Damage from a Leaky Pipe? SERVPRO of La Porte can help

9/13/2022 (Permalink)

When a pipe leaks in a home, the water damage can be substantial. Compounding the issue is when the water is from a leaking washing machine, dishwasher, or other gray water (sometimes called "sullage") sources that may contain contaminants.

A Michigan City homeowner with water damage from an appliance leak contacted our emergency response team. The homeowner turned on the dishwasher before bed like every night and heard a noise in the kitchen and got up in the wee hours to investigate and stepped in a large amount of soapy water. He attempted to clean up as much water as possible but realized it was a bigger job than could be dried with towels.

SERVPRO technicians possess certifications to mitigate all three categories of water spills: clean water, gray water, and black water. Because the water from a dishwasher has the potential to contain oils, food residue, and bacteria, it carries a classification as a category two or gray water, and it requires professional cleaning.

Our probes found water migrated behind the baseboards and under the dishwasher. We pulled the dishwasher out to extract the water from underneath and let adequate airflow in the space. Thanks to fast action by the homeowner before our arrival, no raised moisture levels were found in the subfloor.

We made several passes with our extractors to ensure we removed as much excess water as possible. Then we set up our air movers to dry the kitchen. Our technicians paid particular attention to the area where the dishwasher was installed to ensure complete dryness. SERVPRO technicians removed the baseboards for better airflow as we detected elevated moisture levels behind them. This action inhibits the growth of mold and foul odors.

After drying, we do a wipe down with our professional formulas on all surfaces affected by gray water. This step is essential to leave the area sanitary. After we completed the remediation efforts on the kitchen, the SERVPRO crew chief gave the homeowner a list of the necessary repairs needed to restore the kitchen to its preloss condition.

Call SERVPRO of La Porte County at (219) 879-1883 at the first sign of water damage in your home. Our technicians have the knowledge and experience to restore your home from water loss and make it "Like it never even happened."

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