Small shopping mall damaged from burst pipes

3/7/2024 (Permalink)

Production tech spraying anti-microbial on a white wall.

SERVPRO performed a moisture check and job walk to determine if structure has is dried out. We have double confirmed by also checking behind positive ceiling materials for the Kitchen, Hallway and Office Space. We spoke with business owner of  Building Manager, We inspected work performed, The subfloor structure has reduced in swelling and appears to be visible stable thanks to drying methods to restore to avoid additional recon cost. We took post mitigation photos just in case. In the restaurant we checked work performed by technicians to determine remaining scope of work to be performed post abatement. Previous visit team was on site to pick up staged EQ, complete remaining demo we are able to complete before abatement services then clean exposed framing and wood structures. We did discover suspicious staining on the back wall in the Office Space where cabinets blocked off the exterior wall and flooring underneath. We marked the wall for a flood cut once our crew returns for final day demo and cleaning. Job progression is at 85% completion. HEPA 500 AFD has been moved from Kitchen/Entry to Kitchen B set under negative pressure for dust control and cross contamination purposes. We swapped out the filter before departure. We secured building upon departure.

Winter Storm Damage

2/1/2023 (Permalink)

Holiday mishap

Today we arrived on site to visit a customer who reported water damage during the winter storm event. We met on site and was greeted by the customers. Upon arrival we had visible damage from the COL (cause of loss). We found heavy water marks on ceiling tile and drywall from top to bottom in most areas. Some standing water remained but not enough to justify extraction. According to the customer they extracted and clean up from the water loss. The carpet mats on the main level and large carpets for Living, Bedrooms and 1 closet were still saturated. The customers said the water was on leaking up to 4-5 days. We found the information received to be accurate based on the severe porous materials and wood structure. We found suspicious staining on certain areas, window in Bedroom B is broken and needs to be boarded up to maintain temperature control. Due to lack of HVAC systems we will need heaters to achieve drying for wood structures. CAT 3 job status due to time and conditions. We initial paperwork and collected insurance information. This job will require extensive coordination due to complications, Large amount of contents needing to be maneuvered, Packed and protected during mitigation services. Customer was given up to 48 hours to locate asbestos and lead testing before we will make the request in order to complete job accordingly. 

Huge water loss at local home

11/15/2022 (Permalink)

The cause of damage was removed in order to start the drying process.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an emergency call in the middle regarding a water loss in a local home in the Portland area that is causing the drywall to bubble. The customer informed us that before calling us they called out a plumber to meet us on-site to help determine the cause of the loss. Our crews arrived on the scene within 20 minutes of the phone call ends. Upon arrival, we were met by the plumber who let us know that the cause of loss was the master bedrooms defective toilet O ring and that it could potentially leak Category 3 water into the walls cavities, and flooring. The plumber was able to fix the toilet mount and the O ring and inform us that once mitigation and remediation services were completed they would re-set all toilets.

After the initial inspection, it was time to put together a drying plan to restore this home to preloss condition as soon as possible. In the bathroom, we detached the door, built containment, poly barrier, and ram board to protect the shower and tub,  and we set air filtration devices under negative pressure. In addition, we placed floor protection and removed all affected drywall and insulation. In the recreation room, we built containment, placed floor protection, and removed the drywall ceiling and wall with suspicious staining. In the recreation washroom, we built containment, placed air filtration devices under the negative press, place ram board to protect countertops, and detached upper cabinets.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to get the customer's home restored to preloss conditions in only 4 days. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened." Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. If you have any questions please call us at 503.777.9739

There is no water loss to big for SERVPRO

11/15/2022 (Permalink)

Bedroom closet was affected in order to increase drying carpet had to be lifted.

SERVPRO of  Southwest Portland received an emergency call regarding a water loss in a local home in the Portland area. The customer informed us that her daughter found standing water coming into the finished basement through a defective window from a heavy rain storm. Within 20 minutes of the phone call ending, our well-trained crews arrived on site to meet the customers and immediately start work. We began to extract the water, perform minor content manipulation, detach doors, lift to dry area rugs, and place stabilizing and drying equipment. 

Once we were able to start work our amazing crew chief came up with a drying plan in order to restore the customer's home back to preloss condition as soon as possible. In the bedroom we had to detach the door, reim, baseboards, crown molding, content manipulation, extract, lift large area rugs to dry, and cavity holes on exterior walls to dry within the walls. In the bedroom closet, we did the same and in the hallway outside of the room, we also had to lift the rug to dry, put cavity holes to dry the wall from within, removed engineered wood flooring, detach baseboards, crown molding, and detach trim.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to get the customer's home restored to preloss conditions in only 4 days. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened." Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. If you have any questions please call us at 503.777.9739

What to do when the unexpected happens? Give SERVPRO a call.

11/15/2022 (Permalink)

The Dishwasher loss caused damage to the crawlspace.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an emergency call in the early hours of the morning. The customer informed us that they had a water loss caused to a defective dishwasher. Within 30 minutes of the phone call ending our crew of well-trained professionals met the customer on-site along with their adjuster. During the initial walk-through, we discussed with the customer and the adjuster methods and ways in order to save the cabinetry and hardwood floors that were just recently installed. We began work immediately,  starting with the crawlspace mitigation we dropped insulation from the subfloor in order to prevent microorganisms we found that the sub for the ceiling was highly saturated.

Once work was started the drying plan was created the drying plan would be in the affected areas, the kitchen, the entryway, and the crawl space. In the kitchen, we built containment, detached baseboards, toe kicks, detached cabinet doors, drilled cavity holes for the injection system with the cab walls, and exposed drywall within the outside walls. In addition, we had to remove all drywall and insulation had to be removed since they were exposed due to the place the dishwasher was placed we then removed the glued hardwood flooring and exposed the subfloor to help with drying. In the Entryway, we had to build containment to isolate affected areas, tear out baseboards, do minor content manipulation, lift the carpet in order for it to dry in place, and remove the affected carpet pad and tack strip. Our crew then cut a 2ft flood cut to remove affected drywall and to expose the back of cabinets to dry within the wall adjacent to the kitchen.

Finally the crawlspace, we had to drop and remove wet insulation, built containment, remove and replace Visqueen, place equipment in the center of the affected area and sprayed antimicrobial onto the ceiling surface. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to get the customer's home restored to preloss conditions in only 4 days. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened." Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. If you have any questions please call us at 503.777.9739

Prepping Your Home for Holiday Travel

11/8/2022 (Permalink)

Prepare Your Home for Holiday Travel

Traveling for the Holidays? ‘Waterproof’ Your Home Before You Leave

Local SERVPRO water damage remediation specialist provides a six-step plan for keeping your home dry and healthy while you’re away   

 For many, the holiday season includes travel, whether it is to join a family gathering or enjoy a holiday vacation. These traditional holiday trips stand to amplify an already growing travel demand. The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics* reports that for July 2022, the number of people boarding a U.S. airline plane for domestic or international travel grew to 69.9 million, up 8.6 percent from July 2021 numbers. As the holiday travel season approaches, the water and fire remediation specialists at SERVPRO^® of Southwest Portland caution homeowners that they need to go beyond buying tickets and packing a suitcase before they leave on a trip. Homeowners need to “waterproof” their homes.

“Your home is subject to water damage from inside and out when you head out on a trip,” says Dawn Sahm of SERVPRO^® of Southwest Portland. “Leaking or burst pipes can wreak havoc on the inside of your home. Severe weather can pose a flooding threat inside and outside your home. If you are planning to travel this holiday season, there are six important steps you can take before you leave to help ensure your home will be ready and welcoming when you return.”

1. Ask Someone to Check on the House While You’re Gone. Taking the simple step of asking a friend or family member to stop by while you’re gone may catch a potential problem before it becomes a disaster.

2. Check for leaks. Inspect pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks, check your water heater for cracks or rust, and ensure that hoses connected to dishwashers, refrigerators, and washing machines are leak free.

3. Insulate exposed pipes. Insulating exposed pipes can help prevent them from freezing in cold climates, but wherever you live, your home needs constant air circulation to help prevent water damage and mold caused by condensation. Keep the HVAC system turned on and open the cupboard doors under sinks to promote airflow.

4. Turn Off the Main Water Valve. If you don’t already know where this is, this is a good time to find out – and then shut it off if your home will be unattended and vacant during your trip.

5. Clear Gutters and Downspouts of Debris. Clear out debris, dirt, leaves, and sticks and position downspouts to direct water at least ten feet away from the home to prevent flooding.

6. Inspect and Test the Sump Pump. If you have a sump pump, test it before you leave by filling the sump pit with water and watching to see if the pump empties out the water. This can mean the difference between finding a dry or flooded basement when you arrive home.

“We specialize in water damage remediation so we know how difficult it can be to deal with flooding caused by burst pipes, failed sump pumps, or heavy rainfall, even if you discover the problem right away,” says Dawn. “It would be even more heartbreaking to return to your home after a holiday trip to find that water has been creating chaos while you were away. Taking steps to ‘waterproof’ your home before you leave on your holiday trip can help ensure you return to a dry, safe home, rested and relaxed from your time away.”

