Archived Storm Damage Blog Posts
Navigating the Aftermath of Flood Damage in Waco Residences
6/17/2024 (Permalink)
After water damage, you can trust that your Waco home is in good hands with our experienced technicians at SERVPRO.
Waco Flood Cleanup Made Easy with SERVPRO®
Waco City is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, along the Brazos River. With a range of public and private schools, the city offers quality education for students of all ages. Three large public high schools in the Waco city limits include Waco High School, University High School, and Midway High School. Also, institutions like Baylor University foster innovation and excellence in higher education. Waco's calendar is brimming with annual events, including the Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo, featuring rodeo competitions, carnival rides, live music, and delicious fair food.
Flood damage in Waco can wreak havoc on a property's structural elements and contents. From waterlogged walls and flooring to microbial growth and compromised electrical systems, the effects of flooding can be extensive and multifaceted. In the wake of such disasters, the recovery process can seem overwhelming, but restoring your home and life to normalcy is possible with proper support. One invaluable ally in this journey is SERVPRO, a trusted leader in the restoration industry. SERVPRO specializes in water damage restoration and has a proven track record of helping communities recover from disasters of all sizes. Regarding flood damage, our team of trained professionals has the resources to tackle even the most challenging restoration projects.
Resources that aid in the water damage restoration process
- Detection devices
- Extraction equipment
- Air moving and dehumidification equipment
Access to the right equipment is crucial, but it's just the beginning of the restoration process. SERVPRO technicians understand that successful restoration requires a combination of specialized tools, expertise, and strategic execution. We choose the right equipment for the task and effectively and efficiently operate it to obtain the desired outcome. For example, we set up a desiccant dehumidifier to dry low-evaporation materials such as hardwood floors.
Choosing the Right Extraction Equipment
SERVPRO uses various extraction tools to remove water from flooring, such as extraction units, deep extraction tools, and submersible pumps. Multiple factors determine the choice of equipment, including;
- The distance within the structure
- The depth of water to be extracted
- The availability of power
SERVPRO of Waco manages flood damage "Like it never even happened." Call us at (254) 756-4300.
Storm Flood Damage Repair in Waco Is Better with SERVPRO
10/5/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO utilizes advanced drying equipment to mitigate storm damage to Waco properties. "Like it never even happened."
Trust Experts for Storm Flood Damage Restoration in Waco
My home needs repairs after a storm and the associated flooding. Who can help me bring things back to normal? Every situation requiring stormwater removal and flood damage restoration requires a reputable company that can act effectively and fast.
SERVPRO® is a certified company with competent, knowledgeable, and caring technicians. We can use advanced technology to repair storm flood damage in your Waco home. Following flood damage repair protocols helps ensure a practical and thorough restoration approach.
One of the most common concerns with flood damage is mold growth. Flood water can also ruin your home’s electrical system, increasing the risk of electrocution or fires. Structural damage is another problem. SERVPRO can take several steps to restore your property, including the following:
Assessment
Our technicians conduct a flood damage assessment to determine the extent of the damage. We can then create an effective restoration plan.
Water extraction
Our SERVPRO technicians remove stagnant water through extraction. Extractors include electrical submersible pumps. We can also use infrared cameras or moisture meters to uncover pockets of saturation underneath floorboards or behind walls.
Drying and dehumidification
SERVPRO has developed an advanced technical strategy for drying out areas exposed to water. Before drying a property, we consider the type of affected materials to determine the most suitable drying method for our customer’s case. Our team can use equipment like air movers and dehumidifiers to dry and dehumidify affected areas. If it is essential to dry the ceiling, our team can direct airflow across it to evaporate the moisture.
Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces
We can use equipment like air scrubbers during sanitation. We can also disinfect the surfaces the floodwater has affected using antimicrobial products.
Repair and reconstruction
If the flood damage has rendered some parts unsalvageable, such as medium-density trim boards, our technicians can remove and replace them.
