Recent Storm Damage Posts

3 Ways to Prepare Your Property for Rain

Name: SERVPRO of Santa Maria
Address: 1279 W. Stowell Road, Suite C, Santa Maria, CA, 93458
Telephone: (805) 922-5457

9/14/2023 (Permalink)

3 Ways to Prepare Your Property for Rain

As the summer season comes to an end in beautiful California, it is now time to take the initiative and get your home and business ready for the potential rainy season. Most of the year’s rainfall will take place from October to May, so there is no time like the present to begin taking precautions. Following these steps below will assist in the safety of you, your family, and your property at the time of a storm event.

Check for Leaks

Checking for leaks in your home or business is an essential task year-round. Detecting leaks in the early stages can save the integrity of your property and save you money in the long run. This is especially important to do moving into the rainy season as the potential for leaks will be significantly higher during a storm. To inspect your property is quite simple, by walking around the interior of your home you can do a visual inspection. Be sure to pay close attention to the ceiling, around exterior doors and windows, and the corners where walls adjoin. In addition to checking for leaks, you may want to check all door and window seals to assure they are working properly.

Cleaning out Gutters

Gutters play a crucial role in directing rainwater away from your home. It is important to conduct regular maintenance, especially in the fall season. By keeping your gutters free of debris water will be able to flow consistently, and you can avoid water pooling and damaging your roof. However once rain fall has occurred, avoid cleaning out your gutters immediately after. Waiting until debris has dried out will make the removal process much easier. If you find your gutters have accumulation of finer debris and dirty you may need to invest in specialty tools to assist in the cleaning process. These tools are attachments that can be connected directly to your water hose, you can purchase these attachments at most home improvement stores or online.

Store Equipment and Outdoor Furniture

When a storm is approaching it is best to store lawn equipment and power tools in a dry place where they are not subject to the elements. Be sure to store equipment up off the ground to protect it in case of flooding. If you will be utilizing a shed for storage, be sure to check the roof for any damage or leaks. You may also consider bringing in any furniture or decor that may become damaged by the rain. If you cannot bring furniture in it is advised to cover and tie down any equipment that may be picked up and displaced by high gusts of wind.

A little preparation goes a long way in taking care of your property during the rainy season. The weather can be unpredictable so you must stay diligent in keeping your property safe. Taking precautionary measures can make all the difference in saving your time and resources in the long run.

How Should I Handle Hail Damage?

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

What Exactly is Hail?

The NOAA defines hail as a form of precipitation consisting of solid ice that forms inside thunderstorm updrafts. Hail can damage aircraft, homes, and cars, and can be deadly to livestock and people. Creating what is called "Hailstones". Hailstones are formed when raindrops are carried upward by thunderstorm updrafts into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere and freeze. Hailstones then grow by colliding with liquid water drops that freeze onto the hailstone’s surface. If the water freezes instantaneously when colliding with the hailstone, cloudy ice will form as air bubbles will be trapped in the newly formed ice. However, if the water freezes slowly, the air bubbles can escape and the new ice will be clear. The hail falls when the thunderstorm's updraft can no longer support the weight of the hailstone, which can occur if the stone becomes large enough or the updraft weakens.

How Does Hail Damage Your Roof?

Hail can cause significant damage to the structural integrity of your home, no matter how sturdy your roof may seem. One of the most common types of hail damage is denting of aluminum and metal roofing. A dented, misshapen roof is a malfunctioning roof. If you notice such damages to your metal roof after a hailstorm, it’s important to contact the experts at SERVPRO of Santa Maria as soon as possible. Asphalt shingle roofs can also be damaged by hail, but in the form of punctures, tears, fractures, and granular displacement. Repairing your asphalt shingle roof after hail damage is vital. Holes in the protective layers of your shingles could mean instantaneous or gradual leaks, which eventually lead to water damage. Additionally, the granules on your asphalt shingles provide a protective layer from the sun, so when there is a loss of granules, the shingles are more susceptible to UV light degradation, eventually causing cracks, blisters, leaks, and more. A swift response to hail damage is crucial to the safety of your home and health.

Repair Hail Damage with SERVPRO of Santa Maria

As a locally operated business here in Santa Maria our team is able to respond quickly to your hail storm damage emergencies. When you call SERVPRO of Santa Maria, our disaster recovery team will immediately tend to your needs, as a fast response is important to prevent further damage. The faster the response, the better. If you think you might have roof damage, it is safest to avoid going up on your roof to check for damages, because it might not be sturdy. Our professionals have the experience and tools necessary to safely inspect your roof after damage occurs. No matter the size of the project, the professionals at SERVPRO of Santa Maria will arrive quickly, prepared to repair your roof damages.

Various Storm Damage

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

Storm season brings a wide range of storm types.

Anyone of these storm types could easily cause damage to your home or business. It is important to know the different damages that a storm can cause and also be prepared for wind, flooding and lighting that can cause to your home.

