Home Buyers Water Damage Signs Check List

Often at the start of the new year, many people decide to begin their search for a new home.  Whether they are looking for a new build or a previously owned home, the experts at Mold Removal Florida . net would like to give you a few things to look out for to help your home hunt be successful and to aid you in avoiding common new buyer traps such as water or mold damage problems.

While shopping for a new home or even a vacation property, it is important to know what the signs of water damage are so you can sport them long before you get into a potential buyer’s contract. Knowing what to look for during your home search can help you greatly in the long end. Not only will it give you an idea of the work that may need to be done to restore the home but it will flag the fact that the home does have problems. Too often, especially during recent years when the marketplace has been flooded by foreclosures and poorly flippers properties, home buyers are complaining of home inspections that did not show serious water damage or mold damage problems. While home inspectors are supposed to record all findings of damage or problems to the home, some do not.  So what is a home buyer to do?

Click to find out: Water Damage Signs Check List

Water Damage Restoration Certification Explained

If you have ever experience flood damage in your home, you are probably familiar with water damage restoration companies.  Water mitigation performed by restoration companies involves restoring a property back to pre-loss condition after sustaining any level of water damage.  As within several industries, there are some companies that train and receive certification and some that do not.

While there are currently no government regulations in the United States dictating procedures, two large certifying bodies, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the Restoration Industry Association (RIA), do recommend standards of care by establishing and monitoring certification programs and standards for restoration industries.  It is generally considered “best practice” to work with a certified water damage restoration firm like 800drymeout.com when needing help with flood cleanup, water extraction and mold removal.

Find out about certification firms and process here: Water Damage Restoration Certification

7 More Winter Water Damage Prevention Tips

In our last post, we started our discussion on ways to prevent winter water damage to your house or property.  Here are the final 7 tips you can follow to help keep your home warm, dry and cozy this winter season!

Tip 7: Insulate water pipes and faucets in unheated areas




Frozen pipes can usually be prevented by keeping all the pipes in your house properly insulated. Usually wrapping the pipes in traditional foam insulation is adequate, provided that your home’s temperature does not get too cold. If you have pipes in an unheated garage, cold crawl space or attic, wrap the water pipes before temperatures decline. Hardware supply stores will have good wrapping materials available. Also, insulate the sides of your water tanks, especially if they are kept in an unheated garage.

Read tips 8 to 13: 7 More Winter Water Damage Prevention Tips

We hope you find our tips helpful in preventing any flooding or burst pipes in your home.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at Mold Removal Clearwater . com.

Toilet Flapper Breaks and House Flood Spring Hill

Recently, we worked on flood damage case in Spring Hill.  Thank you to Janine for posting this testimonial on Facebook:

"Came home to my whole house flooded. Thanks so much to Advanced Restoration Inc. for fast response and making me feel at ease."

Now for the story!

Janine was out and upon returning home, she arrived at a flooded house! The flapper was broken on a toilet so the water kept running and eventually overflowed all over the place!

A flapper is a rubber mechanism in your toilet tank that is the moving part of the flush valve.  It seals water into the tank and allows water to exit the tank when you flush.  Unfortunately, like many things, flappers deteriorate over time, often as a result of in-tank cleaning products.

Read the rest of Toilet Flapper Breaks and House Flood Spring Hill

For all your water damage restoration needs, call the experts on duty 24/7.  1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.

6 Tips To Prevent Winter Water Damage

Avoid the havoc caused by burst or cracked pipes by following some simple winter water damage care tips.  Here are the first 6 of 13 tips brought to you by the restoration experts at Mold Removal Clearwater . com.

Tip 1: Go outside



Take a few minutes to do some basic checks around the home to help prevent a small leak from becoming a disaster. Look at your roof: are there any dislodged tiles? Is all your visible pipe work leak or drip free? Also check the insulation around water pipes in exposed areas. A small gap can easily mean a frozen pipe when temperatures hit minus degrees.

 Tip 2: Check gutters



Clearing gutters and drainpipes of leaves to prevent blockages and overflows will help alleviate problems with water freezing and bursting in exterior pipes. This should be done throughout the year as a maintenance plan.

Read tips 3 to 6 here: 13 Tips To Prevent Winter Water Damage

Check back later this week for winter water damage prevention tips 7 – 13.

If you need any help with flood cleanup, contact the flooding experts at Mold Removal Clearwater . com.  We are now offering flood cleanup water damage Brandon services.

Flood Clean Up Water Damage in The Villages

December is not only a busy time of year for the holidays, it is also a busy month for water damage restoration.  Unfortunately, flooding doesn’t take a break during the month of December and pipes don’t care if they end up on Santa’s naughty list or not.

Last night, we received a call regarding a kitchen flood in The Villages.  The homeowners came home at the end of the day to a pond in their kitchen area.  We sent our water mitigation team out to the site for emergency restoration.

Our experts arrived at the site and upon entering the kitchen, they were able to quickly detect that the flood was coming from a pipe leak under neath the sink.  It was lucky that the homeowners called because the flooding could have become much worse. We were able to find and stop the water leak before the flood reached any other area of the home like the nearby living room, bathroom or living room.


Read the whole article here: Clean Up Water Damage in The Villages

If you would like any more information on kitchen flooding or need help with water mitigation, please contact the insurance experts at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.  We are available 24/7.

Remember, a dry home is a happy home!

Mitigate Water Damage Problems From Ground Sloping

Last week, we discussed some ways that your property can become a victim or water damage due to grading issues.  This week, we will continue and talk about ways to mitigate flooding from sloping problems.

Often, if your property has sloping issues and you are requiring flood cleanup, restoration companies may take an extra step to waterproof the foundation of a house.



