How Can I Tell if I Have Ice Dam Damage in Wintergreen?

3/21/2023 (Permalink)

We are leaders in water damage restoration services in Albemarle County.

Our local team in Charlottesville responds to water damage emergencies every year in Wintergreen. Ice dams are ridges of ice that form at the edge of a roof that prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause water damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other parts of the building.

Here are signs of ice dams from Travelers Insurance:

• Look closely at the icicles around the exterior of your house. If the icicles are confined to the gutters and there is no water trapped behind them, then an ice dam has likely not formed. Nonetheless, icicles can be a precursor to ice dams. Depending on their location and size, icicles may also pose a danger if they fall off. Whenever possible, and if safe to do so, remove icicles from the exterior of your home, making sure not to stand directly beneath them. If you cannot safely reach the icicles from the ground, consider hiring a contractor to assist in their removal.

• Check for water stains or moisturein your attic or along the ceiling of the exterior walls of your house. Water stains or moisture may be an indication that an ice dam has formed and water has penetrated the roof membrane.

Call Us Today!

When you discover an ice dam or another type of water damage in your Wintergreen home or business, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

How Can I Thaw My Frozen Pipes in Free Union?

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Albemarle County.

Freezing temperatures mean frozen pipe issues for Free Union residents. Our local team in Charlottesville responds to storm damage emergencies every winter and offers this helpful information from the Red Cross for thawing frozen pipes:

• If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
• Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will start to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
• Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
• Apply heat until the full water pressure is restored. If you cannot locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
• Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

Call Us Today!

When you discover water damage in your Free Union home or commercial business, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Freezing Rain Causing Property Damage in Earlysville?

3/7/2023 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Albemarle County.

Winter weather in Earlysville can range from rain to snow to sleet, or a combination of all. Our local team in Charlottesville responds to storm damage emergencies every winter and offers this helpful information from the National Weather Service about winter weather warnings:

The National Weather Service issues winter weather-related warnings, watches, and advisories through your local National Weather Service office. Each office knows the local area and issues Warnings, Watches, or Advisories based on local weather criteria.

Warnings: Take Action!

Watches: B e Prepared

Advisories: Be Aware

Some additional terms used are:

Freezing Rain: Rain that freezes when it hits the ground; creating a coating of ice on roads, trees, and power lines.

Sleet: Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery.

Wind Chill: A measure of how cold people feel due to the combined effect of wind and cold temperatures. The Wind Chill Index is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin. Both cold temperatures and wind remove heat from the body: as the wind speed increases during cold conditions, a body loses heat more quickly. Eventually, the internal body temperature also falls and hypothermia can develop.

Call Us Today!

When you have a storm damage emergency in your Earlysville home or commercial business, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Tips For Dealing with a Power Outage in Scottsville?

2/28/2023 (Permalink)

We respond to storm damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Albemarle County.

Our local team in Charlottesville is on call 24 hours a day, and we usually arrive onsite within four hours of your call for help when you have a storm damage emergency in Scottsville. Here are some tips for protecting yourself during a power outage from the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

• Keep freezers and refrigerators closed
• Only use generators outdoors and away from windows
• Do not use a gas stove to heat your home
• Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges
• Use alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or power-dependent medical devices
• If safe, go to an alternate location for heat or cooling
• Check on neighbors

When your home or business suffers damage from wind or other severe weather, our storm damage response team has the training, equipment, and experience to secure your property quickly and efficiently. As soon as we arrive, we will board and tarp up any areas of the structure exposed to the elements to prevent further damage. We can supervise a full range of building and reconstruction services to restore a property to pre-damage condition.  

Call Us Today!

When you have a property damage emergency in your Scottsville home or commercial business, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Can I Do to Remove an Ice Dam From my North Garden Home?

2/21/2023 (Permalink)

We respond to water damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Albemarle County.

Our team in Charlottesville responds to water damage emergencies every year in North Garden. Here are some tips from Travelers Insurance on removing an ice dam:

Removing an ice dam from your roof immediately after spotting the signs can be critical to helping prevent damage to your home. One way to remove an ice dam is to melt it using calcium chloride ice melt.

Step 1. Using a roof rake, remove snow 3-4 feet from the edge of your roof, being careful not to damage the roof covering or to allow snow to build up around walking paths or to block emergency exits

Step 2. Use a calcium chloride ice melt product, which you can generally purchase from your local hardware store. Be sure not to use rock salt or sodium chloride, which can damage your roof.

Step 3. Fill a nylon stocking with the calcium chloride ice melt

Step 4. Safely place and position the calcium chloride-filled nylon stocking vertically across the ice dam so that it can melt a channel through the ice

Step 5. Cover and protect any shrubbery and plants with lightweight tarps near the gutters or downspouts for the duration that the calcium chloride stockings remain in place

Call Us Today!

When you have a water damage emergency in your North Garden home or business, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Can I Do to Prevent Frozen Pipes in my Charlottesville Home?

