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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Water Damage Blog Posts

Tackling Hidden Moisture during Water Restoration in Pearl River

12/21/2023 (Permalink)

a puddle of water in a basement of a home When dealing with water damage, you want someone who knows what they're doing. Contact SERVPRO for professional technicians and equipment.

Dangers Hidden Water Damage Poses in Pearl River

Pearl River is a small town in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The town's name is a nod to the nearby Pearl River. The town's atmosphere is predominantly residential and rural, making it attractive for people who prefer a quieter and more natural environment. Residents can access essential services and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle like Fast Pace Health Urgent Care - Pearl River, LA, Pearl River High, and Pearl River Lions Club.

Addressing hidden moisture during water restoration in Pearl River homes is critical to preventing hidden damages. Water intrusion into a property can be insidious and find its way into less obvious areas through various pathways. Recognizing the potential for hidden damage allows for early detection and intervention. SERVPRO® professionals take prompt action to remove moisture in concealed spaces. Our teams have experience, specialized equipment, and techniques to identify and address hidden moisture.

Possible areas where moisture can collect

  • Underfloor cabinets and vanities
  • Inside wall cavities
  • Under staircases
  • Subflooring

Staircases often have hidden spaces beneath them. Water can accumulate here, causing structural issues, including rot, mold growth, and decay of wooden stairs and the supporting structure. SERVPRO crews inspect these areas during the restoration process.

Addressing Moisture in Concealed Spaces 

Addressing moisture in obscured areas like staircases requires specific tools and techniques to ensure thorough restoration. For example, our crews use moisture meters to assess the moisture levels in the materials surrounding the stairs, including the framing, drywall, and flooring. Elevated moisture levels can indicate hidden moisture issues. Also, moisture often causes temperature differences that are detectable with Infrared (IR) cameras. We use these cameras to locate areas with hidden water, even when covered by dry materials. Once we have identified the presence of water in these areas, we may need to perform other actions, including;

  • Remove materials to access the area
  • Using cavity drying tools to supply warm, dry air in concealed areas
  • Set up air movers and dehumidifiers for general drying

SERVPRO of Slidell provides efficient water restoration, ensuring that the hidden dangers are mitigated. Call us at (985) 649-1516. We are Here to Help®.

Why Air Drying is Key During Water Damage Cleanup in Slidell

5/15/2023 (Permalink)

air movers being used to dry water damaged home We ensure the drying equipment is well positioned for optimum coverage and airflow.

SERVPRO Can Safely Dry Your Slidell Property During Water Damage Cleanup

Prompt response is required during water damage cleanup to prevent further damage. Stopping the water source, extracting water from the structure, and controlling the site's humidity and moisture summarize the restoration processes. Water damage mitigation technicians have handled several incidents and are well-trained to develop a restoration plan that perfectly suits the situation.

To speed up evaporation during moisture control in Slidell, our SERVPRO technicians strategically position air-moving equipment. When moisture escapes from wet materials to the surrounding air, the evaporation speed gets slowed because a humid layer forms around the wet items or areas. So, we use air movers to introduce drier and warmer air to break up the layer and replace the humid air.

During the air-moving process, our team performs the following:

  • Ensure the equipment is positioned well for optimum coverage and airflow
  • Regularly monitor and adjust the equipment to enhance proper drying
  • Ensure the air mover is operating in a safe manner

Our SERVPRO team can use centrifugal or axial air movers to move dry air over wet surfaces. We prefer using centrifugal air movers when the affected area is not big and highly pressurized air needs to be directed to specific regions. Axial air movers are preferred when dealing with larger surfaces and when larger volumes of air need to spread over large areas.

The safety of our equipment is crucial during water removal. The air movers have thermally protected motors, safety screens at their outlets and inlets, and three-prong plugs that guarantee safe operation. Our SERVPRO team regularly cleans them to remove any dust accumulation and ensure they do not overheat due to over-stressing.

SERVPRO of Slidell is certified to offer professional water damage remediation assistance to commercial and residential properties. Call (985) 649-1516 to work with qualified restoration experts who use specialized equipment and resources to make it "Like it never even happened."

Water Damage's Impact on Slidell Home Structures

3/21/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO equipment drying a water damaged bathroom Call SERVPRO at the first sign of water damage in your Slidell home to avoid additional damages.

SERVPRO Technicians Remediate Slidell Residential Water Disasters

Property damage caused by water totals an average of $20 billion per year for United States homeowners. While Slidell property owners can take measures like installing moisture sensors and maintaining plumbing, many water damage incidents are unforeseen accidents that can happen without warning. Fortunately, professional assistance is available at any time of the day or night to minimize potential damages.

Water damage cleanup for Slidell homeowners is available at SERVPRO 24/7. Restoration from highly-trained technicians takes care of water damage and performs necessary repairs. These services can include patching up drywall and fixing damaged flooring and baseboards.

How Water Damage can Affect Residential Structures

Moisture can be highly damaging on its own. Still, two of the most challenging aspects of cleanup are water's ability to carry in other contaminants and the potential for mold growth due to the damage mentioned above.

In as little as one week, moisture damage can do the following:

  • Make drywall warp, crack, and eventually crumble. Ceilings may sag and ultimately collapse without intervention
  • Cause furniture finishes to spread stains that may not be removable if they have been allowed to set
  • Warp furniture frames and potentially rust components like nails or the backs of upholstery tacks
  • Damage flooring that relies on adhesives to stay in place
  • Generate excess mold growth in as little as 24 hours after exposure

While homeowners can hypothetically take care of some of the water themselves, moisture that has been left for more than a week may be considered a potential biohazard.

Restoration technicians are well-equipped to remove water at the source with commercial-grade equipment and perform mold mitigation where needed. Leaving these tasks to the pros can mitigate damages more quickly and thoroughly, especially in situations where the source of the damage is difficult to clean with consumer-grade solutions.

Effective Sanitation and Water Removal with SERVPRO Tools

SERVPRO's multi-pronged approach to moisture cleanup entails a variety of strategies that address many of the complexities of water cleanup, including:

  • Are mold or bacterial odors present?
  • Is the scope of the damage milder or more severe?
  • How much damage did structural materials and contents suffer?
  • Is demolition necessary for mitigation or repairs? If so, can these materials be repaired, reinstalled, or replaced?
  • Are furnishings or other belongings affected, and can they be restored?

Unless items like antiques, collectibles, or specialized electronic devices need servicing, SERVPRO professionals can often restore these items with careful manual cleaning, application EPA-registered biocides, and drying solutions. Papers and books can also be dried, typically through sublimation to halt further water damage.

Drying is a multi-step process that relies on extraction tools to pull up most excess water before positioning dehumidifiers and air movers around the property. The placement of air movers is crucial for effectively drying walls, floors, and ceilings efficiently in tandem with the dehumidifier.

Odor control can be implemented after drying and sanitation with the help of multiple tools, including SERVPRO odor counteractant beads, scented granules, time-release pellets, and ultra-low volume (ULV) foggers which can release water- or solvent-based deodorizing fog.

Before and after deodorization, SERVPRO technicians run high-powered box fans which circulate over 3,000 cubic feet of air per minute at least 40 times. This process ensures that contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are not a risk and that air quality in the home is as clean as possible.

Residents can call (985) 649-1516 for "Like it never even happened" mitigation and rebuilding services from SERVPRO of Slidell.

Handing Fabrics during Water Damage Restoration in Slidell Homes

12/20/2022 (Permalink)

Flooring with Water Damage Call SERVPRO today if you need help with professional water damage restoration.

Water Damage Repair in Slidell Is Easier With SERVPRO

Textiles are part and parcel of every property, whether used within structural areas such as room dividers or in contents like carpets and furniture. With their porous nature, any exposure to moisture has an impact since absorption is almost instantaneous. Proper handling of fabrics is essential when doing water damage restoration.

Fabrics can be spoiled by the moisture exposure or the actions you take during water damage restoration at your Slidell property. Therefore, taking action is enough only if the approach is appropriate. SERVPRO has professional water restoration technicians who are well-trained to understand the problems that affect fabrics and the best restoration approaches.

Common Problems Affecting Textiles:

  • Stretching
  • Staining
  • Discoloration
  • Deep soiling

Each problem has a different causative factor and might be aggravated when you attempt restoration, leading to irreversible outcomes. For instance, stretching is a common problem with carpets. Actions such as excessive folding, rough handling during removal, and cleaning or circulating air beneath the carpet to facilitate in-place drying can leave you with a stretched carpet. Too much stretching can also lead to delamination, permanently damaging the material. Our SERVPRO technicians avoid such outcomes by exercising caution during removal. We also use appropriate tools such as knee kickers and carpet awls.

