Water Damage Cleanup in Cleveland & Akron, Ohio

Today’s homes are being constructed to be as energy efficient as possible. That means that they are very tight. When water enters this environment and is not dealt with correctly, the problems that may occur are almost endless: the “color” (stain) in wood furniture can cause permanent stains; carpets may need to be replaced; furnishings can be permanently damaged; damage to walls and ceilings can be permanent; and the possibility of microbial growth can become a real concern.
All of this and more can result from just a little water. A broken pipe can occur at any time and in any part of the house. When this happens on an upper level, however, the need for expediency is even more important, and a homeowner certainly wants a true restoration professional when such an event occurs.

Houses today are built in all styles and methods throughout the country. In some areas, it is common practice to place hot water heaters and air conditioning systems in attic spaces. In other parts of the country, it is common to have washers and dryers installed on the second story for the convenience of the homeowner.

It is also becoming more common to have sprinkler systems installed in the ceilings of singlefamily homes and condo units. Even plumbing lines are installed through the ceiling. Multiple family dwellings are also becoming more popular than ever before. These “newer” structural items, along with the usual plumbing from bathrooms and other water sources on upper levels indicate that a water loss from an overhead or upper level water source has the potential to present a very serious water damage claim, which could become extensive if not mitigated promptly and correctly by a restoration professional.

Upon arriving at the damaged home, it is important that the restoration professional properly evaluate the potential safety issues. The potential for electrical problems are of the utmost concern. Ceiling light fixtures are common and present a significant potential hazard from an overhead water source. A restoration professional will alert the property owner whenever a professional electrician is necessary to address this concern. Damaged drywall on the ceilings may present a danger of falling. It needs to be addressed promptly.

It is necessary to protect everyone who enters the structure. There are also, of course, the potential trip-hazards as a result of fallen debris. It is a function of the restoration professional to protect individuals in this environment.

After addressing the safety concerns, the contents and furnishings within the home need to be protected. Water coming from above can cause serious damage to upholstered furniture, electronic devices, decorative furnishings, and other personal items.

Water can cause damage in many ways, including electrical shorts, corrosion, and promoting the growth of microorganisms. The longer left untreated, the more damage will occur. Furnishings need to be protected or removed from the site. A restoration professional will remove debris from the items, move them to unaffected areas, and will ensure the safe handling of such items. If the damage is severe enough, arrangements will be made to move the items to an off-site location for appropriate cleaning and drying.

The next step is to find the path of the water. A restoration professional knows that water will find the path of least resistance through the home. It will continue to flow until it encounters a barrier to stop it. Plumbing and electrical lines are run between the levels, and these openings in the floors and wall systems allow for the flow of water, in addition to seepage through the flooring materials. When water comes to a horizontal surface, it will flow on top of the surface until it finds a way through.

With the appropriate moisture detection tools, a restoration professional will evaluate all surfaces for moisture and treat them accordingly. It will sometimes be necessary to cut open the drywall to allow for proper drying, especially if there is blown insulation inside the wall. The water must be found and removed.

Often wallpaper can be a problem. If it is vinyl wall covering, it will act as a vapor barrier and prevent moisture from evaporating from the wall and wall cavity. It may need to be removed or “perforated” to allow
for proper drying. True paper wall coverings may become permanently stained. When the glue gets wet, many types of wall coverings may release from walls.

Vinyl flooring may also pose a similar problem and necessitate removal. If the sub-floor beneath these floor coverings gets wet, there is no easy way to dry it necessitating the removal of the flooring. A restoration professional will utilize both non-penetrating meters and penetrating meters along with visual examination to locate the water. Finding where the water is becomes the most important part of the restoration process. It is necessary to dry all structural components prior to starting the rebuilding process. A restoration professional will also know that the entire job requires constant monitoring. The structural materials need to be checked at least daily to ensure that drying is taking place properly. Equipment may need to be relocated or repositioned to address specific problem areas. To avoid further damage and to ensure proper drying, a restoration professional will visit the job site daily, at a minimum, armed with moisture detection devices and will check and recheck the progress of the drying, making any necessary adjustments to the drying system in place. Water damage as a result of upper level sources poses unique problems. A restoration professional for proper drying. True paper wall coverings may become permanently stained. When the glue gets wet, many types of wall coverings may release from walls. Vinyl flooring may also pose a similar problem and necessitate removal. If the sub-floor beneath these floor coverings gets wet, there is no easy way to dry it necessitating the removal of the flooring.

