Recent Water Damage Posts

Could You Have Water Damage?

11/14/2023 (Permalink)

Around one in every 50 American homeowners will file a water claim every year. That means more likely than not, you know someone who has had to file a water claim. Not only are water damage claims common, but they’re also growing. In fact, the insurance industry statisticians say that water damage claims have been growing annually over the past several years. With this in mind, what should you look for to identify a water claim early?

Many homeowners aren’t sure when leaks can be handled in house and when a professional water damage restoration technician should be contacted. These are some of the signs that will determine if you’re dealing with water damage that needs professional help.

You notice a musty odor which could indicated mold or mildew growth. A distinctive, musty smell is one of the first signs of mold and mildew in a home. That means it’s important for you to take steps, such as contacting a remediation specialist, to stop the progression of mold and mildew before it becomes more prevalent in your home.

Fabrics that have faded, stained, or bleed in a short time period. If you notice fabrics in your home such as curtains or upholstered furniture has these problems, that can be a sign of too much moisture in your home. An excess of moisture in the home can indicate a leak that has gone undetected or unnoticed.

Your floorboards or walls are damaged. Wet flooring (particularly wood) will start to warp within just a few days if not dried properly. Drywall can also start to take on another color, and even start to fall apart if not dried. If you see these signs in your home, it’s best to start seeking help from professionals who can help you restore your home.

Most of these problems won’t improve on their own over time without professional intervention. So if you notice these issues, it’s important to start the water restoration process as soon as possible. SERVPRO of Coffee, Franklin, and Warren Counties is here to help with any water damage restoration services you may need.

Here's an Easy Way to Prevent Water Damage

9/1/2021 (Permalink)

In serving people of our community, we are often directly involved in some of the most stressful times of our customers' lives.  Our job is to make it "Like it never even happened," and to walk with you through each step of the restoration process. 

Unfortunately, we sometimes find that water damage could have been easily prevented.  One great way to prevent water damage is to make simple upgrades to the plumbing supply lines to your sinks, toilets, washing machines and ice makers. 

Over time, plastic and rubber materials can dry-rot and lose their structural strength that is needed to withstand the water pressure being exerted on them around the clock.  

ACTION:  Invest in "braided" supply lines at your local do-it-yourself retailer.  The cost is just a few dollars per line, and you can outfit your entire home for far less than the cost of your insurance deductible, should an old line decide to break.  Furthermore, you will have the peace of mind that you've put your best foot forward in preventing a water damage loss that might otherwise create a very stressful time in your life!

For help with your water disaster, call us, SERVPRO of Coffee, Franklin, Warren County at (931) 723-8088. We are Here to Help!

Signs of Water Damage

1/14/2021 (Permalink)

Bubbling Paint from Water Damage Be on the lookout for water damage!

More American homeowners file water damage claims than you might expect. Given that about one in 50 American homeowners files water damage claims every year on their homeowner’s insurance, there’s a good chance that someone you know might have filed one last year.

Not only are water damage claims common, but they’re also growing. In fact, the insurance industry statisticians say that water damage claims have been growing annually over the past several years. But at the same time, fewer homeowners have made fire damage claims.

What you need to know about water damage

Many homeowners aren’t sure when leaks can be handled at home and when the water damage they cause need to be repaired and evaluated by professional water restoration technicians. You might notice these signs if you’re dealing with water damage that needs professional help.

You notice signs of mold, especially a musty odor. A distinctive, musty smell is one of the first signs of mold and mildew in a home. That means it’s important for you to take steps to stop the progression of mold and mildew before it grows more prevalent in your home.

Fabrics start to bleed, fade or stain. If you notice these problems with your curtains or the upholstery in your home, that can be a sign of too much moisture in your home. Don’t ignore this sign.

Your floorboards or furniture are damaged. Wet wood will start to warp within just a few days. If that happens in your home, it’s best to start seeking help from professionals who can help you restore your home.

Most of these problems won’t improve over time without professional intervention. So if you notice these issues, it’s important to start the water restoration process as soon as possible.

24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

1/14/2021 (Permalink)

Water Damage in Home We are available 24/7 to take care of your water damage!

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

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - 931-723-8088.

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

What to Expect

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

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

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

About SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren Counties

SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren Counties  specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Stop Your Search with SERVPRO

1/7/2021 (Permalink)

Green Van In Front of House SERVPRO van on site to save the day!

It was a long day at work. You are tired, sore, and are ready to relax with some delicious dinner. You open your front door and walk into a flooded house that has experienced water damage. At first, you panic and attempt to salvage some of the items that have been water damaged.  But you soon realize your efforts are fruitless as the damage is too much for one person to contain. Thereafter, you pick up your phone and begin the hunt for a reliable, professional restoration company. While there may be many options to select from, here are a few reasons why SERVPRO of Coffee, Franklin and Warren County is the best choice for your water damage restoration needs:

  • We always answer our phones, 24/7, 365 - No answering services EVER.
  • We provide FREE inspections and quotes for all water damages - No surprise invoices or last-minute attempts to collect.
  • We work directly with your insurance - We work hard on restoring your property with $0 upfront costs.
  • We are a local, family-owned business - Each loss is a new opportunity for us to connect with our community. We treat each home as though it was our own.