SERVPRO of Waco is Here to Help® 24/7. Reach out to us at (254) 875-5507.
Board Up Services
3/12/2022 (Permalink)
Some new wood, fresh paint and changed technique for long term boarded up doors of historic Waco building.
Well, the boogers started bring some tools to get in!
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, provides building board up services for emergency and on-going situations.
This historic Waco building has been boarded up while it's path to a new purpose is being determines.
Seems the youth of the area have quite an interest in getting inside. It may be the attraction of getting onto the roof a few stories up in the air.
Anyway, someone has been showing up with some basic tools and doing a bit of dismantling.
SERVPRO of Waco changed the boarding up from being screwed in place from the front to having 2X4s and carriage bolts on the front.
Anything removed by tools is now inside the building. Oh, a slight correction, there are still many wood screws on the front too, as further discouragement.
Highly successful so far.
We've helped thousand of folks through property damage situations for the past 21 years.
If you need security and/or weather protection boarding up, let us help you too.
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only one!
(254) 756-4300
We're local.
3/7/2022 (Permalink)
Know who you're dealing with!
SERVPRO of Waco is LOCAL to the greater Waco and Central Texas area.
We are located at
7719 Central Park Dr.
Waco/Woodway
For the past 21 years, SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company has successfully served thousands of homes, businesses and institutions through a variety of emergency damage situations.
Beware of companies who don't show their addresses, have 800 type phone numbers (in this day and age?) are from "greater" this place or that or don't really list an address at all.
You need people you can trust...or at least know you can find again.
21 years of excellent service here!
Let us help you.
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only one!
(254) 756-4300
The Spider Box
10/25/2021 (Permalink)
A power distribution box "spider box" is used to access more electric power from the 220 volt plug normally used by a dryer.
Storms can bring large amounts of water into a home or building.
After the standing water is extracted, drying equipment is used to get rid of the dampness.
This can take a many pieces of electrically powered equipment many times, as in this facility which suffered broken water pipes in the attic as a result of the historic Texas freeze.
In this Landon Branch facility, SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, used this power distribution box, more commonly called a "spider box" to get additional electric circuits. It plugs into the wall plug for an electric dryer. This gets access to the 220 volts there.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, has been serving folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas area for over 20 years with property damage issues.
We'd be pleased to help you as well.
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only one!
(254) 756-4300
Frozen Pipes
10/10/2021 (Permalink)
Drying out the attic after a burst water pipe.
The Quiet Storm
The Texas Polar Vortex was calm, quiet and very cold.
It caused thousands of split and burst water pipes, which, for the most part, were very quiet too.
All the burst and split pipes resulted in water, usually large amounts of water, happening in a variety of possible locations inside homes and buildings.
Especially bad were the burst water pipes in attics. Some of those pipes had been in place, with no problems, for decades.
Of course gravity will bring water from a burst or split water pipe over head down to the next level(s). Perhaps by more than one path.
The air mover pictured was placed in the attic of the water damage in a group home in the Waco Landon Branch area.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, ended up removing all the insulation from the affected attic area, while saving the ceiling drywall and all the drywall on the living level.
This resulted in quick recovery of the affected area and no serious interruption of the home residents normal routine.
SERVPRO of Waco has helped thousands of folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas area for over 20 years.
We be honored to help you as well.
(254) 756-4300
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only ONE!
SERVPRO of Waco has vast resources available
9/28/2021 (Permalink)
Opening up the traveling warehouse trailer at the job site.
Through SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, vast resources are available to deal with whatever happens from storms and other calamities to your home or building.
We are a franchise in a network of hundreds and hundreds of SERVPRO franchises across the US and Canada. The resources available from Texas, and beyond are incredible. Exceptional!
Pictured are cleaning hand tools unloaded, in an orderly fashion, to get to the other supplies and drying equipment inside the 55' trailer. The trailer was brought to the job site in the North Lake Waco area within hours of the job starting.
