Behind the Scenes: The Sewage Damage Process and What You Need to Know

3/12/2023 (Permalink)

Sewage damage can be a serious issue, call the professionals for clean up

Sewage damage can be one of the most unpleasant and hazardous types of property damage. Whether it's caused by a backed-up sewer line or a sewage spill, it’s important to understand the sewage damage process and what you need to know to protect yourself, your family, and your property. In this blog, we'll take you behind the scenes of the sewage damage process and provide you with the information you need to know.

Assessing the Damage

The first step in the sewage damage process is to assess the damage. A professional restoration company will inspect the affected areas to determine the extent of the damage and identify any potential health hazards.

Containment

The next step is to contain the sewage to prevent it from spreading further. This may involve closing off the affected areas, using plastic sheeting and barriers, and setting up negative air pressure to prevent the spread of contaminated air.

Extraction and Removal

The sewage and any contaminated materials, such as carpeting or drywall, must be removed from the affected areas. This requires specialized equipment, including pumps, wet/dry vacuums, and other tools to extract the sewage and contaminated materials.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

Once the sewage and contaminated materials have been removed, the affected areas must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to remove any remaining bacteria and pathogens. This involves using specialized cleaning products and equipment to disinfect the area and prevent the spread of disease.

Drying and Restoration

The final step in the sewage damage process is to dry and restore the affected areas. This may involve using dehumidifiers, fans, and other drying equipment to remove any remaining moisture and prevent mold growth. Then, the area can be repaired and restored to its preloss condition.

What You Need to Know

If you experience sewage damage, it’s important to act quickly and contact a professional restoration company. Sewage damage can pose serious health risks and should be handled by trained professionals who have the proper equipment and expertise to ensure the safety of your property and your family.

Additionally, it’s important to avoid contact with the sewage and contaminated materials, as well as the affected areas, until they have been properly cleaned and sanitized. Exposure to sewage can cause serious problems.

In conclusion, sewage damage is a serious issue that requires immediate attention from a professional restoration company. By understanding the sewage damage process and what you need to know, you can protect yourself, your family, and your property and ensure a safe and thorough restoration.

Why Is My Washing Machine Leaking?

2/13/2023 (Permalink)

If a washing machine leak goes untreated, it can lead to significant damage to your home.

If your washing machine is leaking, it's not just a matter of a few drips in your laundry room. It's leaking water, which means something is wrong with the hose or pipes. You could have a problem with the water supply hoses, drain tube, pump, or overflow tube. If the leak goes untreated, it can lead to significant damage to your home. Here are some common causes of washing machine leaks.

The Water Supply Hoses Are Faulty.

The water supply hoses are the most common cause of leaking washing machines. These hoses are connected to the washing machine and run from there to the hot and cold water supply pipes.

The hose can be connected to the wrong valve, kinked, pinched, or cracked. You should check that there are no leaks in your hoses before assuming that you need to replace them entirely. If you find that your washing machine is still leaking after inspecting these areas then it's time to replace your hoses!

The Drain Hose Is Loose or Disconnected.

The next thing to check is the drain hose. This is the pipe that connects your washing machine to the drain outlet. If it's disconnected or loose, reconnect it and tighten any clamps you can find. If this doesn't solve your problem, try replacing the drain hose as well as checking for leaks in other areas of your washer.

If the washing machine is leaking water, it's likely a hose is loose or disconnected. The water supply hoses are connected to the washing machine and they run from there to the hot and cold water supply pipes. The drain hose also runs from your washer through a clamp on your sink or drain outlet to allow drainage of excess water after each cycle has finished.

The Load Is Unbalanced.

If the washing machine is not level and there's a large amount of laundry in it, it can cause the drum to spin out of balance. This will cause leaking around the bottom of your washer as well as loud vibrations during spin cycles.

The Pump Is Faulty.

The pump is the motor that pumps water out of the machine. It's usually located on the inside wall of your washing machine and can usually be easily identified by its spinning impeller. If your pump has failed, it's not a simple DIY job to replace it; you'll likely need to call in a professional repair person.

If your washing machine is leaking water, these are some of the most common reasons why. If you notice any leaks, make sure to fix them immediately so they don't cause damage to your home! The longer moisture sits untreated, the more damage it causes to your home. If you are in need of water damage cleanup and restoration services after a washing machine leak, don't hesitate and give our SERVPRO of San Ramon team a call today!

Home Renters Insurance and Water Damage: Am I covered?

12/19/2022 (Permalink)

When water damage strikes your rental property, do you know if you are covered by insurance?

