Preventing Wind Damage in Wichita KS

8/20/2022 (Permalink)

Spring and summer storms in Kansas, bring the potential for severe thunderstorms, strong winds, and even tornadoes. Specifically, strong winds can cause trees to break and damaged shingles, which can compromise the safety of your home. According to FEMA, strong winds most commonly impact roofs, doors, windows, and garages. If you’ve lived here through the seasons in Kansas, you know that weather here can happen quick and without warning, there are several steps that you can take in order to protect your home from serious wind damage. 

Maintain Landscape and Trees 

Trees that surround your home can pose a big threat in a windstorm, the wind can cause tree branches to break off or the entire tree to fall, thus risking damage to your home if trees are located close enough. Being aware of how close trees and tree limbs are to your home and being sure to trim them if necessary is so important. One thing a lot of people don’t think about is over-watering trees, over-watering often results in shallow, weak root systems, facilitating the possibility of trees falling during gusty winds.  

Inspect the Roof 

Having your roof surveyed at least twice per year is ideal. We often don’t think about our roof condition until it’s too late. Watch for loose or missing shingles and water damage in the attic, as both can be signs of damage. Hiring a roofing professional to inspect your roof may also help in spotting underlying issues that can save your roof from further destruction during strong wind.  

Reinforce Windows and Doors 

Utilizing storm shutters on windows and doors can help protect them from flying debris caused by strong winds. There are many types of reinforcement such as storm shutters, plywood, and laminated security glass. If particularly strong wind is expected, garage door bracing kits can be purchased, which will help keep the garage door in place during the storm. 

If your home or business is affected by a storm, whether it's water damage, or reconstruction that is needed, give SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita a call day or night 316-684-6700. We will make it “Like it never even happened.” 

The Kansas Wind And Power Lines

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

Kansas is known for its windy and ever-changing weather. Lately around Wichita we have been experiencing many windy days, with wind gusts up to 50 mph. With high winds on flat land, it can cause a lot of damage, including power lines getting downed. If you experience a power outage, here’s how to respond safely:  

• Find out whether the power outage is only within your home or if it's affecting others in your local neighborhood so you can make the most effective plan of action. You can go online on your phone to report it, so your electric company isn't overwhelmed with calls.  
• If the power outage was the result of a storm or other natural disaster, check your property for damage. Report any fallen power lines. Don’t touch or go near any fallen lines. This is extremely dangerous and can cause injury or worse. 
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as long as possible so your food stays cold. 
• Candles pose a fire hazard. So we recommend using battery-powered lights instead. 

The restoration technicians at SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita have helped homeowners recover from storm damage for over 20 years. Call 316-684-6700 if you experience storm damage to your home or business.  

Tornado Damage in Andover KS

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Back in April a powerful tornado tore through the Wichita, Kansas, area Friday night, leveling dozens of structures in the city of Andover. Tornadoes can do severe damage to property in its path. This tornado was rated an EF-3 based on a preliminary damage survey from the National Weather Service in Wichita. SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita is here to help when disaster strikes, there are so many ways a tornado can affect your business or home, here are some of the most common tornado damages.  

Damaged Roofs: 

Tornadoes are sometimes powerful enough to lift the roof right off your home or business. This happens due to low pressure that builds up on the inside. When the combined interior low pressure and exterior high pressure surpasses the force exerted downward by the roof, it lifts and is swept away in the wind. Now not only do you have a roof that needs to be replaced but the interior of your home is susceptible to the elements.  

Shattered Windows and Glass Doors: 

The pressure difference between the inside and outside of a home in a tornado can also cause the windows and patio doors to shatter. The glass isn't able to hold up to the force being exerted on it. This type of tornado damage can occur miles away from the tornado itself. Flying debris can also cause broken windows and doors. 

Damaged Siding: 

Intense winds, flying debris and hail can cause damage to your siding. Paint can chip or discolor, vinyl siding can crack or dent, and trim can suffer considerable damage. In extreme cases, tornadoes can hurl large objects right through the walls of your home. 

 As always saving you and your family members’ lives is more important than preserving your home. If a tornado warning is issued for your area, you should take cover in the basement, cellar, or tornado shelter as quickly as possible. Give SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita a call for a trusted restoration company (316) 684-6700. 

