We Are Here to Help

10/4/2022 (Permalink)

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

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

What To Do After Flooding

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

What NOT To Do After Flooding

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

If you ever find yourself in one of these situations, call the professionals at SERVPRO South Livingston to assist you at (225) 667-2220.

How to Keep Rain Water out of your Livingston Parish Home

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

Here are 10 things you should do to keep rainwater out of your Livingston Parish, LA home. 

1. Increase Grade: The ground around your home should be sloped away from your property to divert water. It's a very simple process, borrow dirt from three feet away from the structure, and toss it against the side of the structure creating a slope.
2. Clean Rain Gutters: You should clean your gutters annually. A clogged gutter can send rainwater running down the exterior wall, which can result in water entering the interior walls. 
3. Divert Down Spouts: At the local hardware store, you can purchase a black plastic corrugated hose that fits around the base of the downspout. This hose carries water away from the structure, preventing water from seeping into the foundation.
4. Roof Maintenance: You should have your roof inspected every 5 years. Your roof is the first line of defense, with one tear in a rubber membrane or cracks in a tin roof, or a compromise in the plywood structure of the roof can be disastrous for the interior of your structure.
5. Window Repairs: Proper window installation and maintenance is very important. Modern windows are fitted with well drains to help guide water outside of the house. Improper caulking can be disastrous by sending water into the structure instead of draining it away.
6. Sweep Away Debris: During spring and fall especially, you should sweep outdoor surfaces weekly. Sweep patios and door well to prevent debris from clogging exterior drains. 
7. Expand Exterior Drains: By expanding the surface area of exterior drains decreases the likelihood of clogging the drain.
8. Construct a Swale Ditch: Constructing a ditch and filling it with landscaping rock can help divert water away from the structure, especially for yards that are extremely flat.
9. Exterior French Drain: For structures on a slope, an exterior French drain, including a subterranean ditch with a black perforated corrugated hose, can be used to divert surface water away from the structure.
10. Install a Sump Pump: When all else fails, installing a sump pump may be the solution. You will need to dig a well through the basement or slab of structure. The well may be up to 7 or 10 feet deep. As the water table increases, a sump pump activates and transports water away from the structure.  

If you have water damage concerns due to rainwater, please feel free to give SERVPRO of South Livingston a call, we're always here to help (225) 667-2220.

Water Damage! Be Ready!

1/10/2020 (Permalink)

In 2017 Tropical Storm Harvey impacted the United States. Billions of dollars’ worth of damage to economies, communities displaced, and people killed – it’s a terrifying window into the devastating impacts of water-related extremes. Urgent action is needed to manage these hazards and minimize future suffering. SERVPRO of South Livingston acts fast and we are always prepared. Call us at (225)667-2220 as soon as possible after you have water damage in your home or commercial property. Hurricane season will be here before you know it and you need to be prepared!

Flood Water Facts

12/28/2018 (Permalink)

Across the United States, flooding is one of the most commonly widespread weather-related disasters. Whether your home or business is near a coastline, along city streets, in the mountains, near a river or even in the desert, there is always potential for flood damage.

Though you may have never experienced a flood in the past, there’s no level of security to assure that you won't in the future.  In fact, 20% of all claims paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were for policies in low-risk communities. 

According to the American Red Cross (ARC), floods cause more damage in the U.S. every year than any other weather-related disaster.  The ARC offers the following safety tips:

• Stay away from floodwaters as much as possible.  If you approach a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around, and go another way.  Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet.

• If you approach a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way.  If you are caught on a flooded road and water are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground.  Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.

• Keep children out of the water.  They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water.

If your home or business is ever affected by a flood, contact the professionals at SERVPRO of South Livingston Parish (225) 667-2220.  Even minor floods have the potential to cause major damage to a structure when not treated quickly and properly, and the cleanup is often an overwhelming task.  The SERVPRO system is prepared to handle any size disaster.  The sooner work begins; the sooner your home or business can return “Like it never even happened.”

