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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Water Damage Blog Posts

Fast Responses Help Jacksonville Water Damage Cleanup

4/5/2023 (Permalink)

Poster, wand, we do water extraction SERVPRO extracts the water and dries surfaces, fixtures, contents, and structures to mitigate damage in Jacksonville properties.

Several Types of Water Damage Threaten Homes

Damages from water leaks and moisture intrusion into your home are among the most common restoration needs for residences and businesses. Experienced recovery specialists like our SERVPRO professionals have rapid solutions to help with:

  • Structural drying
  • Water removal services
  • Content restoration
  • Surface cleaning
  • Repairs

Experiencing Damage in Several Ways

Jacksonville water damage can happen swiftly and from multiple sources. As leading restoration professionals, we can prepare for different types of compromised home conditions with our training and hands-on experience. Common threats include:

  • Leaking Pipes – Most commonly, water damage is a product of leaks and burst pipes. Aging utilities become vulnerable over time with various influences wearing down the plumbing materials or external forces like extreme temperature fluctuations.
  • Broken Appliances – Washing machines and dishwashers can fail under certain conditions, allowing leaks from the hoses feeding water to the unit or escaping pools of water gathered for the cleaning process.
  • Flooding – Natural flooding can rapidly invade a home with little warning, spreading out through multiple rooms and leaving a pooling mess with debris and mud across the floors. Cleanup of these emergencies must get calculated and carefully considered to avoid spreading contaminants.
  • Accidents/Spills – Accidents can also account for many water emergencies SERVPRO professionals help resolve. From an overflowing sink and bathtub to countless other issues, we know how to help.

The Threat of Pooling Water

When professionals first arrive at a damaged residence, they are often met with the visual of standing water when the disaster has introduced enough liquid to the impacted areas. With situations like burst pipes or flooding, standing water can be especially threatening, as there could be several inches of pooling continually working to absorb into exposed building materials and contents. To overcome these threats, SERVPRO professionals must utilize multiple extraction devices from our inventory, like wet vacuums, light wands, and submersible pumps.

Clearing Moisture from Building Materials

Drying is the universal need of all water damage restoration projects that our SERVPRO team undertakes. As leading restoration professionals, we arrive with cutting-edge drying and evaporative tools to make a significant difference over a shorter contact time. The foundational elements of drying remain the same, combining the evaporation possible with appropriately placed air movers and the humidity regulation of a sufficient number of dehumidification units. It is often also beneficial for our professionals to work to manipulate the temperature of the drying zone to increase drying production and raise the thresholds of relative humidity ceilings.

How Do You Know It Is Dry?

Thoroughly drying your residence can only be done with thorough follow-up on evaporation progress and the moist conditions of the property. SERVPRO must re-evaluate wet materials for their current needs, and damp pockets get tracked through wall systems and structural assemblies to ensure that wet areas are not left to facilitate mold colonies. Multiple approaches can help our experienced professionals monitor drying progress throughout the household, including:

  • Detection devices 
  • Thermography
  • Moisture sensors

Water Damage Repairs for Your Home

Repairs can be required to return your home to preloss condition after flooding or burst pipes. Immediate repairs and assistance can be necessary when we arrive, such as replacing portions of the plumbing system and broken fixtures allowing for leaks. When controlled demolition eliminates installed building materials and structural systems, our professionals must take the final stages of restoration and recovery and replace these to their original appearance “Like it never even happened.”

Jacksonville water damage can occur in several ways and rapidly overwhelm a property. Our SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties team knows how to help when disasters strike. Call us at (910) 319-0600.

Where to Find the Right Equipment for Water Restoration in Jacksonville

4/4/2023 (Permalink)

Contact Us Sign SERVPRO of Pender/West Onslow Counties understands how important your home is. Let us help you out.

When There’s No Time to Waste, SERVPRO is Ready to Remediate Water Damage in Jacksonville Homes

Appliances in our Jacksonville homes make daily life a lot easier. Our clothes washers often run, as do our dishwashers and water heaters, giving us all the comforts we take for granted. But when an appliance breaks and leaks all over our utility room or kitchen, it is suddenly at the center of a topsy-turvy home, and we need immediate help to return to our routine as soon as possible.