Wind Damage

Storm damage sometimes includes severe wind damage. Roof damage in this situation may range from a missing roof due to strong winds that may loosen flashing. This can cause your roof shingles to be removed from your home or business causing leaks. Even a subtle roof leak can produce damp, moldy conditions. One of our restoration experts can help property owners address storm damage and roof damage more effectively.

Flooding Damage

Flooding may disrupt municipal water systems which call for experts to assess groundwater and evaluate the condition of pipes following flood damage. Our team can assist in your cleanup process after flood damage has occurred.

Lighting Damage

When a storm occurs, many times it brings the loud sounds of thunder which mean lighting is striking. Your home or business may have objects attached to the building that can attract a lightning strike that can cause a fire. A bolt of lightning can reach temperatures of roughly 30,000 kelvins (53,540 degrees Fahrenheit). Lightning strikes, or discharges of massive charges of static electricity, cause about 2% of all fires.

Choose SERVPRO After A Home or Business Fire

5/20/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has over 50 years of restoration service work and understands the value of your home or business, and it's something we strive to get you back into as quickly as possible. Getting your life back to normal is what we strive for after a fire takes place.

With the newest in equipment and the best in technology, SERVPRO of Santa Maria is able to make it, “Like it never even happened.” With fire restoration trained staff and industry experience we excel at getting it cleaned and repairs quickly.

In addition to our fire remediation crew, we also carry a Reconstruction Division that is able to put the finishing touches to make the home move-in ready. Plus a full service laundry division that specializes in removing tough smoke and soot odors.

There's only one company able to handle an entire fire damage claim, from cleaning/restoring, to building it back and laundry services and that's SERVPRO of Santa Maria at 805-922-5457

Why Standing Water Should Be Avoided

5/20/2022 (Permalink)

Flood Water, Be Careful!

After flooding occurs, the surface water left behind can affect your Santa Maria home and or office. Standing water can absorb into the materials and ultimately allows for the deterioration of exposed structural elements. SERVPRO of Santa Maria offers the quickest possible extraction, as well as drying solutions for your Santa Maria property after flooding. We also have ways to reduce the standing water concerns by offering extremely efficient flood removal for Santa Maria homes. To accomplish this, we call upon a wide array of extraction and moisture removal tools in our well stocked inventory.

So, What Tools Are Best for Drying Up Flood Damage?

Every flooding situation is different from the last, there are different tools and machines that can remove water or dry the area better than others. Identifying the most efficient solution is always the priority, once the sooner standing water gets addressed, the less damaging the flood becomes. Some of the standard water removal and drying tools include:

Air Movers
Floor Mat Systems
Dehumidifiers
Positive Pressure Systems
And much more!

After a flood, you want your home to look like it did before the disaster as soon as possible. Our SERVPRO of Santa Maria team can help anytime you need us. Let us take the hassle of dealing with a disaster off your shoulders, call us today at (805)922-5457

Basic Home Maintenance Can Prevent Your Home from Flooding

7/13/2021 (Permalink)

Of the many issues that can cause flooding in your home or attic, an often-overlooked item is a clogged gutter system. This critical network of water diversion works to send runoff from your roof to areas away from your house's vulnerable foundation but can often get filled with leaves and other debris. When this system fails or does not work as it should, the results could be serious. Learn how to keep your gutters clean and what to do if you experience flooding.

Keeping gutters clean

The gutters surrounding the eaves of your home exist to help prevent instances of flood damage from occurring. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not even know about a problem with this network of channeling until it is full and causing a water backflow or overflow situation to arise. Gutters need to be cleaned at least twice a year – in the spring and in the fall when you’re most likely to experience leaves or needs dropping and clogging up drains. If you have pine trees near your home, needles will need to be removed every three months to reduce the potential for clogging the gutters and downspouts. There are actually a few simple steps to prevent this from happening so you don’t experience a flood in your home. Simply getting up on the roof near your gutters and manually cleaning out the blockage is a good start. Many homeowners will you a power spray or hose with a narrow nozzle to get the blockage you’re unable to get by hand. There are also services that will come out and keep your gutters clean if you prefer not to do it.

Keeping your roof in good condition

The Arizona sun can really do a number on your roof. It’s important to keep an eye on it and address any areas of weakness where water may come through. Whether you go up on the roof yourself to inspect or hire a professional to do it, it’s a smart idea to give your roof the once-over at least once a year to prevent water damage from a leaky roof. Depending on what your roof is made of a simple repair could do the trick, or you may need more substantial work.

Keeping good drainage around your home

Some monsoon seasons are more damaging than others. Before you experience a heavy rainstorm, walk around your home to make sure you have good drainage all around your home. If you find water puddling next to your foundation, or see water moving toward your home instead of away, it’s important to fix this so that water doesn’t seep in and cause damage to your home.