Waterproofing foundation is a fairly easy thing to do and requires a few steps. The first step includes coating the foundation with a liquid rubberized membrane. The next step is to lay a fiberglass mesh against the membrane and then apply a second coat of the rubber membrane. This sandwiching effect creates a waterproof barrier that never fully cures, thus, promoting flexibility during cold snaps. Instead of cracking, the membrane will flex with cold temperatures. Once the membrane is complete, a thin piece of plastic will be adhered on top and then a drainage board will be hung on top of the plastic. A drainage board is plastic board that is dimpled on the exterior side and serves as a waterproofing membrane, keeping water from penetrating to the surface of the wall, and as protection for the membrane on the wall during backfilling. Any water that may get through can trickle down to the foundation drains through the space formed by the dimples. With the drainage board in place, the holes in the ground can be refilled.

Read the rest of the article: Mitigate Water Damage Problems From Ground Sloping

In sum, a home that is built with proper grading and sloping in mind will do wonders to protect the structure of the house from water damage.  For any more information on this topic or if your property is in need of water mitigation or extraction, please contact the insurance experts at Water Damage Clearwater . net.  Now offering flood cleanup Lady Lakes, FL.

House Grading Problems Lead to Water Damage

A huge culprit of water damage is improper grading on a property site.  Sometimes, homes just aren’t built right and when they aren’t, a domino effect of problems usually arises.  Two major problems that restoration companies often run into are water damage and mold requiring restoration and remediation. But what are the actual structural issues that lead to this?

One major factor that can lead to water damage resulting in the need for mold removal  is improper grading or improper ground slope. What this means is that the property or parts of the property are sloping towards the house instead of away from the house. This can be a serious issue because often what happens is that when it rains, water will drain into the house and thus cause excess water resulting in mold growth, wood rot and more. In some cases, it is the driveway that pitches towards the house and often into a sunken garage that is causing all the problems. So essentially, the garage becomes a bath tub.  Water damage restoration companies that have come across such an issue will often report findings of mold in the garage, flood pools and in severe cases, mushrooms growing on the walls due to the constant increased humidity and present moisture.

Read the whole article here: House Grading Problems Lead to Water Damage

If you need water mitigation help, contact our team at Water Damage Clearwater . net.  We are always standing by!

Causes of Water Damage and Mold Growth

When it comes to water damage, it is most often unexpected. No one expects a pipe to burst or even damage from sewer backup. The trouble is that water damage can become a real problem if it is too severe and it can cause more than one issue including mold growth.



Water damage may occur if there is a flood or even a leak somewhere in the house. These leaks can happen at virtually any time, though the most common occurrences include the bathroom, roof leaks and pinhole leaks. Bathroom water damage can be as slight as excessive humidity that causes mold to grow, to sewer damage resulting in toilet overflow, causing a massive flood that will stream out from the bathroom and to the rest of your house. There have been reports of homeowners who were asleep when the sewer damage occurred and they didn’t notice the backup until morning at which time the majority of their house was flooded by contaminated sewage water and materials.

Read more Causes of Water Damage

For more information on water mitigation and mold removal, please contact the insurance experts at Mold Removal Brooksville . com.

More Ways To Winter Water Damage Proof Your Home

Welcome back to the second part of our tips on how to winter water damage proof your home in Florida! Last week, we went over some ways including doing inspections, fixing cracks, insulating pipes and upgrading your attic insulation.  Here are some more ways you can keep your property dry and warm during the cooler winter months in the Tampa Bay.

If you have a gas-log fireplace instead of a traditional wood burning fireplace, be aware that gas-burning appliances in your home give off Carbon Monoxide.  Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly when using your gas-burning fireplace or any other type of gas-burning appliance. To further protect you and your family, install a carbon monoxide detector and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Finally, if the damper in your chimney has been blocked open to accommodate gas log fumes, a way to alleviate heat loss and prevent drafts is by installing glass doors in front of your fireplace. Please note that doors may remain closed when the fireplace is not in use but must remain open during use.
Even though Florida and the Tampa Bay area does not fall victim to snow and ice, there are a few things you can do to weatherproof the outside of your home as well.

To find out, click: More Ways To Winter Water Damage Proof Your Home

For more information on how to protect your home during the winter and prevent water damage, please contact the experts at Mold Remediation Tampa . com.

Mobile home water damage Land O' Lakes

When it comes to water damage, often people think about houses and commercial buildings. It is rare that the words “mobile home” come to mind. However, flooding doesn’t choose its victims. Mobile homes are equally at risk for water damage and maybe even more so for mold growth.


Recently, we received a water damage emergency call on a Saturday afternoon. Mobile homeowner Jack* returned from a grocery shopping trip to discover his mobile home had been flooded. He quickly called 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT and we sent an emergency restoration team to the site in Land O’ Lakes, Florida.

When our team arrived, we quickly figured out that most of the flooding was localized to the bathroom and hallway. This was good because the damage was severe. To properly be able to dry out the home, we would have to completely remove the vinyl flooring in both areas. Fortunately, only a small amount of carpet in the living room and bedroom was affected and we were able to dry the carpet out without removing it.

Read the rest of the article: Mobile home water damage Land O' Lakes

Need help with mobile home flood damage?

Contact the extraction experts at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT. We are on call 24/7.

Broken Pipe Water Damage Tarpon Springs Mold

As a 24/7 water damage restoration company, we deal with situations that range from mild to gross.  Recently, we dealt with a case that some might think unimaginable.

We received a call to inspect a home for mold.  While we frequently get calls for mold inspections, we rarely walk into a home so overtaken by mold as this house was.

From the exterior, the home looked great.  A nice looking Florida style home nestled near the beautiful beaches of Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs.



Unfortunately, this pleasant exterior was covering up something awful inside.

Mold.  Everywhere.

There was mold in the hallway, in the living room, in both bedrooms, in the kitchen,in both bathrooms and even in the garage.  This is a serious situation.

First off, what happened to cause all the mold?

Find out here: Mold Remediation Tarpon Springs

Protect Your Home From Winter Water Damage

When people think of Florida, they think of sunny beaches and hot weather. Many don’t realize that we actually have more wet days than dry and that it actually gets cold here during the winter months!