SERVPRO specializes in fire and water cleanup and restoration services and repair services, helping to remediate damage for both commercial and residential customers. For more information on SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, please contact Dawn Sahm  at 503-777-9739 or dsahm@SERVPROsouthwestportland.com.

No Basement loss to big for SERVPRO

10/14/2022 (Permalink)

The water loss was caused by the water hose spigot above being left turned on over night.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an emergency call regarding a basement flooding in a local home in the Portland area. The homeowner informed us that it flooded due to a water hose spigot that was left on overnight and it flowed into the basement area through two planks where an old window barrier was covered due to a previous loss. During the phone call, the owner also relayed” that the water seemed to have flown into what appeared to be the foundation wall”. Within 30 minutes of the phone call ending our crew of well-trained professionals arrived at the home.

Upon arrival, during our initial inspection of the home, we found measurable water throughout the entire basement area, there were a couple of areas that were not as affected. We then proceeded to extract all the affected areas and due to the water coming from outside, the loss goes from a category 1 loss to a category 3 loss. Once we were able to extract the water our crews came up with a drying plan to restore the home to its preloss condition.

The drying plan was to detach doors baseboards and trim from all affected areas. Then we proceeded to remove the carpet, carpet pad, tack strips, wood baseboards, and trim. Once demolition was done we then placed the equipment we placed, three of our dehumidifiers in key locations in the affected areas to ensure proper temperature control, in addition, we placed air movers for proper airflow with open spaces and dehumanization. Our crews then placed containment in front of the staircase in the basement to isolate the affected basement area. When removing the carpet pad, tack strips, baseboards, and trim, maneuver contents as we went in order to productively remove all affected materials that were deemed unsalvageable. 

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to get the customer's home restored to preloss conditions in only 4 days. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened." Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. If you have any questions please call us at 503.777.9739

Experiencing water loss call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland

10/14/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO brings in air movers to help speed up the drying process.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding a wet carpet that the customers started to notice over the past 5 days. Within 30 minutes of the call ending our crew arrived on the scene to do the initial inspection. It was apparent during the inspection that there were five areas that were affected and have water sitting underneath the materials. We also found standing water in the wine cellar located in the furnace room. In addition, we noticed that the wood paneling in the wine cellar was losing its integrity and when we pulled back the baseboards, the tile flooring in the wine cellar was beginning to lift from the water underneath. 

After the initial inspection, it was apparent that demolition was going to be needed for the furnace room vinyl tile flooring needed to be removed, detach the door to the wine cellar and remove tile, cement board, baseboards, and trim. In addition, we needed to cut a 2ft flood cut, and detach the wood panel wall to expose the hallway structure materials, and we then disposed of the panel wall since it was deemed unsalvageable. In the basement we had to lift the carpet, remove the pad and discolored tack strips, then we had to build containment to isolate the affected floors.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to restore the family home to preloss condition in only 5 days. The customers were very pleased with the response time and the fact that we were always in constant communication with them during this process.SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened." Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. If you have any questions please call us at 503.777.9739

Cat 3 water loss in local home

10/13/2022 (Permalink)

Crawlspace affected with category 3 water loss.

SERVPRO of  Southwest Portland received an early morning emergency call regarding a water loss in a local home. The customer informed us that the sewage pump in her crawlspace filled overnight and filled the crawlspace with Category 3 water. Category 3 water loss involves water that is grossly contaminated and can possibly contain pathogenic, toxigenic, or other harmful agents. Within thirty minutes of receiving the call, our crew of well-trained professionals arrived on the scene to inspect the crawlspace. 

During the crawl space inspection, it was noticed that you can stand up and detach the source of sewage was coming from. The sewage spilled into the crawlspace on top of the Visqueen and underneath in order to come in and fix the pump we first needed to place a plastic landing in order to have a plumber come in to fix the sump pump. Once we were able to handle all the immediate concerns we needed to create a drying plan. That plan was extraction, get the muck out, remove Visqueen, lay down the hydrated line, and place a new Visqueen in addition to that we will bring in a couple of fans to put in the crawlspace to help dry.

We were able to get the crawlspace dried in only 4 days, the customer was very pleased with our work. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened." Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. If you have any questions please call us at 503.777.9739

Sink gone wrong!

10/13/2022 (Permalink)

Places two air movers tp help speed up the drying process.

Earlier this fall we received a call regarding a huge water loss in a local home in the Portland area. The customer informed us that their sink in the laundry room was overflowing on the second level of their home. Upon arrival, we met with the customers and they were mopping up the water and holding buckets from the water pouring in from the kitchen ceiling. There was water coming from the light fixtures on the kitchen ceiling. It was apparent that there was water behind the drywall that needed to be cut in order to release the water so that it doesn't hold above the drywall material.

After the initial walk through we started creating the drying plan due to there being no standing water to extract so we proceeded to set equipment in all areas that were affected by the water loss. We then set containment in the master bathroom and in the laundry room closet. We then started to detach all affected baseboards and trim in the affected areas, detach the laundry room, and closet door, detach the master bathroom closet door, detach the laundry room vanity toe kick, and build another containment in the kitchen to isolate the affected areas for the best drying method. In addition, we needed to drill 20 cavity holes in the ceiling to dry in place to prevent having to remove and we had to set containment in the water heater room to isolate the affected area.

After 5 days of drying the home, we were able to restore the home to preloss condition. The customer was very pleased with the work and the fact that when we needed them we were there 30 mins within ending that phone call.SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened." Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. If you have any questions please call us at 503.777.9739

Huge water loss at local home

10/13/2022 (Permalink)

Due to hardwood buckling demolition was needed to pull the hardwood.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding a water loss, the customer told us that the fridge was leaking and they noticed the hardwood was starting to buckle. Once the call ended our crew of well-trained professionals arrived on the scene within 20 mins. Upon arrival it was apparent that demolition was going to take place we needed to remove the hardwood floor which would require us to detach and reset the cabinetry, in addition, the countertop near the sink is cracked and will break during detachment.

In order for the residents to stay in the home while work is going on on the island and the countertop near the sink will not be touched to give them the opportunity to use the sink. Our crew then came up with the drying plan which was to set containment around and applied anti- microbial to the black mold in the kitchen and dining room once the baseboard is detached. We then proceeded to dry out the crawl space using 6 air movers due to there being no mold apparent in the crawlspace we also removed all installations in the crawlspace.

In only 5 days we were able to restore the home to its preloss condition. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened." Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. If you have any questions please call us at 503.777.9739

Water valve breaks off !

10/10/2022 (Permalink)

Toilet line failed.

We received a emergency call about a 3 story town home who had a water flooding incident due to the master bathroom toilet water supply line valve breaking off. Customer tried to turn the water off and the shut off valve broke causing water to flood all 3 levels of the home. We arrived on site to extract every area of the home except a couple places that were not affected. We wanted to lift the carpet and remove pad but because of the vast amount of contents we were not able to do so. We noticed the drywall walls and ceilings were bubbling and dripping water in the Garage, Library and Living Room, measurable water was found throughout the home. We Placed EQ and plan to return the following business day to begin mitigation services as well as moving contents in order to remove the pad and dry the carpet. 

Sewage Spill Emergency

10/5/2022 (Permalink)

Make it clean with visqueen.

Today we received an emergency call from a customer who reported that her sewage pump in her crawlspace filled overnight and flooded the crawlspace with CAT 3 sewage. We arrived on site to inspect the crawlspace area where the location is behind the house down the staircase. Customer opened up the hatch and we walked into a crawl space where you can stand up and we detected where the source of sewage was coming from. The sewage has spilled into the crawlspace on top of the Visqueen and underneath. We extract the sewage from her crawlspace, place a plastic lining for the plumber to come in and fix the pump. 

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is available 24/7/365 to service your home or business. 

Call 503-777-9739. 

Smart Toilet Acts Dumb

10/5/2022 (Permalink)

Smart toilet malfunctions.

We received a emergency call from a customer who reported a water leak from a toilet water supply line. The water was shut off in the Master Bathroom to prevent further damages until a plumber can comes out to inspect the water supply line for repairs. We found ceiling and wall materials saturated in the dining room and kitchen area. In the 3rd level Master Bathroom, we found a smart toilet that was shut off by customers. Then we found that the drywall 2ft above and below and tile flooring was saturated. It appeared the tile flooring was in good condition and we would be able to save.  In the Master Bedroom we found wet carpet and pad. Walls adjacent to the Master Bathroom are saturated We removed the pad and dried out the carpet via carpet lift. 

Floor drying matts to the rescue.

10/5/2022 (Permalink)

Floor matt drying systems.

Toilet overflowed in half bath on the main floor and affected the hardwood flooring in the bathroom and office and went down a heat duct in the office. It affected the ceiling wall and floor in the basement. 

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to dry the flooring in record time, by using a floor drying system that was comprised of two floor suction matts, and a wall cavity drying system. 

SERVPRO of Southwest has the latest equipment from laser measures to thermal cameras to help with the process of finding where the water has gone and making sure we dry every area out. 

Make SERVPRO of Southwest Portland your first call, our professional team of water restoration techs. will be able to get the job done. 

Rain, rain, go away!

2/10/2022 (Permalink)

No matter the time of day SERVPRO is always here to help!

