Water Damage Restoration for Bellingham Household Surfaces

3/17/2024 (Permalink)

Removing water from your home is a tricky task. Contact SERVPRO for certified professionals who know how to handle the job.

Effective Measures to Mitigate Bellingham Water Damage

Bellingham, WA, is a charming city located in the Pacific Northwest. The town is burrowed between the majestic Cascade Mountains and Bellingham Bay, offering breathtaking views and access to outdoor activities. Locals and visitors alike can explore the expansive trails of Whatcom Falls Park, enjoy waterfront views at Boulevard Park, or hike through the serene forests of North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead. The city has diverse educational opportunities, including Western Washington University, Bellingham High School, Carl Cozier Elementary School, Lowell Elementary School, Kulshan Middle School, and Whatcom Middle School.

Prompt water damage restoration for Bellingham homeowners is essential as moisture can significantly affect household surfaces, often leading to various forms of damage if not adequately addressed. These effects can range from cosmetic issues to more serious structural problems. SERVPRO® restoration professionals play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of moisture. We employ advanced moisture extraction techniques for porous surfaces like drywall, including structural drying and dehumidification. 

Damages resulting from inadequate water damage restoration 

• Paint and wallpaper damage 
• Metal corrosion 
• Tile and grout damage 
• Wood rot 

Moisture infiltration can cause tiles to develop mold and mildew in grout lines, requiring repair or replacement. Moisture can also cause paint to bubble, peel, or flake off surfaces. Similarly, wallpaper can become discolored, peel, or develop mold in damp conditions.

Cabinets and Countertops Water Restoration 

Due to their aesthetic appeal, solid wood, engineered wood, or laminated MDF are common choices in many homes. However, they are highly vulnerable to moisture. Water damage can manifest as bubbling or peeling for laminate or veneer surfaces commonly found in modern cabinets and countertops. SERVPRO crews use non-invasive moisture meters to assess whether moisture has penetrated these surfaces, helping to prevent surface damage. We examine for indications of swelling and delamination. Solid wood cabinets can typically be restored to their previous condition. However, engineered wood cabinets may develop delamination, rendering them unrepairable. Our crews utilize specialized equipment to address these issues, including carefully removing damaged sections and applying adhesives to reattach the laminate or veneer securely. 

Resources that facilitate drying 

• Low grain refrigerant (LGR) 
• Desiccant dehumidifier 
• Hot air exchange system 

SERVPRO of Whatcom County employs specialized techniques and tools tailored to each water damage restoration situation. Call us at (360) 733-1800. Faster to any size disaster™.

Comprehensive Carpet Water Damage Restoration in Ferndale

11/26/2023 (Permalink)

If your Ferndale home has water damage, call SERVPRO. We're Faster to any size disaster™.

SERVPRO® Expertly Tackles Wet Carpet and Rug Challenges

Ferndale homeowners face the challenge of addressing water damage quickly when it affects their carpets and area rugs. The aftermath of a heavy rain or a pipe leak can be daunting, with many unsure how to restore floor coverings successfully on their own. 

After water damage to Ferndale carpeting and area rugs, there should be zero delay in starting the water cleanup. Fast action on a homeowner's part to bring in professional assistance can help limit numerous complications.

• Problems arising from water damage to carpets and rugs:
• Mold growth
• Unpleasant odors that linger and make indoor spaces less welcoming
• Weakening of carpet fibers, causing them to tear easily
• Damage to the floor underneath, especially if it's made of wood or luxury vinyl

SERVPRO® in Ferndale offers specialized services to address water damage on carpets and area rugs. Their approach includes:

• Extracting the water using high-powered equipment to ensure little moisture remains
• Cleaning and sanitizing the carpets to eliminate any contaminants
• Using dehumidifiers to restore the normal moisture levels of the room
• Providing a thorough drying process to prevent mold growth and odors

Specific Methods for Drying Carpet

SERVPRO techs often utilize a controlled drying method known as "tenting." Tenting is a specialized technique used in the water damage restoration industry to dry a wet carpet in place.