Color Changes in Fabrics

The appealing look of your fabric items can be gone forever when the color changes. Such a change can be localized in an area as an ugly stain or widespread as discoloration, especially if the fabric is colorfast. Combating stains is mostly about timing since once the problem develops, it is challenging to reverse.  

Timely Actions That Prevent Stains:

  • Separating colorfast items from upholstery
  • Removing furniture from wet carpets
  • Avoiding dragging items over carpeted

How you execute restoration also matters. For instance, our SERVPRO technicians avoid high pressure and temperatures when cleaning upholstery items. We also use gentle yet effective cleaning agents to deal with soiled fabrics.

SERVPRO of Slidell takes every possible step to ensure that water restoration saves your textile items from moisture exposure “Like it never even happened.” Call us at (985) 649-1516.

Necessary Documentation for Water Damage Repair in Slidell Homes

7/24/2022 (Permalink)

a water damaged ceiling where the paint is peeling off Whether you are facing water damage to the ceiling or the walls of your home, team SERVPRO can help. Contact us for effective remediation services.

SERVPRO Crew Chiefs Oversee Slidell Water Restoration

With water stagnating on the floors of your Slidell home and soaked contents at risk of staining, rusting, or developing mold, documentation may be the last thing in your mind. The process might be too far gone when you realize the need to write things down or take photographic evidence. Involving a professional in cases of water damage ensures that any necessary documentation is done.

Just like the step-by-step water damage repair processes your Slidell home needs, documentation with diverse information requirements about the property and the loss is also gradual. SERVPRO considers proper record keeping a critical aspect of repairing damaged properties.

Essential records

  • Release for belongings disposal 
  • Contents inspection report
  • Processed wood release
  • Contents inventory worksheet

Although water repair is meant to fix the deterioration caused by moisture exposure and other problems, it is impossible to fix everything. For instance, if a wet carpet delaminates, drying and other restoration procedures cannot save it. You must remove all the items deemed unsalvageable. A signed release by the insurance adjuster approving the disposal prevents problems later. Our SERVPRO IICRC-certified crew chiefs also prepare a contents inspection report in case of any differences regarding cleaned and restored contents.

Damage during the repair process

While most of the water damage develops immediately or soon after water exposure, it is also possible for issues to build up during restoration. The main challenge with such matters is who bears responsibility, especially when a third party is helping you with the repair.

Manufactured wood items are one category that is easily damaged during restoration processes or transportation to a storage facility from the affected area. A processed wood release document offers clarity, especially regarding responsibility for secondary damages. Also, an inventory worksheet is essential before relocating items if there is a move-out to facilitate extensive water damage repairs.

Reasons for move-outs

  • Limiting moisture exposure for items
  • Specialized cleaning and other restoration procedures
  • Creating room for cleanup and repairs

SERVPRO of Slidell takes all actions necessary to facilitate water damage repair, eliminating traces of the problem "Like it never even happened." Call us at (985) 649-1516.

Is a Plumbing Leak Causing you to Walk on Water Instead of Hardwood in Slidell?

7/24/2022 (Permalink)

a water damaged hardwood floor that has warped floor boards Quick action can possibly save your water damaged floor. Call SERVPRO to assess the situation and remediate the damage. Our technicians are here.

Removing Water Damage from Wood Floors in Your Slidell Area Home

Every instance of water intrusion occurring in the Slidell area is different. If it weren’t, we would never need to differentiate between materials. We would always understand what to do, long before anyone even called our office. It makes sense to contact a trained professional for help returning your home to normal after an event occurs.   

Since homeowners have an abundance of flooring options for their homes these days, it makes sense that technicians understand how water damage in Slidell affects different materials. They also need to practice the process involved in removing it from different materials, so that you receive optimal results.  

Wood, for instance, contains 10% moisture content within its natural structure on average throughout North America. Adding more or removing too much can have a drastic impact on wood's appearance. SERVPRO technicians learn how to adjust moisture levels in your wood floor, quickly returning water damaged flooring to a quality pre-water damage condition, "Like it never even happened."

Too much water often leads to warping, buckling, cupping, crowning, cracks, and splits in wood floors installed in your home. However, many of these defects often return to normal after removing excess water. At SERVPRO, we understand that the effects of moisture on your wood floor often depend on how fast moisture permeates the type of wood used in its construction and how much exposure it endures. The extraction of water at a  steady pace allows the planks to often revert to an undamaged appearance.  

Particleboard, plywood, and oriented strand board (OSB) can withstand some exposure. However, when left unattended for too long, plywood can delaminate, particleboard and OSB can disintegrate. In general, of these materials, plywood is the most durable. Although, all of them can swell, warp, and buckle after exposure.  

SERVPRO restoration services can often save you from paying costly replacement fees. Our highly trained staff and technicians with the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) are available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Take the time to place your initial call for help to receive access to the quality water damage restoration services you deserve. 

Contact SERVPRO of Slidell today for more information or to begin your water damage restoration as soon as possible. We have access to all of the resources, personnel, and equipment needed to tackle any size job. (985) 649-1516

Where Can I Find Local Slidell Water Damage Restoration Services?

6/26/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO equipment working to fix the water damage in the room of a house When water damage affects your home, team SERVPRO can quickly mitigate the situation. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for remediation services.

SERVPRO is Ready to Provide Water Remediation to Your Slidell House

Living in Slidell Louisiana is a quiet and peaceful life for most of the residents in the area. After all, the city has a population of less than 30,000 as of the 2010 census. Despite the humid summer heat, many people take great pride in calling Slidell their home.

Slidell Facts:

Slidell was founded in April of 1836, by a pair of brothers and some other friends who had migrated from North Carolina. The city was named after the American politician and Confederate ambassador, John Slidell. During its early years, the settlers built the first homes adjacent to Lake Pontchartrain. While Slidell may be a smaller city, Greater Slidell is estimated to have a population of 90,000 and is one of the cities that make up the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner Metropolitan Area.

Sights to See and Notable Locations in Slidell:

Honey Island Swamp Tour: If you are interested in the natural swamp-habitat of animals like alligators, turtles, snakes, and birds, look no further. For a fair price, you and your family can take a safe tour through the swamp and listen to the experienced guide.

Heritage Park: This park provides a great place to spend an afternoon with your family. It has a splash pad to chase off the hot summer air and a playground to keep the kids happy. Going solo? No problem! The park has a walking path and a boat launch, should you want to explore the water.

Olde Towne Slidell Main Street: If you are interested in the local history of Slidell, as well as the historical architecture, Olde Towne Slidell Main Street is the perfect place for you.

Tammany Trace: If you and your family wish to explore trails and go on long bike rides through forested nature, then these trails are perfect for you.

Local Slidell Water Damage Restoration Services!

If you are a Slidell local, discovering water damage in your home would give anyone quite a bit of anxiety. However, there is no need to worry. Here at SERVPRO, we're water damage experts, and we can do our best to help you get your home or business back to its pre-damaged state.

Our local Slidell water damage restoration technicians are expertly trained and have access to industry-grade advanced technology. When you call our offices, we do our best to swiftly assemble a team of talented technicians to quickly remediate the damage inside of your home. When you work with SERVPRO, we can offer:

  • Water Cleanup
  • Water Removal Services
  • Ceiling Repairs from Water Damage
  • Water Damage Repairs

For example, let's say that your bathroom sustained water damage from leaky plumbing. You began to notice your laminate floor warp from the base of the floor. Our technicians can help you by:

  • Removing the ruined laminate flooring to access the moisture beneath
  • Setting up drying equipment, such as dehumidifiers and air movers
  • Making flood cuts when necessary and addressing hidden pockets of moisture

If you know you need water damage restoration, get help now! Contact SERVPRO of Slidell at (985) 649-1516. We're available 24/7!

Get Professionals to Conduct Water Damage Restoration in Your Slidell Home

5/15/2022 (Permalink)

air movers in a closet Slidell homeowners count on SERVPRO for full service water damage restoration to their properties

SERVPRO Can Repair Your Slidell Home After Water Damage

Water damage is probably the last disaster you want to face, but it comes with no prior warnings. Taking too long before mitigating the damage might cause it to spread to other parts of your house.

Attempting to perform water damage restoration in your Slidell residence without the necessary technique and equipment might lead to wastage of time, money, and resources. SERVPRO has technicians who are well trained, properly equipped, and ready to take the ball off your hands. Our restoration process follows the steps outlined below:

  • Assessment and inspection
  • Removal of water and moisture
  • Cleaning and disinfection
  • Repairs

Assessment and inspection

When we get to your house, we inspect it and conduct a damage assessment to determine the category and class of damage. This helps our SERVPRO technicians to draw an efficient restoration plan customized specifically to your house’s case.

