What are Ice Dams?

2/4/2019 (Permalink)

Ice dams in Columbia, Missouri.

Ice dams form when:

• Snow is present on the roof.
• Temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit on higher portion of the roof.
• Temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit on lower portion of the roof.

Snow melts down the roof and freezes once it reaches the cooler portion of the roof. The dam grows from the melting snow and water begins to back up on top of the ice. The water tries to find a way to escape and backflows under the roof’s shingles and into the structure’s interior.

Ice dams can cause significant water damage to ceilings, walls, insulation, and other areas of your home. If your home or business has been affected by winter damage, call SERVPRO® of Columbia. We are here to help those in our Boone and Howard communities.

Water Restoration Process in Columbia

11/27/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbia is ready to restore your property to pre-water damage condition.

Every water damage is a little different, and entails a unique solution. However, the general process of a water damage stays the same. Listed below are the steps for a typical water damage emergency.

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Cleanup and restoration begin with a phone call. We have a representative to answer your phone call 24/7/365. They will lead you through several questions to better understand your needs of the water event.

Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Our SERVPRO professional completes a detailed inspection of your property and determine the scope of the damage.

Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction

This step removes the majority of the water from your home or business.

Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification

SERVPRO of Columbia professionals will manipulate temperature and relative humidity to remove the remaining moisture. Daily monitoring will occur until the materials reach an acceptable drying goal.

Step 5: Cleaning and Sanitizing

Walls, floors, and other surfaces of the property will likely need professional cleaning treatments once the area is dry. Restoring contents, odor removal and deodorization, and sanitizing treatments occur during this step.

Step 6: Restoration

This is the final step in the process of restoring your property to its pre-water damage condition.

Dos & Don’ts when Faced with a Water Damage in Columbia

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Columbia when you are faced with a water damage.

Imagine, you come home from a long day of work and are ready to relax and unwind. You head downstairs to grab some food from the freezer for dinner and notice all the water in your newly remodeled basement. Not the relaxing evening you were imagining. What do you do? 

DO:

• Call your local restoration professionals at SERVPRO® of Columbia.
• Find the source of the water and shut it off, if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the source of the water.
• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building, when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.

DON’T:

• Enter rooms with standing water where electrical hazards may exist.
• Enter affected areas if electrical equipment, electrical outlets, circuit breakers, or switches are exposed to water.
• Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water. It could possibly cause electrical shock or damage to the vacuum.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
• Leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpets or floors. They may cause staining.

If you experience a water damage in your home or business, call SERVPRO® of Columbia. We cover Boone and Howard counties. Our professional technicians are trained and understand how to manage the drying process. We never expect a water damage to happen, but if it does, call the team that can make it “Like it never even happened.”

Sewer Backups in Columbia, Ashland, and Centralia

4/2/2018 (Permalink)

Have you experienced a sewer backup? Contact the professionals at SERVPRO of Columbia to make it "Like it never even happened."

Sewer Backup—What is It and Am I Covered?

A sewer backup occurs when sewage from sanitary sewer lines back up into homes and businesses through drain pipes. Backups create damage to the structure of the property, contents, and can create health hazards.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, most homeowner and business insurance policies do not cover sewer backup. Typically, a specific sewer backup coverage needs to be added to your policy. For most insurers, this is a nominal cost on your annual insurance policy.

There are several causes for a sewer backup to occur in your property. Some include:

• Blockages from Tree Roots
• Sanitary Main Blockages
• Aging Sewer Systems
• Combined Pipelines 

What can you do to help prevent backups?

• Dispose of grease and paper products properly
• Cut back tree roots periodically
• Replace your line with new plastic pipe
• Correct any illegal plumbing connections
• Install a backwater prevention valve

Experiencing a sewer backup?

 In the event of a backup, immediately arrange services for the cleanup of your property by contacting SERVPRO of Columbia at 573-449-1999.

Tips on What to Do Until SERVPRO Help Arrives

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.
• Do not spread contaminated by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
• Do not turn on the HVAC system if there is a chance of spreading contaminated air.
• Do not use household fans water to dry the structure and spread contaminants.

Winter Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes Bursting

12/28/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Columbia can respond faster to your frozen water pipe disaster.

The temperatures have been dropping and the winter weather is here.  When the temperatures go below freezing level, your property is at risk for frozen pipes, which can create a major disaster in your home or business.

Be Prepared

• Know where your water shut off is located, in case of a frozen water pipe burst.
• Insulate exposed pipes in your home or business, especially if they are in unheated rooms.
• Open bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors during cold spells to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• During extremely cold weather, keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets. Running water is less likely to freeze.
• Consider shutting off outdoor faucets and open the outdoor faucet to help ensure it completely drains and the inner valve is shut off.
• Keep your heat set to the same temperature both day and night.
• If you plan on being away from your property for an extended period of time, leave the heat on and set the thermostat to at least 55°F.

Discovered Frozen Pipe

• First sign of freezing is reduced water flow from a faucet.
• Keep the faucet open when treating frozen pipes.
• Apply heat to the frozen sections using a heating pad, hair drier, or another safe heat source. Do not use an open flame device.
• Check additional pipes and faucets for freezing.

When a Pipe Bursts

• Shut off the water at the main valve.
• Call your local restoration professionals, SERVPRO® of Columbia.

A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly. If winter weather causes water damage to your home or business, call SERVPRO® of Columbia. We are available 24/7/365 in Boone and Howard counties are ready to restore to preloss condition.

Boone & Howard Counties 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

8/22/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbia provides 24 hour fire and water damage restoration service in Boone & Howard Counties.

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

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - 573-449-1999

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

What to Expect

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

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

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

About SERVPRO of Columbia

SERVPRO of Columbia 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.