Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in the Salem, Oregon Area

What Makes Salem, Oregon Different

Salem sits on the Willamette River in the middle of the valley, with wet winters and dry summers. Rain falls most days from fall into spring, and roofs, gutters and crawlspaces stay damp for months. Small leaks turn into mold here because wet wood and drywall rarely get a chance to dry on their own.

The Willamette and the creeks that run through town can rise in long winter storms. The flood of February 1996 put water into homes and businesses across the valley. Floodwater from a river is contaminated, so soaked drywall, insulation and carpet should come out rather than be dried in place. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood.

Many homes sit over crawlspaces, where runoff and high groundwater raise the humidity under the floor. A vapor barrier and gutters that drain away from the house help a lot. In late summer, wildfire smoke from the Cascades can settle over the valley. Keep windows shut on bad air days and change the furnace filter when the smoke clears.