Flood Damage Cleanup and Repair in Los Angeles

3/24/2024 (Permalink)

Flood damage is not something that is easily dealt with. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for certified technicians and professional equipment.

SERVPRO® Provides Restoration After Storms Bring Flood Damage to Los Angeles

Atmospheric rivers, high winds, heavy rain, and flooding are causing extensive damage to many homes in the Los Angeles area. Falling trees penetrate roofs, walls, and windows, allowing water to soak contents, flooring, and structures. Cleaning up quickly and providing emergency board-up services help mitigate the damage to your home. SERVPRO can be onsite within four hours of your call 24/7 to help our customers.

Once your Los Angeles home is protected from further flood damage, SERVPRO delivers restoration services based on the initial assessment by our expert technicians. Roofs can be repaired, windows can be replaced, and stucco and other siding materials can be repaired. We remove water and moisture from the interior and use drying mats for hardwood floors. Everything is dried, cleaned, and disinfected.

Many clients are extremely concerned about their homes after damage from a storm and will enter their homes to recover heirlooms and mementos. We urge our clients to be careful and follow these guidelines: 

• Stay safe, avoid energized electrical appliances, and be careful of slippery floors. 
• Wet materials can be heavy, keep your family and pets from entering the home. 
• Do not use your vacuum cleaner to remove water or to attempt to dry materials. 
• Do not use any electrical devices exposed to water and moisture. 
• Do remove all books, magazines, and any colored items from flooring and upholstery to avoid staining 
• Call the IICRC-certified experts at SERVPRO to help with the cleanup and mitigate further damage from mold and water absorption by porous materials. 

We ask our clients to let us know if they have any concerns about the cleanup and restoration process. We are Here to Help® restore your home “Like it never even happened.” 

Call for help with flood damage restoration at SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park and nearby areas. Call (213) 522-7448.

How Storm Water Mitigation Services Benefit Your Los Angeles Property

4/2/2023 (Permalink)

Storm cleanup is the best solution after a water intrusion into your home. Contact SERVPRO for water removal and drying services. We are available.

SERVPRO Offers Immediate Storm Cleanup Services in Los Angeles

Storm water mitigation services provide solutions to damage that your property may suffer in the event of serious winds or severe storms. Water from on-ground flooding or a storm-damaged roof can affect your property, so you need professional help. These professionals are well-trained and have appropriate restoration equipment to do the job right.

Before performing storm water cleanup procedures on your Los Angeles property, the SERVPRO team ensures the building is safe. For instance, we check for any missing roofing shingles and have them fixed by experienced professionals. The team might provide temporary solutions to stop the water until a permanent fix is implemented.

The following after some of the precautions that we observe when restoring your water-damaged property:

• Switch off electrical power - Turning off electricity prevents the possibility of electrocution since standing water may still be in the building.
• Protecting your items - We can lift your furniture and insert tin foil to protect your carpets and other rugs from developing stains.
• Using protective gear - SERVPRO technicians wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, rubber boots, and helmets to stay protected from possible injuries.

After using specialized equipment such as water extractors, squeegees, pumps, and wet or dry vacuums to remove standing water, we use dehumidifiers and air movers to dry your property. We also investigate whether there's hidden moisture behind wallboards, cabinets, and other hard-to-access areas. Failure to address the hidden moisture problem may lead to mold growth.

If building materials such as carpets, drywall, and carpet padding come into contact with on-ground flooding water, removing and disposing them may be necessary. Documentation is required before throwing out any materials.

Call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 for efficient storm water damage restoration services. Work with certified technicians with several years of experience restoring commercial and residential properties. Our goal is to make it "Like it never even happened."

Early Actions Reduce Flood Damage in Los Angeles Homes

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

Rainwater from a storm can severely damage Los Angeles attics, ceilings, and fixtures. Be safe, and call SERVPRO for help.

Los Angeles properties damaged by flooding require fast mitigation solutions

Homes can be quickly and wholly damaged by flood penetration and the spread of this water damage. Fast mitigative solutions can help reduce restoration costs and the length of recovery efforts set to begin. We are ready 24/7 to help with trained WRT-certified professionals.

Sealing Up Structural Vulnerabilities

Early actions to slow flood damage in Los Angeles homes start with a full structural damage assessment. Little can be done to complete the drying and cleanup of flood-damaged homes or businesses if the penetration points are not sealed up and stopped. With a contractor license, our SERVPRO team can complete temporary repairs to prevent water intrusions first.

Clearing Out Standing Water

The pooling of floodwater in areas of your home can be a considerable obstacle for even experienced restoration professionals. Not only must we provide extraction devices capable of managing deep surface water concerns, but we must also have water removal tools able to manage smaller solids and debris as well. Some of the extractors used for post-flood recovery include:

• Trash pumps
• Wet vacuums
• Truck-mount extractors

Muck-Out Cleaning and Debris Removal

With the standing water resolved, we can also focus on the cleaning and debris removal needed to protect the property. Contamination is a considerable concern after these loss effects, including every material directly exposed to migrating water. . Our muck-out cleaning process removes mud, silt, decaying organic matter, and bulk materials from the property, allowing drying to begin unhindered.

Mitigating flood damage losses begins with the first steps professionals like ours take when arriving after a disaster. There is an urgency to flood recovery with so much of the property at stake for extreme damage, so our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team works fast to mobilize with cleanup and restoration tools. Give us a call now at (213) 628-2000. 

Address Los Angeles Flood Damage to Remedy Storm Fallout

7/31/2022 (Permalink)

Whether flooding stems from an external or internal source, the end result is the same. Call our technicians to arrive on the scene, ready to help.

Call SERVPRO to Help with Flood Damage After Los Angeles Storms

If you experience flooding in any area of your Los Angeles home, you may think it is contained, and you can remove the water with a rented pump or shop vacuum. However, the only way to ensure safe, efficient water removal is to call in the help of skilled technicians. SERVPRO knows how to identify all issues, from minor to major, to ensure your home and family are back to normal fast. We work on extractions, structural problems, drying, and reconstruction to make it “Like it never even happened.”

When it comes to storm flood damage in Los Angeles, know there will be visible damage while some remains hidden from the naked eye. This involves hidden moisture from water that seeped into cracks and crevices and bacteria from contaminated water. The longer you wait to have proper cleanup and disinfection, the more of a hazard it becomes to anyone in your home.

SERVPRO professional inspection and assessment

We inspect all aspects of your storm damage and flooding, including:

• Board up and tarping services to address roof damage, broken windows, and more.
• Any areas where water may have migrated, under flooring tiles, carpet padding, baseboards, cabinetry, and behind walls.
• The level of contamination; we treat standing water by spraying antimicrobials to keep hazards to a minimum.

In many situations where floodwater occurs during a storm, your drywall wicks up water and makes it unsalvageable. If the water only goes up to a certain height, we can use controlled demolition to make flood cuts just a few inches above the water line. We then dry the space behind the wall, replace the missing drywall with new materials, and finish it to look as if it pre-flood.

We are the team you want on your side if you have flood damage from a storm. Call SERVPRO of Silver Lake/Echo Park or request help online. We are available 24/7 for emergency water removal services and restoration.

Some Tips to Help Recover Your Los Angeles Home From Flooding

5/29/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless of the room that flooding affects, team SERVPRO can help with certified technicians and effective water removal equipment. Call us 24/7.

Flood Removal and the Importance of Removing Debris Professionally in Los Angeles

Flash flooding can be devastating to your home or personal possessions. Not only do they live behind standing water, but they can also damage the structural integrity of your home. Water that comes from road overflows or heavy rainfall can drag debris along with it and into your home. Some of this debris may even be considered harmful, like animal carcasses or herbicides, sewage, and trash. A professional service can help you to clear away debris in line with EPA, federal and state laws.

When you need flood removal in Los Angeles, you need two things. A local service, which can reduce call out times, and a professional with the right qualifications. SERVPRO uses technicians local to the area who have experience in dealing with the type of damages you face. We also train our technicians and encourage them to gain IICRC certificates for home restoration services including applied structural drying for property owners suffering from flood water in the home.

An aggressive case of water damage can result in areas of the home being damaged. Windows, for example, can be cracked or broken. At SERVPRO, our rapid response team runs an emergency board service using tarpaulin or wood panels to ensure your home is patched up immediately. Taking a step like this can be invaluable in mitigating against further damages that could occur from exposure.

Debris left behind can often be toxic or contain harmful pathogens. Any debris that is left behind could be dangerous to your health. SERVPRO can mobilize the proper equipment to remove these issues safely. That could include a hazmat suit alongside high pressure jet washing systems to blast away damages and debris.