What do if you experience water damage

When you find this water making its way into your house, it is time to call in professionals who can handle this situation as efficiently as possible. From the moment that our SERVPRO team arrives at your home, we work to assess what needs to happen to prevent water from continuing to enter your home and allow for extraction and drying to occur successfully. Depending on the severity of the flooding inside of your house, our SERVPRO professionals might only need to use portable pumps to remove the water. Larger quantities of water may require the use of a pump truck. Once the water is removed, we’ll dry the premises and work with any water-damaged items to restore or remove the materials.

A clogged or damaged gutter system cannot divert the water away from your home, and it eventually allows it to pool by the foundation and force its way inside. If clogged gutters, a leaky roof or poor drainage cause flooding to your home, reach out to our experienced SERVPRO of Phoenix team of restoration specialists. We can help you remove the water and bring your home back to the way that it should be. Give us a call anytime, 24/7, at (805)922-5457.

3 Things You Should Know About Flood Water

6/2/2021 (Permalink)

Three Things To Remember About Flood Water

If your Santa Maria CA, home has experienced water damage from a storm or flooding you may be wondering how to go about cleanup and repairs. However, there are a few things you should understand about the water in your home to help ensure that the restoration process is done correctly. Here are three things to remember about flood water.

1. It’s Categorized as Black Water

It’s important to note that any storm caused flooding is categorized as black water. It’s is due to the fact that it’s impossible to know where exactly this water has been, and there’s a risk it could have come in contact with sewage material. This means that there are a number of safety standards that should be met during the restoration process to ensure that your home isn’t contaminated by bacteria.

2. A Professional Should Be Called

When dealing with damage from storm flooding it’s important to follow safety procedures to avoid contamination. For this reason, it’s highly recommended to contact a local water damage restoration service to help with clean up and repairs. These professionals can not only remove the water and restore you home but can offer a variety of cleaning services as well to help ensure that any possible bacteria carried by the flood water are removed.

3. The Affected Area Will Need To Be Cleaned

Because Flood water is potentially contaminated, the affected area will need to be properly cleaned and sanitized. This is another thing a restoration service can help you with. It’s important to remember that any items in the flooded rooms will need to be cleaned as well.

It’s important to remember that storm flooding is classified as black water. This means that and water damage should be cleaned up by a professional restoration service to help ensure that the affected area is properly cleaned and sanitized. If you have any questions these professionals should be able to help.

How Long Does it Take to Pump Flood Water Out?

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Uses Advanced Equipment and Methods to Extract Flood Waters from your Santa Maria Home.

Standing water in the home, which is commonly associated with flood events, can cause significant harm. An exceptional amount of stress and pressure is exerted upon a building's structure by water weight. Furthermore, the migration of water into cavities or beneath floorboards can complicate the drying process.

The primary approach to flood water extraction for your Santa Maria home is to assess the type of water content and contamination levels. SERVPRO technicians rely on many kinds of extraction tools dependent on the unique conditions of the flooded property. Sometimes larger, truck-mounted extractors are the most efficient. At other times, a restricted access space may necessitate portable extractors.

Portable extractors typically have a five to twelve-gallon storage tank with 140 inches of water lift capacity.
Truck Mounted Extractors can have storage tanks over one hundred gallons with a lift capacity of at least 185.71 inches.
Both extractors can be fitted with extraction tools such as extraction wands or additional weighting.

Storm Preparedness for Property Managers

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

Storm Preparedness

As a property manager, you have a lot of responsibilities to tend to in the event of an approaching storm. While keeping your property and other personal possessions is important, your first priority is keeping your residents and employees safe. Storm preparedness is key to keeping your Santa Maria, property and residents safe during severe weather.

Plan Ahead of Time
You need to create an emergency weather plan before disaster strikes. Part of your plan needs to incorporate an emergency contact list that contains that following essential information:

Full names for all property residents
Number of residents in each apartment, including small children, special needs residents and the elderly
Contact information for each resident, including home, work and cell phone numbers
Number of pets residing in each apartment

Work with the remainder of your property management team to distribute the emergency storm preparedness plan to all of your residents. Practice this protocol regularly with your employees to help reduce unnecessary panic once disaster does strike. Make sure everyone knows where the designated weather shelters are located, if necessary. Resident safety is your top priority, so make sure to do plenty of head counts to ensure everyone is present and accounted for.

Rebuild After the Storm
After the storm passes, you need to fully inspect your property for signs of storm damage. Record full reports of any damage you find, including photographs, when necessary. Pass this report on to the property owner so they can properly file a storm insurance claim. Lastly, communicate any updates regarding storm damage to your residents. They need to be aware of any potential safety hazards caused by strong rains and winds.
Proper storm preparedness can make a huge difference when it comes to protecting both your physical property and your residents. Make sure to contact storm remediation experts for assistance following a tropical storm or hurricane.

Power Outages During A Storm

5/5/2021 (Permalink)

Have you suffered a power outage?