Water restoration in Jacksonville is closer than you think. Right through your phone and into our 24/7 hotline, SERVPRO experts are ready to help. Certified technicians with access to industry-grade equipment are just what you need when your floors are in danger of permanent damage or your drywall is rapidly soaking up water. When our crew arrives at your home, we thoroughly assess the situation and detect where water may be hiding. We can then create an action plan focused on efficiency and loss mitigation.

Many of our clients attempt to remediate the situation themselves. Although their instincts are correct, it takes specialized equipment to remove excess water and restore humidity levels. When you call us, you can expect us to suggest one or several of the following:

  • Wet vacuums: thanks to their power and combined with other specialty drying solutions, they can be key in removing standing water quickly and thoroughly.
  • Extractor wands: for hard to reach spots, our team uses handheld wands to ensure we reach every corner and avoid secondary water damage.
  • Pumps: depending on the volume of water soaking up your home, we can access pumps of varying power, from truck-mounted to submersible.


SERVPRO of Pender/West Onslow Counties is a phone call away. Call (910) 319-0600 and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

Psychometry Principles for Jacksonville Water Damage Restoration

11/3/2022 (Permalink)

Water spewing from pipe Air temperature and humidity can affect the drying process.

Drying Factors of Water Damage Restoration 

One of the critical lessons our SERVPRO team learns in our pursuit of knowledge on effectively managing water and flood damage is psychometry, or the study of how water behaves with materials and under specific conditions. Knowing these answers can help our restoration team to provide direct and effective drying and cleaning approaches. Ultimately, the process comes down to balancing specific drying principles.

Suitable Airflow 

Water damage restoration for Jacksonville properties will start with the proper drying equipment and implements. The use of air is crucial to begin evaporation and allow moisture grains of the environment to find their way outside the residence. Manipulating airflow can involve several approaches and pathways, including:

  • Air movers
  • Ventilation
  • Structural openings

The Right Temperature 

There are many ways that having an ideal drying zone temperature will help the efficiency and efficacy of water removal and restoration. Warmer temperatures allow molecules to move faster, ultimately drying surfaces quicker or permitting needed surface-cleaning chemical processes to do the same. Warmer temperatures in the drying area also increase the relative humidity, allowing the environment to absorb more moisture before stalling the evaporation processes.

Regulating Relative Humidity

Humidity is another essential factor of psychometry to consider. More than balancing the airflow and the temperature is required, as the environment ends up overwhelmed by the newly generated moisture grains from the evaporation process. SERVPRO must implement tools and strategies to reduce this relative humidity to manageable levels, allowing the complete drying process to continue and reducing heavy air saturation that might promote secondary threats like mold growth. Tools used in this process can include:

  • Hygrometers
  • Heaters
  • Desiccants
  • Low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers

You cannot predict how disasters will impact your property, but you can choose who to trust with water damage restoration in your Jacksonville home. Give our SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties team a call at (910) 319-0600.

Fight Dampness in Jacksonville with Professional Water Mitigation

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

Copper Pipes Water damage spreads far from the source. SERVPRO has the technology to locate the hidden moisture.

The Ways Water Mitigation Protects Your Property

Leftover dampness from a water leak can remain within your home’s atmosphere long after you have fixed a leaky pipe. Our professional water mitigation team can help by ensuring your Jacksonville residence experiences appropriately dry conditions.

Prompt and proper water mitigation of your Jacksonville home provides more than one type of protection. If any of these conditions have become established within your residence, then you can trust SERVPRO to eliminate them. A lack of excessive and unnecessary moisture protects you and your property from secondary damage that even small amounts of water can cause.

The conditions that you should be aware of so you can protect your home include:

  • Microbial overgrowth, 
  • Softening and weakening of porous materials, and
  • Unwanted odors.

Microbes like mold or mildew can stain clothing, ruin keepsakes, destroy paintings, and much more. Microbes have deep-reaching tendril-like structures that dig into whatever it lives on, leaving discolorations behind when someone cleans the surface.

