It May Not Look Like Much Water

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

There's nothing like waking up first thing in the morning, walking out of your bedroom, and into a pool of water in your hallway. Next thing you know your socks are wet, and you just realized today might be considered a bad day. The first thing anyone does in this situation is figure out where it came from. You discover that you have a broken water line in the vanity sink in your bathroom. You turn off the valve right there under the sink and stop the water and call your plumber to come to fix it. That's not the end of the issue yet. 

So, the plumber is on his way and you're looking around at all this water on the bathroom floor, your carpeted hallway is soaked and of course, there is still water dripping out from the vanity. This is a mess most people don't know how to handle, a few towels and the dehumidifier out of your basement might not be the answer. The common reaction to water everywhere is to get some towels and maybe a fan or two. 

When it comes to large amounts of water, towels, and fans are not going to be enough to dry things below the surface. Once the water has saturated a carpet down to the pad, the subfloor is now affected. Same for walls, the outer layer of drywall being saturated means that most likely there are wet framing studs that are at risk of being wet as well. With this knowledge, you now know the next call should be SERVPRO. 

SERVPRO has certified water restoration technicians with the training and tools to make sure that everything is dry and sanitary by the time the job is done. SERVPRO will work with you and your insurance company to make sure everything is handled properly and to IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) standards.

Marshalltown Area Residents: Don’t Let Your Garden Hose Be the Culprit of Water Damage

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

Remember that warm week in early April? People were thronging to places like Riverview Park to enjoy the weather. 

Have You Ever Done This?

We had one client whose son took advantage of the near 80-degree temps to hook up the hose and wash his car. Lots of people probably did. 

Of course, Iowa temps in April are a crazy roller coaster, and about a week later they dropped below freezing, with a little bit of snow and ice to boot. The water left in the line from the hose still being hooked to the house expanded and cracked the copper water pipe that ran inside. And the homeowner had no idea. Guess what happened.

The Unsuspected Culprit

Once it warmed back up, they turned on the hose again without realizing water was running down into their basement. We see this a lot.

If it’s a big crack, it will cause immediately noticeable water damage. If it’s a small one, it causes a leak that can go unnoticed and result in mold formation

Either way, you can prevent it.

How To Prevent Water Damage From Your Garden Hose After a Freeze

If you used your hose during that early warm streak and haven’t turned it on again, and if the water pipe is exposed, you can simply go down to where the line comes into your basement, have someone turn the hose on full blast and monitor the pipe for any leaking. 

If you have turned on your hose again after using it during the warm weather, you should go inspect the area around the pipe in your basement for any signs of water leaking or damage. 

To prevent this in the future, make sure you winterize by unhooking all garden hoses well before temperatures drop below freezing in the fall and waiting to reattach until temperatures have stabilized in the spring. If you do use your hose in early spring, it’s always good to unhook it immediately afterward. 

See any problems or have concern? Call us right away at 515-233-4544. Water can spread and be absorbed quickly, so you don’t want to wait.

SERVPRO of Marshalltown Will Guide You to the Right Solution

SERVPRO of Marshalltown is available 24 hours/7 days per week. Our highly trained and IICRC-certified staff is ready to come out and let you know what needs to be done, whether our services are needed or not, at no charge. 

If you just need a plumber - we’ll tell you that. If you need help with water damage repair and/or mold remediation, you can trust SERVPRO as the No. 1 brand in the restoration industry.

We have superior equipment and tools to evaluate your damage and make all the repairs so it’s “Like it never even happened.”

Common causes of a flooded bathroom

5/5/2022 (Permalink)

Bathroom floods can happen when:

Blocked toilet

As we said above, the worst thing you can do is repeatedly flush, as more water will sit on top of the blockage with nowhere to go, but up and out onto your bathroom floor. You need to isolate the toilet (find its isolation valve or shut off your mains water if needed), then unclog the toilet, possibly with a plunger or a plumber’s snake. Read our guide on to how to unblock a toilet and you’ll be able to resolve this with speed.

