The Climates Effect on Southern Wisconsin

9/13/2019 (Permalink)

Flooding over Waukesha has been consistent over the last few years due to all of the storms that have passed through Southern Wisconsin.

Today In New Berlin, Wisconsin; the sewers have become so backed up from last nights’ storm that the sewer system from the city is causing water main overflow into the homes of its residents. Do you know what to do when something like this happens, and do you have an Emergency Ready Plan?  Most importantly you will need access to food, water and electricity.

Due to all these storms, we have noticed an increase in the number of water losses in Southern Wisconsin. It is important to be mindful of the impact that water can have to your home. As a storm can happen within an instant, and it only takes 48 hours for mold to start to grow.  In the event that you do experience any issues, SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha has a procedure that has been proven effective time and time again.

Our initial steps and the information we need are as follows:

• General Information- Contact Information.
• Has the Source been stopped?
• What has been affected, How many rooms do you see that are effected right now?
• What type of flooring do you have in each room. Is there drywall? Do you notice safety hazards?
• Is there standing water?
• What year was the house built? Do you notice any water on the drywall, wood paneling?
• What is your time frame for repairs?
• Have you contacted your insurance company? ***Please note that we always recommend you contact them first to distinguish what type of insurance coverage you have. An average of $2500 is the cost for most typical water losses.

After all of the standing water is removed, the first step we will take is to remove the flooring. Be aware, If you do not remove the flooring you may risk mold growth. Once the flooring is out we will then remove the padding and the trim along the base of the floor. If you have a gap in between the floor and the wall, even if it is only an inch, water can still seep through and again that standing water has the potential to cause mold growth. Now, as long as the dry wall isn’t touching any water you may not need to worry about removing it, but that is we want to make sure of. The next step would be to get the access water that is on the remaining surfaces to dry as quickly and as best as possibly. The more dehumidifiers that you have the better that you’ll be. Little do some people know, drywall actually has the potential to dry out thoroughly as long as it is only a little damp. If you are touching it and its mushy, that is a problem and it has to be removed. Call us immediately to assess your situation, the faster you remove the water, the better.