Indeed, it does get cold in Florida. When temperatures drop, the humidity in the air can make it feel colder than it actually is! A little research tells us that humidity conducts heat away from the body during cooler weather (and conversely, conducts heat to the body during warm weather).

Interestingly, it has been stated that 53°F is the magical number where humidity will make the temperature seem colder or warmer depending on whether the temperature is higher or lower than this number. Winter months get sun-loving Tampa Bay residents out of their shorts and into sweaters and scarves.

 

Read the entire article:  Protect Your Home From Winter Water Damage

Prevent Water Damage From A Leaky Roof

To follow up on last week’s article on how roof leaks cause water damage, here are other steps homeowners can take to prevent water damage from roof leaks.



Other steps homeowners can take is to ensure their chimneys are properly fit into the roof.  Any holes in the chimney mortar should be filled to prevent water from entering the house.  Also, there should be adequate flashing at the base of the chimney.  Flashing acts as a seal between the roof and the chimney.  Flashing also accommodates movement between the brick of the chimney stack and the rock.  A certified roofing inspector can provide an inspection of your chimney for you.

Read the whole article:  Prevent Water Damage From A Leaky Roof

To learn more about how to protect your home from water damage, please contact the experts at Mold Remediation Spring Hill . com.

New Port Richey Volkswagen Ribbon Cutting

Thank you to the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce for having 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT 24/7 Water Damage Restoration at the Volkswagen of New Port Richey ribbon cutting ceremony.  It was a privilege to be there for an awesome event!

Here are some photos we took of the event:

Water damage inspector Chris with general manager for the dealership, Ruben Santiago, to Chris’ right and an executive from Volkswagen

See the entire article: West Pasco Chamber of Commerce New Port Richey Volkswagen Ribbon Cutting

To learn more about 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT and our water damage restoration services, please contact us at www.drymeout.com.

Roof Leaks Cause Water Damage Spring Hill

Recently, we got a call about water damage Spring Hill thanks to a leaky roof.  There are some steps homeowners can take to prevent the flooding and damage associated with a leaking roof so we wanted to share them with you today!



A major source of water damage and house floods is due to leaky roofs. Maintaining your roof is an important step towards keeping your house dry; unfortunately, homeowners aren’t always savvy to what is needed to maintain a roof.

Water damage restoration companies across the country deal with water damage due to leaking roofs on a daily basis. Roof leaks are a primary cause of house floods and are caused by a few different reasons. Damage from storms and hurricanes can affect the functionality of your roof. Likewise, wear and tear from age also affects your roof. Typically, anything that can cause damage to a shingle, like wind, can cause your roof to deteriorate in places and thus create areas where water can seep into your house.

Find out more sources of deterioration here: Roof Leaks Cause Water Damage Spring Hill

Water Damage, Mold and Mildew New Port Richey

Have you ever wondered: what is the difference between mold and mildew?



Often, we hear the words mold and mildew used in sync – especially when it comes to water damage. Cleaning products especially brag about their ability to remove mold and mildew. But what exactly is mildew anyways and how does it relate to mold?

If you do any research, you may discover that the information out there tends to contradict itself. There are generally two schools of thought concerning mold and mildew: 1) mold and mildew are the same or 2) mold and mildew are not the same. New Port Richey Mold Remediation leans towards the school that believes that mold and mildew are not the same substance. Let’s break it down.

Read the article: Water Damage, Mold and Mildew New Port Richey

For easy ways to control mold yourself, visit Mold Remediation New Port Richey . com for some great tips and ideas.  If you feel like the mold growing in your home is too much for you to handle, you can always call us to perform a mold inspection. Our mold inspectors will be able to determine the severity of the mold growth and advise you on the actions needed to properly remediate your property.

Water Damage New Port Richey Flooded House

When you are in the water damage restoration industry, the saying “If it’s not one thing, it’s another” really does apply.  Fortunately, we are lucky to have only the best and most skilled water damage technicians working for us.  Whatever the problem, 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT can handle it.  No job is too big or to small.  In the case of a New Port Richey home over the weekend, though, the job was definitely big.

Our 24/7 on call team go the call at 1 AM. The homeowners came home to a flooded house.  Never what you want to come home to, especially at one o’clock in the morning! We immediately sent out the emergency water damage crew and just in time! By the time our techs arrived on site, the flood had reached out across the house!

We first had to figure out what was causing the flooding and quickly put a stop to it.  We could tell that the water was coming from a closet near the laundry room.  Upon opening the closet, we immediately saw that the water heater had broke and water had leaked out everywhere: the closet, the laundry room, the entire kitchen and one bedroom.


Read the whole article here: Water Damage New Port Richey House Flood

If you have any questions on how to prevent flooding or need help with water damage, please contact us day or night at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.  Remember: A dry home is a happy home!

House Flood Damage Valrico Emergency

Recently, 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT received an emergency after hours call from a concerned home owner regarding flood damage in Valrico, Florida.  This city.  This quaint city located in Hillsborough County has been a hot bed of water damage activity of the last month!

The home owner had returned from an evening out to an almost entirely flooded home! He was shocked that so much water could have filled his house in the short time he had been out (three hours!).  We immediately sent out our emergency water mitigation team to inspect and begin the urgent restoration process.

Upon arriving to the Valrico three-bedroom home, our team quickly realized this would be a big job.  Almost the entire house was flooded! The single level home had flood water in all three bedrooms, the kitchen, the casual dining area, the formal dining room, the guest bathroom and finally the living room.  What a mess! We would have to separate our team into two units: one unit would work on the flood damage while the other unit would investigate and stop the source of the water flow.


Read the rest of  Flood Damage Valrico

If you have any questions on how to protect your home from flooding or water damage, please contact the insurance specialists at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT! We are standing by 24/7.

