How Electrical Outlets Are Affected By Floods

1/16/2025 (Permalink)

When floodwaters rise to the height of electrical outlets, a common result is loss of power. However, in some cases the resulting sparks and damage can create a fire in a house, apartment, or commercial building.

There are restoration companies that specialize in water damage, but very few have the experience that can handle fire damage and water damage like SERVPRO. For decades we have been in the business of restoring homes to original condition. Our expert response teams can pump out a basement and scrub away smoke residues with equal ease.

Fortunately, fire damage that is caused by a flooded outlet is usually small and is mainly just smoke damage. In either disaster, removal of drywall is critical so that the workload is not as difficult to deal with. However, the rising smoke can leave residue higher up on the walls, requiring more panels to be removed. Ceiling tiles can also require cleaning after a fire as well.

When an outlet is damaged by water, it needs a replacement from the hardware store, which typically costs less than $5 apiece. The spot where the fire begins, the point of ignition, would be the outlet in this case. The wires leading to the outlet are melted to the outlet box and may require cutting from above where there is any damage. It is important to inspect the rest of the building as well to ensure that the fried wires did not compromise any other building materials.

If the damage runs very far back along the wires, then they require replacing so that the new outlet is in the original location. Our technicians are trained to run new wiring from any point in the structure back to the breaker box if it is needed to rebuild the wiring system of your home or business. This task is extremely easier once a different team member removes the flooded drywall, exposing the wall for easier access.

Dealing with damage from a flood can be a very difficult and stressful process. Restoring your home and property from both requires professional treatment and care from experts with a nationwide support network or equipment. SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne is ready to help you whenever disaster strikes.

Protecting Your Home in Extreme Cold

1/7/2025 (Permalink)

Ice caused by a water loss from above!

When temperatures approach record lows for the northeast region, it is important home and business owners take steps to protect their structures from the extreme weather. Frozen pipes can lead to breakage, damaging personal property and essential heating systems which can create a major disaster at your home or property.

Be sure to keep all living spaces at a minimum low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes are often those exposed to the cold weather, such as those outside your house, or in cold areas such as basements, attics or garages. A frozen pipe can burst due to the backflow pressure between the blockage and water source. Some additional prevention methods include:

- Draining pools, sprinkler lines, and shutting off the water source to outside spigots.

-Opening kitchen cabinets to let warm air reach the pipes beneath.

-Daily use of faucets whose source might come from an outside pipe.

In the event of a winter weather emergency, SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne is always ready to respond to quickly get your property back to normal! Give us a call 24/7 at 201-333-3200.

Always Here to Help!

Mold Hidden Behind The Wallpaper

12/21/2024 (Permalink)

The mold was only discovered once the wallpaper was removed.

A family recently purchased a home in Livingston, NJ and during renovations found mold behind the wallpaper. SERVPRO of South Jersey City and Bayonne responded to clean it up so they could be ready for the holidays. 

Mold spores exist naturally throughout our entire environment and are often at levels which are not harmful to our health. Mold which is hidden in your home, however; can increase to unsafe levels and cause discomfort to those who reside in the structure. Once the customer in Livingston started to remodel the home, he was so alarmed by his discovery he called SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne right away to remediate the mold growth.

Upon arriving on site, our expertly trained technicians removed the affected wallpaper, drywall and insulation from the home. After cleaning and sanitizing the remaining materials, special equipment was placed to remove any remaining contaminates from the air. The customer was very impressed and appreciative of the job our crew did in order for the family to enjoy their new home.

Clean Water Correctly The First Time

12/9/2024 (Permalink)

Cleaning up water correctly can prevent mold from forming.

Always make sure you hire an emergency service company with expert knowledge and integrity. A frantic customer in Hudson County called us at SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne after another restoration company failed to properly dry out her home. Instead of taking care of a general water loss, our team needed to perform a mold remediation on her entire home. Mold is provided with an ideal growing environment when wet building materials are not dried correctly.

The water technicians here at SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne always use special meters to verify wet materials progressively dry within a few days to prevent mold from growing. We encourage our customers to understand the drying process so they can be confident a job is being done correctly.

The home in Hudson County was returned to safe breathing levels following the cleaning of the mold. The customer was relieved and extremely pleased with the repairs completed by our mitigation team.

All technicians are extensively trained on how to prevent a water loss from turning into mold. SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Importance of Cleaning Up After Storm Surge

11/29/2024 (Permalink)

The home after demolition following a surge of ocean water.

After this extremely active Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, it is important to understand how to calmly react to the tremendous damage which is left after a storm.

This photo was taken after the demolition of a flooded house in Manasquan, NJ. Our SERVPRO of South Jersey City/ Bayonne crew was called immediately after ocean surge flooded this home within a block of the beach. Our team responded on the scene within an hour. During inspection, the crew determined all of the drywall and insulation needed to be removed as well as most of the flooring due to the contamination of the ocean water. The remaining stud beams and subfloor were sprayed with an anti-microbial solution to kill any lingering contaminants. Drying equipment was placed to remove any additional moisture to prevent further damage and/or the formation of mold.

