Recent Posts

Is storm damage ruining your home?

2/5/2024 (Permalink)

Storms can cause a variety of damage to your home and property, Luckily SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha professionals are here to help you recover from any weather disaster. 

High winds can cause damage to roofing, allowing water to leak in from thunderstorms or melting hail or snow. This water damage can affect the structural integrity of the building and cause damage to flooring, carpeting, furniture and ceilings. SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha has the service, training and equipment to restore any of these damages. Our professionals have the tools to clean and restore carpeting that has been soiled to any degree, from light staining to moderate to heavy soiling. SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha professionals will take the time to determine and communicate which cleaning option is best for your carpet's level of soiling, provide and estimate of the time and cost of the job, and explain how to prolong your carpet's appearance and quality following restoration.

Remember, for all you your carpet cleaning needs SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha is here to make it "Like it never even happened." 

 

Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes

12/1/2023 (Permalink)

Cold temperatures are inevitable in Wisconsin.  When freezing temperatures hit, here are some helpful prevention tips:

  • When you know temperatures will be dipping below freezing, allow water to run in all the sinks at a slow, constant drip. It only needs to trickle, and that tiny amount of water will keep the water moving through the pipes and prevent them from freezing.
  • Open up the cabinet doors in the bathrooms and kitchen. This will allow the heat from the home to circulate and warm up the pipes.
  • Keep the garage door closed to keep garage pipes from freezing.
  • Keep your house at a warm, consistent temperature both day and night.
  • If you leave your home for extended periods of time, do not set your thermostat lower than 55 degrees.
  • If you do end up with frozen pipes, a hand-held hair dryer or heat lamp can thaw them.

Have water damage from a frozen pipe? Call SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha

Getting your home "Back to normal"

11/1/2023 (Permalink)

After a fire causes damage to your home, we understand that you want to restore everything from your home to your possessions to "normal" as soon as possible. Here are some active steps you can and can't take following a fire

  • DO make sure everyone in your family is safe, including all beloved pets. 
  • DON'T enter the fire-damaged structure until the fire department deems it safe.
  • DO document the damage with pictures once you have permission to reenter the home.
  • DON'T turn on gas, water or electric utilities until a professional has deemed them safe.
  • DO call insurance and utility providers to inform them of the fire. 
  • DON'T wash smoke-damaged clothing yourself. This can set the smoke odors or stains and ruin them. Smoke-damaged clothing should quickly be taken to the dry cleaner. 
  • DO Call SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha: If you experience fire damage, call the cleaning and restoration pros at SERVPRO to restore your home to its normal as soon as possible.

Tips to Prevent Mold in Your Home

10/3/2023 (Permalink)

Tips to prevent mold in your home:

To begin, you should know that not all mold is harmful to you. There are some helpful types of mold. These are used for food techniques and medical purposes. Most mold you may find in your home, however, ARE not beneficial.

Here are some tips to help you prevent mold

1. Moisture control - Mold likes dark, wet places. One way to combat mold growth is to identify any moist areas in the house and place a dehumidifier in that area. Most household dehumidifiers are very helpful in helping prevent mold growth if they are used consistently.

2. Check your home's foundation - Make sure the landscaping around your home is sloped away from the house. Water likes to sit in low areas and can seep into basements.

3. Monitor your gutters and roof – Sometimes, a mold or water issue is caused by a leaky roof or clogged gutter line.

4. Lastly, make sure your home has sufficient airflow - This is particularly important in attics. Check with a roofing professional to make sure your attic is well ventilated. Cold, stagnant air can build up in attics and cause excess moisture, leading to mold growth.

Call on SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha County (262) 542-0900 for all your water damage and mold remediation needs.

Failed well pump causes water damage

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

A well pump that failed led to significant water damage at this property on Okauchee Lake.  This picture shows the new well pump that was installed by a licensed plumber because the former one developed a crack and slowly leaked water into the kitchen.  This kitchen was recently remodeled and the cabinets were installed on top the new vinyl tile.  Because the water migrated under the vinyl tile and there was no way to dry the floor through the vinyl, the sink had to be removed, granite countertops removed, cabinets detached and flooring removed so that the subfloor could be dried.

SERVPRO of Jefferson County/Oconomowoc was called in to clean the disaster and coordinate the demo and dry out the structure.  The property owner was happy with SERVPRO because we were able to begin the same day and his tenant would be inconvenienced for as short a time as possible.

Please call SERVPRO of Jefferson County/Oconomowoc or SERVPRO of SW Waukesha Count for all your water damage needs, both commercial and residential.  920-674-3002 or 262-542-0900.

Natural Disasters are Never Planned

8/29/2023 (Permalink)

Natural disasters are never planned, but when they do occur they can cause damage to your business and slow down operations while your property is being restored. With over 45 years in the restoration industry and top of the line equipment, the professionals at SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha provide a quick response to any disaster. From restoring water damage from leaks to repairing your building, we aim to help you avoid revenue loss and minimize inconvenience to your business. Our quick response can help you resume normal business functions quickly while avoiding costly construction downtime. 

For a quick response to any disaster give the professionals at SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha a call to restore your property and its contents to their pre loss conditions and return your business to its normal function as soon as possible. 

Desiccant vs. Dehumidifier

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

Desiccant dehu vs Compressor dehu

SERVPRO of SW Waukesha County and SERVPRO Jefferson County/Oconomowoc use both types of dehumidifiers on our jobs.  The commercial grade Phoenix D385 dehumidifier units are used for large jobs or cold temperature situations.