Removal of water and moisture

Porous materials like carpeting, drywall, and other building materials absorb the excess moisture or water. Our SERVPRO team can use portable pumps to remove as much water as possible from the affected materials. We can dry your home completely to eliminate the moisture left behind during extraction. We use air movers and dehumidifiers to make this process efficient.

Cleaning and disinfection

We can clean all affected materials using appropriate equipment and methods. For instance, we can choose a carpet cleaning method suitable for the soiling level if your carpeting is affected. We can use hot water extraction, Deluxe Pre-conditioner and Rinse, or shampoo for low pile carpeting for moderate soiling. Our technicians can use Rotary Jet Extraction, Showcase, or Deluxe Pre-conditioner and Rinse for heavy soiling. We can also use antimicrobials to counter bacterial growth.

Repairs

Our SERVPRO team can carry out the necessary procedures to get your house to its preloss condition, such as replacing ruined materials.

Water damage is a disaster no one wants to deal with. Contact SERVPRO of Slidell at (985) 649-1516 for a cost-saving operation. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How Moisture Affects Your Slidell Home After A Water Loss Incident

4/24/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO equipment working in a home Team SERVPRO has advanced drying equipment to help with your water damage situation. Contact us any time of the day for emergency help.

Addressing Widespread Moisture in Your Slidell Home

The effects of a water loss incident within your Slidell residence can spread too quickly for homeowners to contain or slow. In these situations, widespread moisture can become a severe threat to the property, and addressing this concern requires specialized equipment and techniques from trained Water Restoration Technicians (WRT) and Applied Structural Drying Technicians (ASD) like ours. With extensive training and hands-on experience, our professionals can quickly address this hazardous situation for your home. 

Moisture and similar water damage in Slidell rarely stay out in the areas where our advanced drying tools can remove and restore it in your property. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that a situation has gotten resolved without an accurate assessment of wall cavities, flooring, ceiling spaces, and other inaccessible areas that can hold on to water after a loss incident. Our SERVPRO professionals have unique training with advanced equipment to remove this moisture and to restore the effect saturation has on certain materials, surfaces, and contents of your house. 

We know how widespread moisture and dampness can spread beyond the source of a water loss incident so we can utilize our sophisticated detection equipment and thermal imagery to determine the location of moisture pockets and saturation. With these devices, our SERVPRO team can note where focused drying efforts can maximize results, and when materials have become too severely damaged to preserve. In these situations, controlled demolition can remove only the oversaturated portions of building materials to ensure reconstruction and renovation is quick and cost-effective. 

Our professionals arrive with many air mover units and desiccant dehumidifiers. By setting up these machines in multiple locations throughout the home, we can begin to address all of the moisture and dampness concerns throughout the property, continually monitored by our infrared and thermal imagery cameras. 

One of the most dangerous aspects of water loss recovery is the knowledge that many homeowners feel like the problem has gotten corrected without understanding the scope of the situation. Our SERVPRO of Slidell professionals can help with experience and industry-leading equipment. Give us a call anytime at (985) 649-1516 to make water loss effects “Like it never even happened.”

Do Wet Carpets Dry by Themselves in a Slidell Property?

2/14/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO restoration equipment being used on water damaged floor and carpet SERVPRO has the tools to quickly remove the water from your carpet.

Wet Carpets Often Require Professional Water Cleanup Services in Slidell to Avoid Further Damage

Light to moderate water intrusion often affects flooring and subfloors more than walls or ceilings. Even small amounts of moisture, such as from a leaking washing machine, can quickly soak into the lower fibers of a fitted carpet. These carpets, commonly found in residential properties, can become up to 50% weaker when wet. At the same time, prolonged exposure to moisture can cause delamination- resulting in the carpet fibers coming away from their backing. It is essential to call upon the assistance of professionals when facing even light to moderate water intrusion in your home. SERVPRO can help residents with:

  • Water mitigation
  • Water remediation
  • Carpet cleaning

Conducting water cleanup in Slidell involves effective planning and execution. Technicians must understand how to prevent microbes- viruses, bacteria, and mold- in water from reproducing and creating a more complex restoration issue. Our technicians also need to reduce the potential for damages when facing water intrusion. One effective measure for mitigating these damages is thoroughly drying the wet carpet.

A water extractor combines heating elements with vacuum power and can dry carpets far more efficiently than air movement or natural drying processes. Getting rid of water can often significantly reduce the risk of secondary damages.

  • We have a tiered cleaning system for carpets. The top-tier showcase carpet cleaning uses rotary cleaning, pre-conditioning, and carpet shampoo.
  • Antimicrobial chemicals can be sprayed directly onto wet carpets to prevent microbes from building up through their natural growth stages.
  • Pre-conditioning carpets using proprietary products can help return them to a pre-incident condition.

Light to moderate water intrusion can cause permanent damage to your flooring. Contact SERVPRO of Slidell for water cleanup at (985) 649-1516.

SERVPRO Removes Water Damage from Carpeting in Slidell Homes

9/30/2021 (Permalink)

water damaged carpet; SERVPRO drying equipment being used Water soaked carpet needs immediate attention to prevent further damage.

Drying Carpet After Water Damage in Your Slidell Home, and Why It Matters

For most people living in Slidell, carpeting is valuable because it offers a comfortable place to walk on, sit, and give rooms an overall warmer feeling.  However, it is one of the items that are susceptible to sustaining significant water damage because it is porous and absorbent. Usually, the easiest way out of your water damage problem is to call a service provider that caters to these issues.

When there is water damage in your Slidell home, you can call SERVPRO franchise professionals to deal with it. We offer the necessary expertise and equipment to remove water from carpets and other structures in your home. If left untreated, water and moisture can wreak havoc in your home and lead to financial burden.

Starting the restoration process soon after you notice water in your home can reduce your damages. Our technicians can remove water from your carpeting using wet/dry vacuums or pumps. After extracting the water, our team can use equipment like air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the carpet. Drying involves the removal of the remaining moisture from the carpet fibers so they can return to their normal texture and appearance. Drying keeps the fibers from attracting and holding additional soils. Mold infestations are also less likely when carpet fibers are not damp.

Your carpet may feel dry when you touch it, but the subfloors and padding may still be damp.  We can monitor the drying process consistently to determine when this procedure is complete. To check whether your property is completely dry, our technicians can use penetrating and non-penetrating moisture sensors.

Levels of Water Damage

In many cases involving category one water damage, it is possible to restore the carpet. However, sometimes, it is not possible to salvage carpeting because of the following reasons:

  • Loss of adhesion – This can occur because of the age of the carpet or prolonged exposure to water.
  • Delamination – It happens when the backing separates from carpet fibers.
  • Carpeting covers wood flooring – We can remove it to dry and salvage the wood flooring.
  • Permanent stains.

Generally, restorers avoid removing carpets on the stairs because of safety reasons. Exposed staples or tack strips are dangerous. However, in some situations, it is vital to remove carpeting from stairs to prevent damage to hardwood steps. Our SERVPRO crew can use different carpet tools to remove the carpet safely. We can also install a new carpet after restoring the hardwood steps.

After a water intrusion incident in your home, SERVPRO of Slidell can help you to bring things back to normal. Call us at (985) 649-1516 for quick and effective restoration services in Pearl River, Abita Springs, and Lacombe.

Water Damaged Cabinets in Your Slidell Kitchen

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

Kitchen remodel Call SERVPRO at the first sign of water damage in your home to avoid additional damages.

Undetected Leaks Can Result in Unexpected Water Damage in Your Slidell Home

Long-running drips can go unnoticed for weeks or longer in your Slidell kitchen. While you might not find that the affected area is a devastating amount, the impact that this could have on your cabinetry in the kitchen might be irreparable. Restoration is often complicated for common cabinet materials like particleboard, as these exposed surfaces can swell and distort.

Particle Board Cabinets 

Particle Board cabinets are a traditional choice in affordable shelving for kitchens but can experience the worst of water damage in Slidell homes. As our SERVPRO team often operates on a restore before replacement mentality, we still thoroughly inspect affected units to ensure that we cannot utilize evaporative drying techniques and restore the structural element where it is installed. This drying is only feasible when the cabinets show no sign of warping or distortion in the areas that have gotten exposed to water migration. Any swelling or disfiguration indicates structural compromise, and so our in-house contractors must use controlled demolition strategies to remove the saturated shelving.