We are capable of both removing the primary and secondary damages associated with flooding in the home. We also have truck-mounted water extractors, submersible gas pumps and rapid air movers to help dry your property and prevent the risk of mold or mildew buildup.

For a comprehensive solution, contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 today.

Flood Damage from Sudden Storms Leaves Residents in Los Angeles with a Complex Situation

4/30/2022 (Permalink)

It is better to play it safe where flooding is concerned. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 to assess the situation in your home.

SERVPRO Offers High-Quality Storm Damage Restoration and Clean Up

Storms that douse the Los Angeles area with huge quantities of water can flood an area rapidly. After levees break or partially fail, homes in the once-protected areas can find themselves swallowed up by the water flowing where dry land used to exist.

Los Angeles residential neighborhoods can suffer extreme flood damage because many of them lack the preparation to stop the movement of the water coming toward them. SERVPRO professionals hold the certificates showing they have the knowledge necessary to restore homes after flooding and related catastrophes. Experienced with the complexities inherent in the entire restoration process, we can answer your questions, so you better understand the scope of the work involved.

From removal of soil and mud covering your floors to silt and organic debris inside your cabinetry to repainting walls and reinstalling wall trim and moldings, the IICRC-certified technicians at SERVPRO can make everything “Like it never even happened” once again. This makes it much easier to put the memory and trauma of flooding behind you and your family, so you can all move forward.

Using highly advanced equipment, we clean and sanitize everything that came into contact with floodwaters. Our Esporta washing system helps ensure that your belongings are once again usable, without fear that microbes still linger. We can save clothing, most items made from leather, and other belongings that the cleaning industry would not consider salvageable years ago. A considerable percentage of a family's losses after a flood are classified as soft goods or personal belongings. Saving these items reduces the financial burden your family faces, which is crucial for helping recover after any flooding event. This cleaning also saves precious personal possessions.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park employs understanding and professional restoration experts who want to help you and your family quickly recover after flood damage affects your home. Our local number, (213) 628-2000, is answered 24/7, 365 days a year. Call us so we can help you when you need us most.

What Can Ensure Faster Storm Damage Cleanup in Boyle Heights Homes?

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is the team to call for your storm damage needs.

SERVPRO Starts Cleanup by Establishing All Issues That Might Interfere With a Speedy Conclusion

A storm creates many problems in properties. One way to resolve the problems affecting your Boyle Heights home is by cleaning up. That helps resolve several issues like removing stagnant water and cleansing soiled surfaces. One thing you might not anticipate is the slow pace cleaning might take.

If the pace of storm damage cleanup at your Boyle Heights home is not right, unnecessary challenges can arise. For instance, if the moisture absorbed by materials remains unaddressed, they might deteriorate beyond repair, or microbial growth can take root. When you call a professional restorer like SERVPRO, the first order of business is to establish any factors that might interfere with the cleaning process, slowing it down.

Typical issues that can slow down cleaning of your flooded property include:

• Structural breaches which allow in weather elements or vandals 
• Deterioration of structural materials
• Heavy or a wide variety of soiling 

Repeating cleaning processes can waste a lot of your time unnecessarily. If you embark on cleaning without taking care of openings on the roof or walls after a storm breaches your property, you are likely to repeat some of the cleanup work. Our SERVPRO crews forestall this by installing roof tarps and boarding up wall openings. In some cases, we also set up barriers inside the house, separating different areas, thus ensuring no interference once cleaning starts.

Deterioration of structural materials such as drywall, insulation, and ceiling panels is common after flooding. Such materials must be torn down and replaced during restoration. Safely removing these materials takes the right skills to avoid damaging trim, frames, and other surrounding materials. The removal also needs to be orderly to avoid spreading trash throughout the property. Our SERVPRO technicians perform controlled demolition, which is faster.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is a good team to call when you need storm damage cleanup. You can reach us at (213) 628-2000.

An Intense Storm Broke Windows and Left Flood Damage in a Property. Who Should Be Called For Assistance?

11/11/2021 (Permalink)

After your home suffers storm damage, you need a team of professionals to assist you with cleanup. Call SERVPRO right away! We are always available.

Contact SERVPRO Technicians to Handle the Flood Damage in a Los Angeles Residence.  

When flooding occurs in your property after a storm, there is no time to waste. Act fast by contacting SERVPRO technicians in Los Angeles to mitigate the damage and prevent costly damages. We can get your property to its pre-incident state as soon as possible.

What If a Confined Space Is Flooded?

To deal with the flood damage in your Los Angeles residence, our technicians can inspect the area using our advanced equipment to determine how severe it is. Our technicians can use inspection cameras and borescopes to check for visible contamination. The equipment records still images and takes videos that help us determine the best restoration techniques to use.

What Are The Effects of Flood Damage?

The common effects of flood damage include:

• Chipping of wallpaper and paint
• A decrease in property value
• Warping wood floors
• Destroyed carpeting
• Mold growth in hidden areas

You can minimize the above effects if you take immediate action. We respond fast to emergency calls to minimize and stop further damage. We can also rebuild the affected areas after restoration. Our general contractor’s license number is 999460.

How Long Does Drying Take in an Affected Property?

The contents of your property are made of different materials. The amount of moisture and the time the material has been exposed to moisture determines how long the drying process can take. Other factors are the drying techniques and equipment used. We can use dehumidification and other proven techniques to dry your home and its contents.   

Where Is The Odor Coming From?

Manufacturers design building materials to absorb some degree of moisture. However, when moisture levels exceed the limit, the materials start to corrode and release small organic compounds into the air. Decay is an ongoing process that continues until the moisture is removed. That means that odor can linger for an extended period if the drying process is not done correctly.

After drying the affected area, our SERVPRO technicians can use advanced equipment to combat the odors. We can use air scrubbers that pull air in the affected property through charcoal filters to capture odors and recirculate the fresh air back into the indoor environment. 

If your property suffered flood damage, contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 to ask about our restoration services or to schedule a visit. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Restoring Desired Moisture Levels in Flood-Damaged Los Angeles Homes

10/28/2021 (Permalink)

When a storm hits home, call the professionals at SERVPRO. Our IICRC certified techs are ready for any size storm damaged job.

Flooding Can Leave Many Structural Elements in Los Angeles Properties Saturated and in Need of Moisture Removal. 

Flooding can be more common to Los Angeles homes and businesses than you might think. With many exposed contents and structural elements, many look to the professionals of our SERVPRO team to help. Effective drying of flooded spaces involves restoring desired moisture levels within flood-damaged properties, including specific relative humidity percentages required for individual building materials.

Moisture Detection Devices 

Visual inspection is only part of the process for identifying flood damage to Los Angeles properties. Technicians rely on moisture detection devices to gain perspective on the depth of the damage and how the migration of water extends beyond the surface layer. Likewise, an initial moisture inspection determines affected assemblies and the edge of the water-damaged area.

Determining the Desired Moisture Levels

All drying efforts are designed around the nature of water damage to seek equilibrium. When met with the ideal relative humidity and temperature, materials can reach a point in which they do not intake nor expel moisture. Achieving this balance is critical for the restoration of specific materials and zones, including:

• Wood flooring
• Carpets
• Drywall
• Environmental humidity

Preventing Mold and Microbial Growth

Flood damage can be even more alarming when you consider the possibilities of mold and microbial growth. The potential contaminants present in natural flooding can act as an amplifier for microbial development in moist environments. Preventing growth involves the application of mold inhibitors and biocide products.

Flood damage can develop rapidly and overwhelm Los Angeles County homes. Our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team seeks out the desired moisture content in building materials to efficiently manage flood losses and the damage they can do. Give us a call at (213) 628-2000.

What Damage Can Flash Flooding Cause Los Angeles Homes?

8/26/2021 (Permalink)

When flood damage strikes your home, SERVPRO should be the first call. We will be on-site within 4 hours of the initial call.

With Fast-Occurring Disasters Like Flooding, Los Angeles Homes Can be Heavily Damaged. 

While flooding is not an everyday occurrence in the city, when flash flooding and natural disasters happen, our SERVPRO team is fast to respond. We can reach damaged homes quickly with our pre-stocked Green Fleet of service vehicles and production trailers ready to mobilize as emergencies occur to area residences. 

Structural Damages and Penetration Points

Flash flood damage for Los Angeles homes can be overwhelming when penetration points and vulnerabilities that provide access to the house exist. With a general contractor license, we can track the property's vulnerabilities and provide the needed repairs beginning with board-up and tarping. 