Outages in your home can be caused by a storm, floods, or even fires. The storms are headed this way as summer turns to fall. Keep your family safe during these changing seasons. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Keep your family safe by following these tips from our friends at the American Red Cross:

Staying Safe Indoors

Use flash lights in the dark, not candles.
Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic lights will be out and roads will be congested.
If you are using a generator be sure you understand the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to use generators safely.
If you know a storm is coming have shoes close by so you are not stepping on anything that could harm you (i.e. glass, debris, other items that could have caused storm damage in your home)
Battery operated devices: to keep you up to date on outages and storm warnings.

Keep these tips on the top of your mind so you and your family are safe during the next power outage.

Storm Damage Left at Your Home

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

Storm and flood damage can be devastating. Immediate action is needed, and you need the company with storm damage experience. SERVPRO of Santa Maria have the expertise and the resources to handle any size disaster and can respond immediately to storm and flooding conditions.

The damage left behind from a storm can be devastating and put a big damper on your life. Knowing what to do before the storm comes and what to do after it is over is important for you and your home or business. It can lessen the amount of stress and worries you might come across resulting from the storm.

SERVPRO of Santa Maria is here and ready to help you and your home or business after a disaster. We are equipped with knowledgeable, experienced crews with the right equipment to get your life back to normal. We are ready to help make it "Like it never even happened."

A storm damaged my house. Now what?!

7/13/2020 (Permalink)

The damage a storm causes to a home can leave your life suddenly upended. In the first days after a storm, you might be overwhelmed with the damage, with everything you have to do and with concerns about getting your life back together. But careful planning can help you return to normalcy as quickly as possible.

Take these steps to make life a little easier to get back to normal as soon as possible.

1. Safety First: Avoid power lines, mold, and open areas of murky water. You may need to leave your house until professionals can check it.

2. Document Damage: Take pictures before an impending storm of your home, protect important documents, and when it is safe to enter your home take pics of the damage.

3. Have a plan: If you know a large storm is coming to your area have a plan in place on where you will go, expense plan, and a plan to get back on track.

Steps to Restoring Your Santa Maria Property After Flood Damage

5/28/2020 (Permalink)

We will walk you through every step for your Santa Maria flood damage.

Flooding creates a frustrating situation for property owners. Fortunately, by taking the right steps, it is not hard to restore your Santa Maria property after flood damage. If it is safe to enter your home, you can start the flood cleanup process by doing the following things:

Wear protective attire like watertight boots, rubber gloves, and safety glasses or goggles.
Discard porous materials such as foam rubber and padded furniture.
Throw out exposed food, medicine, and drinks.
Document the damage by taking photos or videos.
Wipe down wooden items.
Clean hard surfaces with a solution of hot water and soap.

Cleaning up and drying a flood-damaged property is challenging. You may need special tools like air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the affected surfaces. Some parts of your home may also need to be rebuilt, or soaked materials like carpeting and drywall may need to be removed, discarded and replaced. The other items you may need to replace include drapery, clothing, and ductwork. Therefore, it is advisable to hire a flood damage restoration company like SERVPRO to assist you with the remediation process.

When we get to your residence, we can conduct a detailed inspection using devices like moisture meters, infrared cameras, and moisture sensors. These devices enable us to track moisture within a building. After assessing the destruction, we can come up with the appropriate restoration plan. Floodwater can bring all kinds of solids in your property. We can use a self-priming trash pump to extract the water mixed with solids. We can also use power washers to remove muck or mud on the exterior parts of your home.

After extracting the water, your walls and floors may look dry, but they are still wet. Porous building materials can hold moisture that can make them swell or warp. Our SERVPRO technicians can manipulate temperature and humidity using dehumidifiers and air movers so that drying occurs much faster.

Cleaning floors, walls, and other affected surfaces is also essential. During a flood, sewer lines can leak wastes that may end up in your property, threatening your health. Our team can clean your home using disinfectants that destroy 99 percent of microorganisms.

When you need flood cleanup services in Santa Maria call for help. Our 24-hour emergency helpline is (805) 922-5457. We can make the loss appear “Like it never even happened.”

When Is a Flood Cut Needed?

5/6/2020 (Permalink)

When your home in Santa Maria has water damage, the cleanup process is typically fairly easy. If the damage was caused by flooding, it unfortunately brings a few extra woes. As opposed to a pipe leak with clean water, flood waters can easily pick up extra bacteria and contaminants along its path.

Purpose of a Flood Cut

Since water wicks its way up, the visible damage seen at a few inches could actually have traveled a few feet up a wall. A flood cut allows for the assessment of damage further up the wall. Typically 12 to 18 inches above the visible damage, this cut can help determine how far the water has moved up as well as any other damage.

Are Flood Cuts Always Necessary?