Damp pockets in your dwelling can lead to the destruction of materials like drywall and carpeting. Dry rotting takes place slowly but is very preventable. Repairs are almost impossible, making replacements the norm.

Foul odors that do not seem to come from any specific location might stem from stagnant water near the air intake vents for your HVAC system. Air fresheners and room deodorizers cannot do anything substantial because the next time the heat or A/C starts, a new batch of smelly air gets pushed into your home’s living space.

When SERVPRO performs water mitigation, we use special detection equipment that shows where the intrusive water originates. When doing this work, we drain or otherwise remove any water or moisture present. Then, we can seal off the sources of water, which helps keep your home from becoming damp in the future. 

Call SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties when your home is giving you problems at (910) 319-0600. We can help find existing problems and get things fixed for you.

Prepare Your Jacksonville Home for Water Mitigation

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

Flood cuts along water damaged wall; SERVPRO restoration equipment being used to dry rooms Water damage can destroy building materials, especially highly porous additions to your home like drywall and carpeting.

Prepared Water Mitigation is More Efficient

Mitigation for any disaster or emergency your home experiences is vital to protect the structure from greater harm. Our SERVPRO team prioritizes a swift response to water emergencies for this reason, protecting contents, porous materials, and personal belongings from irreparable destruction. SERVPRO can take some steps even before mitigation, however, that help make this process more focused. 

Creating a Staging Area

A clean and nearby workspace is a critical element of water mitigation for Jacksonville homes. Staging areas allow our SERVPRO team to bring tools near the work area to prevent continually tracking through the property and risk contamination with changing conditions in the drying zone. Some staging areas can be used to evaluate damaged contents and restore them without requiring off-site pack-out procedures. 

Clearing Out Bulk Materials

Water damage can destroy building materials, especially highly porous additions to your home like drywall and carpeting. In many cases, early evaluation of these conditions can be critical to determine what elements must be removed and discarded to protect the rest of the structure from moisture damage, mold, and contaminants. 

Scoping the Job

Job scoping is an important early action to take as well. When it occurs before the bulk of mitigation services, we can better understand the spectrum of damage and restoration priorities. Data collected by damage assessments can dictate the need and urgency of recovery efforts like:

Water mitigation is a combination of several efforts to best protect a home from severe damages that are potentially avoidable. Our SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties team understands how quickly water disasters can get out of control and spread, so we work fast to reach your home to begin these emergency services and mitigative steps to help. Call us today at (910) 319-0600.  

Comprehensive Hampstead Plumbing Water Damage Restoration

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

Water stains on drywall and baseboard After water damage, SERVPRO will determine if the drywall and other structural components are salvageable.

Hampstead SERVPRO Water Cleanup for Structures

Home plumbing concerns can crop up suddenly and create increased expenses for homeowners. These disasters can lead to increased water bills, damaged walls and framing, and potential mold growth, which can cause health effects. Proactive, emergency-response cleaning can save property owners hundreds to thousands of dollars while keeping occupants safe.

SERVPRO water damage restoration can restore Hampstead homes to a sanitary condition with EPA-registered biocides and commercial-grade tools. This firm also performs rebuilding services that include drywall repair, baseboard reinstallation, and repainting after mitigation.

How SERVPRO Restores Wet Drywall and Baseboards 

SERVPRO technicians can often save water damaged drywall and baseboards after disaster strikes. While some materials are not salvageable, others are restorable to a pre-disaster state.

Crew members can use the following strategies to restore structural materials while saving homeowners on repair and replacement costs incurred by water disasters. 

  • Cutting out small portions of wet drywall or drilling small weep holes into it, forcing air into wall cavities with axial, centrifugal, or low-profile air movers and tubing designed for this type of drying
  • Removing wet baseboards and manually cleaning or spraying them with OSHA-approved biocides before implementing extraction and drying tools. In cases where baseboards are not salvageable, technicians can install replacements after drying is complete 
  • Drying typically entails the use of air movers and dehumidifiers together. Positioning for these items is critical: air movers generally are set at 45 to 90-degree angles along the perimeter of the impacted area every 150 to 300 square feet, or less in more serious water scenarios

SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties is reachable at (910) 319-0600 when homeowners need around-the-clock cleanup that looks and feels "Like it never even happened."