How Tenting Works Against Water Damage

Plastic sheeting is placed over the wet carpet and sealed with water extraction tape to form an airtight tent. The tent size adjusts to the dimensions of the damp area. Inside, SERVPRO techs use air movers to accelerate moisture evaporation from the carpet and padding. After drying, the rug is cleaned, sanitized, and re-stretched (if needed) to its original condition.

SERVPRO of Whatcom County at (360) 733-1800 serves the Ferndale community for water damage restoration services of any size or type.

Do Not Let Bellingham Water Damage Destroy Your Home

3/21/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO extracts water and mitigates damage to your Bellingham home with our fast response; We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO Provides Fast Water Damage Cleanup

Water is an essential component of our lives. When it does not stay contained in the piping of the plumbing system or infiltrates your home through instances like flooding, you can see its destructive and hazardous properties as well. After leaks and other water emergencies, it is important to have a restoration team willing to act quickly to help. Disasters do not wait for convenient times to strike, so our rapid response team stays accessible and ready to mobilize 24 hours a day.

Bellingham water damage occurs in several ways, making no two situations similar. In contrast, our SERVPRO Green Fleet that stays stocked with extraction and drying tools carries the needed instruments to help the site's positioning and frequency of required products and equipment changes after these disasters.

Getting Mitigation Started Fast

Did you know?

Mitigation is a critical component of every restoration project. It is the earliest action to protect a home and its contents from permanent damage.

Completing mitigating steps requires experienced professionals of our SERVPRO team to reach the property shortly after the first notice of loss. While many possible emergency services can help a structure after disasters, some of the most common focal points of our technicians upon entering a water-damaged home include:

• Extraction
• Discarding materials
• Demolition
• Emergency repairs
• Content management

Thorough Drying Solutions for Your Home

Drying is a necessary element of every restoration project. Water and moisture must be removed using a combination of drying tools and products, beginning with high-velocity blower units placed in the work area to address surface moisture concerns. Usual drying tools include:

• Air Movers - High-velocity air mover units are the foundation of fast and continual drying. Blasting surfaces with warm air promotes steady evaporation on surfaces with water damage.
• Dehumidifiers - Using air movers increases the moisture grains in the air, which must be removed to an acceptable level that does not promote secondary effects like structural deterioration or microbial development. We have dehumidification units that trap and collect this water to improve environmental conditions.
• Portable Heaters - Heaters manipulate the temperature of the drying space, helping evaporation to happen more quickly, environments to hold more water in the air, and chemical processes to occur with less contact time.

Knowing the House is Dry

Peace of mind is earned, and we can show you why we are a team worth trusting when drying and restoring water damage in your home. With dozens or even hundreds of drying tools used simultaneously to help your property return to preloss condition, continual monitoring is needed to evaluate the progress of these instruments. SERVPRO technicians can reconfigure them to provide even more efficient production. We have several moisture monitors and sensors to help collect data as required.

Relying on Our SERVPRO Experience

We are not the only Bellingham restoration company, but we provide a level of preparedness that has allowed us to become a preferred vendor for insurance work and disaster relief. We are accredited through firms like the IICRC in areas like:

• WRT- Water Restoration
• ASD – Structural Drying
• OCT – Odor Control
• CDS – Commercial Drying

Bellingham water damage is one of the more common callouts for our professionals, making it a situation that technicians on our roster must stay ready to face. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster, starting with emergency preparedness at all levels. Give our SERVPRO of Whatcom County team a call at (360) 733-1800.

Water Damage Repair Can Save the Ceilings in Your Bellingham Home

3/20/2023 (Permalink)

Don't get trapped with large water damage repair bills for your Bellingham home. Call SERVPRO; we make it "Like it never even happened."

Water Damage Repair Drains Leaked & Trapped Water

Owning a two-story home provides families in Bellingham with about twice the living space of the ground floor's footprint. The extra story has both benefits and drawbacks. The movement of unwanted water --leaks--through the floor and ceiling can destroy those structures. Destruction such as this requires timely water damage repair services from a qualified company.

