ServiceMaster 1st Response

Watch: Finding a Leak in the Roof of Your Home

Roof leaks can lead to serious staining, water damage, mold growth, sagging, and a number of other issues in the home. Identifying the location of a roof leak as soon as possible will ensure that your roof stays strong and will minimize the amount of damage to your home.

This video offers some easy tips on how to find a leak in your roof. An unsightly brown stain on the ceiling is a sure sign of a roof leak, but it can be challenging to find the source—leaks in the roof are seldom directly above the stains. The best way to pinpoint a leak is to go in the attic during a rainstorm; if you feel this is unsafe, you can ask a friend to soak the roof with a garden hose while you investigate inside.

For expert water damage restoration services, contact ServiceMaster 1st Response today by calling (702) 508-0389.

How Quickly Can Water Damage a Home?

Water damage can wreak havoc on a home more quickly than you may realize. If you’re unconvinced of the importance of having water damage repaired immediately, taking a closer look can be helpful. Here’s an overview of the factors that may affect how much time you have to repair water damage.

Type of Water

Water damage can occur from all types of water from all sources. However, depending on the cleanliness of the water, damage may become very severe very quickly. For example, water damage from a water line burst may cause damage to your home, but is initially free of bacteria and viruses that can make you sick. However, water damage resulting from black water contamination from a damaged or backed-up sewer line presents immediate health and safety risks.

Potential for Mold Growth

Another factor to consider when evaluating water damage is the growth and spread of mold. Mold spores are always present but don’t have the resources necessary to grow and thrive. Water damage in your home or business can create the ideal environment for these spores to germinate and grow. Germination in common mold spores can start in as little as 12 hours, allowing the mold to spread through the water-damaged area in as little as 24 hours. This is why mold remediation services should always be considered even if mold is not immediately visible.

Affected Materials

The speed of water damage also varies depending on the types of materials affected. In many cases, surfaces like drywall or flooring may retain moisture even if they are dry to the touch. This encourages mold growth and decay behind the surface. Carpet exposed to gray or clean water should be professionally restored using biocide to ensure no molds or bacteria are retained within 48 hours.

For expert water damage remediation and disaster recovery services, contact ServiceMaster 1st Response today at (702) 508-0389. We specialize in water damage restoration, mold remediation, fire damage repair, and other home and commercial restoration services.

ServiceMaster 1st Response is Sponsoring the 14th Annual Farmers Insurance Birdies for Babies 2012 Charity Golf Tournament!

The 14th Annual Farmers Insurance Birdies for Babies 2012 Charity Golf Tournament is this Thursday, May 10! To show our support for this charity event that benefits the March of Dimes, ServiceMaster 1st Response is sponsoring a hole. 

The tournament is Thursday, May 10th at the Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock Country Club in Las Vegas, NV. The event starts at 12:30 p.m. We hope to see you out there! If you see our ServiceMaster 1st Response team on the green, be sure to say hello.

Electrical Hazards: Just One More Danger of Home Water Damage

Water damage and flooding can make your home a very uncomfortable and unsafe place to be. But in addition to the risk of black water contamination, mold growth, and structural weakness, water damage can make your home unsafe by compromising your electrical system. Appliances, wiring, and other electrical components in your home that come into contact with water may pose serious health and safety hazards. Here’s a look at how water affects your home’s electrical system and why disaster recovery services are essential.

Water Conducts Electricity

Water is a very good conductor of electricity, which means it allows current to pass through it very easily. This poses problems for home or business owners who have experienced flooding or other water-related problems. Electrical appliances, outlets, or wiring can electrify any water it contacts, making water damage and standing water extremely dangerous. Even if water is mostly gone, wet surfaces can make you more susceptible to electric shock.

Water Damage Ruins Electrical Appliances

Additionally, use of electrical appliances or systems that have been exposed to water can be dangerous. Water damage to electrical systems can cause overloads or electrical damage that makes the systems or appliances extremely volatile. Before handling this equipment, it’s important to completely turn off the electricity supply to your home of building.

Only Professionals Are Qualified to Address Electrical Hazards

Working with a water damage restoration expert can help you avoid serious injury from water-damaged electrical systems. At ServiceMaster 1st Response, our disaster recovery technicians can help you eliminate risk of electric shocks or fires resulting from water damage or flooding. With professional assistance, your home or workplace will be safe for regular use again.

For more information on our disaster recovery and water damage remediation services, contact ServiceMaster 1st Response today at (702) 508-0389. We specialize in all types of disaster restoration services, including repair of fire damage, water damage, mold, and more.

Learn About the Leading Causes of Sewage Backup in Homes and Businesses

Your home’s or business’ sewer system contains a number of different types of wastes, viruses, bacteria, and other dangerous materials. In a properly functioning sewer system, these wastes are contained within the plumbing and waste water is distributed to a municipal processing facility or septic system. However, sewer system backups can send all of this waste water gushing backward through your drains. Here’s a look at some of the causes of sewage backups and what you can do to prevent them from happening.

How Backups Occur

Sewage backups occur when plumbing is clogged by waste or foreign objects that prevent waste water from moving through the pipes. Instead, built-up water pressure is released from the first possible outlet. Many times, the outlet is the sewer drain by which the waste water originally entered the system, which could be a shower, toilet, sink, or floor drain. Other times, clogs in sewer mains can cause backups in several homes and buildings at the same time.

Common Causes of Backups

Sewer backups can be caused by a number of factors. The most common is clogging in residential or commercial sewer lines or sewer laterals. These clogs can be caused by introducing inappropriate wastes into the sewer system, such as grease, oil, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and other solid debris. In other cases, municipal sewer mains can become clogged with debris or experience sudden water pressure changes that can cause sewage to rush back into the home.

How to Prevent Backups

The key to preventing sewer backups is to be mindful of what enters your sewer system. Avoid flushing heavy, dense wastes like paper towels, cat litter, and hygiene products. Also, limit the amount of oils and fats you pour into drains.

For sewage backup recovery services, contact ServiceMaster 1st Response today by calling (702) 508-0389. We serve the entire Las Vegas Valley with professional disaster recovery services, water damage and mold remediation services, damage restoration, and fire damage remediation.