Removing Standing Floodwater from the Property

Flood removal is not a process suitable for all of the extraction devices in our inventory. Natural flooding can often bring in solids and debris, much of which cannot pass through electric submersible pumps with a one or two-inch intake and discharge. Instead, a combination of our most powerful extractors is necessary, beginning with: 

• Truck-mount pumps
• Trash pumps
• Wet vacuums

Thorough Cleaning After Flash Flood Damage

Disinfection and surface cleaning is a critical post-flood cleanup process for Los Angeles properties. From the installed building materials to the contents throughout the house, our cleaning technicians can evaluate the grounds and these items on a case-by-case basis for on-site or off-site restoration and recovery. Powerful sporicidal and disinfection cleaning processes can prevent excessive tear-out and reconstruction. 

Flash flooding moves in quickly and can overwhelm a structure with almost no warning. Considering the devastating nature of these events, our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team is standing by to help when homes and businesses experience the ruinous impact of floods. Our team is standing by 24/7 when you call (213) 628-2000.

Flood Damage and Worse can be Caused by Water in Your Los Angeles Home's Basement

7/9/2021 (Permalink)

Los Angeles homeowners know to call SERVPRO for flood damage mitigation and rescue of possessions.

SERVPRO is Here to Help with Flood Damage Restoration

Flooding in your basement might not seem like it can affect your entire home, but it can cause problems even in your attic space. Humidity that starts with a flooded basement can be carried through the air and also through the very fibers of your home's structures. Gravity isn't enough to keep water down below when it can find its way upwards by wicking through microscopic channels in drywall, wood, and concrete. 

Basement Flooding Cleanup

For homes with standing water in the basement, the first step in warding off flood damage in Los Angeles and subsequent secondary water damage is to have the water pumped out. After the standing water has been eliminated, we can begin to work on the drying process. Returning your home to a dry state is vital to ensuring that all repairs can be long-lasting. It also helps ensure that mold and secondary water damage won't be a problem later on. 

In addition to secondary water damage, the possibility of mold growths taking over your home remains higher than usual as long as humidity levels are allowed to be raised. There is also the possibility of higher than normal levels of bacterial and pathogenic activity where mold exists. With sewer backups and flooded basements, this is especially true. This can lead to dangerous contamination in your home, but we're trained to combat this type of problem. At SERVPRO, we know what to do when things go awry in your home. 

From repairing walls, floors, and ceilings, and everything in between, we also know how to get things returned to a sanitary state. While we're drying out your home, we also disinfect it. Some of these methods, such as using ozone machines, not only remove airborne pathogens but can also deodorize your home. 

When you've found your home flooded, even if it's not in the basement, call us. The professionals at SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 are available 24/7 to get your home back to normal fast.

From Water Extraction to Full Restoration, SERVPRO Provides Solutions to Flooding in LA

6/9/2021 (Permalink)

Contamined flood water wicked into the walls of this Los Angeles bathroom. SERVPRO provides a controlled demolition for storm damage mitigation

Flood Damage Situations in Los Angele

Removing the standing water alone is not enough to prevent further problems. To restore the effects of flood damage to your Los Angeles home, it needs to be adequately dried. SERVPRO maintains an extensive inventory of equipment designed to do just that and a trained, 24-hour response team to ensure the job is done correctly.

One of the key items used during flood damage in Los Angeles is an air mover. These are not fans but machines that push a concentrated mass of air across the wet surface of a wall, ceiling, or carpet. The concentrated air forces moisture out of the structural property. To maximize the effect in drywall or other wall paneling, technicians place air movers at a 45-degree angle to the surface. This positioning removes the most moisture possible, replacing it with drier air.

Drying out walls is further complicated by the presence of baseboards. Since the moisture trapped in them is typically wicked up from the floor, baseboards seal off the very part that needs drying the most. Our technicians carefully remove baseboards using a claw hammer or small crowbar and a small piece of paneling or plywood. This technique ensures we cause as little damage as possible to the affected area. If necessary, they also drill holes in the wall to increase airflow and accelerate drying. Our SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians could also rig shrouds and tubes to channel directional air movement and dehumidifier actions to dry out wetted cavities further.

To dry out ceilings, we place air movers against the wall with the vent pointed up. Besides its directed air, the air mover also circulates the warm air next to the ceiling to further speed up the drying process. If it has removable panels or tiles, several are removed at crucial points to dry out the surrounding air above it.

Carpets quickly begin to degrade in a day or two if not adequately dried. Technicians measure the size of the carpet to determine where to place the air mover(s) vent underneath it and where to carefully pull up a section of the carpet to ensure airflow properly without stretching or tearing it. The industry term is "floating" the carpet. There are instances where the soaked carpeting is contaminated and must be discarded.

Drying out your home and restoring it from the other effects of flooding is not a simple process. SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is here to help you through every step and place you back into your home as quickly as we can. Call us today at (213) 628-2000 to get started.

Is Floodwater a Biohazard?

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

Storms do happen in Southern California. SERVPRO is available 24/7 to remediate any damage that happens to your home.

Flood damage in Los Angeles can Bring Contaminated Waters into a Home, but SERVPRO can Mitigate the Problem Safely

Coastal cities such as Los Angeles can experience flooding any time of the year. With the sea rise level increasing annually, storms and flooding occur more often and are more intense. Floodwaters create a biohazardous situation that requires professional intervention. 

What Creates A Biohazard Incidence?

When a home experiences flood damage in Los Angeles, it brings contaminated water into the building. These waters are teeming with microbes, and it is vital to understand the dangers. Microbes are living organisms that can pollute our air and water. SERVPRO deals with three main types:

• Fungi – Multicell organism that digests materials to get the nutrients they need. Mold is a type of fungi.
• Bacteria– Like fungi, bacteria absorb surrounding material to get nutrients but are single-cell organisms.
• Viruses– Simple microbes that grow, multiply, and cause disease in living things.

While microbes are vital to the ecosystem, they can become a threat under certain conditions. Floodwaters are the perfect environment for a biohazard threat involving microbes. Homeowners should never attempt to clean up contaminated water on their own. 

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park has trained, certified biohazard technicians who have the experience and the proper equipment to mitigate flood damage in Los Angeles. Call us today at (213) 628-2000 for more information.

Virtual Interpretive Training in Boyle Heights

1/18/2021 (Permalink)

Avoid Stormy Weather at Your Boyle Heights Business and Call SERVPRO

Increase Personal and Business Skills in Boyle Heights

On Thursday, January 21^st, the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) in partnership with the L.A. Zoo and the Community Nature Connection, begins an online Certified Interpretive Guide Training Course. It is designed for individuals with public contact at interpretive sites (i.e., the L.A. Zoo) or delivers interpretive programs on video or for streaming services. The online course includes all of the material available through the face-to-face classroom setting.

Training Options for Boyle Heights Participants

Participants may take the course without obtaining the certificate as a Certified Interpretive Guide or CIG. This option costs $235 and includes all course material, but not the Core Literature Review exam necessary to become a CIG.

The second option includes the exam and costs an additional $150. CIG Certification is for four years and includes a paid, one-year membership in the NAI. For participants who are already NAI members, it will be implemented at the end of their current membership.

Storm season is here, so floodwater removal for Boyle Heights homes may soon be necessary. To schedule a service visit, call SERVPRO of Silver Lake /Echo Park today at (213) 628-2000.

Drive Through Wonderland and Enjoy the Los Angeles Festivities from Your Car

12/8/2020 (Permalink)

Whether snow or rain storms, SERVPRO can take the worry about of emergency restoration so that you can enjoy the holidays.

This Massive Holiday Themed Event is Something Los Angeles Residents of All Ages Will Love 

Snow may not often happen in Los Angeles, but that does not stop Santa or the holidays. This year enjoy a drive through North Pole experience at Wonderland. This Christmas event includes: 

• Christmas light tunnels
• Festive tree forest
• Holiday lights synchronized to music
• Elves
• Santa & Mrs. Claus
• Holidays around the world display
• Candy canes  

It is a fantastic family event. Tickets are per car, up to 8 people, and are $70. Early bird specials are $60. Have more than eight people? No problem. Vehicles with nine or more are $80 per vehicle.  

This event runs from November 30th to December 23rd. Wonderland is not open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It all reopens on December 26th and can be enjoyed through December 30th. Order your tickets online and then head for 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd. 

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park provides flood water removal services in Los Angeles. If we can help with any flooding, contact us at (213) 628-2000. We wish all our customers a very happy holiday. Stay healthy and safe.

Can You Prepare Kids for a Flood Damage Event in Boyle Heights?

10/31/2020 (Permalink)

For flood damage remediation, you can call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000.

Boyle Heights Residents Concerned about Family Safety after Flood Damage?

Boyle Heights is a diverse and vibrant community situated close to the Los Angeles River. These days the river flows through concrete channels built after catastrophic floods in the early 20th Century. Unfortunately, that does not mean residents are entirely safe from floods, as California still suffers from storms and flooding.