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an after-hours call regarding a massive water loss in a local home of the Portland area. The homeowner alerted us that their basement was flooding and you could tell in their voice they were very frantic and agitated. Within an hour of the call ending, we sent our crew of well-trained professionals with the flood truck loaded up and ready to go. Our crew was told that the flood was caused by heavy rain.

Upon arrival, after going through the initial inspection our amazing crew chief came up with the most efficient drying plan in order to get the basement back to normal as soon as possible. The drying plan was to extract all of the standing water located in the basement and remove the base along with all saturated carpet and pad. Once removed, flood cuts will be needed for the affected walls in the basement. 

The flood in the basement was caused by the rain and the rain caused the window to well and to fill up then the water then entered through the window opening. Water was coming in at a very high rate until the homeowner was able to get back and from home depot and installed a sump pump in the well and pumped out the water.

Our crew brought in multiple dehumidifiers along with multiple air movers as we could fit into the basement in order to dry the basement as soon as possible. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping full mitigation and restoration from start to finish to make it “Like it never even happened”. Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

Small problem turned into a huge problem but nothing SERVPRO cant handle!

2/7/2022 (Permalink)

From the smallest pipes to the largest if they ever brake give SERVPRO of Southwest Portland a call!

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an after-hours call regarding a massive water loss in a local home in the Portland metro area. The homeowner explained to us that a pipe had broken pipe and water was coming out at a fast rate. Within 30 minutes of that call ending our on-call crew arrived at the warehouse and arrived on the scene with our flood truck.

During the initial walkthrough, it was apparent that all 3 rooms affected were in a very bad condition and there was also one inch of standing water. In addition, during the walkthrough, we saw that the pipe that burst was the kitchen sink supply line.

Our crew unloaded the equipment and began the drying plan. We need to first extract all the standing water once that was done we brought in three dehumidifiers to place in each of the three rooms. The water wasn't only in the wood floor but was able to seek through the baseboards of the rooms.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to get this home completely dried in only 3 days. Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

Furnace Under Water?

2/6/2022 (Permalink)

Built a platform for your furnace.

Every winter, especially if you live in a cold climate, your home is under assault from the elements. Eventually, that constant assault can cause your home’s systems to fail. One common result of these failures is water damage. And while any type of water damage is bad, there are certain types of damage that can be worse than others. That’s especially true in the winter.

Perhaps no system in your home is more important in the winter than your furnace. Without it, you’d be in big trouble. So while the impact of home water damage is bad no matter how you look at it, having your furnace damaged when the temps are freezing outside can be catastrophic. So let’s talk about things you can do to protect your furnace from water damage should the worst case scenario happen to you this winter.

Furnaces are hidden from view for a reason. They’re not exactly focal points of a home you want people’s eyes drawn towards. Whether it’s in a crawl space, basement or mechanical closet, it’s typically in a place you naturally don’t find yourself visiting very often. One way to help protect your furnace from water damage is to create an elevated platform upon which the furnace can sit. If it’s the case your furnace is found in an unfinished basement, you can simply pour a concrete block and install the furnace there. If it’s in a closet, it may make more sense to create a wooden box to hold the furnace. In either case, having the additional 18-24″ of height can typically protect against most types of home water damage.  Granted, in massive flood events this isn’t going to have much effect, but then again there isn’t much you can do from a preventative stand point when mother nature decides to take charge.

Please call SERVPRO for any restoration needs that you may have.

Don't Go Broke Fixing a Frozen Pipe

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

Heart breaking the cost of frozen pipes.

As the weather begins to transition into the colder months there are certain precautions homeowners should begin to take to keep their home safe under freezing conditions.

One of the most common headaches homeowners face during the colder months are frozen pipes. 

Have you ever placed a can of soda in the freezer and simply just forgot about it and by the time you realized you forgot the can has already exploded making a mess of your freezer?  Well, when water freezes in a pipe, it expands in the same way.  If it expands enough, the pipe bursts and water escapes leaving serious damage as a result.

Pipes in attics, crawlspaces, and outside walls are all vulnerable to freezing, especially if there are cracks or openings that allow cold, outside air to flow across the pipes.  Holes in an outside wall where television, cable or telephone lines enter can provide access for cold air to reach pipes.

Pipes tend to freeze after consecutive days and nights of freezing (32degrees Fahrenheit) and below freezing temperatures.

Frozen pipes should cause many homeowners concern, for bigger issues may and will arise.  If you are unaware of the status of your pipes or what are some clues of a frozen pipe here’s a few signs that may help you.

1. A slow stream of water, or no water at all coming through.
2. Visible frost on your pipes
3. Unusual loud sounds coming from your faucets
4. Strange odors coming from your faucets

If any of these signs appear then it likely means your pipes have burst.  If this is true, you must act fast, a few things you can do to prevent any further damage.

1. This first step is to always shut down your property’s main water supply. (Depending on the amount of water and location, you may want to first turn off electricity.)
2. If it’s heated water that’s coming from the broken pipe, you should also close the valve attached to your hot water heater.
3. After you’ve shut down the water, call a plumber for help with repairing or replacing the burst pipe.

During this time of need, make SERVPRO Southwest Portland your first call to help you and your local insurance agent assess the damage.  We will work for you to restore your property and your life to make it "Like it never even happened."

Unexpected toilet problems

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

In order to best dry demolition was required to make sure all moisture is removed.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an early call in the spring regarding a water loss in a local home in the Portland area. The homeowner let us know during the initial call that they woke up to the bathroom overflowing with water that affected the bathroom, hallway, entry, one-bedroom, and a closet in that bedroom along with the master bedroom. They let us know that they wanted SERVPRO to come out as soon as possible to extract the water and clean up the damages.

Within 10 minutes of the call ending the crew packed up the food truck with all the necessary equipment in order to restore the home back to conditions pre-water loss. Once our crew of well-trained professionals arrived the crew chief and the homeowner take an initial walkthrough of the home. During that walk through the Crew chief is coming up with a drying plan and once the walk-through is done the crew chief then explains the drying plan.

The drying plan was as follows one we needed to place dehumidifiers to stabilize, while that is happening we start to remove the laminate flooring in the hallway, entry, and the icing room until we’re able to reach the end of the mitigation line.  Along with removing the laminate flooring we also needed to remove all affected carpet and underlayment in the bedrooms and closets.

Once that was finished we began to dry the home we needed to bring in special wall injection systems for drywall cavities we needed to cut a 1 by 1 inspection hole in the drywall in order for them to fit. Demolition was also needed in the flooring and base of certain rooms.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to get this home back to conditions preloss within only 4 days. Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say “Like it never even happened.” Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

The hot water tank went wrong

1/10/2022 (Permalink)

Equipment is placed in utility for drying 1 Air Mover and 1 Dehumidifier

In the early hours of the workweek, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding a water loss in a local home in the Portland area. The water loss was caused by the failure of the water heater located in the utility closet. The customer informed us that the closet was wet along with the thought that the crawl space was also wet.

Our awesome crew here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received the call and was out on the job within 45 minutes of the call ending. During the initial walk thought it was obvious that the hardwood was very wet and that the floor was starting to swell. Our crew decided that demolition was going to need in order to help dry the home. They had to pull the affected underlay and the affected wood flooring in the hall. 

The next in the demolition process was to flood cut the walls in the utility room and pull the wet insulation in the crawlspace. A flood cut is a term that means the removal of water from the damaged drywall. Our amazing crew here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland were able to dry the home in only two days allowing the family comfort knowing that we were able to dry their home with a quickness.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping full mitigation and restoration from start to finish to make it “Like it never even happened.” Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

There's no leak SERVPRO can't fix

1/10/2022 (Permalink)

If ur water heater ever leaks please give SERVPRO of Southwest Portland a call and give us the opportunity to restore your home.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an after-hour call regarding a huge water loss. The owner called us and you could tell in her voice that she was very frantic and emotional. They continued to explain that the water heater had a large leak and it leaked through the adjacent wall into the kitchen. The water fully penetrated the wall and went under the flooring, soaking the sub-flooring and the leak continued for almost 24 hours despite them turning the water off to the water heater.

Within 20 minutes of the call ending our crew of well-trained professionals on our on-call crew arrived at the shop and loaded up one of our trucks and headed to the home. During the initial walkthrough with the owner, it was obvious that the water heater is now unusable and needed to be replaced the water has dried.

Our crew chief then came up with a drying plan to restore the home prior to the water loss. Demolition of the walls is required due to the amount of water behind the walls along with the kitchen cabinet needing to be removed due to it being attached to the wall. Laminate flooring also needed to be removed to help speed up the drying process. 

Our crew chief then came up with the drying plan this was going to be a job with a lot of equipment. Due to the water going through the walls into the kitchen and across the hall so the damage affected multiple rooms. Multiple air mover and dehumidifiers to get this job done as soon as possible.

The crew was able to get this job done in only 3 days. Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say “Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

A small leak turned into a big problem

12/7/2021 (Permalink)

Once demolition is finished air movers are brought in to help speed up the drying process.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding huge water damage to a local home. The loss was caused by a leaking pipe in the master bedroom which is right next to the bathroom on the main level of the house. There was a lot of damage to the drywall and the flooring. During the initial inspection, the crew noticed that there were standing puddles of water around the affected area.