SERVPRO provides property owners in Bellingham with water damage repair services that match the specific situation of the customer's home or business. Ceilings containing water that escaped the plumbing can bulge visibly downward.

Here, we explain several reasons why property owners should call SERVPRO as soon as they notice signs of trapped water inside a ceiling or a leak arising in an upper level of their property: 

• Increased electrical hazards, 
• Possibility of collapse, and 
• Repairs are possible for a short period. 

Many ceilings contain wiring to power overhead lighting. Water that collects in the space between the upper level's floor and the lower level's ceiling can cause shorts in the electrical system and corrode electrical system components in adjacent areas. We can fix such extenuating situations immediately after we repair the underlying cause.

Water damages ceilings in two ways – softening the drywall while the water's weight causes it to take the form of a large bowl. This new shape can cause the drywall around the center portion to separate from the screws used to secure it to the beams. Entire sections of your ceiling can fall onto the floor.

Before any ceiling sections detach and fall onto the floor, SERVPRO's technicians can repair everything. We do this by starting at the perimeter toward the center. If we do this soon enough, we can save the ceiling and reduce associated costs.

SERVPRO of Whatcom County at (360) 733-1800 is always ready to assist with repairs, restoration, and other protective measures that your property might require. 

Water Mitigation in Ferndale Prevents Property Deterioration

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO provide safe water damage mitigation to your Ferndale property.

SERVPRO Minimize the Losses from Ferndale Water Damage

Maintaining your Ferndale home is one of the best ways to prevent water damage. Regularly check your plumbing and heating pipes and inspect appliance hoses and faucets. However, you may not always foresee such disasters; hence when this happens, you need to act quickly to protect your home and its contents from incurring further damages.

Water mitigation in Ferndale homes is essential because many materials, such as drywall, wood, insulation, and all types of furnishings, are porous. This, therefore, makes it possible for water damage to continue to worsen if no rapid measures are taken. SERVPRO has the right equipment and training to remove excess moisture and thoroughly dry your home's furnishings and structural elements.

Other immediate actions include

• Standing upholstered cushions on end so both sides can begin to dry
• Removing area rugs and other temporary floor coverings
• Moving wet items to a dry, well-ventilated area
• Identifying electrical hazards and avoiding them

Entering a room with standing water while the electricity is still on is hazardous, and ceilings sagging from a water intrusion on the upper floor could collapse. SERVPRO offers rapid repairs to prevent secondary damages.

Some tools that facilitate the process

Tools such as moisture meters help the SERVPRO crew measure moisture levels and choose appropriate equipment to dry the property. High-speed fans are efficient in evaporating any leftover moisture and restoring the correct humidity levels in your home so that floors, walls, and furnishings do not rot, swell, or warp. Our crews set up and leave the drying equipment onsite until another temperature, humidity, and moisture testing round confirms that the affected areas have been fully dried and restored to preloss conditions.

Some equipment that facilitates rapid and efficient drying

• Dehumidifiers
• Air scrubbers
• Air movers

SERVPRO of Whatcom County properly and safely remediate and restores the damages from water. For water mitigation that you can count on, call us at (360) 733-1800. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Don’t Let Bellingham Water Damage Costs Break the Bank

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

Bellingham homeowners know to call SERVPRO for rapid water mitigation and cleanup. WE can save your hardwood floors.

SERVPRO’s Water Damage Methods Save Bellingham Residents Money

Many working parts are involved with water restoration, especially if you have a significant incident inside your Bellingham home. SERVPRO’s water removal services help address all standing water, but our efforts go far beyond that. When you need structural drying, mold prevention, and reconstruction, we have the manpower and methods to handle everything for you in unison. This coordinated action ensures your property gets left “Like it never even happened” once we finish the job!