Leaking shower

A leaking shower that creates a flood in the bathroom may involve broken tapware or fittings, it could be a burst pipe behind the wall or it could be a hairline crack in your shower tray. Again, shut off the water as soon as you become aware of the flooding, then cut the power to the bathroom. Once you’ve mopped up, you can address the problem. Read our guide to troubleshooting and fixing a leaking shower for your next steps. Get general tips on how to detect a leak here and there’s some more advice on common water leaks in the home and how to fix them here.

Bath flooding

In a busy household with children running amok and a to-do list of a thousand tasks, a flooded bath can easily happen. Even an overflow in tip-top shape can only handle so much excess water until it’s defeated and submerged. What to do? Close the tap as soon as you can, pull out the plug, mop up and save your stuff.

How to prevent it ever happening again? Give yourself five minutes of peace and quiet by chaperoning the bath as it fills. If your children are old enough to be left in a room without you, you could even lock the door and do some deep breathing exercises or calmly drink a cup of tea on your own. Go on, you deserve it.

Child flooded the bathroom

Speaking of kids, those little darlings can often be the cause of bathroom flooding. They often leave the tap running after washing their hands with the plug in. They do things with wet tissue that we just can’t fathom, getting it down the sink and in the bath drain and overflow.

You’ll sometimes find the odd plastic toy down the toilet and, once children are in the bath themselves, they may decide to create their own tidal wave machine, shunting their bodies back and forth, spraying great splashes onto the floor like a ocean-faring speed boat. Your only solace is that you probably did it too! Keeping plenty of towels handy and getting them to mop it up themselves may prevent a replay.

Pipe and plumbing issues

A burst or blocked pipe can very easily cause a bathroom flood. Supply lines come into the sink, toilet, bath, behind the shower and even a bidet, so there are plenty of places for pipes to cause issues, including:
Burst pipes – this can be a pinhole leak in your water supply line, or caused by pipes freezing, expanding and cracking in winter and then thawing and leaking. Avoid this issue by making sure pipes that might be susceptible to freezing are appropriately lagged/insulated. You may be able to fix a pinhole leak with putty or tape, a repair clamp, or you may have to replace that part of the pipe.
Blocked pipes – this can be caused by hair, soap, wet wipes or tissue going down a drain and building up into a blockage. Avoid this issue by getting a drain guard (it looks like a mini sieve or colander that you place over the drain). To fix a blocked pipe you may need to use a plumbers snake or if that doesn’t work try a plunger.

for more info visit homeserve.com

Tips for Water Emergencies Before Help Arrives

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

What You Can Do Until Help Arrives

After any water damage situation, your primary focus should be safety:

• Is it safe to stay in the house?
• Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns.
• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.
• Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful!

What To Do After Flooding

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer.
• Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting.
• Remove art objects to a safe, dry place.
• Gather loose items from floors.

What NOT To Do After Flooding

• Don't leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.
• Don't leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.
• Don't use your household vacuum to remove water.
• Don't use television or other household appliances.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

If you ever need help involving a water damage emergency, or have any questions related to water issues, contact SERVPRO of Marshalltown by phone anytime at (641) 758-9746 or you can find us on Facebook at SERVPRO of Marshalltown.

It’s a Water Emergency, What Can You Do?

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

Emergency Water Damage Tips

After a storm passes, it’s important to stay safe while waiting for help to arrive. Here are some tips to help prevent further damage after a storm, especially if your home has some water damage, brought to you by SERVPRO of Marshalltown:

- Shut off water source if possible or contact a qualified party to do so in a timely manner as quickly as possible.

- Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the home when access to the power distribution breakers is safe from electrical shock.

- Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping or blotting the surrounding affected areas immediately. 

- Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions in order to evenly dry them. Do not throw wet or damaged cushion covers into a washing machine.

- Refrain from plugging in and attempting to use vacuums, or turning on ceiling fans near the affected area. 