2/14/2023 (Permalink)

We are trusted leaders in water damage restoration in Albemarle County.

Freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on plumbing systems if precautions are not made to prevent the pipes from freezing. Our team in Charlottesville responds to water damage emergencies caused by frozen pipes every year in Grand Rapids, and we offer these tips for preventing frozen pipes from the Red Cross:

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

• 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 and 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 are going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, and set it to a temperature, not below 55° Fahrenheit

Call Us Today!

When you have frozen pipes or any other type of water damage emergency in your home or commercial business, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Ice Storm Damage in Free Union Home?

2/7/2023 (Permalink)

We restore storm damage 24 hours a day in Albemarle County.

Our team in Charlottesville is trained and certified to restore storm damage in Free Union by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the nonprofit certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industries.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes ice storms as heavy accumulations of ice that can bring down trees and utility poles, and communication towers. Bridges and overpasses are extremely dangerous because they freeze faster than other surfaces.

Black ice is another ice storm hazard defined by patchy ice on roadways or other transportation surfaces that cannot be easily seen because it is clear (not white) with the black road surface underneath. It is most prevalent in the early morning hours, especially after the snow melts on the roadways, and has a chance to refreeze overnight.

Ice jams occur when long cold spells cause rivers and lakes to freeze. A rise in the water level or a thaw breaks the ice into large chunks, which become jammed at manmade and natural obstructions. The ice dams can act as a dam and cause severe flooding.

Call Us Today!

When you have storm damage in your home or business in Free Union, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Stinky Store Mystery Solved in Charlottesville?

1/31/2023 (Permalink)

We identify and remove offensive odors in Albemarle County.

There’s nothing more off-putting than walking into an unpleasant odor. Sometimes the smell is created by more than one source, so it can be challenging to diagnose the origins of the scents. Our team in Charlottesville is trained and certified in the science of odor identification and elimination by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the nonprofit certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industries. We never mask odors or take shortcuts, as these methods do not work.

Odor Identification

The first step is to identify the source of the smell and locate where the odor is contacting surfaces. Sometimes the odors originate from more than one location in the building. For instance, foul odors can result from dirty drains, sewers, garbage cans, and even dead animals and animal waste.

Odor Elimination Process

Once we identify the cause of the odor and determine the conditions where it contacts surfaces, the odor can often be removed over time without a trace. Our technicians use several odor removal products capable of thoroughly penetrating surfaces to neutralize unpleasant scents.

Call Us Today!

When you have an odor problem in your Charlottesville home or commercial business, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What is the Process for Restoring Commercial Water Damage in Charlottesville?

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

We respond to commercial water damage emergencies 24 hours a day in Albemarle County.

Although every commercial water loss is unique, our team in Charlottesville follows a comprehensive, six-step process for every business we serve as follows:

Step 1 - Emergency Contact

Step 2 - Inspection and Water Damage Assessment

We inspect and test to determine the extent of damage and how far the moisture has traveled to ensure proper and complete restoration.

Step 3 - Water Removal / Water Extraction

We use powerful pumps and vacuum units to quickly remove hundreds or thousands of gallons from your property. This helps prevent secondary water damage and mold growth.

Step 4 - Drying and Dehumidification

Our Professionals will use room measurements, temperature, and relative humidity to determine the optimal number of air movers and dehumidifiers needed to dry your home or business.

Step 5 - Cleaning and Sanitizing

We clean all of the restorable items and structures damaged by the water. Our professionals are trained to provide sanitizing treatments, remove odors, and deodorize your property.

Step 6 - Restoration

Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall and installing new carpets, or major repairs, such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.

Call Us Today!

When you have a water damage emergency in your Charlottesville commercial business or home, our team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Recent Storm Causes Basement Flooding in North Garden?

1/17/2023 (Permalink)

We are trusted leaders in storm damage restoration services in Albemarle County.

Our team in Charlottesville responds to storm damage emergencies every year. North Garden residents can rely on our team of qualified professionals to restore storm and flooding damage 24-hours a day. We know that our fast emergency response time and our use of powerful, industrial-grade water extraction equipment save our customers money by minimizing the potential for further damage. Here are some safety tips from our website for things you can do while waiting for help to arrive:

Safety First:

• Stop the source of water damage; call a plumber/or wait for the storm to end
• Turn off the electricity
• If it is not safe to stay in the house, evacuate everyone, including pets
• Have all your relevant documents in one safe, dry place
• If you have homeowner’s insurance, start the claims process
• Document everything with photos, and wear protective gear
• If you are a tenant, reach out to your landlord or property manager

We can help with the cleanup process! Once the source of loss is stopped, we have the knowledge, training, experience, protective gear, and equipment to help extract water, salvage personal items, dry the space out, disinfect, and help remediate mold.

Call Us Today!

When you discover flooding or other storm damage in your home or business in North Garden, our local team in Charlottesville is Here to Help.® Call us today at 434-977-5850.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.