A desiccant dehumidifier functions by drawing air through an intake duct, where it is then passed through a large rotating wheel composed of a water-absorbing material (desiccant). This is a material that absorbs the humidity from the air. The air is then pushed by a fan operated by an electric motor and the air is blown back out into the room. The air duct is often kept hot by an electric heating element, which also heats the airspace within the rotating wheel to dry it out. Excess moisture is ran through a drain line or directly outside through lay flat ducting creating a negative air process if viable. In some cases, a desiccant is ducted directly into a standard compressor dehumidifier. This is a viable option for above average moisture levels accompanied by a secondary heat source to get rapid drying done in large spaces.

When it comes to using a standard low-grade refrigerant dehumidifier in an area such as a basement, garage, or space below 60 degrees, it is important to know that these dehumidifiers will often have trouble working to their full potential. This is due to the fact that the inside of a compressor dehumidifier needs to be colder than the ambient air in the space it is occupying in order for it to work efficiently. If the room temperature falls below 50°, it means that the components within a compressor dehumidifier will be close to freezing, which means that ice could form on the cooling coils. Most compressor dehumidifiers will spend the majority of their time defrosting themselves when faced with temperatures below or around 50°.

With this being said it is important to know when it would be better to implement the use of a desiccant dehumidifier vs a standard compressor dehumidifier.

For all your water damage questions or needs, please contact a certified water restoration technician.  The SERVPRO of SW Waukesha County location is 262-542-0900 and our SERVPRO of Jefferson County/Oconomowoc location is 920-674-3002

Storm Damage

7/18/2023 (Permalink)

Natural disasters are never planned, but when they do occur they can cause damage to your business and slow down operations while your property is being restored. With many years in the restoration industry and top of the line equipment, the professionals at SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha provide a quick response to any disaster. From restoring water damage from leaks to repairing your building, we aim to help you avoid revenue loss and minimize inconvenience to your business. Our quick response can help you resume normal business functions quickly while avoiding costly construction downtime. 

For a quick response to any disaster give the professionals at SERVPRO of Southwest Waukesha a call to restore your property and its contents to their pre loss conditions and return your business to its normal function as soon as possible. 

What is that "white stuff" growing on my basement walls?

7/1/2023 (Permalink)

Have you ever seen that white/gray "fuzzy stuff" growing on your basement walls or in someone else's house?  Were you worried that it was hazardous?  Well, the "fuzzy stuff" is called efflorescense and it is NOT dangerous.  It is more annoying and unattractive, but nothing to worry about or nothing that can't be fixed.  

If you have a concrete or masonry block foundation, this is a common problem.  Efflorescence can be easily removed because it simply is salt.  If you observe efflorescence on in your home, this means that you have a water issue that must be taken care of.  This moisture problem can cause deterioration if ignored.  

The cause of this is water from the outside is penetrating the brick or concrete and comes in contact with minerals.  A chemical reaction then takes place and dissolves the minerals.  The moisture then migrates to the other side of the block or concrete (the inside of your home) and eventually evaporates.  As water evaporates from the surface the mineral deposits are left behind, and these efflorescence crystals can grow.

The concern is that the efflorescence is NOT just on the side of the brick or concrete, but these same crystals can also grow inside the brick or concrete and cause spalling.  The definition of spalling the breaking of ore, rock, stone or concrete into smaller pieces or fragments.  This spalling can make the surface peel, pop or flake off.  The salt pushes from the inside out and can eventually cause crumbling and deterioration.

Hopefully if you remove the efflorescence it does not come back.  If it does not return, this probably means that the cause was the initial moisture and salts from when the concrete was placed.  However, if the efflorescence does return, this is a clear indication that water is entering the brick or concrete wall and pushing the salts out.  

Can I Prevent Efflorescence?

The answer is YES!  The best way to prevent the efflorescence is to prevent water from infiltrating the wall. If you see efflorescence crystals it usually means there is a leak somewhere letting outside water in. Once, the source of the water infiltration has been located and stopped then the walls can be cleaned with an efflorescence remover.

While inside systems can divert the water, it may not solve the problem of efflorescence and other moisture-related mineral build-ups. Regardless of what is done on the inside, water is still entering through the wall from the outside.

The salt that ends up as efflorescence crystals on your walls, can come from salt laden soils or the Portland cement in the mortar and grout. The soluble salts could come from the sand or from contaminated water used to make the concrete, grout or mortar.

Another culprit is, of course, the clay brick itself. The natural clays used in the manufacture of brick often contain soluble alkali sulfates. Most modern fired clay brick have balanced chemical additives to immobilize the sulfates and render them insoluble. This prevents the salts from being dissolved into a solution that could migrate through the wall to the surface. Most fired clay brick do not greatly contribute towards the efflorescence problem.

If you have a problem if efflorescence and would like to have it removed, please call the water damage professionals at SERVPRO of SW Waukesha County (262-542-0900) or SERVPRO of Jefferson County/Oconomowoc (920-674-3002).

What is Asbestos?

6/23/2023 (Permalink)

As a property owner you may find yourself asking, What is asbestos? Asbestos is fiberous crystals of silicate that are often used in atic and wall insulation due to its strength and ability to resist heat.

Ok, but why is it dangerous? Asbestos is dangerous because the long fiberous crystals that it is comprised of have the ability to break down into microscopically thin fibers. These fibers are so small they can remain airborne for days if they are disturbed. While airborne, individuals can breathe these fibers in. Since the fibers are so small, they can travel deep into a person’s lungs, where they may eventually lodge in the lung tissue. Once there, these fibers can cause several serious medical issues including asbestosis. For this reason, it is important to identify and remove asbestos in your home or workspace.

With our cutting-edge equipment and comprehensive training, the professionals at SERVPRO of Waukesha are here to help with all your asbestos removal needs.