Demystifying Water Damage Inspections: What to Expect

2/6/2024 (Permalink)

A water damage inspection is the first step towards restoring your home to its former glory.

Water damage can be a real headache, but understanding what to expect during a water damage inspection can make the process a lot less daunting. In this guide, we'll break down the basics, helping you navigate the initial steps of tackling water damage in your home.

Initial Contact

Once you reach out to a restoration company, expect a friendly voice on the other end. They'll gather essential information about your situation, such as the cause of the water damage, its extent, and any immediate concerns. This helps them determine the urgency of the situation and plan for the inspection.

Prompt Scheduling

A reputable restoration company values your time and will work with you to schedule a prompt inspection. Quick response times are crucial to prevent further damage, so expect them to prioritize your situation and set up a convenient time for the inspection.

Thorough Assessment

During the inspection, a trained technician will assess the affected areas thoroughly. They'll examine the source of the water damage, identify the extent of the affected areas, and evaluate the overall condition of the property. This step is crucial for developing an effective restoration plan.

Moisture Detection

Modern technology plays a key role in water damage inspections. Expect the technicians to use advanced moisture detection tools to identify hidden pockets of water. This step ensures a comprehensive understanding of the damage, preventing future issues like mold growth.

Documentation

The inspection process includes documenting the findings. This documentation serves as a foundation for the restoration plan and helps streamline communication with your insurance company. Expect the technician to take notes, photographs, and possibly videos to provide a clear picture of the situation.

Discussion and Recommendations

After the inspection, the technician will discuss their findings with you. They'll explain the extent of the damage, and potential risks, and outline a customized restoration plan. This is the time to ask questions and gain a clear understanding of the next steps in the process.

A water damage inspection is the first step towards restoring your home to its former glory. By knowing what to expect during this process, you can approach it with confidence. Quick response times, advanced technology, and clear communication are key elements of a successful water damage inspection, paving the way for a smooth restoration journey.

What TYPE of water has damaged your home or business?

3/23/2020 (Permalink)

When your home or business suffers a water damage, understanding what type of water you are dealing with is critical to ensuring proper cleanup. SERVPRO of Lewiston/Auburn is here to help!

There are three types of water. Clean water is water from a broken pipe, or other water source; rainwater is also considered clean. The term gray water is used to classify slightly contaminated water. Clean water becomes gray water when it is left untreated allowing bacteria and other contaminants to begin growing, making the water hazardous. Black water is highly contaminated and filled with fungi, bacteria, chemicals and more. Black water is typically caused by sewage damage, flooding or any type of natural disaster. Black water should always be handled by trained professionals. You should consider taking the following precautions to help minimize damage or prevent further damage while waiting for help to arrive.

Damage from Clean Water

• Shut off the water source if possible or contact a qualified professional to do so.

• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if access to the power distribution panel is safe from potential electrical shock. DO NOT enter rooms with standing water, as electrical shock hazards may exist.

• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.

• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions to allow more even drying.

• Move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other valuable items that may be sensitive to moisture to a safe place.

• DO NOT leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors as they may cause staining.

• DO NOT use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water as there is potential for electrical shock or causing damage to the vacuum cleaner.

• DO not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet; DO NOT enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Damage from Contaminated Water

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Wash your hands thoroughly if you come in contact with contaminated items.

• DO NOT walk through contaminated areas, as you could spread damage to unaffected areas.

• DO NOT turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.

• DO NOT use household fans to dry the structure, air flow could spread contaminants.

• Discard any food and/or products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

When you have a water damage, don’t leave your property to chance. Call SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn anytime at 207-783-2500.

Lewiston and Auburn Residents: We Specialize in Flooded Basement Cleanup and Restoration!

2/28/2018 (Permalink)

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 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 - 207-783-2500

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 Lewiston-Auburn 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 207-783-2500

24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

1/29/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lewiston-Auburn 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 - (207) 783-2500

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 Lewiston-Auburn 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)?

The Science of Drying

7/6/2017 (Permalink)

Did you know there is actually a science behind the process of drying? Having the knowledge of psychometrics is essential to restoring a water damaged structure to its preloss condition. While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn is trained in the science of drying and follows strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of secondary damages, like mold. If your home or business suffers water damage, SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn will:

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet, to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor weather the materials are drying properly.
• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

What exactly does it mean to help “speed up Mother Nature”? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are we, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material—but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is, nature takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out.

SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn has the tools and equipment to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces, inside walls (pictured below), and much more. SERVPRO also uses state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying process of your home or business.

The bottom line? SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn has the training and equipment to help make your water damage “Like it never even happened.”

Understanding Water Types

2/20/2017 (Permalink)

When your home or business suffers a water damage, understanding what type of water you are dealing with is critical to ensuring proper cleanup.

There are three types of water. Clean water is water from a broken pipe, or other water source; rainwater is also considered clean. The term gray water is used to classify slightly contaminated water. Clean water becomes gray water when it is left untreated allowing bacteria and other contaminants to begin growing, making the water hazardous. Black water is highly contaminated and filled with fungi, bacteria, chemicals and more. Black water is typically caused by sewage damage, flooding or any type of natural disaster. Black water should always be handled by trained professionals. You should consider taking the following precautions to help minimize damage or prevent further damage while waiting for help to arrive.

Damage from Clean Water

• Shut off the water source if possible or contact a qualified professional to do so.


• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if access to the power distribution panel is safe from potential electrical shock. DO NOT enter rooms with standing water, as electrical shock hazards may exist.


• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.


• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions to allow more even drying.


• Move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other valuable items that may be sensitive to moisture to a safe place.


• DO NOT leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors as they may cause staining.


• DO NOT use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water as there is potential for electrical shock or causing damage to the vacuum cleaner.


• DO not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet; DO NOT enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Damage from Contaminated Water

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Wash your hands thoroughly if you come in contact with contaminated items.


• DO NOT walk through contaminated areas, as you could spread damage to unaffected areas.


• DO NOT turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.


• DO NOT use household fans to dry the structure, air flow could spread contaminants.


• Discard any food and/or products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

When you have a water damage, don’t leave your property to chance. Call SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn anytime at 207-783-2500.

IICRC Certified Firm - Our Highly Trained Restoration Specialists can restore your home

1/31/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.
• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.
• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.
• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn

SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn 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 and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: 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.

24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

1/25/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, 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 – 207-783-2500

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 Lewiston Auburn 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

SERVPRO of Lewiston Auburn 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.