Demolition was going to be required in the crawl space and in the master bedroom. The bedroom needed the drywall to be removed along with the insulation, plywood the crawl space needed insulation, and the black plastic. The bathroom as time went on started to show mold and it was unavoidable to remove the vanity sink and the bathtub. In addition, 77 square feet of tiles needed to be removed in the bathroom and the toilet.

In order to dry the master bedroom, the crew of SERVPRO of Southwest Portland needed to place three air movers along with one dehumidifier to help dry the room as soon as possible. After one day of drying our crew noticed the bedroom was so wet that they needed to bring in an extra dehumidifier.  Our team of trained professionals was able to dry the home in only four days.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping full mitigation and restoration from start to finish to make it “Like it never even happened.” Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

Small leak turned into monumental problem

11/8/2021 (Permalink)

Containment was needed throughout the home

SERVPRO of Portland started off the week with a monumental water loss to a local home. The customer informed us that they woke up and noticed that there was a leak coming from the refrigerator and their hardwood floor was buckling. In addition, the customer informed us that a lot of their contents were damaged due to water loss. When your hardwood floor buckles it will begin to rise causing humps and uneven surfaces throughout the hardwood floor. 

As promised our crew of trained professionals was out on the site within the hour of ending the call with the customer. During the initial inspection, our crew knew right away demolition was going to be needed.  Before getting started on restoring the customer’s home the crew needed to carefully pack up all affected contents in order to begin work. 

Also during the initial inspection, our crew came up with a drying plan. The first part of the plan was to set containment around the home and remove the insulation in the crawl space. Once that took place, 6 air movers,  were placed throughout the home and in the crawl space.  This job put our crew to the test both mentally and physically our crew was able to complete the job in only four days.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

Waking up to a home full of water

11/2/2021 (Permalink)

The more air movers the better!

Early in the summer SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an after-hours call regarding a horrific water loss. The homeowner informed us that a pipe had burst in the upstairs bathroom and that burst caused the basement to flood. They were very shocked to find water everywhere and started to extract water using a wet vacuum.

Our crew of professionals headed out to help extract water before the call had even ended.  During the initial walk through our crew came to the conclusion that demolition was going to be needed to the affected flooring and ceiling of the downstairs hallway/entryway, bedroom, and the family room. Upstairs the baseboards behind the sink would need to be removed in addition to the vinyl flooring in the basement and affected drywall in the ceiling of the downstairs hallway.

We then brought in specialty drying equipment, air movers, and dehumidifiers in order to help speed up the drying process. Our crew was able to help get this family back to enjoying their home in only a matter of 5 days.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

Small problem turned into a huge problem

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

Air movers were brought in to get the family back to enjoying their home as soon as possible.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding an unfortunate leak coming from a refrigerator supply line leak in a local home. The homeowner let us know that the refrigerator leak was repaired but by the time they were able to get it under control the water damage was massive. Our crew headed out and got there as soon as possible during the initial inspection our crew realized that the cabinets in the kitchen needed to be packed out along with the furniture in the dining room and kitchen.

Shortly after the pack out, our crew came up with an amazing drying plan to get this family back to enjoying their home. In the kitchen, our crew had to remove all affected vinyl planking, remove the hardwood flooring in the affected areas, pop toe kicks on the cabinets all the way around the kitchen. The toe kick is also known as a kick space it is the recessed space at the base of most floor-mounted kitchen cabinets.

In addition, we need to set contaminants to prevent dust during the demolition. Our crew wanted to make sure that we took our time because yes we want to get the job done with quickness but we also wanted to make sure we put the love, warmth, and enjoyment back into the family’s kitchen.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

Local school experiences a huge water loss

10/31/2021 (Permalink)

A dehumidifier connected to a lay-flat expelling the humidity out of the classroom

A local school in the Portland area reached out to SERVPRO of Southwest Portland regarding water damage. The school, unfortunately, had a toilet supply line burst which affected four bathrooms, six classrooms, and two hallways along with that water extraction was needed in all rooms except one. 

On arrival, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland’s crew realized that demolition would also be needed along with the extraction. Due to COVID-19, our crews made sure to wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) the crew members wore heavy-duty gloves, hard hats, high visibility vests, face masks, and nitrile gloves. Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we take this pandemic very seriously we will do all we can to keep our members, customers, and students safe

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

All hands on deck for this water loss

10/31/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO removed the baseboards and brought in air movers to dry

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call in the early hours of the morning regarding a terrible water loss to a local home. The homeowner informed us that the night before they heard a spraying sound but figured it was just the wind but unfortunately woke up to a flooded home. That spraying sound came from one of their bathrooms where their toilet line burst and affected multiple levels of the home.

As soon as the call ended our crew of well-trained professionals packed up the van and headed out and arrived within the hour. The first thing our crew wanted to do was complete a pack out meaning we would have to extract all affected furniture and personal belongings. We perform a pack out in order to protect the content while we dry the home.

Once pack out was performed, our crew then created a drying plan for each level of the home. For the main level of the home, our crew had to remove all bases of the affected walls and needed to drill holes in order to bring in specialty drying equipment and will be placed in the kitchen, hallway, pantry, bathroom, and coat closet.  

With the sub-level of the home, the bedroom carpet was covered with plastic to make sure that all contents are covered. Then drop the ceiling and insulation, remove the affected baseboard, & set the wall cavity drying system. Lastly, in the utility room, our crew removed all insulation from the ceiling, removed all affected rubber bases, and needed to move out the washer and dryer to check the wall for moisture. Demolition of the ceiling was required in order for all the insulation to be removed.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

What to do when the unexpected happens? Give SERVPRO a call.

10/25/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO headed out to home ASAP to resolve their massive problem

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a very frightening call regarding two trees falling onto the roof of a local home. Not only did two trees fall on their home a lot of water has gotten into the home due to the damage following the trees falling onto the home allowing the rain into the home.

Before starting the drying process our crew had to put a tarp on the roof to stop water from coming through. The next step was to remove all the contents that were affected by the water. During the initial walk thought it was brought to our attention that the insulation in the attic and the drywall will need to be removed and replaced. Once all the affected contents were accounted for and removed the drying process was able to start.

We brought in multiple dehumidifiers and air movers and placed them throughout the house. We also needed to bring in smaller dehumidifiers in order for us to dry areas that were too small for our regular-sized dehumidifiers. We were able to get in and get out to have this family go back to enjoying their living space.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

Huge water loss, causing family to leave their home

10/24/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO doing whatever they can to allow the family to move back into their home ASAP.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call after hours received a call regarding a giant water loss in a local home in the Portland area. The customer informed us on the call how stressed and panicked they were when they were woken up to find that their hallway had water and it was all coming from their laundry room. 

Once we arrived on site the homeowner told us that the water loss was caused by the sink in the laundry room overflowing with water. During the initial inspection, it was aware that it affected the upstairs hallway, bedroom, downstairs hallway, bathroom, and two closets downstairs. Our crew benign coming up with a drying plan once affected materials we brought in multiple air mover and dehumidifiers in order to help this family get back on their feet.

With all the air mover and dehumidifiers causing a lot of noise the homeowners decided it would be best that their family leave the home while equipment was in place. We wanted to dry the home as soon as possible we ran into a few problems with the drying process. A circuit popped in the downstairs hallway and bathroom, in addition, the circuit feeds the light and serval other outlets. Our team put their heads together and found alternate ways to power the equipment and was able to dry the home in only three days.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

Massive water loss comes from a minuscule problem

10/19/2021 (Permalink)

Flood cut in laundry room

Shortly after closing for the day, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding a huge water loss. The customer informed us that their downstairs finished basement flooded from the mainline drainage. In addition, the customer also informed us that there were multiple rooms affected due to the water loss.

Like always our crew here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland shortly after ending the call loaded up and headed to the job within the hour. During the initial inspection, the crew noticed that the floor is porcelain tile with a laundry room, bath, and living room the customer did all they could to dry the home upon our arrival.

Our amazing crew here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland came to the conclusion that demolition was going to be needed in order to help the drying process. They removed the affected drywall located in the laundry room and the utility room while performing a flood cut in both of the rooms. Once demolition was done our crew brought in the equipment that included two small dehumidifiers.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping full mitigation and restoration from start to finish to make it “Like it never even happened.” Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

After hour call, have no worries SERVPRO is here for you 24/7

10/15/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO bringing out all the equipment to restore life in the home as soon as possible.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call after hours regarding a huge water loss at a local home. From the time the call was answered and the time it was ended within 45 minutes a team of well-trained professionals loaded the trucks and headed to the home. 

Once SERVPRO of Southwest Portland arrived at the home it was stated that the bathtub in the upstairs bathroom overflowed. The water from the bathtub affected the bathroom along with two rooms upstairs, and the garage which was directly below the upstairs bathroom. While going through the home it was noticed that some demolition was needed the drywall in the ceiling was already sagging and needed to be removed. In addition, the garage ceiling needed to be removed from the water damage.