- Avoid the general affected area overall. Electrical shock signals could lurk near an area affected by water damage, and the area as a whole is best if avoided as electric breakers, cords, outlets, or currents could be close. 

If you or someone you know ever faces a water damage emergency, or has any questions regarding a related topic, feel free to contact SERVPRO of Marshalltown anytime by phone at (641) 758-9746 or you can find us on Facebook anytime at SERVPRO of Marshalltown. We are here to get your home back to how it looked before a water damage event. SERVPRO of Marshalltown is truly faster to any size disaster!

Faster to Your Water Damage Event

1/26/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Marshalltown can provide emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to residential and commercial properties throughout Marshall, Tama, Grundy, and Hardin Counties. 

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more. SERVPRO of Marshalltown arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – (515) 233-4544

Water Damage Timeline: 

Within Minutes

• Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
• Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
• Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
• Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall begins to swell and break down.
• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
• Furniture begins to swell and crack.
• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
• A musty odor appears.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

• Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
• Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and corrode.
• Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
• Paint begins to blister.
• Wood flooring swells and warps.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

• Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
• Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.

About SERVPRO of Marshalltown

SERVPRO of Marshalltown 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. We are able to service all of Marshall, Tama, Hardin, and Grundy Counties. 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. Call us or send a message through Facebook 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Tips to Trick The Cold This Winter

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

Make sure your home or business stays ready for winter weather in Marshall & Tama counties!

1/12/2022

Winter is here to stay, with frigid weather Iowans are more traditionally used to arriving just in time for the new year. When cold weather hits, our instinct is to begin thinking of how to protect ourselves from the lower degrees. We should also, however, get in a habit of paying the same cold-weather attention to our residences or commercial businesses. Winterizing your home not only saves you money on energy bills, but it also helps ensure a warmer, less stressful winter when indoors.

Before you suffer a water damage event brought on by cold temperatures, you should check your home or commercial property for areas that may need additional insulation, heating, or other attention that will prevent freezing weather from penetrating your property and potentially damaging water pipes in the process. Depending upon the size of your home or commercial property, this type of scenario can result in thousands of dollars in damage and may require many weeks of construction to restore. At SERVPRO of Marshalltown, it is our goal to stop a potential situation from occurring beforehand through preventable measures. Here are some tips for winterizing your home in central Iowa!

1. Seal your home

Give your home a quick run-through, checking for visible, as well as hidden drafts. One way of doing this is by holding a lit candle near the following areas:

• Windows
• Doors
• Vents and fans
• Plumbing areas
• Air conditioners
• Mail chutes
• Electrical and gas lines

If the candle flickers, you probably have a draft.

Seal any holes and reinforce existing points of entry with weather stripping. Everything you need for this should be able to get found in any local hardware store.

2. Check heat, turn off external faucets, protect pipes

Draining your sprinkler system and shutting off all external hoses is the best way to help prevent water pipes from freezing. Check your heating system periodically to ensure that it’s working properly in a safe manner, before cranking it to full blast during the coldest stretches of weather. The most important phase of winterizing your home or commercial property involves potentially frozen pipes, and how to avoid them.

•  Keep your heat on—even when you’re not home. You don’t need to turn the thermostat up when you’re out, but you should keep it at a moderately warm temperature, so your home’s pipes don’t freeze and burst.
• Allow your faucets to drip during severe cold snaps so that the water flows through your cold pipes. Allowing the water to stay stagnant puts it at greater risk of freezing.
• Wrap any exposed piping to prevent freezing. You can find foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves for pipes and outdoor hose bibs at most hardware stores.
• Review all locations inside your property where water pipes are running. In particular, check pipes close to exterior walls, in basements, in attics, adjacent to unheated areas (i.e. garages) or pipes that are just in colder areas of your property. If necessary, place an exterior thermometer in the space to see if the temperature is warmer than the outside air. 

