Clinton, Maryland Water Damage Cleanup

Clinton began as Surratt's Villa in the 1770s, was known for decades as Surrattsville, spent the years from 1865 to 1878 under the name Robeystown, and took its current name in 1879. Today it is a large unincorporated community of about 38,800 people spread over roughly 25 square miles of southern Prince George's County, bordered by Camp Springs, Rosaryville, Melwood and Joint Base Andrews. At around 249 feet in elevation, it sits higher than the river towns to its west, so most water damage here comes from rain, roofs and plumbing rather than tides.

The Restoration Job is a referral line; it doesn't repair homes itself. Call (888) 317-9980 at any hour and we'll connect you with an independent restoration provider serving Clinton.

Heavy Rain on Higher Ground

Being upland does not keep a basement dry. Southern Prince George's County has had some extreme rain totals in recent memory. During Tropical Storm Lee in September 2011, Bowie recorded 4.57 inches in three hours, a rate with about a 0.5 percent chance of happening in any given year, while gauges in Largo, Forestville and District Heights collected between roughly 21 and 24 inches over 30 days. Soil that saturated cannot absorb more, so water runs off toward foundations, window wells and walkout basement doors.

Streams in this part of the county include Piscataway Creek and its tributary Tinkers Creek; the county adopted flood studies for both watersheds, in 1986 and 1980. For your own lot, the Maryland Department of the Environment's flood maps show whether a property falls in a mapped floodplain. A separate flood policy is the only coverage for water that enters from outside at ground level.

Sump Pumps and Finished Basements in Clinton Homes

Plenty of houses in this suburban community have below-grade space that depends on a sump pump and working gutters. The typical failure is simple: a pump that has worn out, a float switch that sticks, or a power outage during the same storm that is filling the pit. Downspouts that discharge right beside the foundation make it worse.

Test the pump before summer storm season, extend downspouts several feet from the house, and keep a battery backup or water-powered backup pump if your basement is finished. If water does come in, quick water extraction and removal of soaked carpet pad keep the damage to floors and lower walls from spreading.

Derecho Winds, Fallen Trees and Roof Damage

Wind is the other major threat. The June 29, 2012 derecho brought gusts of 70 miles per hour at Reagan National Airport and left about 1.2 million customers across the Washington region without power. In wooded neighborhoods, the damage from storms like that often begins with a tree on the roof. Rain then enters through the opening and soaks attic insulation and ceiling drywall.

After a storm, stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings, photograph the damage, and report it to your insurer. A provider handling storm damage cleanup can tarp the roof and begin drying before the next rain.

Drying a Clinton House the Right Way

Most restoration jobs here follow a predictable path:

• Turn off the water or wait for the rain to stop, and shut off power to wet areas.
• Photograph rooms, contents and the source of the water.
• Remove standing water, wet carpet and pad.
• Cut out drywall and insulation that absorbed water.
• Dry with dehumidifiers and air movers while tracking moisture levels daily.

Repairs start after readings confirm the structure is dry. Keep copies of the drying logs, since insurers commonly ask for them.

Humidity and Mold Below Grade

Southern Maryland summers are long and humid, and basements stay damp even in dry spells. After a leak, mold can appear on drywall, carpet backing and wood in as little as one to two days. Dehumidifiers, prompt removal of soaked materials and fixing the source of the water are the most effective prevention. If an older leak left a musty smell or dark spots near the floor, mold remediation addresses both the growth and the moisture that fed it.