When you have water damage in Bellingham, you need solutions. SERVPRO’s scalability allows us to adapt to any restoration project that comes our way. We consider all unique aspects of your water emergency so we can select the right process to get results. Some of the equipment you will see us using may include:

•             Pumps and extractors –We utilize the best extraction tools for the job to pull up as much standing water in the shortest time possible to halt migration and further saturation.
•             Air movers and fans –Airflow is critical for drying and evaporating moisture, so we strategically place centrifugal air movers, industrial axial fans, and other equipment to facilitate the drying process.
•             Portable heating and dehumidification –In some situations, boosting the temperature in the work zone just enough will help eliminate moisture faster. Along with our powerful dehumidifiers, we can restore relative humidity (RH) more quickly than any DIY method alone.

One call to SERVPRO gets you all of the following and more:

• Highly-trained technicians
• 24/7 rapid response
• Advanced technology
• Insurance paperwork assistance
• Proven results

Nobody is quicker to get to work on your water damage than our SERVPRO of Whatcom County team. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, and you can reach us any time of day by calling our customer care team at (360) 733-1800. You can also initiate service by requesting help using our online contact form.

Bellingham Water Removal Also Means Humidity Management

7/21/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO reduces humidity and water damage in Bellingham homes with desiccant dehumidifiers. "Like it never even happened."

Water Removal in the Home Is Vital

One of the critical elements of overcoming water and moisture damage in your home or business is removing high humidity. Moisture content like this can dramatically slow the drying process, and without direct action to counteract and regulate it, it could stall the restoration progress entirely.                                                                                             

Why is a High Humidity Level Concerning?

Humidity might not seem like a cause for water removal in Bellingham homes, but there are more issues with rising environmental moisture content than you think. Damp environments directly impact structural elements, which could result in weakening or deterioration. In addition, persistent moist conditions are welcoming to mold and microbial development.

Regulating Moisture Content

As the drying process continues, the air's moisture level rises without measures taken to counteract this increase. The most effective strategy is the placement and operation of dehumidifiers. These work in conjunction with air movers evaporating surface moisture and portable heaters that increase the capacity of the air to hold more water. Collectively, regulating the environmental moisture content is a product of these tools:

• Desiccant dehumidifiers
• Low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers
• Portable electric heaters
• Air movers

Collecting Data on Drying Effectiveness

To understand the effects of the methods used to regulate environmental moisture concerns, our SERVPRO professionals must continually monitor the progress of drying tools and dehumidifiers. The best approach to track drying and humidity levels are with a thermohygrometer. These tools measure the volume of water content in the atmosphere to show when acceptable percentages have been achieved. Moisture meters placed directly on materials aid in determining the moisture content and when the effort is complete.

While water removal can indicate a need for extraction, it can also mean the steps taken to overcome high moisture content in the environment. Our SERVPRO of Whatcom County East team works fast to manage humidity concerns to protect the property and contents from damage. Call our experienced professionals now at (360) 788-4158.

Leaky Hot Water Tank in Bellingham, WA.

6/15/2021 (Permalink)

One of the most common sources of a water damage in the Hot Water Tank.

One the most common reason our clients call SERVPRO of Bellingham is to come out and dry their home or business because a Hot Water Tank has burst or is leaking. There are a number of reasons why a Hot Water Tank fails. It could be loose fitting, the tank itself fails, the supply line coming in or the supply line coming out, a broken drain valve, broken temperature or drain valves or just plain out age.

Hot water tanks wear out over time and if you aren't paying attention you will be calling SERVPRO of Bellingham to help you dry things out, so here are some things what to look for.

-Water leaking form the bottom of the tank

-Inconsistent water temps

-Running out of hot water

-Discolored water

-Unusual noises from the tank

-Low water pressure

We hopes this helps, but if you do need our help please call anytime 24/7.

Water Damaged Bathroom in Bellingham WA.

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

A faucet to a sink failed and damaged the entire bathroom.

It's one of the busiest rooms in the house. The bathroom is where you have the most amount of water lines and drains in your home. 

We take running water for granted and we take perfectly functioning plumbing for granted almost all of the time. Do you know when you think about plumbing? When it's no longer functioning perfectly.