Then proceeded to remove the toilet, vanity, and floors from the bathroom upstairs. Before SERVPRO of Southwest Portland could start drying the home all the affected contents needed to be removed.  In order to dry the home, we had to set up seven air movers throughout the upstairs and downstairs of the home.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

A small problem for a toilet, a large problem for the basement

10/14/2021 (Permalink)

The beginning of SERVPRO saving the customers new carpet

In the early hours of SERVPRO of Southwest Portland’s, workday received a call regarding a water loss in a local home. The homeowner noticed a leak in their basement from his toilet supply line once he noticed he instantly turned it off. Unfountranetly they just purchased a brand new carpet that was also affected by the water damage.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland headed out and arrived on site within 45 minutes from the call being received. Upon arrival and doing an initial walk through the drying plan was thought out and once it was finished our team of trained professionals got to work. Our team decided that they would be able to extract the water from the carpet in order to keep it.

As time went on it was also decided that the vanity in the bathroom needed to be removed along with the baseboards. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland brought in multiple air movers in order to help speed up the drying process in the basement to get this homeowner back to enjoying the time they spend in the basement.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

3rd floor water leak coming from bathtub

10/13/2021 (Permalink)

During the workday early in the fall SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding an interesting water leak from the ceiling of a local home. The homeowner explained that the bathtub on the third story was leaking through the ceiling on the living room on the 2nd floor and it affected multiple contents on the second floor. 

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland loaded up the trucks and headed to the home within 45 minutes of receiving the call. The homeowner drained the tub and turned it off after the initial walk through our crew decided that this job would need certain special drying equipment. The equipment needed was the ceiling injection drying system. This was set in the living room in order to help speed up the drying process in order to get the family back to relaxing in their living room enjoying each other’s company.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

Huge water loss due to sump pump failure

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

Local home affected by rain

In the early hours of the morning, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding a huge water loss. There were 3 inches of standing water in the basement of the customer’s home.  The basement was flooded due to the heavy rain and the failure of the sump pump. A sump pump is used to remove water that has accumulated in a water-collecting sump basin it’s commonly found in basements.

The water loss affected the master bedroom, family room, bathroom, office laundry room, and utility room. The crew of SERVPRO of Southwest Portland also had to extract the carpet in the master bedroom along with the one in the office. The damage in the home was so bad the homeowners needed to move into a motel until drying was finished.

Due to the water affecting the outlets, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland’s crew had to use as many air movers as they could due to the limited power at the home. To fix that problem we had to place extra dehumidification to cover the difference. Demolition was also needed the crew had to remove wet carpet and pad due to category 3 water contamination.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

Water heater gone wrong!

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO doing its best to dry ASAP!

Shortly after 5 PM SERVPRO of Southwest Portland,  received a call regarding a huge water loss. The loss was caused by the water heater in the basement was leaking there was a few inches of standing water and the homeowners needed help getting the water sucked out. Once our trained professionals arrived they noticed that the water damage affected all flooring, baseboards, and heavy wicking in the drywall.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland knew right away that two extra-large dehumidifiers were going to be needed for us to dry the basement as soon as possible. To get the family back to enjoying their basement. There was a piano in the basement SERVPRO was able to get it out and store it to ensure that there wouldn’t be any further damage to the remaining contents in the basement.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

How can a small leak affect so much?

10/9/2021 (Permalink)

The removal of 10 square feet to speed up drying process

To start the workweek SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call from a homeowner who was very emotional she had just expired a huge water loss. The homeowner explained that her toilet had a leak that affected a lot of the carpet in the master bedroom and the closet in the master bedroom. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland affirmed to the homeowner that we will get out on the job and do our best to do whatever we can to fix their problem as soon as possible.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland sent out our amazing crew and was on-site within the hour of receiving the call. Upon doing the initial walk through our crew noticed that the ceiling and wall of the living room that was directly under the bathroom was wet as well along with part of the wall and ceiling in the garage. The next step was to come up with a drying plan the crew knew it was going to be a big job so they came prepared with our flood truck filled with equipment. We needed 15 air movers, three extra-large dehumidifiers, and containment equipment for the garage and living room.

The crew came to the conclusion that they will need to remove the vinyl flooring in the bathroom and also removing the underlay of the vinyl flooring. In addition, to cutting ten square feet of drywall ceiling and insulation. Our crew was able to finish this massive water loss in only four days to get the family’s home back to normal. 

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we make sure to make your home or business look just as good as new or how we like to say "Like it never even happened." Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland twenty-four a day seven days a week for any Fire, Water, Mold, or Bio-hazard clean-ups. If you have any questions please give us a call at 503.777.9739.

A second-floor problem turned into a whole house problem

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

Installing wall cavity into the kitchen ceiling

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call after hours regarding a water loss at a home. Within the same hour in which were called SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was all hands on deck sending out a crew of professionals to deal with this water loss as soon as possible.

The water loss occurred in a single-family home that was built in 1905. The water loss began on the second level and unfortunately the water leaked through the floor onto the first level and from there into the basement. After inspecting the job SERVPRO of Southwest Portland’s crew put their heads together to come up with a drying plan.

The first step that needed to be taken was to follow all safety standards the importance of the safety of our crew and the family was our top priority. The crew then needed to detach sinks and cabinets in the upstairs bathrooms in addition to capping all of the hot and cold water stops. The crew proceeded to remove vinyl tile, underlay, float carpet, and pad they then went into the basement and placed two air movers blowing up to the subfloor along with one dehumidifier.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping full mitigation and restoration from start to finish to make it “Like it never even happened.” Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

A Local bearing company discovers huge water loss

10/2/2021 (Permalink)

HVAC leaked over the weekend

Earlier this fall SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call from a local bearing company regarding a water loss. The HVAC leaked over the weekend into the server room once we got the call our trained professionals got there within the hour.

Once SERVPRO of Southwest Portland arrived they noticed the ceiling was affected, the glued down carpet tiles that now needed to be pulled up. The bearing company had large fans blowing since that morning but there was still a lot of moisture and a smell coming from the room. The next step was to come up with a drying plan to get this water loss taken care of as soon as possible.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland crew dedicated that they must remove all affected carpet and drywall in the server room. Once it’s all removed the next step was to set containment in the doorway with a dehumidifier exhaust ducted to the hallway to keep the server as cool as possible.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we see our jobs all the way through from start to finish. With the intent to leave the business owners or homeowner with peace of mind by helping with mitigation and restoration to make it “Like it never even happened.”  Whenever you need SERVPRO of Southwest Portland we are here available for you 365 days a year 24 hours a day. If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 503.777.9739

Huge water loss at local home

9/30/2021 (Permalink)

We have dehumidifiers and air-movers out and ready to drive

Earlier this spring SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an after-hour call regarding a home that had huge water damage. As always, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland gathered up their crew and was en route to the home. Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we understand the challenges that come along with COVID-19 to combat that our crews wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect our crew and customers at all times.

The source of loss came from the refrigerators ice maker line burst and affected the kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room.  The crew of professionals then had to remove laminate flooring in the kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room. Then proceed to remove the base in the kitchen, dining room, living room, and wall of the family room that butts up to the kitchen. 

While onsite the crew came to the agreement that demolition was needed they had the baseboards detached, removal of the lower cabinetry, and removing underlayment and cabinets. Along with the agreement on demolition, the agreement on the drying plan came next. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland brought in three dehumidifiers and plugged them in as soon as possible to start the job.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping full mitigation and restoration from start to finish to make it “Like it never even happened.” Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

Water loss at local package delivery company

9/28/2021 (Permalink)

the dehumidifier pushing hot air into the wall to help speed up the drying process

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding a huge water loss at a local package delivery company. Like with every call that is received, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland loads up their very well-trained crew to get to the site as soon as possible. Once the call was received our crew was told the building was approximately 100 years old. 

After arriving on the scene the SERVPRO of Southwest Portland’s crew noticed that the building had been remolded in the ’90s. They also noted that the ceiling, walls, concrete flooring, and contents are affected by a toilet line that had broke from three stories up.

Like every job, the next step upon arrival is to begin coming up with a drying plan. The plan was simple how can we get this dried as soon as possible and get this business back on its feet. A dehumidifier was needed to stabilize the area until the next day. The customer made it very clear to us that they would prefer we not have air movers involved.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland placed HVAC systems throughout the store to help to dry the store as fast as possible. We saw the job all the way through from start to finish with full mitigation and restoration and were able to give the store owners peace of mind by helping make it “Like it never even happened.” Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

Experiencing water loss call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

oh no, hurry and call SERVPRO

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland production teams is trained to safely clean and restore your home, utilizing the following procedures:

• Identifying the source/type of water
• Measure temperature and humidity for drying analysis
• Survey the extent of damage and inspect the premises for hidden moisture 
• Perform emergency water extraction
• Move and block furniture and contents
• Inspect carpet pad/carpet and provide service
• Apply necessary treatments (disinfectants/deodorization)
• Utilize advanced drying and monitoring equipment 
• Dispose of refuse 

Your home should be your place of peace, a place where you can come home and kick your feet up to relax. When water begins to leak even the small leaks in areas that aren’t seen in your home could quickly become a place of stress. In addition to the water damage, things that could follow could be anywhere from harmful mold, rot, and unseen damage that can affect your home and the health of loved ones.

Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we understand how disruptive water damage can be that’s why we offer 24-hour emergency response by trained, uniformed restoration professionals. Our professionals have the top-of-the-line equipment and time-tested cleanup restoration techniques here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland we have the professionals that have the expertise to help your home feel like a home again.

When it comes to your home and your loved ones, even the small disasters can feel like huge problems. So if you happen to have water damage in your home please give us a call at  503.777.9739. We are here to help 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Huge water loss at a local daycare

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

Air movers attached to floor drying system to help speed up the drying process

Earlier this fall SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received a call regarding a water loss at a local daycare center. Once our crew noticed that the water loss came from an AC drain pan in the attic it overflowed and dripped through the blown-in insulation and affected multiple rooms, walls, and ceilings. 

The next step is to come up with a drying plan. The plan was to find a dehumidifier that was small enough to fit into the attic. Along with dehumidifiers, the crew will also need specialty drying equipment in order for the wall cavities to dry.

This job brought a lot of challenges to COVID-19, the kids attending the daycare, and trying to do this as quickly as possible without disrupting business. With those challenges in place, we attacked them head-on here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland we make sure our crew members are wearing regulated personal protective equipment (PPE).

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping full mitigation and restoration from start to finish to make it “Like it never even happened.” Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

Huge water loss at local home

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

We have dehumidifiers and air-movers out and ready to drive

Earlier this spring SERVPRO of Southwest Portland received an after-hour call regarding a home that had huge water damage. As always, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland gathered up their crew and was en route to the home. Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, we understand the challenges that come along with COVID-19 to combat that our crews wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect our crew and customers at all times.

The source of loss came from the refrigerators ice maker line burst and affected the kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room.  The crew of professionals then had to remove laminate flooring in the kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room. Then proceed to remove the base in the kitchen, dining room, living room, and wall of the family room that butts up to the kitchen. 

While onsite the crew came to the agreement that demolition was needed they had the baseboards detached, removal of the lower cabinetry, and removing underlayment and cabinets. Along with the agreement on demolition, the agreement on the drying plan came next. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland brought in dehumidifiers and air movers and plugged them in as soon as possible to start the job.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland professionals can give you peace of mind by helping full mitigation and restoration from start to finish to make it “Like it never even happened.” Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. No matter the time or place you can count on SERVPRO to be there for you. Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

How to Spot Frozen Pipes

2/5/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO as pipes start to thaw.

As the weather begins to transition into the colder months there are certain precautions homeowners should begin to take to keep their home safe under freezing conditions.

One of the most common headaches homeowners face during the colder months are frozen pipes. 

Have you ever placed a can of soda in the freezer and simply just forgot about it and by the time you realized you forgot the can has already exploded making a mess of your freezer?  Well, when water freezes in a pipe, it expands in the same way.  If it expands enough, the pipe bursts and water escapes leaving serious damage as a result.

Pipes in attics, crawlspaces, and outside walls are all vulnerable to freezing, especially if there are cracks or openings that allow cold, outside air to flow across the pipes.  Holes in an outside wall where television, cable or telephone lines enter can provide access for cold air to reach pipes.

Pipes tend to freeze after consecutive days and nights of freezing (32degrees Fahrenheit) and below freezing temperatures.

Frozen pipes should cause many homeowners concern, for bigger issues may and will arise.  If you are unaware of the status of your pipes or what are some clues of a frozen pipe here’s a few signs that may help you.

1. A slow stream of water, or no water at all coming through.
2. Visible frost on your pipes
3. Unusual loud sounds coming from your faucets
4. Strange odors coming from your faucets

If any of these signs appear then it likely means your pipes have burst.  If this is true, you must act fast, a few things you can do to prevent any further damage.

1. This first step is to always shut down your property’s main water supply. (Depending on the amount of water and location, you may want to first turn off electricity.)
2. If it’s heated water that’s coming from the broken pipe, you should also close the valve attached to your hot water heater.
3. After you’ve shut down the water, call a plumber for help with repairing or replacing the burst pipe.

During this time of need, make SERVPRO Southwest Portland your first call to help you and your local insurance agent assess the damage.  We will work for you to restore your property and your life to make it "Like it never even happened."

Water Damage Furnace

2/5/2021 (Permalink)

Keep your furnace off the ground.

Every winter, especially if you live in a cold climate, your home is under assault from the elements. Eventually, that constant assault can cause your home’s systems to fail. One common result of these failures is water damage. And while any type of water damage is bad, there are certain types of damage that can be worse than others. That’s especially true in the winter.

Perhaps no system in your home is more important in the winter than your furnace. Without it, you’d be in big trouble. So while the impact of home water damage is bad no matter how you look at it, having your furnace damaged when the temps are freezing outside can be catastrophic. So let’s talk about things you can do to protect your furnace from water damage should the worst case scenario happen to you this winter.

Furnaces are hidden from view for a reason. They’re not exactly focal points of a home you want people’s eyes drawn towards. Whether it’s in a crawl space, basement or mechanical closet, it’s typically in a place you naturally don’t find yourself visiting very often. One way to help protect your furnace from water damage is to create an elevated platform upon which the furnace can sit. If it’s the case your furnace is found in an unfinished basement, you can simply pour a concrete block and install the furnace there. If it’s in a closet, it may make more sense to create a wooden box to hold the furnace. In either case, having the additional 18-24″ of height can typically protect against most types of home water damage.  Granted, in massive flood events this isn’t going to have much effect, but then again there isn’t much you can do from a preventative stand point when mother nature decides to take charge.

Please call SERVPRO for any restoration needs that you may have.

SERVPRO Can Help You With Both Fire And Water

2/3/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians Can Remediate Both Fire and Flood Damage After a Disaster

SERVPRO Technicians Can Remediate Both Fire and Flood Damage After a Disaster

When flooding rises high enough to enter an electrical outlet, the usual result is usually just a loss of power. In some cases, however, the resulting sparks and damage can start a fire in a house, apartment, or commercial building.

There are restoration companies that specialized in water damage, but very few have the experience and knowledge to handle the effects of both fire damage and flood damage in Portland Oregon. SERVPRO has decades in the business of returning your home to its original condition; our response teams can pump out a basement and scrub away smoke residues with equal ease.

Fortunately, fire damage caused by a flooded outlet is generally small and primarily smoke damage in nature. Drywall affected by either type of disaster requires removal, so the workload for our team members is not increased by dealing with two disasters on one job site. The rising smoke, however, leaves smoke residue higher up the walls which means that more wall panels require removal. Ceiling tiles may have to be cleaned or replaced as well.

Water damage to an outlet means a replacement from the hardware store; normally less than $5 apiece. The point of ignition is where the fire begins, and in this case, the electrical outlet is only the start of the damage. The wires leading to the outlet are melted to the outlet box and require cutting above any visible damage. An additional inspection is necessary to make certain that the burned wires did not compromise other building material.

If the damage runs very far back along the wires, then they require replacing, so the new outlet is set in the original location. Our technicians can run new wiring from any point in the structure back to the breaker box if needed to rebuild your home’s wiring system. This task is simpler once other team members finish removing the flooded drywall; exposing the electrical system for easier access.

Dealing with damage from a fire or flood is a long, complicated process. Restoring your home and property from both requires a professional service with access to a nationwide support network of equipment and training. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is proud to call this area home and stands ready to help you whenever a disaster strikes. Call us today at 503-777-9739.

Never Tamper With The Fire Sprinklers

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

Never tamper with a fire sprinkler system.

A fire suppression system is any product designed to stop a fire from spreading. It gets the name suppression system as it aims to hold back the fire and the damage it may cause. Preventing the fire from spreading mitigates losses and allows time for emergency personnel to respond. One example of a fire suppression system is a fire sprinkler system. 

While sprinkler systems are the most common type of fire suppression system, some applications require special hazard fire suppression systems that do not use water.

The loss we show here was caused by a tenant trying to uninstall a fire suppression system. 

SERVPRO was required to clean and dry all of the surfaces for water. We also needed to perform demo of the drywall behind the vanity. 

Commercial Water Loss

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland, ready 24/7/365.

"Faster to Any Disaster."  Emergency mitigation means that under normal circumstances, a SERVPRO Professional is on-site within four hours to begin drying your building and restorable contents. Remember the faster the water is removed, the less chance of serious damage to your facility.  Each SERVPRO of Southwest Portland Professional is trained and understands how to manage the drying process.  By utilizing the proper equipment and moisture measuring devices, your home or building is quickly and thoroughly dried, which helps prevent secondary water damages.  SERVPRO of Southwest Portland strongly believes in the 3 E's (Experience, Expertise and Equipment) and is proud to serve Multnomah County and other areas of Portland.  Please call us at 503.777.9739 twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.

Your flooded office.

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

Ready to mitigate your water damage and restore your office to preloss condition.

If you have a water loss in your business, it is critical to get SERVPRO of Southwest Portland get on site immediately to begin assessing the situation. Once on site they will determine what is needed to get the restoration process started. SERVPRO has the team and training in place to handle the loss from start to finish. 

Typically the first step is to start extracting the water. Once all of the water is extracted, drying equipment can be placed throughout the facility. Each day a SERVPRO team member will monitor the drying process to make sure that the property is drying quickly and efficiently. Once the drying is complete SERVPRO will remove the equipment and take plenty of pictures. 