Snow Storms In Wichita

2/9/2022 (Permalink)

Snow is no stranger to Wichitans, one of the great things about living in Kansas is getting to experience all four seasons. Winter can often be cold and bitter but when we get to see some snow with it, it makes the cold a little more bearable.

With cold weather comes frozen pipes, and potential wood stove home fires. These create jobs for SERVPRO to come in and help homeowners and businesses get back to their preloss conditions. While we love our job, we also love helping you by giving you tips to prepare your property so these damages can be prevented. These snowstorms can often pop up and we Midwesterners love to play the game of trust the weatherman or hope for the best? Our winters have been pretty mild in terms of freezes and snow accumulation the past few years. But as I am writing this blog on February 2nd, 2022, we have about 5-6 inches on the ground.

The snowfall extremes below were measured at Eisenhower National Airport, the most snow to land in one day at Wichita is 12.0 inches on January 18, 1962.

• 2.1 inches February 12, 2020
• 2.7 inches March 03, 2019
• 2.0 inches November 12, 2018
• 3.5 inches March 27, 2016
• 3.9 inches January 03, 2015
• 8.7 inches February 04, 2014
• 8.0 inches February 21, 2013
• 1.5 inches December 31, 2012
• 6.8 inches February 08, 2011
• 2.1 inches February 08, 2010

As always, be safe on the roads and take precautions in your home as bad weather comes through the ICT. We have many blogs with tips and tricks for you to check out and we will link a few below. Give SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita a call if you need our emergency services due to inclement weather (316) 684-6700.

• Frozen Pipe Prevention
• SERVPROs Act Together During a Storm Event in Wichita, KS       
• Handling Ice Dams After a Winter Storm

Staying Prepared: Storm Events in Wichita KS

1/3/2022 (Permalink)

Making a disaster supplies kit to keep in your home in case of a storm event is a great way to stay prepared.

Kansas weather, need I say more? Unpredictable is an understatement. Being prepared for storms is so important, when weather does strike having the items you need on hand will give you a peace of mind. We recommend creating a “disaster supplies kit” to keep stored for in your household in the event of an emergency.  

You will want to keep your kit stored in airtight plastic bags or containers. Here are a few items we suggest, that could help keep you safe: 

• First aid kit 
• Extra batteries 

• Water?(one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation) 
• Food?(at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food) 
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio  
• Flashlight 
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation) 

• Wrench or pliers (to?turn off utilities) 
• Manual can opener (for food) 
• Local maps 
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery 
• Whistle (to signal for help) 

Keeping these items on hand will keep you prepared for anything. If you have a basement or a bathroom that you go in case of a storm, storing these items there for easy access is recommended. As always, if your home or business is affected by a storm event give SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita a call (316) 684-6700. 

How Does It Look To Recover From Storm Damage?

9/30/2021 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita a call when a storm cause a water loss and we will be there to help and get you back to preloss conditions.

For 20 years SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita has been working on homes during large storm events helping people recover from water damage in their homes and businesses. Doing remediation and mitigation for so long gives us a huge well of experience to work from but many people who have not had this issue have no idea what goes into recovering from water damage caused by an intense storm.

So we have decided to break down how the water mitigation process looks from our side to maybe give you some insight on what it takes to make it “Like it never even happened.” We are going to walk through a fictional water loss where a sump pump failed causing the basement to flood.

First Notice of Loss

The first step of a water loss for us is getting the phone call from the customer and this is where we take down all the necessary information from the customer. You can imagine that information like the customer’s name, address, contact information is taken down but some more specific questions are:

•         Is this a finished basement?
•         How many rooms are affected?
•         Has the sump pump been replaced or repaired? (has the source been stopped)
•         How much content is in the basement?
•         What kind of flooring is in the basement?
•         Are you planning on filing an insurance claim?

Once we collect that information, we try to schedule a time for work to begin as soon as possible our goal is to be on-site within 4 hours although we normally are there within 1. Typically, either an estimator goes out to give the customer the scope of work and an estimate of cost or we send out a crew to get started immediately. In this example, the customer has filed an insurance claim and wants us to start immediately.