Hardwood Cabinets 

Unlike particleboard, which is often cheaper to remove and reinstall than to dry, hardwood cabinets are often the opposite. It is critical to attempt to dry these units whenever possible to limit the costs of replacement pieces. Because these cabinets often have a lower permeance level, it takes longer for saturation to occur. When water does penetrate the finished surface, there is often still time to evaporate the moisture with centrifugal air movers pointed directly at the affected point.

Drying Other Affected Materials

Because leaking fixtures can go unnoticed for some time, drywall and even wood flooring can be structurally compromised or entirely deteriorated. Assessments of the damage can determine whether drying is feasible or if more controlled demolition and later build back is necessary to restore these effects.

With a team of in-house contractors, our SERVPRO of Slidell professionals can meet the demands of saturated materials with effective drying solutions or reconstruction. No matter what your kitchen needs after prolonged water damage, we can make it, “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (985) 649-1516.

How Should Homeowners in Slidell Choose Water Restoration Companies?

8/20/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technician Homeowners have to deal with many things which may include water damage. SERVPRO is here to help!

Training, Experience, and Cutting Edge Equipment Make SERVPRO the Go-to Company for Slidell Residential Water Restoration

When scanning frantically among Slidell water restoration companies, the last thing you want is to learn the ropes with your contractor. Water mitigation, removal, and remediation delivered by highly qualified technicians with many restorations under their belts lead to optimum results. SERVPRO takes our pledge to make it “Like it never even happened,” very seriously.

Does It Matter How Slidell Water Damage Recovery Companies Obtain Their Training?

The foundation of any successful water damage restoration is understanding psychrometry -- drying science -- and intelligently choosing a broad range of strategies to achieve appropriate structural drying goals. The international authority on all structural and contents restoration is the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). SERVPRO managers and work crews master the basics and add to their knowledge base over the years by recertifying and taking advanced coursework from the IICRC.

Does It Matter If Slidell Water Damage Restoration Companies Send Experienced Crews to Your Crisis?

Coursework from the IICRC forms the basis of SERVPRO’s expertise. Still, nothing better prepares our work crews for your specific water clean up situation than hands-on experience during previous projects. Our crews have seen it all, including responding to water damage from or during:

  • Burst pipes
  • Leaking roofs from storms
  • Overland and waterway flood restoration
  • Sewage cleanup

Does It Matter if Slidell Water Damage Repairs and Removal Services Are Local?

Your chances of a full recovery from residential water damage increase exponentially the more rapidly your chosen restoration company responds. SERVPRO is ready 24/7 to roll out scalable work crews outfitted with the most efficient and durable water extraction and structural drying equipment available. We are your neighbors, members of the Slidell community, on the job fast and with proven methods to get your household back to normal. 

Since your choice of water restoration companies matters, SERVPRO of Slidell is at the top of the list. Contact us at (985) 649-1516, and let us show you what training, experience, and community commitment can do.

We Are Ready To Restore Your Water Damaged Slidell Home

6/30/2021 (Permalink)

a puddle of water on hardwood floor Are you facing water damage in your home? Team SERVPRO can help with effective water removal and drying out services.

Proven Techniques to Restore your Home After Water Damage

The wetness that results from water damage events may cause unnecessary damage to your contents and interior finishes. It means acting quickly, and letting professionals restore your property can reduce the additional damage. Never opt for permanent repairs until your Slidell property is thoroughly dry. Let us look at some of the restorative techniques we put in place when attending to such situations.

Water damage may make subfloors in your Slidell property swell or separate. Where possible, our SERVPRO technicians replace the affected layers or sections to prevent further buckling of the underlying coverings. Before installing new coverings, we check for warping and make sure the subflooring is thoroughly dry. Space heaters, air movers, and dehumidifiers are part of the tools we use to speed up the drying process.

Water Damage Restoration

In instances where wooden floors have already experienced swelling, our SERVPRO technicians prevent buckling by carefully removing the affected boards. If we deal with sheet flooring and notice that the water has penetrated the open areas, we remove the whole sheet. Usually, cleaning and drying the floors is necessary before any repair or replacement work can begin.

Spotting is another challenge that furniture with microfiber coverings experiences. It occurs when the fabrics develop patches or water lines. We have the experience and tested techniques of restoring furnishings that have experienced water spotting. You can also call us to address the color bleeds that leave stains on walls and flooring. Wood can create conditions for mold growth when the water is not extracted as soon as possible. That is why we immediately dry your furnishings. By doing that, we may prevent odors and unsightly stains from developing.


At SERVPRO of Slidell, we're Faster to Any Size Disaster, whether it is storm, mold, fire, or water damage related. Our goal is to return your commercial or residential property to its former conditions by using proven techniques. You can learn more about our restoration work by calling (985) 649-1516.

Does SERVPRO Provide Water Clean Up Services in Slidell?

6/20/2021 (Permalink)

bowed floor boards that are coming up Water damage requires effective clean up so that you can prevent any secondary damages. Contact team SERVPRO to assess and remediate.

Arrange for Water Mitigation Before Mold Sets in Your Home in Slidell

Allowing water and moisture to dry on their own after a water leak in Slidell is not a good idea in most situations. Visible water can be mopped up; there still can be high moisture levels in your home until it dries. Also, If water seeped into the walls and cavities, the moisture can remain for days in our high humidity environment. Perfect conditions for mold to grow, causing more damage!

SERVPRO provides water mitigation services to Slidell residents and businesses. We have the tools to check for hidden water and moisture pockets inside walls and cavities without doing further damage to the walls or cabinets. If high moisture levels are detected, it is strongly recommended that the moisture be removed before mold colonies form and cause more damage to your home.

You may notice a strong, musty odor if a mold colony begins to develop. Mold can start forming in less than 24 hours after a water leak. Mold can cause health effects for many people.

SERVPRO can use specialized water extractors and air movers to draw out the moisture and dry the area before mold has a chance to grow. We can be onsite in less than 4 hours working to dry your home before mold has a chance to form. Our services include:

  • Water removal services
  • Emergency water damage remediation
  • Mold inspections, remediation, and removal

Call SERVPRO of Slidell for water mitigation in Slidell and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (985) 649-1516.

Remember to Put the Pearl River - Honey Island Swamp Museum and Research Center on Your Family’s Winter To-Do List

11/24/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Trucks parked outside home When your home needs reliable water removal, Call the experts at SERVPRO. We're faster to any size disaster!

You can Help Teach Out-of-Town Relatives about Pearl River’s History and Culture.

Open most Saturdays from 11 AM to 3 PM; the Museum contains different artifacts, both original and replicas designed to educate. People can learn more about an animal’s appearance when they see what it looked like during its lifetime. Local craftspeople make other items using old techniques passed down from one generation to the next. Membership costs only $10 a year. You can call (985) 863-5040 to confirm the Museum is open before visiting. Patrons can handle some items while we keep others safely in glass cases. 

Visitors also see exhibits of

  • Documents, 
  • books, 
  • postcards, 
  • photos, 
  • maps, and 
  • other items that fill our museum.

SERVPRO of Slidell protects local homes after plumbing breaks, or flooding occurs with the latest in water removal techniques. Call us at (985) 649-1516 – we know how to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Tourism in Slidell Remains Rich and Vibrant because of Our Region’s Diverse and Complex Ecosystem

11/19/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO vehicle parked in front of home SERVPRO teams are ready with state of the art equipment your home needs after a water intrusion. Call us anytime you need our services.

The Health of the Water in Our Swamp, Bayous, and the Pearl River Plays a Crucial Role in Slidell’s Economy

Many factors affect the condition of our waterways. Too little rain from Mississippi means saline levels increase. Changes in saline levels can affect any newly germinated fauna by either stunted growth or plant death. Without new plants, younger animals, including newly hatched alligators, have no place to hide as they grow large enough to move into more open waters. 

The lack of newer plants also affects the insect population, which greatly affects the smaller-sized animals that live near the shores of the Pearl River and along bayous in the swamp. The wild boar, eagles, kingfishers, snakes, rodents, and other animals all depend on each other’s survival and vitality.

Saline levels are only one of the many variables that play a part in how healthy our swampland is at any given time. Other things that can affect the water include

  • Hurricanes, especially when they cause oil and gas to leak from any sized container,
  • Boat traffic, particularly those leaking fuel or speeding in posted areas,
  • Home maintenance and littering.

While there is nothing we can do about hurricanes, we can stay vigilant about only storing fuel and oil in containers with tightly fitting caps and lids. The same goes for insecticides and other chemicals that can cause problems for the environment. Even small amounts of gas or oil left in metal containers can leak if exposed to rain or damp conditions. Small amounts do accumulate, and rain pushes this into the bayou’s water. Draining such containers and then recycling them is a much better approach.