After drying, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland can help with the rebuilding process. If you have any questions feel free to contact our office at anytime by calling 503-777-9739

Water Damage Over The Weekend

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

Ready to help 24/7/365.

This flood occurred on the weekend in Portland, Or first thing in the morning. The owner of the building did not know how to react due to the fact this had never happened to him before with a backed up toilet. As they googled a service SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was at the top of the list and were called in and had crews ready to respond quickly. The water was extracted, dried and the floors and walls were treated with our chemicals to get the business back up and running as soon as possible. Always be prepared for the worst and ready to call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland whenever trouble strikes.

We will make it “Like it never even happened.”

Please call 503-777-9739 24/7/365.

Water damage in a hotel.

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is here with the right equipment for the job.

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 Southwest Portland 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.

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 professionals 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)?

Water Logged Hardwoods

12/17/2020 (Permalink)

Hardwood Floors - Flood/Water Damage Restoration

When a disaster happens and you have damage or deterioration due to water or flood issues in your home or business, your hardwood floors can suffer heavy consequences. They become warped and water logged from extended exposure to water. This can be a very expensive dilemma if you just decide to gut the floors and have new ones installed. 

SERVPRO can step in and offer a much more cost effective option that will give you fantastic results that match preloss condition.

This customers hardwoods were so water damaged they were deemed unsalvageable and the damaged section was removed during water mitigation. We have skilled professionals at our fingertips to lace in new replacement boards, utilize dustless sanding and refinish them to make it all look “Like it never even happened.”

Knee deep in water in your basement?

11/30/2020 (Permalink)

Shut off electrical items before entering flooded area.

There is no such thing as a small disaster.  Especially when the water you don't see contains bacteria - or causes mold, rot and other unseen damage.  Water damage can affect the value of your property.  So before you get out the mop bucket and box fan to try to clean it up yourself, consider how this will affect your property and your safety.  Do not enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.  Your SERVPRO Professional understands how disruptive unseen water damage can be for your home or business.  For this reason, a SERVPRO Professional under normal circumstances, will have a trained, uniformed Professional on-site within four hours to begin emergency mitigation services.  SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is proud to serve Multnomah County and other areas of Portland.  Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

Water Damage at a Local School

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

Water Damage at a Local School Dried Out BY SERVPRO.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was on the job over the weekend when a rainstorm flooded a school and affected a school computer lab. We were there within an hour of the call and had all hands on deck to place equipment and start drying the computer lab. No computers were lost during the water damage. 

One of the outside drains of the school became clogged and there were two inches of standing water in five of the classrooms. 

The wonderful team at SERVPRO brought air movers and dehumidifiers as well as air scrubbers and placed them at the appropriate places to dry the school as soon as possible with the least amount of downtime for the students. 

Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need.

Local Fun Park Dried Out

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

Bowling alley dry out.

Due to a mechanical malfunction in the mechanical room of a bowling alley four thousand square feet of a bowling alley were damaged by water. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was called out late on a Sunday evening to go out and start mitigating the water damage. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to save the floors of the bowling alley. The dining room and storage room were also affected by the water damage. 

The managers of the bowling alley were very pleased with the quick response and amazed at the speed at which we’re able to start drying out the bowling alley and getting it ready to have customers be able to start bowling again. 

Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland for all your fire, water and bio-hazard needs. 

Basement Water Damage

2/11/2020 (Permalink)

Basement wall pipe broke and flooded walls and carpet

Unfortunately for this customer, they have suffered two major water losses in their basement, in a short amount of time. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was there to get this second job done quickly and correctly. A pipe broke behind a wall that traveled alongside the basement, poured out of the baseboards, and down towards electrical sockets. The owner caught it quickly enough before other damage had occurred, so it was our job to get in their and extract all the major water that was now underneath the carpet and pad as well. After about four days of dehumidifying and airing out the basement, the carpet was back to dry and preloss condition, no demolition was necessary, the carpet could be placed back down, and furniture could be reset. Their plumber came to fix the piping in the walls, and you would never believe a loss occurred in that basement!

Crawlspace Water Loss

2/11/2020 (Permalink)

Dripping water into crawlspace damage

This customer followed a slow, dripping leak from their kitchen into their crawlspace and found a much larger damage underneath the house. This leak had been running for quite some time and was soaking the insulation in the crawlspace directly under the kitchen. The water was shut off, and now it was time to track the leak source and then tearing out all the affected insulation so we could dry the structure underneath it. There was some mold detected underneath the insulation that needed to be mitigated as well. Since this was a multi-step project for us, it was important to test and check for any further damage underneath the house. The customer was starting to notice the moldy smell, which they caught early in the spore growth process. 

Shower Wall Water Damage

2/11/2020 (Permalink)

Dry rot in shower underneath window

This customer had a leak coming from their ceiling into the kitchen downstairs. At first the problem seemed to be coming from the tiles in the shower so the customer started their to see if they could track down the problem. After coming up with dry material underneath the tile, they moved to where the window seal was up the side wall of the shower. The customer came across a dry rotted area right below the corner of the window and down to the first floor in the kitchen. They called us out to look at the damage and what the next steps were to get this problem taken care of as quickly as possible. The mold was tested and removed for rebuild and the process has just begun! 

Bathroom Water Damage

2/11/2020 (Permalink)

Shower caused damage and leaked onto the floor

What started out as a small leak dripping out of their guest bathroom shower, ended up coming through the ceiling into the laundry room on the first floor. The water had been slowly moving under the flooring in the bathroom and then moved down to the first floor in the house. The customer never would have known if it wasn't for the ceiling leak. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland went in to help the customer locate the source of the water and dry the areas that could still be salvaged. The first floor ceiling was dried out and the floor in the bathroom has since been replaced. Although the floor damage looks bad, the wood floor underneath was able to be dried out instead of removed for less demolition work and less mess!

State of the art equipment

1/16/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland has the state of the art equipment to dry out your home or business and save you money by not having to move your tenants out of the area also keeps the cost of demo down it totally eliminates the need for demo. Tenants are no longer displaced from their homes or businesses.

The DBK Boost Mat Target Drying Systems increase the evaporation rate of bound moisture in materials through the use of the Boost Heat Box and patented-design, coated PVC mesh mats. Using an air mover with a minimum of 800 CFMs, the system provides controlled, targeted heat and air to affected surfaces.

Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland for all your Fire, Water, Mold and Bio-Hazard Cleanups 503-777-9739

Broken Water Line From A Hit and Run Accident

1/7/2020 (Permalink)

Wall damage due to a hit and run accident

Accidents can happen at any time of the day! A broken water line was the result of a hit and run into the wall of this healthcare facility. The building walls both interior and exterior suffered some major damage along with the floors, equipment, and furniture where the accident occurred. Then once the water started flowing in through the broken pipes, the carpets were covered in water and quickly became soaked. Since this healthcare facility operated during regular business hours, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland set up a containment area to separate the damage from the incoming patients and staff. Following the larger containment, we set up a smaller containment area to focus on the water damage and to dry the affected area quickly. The office was able to stay open for business keeping their patients as their priority!

Water Damage at Oral Surgeon's Office

1/2/2020 (Permalink)

Front of the office where water damage occurred

This professional office space suffered a loss from a broken pipe in the building. Although a plumber was called to deal with the damaged pipe, SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to help with the water cleanup and drying in the affected areas. Since the source was determined quickly, we were able to work with the office to get the job done around patient schedules so the business could continue to operate regularly. No matter the size of the loss, we are here to help! Please give us a call twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. Since losses can be unexpected, we are open every day of the year! Please call us at 503-777-9739 for all your Fire, Water, Mold and Bio-hazard cleanups.

Water Damage at Wine Storage

1/2/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage from a roof leak

This water damage at a wine storage facility was caused by a roof that was exposed before a storm came. The water came in through the attic causing damage to the structure from above and there was standing water in certain areas around the building as well as some damaged carpet and fixtures. This company is responsible for storing wine bottles for other companies and customer's personal wine collections. We needed to make sure that wine wasn't going to be affected by the water damage and the temperature needed to be closely watched while we were cleaning up the water. This was a very unfortunate accident, but SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was there within an hour to get the water cleared out and everything secured to prevent further damage. 

Kitchen Sink Overflowed

1/2/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage from sink that overflowed

Accidents can happen at any time! A sink in an apartment complex overflowed leaving water damage through the kitchen, the hallway, and into the first bedroom. The carpet was soaked and needed to be dried with a dehumidifier. There was also water damage found in some of the walls near the sink so our team set up a wall cavity drying system to focus drying on the affected walls. Luckily for this customer, it was just a water mess and nothing else had further damage. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to help any size of a water, fire, mold and biohazard loss or damage. We are a twenty-four-hour emergency service company so we can have a team out any time day or night!

5 Apartment Units Affected by Water Damage

1/2/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage in hallway of one apartment unit

This was a large water loss due to backed-up sewage drainage for the bathrooms in this apartment complex. Due to the size of the loss, 5 units had category 3 water damage and had to have demo work done and debris gathered from the units. Anything that came into contact with the water needed to be disposed of including kitchen cabinets, decor, carpets, walls, and much more due to the water being contaminated. This is a picture of the water damage that came out of the bathroom into the hallway in one of the units affected by the sewage back up. Our crew went in with full protective gear on and was able to clear out all the mess and everything that was damaged by the contaminated water. 

