Can Proactive Inspection Minimize Water Damage to My Germantown Shower?

10/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown offers mitigation and restoration that lets homeowners feel, “Like it never even happened.”

Certified Restoration Technicians at SERVPRO Provide Water Damage Restoration for Germantown Homeowners

According to the Insurance Information Institute, one in 50 homes are affected to some extent by water damage each year in the United States. A pinhole leak or small crack in a pipe can add between $100 to $600 additional dollars a month to a Germantown property owner’s water bill.

SERVPRO professionals can render water damage restoration for Germantown homes that returned your property to a preloss condition. Restoration technicians are certified to not only handle water damage mitigation but also make necessary structural repairs and replacements so that you can enjoy a safe and comfortable living space once more.

How Can SERVPRO Availability Save Homeowners Time and Money?
SERVPRO technicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including weekends and holidays, to ensure that homeowners get the access necessary to minimize damage to their homes and belongings. Proactive disaster mitigation is key to maximizing cost-saving measures and reducing the potential presence of mold and microbes on surfaces and in the air.

    •    Water saturates surfaces within minutes of exposure and begins damaging items within hours of contact. This damage can include waterlogged drywall, damage to wall studs and subfloors, and delaminating adhesives holding down such materials as vinyl flooring.
    •    After as little as 24 hours, mold can proliferate on water damage surfaces, especially porous surfaces like carpeting, wood, and drywall.
    •    In less than a week, water damage can multiply damages to your home considerably. This can include corroding metals, delaminating carpet, destroying drywall, and warping, swelling, and cracking wood in both structural materials and furniture.

How Can Property Owners Detect a Shower Leak Behind a Wall?
    •    Take note of water stains and leaks. Homeowners with a first-floor shower and a basement underneath, or second-floor bathroom with the leak, may find signs of water damage on the ceiling immediately under the bathroom or water dripping from the ceiling.
    •    Create an inspection window in your drywall. If rear access to your shower is possible, use a stud finder to cut an approximately 8" x 10" rectangle for viewing the wall interior. Consider installing an access panel for ease of inspection.
    •    Evaluate the wall interior for signs of water damage. If there is an internal leak, you may find water stains on the drywall beneath the tub drain. Examine pipes for signs of fresh moisture or oxidation on copper pipes, especially after running your tub or shower.
    •    Run the shower to see if leaks occur. While rear access to a shower valve can be difficult for many homeowners, front access is doable, though it is often more challenging to find the source of a leak. Sometimes the showerhead or arm may be the cause. rather than the shower valve.

If you are still unsure of the source of the water leak in your shower, contact a licensed plumber about repairs and a trusted restoration team like SERVPRO for cleanup.

What are Some Common Fixes for a Leaking Shower Valve or Arm?
A leaking shower valve is one of the more common culprits of a shower leak. If this component is the source, consider the following solutions:
    •    A leaky valve stem can indicate that the cartridge needs replacement.
    •    A direct leak from the body of the shower valve may necessitate the removal and replacement of your shower valve.

When replacing a shower valve on copper pipes, take care that you leave enough room to piece in a new valve with a repair coupling. Germantown homeowners with PEX pipes do not have to be as precise to perform the same task.

If the shower arm is the issue, begin repairs by removing the escutcheon around the shower arm. This plate can be either split or solid. The former can be removed without unscrewing the showerhead, while the latter means that the showerhead requires removal to take off the cover. Once you have access to the shower arm, you can:
    •    Tighten screws.
    •    Clean and dry pipe threads.
    •    Wrap the pipe in plumbers tape or seal with Teflon pipe dope.

How Does SERVPRO’s Sanitation Resources Remediate Microbial Growth and Odors?
SERVPRO technicians have access to over 100 EPA-registered proprietary antimicrobial solutions that virtually eliminate microbes and odor-causing particles, especially when used in tandem with moisture extraction, structural drying, and odor control equipment. This multi-pronged approach removes water damage odors in your bathroom at the source.

After performing moisture extraction, SERVPRO can focus on remediating potential microbial growth if signs of mold are present. Mold containment and remediation are performed before drying to prevent spores from spreading through the air while centrifugal air movers are operational.

SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown offers mitigation and restoration that lets homeowners feel, “Like it never even happened.” Call (301) 963-8474 to begin the cleanup process.