The Start of the Tourist Industry 

Annie Miller, a Black Bayou native, started the environmental awareness that helps protect our region today. Also referred to as Alligator Annie, this wise Louisiana lady started the tours that continue raising awareness of ecology, as well as helping keep the local economy strong. She knew different alligators and gave them names, to which they responded. Tour guides continue this practice and they know where favorite alligators like to warm up in some sun rays. 

Not only did Annie start the first tour boat business in the area, but she also trapped animals for sale to zoos and conservatories. She never trapped too many, which would leave areas devoid of adequate wildlife, but instead made sure that there were sufficient snakes and other species to continue breeding. Without the animals living abundantly in our swamp and bayous, our tour industry suffers alongside the wildlife. 

One thing about alligators in the area that many might not realize is that the smaller-sized ones can climb up trees that lean a bit. It is quite unusual and rarely seen, but happens when the ground does not provide enough surface for sunning themselves. They do not do this to land on people passing underneath or to hunt as a kingfisher might. However, they rarely climb back down the way they came up the tree. Instead, they slide off and enter the water below.

Keeping Boats in Good Condition Pays Off and Protects Our Environment

Slow-moving boats require ongoing maintenance to keep oil leaks from occurring. Part of the maintenance boats require also keeps them in pristine condition. Tourists dislike getting into a swampy-feeling boat, even if the tour involves entering the swamp. 

Cleaning out any water splashed inside, rain, and mud not only keeps things clean and reduces odors, but it keeps things safer, too. Despite their constant use on the water, boats can sustain water damage. Preventative care costs much less and requires only a small amount of effort compared to the cost of repairs. 

Both Negative and Positive Activities can Damage the Swamp

Maintaining your home near the water, both inside and around your lawn, often requires chemicals to clean, de-rust, and refinish different items. Soaps and detergents can affect the water not only as a soap but also in that it can cloud the water. Changing the pH balance can also harm the ecosystem. 

When people go on tours of the swamp and bayous, it is important that no littering happens. Finding bottles and other floating pieces of litter when you are out on the water might not happen often, but removing it can help protect our waterways and the living things that make it home.

Protect Your Slidell Property from Water Damage with Timely and Expert Water Damage Repair 

SERVPRO Living in an area with a large percentage of land that is covered by water spells flooding eventually, and in some cases, multiple times. Flooding is not the only time a home might sustain water damage, but SERVPRO of Slidell is always available to help restore property damaged by the worst disasters.

 A dripping faucet can become very irritating as it repeatedly pings into the sink or tub. That same amount of water can end up damaging your house’s interior when a pipe develops a pinhole or your washing machine’s hose starts to wiggle loose. It might seem like very little, but a cup left in the sink under a dripping faucet fills up rather quickly.

Sometimes a small amount of water dripping into materials like carpet, flooring underlay, lower portions of drywall, or even concrete causes more damage than a sudden and larger accident. This is because 

  • Small leaks often remain unnoticed for a long period,
  • The extra time that such leaks go undetected allows them to spread farther and damage a larger area, and
  • Dormant microbes can activate and begin destroying fibrous materials.

Different materials require different approaches, just as the different kinds of damage require specific restoration methods.

SERVPRO of Slidell trains our employees in water damage repair and mitigation. They understand how important your home and belongings are to you and your family. A quick call to our 24-hour emergency services line, (985) 649-1516, starts the restoration process.

Will the Cost Estimate SERVPRO Provides For Me Be Consistent and Affordable?

10/30/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technician consulting with customer If you need a company you can trust, call SERVPRO of Slidell today for any of your water or fire damage remediation needs.

As A Homeowner, Water Damage Restoration Services in Pearl River Should Be Affordable and Trustworthy.

Your family’s Pearl River home means the world to each of your loved ones, and it is heartbreaking when a water loss occurs and results in overwhelming damage. During these difficult times we are all facing, it is imperative that you can trust the service company you call to get the help you need fast. But it is also just as important that any estimate given for services rendered remains consistent and that it not only aptly fits the need at hand but does not break your bank account. Worse yet, the prospect of outrageous, sub-standard service can pressure you into cutting corners and trying to do the job yourself.

First, water damage to your Pearl River home must be given attention as soon as possible to get the very best results. SERVPRO considers immediate response to your call our highest priority, and that is why We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. Once our technicians arrive, they will assess the damage to your home from every perspective and provide you with a thorough rundown of exactly what needs to be done to get things back to normal for you and your family. The results of that assessment will allow us to provide you with an appropriate cost estimate.

The cost estimate will include the following itemizations, so you can clearly see what you are getting for the price:

A fast, thorough, and professional assessment of all forms of damage to your home, which is free of charge

Documentation of all findings (including damage done to personal property)

An itemized breakdown of what restorative steps need to be taken

Your cost estimate and an approximation of the time needed for the restoration process

But How Do I Know We Can Trust the Estimate Given?

While extenuating circumstances sometimes interfere with these things, you can rest assured that we will do all we can to stick to the given estimate, and if you are submitting a claim through your insurance, we can work directly with them to eliminate as much stress as possible for you. Not only that, if our techs find they need to do more than estimated, you will be consulted for approval before the work is done. Knowing what is happening to your home is so important, especially when it directly affects your pocketbook. We understand that perfectly, and we proceed only with your full approval.

When it comes to water damage restoration, speed and affordability are vital. SERVPRO of Slidell will be with you through it all, and before you know it, things will be “Like it never even happened.” Call us at (985) 649-1516 for a fast, trustworthy restoration experience.

A Burst Pipe in My Second Floor Bathroom Caused Water Damage. How Do I Restore My Slidell Home?

9/3/2020 (Permalink)

A bathroom with SERVPRO equipment on the floor.  Let SERVPRO come in and help restore your flooded Slidell bathroom.

Contact SERVPRO Technicians in Slidell to Mitigate the Water Damage in Your Property.

Water can flow into various surfaces in your Slidell home, especially if it is from high grounds. After 24 hours, the moisture can trigger mold growth, causing health effects to your family. Also, the humidity affects the structure’s stability if not handled on time by certified professionals.

Where do the experts begin?

At SERVPRO, we can begin mitigating the water damage in your Slidell property by inspecting the affected area thoroughly. We have advanced equipment that helps us determine moisture levels on surfaces and hi-tech tools that aid in the reinstallation processes without causing more damage. Since water can travel into hard to reach areas and other confined places such as wall cavities, we can use a thermal imaging camera during the inspection. The equipment helps us to pinpoint areas where we should concentrate on during the drying process. 

How do restorers dry hard to reach areas?

SERVPRO technicians understand that moisture in hard-to-reach areas can cause mold growth and odors if we do not remove it. Therefore, we do our best to dry the hard to reach areas completely using state-of-the-art equipment and innovative techniques. Some hard-to-reach areas such as ductwork, ceiling, and behind drywall can be expensive to repair if demolished. Since our primary aim is to reduce damage, we can drill small holes into your ceiling or drywall to access the moisture. We can use structural cavity drying equipment attached to air movers to direct dry air into the confined area.

Should I dispose of damaged contents?

Our technicians can help you separate the salvageable items from those damaged beyond repair. Contents such as wood veneer furniture and carpets submerged in water for over 48 hours can be difficult to salvage. We can dispose of such items professionally to avoid further damage. We take pictures of the damaged items before disposal so you can include them in your insurance claim. 

How about the odors persisting in my property?

Odor can linger in your property depending on:

  • The water source
  • The number of days the water stood in your property
  • Surfaces that seeped the water

We can restore fresh air into your property using various techniques depending on the intensity of the odor. For instance, our technicians can use the Vaportek unit to clean the air in the affected area. The system distributes its molecules into the air to neutralize odor molecules upon contact.

SERVPRO of Slidell offers effective water removal services to our customers. Contact us today at (985) 649-1516. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.    

What Happens When an Air Conditioner Pan Leaks in my Slidell home?

8/23/2020 (Permalink)

insulation from ceiling on the floor Water damage can wreck parts of your home if it isn’t taken care of properly. Contact SERVPRO for professional remediation services.

SERVPRO techs can handle any size water removal needed in your Slidell home

Air conditioning is great to beat the summer heat, but when the unit malfunctions and situations like the drip pan overflowing can cause a host of issues in your Slidell home that need professional cleanup to minimize the amount of post-mitigation repairs required. If the efforts do not begin quickly enough, problems such as:   

  • Mold infestation
  • Wider area of removal and repairs needed for walls and ceilings
  • Foul odors from the continual elevated moisture

What Types of Water Removal Actions May Be Needed Post-Air Conditioner Malfunction?  

This home in Slidell needed large scale water removal from SERVPRO due to an air conditioning drip pan overflowing. The resulting water damage affected several areas within the home.

