Causes of Water Damage in The Summer

8/14/2023 (Permalink)

The summer season brings much joy, vacations, sunshine, but sometimes a lot of water. Water damage is never fun, especially when the damage hits your home or business. There are a decent amount of causes when it comes to water damage in the summer, and we're here to help you find those out so you're either prepared or, so you can prevent these issues in the future.

Summer Storms

Summer storms are a large reason for water damage during this season. They're unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, and can cause a lot of water damage to your home. A few things you can do to prevent flooding around the foundation of your home is to ensure that your draining systems are working properly and to clean out your gutters. Clogged gutters will cause water to flood and instead of drain, drop down near or on the foundation of your home, putting your home and basement at risk of flooding.

We know that our part of the country can experience storm systems, and we have seen that occur in the past with Hurricane Sandy and Irene, damaging large portions of our state. Our water restoration teams traveled to the coastline to help townships still working to dry and repair their homes for months after Sandy slammed the shoreline.

We have prepared for the likelihood of flooding in several severe storm events and have acquired the leading tools and equipment to address standing water and saturation throughout an entire property. With hundreds of air movers and dehumidifiers, we can address thousands of square feet of saturated material to work to remove or preserve it as installed.

Air Conditioning Overflows

The summer heat will cause you to want to run your air conditioning units as much as possible. Although it may seem like an easy task to just turn it on and let it do its thing, you also have to remember the amount of condensation that can build up. This excessive moisture not only will create water damage in the room your unit is working, but it can also cause mold growth. It's important to give your units a good look multiple times throughout the season to make sure everything looks ok.

Home Sprinkler Systems

Home irrigation systems are fairly common, especially if your home is in an area that gets a lot of sun. Everyone wants their grass to stay green all season and not develop crabgrass, which is understandable, however - it's important to pay attention to your system.

Don't point the sprinkler anywhere towards your home, as it can cause puddles of water that will slowly seep into your foundation and cause water damage to your home. It's also important to have your system serviced or looked at prior to using it to ensure there are no leaking or broken pipes.

Clogged Drains and Pipes

Summer is normally when people entertain the most. Whether it's summer parties, BBQs, or small get-togethers, there are usually more people than just those who live in your home in these months. When more people are using your plumbing and drains, it's important to check your toilet, sinks, showers, etc. after a party to ensure there are no clogs. If a clog is ignored, you can be dealing with a bigger issue down the road, causing not only water damage, but a large bill.

Excessive Humidity

Excessive humidity not only can cause water damage, but cause mold to grow as well. If you start to see droplets in your home, you need to make sure it is dried out properly and make sure to keep the humidity level low in your home. Turn on air circulation like fans, air conditioning, etc. to prevent this. The more humidity, the bigger chance for water damage and mold.

Fire Damage

If your home suffers from a house fire, chances are it will also suffer from water damage. We see many homes needing water removal due to the fire fighting efforts. If this happens, not only can we complete fire damage restoration, but we can also clean up the soot, odor, and of course, the water damage.

When it Comes to Water Damage...

SERVPRO has a fast and confident response when water loss incidents threaten homes and businesses from Hillsborough to Manville. These situations can quickly get out of control, moving into new areas and allowing the continuous degradation and deterioration of construction materials and the contents of your property. We encourage every technician on our team to acquire their water restoration technician certification through IICRC, ensuring that no customer has to wait when loss incidents have already begun.

We specialize in structural drying and content management in these situations, such as our recovery of Balogh company facility in Somerset. In this new building purchase, we could clean and dry the entire affected region, protecting much of their carpeted areas and preventing unnecessary tear-out and reconstruction.

It's crucial to act fast when it comes to water damage. Any kind of standing water is not only terrible for your home's health, but it's a health hazard to you and your family as well. Also, not acting fast creates further damage that will give you a headache and cause the bill to go up. Avoid further damage, mold, hazards, and more by acting quick. That's why we are a 24/7 restoration company that gets to you immediately.

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 safe for you to perform.
• Wet materials can be VERY heavy.

What to do after flooding:

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture and after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions.
• Place aluminum foil or wooden blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in the 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 carpets 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.

SERVPRO's Water Damage Restoration Process

When your home or commercial property has water damage from flooding or leaks, we have the expertise and equipment to properly restore your property. Our experience and scientific approach to water removal and water cleanup enable us to properly dry and restore your property.

Every water damage event is a little different and requires a unique solution, but the general process stays the same.

• Step 1: Emergency Contact
  • The restoration process begins when you call us. Our representative will guide you through the crisis and may ask several questions to help us better understand the equipment and resources.
• Step 2: Inspection and Water Damage Assessment
  • We determine the scope of your water damage at this stage. We inspect and test to determine the extent of damage and how far the moisture has traveled to ensure proper and complete restoration.
• Step 3: Water Removal (Water Extraction)
  • The water removal process begins almost immediately and removes the majority of the water. We use powerful pumps and vacuum units to quickly remove hundreds or thousands of gallons from your property, which helps prevent secondary water damage and mold growth.
• Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification
  • When it comes to the drying process, we use specialized equipment to remove the remaining water that is harder to access. Our professionals will use room measurements, temperature, and relative humidity to determine the optimal number of air movers and dehumidifiers needed to dry your home or business.
• Step 5: Cleaning and Sanitizing
  • We clean all of the restorable items and structures damaged by the water. We are adept at cleaning content using a number of techniques. Our professionals are trained to provide sanitizing treatments and to remove odors and deodorize your property.
• Step 6: Restoration
  • Restoration is the process of restoring your home or business to its ore-water damage condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall and installing new carpet, or may entail major repairs, such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.

About SERVPRO Team Harvey
SERVPRO of West Somerset County is proudly owned by Lance and Jennifer Harvey - a husband and wife duo that owns three other SERVPRO locations, including SERVPRO of Lower Manhattan, SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City, and SERVPRO of Aberdeen/Holmdel.

We understand the stress and worry that comes with a fire or water damage and the disruption it causes your home or business. Our goal is to help minimize the interruption to your life and quickly make it “like it never even happened.”