Arriving at the Customers Home

Our crew, normally 2-3 people, arrives at the customer’s house in one of our beautiful green work trucks with everything we need to get to work! Our crew chief will walk the loss with the customer using our tools of the trade to help us evaluate what has been affected. Oftentimes people don’t realize how much carpet has been affected or even that water can soak up into drywall from the floor.

Once our crew chief has the entire loss scoped out, they explain the process to the customer and get documents signed so the work can begin. The work normally follows this process:

•         Bring down our portable water extractor to begin extracting
•         As one technician extracts the other technicians move and block furniture to protect the carpet and furniture from damage
•         Even after all the flooring has been extracted the floor will still be wet
•         In basements with carpet, we will pull back the carpet and remove the pad since this scenario is a Category 2 loss
•         Before laying the carpet back down we will spray the backside of the carpet and the concrete with an antimicrobial that kills bacteria, helps prevent mold, and stops odor.
•         We also spray the top side of the carpet
•         Normally this process requires us to move all the furniture to one side of the room and then the other side to get all the pad if the whole room is affected.
•         At this point, our crew chief has entered the dimensions and affected rates of each room into our program DryBook which calculates exactly how many air movers and dehumidifiers we need to most efficiently dry the customer’s home.
•         We set equipment as needed to dry down the floors and walls

 At this point, the work is down for the day. Sometimes baseboards, doors need to be detached or drywall needs to be demo’d but that is a case by case basis. The job is not complete yet though because the drying equipment needs time which is normally around 3 days.

After Day 1

So now the first day of work has been completed, excess water has been extracted, antimicrobial has sanitized the flooring, and drying equipment has been running steadily. Our crew chief will talk to the customer before leaving and setting up a time to come back tomorrow to check on the drying. On average it takes about three days to dry out a customers home which looks like:

•         Day 1 Monday-Tuesday
•         Day 2 Tuesday – Wednesday
•         Day 3 Wednesday -Thursday

So we will come back Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to take readings of your atmosphere, the moisture content of the walls and floors, and to make sure the equipment is operating efficiently. Often when our employee is checking a job they will move equipment around to focus on the wettest areas and even remove equipment as more materials dry.

Every day they are recording their readings into DryBook for both the home’s moisture content and atmospheric readings. As those become better and better the home is drying until we have reached the point where everything in the home is within dry standard and all the equipment has been removed.

Once Everything is Dry

Now that everything is dry the big question is what is next? Well throughout this process we have thoroughly documented the loss and the process of drying the customer’s home down. We have before pictures, mitigation pictures, and post-mitigation pictures as well as all the readings our technicians took and the measurements of everything we removed in DryBook.

 We create an estimate based on all that information and share that with the customer and the insurance company. With most insurance companies we have agreements on pricing and procedure in place so the customer does not need to worry about anything about our process and insurance paying.

 In this scenario, the only thing we removed was the carpet pad so now the pad needs to be replaced and the carpet needs to be re-stretched onto the tack strip. We have contractors who can do that for the customer or if the customer has their own preference (say for example they buy their own pad and the store offers free installation). Once the carpet is put back we often come back to do a carpet cleaning to put a ribbon on the whole process.

 At this point, the process has been completed. Insurance has covered our bill, the customer has paid their deductible, and has been made whole. Normally we have multiple projects like these going on at a time as well as fire, mold, biohazard, and duct cleaning.

If you experience flooding in your basement from a storm, broken pipe, or anything else the best thing to do is to give us a call first. We can come out, evaluate what needs to happen, give you a price and help you and your insurance company figure out whether filing a claim is the right move for you. Our 24/7 emergency line is (316) 684-6700 and is always answered by one of our knowledgeable managers.

Weather Alerts and What They Mean

8/13/2021 (Permalink)

We are available 24/7/365 for your storm damage emergencies. Call us at (316) 684-6700.

Kansas weather…. Nuff said, right? Kansas weather is extremely unpredictable and often when the weather channel gives us an alert, we can be unaware of what it means and what precautions we should be taking. The National Weather Service uses the words “advisory”, “watch”, and “warning” to alert us when possible bad weather is on the way.

