Categories of Water during Floods

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

What category of water do you think this is?

What do you think about when you see the word flood? Do you imagine a bathtub overflowing and spilling into the hallway? Or do you visualize a storm pushing huge waves that crash into homes? Water is broken into three categories when dealing with water loss. 

1) Clean

2) Grey

3) Black

Clean water is water that is well... clean and does not pose harm. An example of this would be an overflowing sink. Grey water is water that is contaminated and may cause sickness if contaminated. An example would be a broken toilet bowl. Black water is unsanitary water that may harbor diseases and bacteria that will cause sickness. This includes accidents that involve sewage water. 

Regardless of which category of water you've been affected, please follow the following steps when you experience water loss. 

1) Make sure you and your family are safe. 

2) Find and address the source of the issue if possible. 

3) Call your insurance company & plumber.

4) Take pictures. 

5) Call professionals such as SERVPRO who can help with water mitigation and cleaning.

6) Take preventative measures by maintaining your plumbing and water systems. 

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

Water pouring out of the ceiling.

It's 6AM in the morning and the phone is already buzzing. Groggily, I roll over in my dream and hit snooze. Waking up suddenly, I realized that here at SERVPRO of Monrovia, it was a service call and we would never ignore your call. 

A frantic woman voiced that a pipe burst and was pouring out of the first floor ceiling. We advised her to turn off all water and electricity for their safety. We provided her w/ a plumber who would promptly head out to determine the source of the issue. By 9 AM, the plumber had provided us w/ a response and the SERVPRO team was already on site. Hauling out our air movers and dehumidifiers, we explained to the family about the water mitigation process and consoled them about their unfortunate series of events. We proceeded to clean up the mess and begin extracting water. We further provided the family with a summary about the ensuing process and aided them with restoring their home.

Call SERVPRO of Monrovia at 626 358 9200 for questions and services. 

Flood Warning

1/23/2023 (Permalink)

The torrential rain fall in California has caused detrimental water damage to businesses and residential alike. SERVPRO of Monrovia understands how frustrating it can be to experience water loss inside the place you call home. SERVPRO of Monrovia will walk with you every step of the way to assist you and restore your home "Like it never even happened."

During water loss, here are some preventative measures you should take.

1). Turn off the water.

2). Locate the source 

3). Contact your plumber 

4). Contact SERVPRO to begin mitigation. 

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today (626 - 358 - 9200)

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

Preventing Water Damage

11/5/2021 (Permalink)

The most common type of property damage that we deal with is water damage. Water damage is something that any property or home can experience because of the various appliances and piping that use water. Since there are many ways that someone can experience water damage, it is important to know how to avoid it. The most important way to prevent water damage is knowing where the water shut-off valve is located. This will stop water from causing further damage in the event of a leak. You can also periodically check for leaks underneath sinks, around appliances, and on the ceiling. It is also important to keep gutters clear of debris so that the area around your home doesn’t get flooded. Following these tips will decrease the chance that your home is affected by water damage.

Categories of Water

8/19/2021 (Permalink)

There are three categories of water that determine our technicians’ approach to the extraction or restoration process. Category 1 water comes from a sanitary source and does not pose a substantial risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure. Examples of category 1 water sources include broken water supply lines, sink or tub overflow, melting ice or snow, and rain water. Category 2 water contains significant contamination. It also has the potential to cause sickness if contacted or consumed. Examples of category 2 water sources include discharge from dishwashers or washing machines, overflows from toilet bowls with contaminants, broken aquariums, and waterbeds. Category 3 water is grossly contaminated and can contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Examples of category 3 water sources include sewage, flooding from sea water, rising waters from rivers or streams, and other contaminated water brought in from weather-related events.

Moisture Sensor and Meter

8/5/2021 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Monrovia, we make sure that all water restoration projects are done properly to exceed customer expectations. To make sure of that, it is important for us to use the proper equipment. Our technicians are trained and have lots of experience using water restoration equipment, but we think it would be helpful for you to have an understanding of some of these tools as well. This would let you gain a better understanding of the project and the steps that we take to inspect the area.