Gulf Coast Worship Center Water Damage Restoration

Recently, we were working with Pasco County to help solve a flood damage situation in New Port Richey. A parking lot was not allowing rain waters to proceed towards a drain properly and that was resulting in continuous flooding within the lot and a nearby ditch. While we were helping find a solution and helping them install a water pump, we had the Pastor of the Gulf Coast Worship Center, located near the lot, come out and talk to us.

While speaking with the Pastor, we were surprised by the fact the church had not experienced any flooding due to its proximity to the frequently flooded parking lot. We were surprised until the Pastor casually mentioned the water his maintenance man had been finding daily ever since Tropical Storm Debby. Uh huh…



We asked the Pastor if we could see the area where the water was being found. He led us to a staircase that led in from the outside to the side of the stage at the front of the congregation area. Apparently, the maintenance man would find water daily ever since Tropical Storm Debby. He would then proceed to remove the water with a shop vac.

After hearing this story, we decided to look around for any other signs of water damage. We immediately noticed that the congregation was extremely humid. The Pastor explained that one of his air conditioning units were no longer working.
We immediately realized that the church indeed had a water damage problem and we were guessing that there was most likely a well-developed pond underneath the stage. As water damage and mold experts, we can tell you that excess water, flooding and humidity are not good things.

Read the entire article: Gulf Coast Worship Center Water Damage Restoration

If you would like to know more about our water damage restoration mitigation services, please contact us at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT or at www.drymeout.com.

Water Damage Riverview: House Flood

Recently, we worked on a major water damage issue in Riverview, Florida. The homeowners came home to an unexpected flood. They lost a lot of belongings and their house had to undergo a major restoration.

The trouble is, when it comes to water damage, it is most often unexpected. No one expects a pipe to burst or even damage from sewer backup. The trouble is that water damage can become a real problem if it is too severe and it can cause more than one issue including mold growth.
Water damage may occur if there is a flood or even a leak somewhere in the house. These leaks can happen at virtually any time, though the most common occurrences include the bathroom, roof leaks and pinhole leaks. Bathroom water damage can be as slight as excessive humidity that causes mold to grow, to sewer damage resulting in toilet overflow, causing a massive flood that will stream out from the bathroom and to the rest of your house. There have been reports of homeowners who were asleep when the sewer damage occurred and they didn’t notice the backup until morning at which time the majority of their house was flooded by contaminated sewage water and materials.

In some scenarios, especially in the Riverview area, homes may be flooded by outside sources.

Read the entire article here: Water Damage Riverview: House Flood



Water Restoration Tampa . com specializes in water and flood damage mitigation in Riverview, Brandon, Valrico and the entire Tampa Bay area. Contact us today!

Water Damage Restoration 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT Gets New Logos

Florida water damage restoration company 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is proud to present our two new logos for our company!



1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is your total flood and water damage restoration provider for West Coast Florida. Our Immediate Response team will be on site quickly to give you an accurate solution to your flood damage situation.  24/7 Emergency Insurance Claim Experts.

Water Leak in Florida Kitchen Causes Major Flood Damage

Sometimes when we get emergency water damage restoration calls, they are not as bad as we think they are once we get to the site.  However, other times, like in the case of a call we got this past weekend, they are worse!

We received the call late Sunday night.  The homeowner described that she had come home to a massive house flood.  At first, she couldn’t figure out what was causing the flooding.  And then she walked into the kitchen…

Water was gushing out from underneath her kitchen sink!

Immediately, she called us at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.  We were there as fast as we could get there.  And wow…this was some house flood! Most of the house was flooded: the living room complete with laminate floors, the den which was carpeted, the bedrooms which were also carpeted and of course the kitchen.



Read the entire article here: Kitchen Water Damage in Holiday

If you have any questions about water damage or flooding and live in the Holiday, Florida area, please contact us today at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.

Water Damage Plant City

Recently, we received an emergency water damage after hours call at Advanced Restoration Inc. for a serious issue in Plant City, Florida.

The homeowners came home to a flooded garage and bedroom.  Fortunately, they knew to call the water mitigation experts immediately at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.  We promptly sent out our emergency response team to their home.

Upon arrival, our certified techs first went to the garage to assess the flooding.  Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as they thought as only half of the garage was affected and not the entire space.  The techs then ventured into the house to assess interior water damage.  In the bedroom, they indeed found some signs of flooding and again, it was better than expected as only a small portion of carpet had been affected.

Because the homeowners acted so quickly, the bedroom carpet damage was salvageable and the techs could promptly begin a carpet drying regimen.

As for the garage, the excess water would be extracted and restoration and remediation would immediately follow.

So what caused the house flooding in the first place?

Find out here: Water Damage Plant City

If you need any help with house flooding or have questions about pinhole leaks, contact us today at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT! We are here for you 24/7!

Gereaux's Path: Helping One Man Walk Again

Since we began 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT, we have talked about the fact that we not only restore buildings, we restore lives.  Recently, we got to do just that and help out a good friend who has a unique mission.  However, what he needs is much more than what we alone are able to provide.
Erick Gereaux is a young gentleman who lost use of his legs, triceps and hands after a horrific car accident in 2007.  After struggling for almost 5 years, Erick has decided he has his own project: he wants to walk again.  But he needs everyone’s help.



Read a letter from his sister about the accident here: Gereaux’s Path: Helping One Man Walk Again
Since that tragic day in 2007, Erick has accomplished a lot.  Although he has not walked again, his enthusiasm, zest for life and determination have blown all of us at the water damage restoration company away.  He is an amazing person and we are now asking all of you out there to join us in Erick’s journey and help him walk again!

To be able to walk, Erick will need financial help to access the rehabilitation programs he will need to help realize his dream. With the help of a non-profit organization HelpHOPELive, he is working on raising the monies he needs to facilitate a complete rehabilitation.  We have donated to Erick’s progress and now ask all of you to donate whatever you might be able to.  Be it $5 or $100 or more.  Together, 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is confident we can help Erick do what most of us take for granted every day: standing, being able to make our own food, driving and generally living independent lives self-sufficiently.