The bathroom sink and toilet get used throughout the day and we see a lot of failures in the bathrooms. Remember to treat your plumbing with respect and never over pack the cabinet under the sink with cleaners, garbage pails or towels. These items can knock into your plumbing and create a leak.

We think about this stuff because we live it everyday. A perfectly functioning bathroom is not appreciated enough, but the moment it's no longer perfect you can call SERVPRO of Bellingham at 360-733-1800 to dry it up.  

Frozen Pipes in Blaine Washington

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

Example of a Burst Copper Pipe

Frozen water in copper pipes can lead to burst pipes. The damaged pipe is tied to pressure rather than the ice. The frozen pipe is blocked, causing water pressure to build up behind it. Eventually, the pressure builds up enough that the pipe bursts.

When the ice begins to melt is when the pressure issues are often the worst. The pressure as the water rushes through the pipes can also cause bursting.

Generally, houses in Washington are built with pipes located on the inside of the building insulation. This usually protects them from subfreezing weather, although extreme cold, insufficient insulation and holes that allow cold air to come into contact with pipes can still lead to freezing and bursting.

Pipes begin freeze at about 20 degrees Fahrenheit, even if it hasn’t been that cold for long. However, when it gets below 20 degrees, the frequency of burst pipes becomes higher.

When pipes burst it's time to call SERVPRO of Bellingham 360-733-1800.

We are ALWAYS open

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

We are always ready to help.

Has anyone ever scheduled a water damage in their home or place of business?

Has a sudden and catastrophic accident occurred when you were ready?

Can you please make sure that the burst pipe happens during normal business hours?

SERVPRO of Bellingham knows that this will never be the case and that the worst case scenario only happen when you aren't ready and we are. You know why we are always ready? Because our job is to be there for you in most difficult of times. 

Our shop light might be off and the trucks might be parked, but the phone is always on and our crew is always ready. We work weekends, holidays and sometimes on vacation because we are here for you.

Call us anytime 360-733-1800. 

Water Damage caused by roof leak in Bellingham, WA.

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

We found the issue and helped solve the water problem.

The Pacific Northwest is known for coffee, salmon, it's incredible natural beauty and RAIN. Our roofs are asked to protect us during the wettest of times and through the winds that build coming off the Puget Sound. Sometimes these roofing systems fail and a water intrusion occurs. Our customers call these intrusions roof leaks and mystery drips, so we dig into the issue and help them solve the mystery of the drip.

Our technicians crawl through the attic with grace and determination to help answer questions about volume, insulation and dry time, but the rain must be kept out and for that you need a roofer.

Once the roof has been repaired and water is no longer finding it's way in we get to work drying and clean and helping. Like we always do.

Know the Stages of Water Damage

2/2/2021 (Permalink)

Understanding the Stages of Water Damage helps SERVPRO of Bellingham address the issues at hand

SERVPRO of Bellingham is ready to help. One of the first steps to when getting started on the  restoration of a home or business that has been affected by water damage is to know the extent of damage that you are getting into. According to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), there are four classes of destruction that explain the severity levels of water damage. Knowing the class of damage first will help in making a restoration plan to fix the harm that has occurred.            

Classes of Destruction

Class 1 –

            Class 1 is the easiest water damage to deal with due to the slow evaporation rate. Only part of the room or area is affected for this class and there is little to no wet carpet that has been affected.

Class 2 –

            Due to the fast evaporation rate of Class 2, the whole room becomes affected. From the carpeting to the walls and structure, moisture covers the room.

Class 3 –

            This class involves the fastest evaporation rate where ceilings have now become involved. Most instances from this class have had liquid come from the ceiling. The moisture in these incidents will most likely affect the ceiling, walls, insulation, carpet and sub-floors.

Class 4 –

            When an area has reached class 4, this means that the liquid has had enough time to completely saturate materials such as hardwood, brick or even stone. These incidents require specialty-drying situations.

