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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Water Damage Blog Posts

Most Common Causes of Household Water Leakage

11/11/2020 (Permalink)

Household Water Leakage Img Credit: www.plumbers-edmonton.ca

Water leakage is a severe problem that causes significant damage to a home or building. Besides damage, it also contributes to wastage and organic growth. Unfortunately, identifying the causes of water leak in Vancouver are difficult to detect. Water leaks can form anytime and remain undetected until it starts to wreak havoc. Most of the time, leaks can form inside the pipework or damaged roof. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep inspecting the status of your home to keep it functional.

As a homeowner, you should know about various common water leakage causes in a household setting. The knowledge proves useful to identify any sign and take measures before becoming too burdensome and costly to handle. Some of the most common causes of water leakage in homes include:

  • Clogged Drains

One of the most common and neglected causes of water leak in Vancouver homes are clogged drains. Dirt, debris and strands of hair can cause the drainage system to clog and overtime, they burst or crack. Clogged drains, if left unchecked, create immense water pressure that strains the pipes and causes leakage. The leakage will slowly make its way into the foundations or walls and weaken the stability. Similarly, clogged drains on the roof can also cause a buildup of water to seep through any crack in the attic or walls. Follow regular maintenance schedules to identify any disruption in water supply and deal with clogging.

  • High Water Pressure

High pressure in pipes is also a leading cause of water leak in Vancouver homes. This usually happens when the water pressure goes beyond 80 psi. A home's average pressure level should be up to 60 psi, and pressure beyond that starts to cause pinholes in plumb lines. A household piping system cannot withstand too much water pressure, which usually occurs due to hot showers or the home's elevated location. Have your water regulated before the pressure causes your basement or toilets to become flooded. Have a professional restoration company look into the matter to help identify and regulate pressure buildup points.

  • Lawns

Lawns and backyards also become a cause of water leak in Vancouver homes as plants' roots can exert pressure on pipes. The pipes passing through basements can crack due to constant stress and cause eventual leakage inside homes. Unfortunately, you cannot identify when the roots of trees or plants in your lawns start to cause trouble. You have to keep the signs of potential leakage in focus and take precautionary measures if identified.

  • Ageing and Corrosions

Everything has a specific life span, and your water supply lines succumb to ageing with time. These plumbing materials start to suffer damage and cracks with time and cause water to seep through walls or make its way into foundations. Aged pipes are a common cause of water leak in Vancouver homes and need an immediate response if identified. Ageing pipes also suffer corrosion damage that causes unexpected flooding in basements or any other place.

Signs of Water Leakage

You need to keep some common signs in focus to identity potential water leak in Vancouver homes. You cannot determine the exact cause of leakage, but you can keep these signs in the notice and take necessary measures to handle them. Common signs are:

  • Presence of visible moisture in walls or ceiling that shows signs of potential leakage
  • Low or interrupted water supply that indicated clogging
  • Puddles of water in the basement that shows water has started to rise above the ground
  • Presence of mould or algae on ceilings or attic walls that indicates potential leaks in roof shingles, flashing or clogged gutters
  • Notice damp or wet floors that indicates a buildup of water in the floor or possible sewerage leak
  • If you smell foul odour someplace, you might have mould growth due to moisture buildup
  • If you notice cracks in the walls without any apparent impact source, the chances are that the leakage has started to weaken the walls

Dangers of Water Leakage

A water leak in Vancouver homes, if remain untreated; become dangerous to structural integrity and occupants. These effects include:

  • The constant presence of moisture and humidity encourages the growth of mould and algae that poses health issues if remain unchecked
  • Hidden water leaks inflate water and gas bills. Additionally, your air conditioner has to work hard due to constant humidity
  • Pests like termites and cockroaches make their habitat in moist areas. You will suffer pest infestation if you leave water leakage untreated
  • Leaking water makes its way into the foundations and weakens the stability of the structure

Final Word

A water leak in Vancouver homes becomes serious if you leave it untreated. The underlying causes of leakage remain hidden, so you have to look for signs to identify the problem. Call a professional to help you mitigate the issue and keep your pipeline intact.

Most Common Causes of Household Water Leakage

11/10/2020 (Permalink)

Water leak in North Vancouver A water leak in Vancouver homes becomes serious if you leave it untreated.

Water leakage is a severe problem that causes significant damage to a home or building. Besides damage, it also contributes to wastage and organic growth. Unfortunately, identifying the causes of water leak in Vancouver are difficult to detect. Water leaks can form anytime and remain undetected until it starts to wreak havoc. Most of the time, leaks can form inside the pipework or damaged roof. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep inspecting the status of your home to keep it functional.