Water damage is an unfortunate reality for renters. It can happen in the blink of an eye, and the result can be devastating. Whether it's a burst pipe or even a broken appliance, you'll want to know if your renters insurance will cover the costs if any of these things happen.

Is Water Damage Covered by Renters Insurance?

Yes, but only in certain situations. Water damage is covered by renters insurance if it was caused by one of the following:

• A covered loss (such as a fire, lightning strike or storm)
• Neglect or routine wear and tear (think leaky faucets or a clogged drain)
• Flooding

Many other kinds of water damage will be covered by renters insurance.

If you're a renter and your pipes burst, or if your dishwasher overflows, or if your toilet overflows, or if you forget to turn off the water before leaving for vacation, or if you have a leaky roof—any of these things could result in water damage. And if this happens to anyone, it's usually not their fault. That's why renters insurance covers most other kinds of water damage as well.

When you look for renters insurance, check that it's the right policy for your needs.

In order to make sure your renters insurance is the right policy for you and your needs, it's important that you check the details of the policy. When you are looking at renters insurance policies, make sure that:

• You understand what is covered by the policy. If there is something in particular you want to be covered, such as jewelry or expensive electronics, look for a policy that covers those items specifically.
• You understand how the policy works. For example, some policies will have an additional fee per month if they have to pay out a claim while others will not charge extra fees until after five claims have been filed.
• The coverage amount matches what you actually own and keep at home (e.g., if there are high-value items like artworks then this should be calculated into their value). This can help prevent underinsurance when it comes time to file claims against those assets too!

Renters Flood Insurance

Renters flood insurance is a separate policy from your normal renters insurance. The cost of a renters flood policy depends on several factors, including where you live and the amount of coverage you need. For example, living in an area prone to floods might require higher limits of coverage than someone who lives in an area that’s less likely to see flooding.

A renters flood policy also covers damage done by water seeping into your home through the walls or windows. This includes water coming in through plumbing, pipes and appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers too! If there are cracks or holes in these items then they could result in a lot of dirty water getting into your home – so if this happens then all those costs will be covered under this type of insurance too!

If you're looking to protect your belongings, then renters insurance is the way to go. Make sure that it covers water damage and check out our tips above on how to choose the right policy for your needs. You'll also need to go through a little bit of hassle when filing a claim so make sure it's worth it by reading up on what could happen if you don't have coverage before signing anything!

Categories of Water

1/14/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage can be common in a home. Determining the type of water, or category, is important to determine the plan of action one should take in remediating the damage. Here at SERVPRO of San Ramon, we determine the category of water based on the guidelines set by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC. The 3 different types of water damage categories are as follows:

• Category 1 water is considered clean water that does not pose a substantial risk to one's health. This type of loss happens due to broken supply lines, tub and sink overflows that contain no contaminants, and appliance malfunctions due to supply lines.
• Category 2 water is considered dirty water (Grey Water) that is significantly contaminated. This category of water can pose potential risk to one's health and can cause mild discomfort of illness if ingested. This type of loss happens due to discharges from dishwashers or washing machines that has contaminants, overflows due to washing machines, tubs, and sinks with contaminants, or overflows from toilets that doesn't contain feces.
• Category 3 water is considered severely dirty water (Black Water) that is grossly contaminated. This level of contamination can cause severe illness or death if the water is ingested. This type of loss happens due to overflows from toilets that contain feces, sewage back-ups, flooding from seawater, river water, or lakes, Water coming from the outdoors that contain different pesticides and other chemicals that can cause severe illness.

SERVPRO of San Ramon is here to help you during these emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call us at (925) 999-0927 to have us assist you with your residential or commercial water loss.

What to do if you have a Water Loss

12/28/2020 (Permalink)

Water losses and flooding can happen unexpectedly, and the first step is to call SERVPRO of San Ramon. We are here to help and make your home like new, as if it had never happened. Here are some tips to help you before we arrive:

• Remove excess standing water by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe water from wood furniture.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery and cushions.
• Put furniture legs on wood blocks or aluminum foil and get it away from wet carpet.
• During the summer, turn air conditions units on for maximum drying effect.
• Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting.
• Remove art objects to a safe, dry place.
• Hang leather goods and furs.

When SERVPRO of San Ramon arrives on-site, we will assist you with your water loss and helping you communicate with your insurance provider.

The Specialists at SERVPRO of San Ramon are here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with your residential or commercial emergency. If you have any questions, give us a call today at (925) 999-0927.