Source - http://www.IICRC.org/the-basics-water-damage-restoration-training-a-23.html

Water Damage and Asbestos Testing in Bellingham, WA

6/15/2020 (Permalink)

Samples for an Asbestos Test

SERVPRO of Bellingham realizes the importance of Asbestos Testing.

Many of our customers question why we need to test for asbestos?

We test because it's the law, because the health of our customers matters to us, because the health of our employees is paramount, and because it is the absolute right thing to do.

Our's require us to "demo" materials that have to affected all sorts of weird things like by microbial growth or sewer back ups. The policy is to always test these materials before they are removed to ensure the safety of the family that lives there, the employees that come to work everyday and the valued workers of SERVPRO fo Bellingham. 

We promote safety first by always testing for asbestos.

Water Damage in the Kitchen in Bellingham, WA.

5/4/2020 (Permalink)

The busiest room in the house is also the most likely to cause water damage.

It's the busiest room in the house. If home is where the heart is then your heart is really in the kitchen because its the heart of any home.

We take running water for granted and we take perfectly functioning plumbing for granted almost all of the time. Do you know when you think about plumbing? When it's no longer functioning perfectly.

The kitchen sink get used throughout the day and we see a lot of failures with the kitchen sink. Remember to treat you faucet with respect and never over pack the cabinet under the sink with cleaners, garbage pails or dish racks. These items can knock into your plumbing and create a leak.

We think about this stuff because we live it everyday. A perfectly functioning kitchen sink is not appreciated enough, but the moment it's no longer perfect you can call SERVPRO of Bellingham at 360-733-1800 to dry it up.  

Flooded Crawlspace in Birch Bay Washington

4/2/2020 (Permalink)

The storm water was so high that the crawlspace was inaccessible.

The storm season of 2019 extended all the way into 2020. We saw wet basements, attics and crawlspaces for months. One of the most difficult flooding scenarios to deal with as a home owner is rising water in your crawl space. Often times here isn't anywhere for the water to go. Meaning the water table has risen to the point that even a sump pump to the exterior of the building isn't help and the water just makes it's way back under your home.

This particular situation was especially trying because of the new construction around this pre-existing home. The home owner and SERVPRO of Bellingham worked together to create a plan to pump out the crawlspace and get the structure dry again. 

It was a job well done. 

Storm Flooded Basement in Ferndale, Washington

4/2/2020 (Permalink)

A good indication of why you have a flooded basement.

Rain.

The Pacific Northwest or Pacific NorthWET is known for gray skies and rain. SERVPRO of Bellingham is also known for dealing with rain. Well not exactly dealing with rain, but dealing with the ramifications of too much rain. 

We were called to help the new homeowner of a beautiful gentleman's farm in Ferndale, WA. They were experiencing flood waters in the finished basement and an overwhelmed sump pump. 

We knew exactly what the problem was when we arrived. The driveway was pitted out with mud puddles and the field looked like a trout pond. Our crew set up two pump with the outtake hoses stretched down the hill and into the wood below.

Once the water was extracted we set drying equipment and helped them get back to life as normal.

Next time you have a flooded basement you know who to call... SERVPRO of Bellingham.

Broken Pipe In Bellingham, Washington

3/31/2020 (Permalink)

A failed supply line under the kitchen sink

Water Damages are most often caused by mechanical failures. A mechanical failure is a broken pipe, failed valve or any item that supplies water to an appliance. Our homes have many fixtures that bring water or drain water from all over the structure.

We are called to help all aspects of water damages caused by mechanical failures and faulty valves. A common area for a water leak to occur is the kitchen and specifically the kitchen sink. Water supply lines for hot and cold water, dishwasher supply lines, water filters and other lines are housed under the kitchen sink. 

SERVPRO of Bellingham is called to help people after a supply line failure. First call a plumber and then call the green trucks. We are here to help. 

A dry clean home in Ferndale Washington

1/2/2020 (Permalink)

We take great pride in providing excellent drying services and a clean environment to work and live in.

SERVPRO of Bellingham is always helping families get back into their homes after hardships such as fires, sewer back ups and mold, but the most common cause for calling SERVPRO is water damage.