A restoration professional will utilize both non-penetrating meters and penetrating meters along with visual examination to locate the water. Finding where the water is becomes the most important part of the restoration process. It is necessary to dry all structural components prior to starting the rebuilding process. A restoration professional will also know that the entire job requires constant monitoring. The structural materials need to be checked at least daily to ensure that drying is taking place properly. Equipment may need to be relocated or repositioned to address specific problem areas. To avoid further damage and to ensure proper drying, a restoration professional will visit the job site daily, at a minimum, armed with moisture detection devices and will check and recheck the progress of the drying, making any necessary adjustments to the drying system in place.
Water damage as a result of upper level sources poses unique problems. A restoration professional must become a detective. They must find the water; not just the obvious locations, but also the hidden water damage must be found. Water, if left untreated, will cause further problems. Mold can potentially become an issue. The structure must be properly dried utilizing professional meters and equipment to achieve a balanced drying system. A restoration professional will be able to find the water, dry it out, and return the property to a pre-loss condition rapidly and efficiently.

866-944-PURO (7876)


Northeast Ohio's "Paramedics of Property Damage"

Flooded Basement Cleanup in the Cleveland Area of Ohio

We provide emergency cleanup and repair services for flooded basements to help return your property to normal as fast as possible. We have been Northeast Ohio's leader in disaster recovery, with one sole focus, complete customer satisfaction. Our teams of IICRC technicians are experts in cleaning up wet, water damaged basements. Using state of the art equipment we can begin to extract water and create a cleanup plan of action even with severe flooding damages.



Property disasters can come in all shapes and sizes. Water damage to your home is often caused by a mechanical breakdown such as a burst pipe or broken sump pump. During these cases water damage can be minimal or severe, depending on how long the breakdown goes unnoticed. During heavy rains and severe storms, the potential for basement flooding grows exponentially. Sometimes owning a basement often involves the challenges of unwanted water.

Property owners who live in areas with a larger potential for home flooding are encouraged to explore flood insurance to protect their contents. Unexpected basement floods can quickly cause thousands of dollars in property damages to your home and contents.

Cleaning up and repairing a water damage basement as soon as possible is highly recommended. The best way to ensure your property does not have long term problems such as mold or mildew is to have the water damages cleaned up quickly and the damaged area dried out thoroughly. Removing the excess moisture is a critical part of the cleanup process as it is the best defense against mold growth. From flood and storm water to a faulty household appliance, unwanted water is one of the greatest threats to your property. PuroClean has the experience, technology and response you need to restore your property and get your life back on track.
If you hire cleanup or repair contractors, be sure they are qualified. Be wary of people who drive through neighborhoods offering help. Check references.

Call 866-944-PURO (7876)
When engaging in the disaster scene yourself, and fter the water/sewage has receded, make certain all electrical equipment has been completely disconnected. Flush the floors and walls with water from a hose and then wash the floors and walls with detergent and hot water. Wear plastic disposable gloves and clothing that can be discarded.

Sewage Damage – Problems for Both Property and Health

Sewage damage can cause serious problems for both your property and the health of you and your family or employees. When wastewater enters your home or business, you have very little time to spare before bacteria, fungi and viruses start to spread. Once your health concerns have been addressed, PuroClean Professional Services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help minimize your personal property loss and protect any personal belongings that have been damaged by the sewage leak.



Our Sewage Damage Cleanup and Property Restoration include:

• Sewage clean up and removal
• Leak repairs
• Disinfect and sanitize contaminated areas

                       - floorboards
                       - carpets
                       - walls
                       - furniture

Coping with any kind of property loss can be devastating. It is an experience that affects families on both a material and emotional level with the loss of property as well as the loss of a sense of security and safety. We understand that responding to property emergencies is more than restoring the damage. Behind every loss is a homeowner who needs consolation or a business owner who is struggling to minimize downtime. We will work directly with your insurance provider to help get your home or business back in pre-catastrophic condition as quickly and painlessly as possible.