It is better to be prepared for possible flooding to your Boyle Heights home. Then if disaster does occur, it will not take you by surprise. One way to prepare is talking to your kids about flooding and what to do if it happens.

How can you prepare your kids for flooding?
The best way to prepare your kids for potential flood damage in Boyle Heights is to talk to them about it:
    •    Bring up the subject in a way that allows space for questions
    •    Talk in terms of how to stay calm and safe, so it is less frightening
    •    If you do not know the answer to a question, look it up together

You can also involve children (and the rest of your family) in flood preparedness activities such as:
    •    Having a grab and go bag ready for if you need it
    •    Storing valuable papers away from the floor and in watertight boxes
    •    Making sure you have pet medicine, food, toys, and carry cases ready to grab in an emergency
    •    Ensuring you have a stock of any regular medicines stored in watertight containers

What about protecting your home?
You cannot prevent a storm, but you can take steps to protect your home from the effects of one.

Make sure your home is structurally sound. If you have leaky windows or doors or a missing roof tile, take care of it now, before disaster strikes. You should also check your gutters and downpipes and make sure they are clear.

If you have a sump pump, ensure it is functioning correctly and have backup power. You should also check your yard – in the event of a flood, would the water run away from your house or toward? You can employ a landscape gardener to direct water away from your home.

Consider adding flood barrier seals or storm doors if storms are a particular concern. You might also make sandbags to protect your home in an emergency.

What should you do with flood-contaminated materials?
Flood water from storms is sometimes classified as blackwater, meaning it could contain dangerous contaminants, raw sewage, or dead animals or fish. That is why SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park recommends calling us immediately after a flood. Do not try to handle flood-damaged materials yourself.

There may be some cases where you can safely manage materials if you are confident the water is from heavy rain, not a flooded river. In that case, you can:

    •    Remove colored items such as books or magazines from rugs and carpets
    •    Remove sofa cushions and tent them to encourage drying
    •    Pick up bulky items like rugs, furs, sheepskin rugs, or leather clothes, and hang them to dry
    •    Blot water from surfaces using a mop and wipe down furniture with an absorbent cloth

It is essential to keep your kids away from flood-damaged areas and not let them play with flood-damaged toys. Our team will assess what is safe to keep, what is not safe, and what we can clean.

How can SERVPRO help?
We train our technicians to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards, so they are up to date on the latest and best flood remediation techniques.

We assess your home and contents to ascertain what is salvageable and to draw up a drying plan. Our assessment includes moisture level and humidity monitoring, which we continue to do throughout the remediation process.

Can SERVPRO clean your kids' favorite belongings?
Depending on the category of water and contamination level, it is possible to clean many kinds of belongings. We can wipe down plastic toys and furniture. We can use ultrasonic cleaning machines for many toys, soft toys, and textiles, or we can send them to our facility where we have Esporta hydraulic washing systems. We can also send clothes and shoes to our Esporta washers for a thorough but gentle cleaning process.

We can apply microbial treatments where needed to make items sanitary again.

When we have finished cleaning your home and belongings, we will deodorize to leave them fresh, “Like it never even happened.”

We understand that you are concerned about your family and their belongings. That is why we treat your loved ones and your possessions with the same care we treat our own.

For flood damage remediation, you can trust call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000.

How Does Moisture in Materials Get Resolved for Flooded Los Angeles Homes?

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Can Offer Storm Damaged Los Angeles Properties Water Extraction, Drying, Controlled Demolition, and Build Back--Just Call Us!

After a flood, water removal techniques can be vital to protect more of the damaged areas of your residence.

Flooding can present some immediate concerns for Los Angeles homes. When natural flooding is happening, these concerns often gravitate towards contaminants and cleaning, though with clean water events, this emergency can have disastrous impacts on a property. The fast movement of standing water and water flow from structural breaches can be the worst for the most sensitive materials installed in your house. Elements like drywall and carpeting, for as common as these are, can be among the hardest hit by flood conditions.

Removing water and other flood mitigation for Los Angeles homes and businesses does not exclusively refer to pooling on the property's floors. While standing water must get addressed with the appropriate mitigation equipment, trapped moisture can be just as destructive and detrimental to the house. Careful considerations must get made about the affected materials and the best approaches to remove moisture and trapped water. From concrete masonry units in the foundation or surrounding the crawlspace to gypsum and carpeting, our strategies vary based on the severity of the exposure.

Do Emergency Services Help?

The general contractors and qualified flood restoration technicians of our SERVPRO team can ensure that the right measures are taken immediately to protect your property best. Often this process involves several direct actions getting taken as soon as our professionals first arrive. Reducing the continued flooding of the property and the migration of floodwater is a focal point of any successful flood restoration strategy. The elements of these plans often include:

• Board Up – Structural concerns are not uncommon with flooding, especially when these conditions follow severe weather in the area that could break windows, remove siding, and leave other vulnerabilities. This phase of repair ensures that these damage points do not allow for further flood damage. 
• Tarping – Much like board-up services, tarping focuses on breaches to the roof, which can almost be expected when monsoon season damages the Greater Los Angeles area.
• Content Relocation – To many homeowners, personal belongings mean as much as the structure. Getting these items to a safe location during early flood mitigation can ensure that avoidable irreparable damage does not occur. 
• Controlled Demolition – General contractors from our roster can inspect the property for weaknesses and structural concerns that must get replaced. 

What Is the Difference Between Permeability and Porosity?

Regarding the drying and water removal efforts necessary to recover damaged contents and structural elements in a flood-damaged house, understanding specific terminology can help. Permeability and porosity both involve the movement of water through materials. Permeability is water's ability to move through a material, and certain elements vary in degrees of this permeance. Likewise, porosity gauges the composition of materials to determine the likelihood of absorption when exposed to water. There are three main degrees of porosity ratings for materials and contents:

• Porous – Materials like carpet and drywall allow the fast absorption of water when exposure occurs. These materials are also quickly irreparably damaged by oversaturation.
• Semi-Porous – Some materials can absorb water to the point of damage, but this does not happen immediately, such as exposed hardwood flooring.
• Non-Porous – Glass, tile, and similar materials are often impermeable for water. These materials cannot become damaged by absorbing water. 

What Are the Obstacles of Hygroscopic Materials?

Hygroscopic materials refer to a select grouping of structural elements that are highly permeable and porous, making them fast targets for floodwater exposure. Because of how quickly these surfaces and items can become damaged, a swift reaction from responding technicians can prevent the need for tear-out and reconstruction or replacement. While the finite timeline can be a substantial obstacle, these materials can often dry quickly with the right approaches, such as centrifugal air movers, dehumidifiers, and other equipment.

• Insulation
• Carpet
• Upholstery
• Fabrics

When Does Reconstruction Happen?

Reconstruction is often an inevitable outcome when restoring flood damages and effects on a house. Whether it is repairing the damage to a roof after torrential rainfall and compromising winds, or it is removing interior drywall and framing to replace it when these elements become oversaturated. With contractors (General Contractor License #: 999460)
California State License Board (CSLB) #: 999460) on our roster, we have building trade professionals that can begin these repairs and reconstruction needs when mitigation and restoration complete.

As challenging as water removal can be, understanding elements like porosity and permeability can ensure that the right equipment and strategies get implemented to restore the property as much as possible. Give our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team a call today at (213) 628-2000.

What is the Best Way to Get Flood Water Out of My Los Angeles Home?

5/29/2020 (Permalink)

We are available 24/7 for emergency service, and we send out a team in as little as four hours when you give us a call.

SERVPRO is Available in Los Angeles for Expert Flood Damage Restoration!

Flooding is rarely a situation that you can prepare for, especially when a storm comes in quickly and leaves your Los Angeles home with a copious amount of standing water. Any water loss situation brings a good deal of stress and chaos to your home, which is why contacting water restoration technicians (WRT) is usually the best option. SERVPRO can come to your home 24/7 to help ensure that your interior gets restored quickly to preloss condition, and you can get back to life as usual.

How Long Will Water Extraction Take?

When you call us for service, our team comes out to assess your flood damage in Los Angeles so that we can formulate an efficient plan for extraction and restoration. The length of time the project takes from start to finish depends significantly on the amount of water and the level of damage. We use IICRC-certified techniques that allow us to manage flood loss events of all types. Our crew chiefs are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In many cases, we can have a team on-site and ready to start work in as little as four hours or less.

What Tools Do You Bring to the Job?