These trailers, and there are many, are packed with everything needed for large disaster restoration.
A virtual on-site warehouse of equipment and many "boots on the ground" to help folks recover quickly from large scale property damage.
SERVPRO of Waco has beenhelping folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas area since 2001.
That is over 20 years now
You can count on us.
(254) 756-4300
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only one!
That little water heater up by the dock did this?
9/28/2021 (Permalink)
The large records room after the water heater line froze.
The historic freeze of Feb. 2021 in Central Texas gave us many surprises about our homes and businesses/workplaces.
Mixed with the lockdown and folks working from home many "surprises" went undetected for awhile.
The water pictured came from a mini water heater by a utility sink in a buildings enclosed receiving dock area in Downtown Waco.
There's been a water heater in that area for decades. The area is not climate controlled however, with never an incident before.
Thousands of feet of office space and storage areas was affected with water damage.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, extracted and dried the affected areas NO LOSS OF USE of the facility. It was a little noisy, but they were able to continue operations straight away.
We have been helping folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas area since 2001. Just over 20 years.
Let us help you if you find your property in a similar situation.
(254) 756-4300
SERVPRO of Waco....there's only one!
We aren't hiding our address!
1/19/2021 (Permalink)
7719 Central Park Dr. Unit B
Waco, TX 76712
We are very local! You can find us very quickly and easily. Our warehouse is just off Central Texas Parkway right behind Happy Hounds and Slow Rise Pizza.
Yes that does sound like "when you get to the fork, take it" but we really are pretty much behind them both.
Beware of restoration companies that do not include their address in their listings or ads. There is a reason they don't.
Quite simply...they ain't from around here!
Companies, from significant distances away or who used to be local and left the area, secure (800) phones numbers or (254) phone numbers to appear they are right hear in greater Waco or Central Texas. Some also keep phone numbers from when they used to be here and moved a hundred miles or so away.
A big give away is not listing an address.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, is very local and centrally located. We've been helping folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas area with property damage restoration since 2001.
"2001:A SERVPRO Odyssey" as we say tongue in cheek. We're still on it!
Call us at (254) 756-4300
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only one!
Ground Water Leakage
1/18/2021 (Permalink)
Remnants of a below grade ground water leak in a concrete walled room caused by ground water pressure after heavy rain storms.
GROUND WATER
There's a term you don't want to hear in storms and heavy rain downpours.
It work its way into your building, sometimes in vast amounts.
While basements are rare around here, it can come in through closed doors, outside walls, etc. This can include into crawlspaces, where the evaporating humidity from it can cause a lot of secondary damage.
The picture shows the near completion of a building equipment room drying where that little looking seepage actually ran in quantity into the lobby and down the hall. This particular building has a below grade (basement) level and heavy amounts of rain fell in a short period of time.
At SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, we are very experienced helping folks around the greater Waco and Central Texas area through ground water flooding damage. We get it dried. Ground water does have to stop coming in on its own. But we'll get it out and dried right away.
Over 20 years experience
(254) 756-4300
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only one!
Staging the Drying Equipment
9/10/2020 (Permalink)
Sometimes you have to put it nearby, but out of everyone's way.
After the arrival of a SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team unloading and staging the drying equipment from the 55 foot trailer is underway. Not all large buildings which have suffered a significant loss, have the space available for a 55 foot semi trailer set up with a crew working from it. Consequently, side streets, etc., are often used.
Here, the equipment packed into the trailer is being brought from the trailer in Waco, TX, and staged on parts of the lawn to be worked into the job site as work progresses.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company called in this Disaster Recovery Team to assist in providing the amount of equipment and "boots on the ground" resources needed to deal with the damage, and keep the building operational.
The team was on the site within hours.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, has been bringing the knowledge, experience and resources to help hundreds of folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas area recover from losses to their buildings for nearly 20 years.