As a homeowner, you should know about various common water leakage causes in a household setting. The knowledge proves useful to identify any sign and take measures before becoming too burdensome and costly to handle. Some of the most common causes of water leakage in homes include:

  • Clogged Drains

One of the most common and neglected causes of water leak in Vancouver homes are clogged drains. Dirt, debris and strands of hair can cause the drainage system to clog and overtime, they burst or crack. Clogged drains, if left unchecked, create immense water pressure that strains the pipes and causes leakage. The leakage will slowly make its way into the foundations or walls and weaken the stability. Similarly, clogged drains on the roof can also cause a buildup of water to seep through any crack in the attic or walls. Follow regular maintenance schedules to identify any disruption in water supply and deal with clogging.

  • High Water Pressure

High pressure in pipes is also a leading cause of water leak in Vancouver homes. This usually happens when the water pressure goes beyond 80 psi. A home's average pressure level should be up to 60 psi, and pressure beyond that starts to cause pinholes in plumb lines. A household piping system cannot withstand too much water pressure, which usually occurs due to hot showers or the home's elevated location. Have your water regulated before the pressure causes your basement or toilets to become flooded. Have a professional restoration company look into the matter to help identify and regulate pressure buildup points.

  • Lawns

Lawns and backyards also become a cause of water leak in Vancouver homes as plants' roots can exert pressure on pipes. The pipes passing through basements can crack due to constant stress and cause eventual leakage inside homes. Unfortunately, you cannot identify when the roots of trees or plants in your lawns start to cause trouble. You have to keep the signs of potential leakage in focus and take precautionary measures if identified.

  • Ageing and Corrosions

Everything has a specific life span, and your water supply lines succumb to ageing with time. These plumbing materials start to suffer damage and cracks with time and cause water to seep through walls or make its way into foundations. Aged pipes are a common cause of water leak in Vancouver homes and need an immediate response if identified. Ageing pipes also suffer corrosion damage that causes unexpected flooding in basements or any other place.

Signs of Water Leakage

You need to keep some common signs in focus to identity potential water leak in Vancouver homes. You cannot determine the exact cause of leakage, but you can keep these signs in the notice and take necessary measures to handle them. Common signs are:

  • Presence of visible moisture in walls or ceiling that shows signs of potential leakage
  • Low or interrupted water supply that indicated clogging
  • Puddles of water in the basement that shows water has started to rise above the ground
  • Presence of mould or algae on ceilings or attic walls that indicates potential leaks in roof shingles, flashing or clogged gutters
  • Notice damp or wet floors that indicates a buildup of water in the floor or possible sewerage leak
  • If you smell foul odour someplace, you might have mould growth due to moisture buildup
  • If you notice cracks in the walls without any apparent impact source, the chances are that the leakage has started to weaken the walls

Dangers of Water Leakage

A water leak in Vancouver homes, if remain untreated; become dangerous to structural integrity and occupants. These effects include:

  • The constant presence of moisture and humidity encourages the growth of mould and algae that poses health issues if remain unchecked
  • Hidden water leaks inflate water and gas bills. Additionally, your air conditioner has to work hard due to constant humidity
  • Pests like termites and cockroaches make their habitat in moist areas. You will suffer pest infestation if you leave water leakage untreated
  • Leaking water makes its way into the foundations and weakens the stability of the structure

Final Word

A water leak in Vancouver homes becomes serious if you leave it untreated. The underlying causes of leakage remain hidden, so you have to look for signs to identify the problem. Call a professional to help you mitigate the issue and keep your pipeline intact.

Common Causes of Roof leaks and Their Prevention

9/18/2020 (Permalink)

Roof leaks and Their Prevention Image Credit: TL Home Improvement LLC

Roof leakage is the last thing you need to stress about in your life whether your home is big or small. To be honest, nobody wants to run with a bucket every time it rains to prevent dripping water on the floor. Not only is keeping yourself on top of the weather forecast is impractical, but constant dripping means you have the serious expense of time and money coming your way. Over the course of time, roof leakage is the most common issue that commercial or residential places experience.

Roof leakage repair can bring severe damage to your home if not identified and repaired promptly. Restoration emergency services like SERVPRO North Vancouver can pinpoint the exact cause where the leakage occurs and make repairs where necessary.

Running water can make its way through your roof and cause a severe problem if you are not careful as it can penetrate your home very quickly. Even a small drip in the house should be a severe inconvenience and treated accordingly. To make matters easy to identify, here are some major cause of roof leakage and some tips to avoid happening in future. Note that there might be other causes besides the ones mentioned that professional roof leak repair in Vancouver can identify and repair.

Common Causes of Roof Leakage                                                          

  • Ageing Material

Ageing roof material is the leading cause of leakage as, with time, content like asphalt shingles can become old and wear out. Environmental conditions like changes on temperature can also cause roofing material to go brittle and eventually crack. The tar that holds shingles together may wear off due to direct sunlight and melt it. Just like everything else in the world, roofing material also has a life that loses its battle with time. This s the point where you need to either budget a new roof or call restoration emergency services for repairs before it gets worse.