Our Green Fleet is loaded with advanced tools, equipment, and cleaning agents that allow us to expedite each flood loss project. Some of the tools that we use most in jobs include:

    •    Extraction Equipment: Submersible pumps are helpful when we need to remove water from targeted areas within your home. Truck-mounted water extraction tools are perfect when dealing with a situation that calls for hundreds of gallons of water to be removed.
    •    Air Moving Equipment: Air-moving technology like industrial-strength fans and air movers are critical on each water loss job. This equipment helps to ensure air flows over your furniture and flooring to speed up water evaporation. Our team repositions our air mover tools as needed throughout the project to ensure maximum efficiency.
    •    Dehumidification Equipment: A series of dehumidifiers of industrial-grade help to pull up excess moisture from the air in your home, which helps to lower humidity levels. The dehumidifiers work in unison with air movers and fans to keep secondary damage from happening to your floors, furniture, and walls.

What is a Controlled Demolition?

There are times with a flood damage project when controlled demolition is necessary. This process allows us to not only remove damaged building materials, but it also helps us to locate hidden pockets of pooled water or moisture. Water from a flood often becomes absorbed and encapsulated in woodwork, flooring, and walls. Instead of leaving it to chance and allowing it to dry over time, we have a range of strategies to get to the heart of the matter:

    •    Flood cuts can be made several inches over the waterline when you have saturated drywall
    •    Holes can be drilled in masonry mortar joints
    •    Baseboards can be removed, and holes may be drilled into the bottom of walls, which allows us to force air in for expedient drying
    •    Strips of hardwood floors or wood panels can be loosened to enhance drying

We Carefully Follow Water Migration

Something many homeowners are unaware of is that water often migrates into other areas than the flood loss zone. For us to execute a flawless project, our skilled technicians take the time to follow the path of potential water migration. This helps us to ensure that no further damage takes place with your building materials and that we inhibit dangerous mold and mildew growth.

    •    Water never remains static once it enters into your home
    •    Water begins seeping, percolating, and flowing throughout building materials and cavities

Why Can’t I Perform Flood Water Removal On My Own?

Whenever your Los Angeles home takes on floodwater, various elements like solid waste, mud, silt, and other debris is often present. Our trained water restoration technicians (WRT) have rakes and other hand tools that allow us to remove solids found in the water quickly. The powerful truck-mounted extractor tool is also helpful for removing water that is mixed with debris. Trash pumps can quickly pull out both water and solids rapidly, while submersible pumps help wrap up the rest of the water removal if the level is higher than two inches in depth.

To ensure safety, our skilled technicians always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while removing and cleaning up floodwater. Treatment of the water with a disinfectant prior to removal is also common practice to further increase protection from various biological agents.

Remember that flood damage does not have to be stressful, which is why it is best to contact our team at SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park when you need help. We are available 24/7 for emergency service, and we send out a team in as little as four hours when you give us a call at (213) 628-2000.

Can SERVPRO Evaluate My Silver Lake Home's Risk Of Flood Damage?

4/25/2020 (Permalink)

Every home has different risks and damage hotspots in a major storm.

SERVPRO Can Help With Your Homes Risks. 

Every home has different risks and damage hotspots in a major storm. Your home is likely very different from that of your neighbor, even if they share the same floor plan. Perhaps the most pronounced differences in Silver Lake often come in the form of flood damage, as homes in very close proximity to each other can have vastly different levels of flood risk and potential for damage. To determine if your home is at high risk for flooding you likely need to contact an expert like SERVPRO, but for a quick evaluation, check for these potential indicators.

Low Relative Elevation

The largest deciding factor in whether or not your Silver Lake home is at risk for flood damage in a storm is its elevation relative to surrounding homes. Is your home at a somewhat lower elevation than most of the neighborhood? Even if it is on higher ground, you may also be placed at risk by proximity to dips and potential waterways in a major rainstorm. Ideally, your home should be on high ground or the slope of a hill to be at the lowest possible flood damage risk.

Construction Quality And Materials

Not all homes are built alike. If your home was built of quality materials and solid construction, it is likely to weather a flood much better than a home of somewhat shoddier build quality. Be honest with yourself and with any appraiser, as any attempt to make your home out as anything other than what it truly is could give you a false sense of security and complacency.

Natural And Artificial Barriers

Strong barriers around your home can significantly reduce the chance of floodwaters reaching your doorstep. Even if your home does get flooded, barriers can help to interrupt the flow of water and decrease the severity of flooding in your home. Look around your home for potential barriers, and use your judgment to determine if they actually may stop a flood.

When things go south, SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is ready to respond within hours of your first call. Contact us 24/7 at (213) 628-2000.

Click here for more about the city of Silver Lake.

Will Flooding Cause Secondary Damages To My Los Angeles Property?

4/22/2020 (Permalink)

In the event that your home is affected by flooding, contact SERVPRO to efficiently dry out your property.

How to Fight Against Flood Damage in Los Angeles

Floods that are out of your control can wreak havoc on your possessions and property. Unfortunately, cleaning up the mess is your responsibility. Whether it is an overflowing road, a result of heavy rainfall or a natural disaster the harm caused to your home can be hard to fix yourself.

We serve hundreds of homeowners suffering from flood damage in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. Using up to the minute techniques and over thirty years of experience means we can get your home back to how it was with minimum fuss. "Like it never even happened."

The first step on the road to recovery is removing any excess water. We can do this using a portable extractor for smaller affected areas and truck-mounted pumps for larger jobs. When flooding occurs, the water itself can become contaminated by raw sewage, pesticides or any other toxins that come into contact with it.

Water that has become contaminated is referred to as black water and requires a sustained sanitization effort to ensure comprehensive restoration. The reason black water is so severe is that any remnants left behind can become breeding grounds for bacteria, produce unpleasant odors or encourage mold growth.

We have the expertise and equipment to remove areas of drywall, clear contamination as well as deep cleaning your contents at a specialized facility. In situations where a pack-out is the only way to restore your possessions to their pre loss conditions, we utilize Esporta washing machines that are capable of restoring items you may have thought were beyond repair.

After flood damage, the last thing you want is secondary damages. These can occur by leaving behind moisture or overlooking areas where contaminated water may reside after extraction. To ensure a thorough cleaning procedure, we use wet/dry vacuums and cleaning wands for targeted drying and sanitization. We can restore your indoor air quality by using ozone generators or chemical foggers to remove, neutralize and clear odors away.

Get a professional cleanup service today by calling SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park 24 hours a day at (213) 628-2000.

Click here for more information on the city of Los Angeles.

Flood Damage in Los Angeles

4/10/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park for assistance after a flood.

Who Makes Repairs from Flood Damage in Los Angeles

Floodwaters washing through a home can do a tremendous amount of damage in a manner of minutes. Floors and walls are coated with mud and debris, the furniture is ruined, and even the heating system is contaminated. The home must be cleaned and repaired, requiring many different skill sets and tradespeople.

SERVPRO has many years of experience providing flood damage services in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Many of our clients are overwhelmed at the damage and wonder how can their families ever recover. Not only does the home have to be cleaned, de-sanitized, it also must be repaired. We provide a one-stop shop for disaster recovery. This includes:

    •    Debris removal
    •    Cleaning, sanitization and applying EPA approved disinfectants
    •    HVAC cleaning and repair or replacement
    •    Electrical system verification and repair
    •    Damaged structure repairs such as walls, windows, and doors
    •    Drywall installation and painting
    •    Flooring replacement – tile, hardwood, carpeting

SERVPRO possesses general contractor licenses: 999460, CSLB: 999460. Our team is a one-stop-shop that can complete and coordinate all of the work needed to restore your home to its original condition, “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park for assistance after a flood. Call us at (213) 628-2000. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

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Recovering From Flash Flood Damage In Los Angeles

3/21/2020 (Permalink)

No matter how we can help, give our emergency response team a call 24/7 at (213) 628-2000.

Recovering Flash Flood Damage to Your Los Angeles Home

Fierce storms that hit the Los Angeles area can quickly deposit an inch or more of rain over a matter of hours. That level of rainfall on the otherwise dry ground can be ideal conditions for flash flooding, as the earth does not have the time and opportunity to absorb the precipitation before it becomes a hazard to homes and businesses in its migration path. Flash floods can damage residences throughout the area severely, but our SERVPRO team can help with a fast and confident response.

Knowing how to help recover flood damage to Los Angeles homes is vital to restoring area properties after natural disasters. Restoration companies pop up around every corner when the city gets hit with widespread flooding concerns, but restoring and recovering your home or apartment after a flood involves more than some extractors and drying tools. Our professionals have extensive hands-on experience and continual education in water restoration and structural drying to provide skilled labor amid an emergency.

Muck-Out Cleaning
Even without standing water concerns, flash flooding can leave debris and mud throughout the lowest level of your property. Shoveling out heaps of this muck and debris can allow our teams to better clean exposed surfaces and improve the efficiency of later drying efforts. Much like fire debris removal, muck-outs can reduce the severity and concentration of airborne contaminants and threats as well.