Advisory

Advisories are for less serious conditions than warnings. An advisory is issued when hazardous weather event is occurring, or probable. 

Watch

“Watch” mean’s watch out for that the weather “could” do and be prepared for if something does take place. It essentially means that the weather event is not an immediate threat but to be aware and look for signs. A watch is more serious than an advisory but less serious than a warning.

Warning

A “warning” means that the weather event is occurring, and you need to take shelter as soon as possible. A warning is the most serious alert.

SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita can help you after a major storm event. If your home or business experiences a water or fire loss after a storm event, contact us at (316) 684-6700. We are available 24/7/365.

Freezing Temperatures in Wichita KS and Your Pipes

6/23/2021 (Permalink)

A map of the maximum temperatures in the United States on February 15th, 2021.

In February of 2021, a significant cold outbreak spread throughout the mid United States on February 6th and lasted through February 18th. A cold outbreak of this severity has not affected the region since the 1980s! During this stretch, there were days where the high temperature did not make it out of the single digits. The average temperatures in Wichita during February are around 51 degrees for the high and 24 degrees for the low. In 2021 there were:

• 12 consecutive days of temps below 32 in Wichita (ended 02/18). This was the longest stretch since 1983(18 days). Longest on record is 24 days in 1895.
• 9 consecutive days of temps below 20 in Wichita (ended 02/16). This was the longest stretch since 1983(9 days). Longest on record is 11 days in 1899.
• 3 consecutive days for Wichita with temps below zero (ended 02/16). This was the longest stretch since 1996. Longest stretch on record for Wichita is 8, back in 1983.

Weather like this can affect the pipes in your home if the correct precautions are not taken. The pipes that freeze most frequently according to the Red Cross are pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines. Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. As well as pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation. When pipes that contain water end up freezing the water expands and puts pressure on the pipe causing it to break.

During and after the February cold outbreak SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita saw a huge increase broken pipes caused by freezing.  A lot of times when a pipe breaks you have no idea so when the water thaws and you use your pipe again you now have a water/flood damage situation. That is where we come in.

There are many steps you can take to prevent frozen pipes, such as:

• Putting insulation around your pipes.
• Opening your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• 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.
• If you will be traveling during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

With the crazy and unpredictable weather that we Wichitans have grown accustomed to, storm damage can happen at any time, SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita is always available 24/7/365. Give us a call (316) 684-6700.

Cleaning up your business after flood damage and how SERVPRO can help.

6/3/2021 (Permalink)

This flooded business called on SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita to help.

Running a business is not easy and having to worry about the “what if” just makes it harder. SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita can take the worry out of that question. If your business floods, call us to start restoration work as soon as possible. The sooner we can get out to your property the higher the chance that we will be able to restore and save more elements of the damage.  That is why we are 24 hour 7 days a week business, including holidays.

In the process of drying your property our trained technicians use many tools to inspect, dry and restore flood damage. In the inspection process we utilize tools such as:

• Moisture meter: this can detect moisture in carpet which is useful because often the water goes further than you expect. By utilizing this tool we can find the borders of the water and plan our work accordingly and predict what furniture should be moved and where. 
• Protimeter: we check your structure for moisture such as walls, cabinets, built ins or anything else which could be affected by water coming into. Often water can travel up materials and the walls will be wet above the height of the water.
• Thermal Hygrometer: This instrument allows us to take readings on the temperature, humidity and Grains per Pound in your home. Using these measurements we can evaluate what needs to be done to get your home into optimum drying atmosphere.
• Thermal camera: This is a great tool which can show us where water is using the temperature differential we observe in the camera. It is helpful when we need to locate water which might have gone in places you do not expect. 

We will respond immediately to the storm or flood event affecting your commercial property, regardless of the size or scope of the damage. We are part of a national network of over 1,700 Franchises that can help us get the job done. One tool to protect your property is the Emergency Readiness Plan which we set-up with local businesses for free. Having one of these in place to protect your property has saved our customers thousands of dollars in the event of a loss. Learn more here!

Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today (316) 684-6700

Low Temperatures in Wichita Can Cause Water Damage

2/15/2021 (Permalink)

This is the discharge pipe for a sump pump which froze and caused a water damage in the homeowners basement.

This is the coldest streak of days we have had in Wichita in years and we are seeing the effects of this cold snap in a huge increase in water damages. As with any storm situation SERVPRO is “Ready for whatever happens” and is already helping people in Wichita and the surrounding area recover from water damage caused by low temperatures. 

How to protect your home?

Frozen pipes are one of the largest sources of property damage during low temperature spells and can easily result in over $5,000 in damages. In the last ten years insurance companies estimated that 4 billion dollars has been spent on fixing broken pipes and the damage they cause. According to a study from the University of Illinois once the temperature gets down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit is when this type of damage see a large uptick. What can you do to prevent this? 

• Allow faucet to drip this keeps the water pressure down and prevents pipes from freezing
• Open cabinet doors where there is plumbing to allow warm air to circulate around those pipes
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature day and night
  • Do not allow the heat to go lower than 55° F
• Keep your garage door closed especially if there are water supply lines in the garage
• If you can, insulate pipes especially in unheated spaces like attics, crawlspaces, garages or pipes that lead outside.
  • Pipe insulation is as low as 50 cents a linear foot
• Pay attention to your sump pump discharge line because that can freeze as well
  • Insulate the discharge line
  • Dripping faucets help keep them from freezing as well 

If you are concerned that you have leaking due to a frozen or burst pipe in your home or business do not hesitate to call our expert technicians here at SERVPRO. Our 24/7 emergency response line is 316-684-6700.

How to clean up flood damage after Wichita storms?

1/8/2021 (Permalink)

Most water restoration projects utilize air movers like seen in this picture.

Taking care of flood damage from storms requires water extraction, disinfectant application, moisture readings, and drying equipment.  

If you live in Wichita you are no stranger to powerful season storms. Oftentimes those storms cause flooding in basements around town and if that happens to you we have your back.  

Water that comes from the outside into your home is considered Category 2 water which is a rating of waters cleanliness; if you want to know more check out our blog here. With category 2 water we need to take certain measures, for example category 2 water is often more odorous than clean water and we handle that by applying a disinfectant which kills odor causing microbes which may have come in with the water. Additionally, in basements with carpets we typically will remove the carpet pad for sanitary reasons. After you call us for help here are some tips for you take until help arrives. 

Water Damage Restoration Tools

In the process of drying your property our trained technicians use many tools to inspect, dry and restore flood damage. In the inspection process we utilize tools such as:

• Moisture meter: this can detect moisture in carpet which is useful because often the water goes further than you expect. By utilizing this tool we can find the borders of the water and plan our work accordingly and predict what furniture should be moved and where. 
• Protimeter: we check your structure for moisture such as walls, cabinets, built ins or anything else which could be affected by water coming into. Often times water can travel up materials and the walls will be wet above the height of the water.
• Thermal Hygrometer: This instrument allows us to take readings on the temperature, humidity and Grains per Pound in your home. Using these number we can evaluate what needs to be done to get your home into a atmosphere that will dry it.
• Thermal camera: This is a great tool which can show us where water is using the temperature differential we observe in the camera. It is helpful when we need to locate water which might have gone in places you don’t expect. 

In order to dry out the damage we find we use:

• Large Grain Refrigerant Dehumidifiers: these dehumidifiers can pump up to 110 pints per day out of the air in your home! They are a major element of nearly every water damage restoration project.
• Desiccants: These are similar to dehumidifiers in that that remove humidity from the air but they do it with a different process and are utilized in environments where the temperature is lower.
• Air Movers: Another common tool for almost every project air movers are basically very powerful fans which aid in drying down structures.
• Specialty: We have a many types of specialty equipment that we can utilize depending on the situation. Whether it be drying our wood floors, ceramic tile, or materials that need over 160 degrees to dry we have got it.

If you ever need any of our services feel free to call our 24/7 emergency line at 316-684-6700.

What is the Biggest Cause of Storm Flooding for Wichita Basements?

10/14/2020 (Permalink)

Sometimes having an extra fresh sump pump ready to switch out in case the current one breaks is a good idea if you are handy!