With years of industy experience and family tree that is rooted in the heart of the counties we service, we are proud to help each and every resident during their time of need.  As a way to further support our community, we continue to provide FREE quotes, inspections, and decals for all residential or commercial businesses. 

How Water Removal can Clean Up and Protect a Home

12/23/2020 (Permalink)

Room with Wallpaper, Long Drapes, Wooden Furniture and Television mounted to wall When wallpaper and long drapes get wet, they need to be dried out quickly to prevent mold from setting in. Should you have damage, call us at SERVPRO

Contacting Certified Technicians After a Water Damage Event in Your Home can Prevent Secondary Damages from Setting in

When an accident occurs inside a home, the confined environment often works against a homeowner. Water spilled on the floor, in any amount, can quickly evaporate, making the saturated area seem drier than it really is while at the same time significantly increasing the humidity in the air.
 
Homes might require water removal services for several reasons, from the appliance's multiple water lines to tubs and sinks to weather-related issues. While removing as much water as possible before SERVPRO technicians arrive is always recommended, waiting to call for professional assistance only allows damage to worsen.
 
Prompt attention to the immediate area can curtail the amount of damage sustained, but professional mitigation of the situation also protects your home in other locations. The additional moisture in the air from evaporated water rarely remains suspended permanently, however, and condensation on belongings or absorption of this moisture by porous items within your home can allow other, more costly problems to develop.
 
Once humidity has penetrated into an area, for example, behind the seams on wallpaper, that moisture becomes increasingly complicated and time intensive to extract. Water removal can prevent damage in the first place, and we use dehumidification and desiccant equipment for this purpose throughout affected homes. Our highly trained and experienced technicians received certificates from the IICRC in Water Damage Restoration (WRT), ensuring that your home receives the quality services it needs and deserves. Our goal is to restore damaged homes thoroughly, so everything is once again “Like it never even happened.”
 
To quickly dry out your home's saturated floors, our use of water removal equipment might include large pump trucks when standing water is present. Large air blowers and small heated pads increase the rate of evaporation. Handheld suctioning devices are useful for eliminating smaller pockets of water present. Dehumidifiers and air scrubbers remove moisture from the indoor environment before it has a chance to cause further damage.
 
Whenever walls and vertical structures, such as long drapes or decorative columns, are also saturated with water that has wicked upwards along their lengths, our air blowers can be directed specifically for each one. This process reduces the probability of water stains and color bleeding. When the air outside is less humid than the indoor environment, we allow windows to remain open, speeding up the process even more.
 
SERVPRO of Coffee, Franklin, Warren County is here to help you accomplish restoring your home to a pre-accident condition using the latest in water removal technology and qualified, skilled professionals. Call us at 931-723-8088.

Coffee/Franklin/Warren County Residents: We Specialize in Flooded Basement Cleanup and Restoration!

1/8/2020 (Permalink)

This Franklin County home’s basement flooded due to heavy rains.

A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall. Basements are inherently prone to flooding because they are the lowest level of a building and are normally built partly or entirely below ground level. There are a number of reasons why your Coffee/Franklin/Warren County basement could flood, including: 

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

Have Questions about Basement Flooding?

Call Today - 931-723-8088.

If flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your health and safety, and cause severe damage to your home’s structure. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse the problem will get.

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

We are Flooded Basement Specialists:

  • We are Available 24 hours/7 days per week
  • We’re a Preferred Vendor to many National Insurance Companies
  • We Bill The Insurance Directly – One Less Thing For You To Worry About
  • Our Technicians are Highly-Trained  in Water Restoration Techniques
  • We use s500 IICRC Restoration Standards
  • Advanced Inspection and Extraction Equipment

Basement Flooded? Call Us Today – We’re Ready To Help 931-723-8088. 

SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren to the rescue for the Christmas season

7/5/2019 (Permalink)

The night before Christmas, Santa was delivering the toys to all the children around the world.  His reindeer made a stop to a home, this home had four Christmas trees within the home, while Santa was in the basement putting the toys under that tree, a water heater supply line broke causing extensive amount of water that covered the basement in a very short time, matter of fact there was 2' of water in the basement before Santa could say Ho Ho Ho.  He frantically thought what am I going to do.  He immediately jumped on a chair so he would not fill his boots with water.  Called the homeowner and explained the situation, the homeowner said I am not sure what to do!  Santa said, I have a solution, he reached for his phone and called SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren Counties (as they were on his speed dial.) SERVPRO arrived removed all the water so Santa could be on his way.  Then SERVPRO dried the structure and Santa returned to placed the gifts under the tree.

Here we Goat again.....