Large floods are never too difficult for our SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne team as it is imperative to clean and dry the extensive moisture the water deposits into the structure. When dealing with a loss from storm surge, it is imperative to contact your local SERVPRO® to properly clean and restore your property "Like it never even happened."

Help, Mold In The Laundry Room!

11/22/2024 (Permalink)

The laundry room was covered in mold.

We received a frantic call from a homeowner who was concerned about mold after watching a show explaining how it grows. He suspected he had some mold in the basement and felt he needed to have it taken care of considering his wife was pregnant. He called SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne for an estimate. The customer let us know his wife was being induced within three days and he wanted to take the new baby home to a safe environment. Our office staff immediately worked with him to get a professional mold tester right over to assess the severity of the mold and to provide a scope of work to remove it. Once we received the protocol needed for removal, our mold remediation team was able to complete the job in a single day. The crew removed all the affected materials and sanitized the remaining surfaces while purifying the air. The home passed the clean air test just in time for the baby to come home. Great Job guys!

SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne is always ready to take care of homes and businesses afflicted by mold. Call us at 201-333-3200, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Broken Supply Line

11/11/2024 (Permalink)

Contents in the cabinet were affected by water.

When a supply line breaks, water can travel far and wide inside a structure. This home in West New York, NJ just had a new kitchen installed prior to the break. After investigating the extent of the damage, it appeared that the cabinets may have not been affected by the water. Once we opened them up, we were surprised to find they were actually soaked with water. Since the homeowners called SERVPRO of South Jersey City /Bayonne right away, we were able to save the cabinets by drying them out in place.

When faced with water in the kitchen, clear the contents from any location where water can accumulate and attempt to dry out as much as you can prior to our arrival. Please be attentive to your safety and make sure any appliances that are plugged in are removed to prevent electrocution. Safety is the number one priority of our SERVPRO team; it prevents dangerous situations for the technicians and the customers as well.

SERVPRO is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us at 201-333-3200, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Water Heater Break

10/30/2024 (Permalink)

Water on the floor from a loss in the office above.

The water heater from an office above rained down on this insurance office in Clifton, NJ. They called SERVPRO of South Jersey City Bayonne right away to assist with the removal of the water. Our emergency service technicians arrived quickly to extract the water from the carpet and dispose of the wet ceiling tiles.

Commercial water losses generally need to be handled in a different manner those taking place in residential structures. Most commercial buildings are active workplaces and even public retail spaces where a break in operations due to disaster can be harmful to the business. SERVPRO of South Jersey City/ Bayonne makes every effort to work in a way which is least disruptive to daily activities in order to successfully dry affected buildings. Since our teams are available 24/7, performing work outside of normal business hours is usually more convenient.

The customer in Clifton was delighted when the wet areas of the office were thoroughly dried in only a few days. Our in-house construction department was able to repair the damaged areas immediately once drying was complete.

Using The Latest Technology

10/11/2024 (Permalink)

Using an infrared meter to detect water inside the wall.

SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne is using the latest technology in disaster recovery to ensure fast and efficient service for all emergency projects. Mastering industry standards, utilizing advanced equipment and providing continuous training to team members allow our business to be a leader in emergency recovery.

When on site at various losses, our technicians use a range of energy-saving equipment to dry, deodorize, and purify air and structural materials as needed. Specialized machines and environmentally- friendly cleaning agents are used to properly disinfect structures affected by fire, water or mold.

Advanced monitoring tools allow our technicians to accurately determine the moisture level of building materials affected by water. The tools make it simple to confirm the materials are successfully dried at the completion of the job. Our team utilized the infrared meter pictured on a commercial loss in Jersey City to check for moisture behind a wall which did not appear to be wet from the outside.

All technicians receive ongoing training and certifications in accordance with IICRC standards, which are a series of guidelines and processes necessary for performing emergency mitigation services. The training also updates the staff about the availability of innovative new equipment and tools which can provide them with greater capability in the field. Additional training is provided whenever equipment is updated.

SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne is dedicated to obtaining cutting-edge technology as it continues to become available. Equipped with innovative tools and knowledge, the franchise is always ready to take on emergencies large and small with expert precision.

Another Floor Saved!

9/13/2024 (Permalink)

The wood floor was saved using drying mats.

A broken pipe flooded a four-story home in Weehawken NJ, affecting the hardwood floors throughout. The customer was very concerned the flooring would have to be removed as it was original to her historic home.

Upon arrival to the home, SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne technicians inspected the flooring to see if it could be salvaged. Since the wood floor was not showing an extremely high moisture content, the technicians decided to use the Injecti-dry system in an attempt to save it from removal.

The Injecti-dry system works by utilizing extraction mats placed over wet sections of the wood floor. The mats are connected to a special machine which directs air below the floor in an attempt to dry underneath it quickly. Dehumidifiers are often placed alongside the system to assist in removing as much moisture from the surrounding area as possible.

After the system ran for four days, the mats were removed to revel the wood had dried exceptionally well and would not need to be replaced! The homeowner was so overjoyed to hear we were able to save the flooring. The Injecti-dry system is an innovative tool often used by SERVPRO of South Jersey City/Bayonne to alleviate costly, time-consuming repairs for our customers.