During winter storms, ice does not just create slick roads. It can also build up on trees and that weight can become a serious threat to your home. When ice coats tree branches, it adds hundreds of extra pounds. Branches can snap or entire trees can come down. If a tree or large limb hits your roof, siding, or windows, it can open your home to the elements in seconds. Once water enters through storm related damage, the situation can escalate quickly.

Why this type of water damage is more severe

Water that enters a home after a tree impact or roof damage is always classified as Category 3 water damage. This means the water has traveled through exterior materials like roofing insulation and structural components before entering the home.

Because of that, cleanup is more extensive and time sensitive. The longer water sits, the more damage it can cause to ceilings walls floors and personal belongings.

What to do if a tree damages your home

If a tree or limb hits your house during a winter storm, act quickly.

If it is safe to do so, avoid the affected area and shut off power or water if needed. Covering the damaged area is critical to prevent additional water from entering.

First In Restoration provides emergency tarping services and branch removal to help protect your home after storm damage. We respond quickly to secure exposed areas and minimize further damage.

Help is available around the clock

Winter storms can be unpredictable. If ice related tree damage leads to water intrusion or flooding, First In Restoration is available 24/7 for emergency response.

Call First In Restoration at 470 748 0225.

Plumbing backups never happen at a good time. One minute everything seems normal. The next minute you’re dealing with slow drains, gurgling toilets, or water coming up where it shouldn’t. One of the most common causes of sudden plumbing emergencies is soft tissue block. Soft tissue block sounds minor, but it can turn into a major water damage event fast. Here’s what homeowners need to know and when to call a certified restoration team like First In Restoration.

What Is Soft Tissue Block?

Soft tissue block is a plumbing term for accumulated paper products and hygiene items that get lodged inside the plumbing line. Over time this buildup restricts the flow of water until the pipe can no longer push waste through. Common causes include:

• Excess toilet paper
• “Flushable” wipes
• Paper towels and feminine products
• Grease and cooking oils attaching to debris
• Tree root intrusion catching the soft materials

This type of clog is extremely common in older homes across Georgia.

Why Soft Tissue Block Becomes an Emergency

Most homeowners treat clogs as annoyances, but soft tissue block is different. When the pipe pressure builds behind the blockage, you can end up with overflowing toilets, multiple drains backing up at once, sewage coming through tubs and showers and contaminated water spreading into flooring and walls.

Once water breaches the plumbing line, the situation moves from plumbing issue to water damage emergency. That’s when timing matters.

The Hidden Danger: Category 3 Water

Soft tissue block often leads to Category 3 water contamination, which contains harmful bacteria. This type of water requires professional extraction, sanitation and drying with commercial-grade equipment.

What To Do When You Have a Sudden Backup

If you suspect soft tissue block:

1. Stop using all water immediately
2. Turn off the water supply if the backup is active
3. Do not attempt to clean sewage water yourself
4. Call First In Restoration and we will bring our emergency plumber and our restoration team at the same time

Our plumber clears the blockage and out mitigation team handles the water damage, sanitation and structural drying.

How First In Restoration Responds

We are based in Loganville but serve homeowners and businesses across Walton County and all of northeast Georgia. When you deal with a plumbing-related water loss, our team provides rapid response, Category 3 cleanup, moisture mapping and direct insurance billing.

We extract contaminated water, remove affected materials, sanitize and begin structural drying. We work with all major carriers and document everything for your claim.

How To Prevent Soft Tissue Block

While not every plumbing problem is avoidable, you can reduce the risk by avoiding all “flushable wipes,” not flushing paper towels or feminine products, installing mesh drain screens, having older homes sewer-scoped every few years, and avoiding grease down the drain.

For multi-family properties and commercial buildings, routine plumbing maintenance is essential to prevent large-scale backups.

Call First In Restoration: (470) 748-0225

Soft tissue block may start small, but it can lead to serious water damage fast. If you’re dealing with a backup, overflow, or suspected plumbing blockage call First In Restoration right away. We are available 24-7 to restore your home, protect your health, and get everything back to normal.

Water damage is very stressful for any homeowner and it’s even worse when it keeps happening. That’s exactly what one of our recent customers has experienced recently in the Pebble Point subdivision of Loganville, Georgia. Before we knew them, in 2022, they unfortunately had two water damage claims due to plumbing issues — one in their master bathroom and then a frozen pipe burst later that year. Then, just two weeks ago, they faced yet another terrible water disaster—this time, sewage backup.

Older Homes, Bigger Risks

Pebble Point is a neighborhood that was built in the late 1980s. This was during a time when home construction wasn’t as strictly regulated as it is today. Building codes were not as advanced or regulated and inspections were much more relaxed. Honestly, it seems like some of the homes were kind of thrown together and not built in the best way, so over time, things like plumbing, roofing as well as drainage systems have started to fail. Many of these homes were built with materials and methods that would definitely not meet today’s standards.

Unfortunately, this homeowner experienced firsthand what can happen when old pipes fail. The sewage line backed up a few feet outside of their house and it flooded into their home (including their kitchen–coming up the drain of the sink!) with Category 3 water—the most dangerous type of water damage. It contains bacteria, viruses, and other harmful contaminants that can make people very sick. 

A Tough Situation Made Even Harder

To make matters worse, the homeowner was warned that if they filed another insurance claim before June, their policy would be canceled. They were stuck between a rock and a hard place—unable to pay out of pocket but also unable to risk losing their coverage.

The homeowner’s wife has health issues including asthma and they did not want to take any risks at trying to fix the issue themselves. That’s where First In Restoration came in. We knew this was an urgent and serious situation. Our team quickly removed the contaminated water, deep-cleaned and sanitized the area, and dried everything out to prevent mold and further damage. Most importantly, we worked with the homeowner to find a solution with our in-house financing that didn’t put their insurance policy at risk.

Protect Your Loganville Home From Emergency Sewage Cleanup Before Disaster Strikes

If you live in an older home in Loganville, Georgia especially in Pebble Point or the surrounding areas, it’s important to take preventative measures to protect your home from water damage. We recommend regular plumbing inspections, cleaning your drains as well as checking for small leaks which can help you avoid costly disasters like sewage backups or pipe bursts later down the road. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst to avoid emergency sewage cleanup in Loganville.

At First In Restoration, we specialize in emergency water damage cleanup, whether it’s from broken pipes, heavy rain, or sewage backups. We are the number one water damage restoration company in Georgia, and we are committed to helping homeowners in Loganville and beyond. If you ever find yourself dealing with water damage, call us at 470-748-0225 or visit www.firstinrestoration.com