The easy answer to this question is water, which is true, but fails to be of any use. There are many reasons Wichitian’s basements flood. Sometimes flooding occurs in someone’s basement from storms because a change has been made in landscaping (your property or even your neighbors) which has changed the flow of water on the property. In our 20 years of experience serving the Wichita and surrounding areas in water damage the number 1 source of basement flooding during storms is sump pump failure.

Sump pump failure can come in many forms. Sump pumps can burn out from working too hard or being too old. Sometimes they simply can’t keep up with a torrential downpour or the power can go out on a perfectly functioning sump pump and flood your basement. We have a wealth of experience and expertise in helping you come back dry and clean from a flood and in case you are dealing with a flooded basement right now here are some tips for what to do until help arrives.

We also have picked lots of information for how to prevent your basement from flooding. Here are our top 3 ways to prevent your basement from flooding during a rain event in Wichita, KS.

Number 1: Once a year perform Sump Pump Maintenance:

• Make sure it is plugged into GFCI
• Make sure the cord is not damaged
• Make sure the pump is secured in an upright and level position or it will not work
• Make sure to unplug the pump before performing the following:
  • Inspect the intake, discharge pipe and ventilation hole for any blockages
• Test your sump pump by taking a 5 gallon bucket of water and pouring it slowly into your sump pit slowly until the float triggers the pump to begin its work.
  • The pump should pump the water out until the water reaches the floats shutoff level

Number 2: Have a back-up pump installed.

There are typically 2 options for back-up sump pumps. battery powered and water powered which both have their advantages and disadvantages. We typically would suggest you go with a water powered back-up because battery powered back-ups often run out of power and will not prevent a flood if the power is out for too long or if the pump itself breaks down. Your home may call for a different solution though so check out this comparison between the two systems to see which is right for you.

Number 3: Preemptively manage your homes drainage.

Make sure your gutters are cleaned once a year and add gutter extensions where it makes sense. Install french drains to supplement how much water you are moving away from your home. Get a landscaping company to regrade your yard which will minimize the load on your sump pump and reduce the risk it getting overwhelmed or burnt out from large volumes of water.

Our final piece of advice is to give us a call if you do have any flooding issues for a free estimate at 316-684-6700.

SERVPROs Act Together During a Storm Event in Wichita, KS

8/17/2020 (Permalink)

A parade of SERVPRO Vehicles during a storm event.

Kansans know them all too well. Boisterous storms putting on large shows of crackling light and bass laden thunder which often bring with them deluges of water and flooding. These storms can create so much damage from wind, tree limbs, power outages and flooding. That is when SERVPRO steps up to restore and clean entire communities. 

If you have lived here in Wichita for a few years you already know what it is like when a huge storm happens rolls through. Even if you have not had your basement flood you probably noticed that Wichita was painted green with all the SERVPRO vehicles suddenly driving around the streets. That is because when we get inundated with calls here at SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita we can call for help and bring in SERVPRO’s from around the area. We have had help from SERVPRO’s from Lawrence, Topeka, Tulsa, Boulder, Lincoln and other areas. So when everywhere else in town has a waiting list, we are able to continue servicing our community.

In the past we have called for help and the next day other SERVPRO’s showed up with their technicians and equipment ready to help homes and businesses here in Wichita. You do not need to be worried if you get serviced by a SERVPRO from out of town after they leave because  your local SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita will continue to service you and address any issues, questions or concerns. That is not just because we are nice, it is built into the agreement of storm work so you can be assured that our service is commitment we have made between each other and you. 

Our team here loves to travel and help communities ourselves. It is very fulfilling to go where you are needed and just get to work applying our expertise and training. We have worked after Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and after the Joplin Tornado in 2011 as well as after large storms in KC, Springfield, and St. Joseph and others. 

So when the next storm comes rumbling through Wichita make sure you keep SERVPRO at the top of your list of trusted flood and water restoration experts. If you would like to learn more or have concerns about past storm or water damage give us a call today at (316) 684-6700.

Flood Damage Safety during Wichita Restoration

6/19/2020 (Permalink)

In this storm damage there were concerns for the health of our customer so we set an air filtration device seen in the front part of the photo.