Most professional mediation experts try to tear out as little drywall as possible. For clean water leaks, only the visibly damaged area may need to be removed to prevent further moisture damage. Unfortunately, flood waters require extra care, which will likely mean a flood cut for three main reasons:

After flooding, there is a good chance of contamination. Sewage, chemicals and other bacteria can easily picked up in the flowing waters.
The excess water that has likely worked its way up the walls can create a welcoming environment for mold growth. Even though it may not be visible, the moisture and organic materials in drywall and other materials create the nourishment the fungus needs to flourish.
Behind the drywall in many homes is insulation, which can’t be properly dried. If left as is, it will no longer provide its designated insulated properties.

If your home is damaged by flooding, the best bet is to use a flood cut. This will help you determine how much of the material needs to be removed, as well as will help the area dry out better. Luckily, helps is available that is Faster to any size disaster to resolve the residual flood issues.

What To Expect from a Storm Restoration

5/6/2020 (Permalink)

Things You Can Expect To See During a Restoration

When your home experiences Santa Maria flooding, you may come to realize that the cleanup job will be different from normal repair work. Fortunately, a local storm damage restoration service can be there to help. From damage location to various repair needs, these professionals can soon have your home looking “Like it never even happened.” Here are a few things you can expect to see during a restoration.

1. Multiple Damage Types

A heavy storm can leave you dealing with multiple damage types in your home. Water damage can come from leaks or flood issues, and mold damage can appear if water isn’t cleaned up quick enough. Storm winds can cause problems and sharp drops in temperature can cause pipes to freeze. In some cases, there may even be damage caused by hail.

2. Damage in Multiple Locations

A storm has the ability to cause damage in multiple locations simultaneously. Flooding may occur in basement areas while the roof has loose shingles from the wind. This is why if you believe your home has sustained storm damage it’s important to inspect the entire property.

3. Various Repair Needs

A storm can leave various repair needs around your home from fixing loose shingles on the roof to cleaning up flood damage. This can quickly become a much larger scale repair job than you may be used to. Many restoration services have the ability to handle various types of repair work, and with a full crew, many jobs can be completed at the same time.

A restoration service can clean up any flooding and the related damages after a storm hits your home. They will also be able to handle the variety of repair needs that storm damage can bring above and beyond a normal repair job. From damage types to damage location and repair type, These professionals should be able to take care of any issues and have your home looking “Like it never even happened.”

Types of Bad Advice Santa Maria Homeowners Get About Flood Damage

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Trust SERVPRO’s Experienced and Knowledgeable Technicians With Your Home’s Flood Damage and Advice

When bad things happen in a home such as flood damage, one of the first things many people do is lookup online for instructions on how to fix the situation themselves. This action has the potential to cause even more loss and personal injury in some cases.

Safety for all is a priority for SERVPRO technicians during cleanup and restoration in Santa Maria homes with flood damage. When groundwater enters a property, it carries a rating as a category three bio-hazard. The reason for this is that anything it encounters along the way comes along for the ride and winds up in the house, which often includes bacteria and sewage. Homeowners and pets should avoid contact.

This Water Requires Testing

SERVPRO has different types of antibacterial and antimicrobial solutions. Once they test the groundwater to determine bacteria or contaminants present, they can treat the water to lessen the hazards of coming into contact with it during cleanup. Frequently given lousy advice is to pour bleach wherever there is standing water. This action can damage flooring, leave bleach spots in carpet, and ruin building materials. Although the techs don full-body protective clothing, including respiration, they apply the highest level of care when handling water loss of this type.

Bad Drying Advice

After flood loss in a home, a big mistake property owners make: running household fans on wet carpet. This does nothing to dry the padding or address the possibility of seepage into the sub floor. SERVPRO techs use an array of moisture detection equipment to locate water anywhere it migrates to ensure it all gets extracted with their professional equipment and dried entirely through the use of their high-velocity air movers and industrial dehumidifiers.

Disinfection is Crucial

Due to the unsafe elements typically found in groundwater, the cleaning of surfaces exposed to it is a big part of the restoration services. The use of specific antimicrobial and antibacterial cleaning agents assists not only in sanitizing but also inhibiting mold growth. Before use, the techs carefully assess the object or surface to ensure the correct cleaning method gets implemented.

SERVPRO of Santa Maria has the training and advanced equipment to restore homes from flood damage. Call their emergency response team at (805)922-5457, and the certified techs make the water loss, "Like it never even happened."

When Storms or Floods hit Santa Maria, SERVPRO of Santa Maria is ready!

4/28/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Santa Maria specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Santa Maria, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Flood Damage Can Be Devastating!

4/27/2020 (Permalink)

Storm damage especially from flooding can be devastating. After the flood waters recede, the task of cleaning up begins. It can be challenging because most everyone wants to return to quickly to begin rebuilding.

It is critical that if the flood was serious enough to require evacuation, stay safe upon your return.