We will be following Erick on his trek to success on our blog and Facebook page.  You can also follow Erick at his blog: Gereaux’s Path

Or his Facebook page: Gereaux’s Path to Walking

To donate to Erick’s path to walking, please visit his donation page here: Erick Gereaux Benefit.

Will you help us make Erick’s path a bit easier?

Together, we believe we can make dreams come true.  As a community, we will help Erick walk again.

Join us.

With Warm Regards,
Everyone at Advanced Restoration 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT

Landlord Refuses Water Damage Restoration in Riverview

Unfortunately, this actually happens more than you know.  You are a renter, you have a flood and your landlord refuses to properly restore and remediate your home.

Our most recent interaction with such an incident came when we were called out to Riverview, Florida on account of a flooded kitchen.  Our 24/7 response team got to the site asap to find serious water damage setting in.  We were called out by people who were renting the apartment.  Somehow, the sink faucet didn’t shut off and the sink eventually overflowed with water.  Of course, this happened while they were out so for several hours, water was overflowing out of the sink and onto the floor and into the kitchen.  By the time the tenants came home and turned off the tap completely, the damage had been done.



Our water mitigation inspectors immediately noticed the water damage done to the cabinets and kitchen flooring.  This would be a serious cleanup job and then mold remediation would have to take place to prevent mold from growing.

However, the landlord wasn't on board with us cleaning up the water damage. 

Read the rest of Landlord Refuses Water Damage Restoration in Riverview 

If you have any questions about water damage restoration, contact the mitigation and insurance specialists at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.

Solve Water Damage Lutz and Prevent Mold

Last week, we began discussing probable causes of water damage and moisture-related indoor air quality problems in your home.  We also began talking about how to identify the signs of excess moisture and humidity.  Today, we are going to identify some ways that you have keep your home dry as a way to stop water damage and prevent mold.  When your home is dry, you no longer need restoration or remediation!
To begin, condensation is a large contributor to water damage in the home.

Condensation can be caused by several factors including: excessive moisture production, inadequate ventilation with outdoor air and cold surfaces.  Excessive moisture production may come from inappropriate use of humidifiers, evaporation of water and damp basements/crawlspaces.  Water evaporation can come from several sources including: showers, cooking, aquariums, washing machines, dishwashers, drying wet clothes, standing water, plants and breathing from people or pets.  Condensation caused from cold surfaces includes: inadequate heat to certain parts of the home (blocked off rooms etc.), drastic temperature swings, poor air circulation within rooms, low quality windows, blocked heating sources and poor insulation in attics and walls.

When it comes to solving moisture problems, reduction and/or removal of the moisture is the priority. Learn more here: Solve Water Damage and Prevent Mold

If you have any questions about moisture, humidity or water damage restoration, contact the 24/7 experts at Advanced Restoration and Cleaning . com.

 A dry home is a happy home!

Moisture, Mold and Water Damage

When it comes to identifying the signs and probable causes of water damage and moisture-related indoor air quality problems in your home, there are several practical solutions that any homeowner can take to reduce moisture and make the home less hospitable to mold. Many household problems can be solved if you adopt strategies to prevent excess moisture in the home, perform maintenance or minor repairs and/or hire a professional restoration company to make repairs.

What most homeowners don’t know is that moisture is continually being released inside your home – between 2 to 10 gallons every day. In a heating season lasting 100 days, when your home is typically closed up, 200 to 1,000 gallons of moisture can be trapped. A cord of wood stored in your home, for example, can release more than 71 gallons of moisture. Unfortunately, excess moisture can lead to both air quality problems and mold.

There are two types of water damage problems...to find out what they are, read the rest of Moisture, Mold and Water Damage
















Advanced Restoration and Cleaning . com provides 24/7 mold, flood and carpet drying services to the Tampa Bay area including Brandon, Lutz, Riverview and Valrico.

Flooded House and Water Damage Valrico, Florida

We had an emergency call a few days ago for a flooded house in Valrico, Florida.  The homeowner called 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT and we responded immediately.

Once our water damage restoration crew got on site, we quickly realized the flooding was worse than expected.  The majority of the house was lined with about 3″ of water!

The damage began over the weekend when a water leak sprung up from a broken water line under a bathroom vanity.  The water line break quickly flooded two bedrooms, the hallway, the kitchen and of course, the bathroom.

Water line breaks can be caused primarily from excess heat, corrosion, freezing, weak joints, land slips and tree roots.  Unfortunately for homeowners, water line breaks are often unpredictable.

Read the rest of Flooded House and Water Damage Valrico


If you have flooding or have questions about mold or water damage restoration Valrico, please contact 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT today!

Valrico Water Damage - Ceiling Stain

Last week, we were called out for a case of water damage in Valrico, Florida when new homeowners discovered an unsightly water stain in their living room ceiling.

"You know, we actually noticed it when we bought the house but because it was a bit of a reno job, we just figured it was nothing and we could paint over it," said one of the homeowners. Had the husband and wife team, looked more closely at the stain upon purchase, they might have thought twice about just painting over it.

In July of 2012, the homeowners purchased a house that was half renovated as the previous owner ran out of funds to complete the renovation. The homeowners were impressed with the renovations that were done and figured that what was left would be easy enough to tackle. Unfortunately for them, most of the renovations were done improperly – common in the house "flipping" era of 2005 + where people hastily "renovated" homes with cheap finishes to quickly turn a profit. The shoddy renovations quickly exposed several problems with the house which were only discovered once the homeowners took possession and moved in mid-August. They finally called in our expert water restoration team when the figured that the unsightly stain in their living room was actually water damage.

Read the rest of this article: Living Room Ceiling Water Damage in Valrico

Condo Flood Damage in Wesley Chapel

The other night, we received a water damage emergency call from Wesley Chapel, Florida.  A condo owner went to use his washing machine and somehow the water overflowed through the machine and flooded a large area of his new condo.  Not good.