Popular Electric Submersible Pumps for Hampstead Water Damage

4/14/2022 (Permalink)

Standing water in kitchen Malfunctioning appliances are a significant source of water damage each year. SERVPRO is always on call to restore your home.

Submersible Pumps Are Ideal for Various Water Damage Needs of Hampstead Homes

It is essential to get water removal services started in damaged homes as soon as possible. From burst pipes to malfunctioning appliances in the house, standing water is a significant threat to floors and wall systems. Extraction services utilize multiple pieces of equipment in our inventory, including submersible pumps and vacuums. This prompt action helps in other needed efforts to come, such as:

  • Water removal
  • Cleaning
  • Bulk material discarding
  • Structure drying

How Does an Electric Submersible Pump Work?

Many extraction devices are used in water damage restoration of Hampstead homes, but few are as readily used as electric submersible pumps. We utilize these because they are easy to maneuver and do not require much to operate. These units function from an onboard motor driving the pump and producing kinetic energy converted into pressure to pull water through the housing.

Limited Power Demands

There are several advantages to electric submersible pumps, the first being a limited power supply necessary to operate the device. Unlike gas-powered trash pumps in our inventory, electric submersible pumps run off a traditional 110 V outlet in a home without compromising the extraction capacities. 

Quiet Operation

The quiet operation of these extraction units is another advantage for restoring homes where occupants have not been displaced. This process is a way that our restoration efforts do not impede more on customers' lives during water damage cleanup.

Deep Extraction Capable 

Another advantage of choosing electric pumps is their ability to manage even considerable depths. Often operating at an output of several hundred gallons per minute of discharge, even significant deep extraction needs are manageable in a matter of hours.

Various tools are instrumental in removing and drying water and flood damage in your home. When several inches of standing water exists, submersible pumps are a wise choice. Give our SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties team a call when you need it at (910) 319-0600.

Materials to Prioritize During Water Removal from Topsail Beach Properties

2/10/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage surrounding exposed pipes in ceiling Small leaks can affect everything from drywall to flooring. SERVPRO has what it takes to handle all your restoration needs.

Professionals from SERVPRO Easily Identify Vulnerable Materials at Your Topsail Beach Home

Materials in a home react differently to water exposure. Therefore, when there is a water leak at your Topsail Beach home, you can expect a wide range of changes and damages. Knowing how vulnerable the materials in your house are to moisture action helps plan an appropriate response.

The timing of water removal from your Topsail Beach home matters because damage can result from direct or indirect water exposure. Since indirect damage takes time to develop, identifying vulnerable materials in good time creates the opportunity to take preventive steps. SERVPRO provides the necessary resources to expedite water extraction.

Highly vulnerable materials to moisture fall into many categories, including:

  • Hygroscopic material
  • Porous materials
  • Fabrics
  • Composite materials

Hygroscopic materials absorb moisture from the air and can develop problems over time. Limiting the humidity levels in a house is one way to protect such materials from significant damage. When our SERVPRO technicians expedite water extraction, we save hygroscopic materials by eliminating stagnation which increases humidity levels in a house from the constant evaporation. 

Porous materials quickly absorb water when exposed. After absorption, changes start developing, including swelling, dyes running, and rusting, among others. Fabrics and wood exhibit signs of such changes faster than other materials. After the initial exposure, the material reaches an equilibrium point where it cannot absorb more, and then it starts losing moisture through evaporation, creating a different set of problems. Wood tends to warp, buckle or crack as it shrinks from moisture loss. Our SERVPRO teams can help expedite or slow down the drying rate to prevent permanent physical damage.

Some typical ways to manipulate the drying process include:

  • Using drying chambers
  • Dehumidification
  • Increasing air currents
  • Heating

Composite materials like laminated veneer lumber are made from pieces of material held together by adhesives. Moisture can cause expansion of the components or dilution of the glue, thus leading to irreversible damage. 

SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties does a thorough preliminary evaluating of your property to identify vulnerable materials and thus use water removal procedures that resolve any issue, "Like it never even happened." Call us at (910) 319-0600. 

What Is the Best Dehumidification Approach During Water Mitigation in Jacksonville Properties?

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

SERPRO drying mats being used to dry hardwood floors SERVPRO has all the equipment necessary to dry any scope of water damage your home incurs.

SERVPRO Ensures the Right Number and Positioning of Dehumidifiers for Maximum Effectiveness

Water mitigation is a complex process that requires many steps. Managing moisture is one of these crucial steps, and it takes sustained evaporation to evacuate all water from wet materials. Without dehumidification, it is difficult to maintain the appropriate evaporation rates since once the moisture escapes from wet materials, it saturates in the air. 

Planning for proper dehumidification is essential during water mitigation in Jacksonville homes. Otherwise, it might be impossible to avail sufficient resources. One advantage is that professionals, like SERVPRO, have access to is proprietary software that helps recommend the appropriate dehumidification power needed. Using the DryBook™ App, a technician only provides the project details like the approximate area affected to get a specific number of Pints Per Day that need to be removed through dehumidification. The PPD number determines the type, size, and the number of required dehumidifiers.

Other Factors are Essential Apart from Identifying the Necessary Dehumidification Capacity, Including:

  • Proper placement of dehumidifier units
  • The appropriate direction of dehumidifier exhaust
  • Providing appropriate power sources and drains

Each property presents unique challenges concerning dehumidification. For instance, the power source can be an issue, especially since other equipment such as air movers may already be plugged into outlets, thus forcing an awkward placement of dehumidifier units. 

Our SERVPRO technicians inspect the property to establish the best power source and drain options, such as sinks. If there are none in the wet areas, we provide extension cords. We can also use wheeled trash cans to drain the water from dehumidifiers. These simple steps ensure the appropriate placement of the units for optimal drying. Directing the warm air exhausted by dehumidifiers correctly can also help improve the drying rate. Our SERVPRO technicians aim it towards wet materials or an air mover.

SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties manages all aspects of water mitigation professionally. Call us at (910) 319-0600. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Where Can I Find Fast Water Restoration Services in Jacksonville?

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

Leaking pipe under sink Leaks happen, and mold growth can follow water damage. Call our highly trained SERVPRO team for complete restoration.

SERVPRO Can Provide You with Fast and Effective Jacksonville Water Restoration Services! 

Tens-of-thousands of American homeowners can experience a water-based accident in their homes every year. Unfortunately, many do not know what to do once the water starts pouring into their home. The reality of the circumstance is that you cannot be entirely prepared for an accident, but you can do things to help minimize damage. 

Imagine a scenario where a failed DIY project puts your home in urgent need of Jacksonville water restoration services. Replacing a kitchen faucet looked simple enough, but confusion led to improper installation, and water began to spill everywhere when you tried to test out the new faucet. 

Do not be embarrassed. Accidents happen. The truth is that your reaction is what is critical. Calling for help immediately and shutting off the water can help reduce the chances of water damage. Promptly cleaning up a water spill can help prevent mold damage. Getting experts to your home to minimize lingering moisture can save you costs later down the road. The proper reaction to the situation can help ensure the longevity of your home and protect its foundation. 

Once our expertly trained technicians get to your home, SERVPRO can use thermal imaging technology to check for hidden spots of water. Many people do not consider the space under their cabinetry, but we've got you covered. We can remove toe-kicks and set up drying equipment, such as dehumidifiers and air movers, to ensure your cabinetry is dry and the area underneath it is free of pooled water. To be safe, we can even use antifungal cleaning agents to help ensure mold does not occur. We always want you to feel "Like it never even happened" when we're done. 

If you need water restoration services, call today. Speak with SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties by phoning (910) 319-0600. Water damage is our specialty.

What Is Unique About Water Damage Restoration in Jacksonville Homes Involving Fabrics?