Water Damage Cleanup in Slidell the Bedroom Needed  

The techs used their detection equipment and found the effects of the overflow within the walls and ceiling. The techs removed the ruined portions of the sheetrock, including the insulation, to dry the interior parts. The techs located the exact areas within the sheetrock using infrared and other equipment to highlight the areas of cooler temps meaning moisture. This enables them to only perform controlled demo on the areas with damage.

Cleaning Water Damage On Tile Flooring  

The tile flooring in the laundry room and hallway had seepage that occurred from the water that ran down the walls and wicked into the sheetrock. The same types of equipment get used to pinpoint the areas under the tile, behind the baseboards, and within the walls. The techs performed two-foot belt cuts in the hallway, bedroom, and laundry room to remove the ruined wall portions and insulation to open it up for drying. The tile needed to get removed to dry the subfloor, or the situation can morph into a bigger problem such as:   

  • Warping of the subfloor
  • Foul odors 
  • Larger area of tile delamination

Cleaning Room Contents After Water Damage  

When the air conditioning unit dripped down through the ceiling and down the walls, it also affected furnishings and articles within the bedroom. SERVPRO techs moved out the furniture from the bedroom for cleaning, including a dresser, television stand, and bed frame. The wet mattress required disposal, but the technicians were able to wash the bedding set using the Esporta Washing System to clean and sanitize the fabrics.

Wood furniture is susceptible to water spotting, but through the use of cleaning agents, oil soaps, and waxes, the techs can help the furnishings recover from exposure to the water. The most critical element when it comes to the restoration of wood furniture is if the absorption of moisture cracked the joints or caused swelling that permanently damaged it.

The central area where the damage began in the home occurred in the bedroom. SERVPRO techs determined the presence of mold on the ceiling and the surfaces of some items in the room. The techs set up containment and ran an air scrubber to capture airborne particulate, venting it outside, creating negative air. This action stops the potential for spreading mold spores during the remediation.

The sheetrock harboring the mold around the drip pan required removal and disposal as did a portion of the walls due to the mold. Once the area got stripped down to the framework, the techs dried the existing colonies and then abated the dry matter left afterward. It is crucial not to disturb the mold once dried as it gets lifted off surfaces, and the techs use manual methods with hand tools and HEPA hand vacs frequently for this part of the restoration services. For large size abatement tasks, the techs have access to soda and ice blasters that use a light abrasive to power off any remaining dried matter without harming surfaces.

After the completion of the water cleanup and mold remediation, the SERVPRO crew chief goes over the actions taken to ensure that the homeowner understands everything done and is happy with the outcome. If there are repairs or replacements needed to return the home to its preloss condition, those aspects of the restoration services get explained. Hence, everyone is on the same page for actions taken and anything additional needed, and the written report that accompanies the mitigation can assist in expediting insurance claims for homeowners.

SERVPRO of Slidell at (985) 649-1516 brings their years of experience and access to a broad array of professional extraction and drying equipment for any size water removal. Their advanced restoration services make the water damage in your home, "Like it never even happened."

How Can I Get Water Damage Out of My Living Room Carpet?

6/2/2020 (Permalink)

lgr dehumidifer in a hallway Advanced drying equipment like an LGR low grain refrigerant dehumidifier, can salvage water-damaged carpets in Slidell Properties

SERVPRO Technicians Use Restoration Industry Best Practices to Remove Water Damage from Slidell Residences

Whether water damage comes from a pipe leak, appliance failure, or fixture overflow, even small amounts of water can create more significant problems without fast action. Carpeting and subfloors are particularly vulnerable to mold growth in Slidell, including structural damage, and unpleasant odors.

When water damage affects your Slidell home, SERVPRO technicians are available to render disaster mitigation services day and night to return your home to a preloss condition.

What Can I Do to Reduce the Risk of Mold Growth in Water-Damaged Carpet?

-    Keep nooks and crannies clean. Any surfaces that water damage contacts require sanitation to prevent mold risk. This includes walls and baseboards.
-    Steam clean your flooring. Steam cleaning is an effective way to sanitize carpets. Padding may require replacement, however, especially if it has detached from the carpet.
-    Inspect furniture. If your flooring has water damage, furniture may have also gotten wet. Move and inspect area rugs and upholstery to assess the scope of damage and sanitize the area.

How Does SERVPRO Restore Carpets?

SERVPRO techs take a systematic approach to carpet restoration to minimize loss to your home.
-    Water extraction, whether with rovers, suction pads, or extraction wands, is thorough while preventing the separation of carpet and pad.
-    Carpeting can be pulled up and tented to dry both above and below the surface.
-    Technicians can erect polyethylene drying chambers to accelerate small-scale drying in large areas like a living room with an open floor plan.
-    If water damage creates odors in your carpet, technicians can use injection systems, sprayers, and EPA-registered antimicrobials to remove odor-causing particles.

SERVPRO of Slidell has the tools and training needed to keep disaster-affected homes looking, “Like it never even happened.” Call (985) 649-1516 to begin the mitigation process.

Can A Small Roof Leak Cause Big Trouble For My Pearl River Home?

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

A chalkboard with the words "we are here to help" written on it. Contact us at (985) 649-1516 and start the process of turning around the water damage “Like it never even happened.”

A Small Roof Leak Can Turn Into Big Water Cleanup In Pearl River.

Getting away for a weekend is fantastic. When you come home to a water cleanup job with wet spots in your ceiling, the feeling is not so fantastic. Finding the source of the roof leak is crucial as leaving it unchecked can lead to mold and a sagging, weakened ceiling and other secondary damage.

Water damage in your Pearl River home needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. It is crucial that the source of the water leak is repaired, so the problem does not continue. When you contact SERVPRO, our technicians are available to come onsite 24-hours a day, including weekends and holidays. We know the longer the water remains in your home, the more secondary damage that can be occurring. That is why during the initial phone call, the technician determines the scale of the water that requires removal so we can get started as fast as possible on remediation efforts by having the correct equipment for the scope of work to be done.

Our goal is always to restore rather than replace. However, water damaged drywall often needs to be replaced. Our technicians are trained to carefully remove warped and damaged building materials so complete drying can happen to the affected areas before restoration efforts can occur. To speed up the drying process, air movers can be positioned to effectively drive moist air up and out, while a dehumidifier lowers the vapor levels to ensure complete dryness.

If water dripping from the ceiling has affected carpeting, SERVPRO has carpet clamps that are used in tandem with the air movers to effectively lift and blow air under the carpet and allow it to dry in place. When the area appears dry, it is evaluated with moisture detectors and thermal imagery to ensure the areas are dry and no areas remain that can harbor mold growth.

SERVPRO of Slidell is available to assist you with water cleanup in your home 24/7. Contact us at (985) 649-1516 and start the process of turning around the water damage “Like it never even happened.”

Click here for more about Pearl River.

Who Has The Most Effective Equipment to Handle Water Damage in Slidell?

4/2/2020 (Permalink)

Black trailer that has SERVPRO equipment in it. SERVPRO has the professional restoration equipment for any type of emergency.

SERVPRO that's who! Water Cleanup Procedures For Slidell Homes.

Many Slidell residents enjoy life close to the picturesque West Pearl River year-round. Access is easy, and the activities are extensive. Despite that, water also causes millions in costs to many area homes regarding not just physical damage, but in cleaning up the residences as well. Much of this damage often comes from failed plumbing like broken pipes or a failing dishwasher and not from the flooding that makes the national news.

Effective water cleanup in Slidell homes requires much more than mops and buckets. SERVPRO technicians have a large inventory of equipment and cleaning agents to return each structure to a clean, safe condition, ready for occupation once more.

After water extraction from the home, our restoration teams begin drying the residence. They set up fans to increase air circulation and dehumidifiers to draw moisture from the air inside the home. If the water sat long enough to be absorbed by the drywall panels making up the interior walls, specialists would install air movers that use warm, dry air to force moisture out of the panels and dry them in place.

Since the water came from a plumbing issue (excluding toilets), it is considered to be clean or free of contaminants. That allows SERVPRO team members the option of trying to restore the carpet if the owner wants it instead of removing the water and disposing of it and the carpet pad.

They start with an extractor to draw out as much water as possible and then lift and roll the carpet to remove the pad underneath it. Before reattaching it, team members roll the carpet out and then use air movers and exhaust fans to dry it and the floor underneath. They finish by installing a new pad and then stretching the carpet back in place.

An additional concern is that there are soil and other contaminants trapped in the carpet. While they do not force the need for disposal, adding water creates mud or sludge that further damages the carpet. When needed, team members use a commercial grade cleaner and a shampoo machine to agitate the carpet without damaging it and then draw out the dirty water to leave a carpet safe for residents to walk on again.