PuroClean Professional Services is proud to be referred to as, “Northeast Ohio’s Paramedics of Property Damage”.

440-748-7876
330-273-0003

Insight on the issues of Mold In Homes; provided by PuroClean Professional Services

Mold continues to be in the news, somewhere in the nation, on a daily basis. Mold spores are, literally, everywhere and usually cause no concern. However, when the conditions are right, mold can begin to grow, and if that occurs inside of a home or other structure, it is always a concern and can be a real problem.


The molds that cause problems in homes need just three things to grow:
Food - Anything that used to be alive (wood, cardboard, paper, wool, silk, leather, etc.).

Temperature - These molds thrive in the range of 68°F to 86°F (the same range we typically keep our homes).

Water - Very little is needed. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that indoor humidity above 60% is sufficient to allow mold to develop.

Since our homes normally contain a lot of potential mold "food," and are normally kept at a temperature conducive to mold growth, all that is missing is water.
Water is also the most likely cause of damage to property across the nation. It includes everything from overflowing sinks, to leaky or broken pipes/hoses, to drain or sewer back-ups, to over-ground water from heavy rains or river/coastal flooding. If the water is in contact with any form of dirt (remember, flood waters certainly contain lots of "dirt"), then the growth can occur even more quickly since dirt always includes organic material - "mold food."
In all cases, water damage must be remediated quickly and thoroughly or it will result in mold growth. Complete drying, back to normal conditions, is very important since any excess moisture will result in mold growth.
Mold is often seen as obvious "growth" or even "discoloration" on materials like paper or wood. Colors can range from white to orange and from green to brown and black, and it gives off the well-known "musty/moldy" smell.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC),"The Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, and wheezing in otherwise healthy people. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children."
The CDC recommends that all molds found in the indoor environment be eliminated, adding, "Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and the CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds." Since all molds have the potential to cause allergic or allergic like symptoms in people, especially highly susceptible individuals, they should be eliminated whenever they are found. Knowing the name of the mold does not change anything since the same safety precautions should be used whenever remediating mold, regardless of the "name."

Mold Prevention Tips
There is no practical way to eliminate all of the mold spores in an indoor environment. But there are many ways to help control moisture and mold growth in your home. The basic rule is: if you can see or smell mold, take steps to eliminate the excess moisture, and to clean and remove any mold. It is very important to quickly identify and correct any moisture sources before health problems develop.

Stop the Water

• Fix leaks in pipes and any damp area around tubs and sinks so mold spores don't have a growing environment.

• If you rebuild or remodel, do so with water resistant building materials such as tile, stone, deep-sealed concrete, waterproof wallboard, water-resistant glues, etc.

• Prevent seepage of water from the outdoors into your house. It's important to have rainwater from gutters or the roof drain away from the house. The ground around the house needs to slope away to keep the basement and crawl space dry.

• Ventilate any crawl space as much as possible to allow for thorough drying.



Keep It Dry

• Reduce the moisture in the air with dehumidifiers, fans and open windows or air conditioners, especially in hot weather. Do NOT use fans if mold may already exist; a fan will spread the mold spores.

• Try to keep the humidity in your home below 40%.

• In moisture-prone areas, consider easy-to-clean, water-resistant floor coverings, such as vinyl or stone tile.

• Reduce potential for condensation on cold surfaces by insulating.

Dealing with Mold

• If you discover mold, the first step is to find and eliminate the water source, as above.

• Then, if it is a small area (less than about 10 sq ft), and you feel comfortable, clean the mold with a detergent solution and thoroughly dry all materials.

• If it is larger than 10 sq ft, consider calling a professional mold remediation company, such as PuroClean, the Paramedics of Property Damage™. Our well-trained, professional technicians understand and apply industry standard approaches to remediate mold completely, while being as safe for your home and your family as possible.
Regardless of the circumstances - dealing with mold, water damage, fire/smoke damage, or biohazard remediation - call PuroClean Professional Services, the Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, we are standing by. We will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. PuroClean has a staff of well-trained professional technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.
For help with mold and/or water damage concerns, call immediately!

440-748-7876
330-273-0003