9/16/2021 (Permalink)

Gray sofa with gold pillows on taupe shag rug Do you know how to clean water damaged textiles? SERVPRO does! We are available for all your water damage restoration needs.

SERVPRO Helps Manage Delicate Aspects of Water Clean Up for Safety and Satisfactory Outcomes   

Whenever there is a water leak or other spike in moisture at your Jacksonville property, various materials are vulnerable to damage. Fabrics are vulnerable to multiple problems, including bleeding, staining, and shrinkage from the moisture exposure or the restoration processes.

Dealing with fabrics is common during water damage restoration since Jacksonville homes have many fabric items, including floor materials, window covers, and even furniture. The fabrics differ in many ways, such as the type of fiber, weave, and level of colorfastness. SERVPRO water restoration technicians receive training that equips them with the knowledge to identify potential problems through observation or pre-testing materials.

The Type of Care Needed for Fabrics Depend on Whether Restoration Involves:

  • Sewage cleanup
  • Water cleanup
  • Water damage remediation

Before restoring any water damaged fabric, our SERVPRO technicians observe the physical properties such as color and weave. Some colors such as black, red, green, and blue are highly likely to bleed. Tapestries and brocades with a jacquard weave are also potential bleeders. Pre-testing with spotting agents, pre-sprays, and cleaning solutions helps confirm vulnerable materials to ensure we take the proper precautions.

Shrinking is another concern, especially for upholstery items. Natural fibers like cotton, rayon, wool, linen, and silk tend to shrink when wet. Our SERVPRO technicians look for alternative ways such as dry cleaning to restore such materials—alternatively, the use of minimal moisture when wet cleaning helps.

Other Steps for Safe Restoration Include:

  • Applying cleaning agents along the grain to avoid distorting fibers
  • Placing non-metallic screen on fabrics to control agitation
  • Using low pH cleaning agents

SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties strives to save more materials during water damage restoration. Call us at (910) 319-0600. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How Should Hampstead Homeowners Address Carpeting During Water Damage Restoration?

7/21/2021 (Permalink)

Person pulling up water damaged carpet padding. SERVPRO has the training to dry and restore your water damaged carpet.

SERVPRO Features Trained Technicians in Hampstead to Handle Carpets and All Water Damage Restoration Needs!

Some homeowners think that a wet/dry vacuum might be enough to pull up water after a tub overflows or burst pipes. However, if the carpeting within your Hampstead property has become saturated, there will be hidden moisture that has to be addressed. There could even be a situation where a hidden water leak behind a wall leads to carpeting, carpet padding, and the subfloor below becoming saturated. SERVPRO can get in quickly to assess the scene and mitigate further water damage from taking place.

Water damage restoration in Hampstead, where carpeting is involved, includes the use of specialized equipment. SERVPRO technicians have access to extraction tools and drying equipment to pull out all excessive moisture.

  • Standing water gets pulled up with the help of truck-mounted or portable extractors.
  • Additional treating or cleaning of the carpet commences.
  • Technicians might remove the carpet padding below and replace it with new material.

What Happens Post-Extraction?

Included in our water removal services, our IICRC-certified technicians take steps to clean and treat the carpet, including:

  • Treatment of the carpet surface, ensuring there is no damage or mildew.
  • Application of antimicrobial cleaners and deodorizers to the carpet backing and flooring.
  • Once the carpet gets laid back down, the front also gets treated with antimicrobials and deodorizers.

Throughout this process, our crew implements drying measures with the help of air movers and dehumidifiers. We constantly check relative humidity within the zone, adjusting our equipment, airflow, and temperatures throughout the process to help us better achieve our goals.

If your carpeting needs attention and water damage repairs, SERVPRO of Pender/West Onslow Counties is here to help. Contact us for prompt water damage restoration by calling (910) 319-0600.

Keeping Weather in Mind During Jacksonville Water Mitigation

6/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO vehicle parked in front of commercial building. The humidity outside affects the drying plan for water damage inside buildings. SERVPRO knows how to dry and restore your home.