3 Ways To Deal With Water Damage

9/12/2018 (Permalink)

It is important to care for items that have been damaged by water. No matter if a broken pipe, appliance, or backed-up toilet is the culprit, it is important to fix the source of the leak and carefully care for any vulnerable items in your home as soon as possible. If you wait a long time, these items may degrade or even begin to mold. Depending on the type of items that were exposed and the extent of the water damage, you may want to consult experts on water in the home who provide dry cleaning services in Livingston, LA.

Whether you think you can handle the water damage yourself or you want to start the cleanup process while you wait for the experts to arrive, here are three general guidelines for handling items with water damage.

1. Gently clean and rinse items that are still wet. Try not to grind debris into the surface. Be especially careful when handling delicate items such as art, paper, photographs, or other fragile materials. These should be removed from walls or any folders and containers and allowed to air dry.

2. Air dry objects indoors to avoid causing additional damage with sunlight or heat. Direct sunlight can compound the damage resulting from water in the home and lead to splitting, buckling, or even warping items and furniture.

3. Increase airflow and decrease humidity as much as possible to speed drying and prevent mold from forming.

If you are dealing with water in the home after a broken pipe or another kind of leak, you should focus on drying and airing out the affected area as quickly as possible. In most cases, it is best to lay out damp items indoors and circulate and dehumidify the air. Skilled restoration experts in Livingston, LA, may also be able to answer any of your questions if you are concerned about whether you can safely clean or dry a delicate item.

How To Begin the Insurance Claim Process After Water Damage

8/30/2018 (Permalink)

An insurance policy is a document that lists the conditions, terms, and details of a contract between you and your insurance company. The contract can protect you by clearly outlining your obligations when you are ready to file an insurance claim in South Louisiana. On the other hand, the contract also clearly states the terms under which the policy becomes void, and the insurance company does not have to pay. Here are a few steps you can take to make sure you follow the terms of your contract.

Insurance Company Requirements

The first step in protecting your interests may be to review your insurance policy and note your legal obligations. If the pipe burst damage requires a police report, speak to law enforcement officers. Most insurance companies ask for a copy of the report if the flood or water damage is a result of:

• Burglary
• Vandalism
• Theft

The next step may be contacting your insurance company to report the insurance claim. Please note that reporting a claim and filing a claim are not the same. When you report the damage to your agent, you are notifying him or her of the damage and asking for an adjustor to review the situation.

Homeowner Insurance Obligations

Protecting your interests can also include documentation. First, contact a professional water repair and remediation service to remove the water. Ask the team to document their efforts, if possible. You may want to record the damage as well. Although your policy will probably not require you to take pictures of the damage, doing so can help you establish a solid claim.

To begin the actual claim process, fill the claim forms out and promptly return the papers to your insurance company. Make copies for yourself in case the documents get lost in the mail.

Beginning the Legal Process

Once you fill in the insurance claim forms, you are starting a legal process that is clearly defined by the terms of your insurance policy. If you fulfill the terms of the policy, the insurance company is legally required to pay. It’s the law.

Visit www.SERVPROsouthlivingstonparish.com/ for more information on water damage. 

Aging Appliances Can Cause Water Damage To Your Livingston Residence

8/21/2018 (Permalink)

Don't Despair from a Leaking Appliance in Livingston, Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Water Removal

Livingston Homes and Fast SERVPRO Water Leakage Mitigation

You might be able to think of multiple issues that could affect your Livingston home, but one of the most common threats that homeowners face is the possibility of a water emergency. The real trouble with this possibility is that it can come from several different sources and impact your house in disastrous ways.
 
Aging appliances are a typical culprit for water damage to your South Louisiana residence. While you might diligently service your appliances to work as well as they can, aging machines run a risk of breaking down and malfunctioning. When an appliance like a washing machine or your water heater breaks in a specific way, it can allow water to pass through unabated and overflow onto the floor in this region of your home.
 
Until you recognize the problem and successfully shut down the appropriate valve to stop water flow to the appliance, high volumes can potentially pass through and find their way to the floors of your home. Our SERVPRO team can work quickly to assess the scope of the damage that you face, and make a tailored restoration plan specific to the needs of the current situation.
 
