Roof Leaks

As time goes by, aging and extreme climates (severe storms and ice dams) can greatly affect your home’s structural integrity. Depending on the extent of the damage, it may create problems with your roof and cause roof leaks. As little as it may be, the roof leak can cause significant water damage to your home. The leaky roof allows rainwater to seep into the house, causing damages to your ceiling, attic, roof deck, walls and other properties such as carpets, furniture, and artwork. What’s worse is that the rainwater may get into the lights and switches, creating short circuits or fires.

Signs of a Roof Leak

• Discolored parts on the ceiling
• Watermarks on the walls
• Mold growth in the attic
• Peeling of paint on ceilings and walls
• Rotting of wood in the attic
• Musty smell in the attic
• Seeping of water during heavy rains

Appliance Failure

Appliances are meant to offer convenience and simplicity but at times, they may fail, causing great damage. One of the most common culprits is the washing machine. The supply lines of a washing machine are always pressurized. What this means is that loose fittings, worn tubing, and a leaking hose can flood the house in a matter of minutes. When it comes to the refrigerator, a frozen or clogged defrost drain and improper sealing may lead to a water leakage. Faulty hoses, valves, and switches can also cause leakage of water by the dishwasher.

Toilet overflow is another common cause of water damage. Be it a malfunctioning tank or clogged bowl, the damage can be large, especially if it’s located in the upper part of the building. The water will drip to the lower parts of the house and cause serious damages. Similarly, leaving the shower on and an overflowing bathtub can cause major flooding in your home. Other appliances that may cause water damage if they fail are air conditioners, hot water heaters, ice makers and sump pumps.

Sewage Damage Cleanup & Removal

Raw sewage is difficult to mitigate and is extremely dangerous. It contains high amounts of harmful bacteria and can cause serious health risks. Coming in contact with fecal matter or raw sewage can cause disease, can destroy your valuables and cause major damage to your property.

Out of all the causes of water damage, sewer backups are the most concerning. By its very nature, it requires everything that it touches to be thrown out. Sewage damage can come from sewer drains in the floor, the toilet, sink or even showers. Only trained professionals with the right equipment should handle sewage removal.  If you are in need of sewage cleanup, it is critical that you call us as soon as possible.

Flooding & Basement Water Damage

A flooded basement can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. You wake up one morning and just like that, you have basement water damage. A basement flood may vary from a few centimeters to knee height or more. It depends on what has caused the flood. What are the most common causes of a flooded basement? It generally is from either rainwater or melting snow coming in through the walls or piping from sinks, toilets, or water heaters in the basement that broke or were frozen and thus expanded and burst.

Frozen Pipe Damage

When winter comes the number one emergency call for Maxwell Building Services this is when frozen pipes burst. When a water supply line breaks, the damage can be severe. Imagine bringing a garden hose into your home and turning it on. It will only take seconds for your home to be flooded with water all because of a broken pipe. The real problem lies when the water starts to freeze because we all know when water freezes it expands! Plastic and copper pipes are not elastic, so naturally, the force exerted on the pipes by the expanding water will cause burst pipes.

Be sure that the first thing you do is turn the water off at the meter or a shut-off valve. Knowing where these water shutoffs are located is very important. We recommend every homeowner get to know and care for their water supply. If you do suffer from frozen pipe damage, give us a call right away.