Water Mitigation Projects in Jacksonville Can be Tricky, Rain or Shine

Our ideal water damage remediation strategy hinges around a fast and effective response to the initial incident. The more moisture we can remove in the first few hours and days, the less time and money restorations eventually cost.

One of the most challenging aspects of any Jacksonville water mitigation project is controlling moisture and humidity in the area. Weather can help or harm our efforts in different and sometimes conflicting ways. For example, when the summer sun shines and temperatures rise, these conditions help facilitate faster drying in your home. On the other hand, if that warm day also experiences high relative humidity, SERVPRO technicians may be forced to adapt and use alternative drying strategies. And, in some cases, the weather may become too warm, outpacing our dehumidifiers. To compensate for these effects, we monitor environmental conditions closely during:

  • Flood restoration
  • Emergency services water damage
  • Basement Flooding Cleanup

By considering humidity, temperature, and air movement together, SERVPRO technicians develop a plan to arrange and run water-removing equipment for maximum effect. The exact ratio of dehumidifiers, air movers, and water extractors used in a home can be challenging to determine. Only the years of experience present in a SERVPRO team can consistently use these tools correctly.

SERVPRO of Pender / West Onslow Counties responds 24/7 to calls for help with water damage disasters. Contact us at (910) 319-0600.

Water Damage Emergency Tips

2/18/2021 (Permalink)

The ceiling ended up falling in due to the water damage.

Water Damage Emergency Tips

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

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 sage for you to perform.

Wet materials can be VERY heavy, Be Careful!

What to Do After Water Damage

  • CALL SERVPRO of Pender/West Onslow 910-319-0600.
  • 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 and dry place.
  • Gather loose items from floors.

What NOT to Do After Flooding

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

What is Secondary Damage?

8/12/2019 (Permalink)

Secondary damage is caused when an initial loss occurs and the primary source isn't addressed or mitigated quickly. This additional damage may happen quickly as long as the original conditions persist or worsen over time. For instance, if water damage goes untreated or high humidity levels persist, black mold may develop. The water damage is the primary damage, and the mold growth is secondary. Take timely measures such as contacting a plumber to find any leaks, contacting SERVPRO to perform extraction services or a roofer if the issue is on the exterior of your home--to restore primary damage and fix the source of the problem to prevent conditions from worsening.

What Are the Major Types of Damage?

There are several secondary types of damage that can affect your home following water damage. Including

  • Additional damage to contents or building materials
  • Corrosion
  • Electrical damage
  • Mold growth, including black mold
  • Wood rot 


How Can You Prevent Secondary Damage?

Resolving the source of the primary damage is the first objective. Once you have established where the water is coming from, you can begin to mitigate the area and prevent secondary damages from occurring. Secondly you will need to fix the source and begin to remove the water. Depending on the class and category of water you may need professional help. Category one water will originate from a clean source, a faucet for example. Any water that has passed through materials or originates from an unsanitary source is either Category 2 or 3 depending on the severity of the contamination. These categories of water will contain bacteria and sometimes solid waste and will need the affected areas cleaned and disinfected. Once the area is decontaminated, thoroughly dry the affected area and lower high humidity levels. To achieve this goal you may need to set drying equipment such as dehumidifiers and fans. 

When Does Primary Damage Turn Into Secondary?

Primary damages will turn into secondary damages when the original loss isn't identified right away or circumstances do not allow for immediate resolutions. For example, during storm situations power outages are a large contributor to secondary damages where water may have entered the home and it had become and unconditioned space due to the air conditioner not running. This creates the perfect environment for mold to grow. Another example would be a small leak in behind a wall in a bathroom. The homeowner would most likely not know it is there until a secondary damage has occurred like mold or damaged subfloor. 

Should you find yourself in a situation where you have a secondary damage and need assistance, SERVPRO of Pender/West Onslow Counties is here for your residential or commercial needs. 910-319-0600.

Pender/West Onslow 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

7/16/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Pender/West Onslow 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 - 910-319-0600

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 Pender/West Onslow 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 Pender/West Onslow Counties:

SERVPRO of Pender/West Onslow 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.