You can count on us!
(254) 756-4300
SERVPRO of Waco...there is only one.
A Makeshift Drain
9/10/2020 (Permalink)
Dehumidifier water discharge hoses draining into a "64 gallon bucket".
The majority of dehumidifiers used in water damage drying work by condensation. They create cold coils that cause moist air to "sweat" on the coils and then catch the resulting water droplets. We've all seen condensation on cold drink glasses and cans.
That's a bit over simplified, but the result is a reservoir of water which is pumped out of the machine...usually to a drain.
Often in large building water damages, where the dehumidifiers need placed are not close to a restroom, kitchen, custodian closet, etc.
What to do...what to do?
Often, the solution is to use a heavy duty container designed for trash originally.
In the photo, you can see two water hoses from two extra large dehumidifiers going up the side of the trash can and into it in this Waco, TX, business.
This particular 64 gallon can had about 30 gallons of water in it each day and needed dumped.
Thank goodness it has wheels.
Ideally, all the water would go out and down a drain. This is an excellent second option. The water in the containers each day is always surprising to the customers.
Our Trash Containers used for this have never been used for actual trash.
Since 2001, SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, we have successfully helped hundreds of folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas area get through damage situations in their homes and buildings.
You can count on us!
(254) 756-4300
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only one.
A Penetrating Moisture Meter Readng
9/10/2020 (Permalink)
Wet drywall right next to the fireplace
Usually, finished and painted drywall walls are tested for wetness with a non-penetrating meter.
These meters send and then receive signals reading moisture in a material. Non-penetrating meters are quite useful for good reading and no damage getting the reading.
A penetrating meter actually has points/pins the are pushed into the material, as is shown. The pins in the photo are on the floor side on the top of the meter.
A penetrating meter reads a small are showing what is happening right in that area and go in to some depth or another.
Since drying materials pulls moisture to the drying surface, the non-penetrating meter reads the surface as well as depth all through the drying.
A penetrating meter will show drying progress below the surface as it progresses. The penetrating meter will help show if a smaller variations of the dampness as well.
The meter pictured is being used in a Hewitt, TX, wall area behind where the trim was removed and therefore is below the normally visual area of the wall.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, has successfully helped hundreds of folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas area through damages to their homes and buildings since 2001.
Let us put our knowledge, experience and resources to work for you should the need arise.
You can count on us.
(254) 756-4300
SERVPRO of Waco...there's only one.
Wet After Tornado
3/4/2020 (Permalink)
Water damaged second story sub-flooring after a tornado
This second floor hall has had the carpet and pad removed after suffering water intrusion during a tornado and heavy rain event.
To the left, not shown, is the door out into the attic where the metal roof was blown off the building.
Water damage from a tornado can come in from the roof or other blown open areas and come down trough the building, as was the case in this home.
Opening the closet door to what had come to look like a patio was quite the experience.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, lined up the help needed to secure the roof of this Bremond, TX, area home. We removed the carpet, etc., to get the home on the path to dried out and repaired.
SERVPRO of Waco has been helping folks in the greater Waco area and through out Central Texas through property damage situations since 2001.
Let us help you.
SERVPRO of Waco (254) 756-4300
There's Water In There?
1/6/2020 (Permalink)
Yes, the Light Globe is Full of Water.
Yes, water from a source above the room or area affected by the water damage can accumulate in the light fixture.
This fixture involved in a Whitney, TX, area tornado and thunderstorm fill up so much with water, it became dim....and warm. The bulb was heating the water.
Water can get into a light fixture traveling along wires in the ceiling or attic. It can also just soak straight though the drywall, etc., right into the globe and hold the water. Turns out light globes will hold water.
Water will also run along electric lines in the ceiling or attic and drop off at low points or obstacles. This can produce water spots in the ceiling well away from the main affected areas. Usually the amount of water traveling the line is small, but problematic.