Typically, water damage is caused by a human error or a mechanical failure. Mechanical failures occur when a piece of equipment or part of a system such as plumbing no longer works correctly.  An old pipe, bad shingles, poor exterior caulking or the valves that fails are all reasons people give when contacting us to come into theirs homes to perform our duties.

When on the job site we always work with great pride and do our jobs like it was our own home. We dry, we clean, we care, we are SERVPRO of Bellingham.  

Basement flood in Eastsound, WA on Orcas Island.

6/18/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bellingham helps out during difficult times. We dry water damaged homes everyday.

A pipe burst in a basement while the owner was on vacation. When they returned the water was running out of the lower level door. This is not the way you want to return from holiday.

Immediately turning off the water and a quick call to the plumber fixed the initial issue, but the real work starts after the leak in fixed.

SERVPRO of Bellingham was the next call to be made. Our crew set up containment, negative pressure, attacked the wet sheet rock, pulled out the laminate flooring, treated the surfaces for microbial growth and began the drying process.

Our clients could not believe how quickly we had started to make a difference.

We took a miserable end to a vacation and began to make a house a home again.

Water damage in a bathroom in Bellingham, WA.

5/8/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage can't hide from SERVPRO of Bellingham.

The two most common rooms in your home to experience a water damage are the kitchen and the bathroom.

This makes perfect sense when you think of the infrastructure of your home and where water is actually plumbed. 

In this particular home, the bathroom vanity sink was the culprit, but we needed to find out how far the water had intruded into other walls and how far along the floor the water had gone. 

We utilized one of our most important and technologically advanced tools, THE FLIR infrared thermal imaging camera, to diagnose the issue. This allows us to see temperature differences behind walls and materials and allows our trained crew members to make well informed decisions prior to drying and demolition. It's also pretty cool.

When water damage seeps into your home, call SERVPRO of Bellingham to find the problem and dry it out. 

Spring has Sprung in Bellingham, WA.

4/5/2019 (Permalink)

A cold Winter has opened up to a beautiful Spring, but that means leaky exterior faucets and a call to SERVPRO of Bellingham.

This week in Bellingham, WA SERVPRO of Bellingham has fielded upwards to ten phone calls regarding leaking hose bib faucets.

Out door hose bibs are finally being utilized again after a long and sometimes harsh winter in the Pacific Northwest. Our neighbors are washing cars, cleaning exterior windows and starting to move out side for the first time since last fall and discovering that the freezing temperatures last winter have left their frost free faucets are now leaking.

The leaks come issues when the water intrudes on the indoor living space or creates moisture in crawlspaces and wall cavities. These leaks can be very difficult to find, but SERVPRO of Bellingham has many tricks and lots of technology to assist our customers during these stressful times. 

The next time you have a leaking frost free faucet, call SERVPRO of Bellingham to help find the problem and dry the structure.

Ice Maker Leak in Bellingham, WA.

1/10/2019 (Permalink)

Supply line to the refrigerator leaked.

The most common mechanical failure we see at SERVPRO of Bellingham is the break in a supply line. This is the line that brings water to an appliance, utility or faucet.

Our crew is on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to be ready for these emergencies. 

Recently a customer called after hours to have us clean up and dry out a kitchen and living room after a supply line to the refrigerator had failed and sent water all over the floor and on to the wall behind the appliance. 

The crew showed up within 30 minutes and got to work immediately. Tired and impressed by our hard working crew the homeowner observed our handy work from the dry safety of the stairs. 

Did you know?

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bellingham. Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

This is just water that has been living in the duct work of a home. One of the most common mistakes made when drying down a home or commercial space is not thinking about the duct work and leaving water and/or moisture in the ducts.

Our crew at SERVPRO of Bellingham was working in a crawlspace of a home in Ferndale, Washington when they found a hidden danger in the dusts.

The hidden danger is water left in ducting can feed the mold spores and create an environment that is no longer safe.

Our crew always takes the extra precaution of disengaging the ducts and informing our customers of the need to have an HVAC professional come back to re-engage and clean the ducts themselves. 