He called us and we sent a flood cleanup team out right away.

When the team arrived, a lot of damage had been done already.  The washing machine that had leaked was a conventional model (not front loading) which typically consumes about 40 gallons per wash cycle.  It was evident that these 40 gallons had flooded his condo.

As a side note, front loading washing machines cut water use by nearly 40 percent and use only 20 to 25 gallons.



Back to the flooding, our team immediately sprung into action.  They had to remove water soaked items and remove all excess water.  The team then proceeded to work through the night to completely dry out the area and perform remediation to prevent mold growth.  Mold will begin to grow within as little as 24 hours of water damage if the area is not remediated.  Fortunately for the condo owner, our team was able to completely restore the area by the next day.  While it was a long night, everyone was pleased that no further damage was done.

So what happened in the first place to cause the flood?

Find out here: Condo Flood Damage in Wesley Chapel

If you do experience any water leaks or overflows, contact us, the water damage insurance specialists, at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.  We will get you to better than new condition in no time!

Water Damage Land O’ Lakes: Leak Leads To Bathroom Flood

This weekend was a busy weekend! Saturday evening, our team received an emergency call about water damage Land O’ Lakes regarding flooding in the bathroom of a rental home.  We sent out a restoration technician immediately.  When he arrived to the property, he encountered a much larger problem.  Here is the story:
When the tech arrived to the rental house, he was greeted by the renters who had just moved in that day.  When they had gone to use the hot water, no water was coming out.  They called their landlord who advised how to turn it back on and to their absolute dismay, water suddenly started pouring out from underneath the sink vanity in their guest bathroom! Water was coming up through the floor and they could hear it running in the wall.  They immediately shut it off and their landlord called us to come out to the scene.
When our tech arrived to perform mitigation, he first had to investigate and try to find out what was causing the water flooding.  Unfortunately for him, and as is common for all of us in the restoration business, he had to get a bit dirty as he had to go into the crawlspace underneath the home.  Sure enough, there was a flood lining the entire crawlspace.  After a while, he was able to determine that the hot water line to the washing machine and dishwasher was broken and leaking.  When the renters turned the hot water on, it had caused the leaking to begin.  Even though it was a few minutes between the renters finding the leak and turning off the water, the amount of water damage that had occurred was extreme.  The situation would have to be completely restored.
Read the entire article: Water Damage Land O’ Lakes

If you need any help with mold remediation or water damage restoration, please call the professionals at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.  We are there for you day and night.

Water Line Damage Palm Harbor

We recently received an emergency call from homeowners in Palm Harbor, Florida.  They had been out of town and came home to severe mold growth on the walls of their kitchen.  There was also evidence of flooding.
We sent our expert water damage restoration technicians out to the home and found out that while the homeowners were away, the water supply line to the refrigerator ice maker had broken.  This resulted in a huge flood.  The water left standing quickly created a hospitable environment for mold to grow.  The results was water damaged cabinets, flooring and mold growing everywhere.
Here are some photos we took:

See the rest of the photos and article here: Water Damage Palm Harbor
If you need help with a house flood or mold damage remediation, please contact the water extraction specialists at 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT.  We are standing by 24/7 for your call!

The Problem with Water Damage Spring Hill

Stunning Spring Hill Florida is home to many residents who can enjoy its beautiful parks and beaches.  Being located in an area prone to harsh rains and weather, we decided to take a look at how it breaks down for this wonderful city on the Gulf side of Florida.



1.  Water damage Spring Hill can happen any time of the year.
2. Spring Hill has a high level of annual precipitation with it’s average being 52.26 inches. This compares closely to Florida’s average precipitation of 54.73 inches.
3. The average humidity in Spring Hill is 75.34%.
4. 3.12% of total Spring Hill area is water.

Read facts 5 - 14 on Water Damage Spring Hill

Water Damage Remediation Spring Hill provides complete restoration services to Spring Hill, Brooksville and all of Hernando County, Florida. Contact the flood mitigation and mold remediation specialists today!

Prevent Water Damage Problems in a Basement

Last week we discussed how basements are exceptionally susceptible to flooding and moisture build-up issues in Basement Water Damage and Flooding – Part 1. Today we will go over ways to prevent water damage in your basement.


There are several ways to help prevent water damage problems in a basement. The first rule of thumb is no dirt basements. Although these are less common in this day in age, it is good to point out that dirt floors not only hold a huge amount of moisture but also can give off a variety of gases. When building a basement, make certain that you have a floor drain with a trap installed at the lowest point of the floor. Without a floor drain, any water that is spilled inside cannot get out. If needed, install a sump pump and make sure that the sump cover is tightly sealed. Sump pumps are often used where flooding due to a high water table might be a problem. In addition, waterproof the outside of the foundation walls and install a perimeter drainage system.

Read the rest of the article: Prevent Water Damage Problems in a Basement

If you have any further questions on keeping your home dry, contact the water cleanup specialists at 247 Water Damage . net.  We are standing by for your call.

Water Damage And Basement Flooding in Houses

If you live in the Tampa Bay area, you may not be accustomed to seeing many homes with basements; however, believe it or not, there are several homes throughout the area that do in fact have basements. Most homes in Florida are built without basements due to the high water table.

Building codes insist that dwelling floors be built above storm surge elevation. If a basement is allowed to be built, it usually is built as a “non-livable” space, so, in other words, homeowners can have the basement for extra storage but no bedrooms.  Unfortunately, while basements provide extra room for storage and a cooler place to hang out on hot days, they also have their share of moisture related problems.

When it comes to basement troubles, moisture and water damage are the most common problems.
The moisture most commonly enters from exterior sources though can also be produced inside as well. Often, most homeowners are unaware that the soil around the basement walls can contain a large amount of moisture. The reason for high moisture content in the soil could include surface water that is seeping down into the soil or even from a high water table. A high water table could be explained by heavy rains that cause the water table to rise higher than the basement floor. Often, water can find its way inside a basement by gravity or through a crack or flaw in the water protection layer of the foundation.