Follow these three quick tips before you re-enter the structure:

Contact your utility companies to make sure that electric and gas a turned off and sewer lines are intact.
Check for any visible structural damage like loosened or cracked foundation, other cracks or holes in the home in the exterior or interior.
Check for warping of ceilings or drywall

SERVPRO of Santa Maria can help you with this seemingly monumental task. It may not always be as quick as cleaning your belongings and removing the water. Depending on the amount of damage, water can impact wood and drywall that has been either been submerged for a long time or a short period. Left professionally untreated continuing problems like the deterioration of wood and walls as well as the concern for the development of mold.

As one of the largest restoration companies in the valley, we have the extensive inventory of recovery equipment and large skilled and qualified team of professionals that will respond to emergencies and disasters of any size or severity.

We have 24/7 response service, our team offers effective mitigation. Our fast response to water loss emergencies can prevent structural concerns and the formation of hazardous mold colonies.

No matter the emergency or when it occurs, our team can make it “Like it never even happened.”

Using and Maintaining a Sump Pump in Your Home

7/10/2019 (Permalink)

Overtime, your sump pump may require some low-key maintenance

Sump Pump Maintenance

As a homeowner, you know how much work it is to remove storm water from your home after heavy rain or snowfall. If interior flooding from ground water or storm runoff is a common problem in your Santa Maria, CA home, you may want to consider using a sump pump. This helpful tool not only redirects water away from your house, it can also prevent the costly water damage you deal with and pay for season after season. Learn more about pump maintenance to determine if this device is right for your home.

Plug-In the System

Once you get your new pump, you want to start by plugging it in. If the pump is not attached to a reliable power source it won't do any good when water reaches your house. Because power outages are often associated with large storms, some homeowners attach a backup power source such as a battery or generator to operate the pump if power fails.

Clear Blockages

Overtime, your sump pump may require some low-key maintenance. Small particles and debris may begin to create blockages within the pump that need to be cleaned out. Neglecting regular inspection for obstructions may result in the following:

The pump works harder than necessary
Debris may cause permanent damage
Blockages may result in water overflow

Test the System

Regular testing of your pump will help you rest assured that your home is not unprotected. To test your pump, pour a bucket of water into the floor opening. Listen for the pump to switch-on and watch for it to quickly and efficiently pull the water out and reduce the water level back to zero. Slow water extraction may be a sign of pump blockages or debris.

Swap Out the Backup Battery

Finally, keep an eye on your backup power source. If you use a battery as your alternative energy connection, charge or replace it every two to three years to make sure it is reliable. With these simple tips for sump pump operation and maintenance, you may be able to save the time and money on dealing with home storm damage.

Flood Damage Preparation Tips for Business Owners

5/21/2019 (Permalink)

Have sandbags on hand to place on the door of your building

Despite your best efforts, you can’t always prevent disasters from happening. In the workplace, you’re concerned about the safety and well-being of your employees, not to mention the functionality of equipment and the integrity of the structure. To minimize flooding damage and to save time, money and a lot of headaches, practices some effective strategies in your Santa Maria, CA, office building.

Typical Causes of Floods

Flood damage has many sinister faces. Water can creep into your office from a number of sources. The better you can identify these, the more prepared you can feel when an emergency hits.

Broken pipes or other plumbing problems
Insufficient draining from rain gutters and downspouts
Sewage backups in the main line
Massive storms such as hurricanes

Protect the Windows and Doors

If water begins to come into your office, windows and doors are common entry points. Have sandbags on hand to place in these areas to block the flow of water and to send it elsewhere. Storm damage can often allow water to rush inside and ruin the structure of the building as well as your belongings.

Move Items to Higher Ground

In many situations, top floors will be a safer place to be during flooding. If you notice water leaking in the lower floors, it’s smart to relocate electronics, documents and furniture to the higher level.

Have a Plan

Surely, your company has a method to respond to fires. You need a similar response for a flood. Know how and where to leave the building if major floods occur. Also, inspect your roof, plumbing and foundation regularly to guard against water problems. In addition, find a quality water cleanup company to call in case of an emergency. The best professionals have the knowledge, experience and tools to respond to even the most devastating floods.

When you put these guidelines into practice, you can salvage your most important assets during flooding. Don’t fall prey to the terrible damages that can occur.

Preparing for Flood Damage

4/28/2019 (Permalink)

Flooding can be devastating to a commercial building, leaving damage that takes a significant amount of time and expense to undo.

How To Prepare for Flood Damage

Flooding can happen throughout the year and can be devastating to a commercial building, leaving damage that takes a significant amount of time and expense to undo. There are several steps you can take to prepare your Santa Maria, California building to survive and recover from storm damage. Preventative measures can reduce the amount of flood damage and make it easier to restore your building to operational use as soon as possible.

1. Clean the Gutters

Flooding doesn’t always mean there are several feet of water in a building. Even a few inches of water inside a commercial building can cause substantial damage. Floodwaters can build slowly over several days or may rise extremely quickly in the event of a flash flood.