Some Of Our Ways To Remove Hidden Water Damage From Inside Your Slidell Walls.

Long after the broken water pipe repair is completed and the flood water is gone, your home may still be under attack. While the flood water spread across the floor and splashed against your home’s walls, the moisture was probably seeping into the home’’s structure. Our professional water removal team will quickly eliminate the standing water, and move to the liquid sitting inside the walls that's probably still there. Furthermore, the swelling wood may still be sucking up water, and the insulation is probably still feeding liquid to the sheetrock and subfloors. Here are some ways we remove hidden water damage from inside your walls.

  1. Ventilate as soon as the flood waters are gone. Ask your professional water removal team to use industrial fans when possible.
  2. Completely remove baseboards and use cutouts in plasterboard to allow air to flow. If the flood water did not reach above the baseboard trim, small, slotted holes may suffice.
  3. Remove wet insulation. All moisture should be removed to prevent mold, including the wet insulation inside walls.
  4. Remove door trim and paneling. If flood water was from a broken supply line or burst pipe, the swelling wood trim and paneling can probably be dried and reused.
  5. If the flood waters were more than eight inches deep, cut the wallboard two to three inches above the flood line and discard. Water frequently causes the gypsum to crumble and the paper backing material to ripple.
  6. Dry the inside of plasterboard walls completely. Depending on the area’s humidity, this could take a month or more.
  7. Replace insulation and plasterboard with new products. Flood-resistant insulation can be a good replacement choice.
  8. Install new baseboard trim. You can also re-install the door trim and paneling.

Once the swelling wood and warped plasterboard have been removed and the foundation is completely dry, your home in Slidell, can be fully restored to its pre-flood state. By taking the time to make sure there is no hidden water damage inside your walls, you can be sure your home remains mold free.

For SERVPRO of Slidell, our goal is to quickly return every home to its owners in a clean, safe condition. If you have had any water incident in your home, call (985) 649-1516 today to schedule a visit from one of our inspectors. We are here for you.

To find out more about Slidell, click here.

We're Faster To Any Size Disaster In Pearl River

12/17/2019 (Permalink)

Air movers stacked on a concrete floor We pulled up the carpets and used air movers to dry under the effected areas when it suffered from water damage after a washer leak.

Dealing With Water Cleanup in Pearl River

Having a toilet overflow from your bathroom into other areas of your home requires specific cleanup precautions. You cannot assume that water coming from a toilet is clean water. Even water without any solid matter coming from a toilet, it is still gray water (category 2). If there is waste or sewage backup, the water is considered black water (category 3) and is unsanitary and possibly disease-carrying. If untreated, you may face health risks from the wastewater.

If you need gray or black water cleanup in your Pearl River home, the trained professionals at SERVPRO understand how to effectively clean and sanitize impacted areas so that you do not have to worry about potential illness or disease. Not only do they use industrial-grade specially formulated cleaners, but they also use OSHA compliant personal protective equipment when cleaning contaminated water. This includes respirators, splash goggles, gloves, and even full-body suits when necessary.

When clearing wastewater using specialized extraction equipment, technicians usually dispose of it in a sewer line depending on local and state ordinances. If no sewer line is available, technicians dump the water at a licensed wastewater treatment facility. Improper disposal not only exposes other members of the community to unsanitary water, but there may be significant penalties from environmental agencies.

SERVPRO focuses on the water damage cleanup, so you do not have to deal with contaminants by creating an individualized plan for your particular situation. Technicians use disinfectants that kill about 99% of the organisms found in gray and black water. They also use biocides and fungicides before and after the work to ensure a clean environment.

The goal is always restoration rather than replacement; however, in some cases, removal and replacement may be required. For a semi-minor toilet spill, technicians use source containment by removing contaminated materials such as unsalvageable carpet by wrapping them up in polyethylene or putting them in plastic bags. If needed, technicians test the impacted environment to ensure that there are normal levels of indoor organisms.

Contact SERVPRO of Slidell at (985) 649-1516 24/7 for prompt service. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

See more about Pearl River.

Uh Oh! Water Damage in Pearl River? Now What?

8/31/2019 (Permalink)

Two SERVPRO vehicles on the street in front of a home. Water damage in your Pearl River home? Better call SERVPRO.

SERVPRO in Pearl River can get you back to normal in no time.

We all get distracted from time to time in our Pearl River home. You go to the store to get milk and come home with everything BUT milk. After a long day at work, you yearn for a hot bubble bath. The faucet is on, you pour in the bubbles, and that is when it hits you. You forgot to pick up the package on the front porch. What’s inside is so enticing that you are oblivious to the bath water running upstairs. Uh Oh. 

For those of us living in Pearl River, water damage is complicated even further by the constant presence of heat and humidity. An accident like this can go from bad to worse in a matter of hours. The longer the water remains, the deeper it seeps into your floor joists, walls, and ceiling. Mold, rotted wood, electrical issues, weakened floors, and crumbling ceilings are just some of the fallouts SERVPRO can help you prevent. On-call and available 24/7, our professionals respond any time of day or night. The quicker you make the call, the less hassle you may have and the more money you can save.

When water accumulates on a linoleum floor, it can find its way to  fill up above the room below. From there, it seeps through the space around the hole in your ceiling where the light fixture hangs. But what you do not see is what can cause problems. We use moisture sensors and thermal imaging cameras to locate the hidden water. Individual meters tell us how wet the area is and how much humidity is in the air. SERVPRO’s state of the art equipment determines the best drying method to use so our team can bring your home back from the brink. Our skilled technicians, many of whom are certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) have the experience, equipment, and know-how to mitigate the issue quickly. Restoration can be swift or it may be time-consuming. Reconstruction and renovations are time-consuming and costly. 

Events like water damage happen to the best of us. Our highly-experienced and empathetic professionals can make you feel, “Like it never even happened.” So next time you have an “uh oh” moment, remember it pays to act quickly! Call SERVPRO of Slidell at (985) 649-1516.

To learn more about Pearl River, click here.

What You Shouldn’t Do After Your Home Sustains Water Damage

10/12/2018 (Permalink)

Heavy water damage due to a broken pipe in a Slidell,LA home

When your home in Slidell,LA has been damaged by water, you may be tempted to start repairs immediately without making a thorough assessment of the area. With water in home as a result of a floods, a broken pipe or clogged lines, you need to know what measurements you should avoid.

1. Enter an Unsafe Home

If your home has been majorly impacted by flooding, structural damage could make your home unsafe to enter. Though you certainly want to stop further damage from occurring in your home, putting yourself at risk by going into your home if it is unsafe is not a risk worth taking. If you don’t know if you should go into your home, be safe and wait.

2. Leave Important Documents

If you know that it’s safe to go into your home after a broken pipe, flood, or other cause has resulted in water damage in your home, you may want to start grabbing items at random to remove them from your home. However, it’s important to prioritize removing documents with personal or sensitive information so they are not damaged or lost. Having these documents can save you time and frustration in the future.

3. Try Cleaning Without the Correct Tools or Equipment

Seeing the damage that water has caused in your home firsthand can leave you wanting to start the cleanup process straight away. Although you should do what you can to remove water from your home quickly, entering your home without wearing water-proof boots or handling items without gloves can be dangerous. Instead of inefficiently cleaning your home and putting yourself at risk due to rushing, take the time to prepare yourself before cleaning.


If you’ve experienced water damage from anything from a broken pipe or flooding, knowing what you shouldn’t do after water damage has occurred is important. To get your home safely cleaned and renewed, speak with water removal professionals.

Oh No, a Flooded Basement! Here’s How to Fix It

8/16/2018 (Permalink)

A sump pump will help remove water from your Slidell basement incase of flooding

A basement flood is nerve-wracking and can seriously damage your home’s foundation. The basement is also often a main attraction for homeowners and their families to spend time in. While it might seem like the end of the world, you can fix a flooded basement.

You will need the following tools:

? A submersible pump with a generator
? An extension cord
? Nylon rope
? A garden or sump hose

1. Shut Off Electricity and Gas

Never enter a flooded basement, due to the risk of electrocution. If the service panel or circuit breaker is not located in the basement, go ahead and turn it off. Otherwise, call an electrician.

2. Determine the Cause of the Flood

This step can help avoid another basement flood. A plumber can fix a burst pipe; water stop cement fixes leaks in the walls; unclogging and rinsing gutters and downspouts prevents overflow, and some sort of drainage system helps prevent drain and storm sewer backups.