Normally, the water won't have any real affect on the electricity itself.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company has been helping folks in the greater Waco and Central Texas areas deal with water related issues for 19 years.
If you have problems with water where water shouldn't be, give us a call at (254) 756-4300. We'll be glad to help.
Copper Pipe Split Open from Freezing
9/20/2019 (Permalink)
A frozen copper water pipe split open.
While plastic water pipes can break and separate when frozen, copper pipes often open more as a split. They can be relatively small sometimes. However, the spray is strong and puts out a lot of water quickly, though slower than a complete break.
In this particular case, two pipes split open not far from each other.
Apparently a frozen pipe bursting is not a mutually exclusive things among pipes in a structure.
In this McLennan County ranch house near Aquilla, TX a pipe burst open in a bedroom ceiling and the bathroom right beside it.
Unfortunately, it was not discovered right away and much damage was done by the water.
SERVPRO of Waco did the water extraction and water damage drying on this job.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, servicing the greater Waco and Central Texas area since 2001.
Indoor Hot Tub Pipe Freeze
9/20/2019 (Permalink)
The repair behind the indoor hot tub
Here is what we all need and what we don't need!
This large enclosed porch style room had an indoor hot tub. Who wouldn't want one of those??!
However, the pipe in the exterior wall from which the water for the hot tub came, froze and burst. It was pretty much the same as having your outdoor spigot (or hydrant as some call it around here) pipe burst inside the wall.
Of, course everyone was gone at work when it happened and came home to water everywhere. Maybe some of it went outside too, but it didn't look like it.
SERVPRO of Waco did water extraction of the whole first floor and dried out the water damage.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company, serving the greater Waco and Central Texas area since 2001.
Ground Water - Ugh!
9/20/2019 (Permalink)
The run off after an extremely quick, heavy rain,
This picture shows the ground water from extremely heavy rain running down the streets and driveways as it makes its way to lower ground and waterways in Hewitt, TX.
Unfortunately, when the ground water gets to the structure walls, the building will not be able to hold 100 % of it back. In some instances, if one's building is the lowest point or in the direct path downhill, the building will really just slow the water down. It will inevitably works its way through.
Sadly, unless you live in an area which is a flood plain, insurance will probably not cover the damage. Ground water.
SERVPRO of Waco can work with you to get this water extracted and damage cleaned up.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company serving the Greater Waco and Central Texas area since 2001.
Behind the Wet Drywall
9/20/2019 (Permalink)
Interesting wall construction behind wet drywall walls and ceiling after pipe freezes
Gravity just brings the water down several ways from frozen pipes in the ceiling.
While the water brought down part of the ceiling in this McLennan County/Aquilla area ranch. it also spread out in about every direction across the ceiling. Then, of course, down the side walls.
After water extraction, the water damage drying process required removing some materials and letting the basic structure get dried deeper inside.
Some of the materials had to be removed immediately, i.e. the collapsed ceiling, and some was removed after preliminary drying efforts indicated drying was not progressing.
SERVPRO of Waco was able to dry this rambling home in a reasonable time period without extensive demolition.
SERVPRO of Waco, a restoration company serving the greater Waco and Central Texas since 2001.
We've been lucky, but...
8/28/2017 (Permalink)
Waco has dodged a bullet from the hurricane.
Who'd have thought we'd get gentle rains and cool, easy breezes, while just South of us folks are in a real struggle with the weather?
But the storm may turn North and come towards us Thursday or so.
How are things looking for water drainage around your place(s)?
Are the storm sewer openings clear of debris? Is the drainage ditch clear? Are drain culverts near your place open and clear of debis?
We've had customers who were near awesome storm sewer drains, but the flooding occurred was on trash pick up day and the trash cans, etc., floated down and blocked the storm sewers.
It would be a real drag to have to stand in flood water, in the rain and try to unclog things in the throws of a storm.
Just sayin'.
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