If your Wichita property floods you need to call SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita to start restoration work as soon as possible. The quicker we get out to your property the higher the chance that we will be able to restore and save more elements of the damage. Of course, when things go wrong safety needs to be everyone’s top concern and our highly trained restoration technicians are no different. 

If electrical sockets were submerged, they need to be replaced. Even if they were only submerged for a short time this will need to be done. If the electrical sockets have stayed submerged it is unsafe to get into the water even if your power is out. It is generally recommended not to go into the water until the electrical meter has been removed from its socket. This ensures that the home is disconnected from the grid. 

Another safety issue with storm floods is the presence of various contaminants. Bacteria, viruses, mold, even feces can hitch a free ride onto the water coming into your home. That level of soil is why it is designated as category 2 water by our industry. Between our process of extraction and the application of an EPA registered disinfectant our technicians minimize the risk of pathogens during the restoration process. Since the air movers we set can aerosolize any remaining contaminants when there are particular health concerns, or a customer requests it we also can place a HEPA grade air filtration device to further protect our customers. 

If you experience any storm flooding or are concerned about it give us a call today at (316) 655-6094 and we would be happy to help.

Handling Ice Dams After a Winter Storm

12/18/2019 (Permalink)

This is an infographic illustration of an ice damn to help illustrate what one looks like in a cross sectional view.

Since Wichita has just had it first big snow of the year we thought it would be prudent to share some information about a somewhat common cause of water damage for buildings during this time of the year: Ice Dams! In this post we will discuss what they are, how they form, how they can do damage to your home or business and what you should do to stop them. To answer the most pressing question in this matter no, ice dams are not caused by ice beavers.

Ice dams occur on slopped roofs when snow melts from the heated structure it is sitting on and flows down toward the eaves of the roof which do not have that heated structure beneath it. The newly thawed water hits still frozen snow or ice and refreezes. This process continues and accumulates in size until you have standing water on your roof that is being pushed up between and under you shingles and into your attic or exterior walls. Suddenly you have a water intrusion in your home.

In order to identify an ice dam on your roof keep an eye out for several things. The first thing is snow on your roof. Gotta have snow for it to melt of course. Next you want to look closely at the exterior of your home and at the icicles forming there. Make sure those icicles are just at your gutters or the eaves of your roof and do not go further up. Remember ice dams are the accumulation of water and ice so when examining your roof look for where that could happen and ice that looks like it is on its way to forming that way. Look at the valleys in your roof as it is common for them to form there. Openings in the roof for pipes and vents or really any irregular areas in your roof are good spots to look for possible ice damns.

Knocking down problematic looking icicles is a good first step as that will can stop an ice dam from forming. Many sources caution against using a roof rake because unless you remove all the snow on your roof it could just lead to an ice dam forming higher up on your roof so keep that in mind. The most common solution we have seen from experts is to fill a sock or stocking up with ice melt product like calcium chloride (not rock salt or sodium chloride) and place that stocking vertically over the ice dam so that a path for the water to flow through opens up.

As always be careful in icy conditions and make sure not to slip and fall. If you are worried that any excess moisture got into your home from an ice dam or something else give us a call at 316-684-6700.

SERVPRO's Technicians Know how to Handle a Flood.

9/2/2019 (Permalink)

Sometimes when a flood happens damage can be cause by a sump pump failure. Get that fixed as soon as possible and have a back-up in place.

When flooding occurs in buildings it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible in order to combat and prevent the litany issues that come with a water damage. Flooding brings with it structural degradation, outside contaminants and bacteria, odor, warping, and possibly mold growth.  All of which threaten both your home or business and the health of the people who reside within. 

In order to take care of your flood damage in your Wichita home make sure you hire professionals who know how to prevent mold and deal with water, toxins and odor. Our technicians here at SERVPRO are specialized in handling the challenges posed by flood damage and know what needs to be done to ensure the highest standards in restoration service. 

Going through any kind of damage to your home is stressful experience which can put any home owner on the edge. This is why we train our technicians to treat every job they go on whether it is a big or small damage with compassion and respect. We find that walking our customers through our process puts them at ease and lets them know they are in competent and responsible hands who will take care of their issue. 