If these areas are cold than it may be a good idea to insulate the pipes, or the surrounding area, or add a space or pipe heater. If you have any questions, contact us 24/7 by phone at (515) 233-4544 or on Facebook at SERVPRO of Marshalltown.

Frozen Pipes? This Might Help

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

Frozen Pipes? Trick the cold and avoid them this Winter!

The Backstory

As the temperatures outside begin lowering themselves at a quickened rate, it seems like forever ago Iowans wished for a real, traditional winter, if not atleast a white Christmas. Sometimes frigid temps such as these create the perfect storm for cold-weather emergencies due to a multitude of unforeseen circumstances, often at the expense of home and business owners alike. At SERVPRO of Marshalltown, we understand the stress attached to winter emergencies such as pipes freezing, and wish to remediate the problem right away. 

If a pipe within your home freezes, call us at (515) 233-4544. Our dedicated, knowledgeable crew will arrive onsite to begin the water damage remediation process. SERVPRO of Marshalltown is faster to any size disaster. After fixing the water damage and shutting all pipes off, the immediate area damaged will then be restored back to how it looked prior to the pipes freezing.

The Process

By working with plumbers, SERVPRO of Marshalltown is able to ensure a quick rebuild process to the affected area, while simultaneously carrying out water damage tests to further examine deeper, more hidden areas of destruction, namely water buildup within nearby walls. Although the damage assessment and restoration process may seem like a lot, SERVPRO of Marshalltown hopes to solve any disaster issue at its earliest, in order to keep our customers the happiest. 

How To Prevent Frozen Pipes

While we can’t control the weather, there are things we can do to prevent pipes from freezing. To prevent pipes from freezing and causing major damage, follow these steps:  

• Drain water from pipes that are likely to freeze. This includes your swimming pool and sprinkler water supply lines.
• Disconnect any hoses from the outside of your home, drain the hoses and store them in the garage. Make sure to close the indoor valves supplying these outdoor access points.
• Insulate the area around vents and light fixtures. This helps prevent heat from escaping into the attic.
• Seal any wall cracks. Be sure to pay careful attention to the areas around utility service lines.
• Open kitchen cabinets. This allows the warm air to circulate around the pipes.
• Keep the garage doors closed to protect water lines.
• Allow your faucets to drip cold water on the coldest days. The movement will make it harder for the water to freeze.
• Keep your thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Never let it fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit when you leave your home.
• Ensure you have proper seals on all doors and windows.
• Place a 60-watt bulb in areas where you’re concerned about pipes freezing. Make sure there are no combustible materials near the bulb.

Got further questions? Give us a call at (515) 233-4544 or contact us on Facebook for service 24/7.

Catch Leaking Pipes Before They Cause Damage

9/21/2020 (Permalink)

Be proactive about finding leaky pipes and save yourself from possible water damage.

Ever wonder why your water bill is so high? Or have you noticed there’s dampness in the cabinet under your faucet?

We easily identify roof leaks when they splash on our heads, and it’s fairly simple to detect dripping appliances, but leaky pipes can be trickier to locate and correct. However, it’s important to find them early, as slow leaks usually are not covered by insurance.

Plumbing repair sounds like a big project. But you can often fix a leaky pipe by yourself. This video shows you the basics. There are plenty of other do-it-yourself resources out there. A quick Google search gives a list of how-to videos by most major hardware businesses.

How to Spot Leaky Pipes Early

Check for signs of a leak on a regular basis. Traces of water can cue you in to leaky pipes. Look for damaged flooring or ceiling stains. Puddles are big clues, of course. You should also look for more subtle signs. Loose caulking might indicate a leak. Rust in your sink or toilet joints can also be signs of a leak. Loose tiles? Mold? A toilet that rocks back and forth? You guessed it—all can be caused by a leak.

Locate the source. Now that you know there’s probably a leak in the area, find where it’s coming from. You might need to open an access panel behind a tub or check under a sink. Look under countertops. You can also fill a tub or sink and then drain it, checking for dampness around each joint you can reach.

