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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Water Damage Blog Posts

Water Damage to your Home? Call SERVPRO of The Main Line

4/10/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of The Main Line is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, no matter the size. When you are dealing with a water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (610) 640-9533

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of The Main Line has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO technicians may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

  • Your name and contact information
  • Your insurance information (if applicable)
  • The street address of the water-damaged home or business
  • When did the flooding or water damage occur?
  • What caused the water damage (if known)?
  • Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of The Main Line:

SERVPRO of The Main Line specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Specialized Equipment for Drying Hardwood Floors

1/14/2020 (Permalink)

When hardwood flooring gets wet during a water damage it can cause serious problems.  Even if the water is cleaned up from the surface immediately, the water may have already penetrated the flooring.  Water travels under the floor boards which causes them to swell and buckle.  It usually takes around 48 hours for signs of visible damage and in most cases this damage is irreversible which means the floor will require replacement.   

That’s where SERVPRO of The Main Line comes in.  We have specialized floor drying equipment specifically for this problem. It’s called a “Trapped Moisture Ventilation System” or hardwood floor drying system.  The system works by placing plastic mats on the wet flooring and using suction to draw out the moisture.  The drying process typically takes 3 days to return the moisture content of the floor to normal and in most cases, re-finishing is not required!

When it comes to wet hardwood flooring, time is of the essence.  The sooner the drying process begins the better the end result.  With 24 hour emergency service we can be on-site within 4 hours to begin the drying process.  

Long Term Water Damage Causes Little Puddle on Kitchen Floor but Big Problems in Crawlspace

1/14/2020 (Permalink)

Hidden subfloor damage under insulation in crawlspace

Many of us rarely use our crawlspaces so when there is a problem it can go undetected for a very long period of time. In this case the homeowners noticed a small puddle on their kitchen floor several days in a row. The homeowners simply cleaned up the puddle everyday and thought their refrigerator was on its last legs. The couple eventually called their appliance repair company and they came out to investigate the situation further. They determined that the refrigerator had been leaking and the majority of the water was ending up in the crawlspace. That’s when SERVPRO of The Main Line was called in and was able to take a closer look to see that the entire crawlspace floor was covered in water.

10 Bathroom Water Damage Facts We Bet You Didn’t Know

12/18/2019 (Permalink)

Ever wonder what can be lurking in your toilet?  Or where all of that water went when your sink overflowed?  What could be growing behind the walls?  Keep reading to learn some interesting bathroom facts you probably didn't know.

  1. Did you know that the bathroom is THE most susceptible location for water damage in your entire house? There are so many little bits of information and facts you may not know that could possibly save your bathroom from potential water damage. Read on below for nine more bathroom water damage tidbits we bet you didn’t know, but would love to find out!
  2. Invisible plumbing problems such as clogged drains can stop your bathtub and shower from completely drying after usage, and can signal severe problems underneath the bathtub. To prevent further bathroom water damage, these inconspicuous plumbing troubles should be inspected by a professional as soon as possible.
  3. The toilet is one of the household fixtures that can cause the majority of bathroom water damage in the home. Never ignore any water found around the toilet. The toilet lines should constantly be check for leaks, and the toilet rims, seats, and the toilet tank should be regularly checked as well. Also inspect the seal of the toilet. If the seal does not work anymore, there will be leakage from the toilet, causing disastrous bathroom water damage.
  4. If the bathroom floor is soft, damage may already be in the process of occurring.
  5. The exhaust fan is an essential bathroom asset for the maintenance of low humidity levels. Assisting to keep the area dry and ventilated, the exhaust fan is an added security against the destruction that bathroom water damage causes. Be sure to turn on the fan during and following a warm/hot shower or bath to prevent moisture accumulation. Routine cleaning and inspection can ensure that your exhaust fan is always operating properly. It is suggested to wire the fan to automatically function when the bathroom is used.
  6. Hanging deodorants in the toilet bowl can increase the chances of a clog, especially in low-flow toilets. Skip the fancy deodorizers if you want to keep your bowl clog-free and lessen your chances of bathroom water damage.
  7. Blisters along caulked areas, or discolored floor stains can suggest water leakage. Although these blemishes may seem small to the naked eye, do not underestimate the extent of the water damage in your bathroom. Just a tiny leak can be a sign of a enormous problem on pipes and drains that are not exposed and cannot be seen. Furthermore, the water that penetrates into the floor encourages growth of mold, fungi, and other microorganisms that feed on the wood, causing more bathroom water damage.
  8. Did you know that these microorganisms flourish in temperatures between 40 and 100 degrees? That is the typical temperature of most bathrooms, making the overall damage horrendous.
  9. If the humidity in your bathroom is high, generally more than 55 percent, you have a possible mold problem. Check for water on pipes because it can also suggests a mold situation and water damage. A musty odor also signals mold, and should be followed up with an inspection. The presence of mold cannot only lead to damage to your bathroom, but health issues as well.
  10. Sinks and cabinets are constantly exposed to humidity and moisture, but are often ignored by homeowners searching for bathroom water damage. However, these are two fixtures that are known to conceal damage. You should regularly inspect under sinks and cabinets. A slow draining pipe underneath the sink suggests a clogged drain. If you see a loose or cracked drain seal, replace it immediately.