There are many pieces of equipment that we use in the water restoration process, but we will focus on two inspection tools since those are the most simple to use and are more readily available for someone like you to use. The first piece of equipment is the moisture sensor. The moisture sensor is used to detect moisture in carpets and padding. Since carpets and padding have fabric and cushioning, the moisture sensor makes it easy for us to check for moisture on the subfloor underneath the carpet because of the sharp probes that can penetrate through the padding. If the moisture sensor detects moisture, it will light up and beep. The more moisture there is, the faster the light will blink and the faster the beeping occurs. For items other than carpet and pads, a moisture meter will be used. The moisture meter measures the moisture levels in drywall, wood, or plaster. Since the moisture meter does not have sharp probes, it is simply placed on a surface to measure the level of moisture. It will show a number that, depending on the meter, could range from 0 to 100. That number is the measure of moisture and will also have a corresponding color such as green for little to no moisture, yellow for moderate moisture, and red for lots of moisture. This tool makes it simple to detect moisture and know how much moisture is present in an area. Both the moisture sensor and the moisture meter are tools that someone like you can use if you suspect moisture within your home. If the tools detect moisture within your home then it would be a good idea to get in contact with someone who can further diagnose the problem such as one of our technicians here at SERVPRO of Monrovia.

Damages

6/23/2021 (Permalink)

When it comes to damages you never know what to expect. How can you prepare for everything when you don't know what to prepare for. We are approaching a new year and we'll experience a lot of new things. The weather seems to change every year too. Have you noticed any changes in the weather lately? This year we did a lot more roof tarps than last year alone. We experienced heavier rain fall in a short span. There were less wild fires this year than last and less homes were affected. It's really important to know what kind of damage your area is exposed to. Here in southern California we are affected by rain, fires and earthquakes. We will experience flooding, leaks, smoke damage and damage from trees. 

Drying Process

5/19/2021 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Monrovia, we take pride in the ability of trying to save our clients as much money as possible. To do this, we ensure that we are faster to any disaster that happens and will place equipment right away. By doing this, it allows for the affected materials after a water loss to already start drying. We call this providing emergency services or EMS for short. Sometimes we might even remove some baseboards or float the carpet and put air movers to dry underneath the carpet. This saves a lot of time and money for our clients in that if done successfully, will reduce the amount of demolition that will need to take place. This it is way it is very important for our clients to call us right away as soon as the accidents occurs.   

Cat-3 Water

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

When we encounter water damages, it is important to know where the source of the water came from. Depending on the source, we will then know how to proceed with our mitigation work. The worst type is what is called category 3 water or in other terms sewage water. This is that nasty water that comes from the most nastiest places in a home. Once we encounter this type of water, we must then proceed as if everything that is affected is contaminated  water. We must then remove our air movers and place what is called an air scrubber which will help filter out the air. These projects can be tricky and just like anything else, it needs to be handled carefully and swiftly. It also just so happens that we have the knowledge and expertise to handle these very nasty accidents.     

Water damaged items

11/3/2020 (Permalink)

Cleaning furniture is part of our job. When there's damage from water or a fire, your furniture is also affected. Our last job involved cleaning and tuning a piano. This home was affected by water and mold, and the owner didn't want to take a chance leaving his piano in the house. We had to hire a local team of professional piano movers to come in and store the piano while we reconstructed the home. After we completed the work, we had the piano moved back to the house and just to make sure we did everything right, we called another company to clean and tune it. The homeowner was so please by the extra attention we gave to his prized piano. He said he would use our services again. 

Water leading to Mold

9/22/2020 (Permalink)

California has the best weather! It is always sunny and you can go to the beach any time of the year. Yet, on occasion we will get heavy rain. Most of us don’t know what to do when it rains here. We are not used to driving in the rain, walking in the rain, and we don’t know that rain can cause water damage. For example, we went to a house that was concerned about a leak coming from the ceiling. The leak was in a closet and they didn’t realize how wet the carpet was. They noticed how bad it smelled and thought the carpet needed cleaning. When we arrived we noticed some mold on the wall. We told the homeowners that the mold would need to be removed and the carpet would have to be replaced as well. We had to explain the process because the home owners never had any kind of water damage before. To repair the problem we would have to isolate the contaminated area first, remove all the contents in the closet, use dehumidifiers to suppress the dust, remove the carpet and drywall affected, and finally get the area tested. The home owners decided to get a second opinion from a different company. They called us back and had us start on the mold remediation the following day. They thanked us for being patient and understanding. Who knew that rain could cause mold? We did!

Air Water

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

Did you know that air holds water?! Yes, it does! Cool right! Do you know what we call water that lives in the air? Yep, that's right, Relative humidity. 

Relative humidity is the amount of moisture the air is currently holding at a given temperature. 

Whenever we encounter water damage we measure the relative humidity. We have to make sure that we are setting up the correct equipment to dry materials and the air it is exposed to. 

Not only are we measuring the amount of moisture in walls, base boards, ceilings and flooring materials, we also measure the humidity in the air. We have a special formula for assessing the amount of equipment we will use as well as how long it will take to dry. 