Read the rest of the article: Basement Water Damage and Flooding - Part 1

Check back next week when we describe Ways to Prevent Water Damage in Basements

If you need any water damage restoration help, contact the mitigation specialists at 247waterdamage.net.

Mold Removal and House Cleaning Companies

If you have ever come across mold growth in a home, you might have considered trying to clean it yourself or even call a cleaning company or maid service.  Unfortunately, mold is just not that easy to remove.



Many homeowners are unable to get rid of the mold permanently because they apply topical “mold” cleaning agents or bleach to the moldy materials.  While the cleaners might temporarily “bleach” the mold stain away, the actual mold remains and will continue to grow and reappear.   Likewise, a cleaning company will only be equipped with cleaning solutions and will not be skilled at actually removing mold and remediating properties.

Mold does not just disappear and moldy materials cannot simply be cleaned; they must be removed.

Learn more: Mold Removal and House Cleaning Companies

For more information on mold remediation, contact the water damage and mold removal specialists at Mold Remediation Brooksville . com.

Flood Damage in TownHouse Testimonial

Thank you so much to Christina for sending in a testimonial on the work we recently did on her flooded townhouse. We are so happy we were able to dry the property out after the water damage and get her home back to better than new as quickly as we did!




Jon, Jeremy, Chris,



I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you did for me when my town home flooded. You did an awesome job to make sure I was taken care of. When the floor was damp again and came out and took care of it immediately. You always went the extra mile. It helped me out more than you know being a single mom. You always did your best to work around my schedule as well. I will always recommend you to anyone who requires the services you offer. It was a pleasure working with you guys.



Thanks so much again,

Christina M. Fortunato

Water Damage, Mold Removal and Air Quality

Mold is a type of fungus that grows on plants, foods, and even the walls of houses.  Some mold, especially the kind you find in a home, can be quite dangerous.  Mold can grow on the walls, floors and ceilings of your home as well as on your personal possessions.

Mold spreads by creating reproductive cells called spores and sending them into the environment.  Mold spores travel in the air and attach to people’s skin, clothing, shoes, shopping bags and belongings.  Once spores enter, they can settle onto carpeting or other surfaces inside your home. You cannot keep spores out of your home, but regular home cleaning and maintenance often can prevent mold problems before they arise.

Unfortunately, mold will begin to grow in environments that provide the right conditions such as excess moisture.  A leading cause of mold is water damage that has been allowed to sit for more than 24 hours.  Examples of water damage that leads to mold include water leaks in cabinets, sewer back up, house floods, storms, rain fall, hurricanes, faulty windows and roof leaks.  It is extremely important that if you have any kind of damage caused by a water leak or flooding that you immediately contact a water damage restoration company to mitigate your problem before mold sets in!



Read the rest of Mold, Water Damage and Spore Removal

For more information on how to protect your family from mold and mold spores, please contact Mold Tampa . net.  We are your water damage and mold removal specialists!

Cleaning Up Flood Damage and What To Do Before You Move Back In

To wrap up Flood Cleanup Florida’s series on how to take care of flood damage on your own, here is the final installment on what to keep and what to do before you move back into your home or return to your property after flooding.

WHAT TO KEEP OR DISCARD: When it comes to flood damage, this can be one of the most devastating steps in water damage cleanup. Having to throw away valuables and precious belongings can be extremely hard on homeowners. Unfortunately, if items come in contact with water for an extended period of time, they will begin to grow mold. Throwing away items is especially important if the item has come in contact with contaminated water such as actual flood water or sewage back up. Discard and replace all insulation materials, and all less-expensive articles that have been soaked, including particleboard furniture, mattresses, box springs, stuffed toys, pillows, paper and books. The most important part of salvaging a photograph is to be careful not to touch the image when wet. If the photos are inside a wet photo albums, carefully pull out photos and lay them out separately without touching each other. Contact a photo restorer for further help. See more tips and the rest of the article here: Flood Damage Clean Up: Before You Move Back In Need help? Contact the flood damage insurance specialists at FloodCleanupFlorida.com.

How To Clean Up A House Flood

As part of our How To Clean Up A House Flood series, here is the next installment: How To Clean Up A Flood Step By Step: First Steps.

FIRST STEPS TO CLEANING UP A HOUSE FLOOD:

1. Store valuable papers that have been damaged in a freezer until you have time to work on them. Remove standing water with pumps or pails, then with a wet/dry shop vacuum.
2. Remove all soaked and dirty materials and debris, including wet insulation and drywall, residual mud and soil, furniture, appliances, clothing and bedding.
3. Hose down any dirt sticking to walls and furnishings, then rinse several times, removing the remaining water with a wet/dry shop vacuum. Rinse, then clean all floors as quickly as possible. Flooring that has been deeply penetrated by flood water or sewage should be discarded.
4. Work from the top down. Break out all ceilings and walls that have been soaked or that have absorbed water. Remove materials at least 500 mm (20 in.) above the high-water line. Removing only the lower part of the wall applies if action is taken immediately after the flood or wetting event. Gypsum board walls that have been exposed to high humidity or standing water for a prolonged period of time should be removed in their entirety and discarded. Ceiling tiles and panelling should be treated like drywall.

Read the remaining steps 5 to 11 here: How To Clean Up A Flood Step By Step: First Steps

Check back for our next blog where we wrap up this flood cleaning how to series with Flooding: What To Keep & Before; You Move Back In.

Top Seven Flood Protection Tips

As experts in water damage extraction, we are often called on site to restore properties after a flood.  As we are in the middle of hurricane season, we wanted to share the top seven tips to help protect you from flash floods and flood damage:

If a flood is likely in your area, you should follow these Top Seven Flood Damage Protection Tips

Also, the following are important points to remember when driving in flood conditions:

• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
• A foot of water will float many vehicles.
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-ups.

If you need more information on flood protection, please do not hesitate to contact us at WaterRemediation.org.

