Water Assessment

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

The first step of a water mitigation is for our technician once onsite is to perform a loss assessment.  This is performed to collect the data needed to determine the extent of the loss physical structure and contents. An evaluation is determined and prioritize health and safety precaution for the residence and workers.  The technician will determine which category the water loss is which can be a category 1, 2 or 3.  The category 1 is a clean water loss that does not pose a substantial harm to humans. An example of clean loss is a broken water supply line, sink or tub overflows that do not have contaminants. A category 2 is called a grey water because the water contains a significant level of contamination as has the possibility to cause discomfort or sickness if exposed or consumed by human.  An example of a grey loss is washer machine or dishwasher overflow. If a category 2 remains untreated for longer than 48 hours may change to a category 3. Black water is what a category 3 is referred to. An example of category 3 is a toilet backflow. This type of water loss indicated that structure materials and contents have been containment. It is important for the technician to determine the cause of loss to determine how the water loss is handled.

Contaminated Water Loss

11/29/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know that contaminated water loss is treated differently than a clean water loss? You might be asking yourself what a clean water loss is and what is a contaminated water loss. A clean water loss (also known as a category 1) is caused by a water that originates from a sanitary waster source. Some examples of a category 1 loss are a sink or bathtub overflow or water supply line. A category 2 water loss (also known as grey water) is when water contains contamination and has the potential to cause sickness if contacted or consumed by humans. Some examples of a category 2 water loss are a washer machine overflow or dishwasher backup. Then the last category is class 3 (dirty water) and it is when the water can contain pathogenic, toxigenic, or other harmful agents. A Category 3 examples are sewage and toilet backup and any ground water that has com in from he outdoors.

Things not to do and to do if you have a category 3 water loss.

• Make sure not to unnecessarily walk on damage or wet areas because that can spread the contaminates.
• HVAC should be turned off to prevent any possibility of spready air contaminates.
• Do not use any household fans to dry the structure because that can spread contaminates.
• If exposed to contaminated area, make sure to use products for personal hygiene to clean yourself. This includes washing your hand thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.
• Avoid any contact with sewage items.

If you happen to experience a water loss please feel free to call SERVPRO Thousand Oaks at (805) 492-2434

Checking for Moisture

11/3/2021 (Permalink)

When SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks goes out to a water loss we use several instruments to determine if there is moisture. We will ask the customer what room the water came into. Our crew will inspect those rooms along with any surrounding rooms to make sure they are not affected. To determine moister or crew uses moister meters. The purpose of a moister meter is to display the value of moisture content or level based on electrical variance in materials. Our tech will probe area to find the base moisture content level to indicate the goal that the affected materials should meet. All structure materials have a base moisture level. The drywall can be at 5 point and the affected area will be anything more then that but not larger the 100 points. There are two types of meters non-invasive and invasive. The non-invasive scans the area without damaging the materials. Invasive probes penetrate materials. If you concerned about a water loss that occurred in your home of business, we recommend you getting It probed or moisture.  

Water Damage Information

3/2/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding and water emergencies never come at a convenient time. Here at SERVPRO Thousand Oaks, we are here to help 24 hours 7 days a week. Water quickly spreads throughout your home or business and affected structural materials along with contents. It is important to mitigate your loss as soon as possible.

Water Damage Timeline

Within Minutes

• Water will spread quickly throughout your home and business and will saturate structural materials.
• When water touches furniture the finishes might bleed causing furniture staining on the carpet.
• If affected by water loss your photographs, books, and other paper goods will start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall will begin to swell and can possibly start breaking.
• Metal surfaces will begin to tarnish.
• Furniture can begin to swell and crack at the base.
• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain contents or structural materials i.e., carpets.
• You can smell a musty odor.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

• Mold and mildew can grow and spread depending on the environment.
• Baseboards, Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and or corrode.
• Paint begins to blister and peel from the wall.
• Wood flooring swells and cupping.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

• Waiting longer for restoration can cause mold growth and additional repair cost.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us SERVPRO Thousand Oaks 24/7 – (805)492-2434

Water Mitigation Process

2/10/2021 (Permalink)

This photo contains Air mover, dehumidifier, and moisture meters

SERVPRO Thousand Oaks trained technicians to use many different types of equipment throughout a water mitigation process. Psychrometric are used to create the proper environment for efficient drying. Moisture detection devices are used to determine if any materials are affected. A moisture sensor is used to detect any moisture in the carpets, baseboards, and walls. Moisture meters determine the amount of moisture in materials.  The thermohydrometer will measure both the temperature and relative humidity to create the proper drying environment.  Extractors are used to remove moisture from the structure which may include the carpet, upholstery, and flooring.  Air movers are used to enhancing evaporation from the surface level which then will reduce dry time.  Dehumidification will pull in the moist and humid air and exchange it with dry warm air. Leaving air movers and dehumidifiers on during the full process will prevent extra drying days. Our technicians will monitor equipment each day and will be removed once the affected area is dried down to industry standards.