What Water Damages can cause

6/15/2020 (Permalink)

Damage caused by water can be minimal or it could be overwhelming. We get calls at every hour of the day or night regarding water damage. It’s a shock to see your floors, ceilings, and walls affected by water spilling, leaking or flooding. There's never a quick fix when it comes to water. You can’t mop it, or pick it up, it’s a job that only professionals can do. You have to call the guys with the heavy duty equipment to come in and help. This is where we come in. We are the guys with all the appropriate tools and resources to solve your water issue. The first thing we do is pay you a visit. We take a good look at the situation and then start solving the problem. It’ll take us less than a couple of hours to get the job going. Once we have extracted water, we bring in the air movers and dehumidifiers. We monitor the amount of moisture in all affected areas and carefully place all of our equipment where it’s needed. Water damage can cause a lot of stress and worry when it happens, and we try our best to alleviate all bad feelings that arise after experiencing water damage. We’ve been doing this for a long time and we want you to know that our main priority is to solve the problem as fast and as safely as possible.  

Water damage is no joke

5/29/2020 (Permalink)

Damage caused by water can be minimal or it could be overwhelming. We get calls at every hour of the day or night regarding water damage. It’s a shock to see your floors, ceilings, and walls affected by water spilling, leaking or flooding. There's never a quick fix when it comes to water. You can’t mop it, or pick it up, it’s a job that only professionals can do. You have to call the guys with the heavy duty equipment to come in and help. This is where we come in. We are the guys with all the appropriate tools and resources to solve your water issue. The first thing we do is pay you a visit. We take a good look at the situation and then start solving the problem. It’ll take us less than a couple of hours to get the job going.Once we have extracted water, we bring in the air movers and dehumidifiers. We monitor the amount of moisture in all affected areas and carefully place all of our equipment where it’s needed. Water damage can cause a lot of stress and worry when it happens, and we try our best to alleviate all bad feelings that arise after experiencing water damage. We’ve been doing this for a long time and we want you to know that our main priority is to solve the problem as fast and as safely as possible.

Home Insurance

5/8/2020 (Permalink)

As a homeowner, it's really important to understand your insurance policy. We get a lot of calls from people who don't know whether or not their insurance companies cover damages caused by water. We never know when a disaster will happen, but it helps to be prepared and knowledgeable. Sometimes, we get heavy rain that causes leaks and flooding. It can even be a frozen pipe that suddenly bursts and creates damage. We have seen it all and there are many ways that water can damage your home. It's important to know what your insurance covers, and it's great to have that information at hand. It will actually make the process easier for you. There's a lot of reconstruction that comes with water damage, and you shouldn't worry about costs. You can reduce the amount of stress by calling your insurance company every six months to go over your policy. They will be more than happy to speak with you, it helps to have an on going relationship with your insurance carrier. We know this because we deal with insurance agents for every job. We have to make sure we do what is necessary and also what's covered. We try to minimize out of pocket expenses for you too! 

After the water damages are removed we build a containment.

11/6/2019 (Permalink)

This is a well executed containment.

After we take out all the wet stuff, we build a great big containment. Why do we build a containment? To protect the exposed wood! We don't want more damage to occur after removing wet materials. We use special materials to cover and protect all the areas that were exposed to water. It also helps us when we proceed with the reconstruction phase. We like to work as neatly as possible and the containment makes the work space look and feel organized. It also helps keep dust out! It makes the area look neat and organized. That's exactly how we like our jobs to look. Most customers appreciate when we leave the containment up, it helps the construction phase run smoothly. Containments are effective for us to finish a job quicker. 

Do you know that you can categorize water?

9/19/2019 (Permalink)

This is a great description of the 3 categories.

Yes, it's true! Water is categorized when it has created little to major damage. We need to categorize water in order to understand how to clean up and dispose of all affected materials. Here is a brief description of how we categorize water. 

Category 1 : Sanitary Water 

This is the kind of water that you can still consider drinking. Usually it is water that comes through your sinks, toilets, and showers. Although once it hits a material it could easily change to category 2. Once water touches another material it can easily be contaminated. 

Category 2 : Significantly contaminated water

This is the water that you don't want to consider drinking. This water can potentially make you sick.  

Category 3 : Harmful and grossly contaminated water. 

This is the dangerous kind of water. Anyone dealing with category 3 water needs to be wearing protective gear. Anything that has been touched by this kind of water has to be removed and disposed of. 

Categorizing water is very important to us and it should be important to you as well. Always consider the categories when you realize you have a leak or when there is any kind of flooding. You never want to be in harms way. 