When flooding strikes your home, our technicians have the expertise to make it “Like it never even happened”. Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita – (316) 684-6700 for clean-up, deodorization and drying services. If you are worried about a musty smell in your basement, flood clean-up or mold removal we are the team that you can count on.

How to Keep your Basement Dry during Storms.

7/31/2019 (Permalink)

Almost every basement in Wichita has a sump pump.

If you live in Kansas you know how intense the weather gets here. Shorts one day, snow the next the day and sometimes the storms rage for days at a time. In fact, we just finished that time of year and many people saw a lot of flood damage in their basement. For some people this was their first time and for others it unfortunately wasn’t but if you are reading this we hope to help you make it the last time.

We’ve been around a while and have seen flooded basements in Wichita, Derby, Andover and all over Kansas. We have helped so many people get their homes and businesses back in order after storms rampage across the sunflower state and accumulated a lot of experience doing so. Sometimes water damages are unavoidable but most of the time taking precautionary measures could greatly mitigate if not prevent flooding due to storms. Here is a list of our most commonly handed out advice we give to customers after they flood.

1. Install a water powered sump pump
   
   
   • Having a plan b for pumping water is a great idea and many people have them. The best back up pump to install is a water powered sump pump so if even if your power is lost the pumping won’t stop.
     
     
2. Submersible Pump
   
   
   • Since we are talking about pumps changing your pump from a pedestal style pump to a submersible pump is a good idea. Less can go wrong with a submersible pump and they typically have a 5 year warranty vs a 1 year warranty typical of pedestal style pumps.
     
     
3. Install French Drains
   
   
   • What is better than pumping water out and away from your home? Keeping it away from your home in the first place. Most landscaping companies can install them for you and they are very effective in moving water away from your home. Even a working pump can be overwhelmed.
     
     
4. Gutter Extenders
   
   
   • Speaking of keeping water away from your home gutter extenders are probably the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to move water away from your home. Make those gutters you have even more effective.
     
     
5. Get the slope of your yard inspected
   
   
   • Many landscapers can provide slope inspections and solutions if your yard slopes toward your home. This will direct water towards your home rather than away from it. Getting the slope of your yard inspected is an especially good idea if your neighbors or neighborhood has done any large landscaping work recently. We have worked in many homes that have never had flooding problems before but experience issues after changes in the surrounding areas landscaping.
     
     
6. Keep basement patio drains clear
   
   
   • This is a simple thing that we see all too often. Covered and clogged drains prevent sump pumps from being as effective as they could be.

These are all great preventive measures you can take to prevent flooding in your home or business due to storms. Make sure that during storms you go and check on your basement. Some flooding issues if caught while they are happening can be prevented such as a sump pumps float getting stuck, a basement window being open, and walk around in your bare feet to find moisture. Water can come up from all parts of your basement not just the sump pump.

If you are experiencing any flooding or are worried about moisture intrusion be sure to give us a call and schedule an inspection from one of our highly trained technicians. Our emergency line is 24/7 and answered by a real in town SERVPRO representative – 316-684-6700.

When Storms or Floods hit Wichita, KS SERVPRO is ready!

7/24/2018 (Permalink)

A photo of one of our crews loading up during a storm event in Wichita, KS!

SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita specializes in storm and flood damage restoration and have weathered several storm events in Wichita, KS.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment such as thermal cameras to restore your property "Like it never even happened".

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost. 

Resources to Handle Large Events

If it is a large storm event it may mean that many people in Wichita, Derby, Andover and the surrounding areas need emergency restoration services. This could mean many other companies here in Wichita will have waiting lists. When that happens SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita is able to call in reinforcements from other SERVPRO's from Lawrence, Tulsa, and other surrounding areas and make sure that you get the help you need as quickly as possible. We have done it before to great effect!

We can also call for help when huge damage hits Wichita. We can call for help from all 1,600+ SERVPRO's to run a coordinated effort to help people recover from whatever may occur. SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita has gone to other cities such as Houston after a Tornado or Kansas City after historic flooding and been apart of such efforts. For more information about storm damage check our storm damage page.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 316-684-6700!