Evaluate if it’s a do-it-yourself job. Can you handily see and access the leaking pipe? If so, chances are you can make a repair. But if you can’t identify the source—or if you can see it but can’t get to it—it’s time to call a plumber. A certified, bonded plumber can make repairs that will save you money down the road.

When the Damage Is Done

If your leaking pipe has already caused damage, call SERVPRO. We’ve been cleaning up water damage for more than 50 years.

We’ll answer your call any time, around the clock. We combine national expertise with local know-how, so you know we’ll serve you right.

Dealing with water damage? Contact SERVPRO of Marshalltown at any hour for the rapid response we’re known for.

Hidden Spots for Household Water Damage

9/10/2020 (Permalink)

Check places in your home for hidden water damage on regular basis.

It’s common to associate water damage with flooding, but there are many other surprising reasons water damage can occur in a home—quite a few of which can occur in hidden locations.

Because water damage can become worse if left untreated, hidden water damage is especially insidious. Many homeowners’ policies do not provide coverage for water damage; when they do, a typical claim will be in the range of $7,000.

Knowing the surprising spots where water damage may be found and checking them regularly can go a long way in preventing complications.

Surprising Spots for Household Water Damage

• Inside cabinets: When sink pipes are inside cabinets, it’s easy for leaks to go unnoticed. Regularly check the piping to make sure you catch leaks before they cause damage.
• Near bathtub casings: The casing of the bathtub or shower is sealed with caulk around the edges, providing a barrier against leaks. However, if these have not been recaulked in a while, they can begin to falter.
• On structural elements: Drywall hides the structural elements of the home, but it can also hide water damage. Though ripping out drywall can be a chore, if there has been a busted pipe or a flood recently, it is wise to check behind it.
• Around seals in the roof: The vents of roofs are sealed to prevent water from entering, but the seals deteriorate over time. Check the roof at the start of spring and fall for signs of water.
• Within an HVAC unit: As the HVAC unit pulls moisture from the air, it typically drains it away. However, if there is an issue with any of the drain lines, this condensation can build up within the unit instead.
• Behind appliances: Appliances are rarely moved unless they are being replaced, but washing machines and dishwashers can also hide water leaks. Perform an inspection for any hidden damage every few months as a preventive measure.
• Around exterior faucets: Because outside faucets are connected within the walls of the house, leaks can easily hide. If the faucet is turned off and you still hear sounds of running water, there migIht be a hidden leak.

If you find water damage in your Marshall, Hardin, Grundy or Tama County home, give us a call right away, and we’ll be there quickly.

Protect Your Basement With a Sump Pump

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

Your basement is finally nicely carpeted, stocked with food and drinks, filled with electronics, a home entertainment system and new furniture. Are you prepared if a strong summer storm threatens to flood your basement and ruin everything there? You might want to consider installing a sump pump. 

Placing a sump pump at the lowest point of your house can help with flooding prevention. While not the prettiest sight, a sump pump can save you the thousands of dollars it can cost to clean up and restore a flooded basement. And if your basement floods once, chances are it will flood again.

A sump pump has two parts: a float switch and a mechanical pump. The entire mechanism is placed in the pit of the sump pump, which is at the lowest level of a house’s basement. When moisture leaks into the basement, the water level rises, lifting the float switch high enough that it activates the pump. The water is then pumped out of the basement through a discharge pipe.

Sump pumps also have the ability to be connected to a dehumidifier, which will pull moisture out of the air and dump it directly into your sump pump. This helps prevent mold formation, which is another problem for basements. Most newer homes in the Midwest require a sump pump. If yours does not, we suggest doing your research and looking into it. They can save your home before a crisis hits. 

If you do happen to experience flooding or water in your basement, call SERVPRO of Marshalltown right away, and we’ll be there quickly to assess the damage and start restoring your basement back to its original condition, “Like it never even happened.” Call (641) 758-9746, anytime, day or night.