  • Flashing Damage

Roof flashing is galvanized steel used to divert the water away from the critical areas of the roof. Roof flashing is installed in a place where the two roof slopes meet and hence prone to cracks over time. Usually, roofers use a material like tar or sealant to seal the flashing together, but that also deteriorates with time and makes flashing vulnerable to damage. Once the flashing is damaged, it loses its ability to divert, and water starts dripping from that area. Flashing can be destroyed due to various conditions like moisture, wind or air pressure. Roof leak repair in Vancouver can check for flash damage and repair it immediately, saving you from further damage.

  • Weather Conditions

Unexpected weather is also a major cause of roof leakage, as you never know what will happen and be prepared to handle that situation. Weather conditions like heatwave, heavy rain, windstorms and others can cause the material of the roof to lose its capacity, and thus leakage happens in various parts. Ice and snow can build up and cause the gutters to be clogged and cause water to drip from leakage overtime. Intense heat, cold and wild temperature can all cause the roofing material to degrade. Restoration emergency services can give your roofs preventive coverings that can save it from harsh temperature for some time. 

  • Cracked Vent Boot

Roof vents look like small pipes that stick out the top of a roof, and their purpose is to expel moisture from inside. Leaks can form due to cracks in vents that causes the moisture to start dripping from that area. Vent booting is usually rubber strips that hold the pipes together and can crack or decay after some time, causing water to drip.

  • Improperly Installed Skylights

Improperly fixed skylights are also a cause that services for roof leakage repair in Vancouver often identify. Roof skylights act as a direct barrier between external conditions and your roof, and improper setting means a direct impact on your roof. It can also be caused by decayed insulation present along the edges of the skylight. In simple words, any problem with skylights will produce cause and effect on your living. Notice dark spots around the flashing of skylights that will indicate the problem.

  • Clogged Gutters

Constant winds, rain, and snow bring lots of debris and snow buildup that can clog roof gutters. This clogging will cause leaves and trash to block the drainage system and water will rise and travel to where it finds an opening.

Fixing Roof Leakage Issues

Professionals and experts of restoration emergency services give us some tips to prevent roof leakage.

  • If you see decaying flashing, use nails to pry and secure the old flashing. Remove cracked segments or shingles out of the way to see if there is any leakage present underneath. Gently put a new piece in its place and secure it with a fresh sealant in the same pattern as your old roof. Use nails to secure and apply a coat of sealant on nails too
  • For damaged material, pry the roof nails holding the shingles and remove the damaged equipment. Repeat the same process for every damaged part and replace it with a new one
  • If the valley of your roof slopes is not appropriately sealed, professional roof leak repair in Vancouver like SERVPRO North Vancouver can replace and bind them. This is a job for trained professionals so do not try to fix it on your own
  • If you have a cracked vent boot, use a knife to peel away the rubber covering around the vent. Break the seal holding the shingles, slide a new rubber boot underneath, and bring the pipe down onto the roof. Then use nails and fresh sealant to secure the roof
  • Clear debris off improperly placed skylights and check for cracks. Use a clear silicone to seal the crevices along the length of the skylight. If necessary, check the surrounding flashing and replace in needed
  • If you have clogged gutters, all you can do is to either raise a ladder and clear it yourself or call restoration emergency services to clear it all the way and identify any other causes of roof leakage

Water Damage Tips

6/24/2020 (Permalink)

Hiring Professional Water Damage Restoration Company. Water, Damage, Restoration, SERVPRO, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby

SERVPRO of North Vancouver is please to provide some expert tips for the customers regards to water damage mitigation and how to hire professional restoration company.

Water damage restoration is the work that must be dealt with quickly and effectively. Almost all insurance policies cover the cost of water damage. So hiring professional restoration company will not cost property owner too much.

SERVPRO of North Vancouver recommends steps to take immediately following a water damage event to help minimize secondary damages. (Including mold growth, damage to drywall, flooring and framing, moisture damage on books, paper and art.)

  • Eliminate the source of water, if possible, or contact appropriate parties.
  • If there is safe, turn off circuit breakers supplying electricity to wet areas.
  • Remove and secure small furniture items to minimize rust or other stains.
  • Place foam blocks or aluminum foil under legs of wood furniture.
  • Prevent any water contact and furniture skirts and coverings.
  • Remove books, paper goods, fabrics, potted plants, shoes that might stain the carpet.
  • Remove and secure moisture sensitive or high value items.
  • DO NOT stay in the building if you have respiratory problems, allergies and asthma.
  • DO NOT Stay in the building if you have a weakened immune system or have age under 2 or over 60.
  • MOST important, HIRE PROFESSIONAL WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION COMPANY.