Recent Posts

Frozen Pipe Prevention

11/1/2023 (Permalink)

Frozen pipes are a sure way to water damage in your home, but how do you prevent frozen pipes in the winter? Our friends at American Family Insurance share some great tips on keeping your pipes from freezing.

The best way to prevent your home’s pipes from freezing is to keep them from being exposed to the cold. Here’s how:

  • Cover exposed pipes in crawl spaces or attics with insulation sleeves.
  • Re-route pipes to an inside wall.
  • Use caulking to seal cracks in the foundation or walls that let cold air in.
  • Disconnect garden hoses and turn off the water supply to spigots.
  • Keep cabinet doors open below your sinks to allow warm air in.

Other ways you can winterize your home from frozen pipes remove all the hoses from the outside water supply.  Once you have drained and stored the hose away, open up the outside valve.  This will allow the remaining water to drain and allows the pipe to expand without breaking. You should also consider a pipe sleeve to install over the outside water line to insulate and keep ice from forming. 

The American Red Cross gives great ideas on preventative action during cold weather to consider to keep your pipes from freezing as well.

  • Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
  • When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
  • If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

There are many way to keep your home safe from winter pipe breaks.  Please feel free to reach out to SERVPRO® of East Louisville at (502) 897-3608 if you need any help with your home.

Why Pipes Freeze

11/1/2023 (Permalink)

If your pipes are exposed to temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period of time, the water can freeze and cause extensive damage to your home. This can be avoided!

Frozen pipes can occur for two basic reasons:

  1. Installation of pipes in an unheated space without adequate protection
  2. Insufficient heat in the area of the freeze

What types of pipes are susceptible this situation? Domestic water piping, HVAC heating and cooling piping and sprinkler piping are all vulnerable if left in cold and unprotected conditions as stated above. Plastic and metal pipes can burst when they freeze, and depending on the size of the pipe, even a small crack in a burst pipe can spew hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water in a day.

Why does a pipe burst, anyway? Well, when water freezes, it expands. The ice expansion will exert pressure against the pipe wall but also pressurizes the water trapped between the ice and a closed valve or fixture. As the water continues to freeze and expand inside the pipe, it causes the trapped water to continue to increase in pressure, thus, just as a can of soda will burst in your freezer, so does your water pipe.

Some common locations where pipes will freeze are outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, fire sprinkler lines and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas. These areas include basements, crawlspaces, attics, garages, bathroom sink cabinets and kitchen cabinets. Pipes along exterior walls that have little or no insulation, voids in the insulation or improperly installed building wrap are subject to freezing. You might want to check in on that sooner rather than later. Review the International Plumbing Code by clicking here.

With any questions or if your home has been water-damaged, call SERVPRO® on our 24/7 Emergency Service line, (502) 897-3608.

Fire Safety in East Louisville

10/1/2023 (Permalink)

This month October 2023 SERVPRO® of East Louisville tries to educate how to stay safe in case of a fire. Your local fire station provides lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires. See what programs your local fire station offers.

Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware, fire can happen anywhere, anytime.

LOOK - for possible fire starters. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.

LISTEN - for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could have only minutes to leave your home safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.

LEARN - more than one way out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.

Squish, Squish, Squish!

10/1/2023 (Permalink)

Squish, Squish, Squish! The customer walked into the house and across their wet carpet and all that they could hear  was the squishing noise with every single step.

The first thing SERVPRO® did upon arrival was to assess the damage and discover the source of the water.

Once we found the source from where the water had come from, and was able to stop the leak by turning the water off, it was time to start mitigating the damage.

The customer new to call SERVPRO of East Louisville to get to work right away to remove the excess water and start drying out their home.

The crews at SERVPRO of East Louisville are professional and precise throughout the entire job process. After the job was completed and the crews left, the customer finally realized the meaning of "Like it never even happened."

Tips from SERVPRO to Reduce Flood Damage and Property Loss

10/4/2022 (Permalink)

When a flood is imminent, and you have time before you need to evacuate, there are different things that you can do to decrease the amount of damage from floodwaters. These should only be done if there is enough time – you should never risk the lives of others or your own, in attempting to act on these tips. 
 