Controlled Demolition
With multiple drying decisions that must happen as soon as our SERVPRO team arrives at your home, choices most likely get made regarding controlled demolition as well. With exposed drywall and other porous materials, it can often be more cost-effective to remove and replace rather than waste time drying.

Drying your home after a flood cannot happen without the emergency services provided by our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team. We have many technicians and tools that can help to make flood losses “Like it never even happened.” No matter how we can help, give our emergency response team a call 24/7 at (213) 628-2000.

For more about Los Angeles click here.

Risks After Flood Damage to Your Los Angeles Home

2/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is quick to get your flood damage under control in Los Angeles.

Safety is Priority After Floods Occur In Los Angeles

Los Angeles, because of its unique location in between the Pacific Ocean and the San Gabriel Mountains, is prone to flash floods caused by storms coming off of the Pacific Ocean hitting the mountains. After the floodwater recedes, homeowners have the business of cleaning up as fast as possible to make sure there is no secondary damage like warped walls, flooring, or dangerous mold infestations. 

Flood damage in your Los Angeles home requires special clean-up and care to ensure full restoration to preflood conditions. There are also health and safety concerns that you need to take into consideration as floodwater is classified as black water, or category three, contaminated water, requiring special handling. 

SERVPRO flood restoration specialists (General Contractor #999460) complete a hazard assessment to identify the safety risks and to implement controls of said risks. Some potential hazards after a flood include; overhead threats like ceilings that could collapse, the potential for electrical shock, slip and fall, contaminated water, and, most importantly, occupant safety. Some of these risks, such as slip and fall, are easier to mitigate than others, but all require serious attention.

There is a hierarchy of control for hazards. Most effectively, the hazard is eliminated, or a safer method works in substitution. For example, disabling electricity in a structure eliminates electrical hazards and creates a safer work environment. Another control is to design or engineer the work environment to avoid the hazard. In the case of a slip and fall hazard, an engineering control might be the use of walk-off mats; a simple, yet effective, solution. 

There are ways to administratively avoid hazards like completing second-floor work before first-floor work if there is an overhead hazard. The last control available is personal protective equipment (PPE); this means workers may wear a barrier to limit exposure to a hazard. PPE includes gloves, protective clothing, and masks worn to prevent skin exposure to contaminants such as black water or harsh cleaning solutions containing bleach and other chemicals. 

Hazard assessment and risk mitigation is just one of the first steps to restoration after a flood. Cleaning, drying, and repairing structural damage are also vital steps in the process. The SERVPRO goal is to make it "Like it never even happened." 

Contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 for 24/7 assistance. 

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How SERVPRO Restores Flood Damaged Homes in Los Angeles

12/18/2019 (Permalink)

Did the recent storms cause water to enter your home? SERVPRO to the rescue! We have what it takes to restore your home.

Measuring Success in Storm Flood Damage Restoration for Los Angeles Residents

Responding in the right way to a property emergency can make all the difference when it comes to avoiding permanent losses. Violent weather can threaten your home in several ways by causing physical damage to doors or windows, overloading drainage systems, or flooding the lower levels of your home. These damages can feel overwhelming, and failure to address invisible as well as visible issues could result in secondary damages. SERVPRO designs our teams to respond quickly during an emergency to counter unexpected situations with calm, methodical restoration.

The impact of storm flood damage in Los Angeles may affect your property or your entire street. Depending on the type of emergency, our team can re-secure your home or work with construction teams to rebuild it after severe harm. One essential part of a restorer's role is to keep secondary losses to a minimum.

Knowing the extent of floodwater migration and the moisture content of your possessions is crucial to performing a restoration. Moisture sensors are useful in detecting the moisture content of wet fabrics. Using the sharp prongs of a moisture sensor, SERVPRO technicians can gain an accurate picture of water migration and knowing whether the subfloor pad is affected, or the subfloor underneath has a seismic impact on restoration. Failure to address a sodden infrastructure could cause a wealth of secondary issues to occur, like mold growth or rot.

For hardwood flooring as well as contents, our team uses a different piece of equipment. Moisture meters are like sensors but use probes or measure conductivity to access moisture content inside materials accurately. We may use these on walls, crawlspaces, or to assess floorboard conditions. To get a general picture of how effective the drying program is, SERVPRO can measure humidity levels in the property using a thermal hygrometer.

Consistently measuring the impact and moisture levels of your property is key to a successful restoration. Contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000.

More about Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Properties Suffer Flooding! SERVPRO Has the Solutions for Restoration

8/21/2019 (Permalink)

Storms and Flood Cuts during SERVPRO's Cleanup and Restoration Service in Los Angeles

Extreme Flood Damage to Los Angeles Home

Sometimes the amount of water is not the most damaging element in a flood damage situation. There are three main types of water gauged by the amount of contamination, and the more extended period clean water sits, the more contaminated it becomes, which increases the amount of loss to the home. After 48 hours, water carries a rating as black water, a category three biohazard.

SERVPRO worked on flood damage to a Los Angeles home caused by intense storms. The roof on the home received damage from both wind and hail, and rainwater poured into the attic. Much of the affected areas and objects would have been restorable except for one thing: the homeowner was on vacation when it happened and arrived home to a huge, smelly mess.

After consulting with her adjuster, the homeowner contacted our SERVPRO location, and we were on-site within an hour to begin water extraction and cleanup efforts. Our technicians tarped over the areas of the roof, so no further water entered the property. Due to the amount of time the water sat in the attic, the cleaning and reuse of the fiberglass insulation was not a possibility in this case.

Water migrated from the attic through the floor joists and into the ceiling of the floor below. We performed the following actions to prep the affected rooms for drying and in some areas, reconstruction.
?    Our Water Restoration Technicians drilled weep holes in the ceiling to allow for both drainage and airflow during drying.
?    Numerous areas of the ceiling sheetrock required removal due to buckling and warping from the excessive moisture.
?    We used air movers to lower the humidity in the damaged areas quickly

After drying and disinfecting the property, SERVPRO technicians compiled a report for the homeowner of the actions taken during cleanup and restoration. We also made a list of the necessary repairs needed to return the home to its preloss condition. As we hold a contractor's license #999460, we can offer homeowners assistance with reconstruction to make the restoration process seamless and less stressful.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park helps local property owners with flood damage whenever you need us, day or night. Call us at (213) 628-2000, and we arrive on-site within an hour because We're Faster to Any Size Disaster.

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It's Raining, It's Pouring....In My Silver Lake Living Room...

5/30/2019 (Permalink)

Don't let water damage cause stress. Call SERVPRO for fast remediation.

Get Fast Flood Damage Restoration for Your Silver Lake Home to Prevent Further Destruction

Flooding is frequent and occurs because of several reasons like storm surges, broken reservoirs, and heavy rains. Flood water is dirty and can bring several hazardous contaminants into your home like toxic waste, sewage, chemical pollutants, and infectious bacteria or fungi. All these pollutants can pose health risks.  

After the flood water enters your home, another risk you may face is mold growth in your drywall, wooden beams, and any other place with adequate moisture. If your Silver Lake home has flood damage, you need to act fast by calling SERVPRO franchise professionals. Our restoration service can recover your property through applied structural drying (ASD). We use flood damage restoration techniques that extend beyond getting the water out of a home.  

When a home has flooded, our priority is removing water from it using powerful extraction equipment like pumps. Our technicians extract as much water as possible to speed up the drying process. Water damaged homes require a higher rate of continuous and fresh air flow. A majority of home ventilation systems do not move the volume of air needed to support the drying process and prevent the further migration of moisture. That’s the reason why we use air movers to circulate air all over a home.  

Removing humidity from the air inside a water-damaged home is as crucial as extracting standing water. High humidity can infiltrate your entire home, causing secondary damage like mold growth. Using refrigerant based dehumidifiers to condense water vapor or silica gel desiccants to absorb it eliminates damaging indoor humidity. The temperatures should not be too high or too low to dry a home effectively. Our SERVPRO technicians maintain an indoor temperature between 70 and 90 degrees since this is the optimal range for using water extraction and humidity reduction technology effectively. ASD accomplishes the goal of restoring a home to its preloss condition quickly while preserving the integrity of vital building materials.  

If your home has flood damage, call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park immediately at (213) 628-2000. Our technicians can arrive at your home soon after receiving your call and work quickly to prevent further damage. We’re available 24/7/365 and can restore your home to its preloss condition fast.

