Water Damage and Flooding: Flagstaff’s Silent Home Killer

According to Insurance industry research, 20% of all homes will see some sort of water damage this year. In some cases, only a plumber or a roofer may be needed. In others, it may be small enough that the homeowners can clean and dry on their own. A large number will need the use of a professional like Mammoth Restoration.

Think about your average home, and how much water is being supplied to it. That is a lot of opportunity for failure. Whether it be faulty parts, workmanship, defects, an act of God, or just a plain old accident, Mammoth Restoration is available 24 hours day, every day to assist.

Common Water Damage Sources Inside Your Home

The number one call for service is usually associated with a pipe break or pipe leak! Your home has laundry, dishwashers, ice makers, sinks, toilets, tubs, RO systems, irrigation, swamp coolers, swimming pools, water beds, fish tanks, jacuzzi tubs, etc. but, it has hundreds of feet of charged water lines! Hot and cold. Each line is a man-made product, installed by humans, in which both are subject to failure. Pipes often leak or break at an elbow that may have been sweated on by a plumber some 20-30-40 years ago. Charged supply lines often fail at the thread, same as hose bibs.

We often see an increase in calls when a low-pressure system moves through. We believe this to be caused by the constant pressure changes on the metal. Low pressure – pipes contract, high pressure – pipes expand. After several thousand of these, pipes and parts can fail.

For several years there was no formal building code in Flagstaff. Often Phoenix builders would build homes in Flagstaff, the same way they would in the Valley. Flagstaff is an extreme environment, which needs competent, seasoned veteran builders. We have responded to flood damage, simply due to the fact that it was not built for the proper environment.

Frozen Pipes

In Flagstaff and northern Arizona, frozen pipes are often the source of failure. I have seen this as early as October. A homeowner uses their garden hose with a nozzle head sprayer on the end. They will often forget to turn the hose off when finished. This leaves the hose charged at the nozzle head. As the water slowly freezes back up the garden hose, it finally reaches the hose bib and freezes into the wall that supplies it from the house. As the freezing pipe meets the pipe that is usually at room temperature. It will often cause a one inch split at the threads where the hose bib screws into the waterline. Other cases see homes that have the water on but not the heat! This often results in multiple breaks in the home. The temperature hit 25 below zero one year, which saw newly built homes with pipe breaks, simply because the exterior freezing was winning the battle over interior heating.

Toilet Back-ups Or Faulty Systems

Toilet back-ups are popular as well, or where the toilet water supply line just keeps running due to a faulty float system. Combine that with a 2nd-floor toilet and the damage can be extensive.

Fire Suppression Systems

Fire suppression systems often freeze. Most homes or condos that have fire suppression systems do not have the luxury of turning the water off like you would with your own home. Speaking of that, a water shut off valve installed in your home can save you several days of frustration. We often hear from homeowners who just returned from vacation, or just went out of town for the weekend. Only to return to a flooded home. I turn my water off every time I go out of town.

Water Damage Sources Outside Of Your Home

If water comes in from an exterior source, such as over the ground flooding, creek or river rising, downpour, etc. this requires flood insurance. These are often the worst floods. Thousands of gallons of mud and water filter through the home. The bottom four-six feet of the home must have every material removed right down to the studs. Rain spouts and gutters that are not regularly cleaned can actually result in water damage to the interior of the home. Same as roofs that are not maintained or replaced. There are plenty of ways to prevent water damage in and around your home.

What To Do If You Have Water Flooding Your Home

We have a team of technicians that can respond at a moment’s notice. From Flagstaff, Williams, to the Prescott quad cities, to the Verde Valley, Winslow, Seligman, Grand Canyon or anywhere in between. We also have great relationships with Emergency Restoration companies all over the State of Arizona. So call us for a trusted referral as well.

No matter how big or how small your water damage maybe? Mammoth Restoration has your back. “When your at worst, call us first”