Act Fast to Water Damage

7/22/2019 (Permalink)

Walls were gutted then air movers and dehumidifiers placed

SERVPRO of Monrovia is here to help 24/7 and with our quick emergency response services we can get a team over to your homes and businesses right away. When a water damage problem is detected it should not be ignored. Always acknowledge the problem at hand and call up your local SERVPRO for fast acting. In most cases the affected area caused by the water will worsen or invade other parts of the building. This carelessness can lead to mold, which as known, can cause one to have health problems not to mention the smell of mildew is not one sought out by many. Health problems caused by mold include coughing or wheezing, stuffiness among others. Do keep in mind some people may be less effected by mold and you don’t have to show these symptoms to be sure there is mold that is caused by potential water damage. This is why you should call SERVPRO before the damage worsens.

How Much Work Will Be Done?

6/13/2019 (Permalink)

As a reputable franchise, we only perform services which are completely necessary. Documentation before, during, and after is a standard for our company. You don't need to worry about other companies over inflating the issue which can potentially cost hundreds or thousands of dollars more! Here at SERVPRO of Monrovia, fairness is a priority. We wish to treat this not as a transaction, but as a working, evolving relationship with our clients. Your satisfaction and trust is extremely valuable to us. We never start work without giving you the scope first. We can also go at your pace. Moving furniture and items from your home can be overwhelming. We don't just come in and tear things apart. We are very careful with the process. 

A small bathroom leak is not a small problem

5/29/2019 (Permalink)

Towels and buckets don't solve water damage problems

There are times when we ignore a small drip from a faucet because it doesn't seem like a big deal. We ignore them because they are visible and we can always close the faucet to stop the dripping. What if the dripping water is coming from under the sink? What if we don't catch it until there's a small pool in the next room? That's exactly what happened to our most recent customer. The bathroom in the guest bedroom created a pool of water in the bedroom. He didn't notice the water because he hasn't had a guest stay in the bedroom for over a year! He noticed a small stream of water heading to the hallway and followed it to the guest bedroom. Once he realized he had a water problem, he called us. We took a look under the sink in the bathroom and there it was, a small consistent dripping of water. We had to remove all the water and cut carpet and tile. We currently have air movers and a dehumidifier running until the base boards and walls dry up. 

Chicago Frozen Pipes

5/7/2019 (Permalink)

Pipes will start freeze when temperatures fall below zero and will cause damage.

Chicago was hit with a real icy situation from January to February of this year. We knew we had to be a part of it and help the local SERVPRO’s out in Chicago! We packed up our giant trailer with equipment and hauled across 1,987 miles. Our adventure started as we drove through Nevada, Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa. We could see the changes in the weather with every mile we crossed. We knew we were about to experience something extraordinary in Chicago. We read that temperatures would reach about 51 degrees below zero! That meant that we were going to see a lot of frozen pipes and it would mean a lot of serious water damage. What exactly happens when pipes freeze? Glad you asked! When water gets frozen inside of a pipe, the frozen water starts to expand, creating damage to the pipes. The frozen water can expand so much that it will push against the closed faucet. Once the temperature starts to change the water inside the pipes will burst, creating leaks and spews

SERVPRO of Monrovia is a 24hr Emergency Water and Fire Damage Service

5/3/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Monrovia is available 24 hours a day for water and fire emergencies, large or small.

SERVPRO of Monrovia is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today – 626-358-9200

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Monrovia has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Monrovia

SERVPRO of Monrovia specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Responding to Water Damage

6/13/2016 (Permalink)

This is a water damage job in Monrovia that migrated from the kitchen sink into the garage. A dry out was needed and done by SERVPRO of Monrovia.

When Water Damages Occur, the wrong response can cost you plenty. 

Water damages in your home or workplace can be frustrating. The potential risk of handling the clean up yourself can be avoided by hiring SERVPRO of Monrovia. Our professional staff will respond quickly, with the right equipment to dry and help protect your property.

 (These tips are for clean water situations only)

Water Damage Response Tips for Property Owners

3/3/2016 (Permalink)

   When Water Damages Occur, the wrong response can cost you plenty.

Water damages in your home or workplace can be frustrating. The potential risk of handling the clean up yourself can be avoided by hiring SERVPRO of Monrovia. Our professional staff will respond quickly, with the right equipmentto dry and help protect your property.

(These tips are for clean water situations only)

• Shut off the water source if possible, and if it can be done safely. 
• Remove excess water by mopping and blottng.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying. Do not put cushion covers in washing machine.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks under furniture legs.
• Hang furs and leather goods seperately at room temerature.
• Remove Oreintal or other colored rugs from wet capeting.
• Do not use a regular vacuum to remove water.
• Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of areas where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
• Do not leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpeting. 

        Componets of Proper Water                        Damage Restoration

• Fast Action
• Thorough Drying 

Even small water damages have the potential to cause serious structeral and indoor air quality issues over time. The key to avoiding costly future restoration is to handle every water problem as a real threat to your property. If you have any questions or need help to ensure your property is drying properly, contact SERVPRO of Monrovia. 626-358-9200