Report any unsafe conditions 

1. Be aware of your surroundings 

1. Practicing good posture and lifting techniques 

1. Stayin hydrated 

1. Take regular breaks 

1. Always report injuries that happen on the job 

Those are just a few tips to keep in mind, most jobs will have additional training courses for their employees and information on safety specific to the job. So how can we, SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita help you? Cleanliness of the workplace is so important to the safety of your job, this includes fire hazards, biohazard services, and full commercial cleaning services such as duct cleaning, carpet cleaning, covid cleanings, and odor removal. We offer free emergency response plans for your business and are available 24/7 for your needs. Give SERVPRO of Southwest Wichita a call (316)260-9011.