Contaminated Water Loss

10/3/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks will go over some of the do’s and do not on a contaminated water loss. It is best to avoid contact with sewage and or any items that have been contaminated. If you must be in contact with contaminated items, make sure to wash youth ads thoroughly. It is best to minimize or eliminate walking into contaminated water because you can spread the contaminations. It is also best to inform the mitigation company areas that you might have cross-contaminated so it can be cleaned and sanitized properly.  Your HVAC system should be turned off since there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air. Do not use and household fans to dry the structure as it can spread the contaminants. Make sure to use personal hygiene products if exposed to the contaminated areas.  

Important reasons to mitigate your loss.

9/16/2020 (Permalink)

Flooding and water emergencies can be a traumatic experience. Water can spread quickly and create damage. SERVPRO recommends at the sight of water intrusion to call a water mitigation for immediate response to help minimize the damage and restoration cost. Within a few minutes, water can quickly spread throughout your property such as your wall, floors, upholstery, and belongings. The furniture finishes can bleed onto your carpet causing permanent staining. Paper goods such as books and photographs will start to swell and warp if affected. In the first 24 hours, your drywall will begin to swell and/or break down. Also, your furniture might begin to swell or crack. You also might start to experience a musty odor. After 48 hours your doors, windows, wood flooring, and studs can swell and warp. Paint might begin to blister. Metals will begin to rust and corrode. Most importantly if you do not mitigate your loss, mold growth can form which may cause health effects. Here at SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks we are here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Water Damage

3/25/2020 (Permalink)

Did you know the first 24 hours of a water loss is most vital to preventing secondary damage? Our SERVPRO professional will arrive within four hours from receiving loss notification. Inspect the affected area and determine the extent of the damage. We welcome our customer to ask and question or share any concerns of their loss. Our SERVPRO franchise professional will explain the emergency process step by step. Emergency services will start, and any equipment placed will need to stay on during the entire process. SERVPRO franchise professional will monitor the drying process daily to dry to industry standards. Once property is dry to standards, we will perform final walkthrough with our customer. Here at SERVPRO Thousand Oaks, we are currently taking any preventive measures for our customers and employees.

Roof Leak

8/30/2019 (Permalink)

Did you know that now is the best time to have your roof checked? It’s best to have a professional perform roof inspection. Sometimes even when a roof inspection is performed a possible cause of water intrusion can be missed. It can be difficult to find the spot where the roof leak is because it can enter in a certain place but run down to another location. Most people don’t realize they have a leak until the raining season and their ceiling is wet.  The way you spot a possible roof leak if there is missing or visible damage to shingles or tile roof.  When you notice a posable leak but are unable to get your roof fixed before a rainstorm, we recommend getting it tarped to help minimize damage. If you happen to wait until its raining you can always inspect your attic for possible leaks. Incase you start to have damage inside your house from a rainstorm its best to call SERVPRO to inspect for moisture and to dry out your loss.

How A Contain Water Loss Helps

9/24/2018 (Permalink)

Here is an example or our crew in the process of containing a water loss.

When capable SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks will try to contain a room. We contain an affected area for multiple reasons. One of the main reasons we do is to help to improve dry time. When you can setup a drying chamber you’re able to contain the equipment to drying within the contained area. This helps to contain the heat of the dehumidifier into the affected area and shrink amount of dry time day. Of course, there is going to be many times where you cannot setup a drying chamber due to vaulted ceilings or possibly because the customer will need access to the affected area. Another benefit for have the affected area contain is for any demo that may need to be done. This will prevent any dust into going into an unaffected area. We do however clean up any debris that any demolition of drywall or other materials might cause. If you’re ever in need of our services, please call SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks.

What to do before help arrives.

8/22/2018 (Permalink)

What can I do before help is on the way to my water loss? This is something we have been asked by our customers. We always recommend that if the leak is not fixed, that you water from the main line to prevent further damage. If you are unsure where your main line is located, we recommend contacting a professional plumber. To prevent any electrical shock, turn off circuit breaker of affected rooms.  Remove and excess water is at all posable by mopping. We have had many customers stated that they have used towels to prevent moisture from spreading. We also recommend the customer to move any contents that may cause concern. Make sure to whip up any water from wood furniture. Remove and prop up any wet upholstery cushions. Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet to prevent furniture stains. Place any other contest that have been affected to a safe dry place. Hang draperies with a coat hanger to prevent contact with the wet flooring. For any furniture with skirting use cloth pins to keep them away from wet flooring. If furs and leather good have been affected dry separately at room temperature. Don’t worry if you can not get to doing all this because SERVPRO Thousand Oaks will be on the way. Servicing Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park & Westlake Village (Ventura county side.)

Faster to your Thousand Oaks Water Damage Event

5/31/2017 (Permalink)

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more.  SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – (805)492-2434

Water Damage Timeline

Within Minutes

• Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
• Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
• Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
• Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall begins to swell and break down.
• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
• Furniture begins to swell and crack.
• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
• A musty odor appears.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

• Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
• Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and corrode.
• Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
• Paint begins to blister.
• Wood flooring swells and warps.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

• Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
• Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.

About SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks

SERVPRO of Thousand Oaks 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.