No matter how much rain is falling, well-maintained gutter systems have a much better chance of diverting that water to proper drainage areas. If the gutters are clogged with leaves, dirt, and other debris, the water can overflow the sides and saturate the ground around the foundation, increasing the risk for damage. Make sure to check and clean the gutters on a regular schedule to ensure they work properly during a flood.

2. Maintain the Storm Drains

Like gutters, storm drains are designed to move water away from streets and buildings. While the local government or county is usually responsible for storm drain maintenance, you may be required to report issues with the drains on or near your property. If you see something amiss with a storm drain, report it to the authorities immediately.

3. Have a Response Plan

Make sure you’re ready to react quickly in the event of flooding. During a flood watch or warning, follow basic safety guidelines:

Listen to the TV or radio for weather updates
Gather an emergency preparedness kit
Move to higher ground
Avoid walking or driving through flood waters

Keep the number for restoration professionals handy so you can call them if your building sustains storm damage. You will want to do this as soon as possible to begin cleanup and repairs. Responding quickly to flood damage can help get your building back to normal operations. Visit http://www.SERVPROsantamaria.com for more information on flood damage.

When a Storm Hits, SERVPRO is Ready!

4/27/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO responds immediately with highly trained technicians and specialized equipment to restore your home or business after any size disaster.

SERVPRO of Santa Maria specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Santa Maria, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams https://www.SERVPRO.com/disaster-recovery that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 805-922-5457

What To Do After Flooding If You Don’t Have Flood Insurance

4/27/2019 (Permalink)

If you obtain flood insurance, you should seek an estimate from storm and water damage restoration experts and make a claim.

No Flood Insurance?

Homeowners insurance policies typically exclude damage caused by flooding. Residents of flood-prone areas should obtain a separate flood insurance policy, otherwise they will have to pay for damage restoration out of pocket or obtain relief through a federal program. Here are four types of assistance that may be available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

1. Transitional Sheltering and Temporary Housing

After the president declares a federal disaster area, Transitional Sheltering Assistance can lower the cost of staying in a hotel during the days or weeks immediately following a disaster. Homeowners can also seek Temporary Housing Assistance for a period of one month up to 18 months.

2. Grants for Cleanup and Restoration

A homeowner may want to apply for a grant to fund the restoration of a residence located on a flood plane. Grants can be used for repairing structural damage or replacing other losses.

3. Repair and Replacement Assistance

If the location of your home is declared a federal disaster area, you may be eligible for a one-time payment for Repair and Replacement Assistance. This option will not cover the costs of flood damage, and is intended to supplement a flood insurance policy.

4. Low-Interest Loans

It may be possible to obtain loans that have low-interest rates to finance residential flood damage repairs. These loans are usually capped at $200,000 for a primary residence and $40,000 for property including renters' losses. Annual interest rates may be as low as 1.75 percent for a 30-year period.

After a federal declaration of emergency, homeowners may benefit from these and other services administered by FEMA. If you obtain flood insurance, you should seek an estimate from storm and water damage restoration experts and make a claim. Professional cleanup and rebuilding services can reduce the likelihood that secondary damage will result from primary flood damage at a residence in Santa Maria, CA.

Why Choose SERVPRO of Santa Maria for Storm Restoration Services?

4/26/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Santa Maria is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Our response time will help to minimize any damage and help save money costs.

SERVPRO of Santa Maria water damage, fire damage and disaster restoration specialists are the best choice when dealing with any type or size of disaster.

From small leaks to major damage, their franchise professionals have the edge over the competition because of their quick response time, professionalism, and extensive knowledge of the trade. They possess the proper equipment to get the job done quickly and thoroughly. Their goal is to make it, “Like it never even happened.”

• Speed

SERVPRO is faster when dealing with disaster than other restoration services. Especially when dealing with water damage and flooding, timing is critical. Within minutes water can spread throughout the property, and quickly absorb into walls, carpet, floors and your belongings.

Within 24 hours, surfaces will begin to tarnish and furniture can begin to bend, swell and crack, and mold spores begin to settle. After a week, mold and property damage will worsen, even to the point of total contamination. SERVPRO is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Their quick response time will help to minimize any damage and help save money on restoration costs.

• Professionalism

SERVPRO is a franchised company, which means their franchise professionals go though an extensive, company-wide training process that guarantees that they are at the top of their field. All of the SERVPRO of Santa Maria professionals are versed in the standards set by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC. They have extensive water damage restoration training, and will monitor the entire restoration process to completion.

• Advanced equipment and techniques

SERVPRO of Santa Maria water damage professionals have the expertise and the top of the line equipment to deal with your restoration needs. Because each restoration project requires different solutions, SERVPRO of Santa Maria carries a wide variety of professional equipment. They will take you through the process of: initial contact, damage assessment, water removal/extraction, dehumidification, sanitizing/cleaning and into restoration.

How To Minimize Flood Damage to Your Business

2/13/2019 (Permalink)

If you have flooding, remember not to panic.