3. Get the Water Out

Secure the pump with rope and lower it down from the stairs above. Two pumps at the same time can remove the water even faster. Follow these steps to pump out the water:

? Attach the extension cord to the pump cord.
? Wrap the cords around something up high to keep them from getting wet.
? Attach a garden or sump hose to the top of the pump.
? Position the end of the hose away from the house to drain into a gutter or storm sewer.
? Tie the rope around the top of the pump and lower it into the basement.
? Start the generator and plug the extension cord into it to start the pump.

4. Talk to Professionals

Ask about insurance coverage. Keep in mind that any electrical or gas items probably cannot be salvaged. However, restoration professionals offer cleaning and drying services to help you cut down on replacing damaged items.

A basement flood in Slidell, LA, can be devastating, but it doesn’t have to ruin your home. By following these steps, you can get your basement back into shape.

For more on Slidell click here

Commercial Bathroom Maintenance

7/19/2018 (Permalink)

A clean, efficient bathroom at your commercial property in Slidell, LA, keeps your clients, customers and tenants happy. There are few things as off-putting as a clogged toilet, toilet overflow or raw sewage in a public restroom. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to properly maintain the lavatory, prevent flooding and avoid water damage repairs.

How Do I Prevent a Clogged Toilet?

In your commercial bathroom, you can help protect the toilets and safeguard your sewage system by doing the following:

  • Place signs in the restrooms instructing people what should and should not be flushed down the toilets. For example, toilet paper is appropriate to flush, but paper towels and feminine products are best thrown in the garbage.
  • Consider the type of toilet paper in the restrooms at your property. Choose a thinner, more biodegradable type of paper. This is less likely to cause a clog if large amounts are flushed, and gentler on your septic system.
  • One of the simplest methods of prevention is supplying the restrooms with garbage cans. Trash containers should be located in the stalls and also near where paper towels are available. The containers should be emptied on a regular schedule.

What Actions Do I Take After a Toilet Overflow?

Sometimes regardless of preventative measures, accidents happen. As soon as you are notified of a problem, take the following actions to decrease the likelihood of further water damage:

  • Turn off the water source to the offending toilet.
  • Immediately call a water restoration company to assess the situation. If the water is contaminated, special antibacterial cleaning measures need to be taken to disinfect the area. As needed, the space will be dried and restored.
  • Contact your commercial insurance agent, as water damage may be covered by your policy.

Bathroom maintenance is an important part of owning a commercial property in Slidell, LA. By following a few easy steps, a clogged toilet resulting in water damage can often be avoided. If this were to occur, however, get immediate help from a water restoration expert.

Why and How To Create a Business Continuity Plan

4/23/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial Water Loss

A wide variety of vulnerabilities in your business may lead to loss of income and customer loyalty when a disaster occurs. A business continuity plan, also referred to as an emergency response plan, is a technique you may use to identify and prepare for potential problems, keeping your activities running with the least disruption possible.

5 Steps To Create a Plan

To make the process easier, the creation process is broken down into five steps. Consider each part with your business’s needs.

1. Business Impact Analysis: This is a questionnaire that allows you and your managers to assess potential emergencies and the materials required to deal with them. Preparation, distribution and evaluation of results are usually necessary elements of this first step in your business continuity plan.


2. Recovery Strategies: These are plans that allow you to analyze resource needs, the gaps between the required resources and those currently available, managerial choices of strategies to be used and action on those decisions.


3. Plan Development: This is the laying out of the actual emergency response plan, the arrangement of teams to implement recovery from the disaster, production of documentation and approval by management.


4. Training: This is the preparation of the team responsible for continuity actions.


5. Testing and Exercises: This is the creation of training and evaluation materials, which are then tried and implemented.

Value of the Plan for Your Business

An emergency response plan provides a clear, deliberate and well-thought-out way to deal with potential disasters at your business facility. Employees and management should be trained in the procedures that should make a crucial difference in the rapid recovery of your business.

Guidance in Developing Your Plan

There are online materials that provide detailed information on how to create your business continuity plan. Some of these materials are aimed at specific types of emergency services available in Pearl River, LA, such as IT repair or commercial water damage mitigation.

Click here for more on Pearl River.

What Goes Into a Toilet Replacement?

3/23/2018 (Permalink)

Toilet Repair in Slidel Home

Oftentimes, a leaking toilet or other water-related issue can occur when you least expect it. It is easy for these minor problems to result in major headaches. Many Slidel, LA, homeowners are aware that such issues can be common, yet they can become overwhelmed at the steps involved in repairing the faulty system. The three pointers below help clarify the main steps professionals take during a toilet repair.

1. Leaky Systems

An old home can be especially vulnerable, mainly because it likely has an old toilet. Even if your home is relatively new, a pesky water problem can occur with any system. Usually, homeowners can spot leaks by tightening the bolts of the toilet; when this approach doesn't prove successful, the next step might be removing the toilet altogether.

2. Simple Steps

Of course, discovering that you need to replace a toilet is likely not the most exciting part of your agenda, but professionals generally complete replacements in a few steps. First, they go to the shutoff valve to cut off water. After removing the lid, it is important that as much water drains from the leaking toilet as possible. Professionals then disconnect the water supply tube and remove bolts that fasten the toilet to the floor.

3. Trusty Toilets

Once professionals remove the faulty toilet altogether, they can begin installing the new system. They may need to apply a pipe-joint compound to the fittings before getting the new toilet in place. After setting the toilet down on a wax gasket, the toilet can be refastened to the floor. Lastly, professionals may check to ensure the toilet is aligned with the wall of the bathroom.

Whether your Slidel, LA, home has been loved for decades or is fresh off the market, a leaking toilet can become quite the nuisance. By updating your knowledge on the steps involved in a toilet replacement, you can have peace of mind that the problem gets addressed quickly and effectively.

Visit us at http://www.SERVPROslidell.com for more information. 

Ice Damage and Frozen Pipes

12/21/2017 (Permalink)

Ice Damage
Unfortunately, wind damage and river flooding aren't the only problems facing home and business owners. Even if you've faced a recent roof repair, keep in mind that storm restoration can include managing ice damming and frozen pipes. Ice damming occurs when ice freezes at the edge of your roof and the water can't drain. An ice dam can cause incredible roof repair issues. An ice dam is something many home restoration professionals are ready to deal with. Ice damming can happen whether you've dealt with an ice dam before or not. If you want to minimize the home restoration required on your building, make sure you understand ice damming and talk with your storm restoration expert on how to avoid an ice dam.

Visit http://www.SERVPROslidell.com for more information on storm damage.I

Dirty water and Drying Methods

12/21/2017 (Permalink)

What is Dirty Water?

Before starting the water cleanup process and using any type of drying method in a flooded home, the restoration company will first determine if the water is dirty or clean. Dirty water is any type of water with contaminants. A good example of dirty water is the water in a home or the water in a business seen after a supply line break. With a supply line break, that water can mix with sewage and run off from the sewer lines.

Drying Methods

Working with restoration and mitigation professionals is especially important when doing dirty water cleanup because the drying methods used on other jobs are potentially dangerous. The fans usually used to reduce the effects of water damage can spread the dirty water around the house or business and damage other parts of the building. Those fans can also allow mold spores to spread faster than they otherwise would. Water cleanup professionals will use other drying methods to dry items in the building.

Visit http://www.SERVPROslidell.com for more information on fire damage.

Category Three Water Damage

12/21/2017 (Permalink)

Water Types for Flooding

While examining a flooded home, restoration company techs will identify the type of water in the home. Dirty water sometimes goes by the name of black water because the water can mix with oil or other liquids and develop a dark black sheen. A pipe break or a supply line break is an example of black water. Gray water usually comes from appliances like dishwashers and washing machines and can both cause flood damage and be dangerous. As owners cannot identify clean water from gray or black water, they need to call in professionals who can.

Restoration and mitigation professionals have a deep understanding of water damage. They know which drying methods they can use in a flooded home based on the top of water that puddles on the ground. These professionals also know how to handle different types of water damage and which water cleanup methods work the best. An honest restoration company can cleanup that damage in as little time as possible.Visit http://www.SERVPROslidell.com for more information on fire damage.

Types of Water Damage Caused by Dirty Water

9/12/2017 (Permalink)

Types of Water Damage Caused by Dirty Water

Many people look at water in a home or water in a business in the same way. Whether caused by a supply line break, another pipe break or flooding, they think that all the water they see is exactly the same. A restoration company that specializes in flood damage can help those owners understand that there is both clean water and dirty water. Knowing what dirty water is and the types of water damage it can do can help owners know whether to call for restoration or mitigation help.

The three categories of water damage are: Category 1 (clean water); Category 2 (grey water); and Category 3 (black water)

Visit http://www.SERVPROslidell.com for more information on water damage.

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