There is not immunity to the effects of flood damage in East Louisville Jefferson County and this harm can include effects caused by increased levels of humidity in the air inside your home. Higher levels of humidity can cause photographs to stick together and also permit mold to start growing on otherwise seemingly mold-free garments, among other things. 
 
SERVPRO can always help undo the damage to your home, but you are in charge of your safety and that of your family. Floods are responsible for thousands of dollars in damage every year, and many deaths, as well. Here are some suggestions that can reduce the damage from a flood
  
Move more fragile belongings to a higher level. 
Simply taking items higher, such as electronics, television sets, stereos and speakers, computers, to another floor, or even to the attic, can keep these items from ever being touched by the dirty water that floods are known to bring. 
 
Guard your food. 
Food that is even slightly submerged cannot be consumed. Microbes can settle on indentations in cans and under the rims, posing risks even after food has been cooked correctly. Boxed foods should be placed in a large garbage bag and taken to a higher level to protect the packaging, and the contents, from high humidity levels. 
 
Canned foods should be placed in sturdy boxes and also stashed in a safe location. Pathogens such as e-Coli produce toxins that are not removed or rendered inactive by cooking, making the food dangerous to eat. Food that is refrigerated or frozen might be able to be saved if it can be placed higher-than-normal in the refrigerator, but this is not guaranteed to protect the food, and everything should be examined upon your return before preparing any of the contents. 
 
Open upper floor windows slightly. 
Having windows open a slight amount can allow humidity to escape. During a flood, while it may seem like there is water everywhere and that humidity levels remain the same everywhere, this is not true. Humidity inside your home can become elevated rather quickly. Higher levels of humidity travel to areas of lower levels until an equilibrium is reached. However, do not open windows completely, as this can allow rain to enter, making matters worse. 
 
As you go through your home, have a basket or two to place items in that must go with you when you leave. 

When you evacuate your home, you will most likely need certain things while you are in a shelter or temporarily living with friends or family. These should include important items and anything else you want to protect, such as photo albums. Keys to vehicles and doors, personal identification and other documents, both prescription and non-prescription medications, cell phones, chargers, baby monitors, and few days' worth of changes of clothing for yourself and family members. Personal items and even memorabilia that are located in easy-to-reach areas that do not require any extra time to grab and place in your basket can help ease the stress of having to relocate temporarily. 
 
We at SERVPRO of East Louisville live in the same area as our customers, and we know how damaging floods can be when they affect our homes. We are always here to help your family return home as quickly as possible. Call us at (502) 897-3608, and we can begin working within an hour on restoring your home.

 

Big Or Small, When It Comes To Storms, We Help With Them All

10/4/2022 (Permalink)

Whether it is a tree blown over onto a 10 year old home, or a city leveled by an EF4 tornado, SERVPRO is here to help folks recover when storms damage their homes or businesses. 

SERVPRO of East Louisville crews are ready to be dispatched all over the country to assist in the cleanup and restoration after major flooding, strong storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and any other event that causes damage to property.  

While it can be a stressful time for homeowners and/or business owners in the aftermath of a flash flood, tornado or hurricane, it doesn’t have to be! SERVPRO derails with these types of disasters every single day and can help to walk you through even the most complex storm damage scenario.

Our crews are HERE to HELP and make things “Like it never even happened."  We treat each job with respect and do our very best to keep the customer informed every step of the way.  

SERVPRO of East Louisville is proud to be a part of the Disaster Recovery Team!

Be Prepared for Disaster

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

As our country has been faced with the recent flooding in Texas with Hurricane Harvey and now in Florida with Hurricane Irma SERVPRO of East Louisville feels that we should prepare for the effects we are sure to feel locally in our state. Here is a list of things you should be prepared for ahead of time.