Prepare Your Business From A Flood Damage

There is never a good time to deal with flood damage in Santa Maria, CA. Different types of flooding include burst pipes, flash floods, and sewage backup. They can be hard to prepare for and even harder to predict. Here are a few tips to ensure that you are doing the most you can to protect your property from disaster.

Act Now

Sometimes you won't have time to prepare your business before a storm hits. If your property experiences flooding, remember not to panic. You can avoid most of the damage with these steps.

Stop the flow of water and turn off circuit breakers to reduce risk of injury.
Call your storm damage restoration company immediately.
Remove small furniture items, books, papers, and breakables to a higher floor or a dry room.
Put cinder wood blocks under the legs of furniture to raise them above water level.
Lift all cushions, rugs, drapes and other fabric items away from water, and set them outside to dry if needed.
Place sandbags around doors and windows to divert running water and soak up standing water.

Prepare for the Worst

While the forecast can be erratic, one of the best ways to avoid heavy damage is to be prepared before a storm descends. Perform routine maintenance on the building to prevent water from pooling in areas. Make sure to clean out storm drains and patch holes in parking lots. Regularly inspect doors, windows and drains, and bring them up to code.

Keep an Updated Flood Action Plan

Having a flood action plan can help you get your business running right after a disaster. Keep yourself and your employees updated on weather forecasts and storm warnings. Have the numbers of insurance providers and emergency services in one place. Make an evacuation plan and perform drills regularly. Know how to locate all utility taps and circuit breakers and how to safely shut them off in case of a flood.

When you have a well-constructed plan, you will feel much better about handling a disaster such as flooding. Just because the weather can be unpredictable doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared.

Flood Damage Claims: A Step-By-Step Guide

9/21/2018 (Permalink)

If you have experienced a storm damage in Santa Maria, CA contact an adjuster

Did you recently experience a storm in Santa Maria, CA, that left your home with flood damage? If so, and you have insurance coverage for such an occurrence, you need to make a flood claim as soon as possible. How can you go about doing so? Follow these three steps to make sure that your insurance claim is properly reported.

1. Contact an Adjuster

The very first thing that you need to do is contact the adjuster for your flood policy to report the destruction. If you do not have flood coverage, this would be the time to contact any applicable government agencies for information on available assistance, as your homeowners’ policy will not likely cover anything related to flooding. If you are in a designated disaster area, there may be federal aid available.

2. Clean and Recover

You will want to begin cleaning and salvaging your house and items before the insurance representative arrives. This could be a good time to contact a restoration company to help you with any water damage or drying that is needed as a result of the flood. Just make sure to take pictures of damaged items and areas of your property to show as proof of loss. Cleaning the building and recording everything makes the adjuster’s job easier when assessing the situation.

3. Prepare for the Adjuster’s Arrival

In case the representative assessing damage related to your flood claim arrives when you are not at home, be sure to leave your contact information for him or her. Understand that you will likely sign a proof of loss statement before your claim is approved. If more damage is found later on, that will be added to the insurance company’s record.

Preparing for a flood claim when you are dealing with the emotional aftermath of a natural disaster is anything but easy. Having a plan in place and being educated about what your insurance company needs from you will help things go more smoothly at the time of the assessment.

The Cost Difference Between Mitigation and Restoration During a Flood

8/24/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial Company flooded and needing Remediation

Floods continue to be the most prevalent and expensive natural disaster in America. While preventative measures provide quicker and less expensive alternatives to the cost of hiring a flood cleanup company, many property owners do not mitigate against flood damage. This results in high costs and a lengthy restoration process.

Flood Prevention

One of the best preventative recommendations for flood damage is flood insurance, which property owners may purchase through the National Flood Insurance Program, managed by the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), for an average of $700 per year.

Some other preventative methods include the following:

Sealing basement walls with compounds that are waterproof
Installing reflux valves to prevent drains from backing up
Moving heat and electrical sources to higher levels
Backing up data to the cloud
Making a flood plan, including work-from-home opportunities

Once in place, these measures offer protection, year after year. Even better, property owners can usually have the cost partially or fully covered by FIMA.

Flood Cleanup

In contrast, property owners who did not take preventative measures must hire a flood cleanup company out of pocket. Every day the business is closed is a day of income lost, while the company may have salaried staff to pay.

Drying out the business may take the restoration company a few days, and this can only begin after the flood waters recede. Restoration to pre-flood conditions may only require an additional few days, but in worst case scenarios, it may take a business a while to completely rebuild. Not surprisingly, FEMA estimates that 40 percent of small businesses, many of which do not invest in preventative measures, fail to recover from natural disasters.

When it comes to flood damage, prevention is always better than a cure. Sure, a reputable flood cleanup company may restore your place of business in a matter of days, but investing in proactive measures is the best approach to natural disasters in Santa Maria, CA.

How To Prepare for Flood Damage

12/16/2017 (Permalink)

If you have a fire or water emergency, please call us now at (805) 922-5457