11/30/2017 (Permalink)

Guard Goat

We recently had a water damage at a home that needed a bathroom demolition. They had an ongoing water leak, and unfortunately it required dry out and mold remediation. In these situations where the homeowners are going through a upheaval of their home, it is always good to find a bright side to what is going on. Meet the resident goat dog. This little girl loved to follow our crew around and make sure they were doing everything they were supposed to be doing for her human parents. Who needs a guard dog, when you have a guard goat? Maybe SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren should offer her a Crew Chief job! In our line of work, we are usually called when something bad happens, so it is wonderful when God blesses us with a little humor, don't you think?

Call us with any water damage needs!

Sue Mihatov

OPS Manager 9317238088

Man's Best Friend, Water Damage from the Dog's perspective.

11/20/2017 (Permalink)

Faucet Head

Here is a story in which man’s best friend is not a man but a beloved dog (Faucet Head).  This dog got stuck in the bathroom one day while the homeowner was away, and while he played in there jumping on commode and sink and back down again, Faucet Head accidently knocked off the lid to the toilet.  Well guess what Murphy’s law, if it could happen it will.  The lid fell and landed on the supply line causing it to be ripped off the stop.  Faucet Head had no idea what to do, he was unable to call SERVPRO and have it cleaned up before Daddy got home, so he just jumped into the tub and waited.  Daddy arrived home and walked into water running thru the house, he found Faucet Head crouched down in the tub.  Of course who can get mad at your best friend.  Daddy immediately shut off the water to the house and called SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren Counties and they quickly extracted the water and dried the structure. Thank goodness SERVPRO came, because they made it "Like it never even happened."

24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

11/13/2017 (Permalink)

Water Damage

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

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - 931-723-8088

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

What to Expect

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

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

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

Drying your Documents

6/23/2016 (Permalink)

Don't let your papers deteriorate!

What would you do if you have water damage and all of your documents get wet? This can happen either at home or at your business. You call SERVPRO of CFW of course! We now offer Vacuum Freeze Drying! What is this? SERVPRO is only 1 of 3 companies in the United States that has a machine that can handle this. We want to be able to preserve your documents.

Vacuum Freeze drying

- Process in which an item containing moisture is frozen and dried using various vacuums and pressures to achieve sublimation.

- Sublimation

 • The direct conversion of a solid (Ice) into a gas (water vapor), without passage through a liquid stage.

 • Take dry ice for example. Dry ice is made of carbon dioxide, not water. When dry ice is exposed to normal atmospheric conditions it begins to sublimate, it turns directly from its sold stage into its gaseous stage bypassing the liquid stage.

What are the benefits of freeze drying?

Vacuum freeze drying is the most efficient and effective way to salvage water damaged documents.

It is the only method that is approved by NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) and the GSA (General Services Administration).

Other methods such as dehumidification can alter the structure of the paper’s fibers and cause the papers to become more brittle, and is not recommended by any means.

We also offer digitizing of those documents if needed or wanted

So don’t panic and call us! We want to help! 931-723-8088 Sue Mihatov SMR

Sprinkler Pipes Burst

2/8/2016 (Permalink)

Cause of water flow was a busted dry pipe sprinkler pipe, that affected about 36 rooms at the hotel.

Fire crews responded to a Fire Alarm activation at a local hotel on January 19, 2016. Upon arrival they saw water flowing out of the third floor. Fire crews did an awesome job of squeeging as much water as the could out of the third floor, shut down the system quickly so as not to cause any more damage. SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren counties came in immediately after the fire crew and began the clean up. We removed all nonsalvagable wet items and began the water removal and drying processes. Our water teams worked tirelessly for days to restore this commercial property as quickly as possible. "Time is Money" and we don't want our clients to miss out on business any longer than absolutely necessary! 

Flooding in St. Louis, MO Winter 2016

2/8/2016 (Permalink)

It didn't take long to realize that we didn't need to promise a time to homeowners... a lot of roads were closed and it took several GPS attempts

On December 26 & 27, 2015 the Mississippi River overflowed into most parts of the St. Louis area creating massive flooding in businesses, homes and closing major roads. As part of a large loss/storm team, we deployed 2 water damage teams and a marketer to the affected area. For 12 days, SERVPRO of Coffee/Franklin/Warren Counties cleaned damage done by sump pump and sewage back ups in homeowner basements. One homeowner hugged our marketer when he found out that we'd start cleaning by morning. Most homeowners were surprised that we had come so far to help....

A Water "Explosion"

1/21/2014 (Permalink)

"Water explosion" as described by a local utility company

Here are a few pictures of a "water explosion" due to frozen pipes and thawing from 2 weeks ago. We've had several calls where the utility company has turned off water to the home because 40,000 gallons or more were showing up on the meter.Something as simple as water can cause such devastation in such a short time. Please take precautions as the temperatures drop this week! Call us at 931-723-8088 if you need our help with mitigation and cleanup!