With appliance failures, extraction is often a typical first step of the restoration process. Utilizing both portable pumps and wet-vacs with extraction wands, our SERVPRO technicians can remove virtually all of the pooled water on the floors of the affected areas of your home. Drying is a critical component to restoring the damage, and this process utilizes large air movers, dehumidification equipment, and specialty tools like drying mats to penetrate below the flooring to ensure the area is thoroughly dry.
 
While our SERVPRO professionals work to preserve the flooring of your home as much as possible, sometimes the water has damaged this material too much for salvaging. In these cases, we remove the irreparably damaged portions of flooring and prepare the area for reinstallation of new materials.
 
You cannot always account for when a water-fed appliance has aged enough to break down. Fortunately, with SERVPRO of South Livingston, you do not have to contend with the resulting water damage on your own. Call anytime 24/7 you need us at (225) 667-2220.

Choosing Professional Water Removal for Your Louisiana Home

4/10/2018 (Permalink)

If your home requires water removal, it is important to call on the professionals at SERVPRO.

Call on SERVPRO When Your Home Requires Water Removal Services

While there are all kinds of things that require your attention to maintain your Louisiana home, there are some issues and problems that arise that might just be outside of your wheelhouse. With significant water damage, sometimes the best solution for both your house and your finances is to opt for professional restoration services. Not only does the job get completed more expediently this way, but at a professional quality that people cannot replicate with standard cleaning practices.

This need is even more significant when your Louisiana home requires water removal services. A requirement like this indicates that the water damage is substantial enough where extraction plays a critical role in restoration. Fortunately for you, our experienced SERVPRO professionals have the tools and expertise to handle even the most severe of water damage situations, and can successfully restore your home back to preloss conditions while simultaneously working to minimize further damage to other areas of your home.

Our initial assessment of your home upon arrival is critical to understand the full reaches of the water damage and what areas require water removal and restoration efforts. If you are not aware of the source of the water damage itself, this is also something that our experienced SERVPRO professionals work to locate so that the problem can get repaired while our team is still working on the restoration of your home.

Since extraction is the namesake of water removal services, it might benefit you to understand our process better so that you can know what to expect should you need it in the future. With significant pooled water, our IICRC certified professionals might decide to utilize a pump truck from our fleet of vehicles to quickly extract the water from the affected area. For more involved (and harder to reach) places, our technicians often opt to use wet vacuums with extraction wands and portable pumps.

You might never want to need water removal services for your home, but if you do, our SERVPRO of South Livingston team is here to help. With our experience and equipment, we can help you to clean up the mess and live comfortably in your home once again. Give us a call today at (225) 667-2220.

What to Expect During a Leaking Roof Repair

3/27/2018 (Permalink)

Heavy rain and sudden torrential sudden downpours can cause a roof leak at your Las Vegas, Nevada business. This issue can cause damage to electrical systems and inventory. Calling in a professional restoration company to repair the leak and replace any damaged parts can help you prevent other costly repairs or a prolonged closure. As the owner of your business, knowing what to expect during a roof repair process can help you avoid unexpected delays and get back to running your company as soon as possible.

The Leak Is Assessed

Before restoration specialists can fix a leaking roof, they will need to assess the area and discover what is causing the leak, such as:
• Missing shingles
• Damaged flashing
• Poor drainage

Once the issue is targeted, it can be isolated and contained to prevent any further damage. This mitigation can be helpful, especially if the leak is in an area that may damage expensive equipment.

Removal of Damaged Materials

A roof leak can cause materials to become water damaged to the point where they must be removed. Torn shingles or worn tar paper may be torn out and replaced with new materials. Your restoration specialists may recommend certain types of materials or drainage systems that can prevent further problems in the future.

Drying and Cleaning

Before new materials are brought in, restoration professionals will likely re-assess your damaged roof and use special machinery to dry and disinfect the area. This can help discourage mold growth or unpleasant musty smells from seeping into the building. Once the area is completely dry, restoration technicians can refit the damaged area with new materials, including any sections of the interior ceiling that may have been affected by the leak.

When a roof leak causes trouble at your South Louisiana business, it can be troublesome for you, your employees and your customers. However, when you know what to expect when restoration experts get to work on your roof, you can make an effective plan for getting back to business. Visit  http://www.SERVPROsouthlivingstonparish.com for more information on commercial storm damage.