Water Damage

5/9/2018 (Permalink)

Thermal Imaging is a savior when used correctly.

At SERVPRO of Bellingham we specialize in helping people and businesses with a number of issues, but our most common job to be contacted for is water damage. A faulty supply line to a refrigerator caused massive damage to a beautiful home in Bellingham, WA. Our initial call was to investigate cupping in hardwood floor. Our technician quickly diagnosed a much larger problem.

The water had to been leaking under the hardwood floor and had quickly spread to the surrounding rooms and walls. The use of Thermal Imaging helped us to find the affected areas before we stated demolition and allowed us to have a scope in mind well before the actual hard work started.

These tools of the trade can be the difference between success and failure.

Not our first rodeo

4/4/2018 (Permalink)

Wet Crawlspace

A failed hot water heater brought SERVPRO of Bellingham out to a home in Everson, Wa. The carpet and sheetrock were wet, the trim had to detached and the laminate flooring needed to be removed, but the real work was under the house.

We work in crawlspaces on regular basis. We see all sorts of things including animals, clothing, old building materials and mud. One of the main culprits of water and moisture retention is insulation. Our job is to get into the crawlspace and remove the wet insulation.

We also see a lot of prior water damage. This home was like many other that we have seen. The water damage that took place before the current hot water tank failure was easy to spot. 

Luckily, we were able to document the issues and bring them to owner's attention.

Hidden Dangers

11/3/2017 (Permalink)

Test before you disturb.

SERVPRO of Bellingham is called out to dry homes and businesses on a daily basis. Water damage is caused by mechanical failure, human error, many other failures in systems or just plain bad luck.

One if the first items of business for SERVPRO of Bellingham, as well as any contractor having to disturb building materials, is to take samples for asbestos testing. 

Asbestos has been used in literally thousands of products because of its unique properties- fire resistance, high tensile strength, poor heat and electric conductivity and being impervious to chemical attack. We find asbestos in a wide array of materials from fire proofing to insulation, flooring to adhesive, texturing to roofing felt and thousands of others. 

Before we can start any demolition or removal of building materials we must test for asbestos. We are trained to sample areas of concern and those that are going to disturbed. Always test before you cut, smash or remove. Safety and confidence in your contractor must be of utmost importance. 

The kitchen sink

5/8/2017 (Permalink)

The heart of any home is the kitchen.

It's the busiest room in the house. If home is where the heart is then your heart is really in the kitchen because its the heart of any home.

We take running water for granted and we take perfectly functioning plumbing for granted almost all of the time. Do you know when you think about plumbing? When it's no longer functioning perfectly.

The kitchen sink get used throughout the day and we see a lot of failures with the kitchen sink. Remember to treat you faucet with respect and never over pack the cabinet under the sink with cleaners, garbage pails or dish racks. These items can knock into your plumbing and create a leak.

We think about this stuff because we live it everyday. A perfectly functioning kitchen sink is not appreciated enough, but the moment it's no longer perfect you can call SERVPRO of Bellingham at 360-733-1800 to dry it up.  

No time to sleep

6/21/2016 (Permalink)

And you thought cold floors were bad.

We have a monthly "On Call Schedule." Have you ever been on call? That means that at any time the phone could ring and action would need to be taken.

Our professional water technicans at SERVPRO of Bellingham know they will be asked to come out to homes and businesses at a moments notice.

Pipes burst, water supply lines fail, people leave the tub running and go for walk. There are alot of different ways to need SERVPRO and our crews are always ready.

A client called recently with a unique situation. She awoke to a drip and then a trickle and finally a stream. The next step was to investigate the sound. It only took a moment to know what had occurred as she reached her feet towards the floor and heard a splash.

Lucky for her our team of trained professionals were able to get to the home that very night to start extraction and the drying process. A drop had turned into a lake, but our on call crew was on the case. Always ready to help.

We are proud of the individuals that comprise our team and are extremely thankfully for their willingness to go the extra mile for our clients.