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Silver Lake Flooding and Rebuilding Needs? Try SERVPRO for Complete Recovery

5/9/2019 (Permalink)

Flooding Disaster at Your Silver Lake Home? SERVPRO Does It All--Cleanup to Reconstruction-"Like it never even happened."

Flood Damage and How it Can Affect a House in Silver Lake

Because water can permeate almost anything with even the smallest sized pores, any amount of intrusive water can cause harm to a house in Silver Lake beyond the areas that initially became saturated. Moisture can end up through an entire home, including on higher levels when water vapor leaves condensation on objects and surfaces.

When SERVPRO mitigates a property in Silver Lake of flood damage, we include all of the aspects that affect that property. Because electrical systems can become dangerous to use after a flood, we can bring our power supply. We also partner with certified electricians to ensure that your power works safely and correctly before we finish the work and you return home.

Other areas of your home that can sustain damage include the structure and framework. We check to determine the degree of structural damage and discuss with you any additional work that your house might require. Some structural shifting that occurs can continue to increase while other changes might only affect a home temporarily or revert back to normal within a short time. Such changes can affect any newly installed drywall and cause gaps and breaks in the interior of a newly restored home.

Beams can also warp and twist when wet, which makes it crucial that we use the right equipment to dry these out thoroughly. However, this starts with buckets to carry out any mud and other solid or semi-solid debris that covers your house's floors. Then we begin pulling out flooring and affected walls. Furniture that the flood destroyed also gets moved out of your home. Then we can bring in the big air movers and the desiccant machines.

One the interior structure becomes dry, and no more shifting seems likely, we can install new drywall and flooring, making your home that much closer to how we want it before your family moves back in. We finish with painting and deodorization, and a final walk-through with you.

After flood damage affects your home in Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, or Elysian Park, partner with SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park to restore your home and make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us at (213) 628-2000, our 24/7 service line to get things started.

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Los Angeles Property Owners Know SERVPRO Offers Fast Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration

4/23/2019 (Permalink)

No, Not a House in Los Angeles after Flood Restoration from SERVPRO--But Just as Dry!

From Drought to Flood Damage in a Los Angeles Home

After suffering a long period of drought that is finally ending, this area of California is especially vulnerable to flood damage. When heavy rains or the Fox River crests, the ground is hard and does not absorb water as quickly which leads to flash flooding in the area.

SERVPRO was contacted one evening to mitigate flood damage in a Los Angeles home. After a severe thunderstorm had caused a patio umbrella that had been inadvertently left open caught a gust of wind and wound up crashing through a patio door while the homeowner was at work. When the homeowner entered his house, he saw the rain had come in a section of the living room, saturating the carpet.

We are based locally and were able to be on site quickly to start the cleanup. First, we applied a tarp over the broken patio door so no further rain would penetrate the home until the homeowner could schedule the repair to be done.
When carpet suffers a water intrusion, the amount of moisture it retains can be deceptive. Carpet padding is notorious for wicking moisture and unless property dried, can be a source of both mold and foul odors. We use soft probes to determine how far into the padding the moisture has penetrated. We also use common sense and experience.

We used weighted extractors to push as much water as possible out of the carpet, and we often do several passes to ensure we have removed all we can before drying. We were using air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the area quickly. Particular attention was given to the carpet, and the edges were loosened and an air mover directed under the carpet and over the padding to pull any remaining moisture out for thorough drying. This skill is known as "floating a carpet," and dries the floor covering in place. Once dry, all surfaces were cleaned and deodorized to remove any residual odors.

When flood damage threatens your home, call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park any time of the day or night at (213) 628-2000. Our local technicians arrive "Faster To Any Size Disaster to restore your home to its preloss condition.

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Some of the Worst Flood Damage Remediation Mistakes in Los Angeles and What They Will Cost You

12/16/2018 (Permalink)

Having a blueprint or layout to your home can help with floodwater removal and restoration. Contact SERVPRO for remediation services.

Two Important Factors That Can Change How SERVPRO Approaches Flood Removal in Los Angeles

Flood removal from a Los Angeles home should be fast and thorough. The longer you allow water to remain in your home, the more damage it can cause later on. SERVPRO stands ready around the clock to send out teams of trained mitigation professionals to local homeowners in need. Once at your home, our crews immediately set to work evaluating the problem and removing as much water as they can within the first few hours of work. Many factors exist that go into our water extraction work, but a few constant factors can be relied on to determine our response to the problem.

Volume of Water
Regardless of how much water entered your home in Los Angeles, we need to remove the flood waters within a few hours of your call to prevent further damage. For smaller homes dealing with less water, a single crew with standard portable extraction equipment may be appropriate. However, as the job scales upwards, we are required to bring in more and more machinery and manpower to pump out all the water in time. In extreme cases, as with a large mansion or apartment complex, we may need to use multiple truck-mounted pumps to remove the water. Try to let us know over the phone how big the problem is so we can arrive with the appropriate equipment in tow.

Building Layout
Everything about your property can help or harm the restoration process in different ways. If your home has a basement or sizable low-lying area, this can collect water quickly and make water extraction more difficult. If the damage is centered in a room behind many hallways and doors, this can add another layer of complexity to our work. If possible, provide our technicians with blueprints, plans, and other documents related to your home so that they can not only extract water faster, but also locate critical features such as water mains, electrical breakers, and valves.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is there to help with flood damage in your home. Call us at (323) 255-1000 to request or learn more about our services.

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Understanding The Real Risks of Flood Damage To Your Los Angeles Home

6/28/2018 (Permalink)

Los Angeles Property Owners Rely on SERVPRO for Stormwater Removal and Cleanup

Water Damage Does Happen in Los Angeles Properties After Storms

Among all of the natural disasters that tend to pose risks for Los Angeles homeowners, flooding is often not considered among the top of this list. What you might get surprised to learn is that it can and does happen often enough to make it something you should try to prevent in your house if possible. Many times, the construction of your home has included provisions to prevent the intrusion of water from the outside both in the blockwork of your foundation and it exterior area. However, these defenses wear and degrade over time.

Many homeowners are not aware that their house is at risk for possible flooding until the water is pouring into cracks and gaps in the foundation and filling up the lower levels of their home. Flood damages to your Los Angeles home require immediate attention and are rarely something that you can contend with on your own. The best choice to make is to seek out professional restoration services to help you stop the flooding, mitigate potential secondary water damage, and restore the harm that it has caused.

Our SERVPRO professionals work to quickly stop the flow of water through the blockwork in your home by applying hydraulic cement to these compromised areas. This process stops the leakage and can allow our technicians to get to work on extracting the present pooling water.

Depending on the severity of the volume of water, our professionals can utilize portable sump pumps or wet-vacs with extraction wands, but more severe damage requires a pump truck from our SERVPRO fleet. Once the water has gotten removed, and this could be in a matter of hours or days, the team can focus their efforts on the best approach to dry the area and prepare it for the remaining stages of restoration.

While flooding is something that you might not actively prepare for around where you live, it just might surprise you how often it can occur. Have a plan in place to get the damage restored quickly. If you already are experiencing flood or water damages, trust our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park to help you clean up the mess efficiently. Give us a call today at (323) 255-1000.

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Seaside City Homes Have a Greater Chance for Flood Damage Due to Seasonal Storms

6/11/2018 (Permalink)

Los Angeles Residents Get the Red Carpet Treatment from SERVPRO Regarding Flood Damage Cleanup and Restoration

Reduce Flooding Effects by Calling SERVPRO for Fast Extraction and Drying

The action of founding a city on the coast automatically causes the risk of flood damage resulting from intense storms to rise. California is no stranger to intense storms from the Pacific Ocean. However, this does not mean that you should sell your home and move inland to avoid any possible home-damage. Doing what you can to prevent damage to your home is one of the soundest things you can do in the beginning; for example, if you know your roof has a spot that is getting weaker as it ages, having it fixed as soon as possible is a helpful way to prevent further loss during a storm.
 
Being smart about preventative measures is not the only thing you can do for the benefit of your Los Angeles home when something like flood damage occurs. A severe storm can roll in from the ocean, and the intense winds can cause debris to break a window, allowing water to seep into your home. Despite your best efforts, there are things you cannot prevent and the best way to ensure the longevity of your home is to call for help as soon as possible.
 
Once you call, our top priority at SERVPRO is to get a team of our IICRC-certified technicians to your home. The first thing we can do upon arriving is investigated the water and let you know if it is safe to be around. Sometimes storms can cause chemicals and harmful bacteria to leach into the water. When this occurs, the water is not safe for human contact.
 
SERVPRO starts the remediation of the flood damage in your home by removing the excess water with tools like extractors and portable pumps. After the water is gone, we can do general cleanup and throw away any carpets that have been contaminated by black water, as their safety cannot be guaranteed. After cleaning, SERVPRO can bring more trade tools in to dry out any excessively moist areas of your home, so further damage to your home is blocked.
 