Florida Hurricane & Water Damage Emergency Contact List 2012

We are well on our way through hurricane season.  Tropical storm Debby swept through Florida a month ago causing millions of dollars in damage.  In fact, the state and federal government just approved $21 million dollars to go towards disaster assistance for Florida.

More than 12,000 survivors have contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help or information regarding disaster assistance. Many people are seeking housing assistance from FEMA because their primary home is unlivable or inaccessible.

For survivors who have needs other than federal assistance, check out: Disaster Recovery and Water Damage Resources for Florida Residents

With us being in the midst of hurricane season, please ensure that you are prepared for a disaster before it strikes.  To help you, Watercleanup.org has prepared a list of emergency contact numbers and links for your convenience.  When hurricanes, severe weather, wildfires and other emergencies threaten Florida, we advise that you have the following numbers and links at hand.

EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST:

Florida Hurricane Storm Damage Emergency Contact List 2012

And as always, if you experience any emergencies with hurricane damage requiring water cleanup, contact the water cleanup experts at Watercleanup.org.  We are standing by 24/7.

River Flooding and Flood Hazard Terms

Pasco County, Florida has been under a Flood warning for the last few days.  Heavy rains brought on from summer thunderstorms, particularly tropical Storm Debby, have brought water levels up in rivers in the area.  Minor flooding is concurring in the area and more minor flooding is expected.  Residents should be on guard against flood damage.

Flood Warning is on until Thursday evening and residents are instructed to not drive through flooded areas.

Here are some Flood Hazard terms to familiarize yourself with to help identify a flood hazard: Flood Hazard Terms

If you need any help with flood cleanup,  please contact the water mitigation experts atFloodcleanuptampa.com.

Protect Your Community Against Flood and Water Damage

Last week, we described what elements are most at-risk during a flood.  This week, we will discuss what communities can do to help protect themselves from flood damage.

Here are some things that can be done to protect homes and communities from the damage caused by flooding.
Before the floods:

Raise community awareness about flooding and flood protection measures.

• Include flood awareness and preparedness in school programs.
• Publicize flood risk areas, warning signs and evacuation plans.
• Collect the local history of flooding, mark areas affected (floodheight markers) and commemorate the dates of significant floods.
• Conduct risks assessments
• Identify locations which might be affected by flooding, determine how often the flooding may occur and identify what might be damaged in a flood.
• Distribute flood hazard maps so that people know where there is a risk of flooding. Flood maps identify risks to individuals, enable preparation of emergency response plans, and determine where flood protection measures must be taken. They are also a great tool for community education and awareness
• Install sign posts marking possible flooding levels in the community to remind people of flood risks.
• Prepare community plans of action that explain what to do in case of flooding.
• Undertake non-structural measures: Identify ways in which the use if possible flood areas can be change to avoid or reduce the impact of flooding.
• Have a good early warning system in place. Local and regional weather information can be used to let the public know when flooding is a risk.

With advance warning, steps can be taken to increase protection, such as placing emergency response teams on high alert and preparing emergency shelters.

Some more precautions communities can take are:

How Can Communities Be More Protected Against Floods?

For help with flood mitigation, contact the experts at 1877drymeout.com.

 

Team 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT- First Race This Saturday!

Get your cheers ready folks! Team 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT will be racing THIS Saturday, July 21, 2012!

PITS OPEN at 3PM. GATES OPEN at 5PM, RACES START at 7PM.

PRICE OF ADMISSION: $12 for Adults, Kids 12 and under are FREE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL Showtime Speedway at 727-561-9646.

Cash only. $30 pits.

See showtimespeedway.us for details.

Looking forward to seeing you there!!

GO TEAM 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT!!!

Testimonial: Water Damage Land O' Lakes

Thanks to George from Land O’ Lakes, Florida for sending us this wonderful letter! We were privileged to perform water extraction services in his home and took care of some serious water damage in his kitchen and bathroom.  We had to do a complete restoration which meant removing wet cabinets and completely rebuilding.

We are so happy we could be there for you George and really appreciate your letter! Thank you!

1-800-DRY-ME-OUT provides 24/7 water damage services to West Coast Florida.  For more information, please visit us at www.drymeout.com.

Elements At Risk During Floods and Hurricanes

What is a flood?

Flooding is the unusual presence of water on land to a depth which affects normal activities. Flooding can arise from many sources including overflowing rivers, heavy rainfall over a short duration (flash floods), storms such as hurricanes, high tides, and large landslides or seismic events resulting in a tsunami.

A water damage  disaster usually occurs when people are not prepared for a flood due to the lack of early warning systems, disaster preparedness and water mitigation measures.  Flooding that happens rapidly is the most dangerous type of flooding for obvious reasons.

During a flood, the following are the most “at risk” elements and require extra attention when planning a flood disaster plan:

Most At-Risk Elements During A Flood

What To Do With Water Damage and Flooding

Here is a classic example of something water restoration companies come across so often: water damage that leads to a severe black mold problem.

The clients move into a new home. Upon moving in, they placed a lot of their boxes in the basement for storage. Eventually and coincidentally after a lot of heavy rain storms, the clients head into the basement only to find that their basement is flooded and their boxes are now sitting and/or floating in water.

 Often, clients will try to deal with flooding on their own. They may mop up the water and do their best to get rid of the flooding. However, clients will often stop there hoping that the area will just naturally dry out. Boxes may be left to try to dry out on their own. Area rugs might be left as well. Meanwhile, water from the initial flood has already seeped into the walls. All three examples can lead to mold infestation.

Learn what you should do if you have flood damage here: Call a Restoration Company at The Sign of Water Damage

Brandon Water Damage Testimonial

At 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT, we love what we do.  We especially love that our skills do more than restore homes…they restore lives.  That said, it is always extremely appreciated when we receive a letter in the mail from a happy client.  Thank you to Maria for taking the time to write us and send us her letter about how we helped her with her water damage.