  1. First of all, you should recognize the flood risk in your area by identifying the flood prone areas around you.
  2. You should know your communities warning signals, evacuation routes and emergency shelter locations.
  3. During storms that cause flooding stay tuned to the local weather stations.
  4. You should have emergency supplies ready ahead of time.
  5. Before evacuation, you should be sure to turn off the electric, gas, and water.
  6. If you decide to stay in your homes be sure to unplug appliances and electronics so that if the water reaches the outlets you can avoid electrical shock and fire.
  7. One of the most important things you need to remember, is NEVER to walk or drive through high water. People forget how easy it is for moving water to sweep people and cars away.

Safety is the first priority. After the storm, remember that SERVPRO is here to help you get your life back in order.

Fire Damage Cleanup And Restoration Company For East Louisville

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

  • Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
  • Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
  • The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of East Louisville will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

  • Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

  • Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

  • Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Fire or Smoke Damage?
Call Us Today – (502) 897-3608

We are proud to be an active member of this community. SERVPRO of East Louisville is locally owned and operated so we’re already nearby and ready to help East Louisville residents and business owners with any-sized fire and smoke damage emergencies.

 

Residential Fire Damage

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

When you need a quick fix for Louisville residential fire damage you'll need to hire a locally owned and operated company. If your property has suffered severe damage due to fire and smoke, it’s important to use a team of experienced damage control professionals.

Our certified technicians can quickly diagnose the damage, assess the general situation, and get right to work on containing and correcting the problem. The sooner you contact them, the less chance you have of further damage. With any fire damage, time is of the essence.

Louisville Residential Fire Damage Cleanup Needs

The trouble your property faces isn't over when the actual fire is finally put out. In fact, it may just be beginning. After the fire is extinguished, there is still the damage from smoke, as well as damage to the structure itself, to deal with. There is also plenty of work to be done to get the property properly cleaned up, such as removing debris, neutralizing odors, and ventilating the area.

A Fast Response Means Less Problems

The primary goal of SERVPRO of East Louisville fire damage cleanup service is not only to limit the damage to your property but also to respond quickly enough to salvage as much as possible. A fast response is necessary to limit the damage and the overall cost of the job. After smoke and debris are cleared out, the restoration can begin, getting the property owner back to normal life in their family home.

Restoration Rather Than Replacement Is the Key

When it comes to fixing any fire damage in Louisville, KY, the key to a successful solution is restoration rather than replacement. While it would be easy for a cleanup team to simply recommend that the entire structure be torn down and replaced, the reality is that such a drastic measure may be completely unwarranted. It's usually far easier, more convenient, and more cost-effective to do a complete restoration job on your property rather than tearing it down.

What to Look for in a Fire Damage Service

Most people choose to go with a locally owned and operated business as they can respond to your emergency within a very short period and get immediately to work. A reputable restoration service will give you an overview of what to expect before you begin. They should clear away the debris, do a thorough cleansing of any fire damage to your structure, clean up your upholstery, and purify the air so that you won't fall victim to any noxious and poisonous odors.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (502) 897-3608

Why it's important to call SERVPRO at the first sign of water damage

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

The amount of damage water can cause is amazing and often underestimated by homeowners. Excess moisture is bad enough, but when a home is flooded or hit with a plumbing disaster (like a busted pipe), the situation can quickly get out of hand. There’s a reason why these incidents are among the most expensive problems a homeowner can face. 

Floods, sewage back flows, and other sources of contaminated fluid usually cause the worst damage.  Water can be filled with all kinds of deadly substances, ranging from chemical residues to animal feces to parasites. Bacteria, viruses and fungi grow in an alarming rate in contaminated fluid, and severe health risks can be caused by these contaminants.

This problem is compounded by the composition of most homes, which are filled with organic materials. Drywall, wood and the matter that is trapped in carpet fibers are just a few examples, and they can give pathogens room to grow. Within 48 hours, mold may begin creeping behind the walls and releasing spores, and any organic materials that have been soaked through by contaminated fluid will usually have to be destroyed.

SERVPRO of East Louisville will dry the home quickly and apply antibacterial, antiviral, and anti fungal agents to all surfaces that had contact with the water. This ensures the family can return to a safe home.

Have Water or Flood Damage?
Call Us Today – (502) 897-3608