Ceiling collapse in Wayne

12/18/2019 (Permalink)

When you come home from vacation the last thing you feel like doing is unpacking, let alone cleaning your kitchen ceiling up off the floor.  If a water leak starts when no one is home to shut it off, the damage can get extensive.  This picture shows a home after the owners took a weekend trip to the shore.  They returned to find a toilet on the second floor was clogged and kept running once they left.  The water went through the bathroom floor and into the kitchen ceiling causing the collapse.  SERVPRO of The Main Line offers 24 hour emergency service for fire and water damage.  Our crew went out that night to start the cleaning and drying process.  Situations like this can be traumatizing but once the SERVPRO crew arrives, the customers mind is put at ease. 

My hardwood Floors have gotten wet! Help!

11/21/2019 (Permalink)

Some of the most frantic calls we receive are when someone’s hardwood floors get wet during a water damage. Even if the water is immediately cleaned up from the surface, the water may have already penetrated the flooring. Water travels under the floor boards which causes the boards to swell and buckle. It usually takes around 48 hours for signs of visible damage and in most cases this damage is irreversible which means the floor will require replacement.

That’s where SERVPRO of The Main Line comes in. We have specialized floor drying equipment specifically for this problem. It’s called a “Trapped Moisture Ventilation System” or hardwood floor drying system. The system works by placing plastic mats on the wet flooring and using suction to draw out the moisture. The drying process typically takes 3-5 days to return the moisture content of the floor to normal and in most cases, re-finishing is not required!

When it comes to wet hardwood flooring, time is of the essence. The sooner the drying process begins the better the end result. With 24 hour emergency services, we can be on-site within hours to begin the drying process. 

Freezing Pipes are a BIG Problem

11/14/2019 (Permalink)

As the cold weather is now here to stay, a concern for home owners and business alike is the risk of freezing pipes. In the event that pipes freeze and burst, it can cause massive water damage to the areas that are effected. Here at SERVPRO of The Main Line we are trained and equipped to clean and assist in repairs that are in the water damaged areas.

Listed below are tips to prevent pipes from freezing:

  • It is ideal to keep your home or business thermostat temperature set at 55 degrees or above which provides enough heat to keep the pipes warm.
  • It is important to keep all windows and doors closed to the outside environment to keep cold air from entering the home. In addition repairing all cracks and holes around doors and windows is also helpful in preventing cold air from entering.
  • If you are leaving your home for a lengthy period of time, it is ideal to shut off and drain your water system and to have someone check on your home periodically to ensure no issues.

Oh No! The Pipes are Frozen

11/7/2019 (Permalink)

There’s no better way to escape the harsh cold Main Line winter than a vacation to a nice and warm location.  But unfortunately for this older couple their heater decided it would take a vacation too, and by vacation I mean the heater stopped working.

Once the heater malfunctioned, temperatures inside the home dropped quickly and the kitchen sink supply line had frozen and burst. When they arrived back home the picture shows what they found in their basement recreation room. What a mess!

Luckily for them, their homeowner’s insurance company told them to call SERVPRO of The Main Line and we arrived that day to clean up the mess. When the crew arrived they got right to work. Contents of the rec room were sorted, cleaned, and wet non-salvageable materials were removed and disposed of. Drying equipment was later set up and the basement was cleaned. The whole process was completed in a matter of hours by our experienced certified water damage technicians. The homeowners were still unpacking by the time the crew left for the evening.


REMEMEBER if you take a winter vacation this year; remember to have your heat on and working, but if something you cannot control happens remember that there is always someone here to help at SERVPRO of The Main Line.

Basement flooding prevention tips

5/22/2017 (Permalink)

Example of poor draining downspout.

As hurricane season approaches many of us will be vulnerable to basement flooding.  Basement flooding can be a major disturbance to a family.  Loss of use of a part of your home, damage to flooring and walls, damage to personal property, potential of mold growth, and just overall an experience we would avoid if we could. 

To begin trying to prevent basement flooding first we must understand why basements flood.  Think about when your home was being built.  A large hole is dug and the masonry foundation is built inside that hole.  The area outside of that foundation wall becomes a trench.  This trench is later back filled with dirt.  However this dirt is different in composition from what was removed.  Typically the soil make up in Southeastern Pennsylvania is a hard clay soil under top soil layer which is hard and compacted.  The trench soil is loose, not as compacted, and drains more rapidly.  So when water fills this trench in a heavy rainstorm it has only 3 possible directions to go, away from home through hard clay soil, down below the trench through hard clay soil, or into your home though porous masonry walls.  The most important step to preventing water damages from rain/flooding is to keep water away from this trench.  There are other causes for basements to flood like hydrostatic pressure and sump pump failures but this is the most common cause from our experience. 

Below are some tips from the pros that may help you avoid a water damage:

  • ·         Check your gutters and clean them if needed.  Clogged gutters cause overflows which lead to water pooling outside the foundation walls.  If enough water pools by your foundation, some will most likely enter your basement.
  • ·         Check on your gutter downspouts.  If your gutters are clean and operating properly but the water is being discharged to close to your foundation some water will most likely enter your basement.  Local home stores sell inexpensive downspout extenders.  Use downspout extenders to make sure the water is being discharged away from your foundation and not pooling.
  • ·         Check on your sump pump and pit.  Many of us don’t know that our sump pumps aren’t working until it’s too late.   Get a 5 gallon bucket of water and fill the pit till the pump kicks on.  Make sure it’s working and just like the downspouts, discharging away from your foundation.  Also and dirt and debris in the sump pump pit can get sucked into the pump and create a block or shorten the life span and power of your pump.  Detach the pump (if possible) and vacuum the pit out with a shop vac to remove any dirt/stones/debris.

Sometimes no matter what we do and what steps we take to prevent it, water will find its way into your home.  If that’s the case, we are here to help make it “Like it never even happened.”