Do not stop to consider your options when your home suffers flood damage. Reach out to SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park by phoning (323) 255-1000. We strive to get the water out fast and return your home to its pre-flood state.

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Why You Should Call For Professionals Immediately After Your Los Angeles Home Suffers Flood Damage

5/31/2018 (Permalink)

Flooding can affect any part of your home. Contact SERVPRO immediately for great service and best results.

SERVPRO Quickly Remediates Flooding in Your Home

When a storm hits your home and causes flood damage the night before you are due to return from a work-related trip, it can leave you in a panic. Finding your bedroom, bathroom, and hallway flooded with inches of water is never a good thing. The harsh winds of a storm can easily blow a window open and leave your home susceptible to damage.
 
When you find your Los Angeles home suffering from flood damage, it is imperative for you to reach out for help immediately. As the water has already been sitting for a night, the damage has had plenty of time to grow worse; leaving it any longer is inviting unwanted additional damage, such as mold. The structure of your home can grow weaker over time, and the carpet can become ultra-soaked, leaving the floor underneath constantly exposed to moisture. Not only is the structure of your home in danger, but your belongings too.
 
When you call SERVPRO, we make it our goal to arrive at your residence as soon as possible. Our skilled techs can bring trade tools with them that help accelerate the process of the water removal. Equipment like extractors, portable submersible pumps, and wet/dry vacuums were all designed to draw water out as quickly as possible. Depending on the volume of water that SERVPRO needs to remove from your home, some of our tools can even be truck mounted and operated.
 
After removing the water, our next goal is to deal with the excessive moisture the flood damage left behind. We can set up more equipment to dry out the floors and your belongings, including dehumidifiers and ventilation box fans. Because the water sat for a night, we can even spray disinfectant and antifungal agents to help prevent mold growth.
 
If water has invaded your home during a storm and caused flood damage, do not consider your options. Dial (323) 255-1000 to contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park. Time is everything in these situations.

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Flood Damage Issues In Los Angeles

3/29/2018 (Permalink)

When the Storm Clouds Leave Unwanted Water in Your Los Angeles Property--Call SERVPRO

Water Extraction, Decontamination, Drying, and Deodorizing Are Offered by SERVPRO'S Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration

Whenever horrible weather comes into the area, there are many ways that your Los Angeles condominium gets damaged. Sometimes excessive rains flood the area causing water to enter the ground level floor through bottom door seals. Other times high-speed winds cause rocks, branches, or other objects to break holes in windows or exterior walls that allow water to enter a structure.
 
Rainwater coming in from the outside may have a high contamination level. SERVPRO's flood damage technicians in Los Angeles test the water to see if it is contaminated or not. If the water has a high contamination level, then most porous materials get replaced. If the contamination level is low, then sometimes the problem gets mitigated through drying and deodorization.
 
After all of the water gets extracted using specialized equipment, the drying procedure begins. Using structural drying equipment helps us create the ideal environment for water evaporation and drying. Air movers get set up inside the affected area and push air in a circular motion that replaces moist air with dry air. The air movers speed up the process of water evaporating from inside materials and contents by pushing the moisture into the air.
 
Meanwhile, a dehumidification system gets set up to pull water out of the air lowering the room's relative humidity. If a building has an indoor relative humidity of 60% or higher, then dehumidifiers get used to lower the humidity percentage. Different types of dehumidifiers get used in various situations.
 
Refrigerant dehumidifiers lower humidity by pushing air through a set of refrigerated coils. As the moist air inside the machine cools, water condenses and drops out of the air. A desiccant dehumidifier pushes air over unique materials such as silica gel. The gel attracts and captures water molecules pulling them from the air.
 
Refrigerant dehumidifiers dispose of water by dropping it into a collection tray that sits below the refrigerated coils. The liquid then gets drained or pumped out of the dehumidifier's collection tray and gets disposed of in a sewer drain. Desiccant dehumidifiers use heat to evaporate water out of the silica gel. The moist air is then vented and pumped outside of the building.
 
Desiccant systems can drop humidity levels to much lower grains per pound values than refrigerant systems do. However, sometimes desiccant dehumidifiers drop the relative humidity level too much causing wood inside the home to crack. Dehumidification is an exacting technique that our technicians are well-versed in for attaining positive results.

For professional help with damage created by a flood or severe rainstorm call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (323) 255-1000 any time of the day, any day of the week.

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Answers to Flood Damage on Your Los Angeles Area Property

3/2/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's IICRC certified technicians can perform a full inspection of the flood damage in your home and advise you in the right direction.

SERVPRO Can Safely and Thoroughly Remediate Flood Damage

Naturally, as soon as water, storm, or flood damage occurs on your Los Angeles area property, you want to take immediate action to rectify the situation. However, you might not understand that while your initial choices might give you a first-hand view of the condition of your home, walking on, touching, or moving items can lead to additional damage or even injury.

After experiencing flood damage in your Los Angeles home, it is imperative for you to contact your insurance agent and call for help before re-entering your home. Next, make sure to call an IICRC-industry certified restoration company that can provide you with the personnel, equipment, and resources necessary to address a variety of situations that may exist in your home.

SERVPRO’s expertly trained technicians can perform a full inspection of your property and help you avoid taking unnecessary risks. We help you make intelligent, informed decisions regarding the direction you should take to protect your home correctly and perform flood damage mitigation services that help make your house a home again.

SERVPRO technicians ensure the safety of your property, helping you avoid common hazards or contaminants that often accompany flood water in your home. We wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, boots, eyewear, and respirators, use high-performance water extractors, hygrometers, dehumidifiers, advanced drying techniques, along with cleaning and fogging equipment.

SERVPRO puts customer satisfaction first, providing professional cleaning and restoration services you can trust. Whether a flood affects a single room or your entire structure, we can return your home to a quality preloss condition you and your family can enjoy. Our entire team takes pride in providing you with the answers and services necessary to get you back on track after an emergency strikes.

Visit SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park for full-service solutions throughout Elysian Park, Boyle Heights, and Chinatown. We serve everyone in our local community, proudly providing emergency response services 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Call today for an answer to all of your cleaning and restoration needs. (323) 255-1000

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Hurricane Harvey--Storm Damage Help from SERVPRO

9/27/2017 (Permalink)

Hurricane Harvey Water Removal and Restoration by SERVPRO

Storm Water Removal and Restoration Testimonial After Texas Hurricane

Hurricane Harvey left many homeowners in the Southeast area of Texas with flooded properties, destroyed belongings and no power. Our SERVPRO team answered the call for help and drove out 22 hours straight from Southern California to assist our distant neighbors. We are proud to be part of SERVPRO's Disaster Recovery Team and travel far and wide to natural disasters. Below is a verbatim testimonial that illustrates the value of helping others in their time of need.

Testimonial of David Holloman 9/26/17

Describe your experience during Hurricane Harvey.

My family and I moved to Texas about three years ago. We lived in the Carolinas before for about 15 years. We heard about the storm coming and how flooding occurred in our areas. I felt alright for having insurance. That night was something else though. We lived in a one-floor house when the water started to drift inside. Our neighbor fled his home because he had two young children, but left us his key. The water really started to rise to our knees, and so we went to his house on the 2nd floor.  I have never experienced a flood before, and I hope I never will again.

How did you hear about our company?
I heard about the Company SERVPRO from an adjuster I was working with. I called corporation to find a franchise to work on my property.

What was the reason that you chose us?
I received a call from the owner Bert of this SERVPRO, and I decided to hire his team. He was very welcoming when he answered the phone call. I was dealing with a tough time, so it was nice to hear some positive attitude.

Tell me what your experience has been with our products/services?  
The whole experience was very depressing. My family and I have been going through a hard time losing most of our things. On the brighter side, we have new drywall up, and we are expected to move back in the next 6-8 weeks. The crew was very considerate and passionate of our situation. I felt very comfortable with the crew chief Jake. He answered all my questions to the best knowledge he could.

Can you think of a word or phrase that best describes your relationship with us?  HELPFUL.

Why that particular word or phrase? These workers drove out 22 hours to help a state in need. I'm very grateful for their service.

Would you recommend us to someone else?
Absolutely.

If someone called you and said "Why should I do business with SERVPRO," what would you tell them?
The company works right with your insurance which takes a lot of pressure off of the customer. No one can plan a disaster such as a flood, so it's nice to know that there are companies to help like SERVPRO.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park not only restores storm-damaged homes in our local area of Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Los Angeles, but we range far afield to help others in need. Just contact us 24/7/365 to hear a friendly voice and positive action. (323) 255-1000