School Computer Lab

9/9/2019 (Permalink)

Computer Lab damaged by water.

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was on the job over the weekend when a rainstorm flooded a school and affected a school computer lab we were there within an hour of the call and had all hands on deck to place equipment and start drying the computer lab no computers were lost during the water damage. 

One of the outside drains of the school became clogged and there was two inches of standing water in five of the classrooms. 

The wonderful team at SERVPRO brought air movers and dehu's as well as air scrubbers and placed them at the appropriate places to dry the school as soon as possible with the least amount of downtime for the students. 

Whenever there is a call out SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is ready to meet the need. 

Water Damage a Bowling Alley

9/9/2019 (Permalink)

Bowling Alley

Due to a mechanical malfunction in the mechancial room of a bowling alley four thousand square feet of a bowling alley were damaged by water. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was called out late on a Sunday evening to go out and start mitigating the water damage. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to save the floors of the bowling alley. The dining room and storage room were also affected by the water damage. 

The managers of the bowling alley were very pleased with the quick response and amazed at the speed in which were able to start drying out the bowling alley and getting it ready to have customers be able to start bowling again. 

Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland for all your fire water and bio-hazard needs. 

CAT 3 Water Damage

1/18/2019 (Permalink)

CAT3 Water Damage

When the unfortunate instance of water damage takes place in your life, know SERVPRO of Southwest Portland will do everything in our power to help. Here are some tips to keep yourself and your property safe, as well as aid in the process of the clean up. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland helping to make it "Like it never even happened."

DO:

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated from sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

DON’T:

• Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
• Turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.
• Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants.
• Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

Sewage back up can occur because items that aren't meant to be flushed get flushed and stuck.  

SW SERVPRO is the best

1/18/2019 (Permalink)

Water Damage

DO:

Shut off the source of water if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.

Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building, when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.

Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.

Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.

Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying.

Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.

Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.

Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors.

Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors.

Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

DON'T:

Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.

Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.

Leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored rugs on wet carpets or floors to cause staining.

Leave Oriental rugs or other colored rugs on wet wall to wall carpets to cause staining.

Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water, possibly causing electrical shock or damage to the vacuum cleaner.

Use TV's or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.

Turn on wet ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Sewer in the Shower

1/18/2019 (Permalink)

Sewer in the Shower

When the unfortunate instance of water damage takes place in your life, know SERVPRO of Southwest Portland will do everything in our power to help. Here are some tips to keep yourself and your property safe, as well as aid in the process of the clean up. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland helping to make it "Like it never even happened".

DO

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

DON'T

• Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
• Turn on the HVAC if there is possibility of spreading contaminated air.
• Use low CFM household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminates.
• Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

Sewage back up can come at any time due to unforeseen circumstances. Call on us to decontaminate and dry on what needs to be saved.

The do's and don't of a water damage

1/8/2019 (Permalink)

Water Damaged Bedroom

How to help reduce damage and increase your chances of a successful restoration continued!

Fire & Smoke Damage

Dos

• If heat is off during winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.
• Wash both sides of leaves on house plants.
• Change HVAC filter, but leave system off until a trained professional can check the system.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

Don’ts

• Consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat or water. (They may be contaminated.)
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.
• Send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor. 

Check back next week when we start the Dos and Dont for water damage!

Make SERVPRO of Southwest Portland Your First Call

1/8/2019 (Permalink)

Sewer Backup

When the unfortunate instance of water damage takes place in your life, know SERVPRO of Southwest Portland will do everything in our power to help. Here are some tips to keep yourself and your property safe, as well as aid in the process of the clean up. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland helping to make it "Like it never even happened".

DO

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

DON'T

• Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
• Turn on the HVAC if there is possibility of spreading contaminated air.
• Use low CFM household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminates.
• Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

Sewage back up can come at any time due to unforeseen circumstances. Call on us to decontaminate and dry on what needs to be saved.

SERVPRO to the Rescue

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

Benson Hotel

Faster to Any Disaster.  Emergency mitigation means that under normal circumstances, a SERVPRO Professional is on-site within four hours to begin drying your building and restorable contents. Remember the faster the water is removed, the less chance of serious damage to your facility.  Each SERVPRO of Southwest Portland Professional is trained and understands how to manage the drying process.  By utilizing the proper equipment and moisture measuring devices, your home or building is quickly and thoroughly dried, which helps prevent secondary water damages.  SERVPRO of Southwest Portland strongly believes in the 3 E's (Experience, Expertise and Equipment) and is proud to serve Multnomah County and other areas of Portland.  Please call us at 503.777.9739 twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.

Basement Flood

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

Basement Flood

There is no such thing as a small disaster.  Especially when the water you don't see contains bacteria - or causes mold, rot and other unseen damage.  Water damage can affect the value of your property.  So before you get out the mop bucket and box fan to try to clean it up yourself, consider how this will affect your property and your safety.  Do not enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.  Your SERVPRO Professional understands how disruptive unseen water damage can be for your home or business.  For this reason, a SERVPRO Professional under normal circumstances will have a trained, uniformed Professional on-site within four hours to begin emergency mitigation services.  SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is proud to serve Multnomah County and other areas of Portland.  Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

Broken Toilet Tank

7/2/2018 (Permalink)

Broken toilet tank

The customer had a basement area flood from a broken toilet tank. The areas involved were the bathroom, bedroom, sewing room, utility room and main hallway. 

SERVPRO of Southwest Portland was able to arrive at the job within an hour of the call. We set up 2 dehu's and 14 air blowers. 

The customer was very happy with the results. Telling us how easy we were to work with and how happy he was that we could get the drying down in only three days. 

Please call SERVPRO of Southwest Portland at the first sign of water damage, we can stop more damage from happening and stop mold from growing , leaving you family open to getting sick.

Please call us 24/7 at 503-777-9739.

What to do until help arrives. Sewer Backup

1/17/2018 (Permalink)

Sewer backed up into the shower.

When the unfortunate instance of water damage takes place in your life, know SERVPRO of Southwest Portland will do everything in our power to help. Here are some tips to keep yourself and your property safe, as well as aid in the process of the clean up. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland helping to make it "Like it never even happened".

DO

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

DON'T

• Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
• Turn on the HVAC if there is possibility of spreading contaminated air.
• Use low CFM household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminates.
• Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

Sewage back up can come at any time due to unforeseen circumstances. Call on us to decontaminate and dry on what needs to be saved.

Water Damage From Contaminated Water

1/17/2018 (Permalink)

A backed up toilet in a hotel caused damage to multiple floors.

When the unfortunate instance of water damage takes place in your life, know SERVPRO of Southwest Portland will do everything in our power to help. Here are some tips to keep yourself and your property safe, as well as aid in the process of the clean up. SERVPRO of Southwest Portland helping to make it "Like it never even happened."

DO:

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated from sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

DON’T:

• Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
• Turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.
• Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants.
• Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

Sewage back up can occur because items that aren't meant to be flushed get flushed and stuck.  

What to do until help arrives. Water damage.

1/17/2018 (Permalink)

Water damage can happen to anyone.

DO:

Shut off the source of water if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.

Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building, when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.

Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.

Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.

Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying.

Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.

Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.

Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors.

Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors.

Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

DON'T:

Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.

Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.

Leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored rugs on wet carpets or floors to cause staining.

Leave Oriental rugs or other colored rugs on wet wall to wall carpets to cause staining.

Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water, possibly causing electrical shock or damage to the vacuum cleaner.

Use TV's or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.

Turn on wet ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Beware of Water Hazards

9/22/2017 (Permalink)

Standing water in a basement with electrical cords can be dangerous.

There is no such thing as a small disaster.  Especially when the water you don't see contains bacteria - or causes mold, rot and other unseen damage.  Water damage can affect the value of your property.  So before you get out the mop bucket and box fan to try to clean it up yourself, consider how this will affect your property and your safety.  Do not enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.  Your SERVPRO Professional understands how disruptive unseen water damage can be for your home or business.  For this reason, a SERVPRO Professional under normal circumstances, will have a trained, uniformed Professional on-site within four hours to begin emergency mitigation services.  SERVPRO of Southwest Portland is proud to serve Multnomah County and other areas of Portland.  Any questions please call us at 503.777.9739.

When Water Damages Occur

9/8/2017 (Permalink)

Water damage at an Historic Portland Landmark.

Faster to Any Disaster.  Emergency mitigation means that under normal circumstances, a SERVPRO Professional is on-site within four hours to begin drying your building and restorable contents. Remember the faster the water is removed, the less chance of serious damage to your facility.  Each SERVPRO of Southwest Portland Professional is trained and understands how to manage the drying process.  By utilizing the proper equipment and moisture measuring devices, your home or building is quickly and thoroughly dried, which helps prevent secondary water damages.  SERVPRO of Southwest Portland strongly believes in the 3 E's (Experience, Expertise and Equipment) and is proud to serve Multnomah County and other areas of Portland.  Please call us at 503.777.9739 twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.