We Can Get Water Out Of A Flooded Basement

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

If your basement has flooded, you may be at a loss regarding what you should do. No one wants to deal with an issue like this, but facing reality and following these four steps will help you to recover your property with as little residual damage as possible.

1. Call Your Insurance Agent

You may have insurance coverage for floods in your home. Because of this, you should always check over your homeowners policy and call the agent who handles your account to ask questions and make a claim if you can do so.

2. Wait for Conditions to Settle

Before you decide how to handle water removal, you will need to make sure that the water is under control. If it seems to be limited to the basement, and any outdoor water has receded, you can safely move on to draining your basement flood.

3. Choose Your Removal Method

All water removal methods are typically handled by water damage technicians. Two typical solutions are pumping for large floods and vacuuming with a wet/dry machine for smaller ones. It is a good idea to research all of your options so that you make the best decision possible.

4. Decide on a Drying Method

Most homeowners will find that the majority of their damaged property and valuables will need to be dried, dehumidified or otherwise salvaged, as old flood water can cause irreversible damage to your investments if left to sit. The service that you hired for water removal can likely help you with drying and restoration, as well.

A basement flood is a big deal to any concerned homeowner, but being prepared can help you be less overwhelmed if this unfortunate situation is occurring or should occur in the future.

We Have Professional Equipment To Get The Job Done Right

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

A water damage is something that all business owners and homeowners do not take lightly. Water damage is when moisture and excessive amounts of water have collected in an area. Water damage clean-up is most effective when a professional with the right equipment is called. 

Here are a few of our water damage restoration equipment names and uses: 

Air Movers

The most common type of water damage clean-up equipment, the air mover pushes moisture to evaporate more quickly. Air movers can help dry water-damaged flooring and other surfaces.

Dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers  help maintain humidity in the air to a certain degree. This type of equipment helps with water damage that has a lot of moisture. 

Air Scrubbers

When water damage leads to other damages, an air scrubber is necessary for clean-up. Air scrubbers help with odors from microbial growth and other airborne contaminants. 

Moisture Meters 

A moisture meters are a restoration technician's best friend. Moisture meters can gauge the water damage severity in a building, and they help with water damages on surfaces.  

SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties Responds Immediately

2/24/2022 (Permalink)

After a water or fire emergency, a fast response is crucial. Water from a leaking pipe or a firefighter hose can start causing damage in a matter of minutes. Even a short delay can thus make the restoration process more costly for you and your clients.

Of course, not every water loss occurs during normal business hours. Sometimes a disaster occurs on a weekend or holiday. Your clients should not have to wait until the next business day to start the drying process. They need a 24-hour commercial cleanup company.
That is why SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for most insurance providers. A representative from the company will respond to your clients' calls right away. In fact, each client should receive:

• A call within one hour
• A visit within four hours
• A verbal brief within eight hours
  
  

The Consequences of a Delayed Cleanup
Paper items such as books and photos may start to swell within a few minutes of a water loss. Furniture can bleed and stain carpets, as well. Over the next day, wet metals may begin to tarnish, and musty odors may start to spread. Water could also cause the, building's drywall to break down. A 24-hour cleaning company can start the restoration right away and prevent many of these issues.

The Company That Responds Immediately
While SERVPRO is always open, that is not the only reason it can respond to emergencies right away. The company also has more than 1,700 franchises in Canada and America. At least one of these franchises is likely close to each of your clients' buildings, making it easier for SERVPRO to survey any damage in a timely matter.
SERVPRO understands that a fast response to water damage is so important. That is why its employees reply to all calls immediately, no matter the time or day. Choosing a company such as SERVPRO that provides 24-hour response can help minimize the damage your clients sustain following a water loss.

We Get Odors OUT

2/3/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO utilizes several techniques to remove odor from properties. In our line of work many times we are referring to odors remaining from smoke or soot damage. The first step to odor mitigation, is cleaning or removing the source. In the instance of a fire loss, it would mean removing charred structural materials, and cleaning soot and smoke from surfaces.

Often done as a last step, our technicians may choose one of several options to remove offensive odors from your property. While many times people first think of fire odors coming from a fire that happened to your own property, smoke odor can also be caused from fires happening at another property nearby or wild fires. Whether the source of the odor inside your home is from outside or inside, experts are trained to safely identify the origin of the problem and eliminate any lingering odors. Here are three techniques that are commonly used by professionals to remove smoke odor.

1. Air Filtration Devices
   Air filtration devices work by circulating the air through a powerful HEPA filter. These filters are an excellent choice for smoke cleaning because they remove 99.97% of particulates from the air. As the particles get trapped, so do the molecules causing the smoke odor.
2. Ozone Machines
   Ozone generators are especially effective with protein-based smoke that is difficult to neutralize. Because these machines release additional ozone into the air, it is not safe to enter the home while this process is taking place. Your smoke damage professional will let you know when it is safe to reenter your residence.
3. Thermal Foggers
   Thermal fogging uses a petroleum-based fragrance to neutralize odors. Smoke from a fire can reach into tiny crevices. Since thermal foggers produce a fine mist in the form of a fog, they can reach just about anywhere odors could be hiding, including inside drawers, closets, or carpet fibers. Once the fog makes contact with the molecule causing the smoke smell, it absorbs it.

A Good Name That's Been Around..

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know that the SERVPRO brand has been around since 1967? Pretty impressive, huh!

We all know those companies that come and go. They get a truck and put their name on the side and you think they must be pretty good. Just because they have a name and a truck doesn't mean they have the background and expertise you want working at your home or business.

SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties is proud to be one of 1,700 franchises nationwide. Did I mention that SERVPRO has won numerous awards? There are far too many to list here, but feel free to check out the company website and see them all!  

SERVPRO has the trust of all the top insurance companies in our country. We can also help with your claim to make the situation as seamless and stress free as possible.

Call us today, our crews are always ready to help!

An ERP Will Help Protect Your Business

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties is committed to providing fire and water cleanup and restoration services to reduce business interruptions and recovery costs. SERVPRO can provide:

• Over 40 years of experience as leading fire and water cleanup and restoration providers.
• A SERVPRO franchise nearby - more than 1,500 franchises services 48 states.
• More locations which means faster responses.
• Quick response time to help ensure the damage is contained and the restoration process begins as soon as possible.
• Large loss capabilities -  no fire or water damage is too large.

As many as 50% of businesses close down after a disaster. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. Knowing you are "Ready for whatever happens" speaks trust to your clients and employees that in the event that your business is affected by a disaster, they don't necessarily have to be.

By developing a SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile for your business, you are able to help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Know what to do, who to call and what to expect in advance is helpful in receiving timely mitigation and can help minimize the affects water and fire damage can have on your business

Winter Time Can Bring About Chimney Fires

11/23/2021 (Permalink)

Each year in the United States there are more than 25,000 chimney fires. On average these yearly fires can cost more than $125 million in property damage.

These tragedies are able to be prevented. A regular inspection, cleaning, and repair of your chimney can help prevent any issues or malfunctions that could cause dangerous build-up that could put your family at risk for fire.

Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe this winter:

• Minimize creosote build-up in the chimney
• Get an annual chimney inspection
• Clean your chimney or have it professionally cleaned when you discover a 1/8-inch layer of build-up on the walls
• Install an appropriate fitting chimney cap
• Use safe, approved fire starters
• Practice clean burning techniques

If you experience a chimney fire that causes smoke or soot damage throughout your home, call the cleaning professionals at SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties to clean your home properly. We are available 24/7/365. Our crews are on call nights, weekends, and holidays. We are always here to help.

We Are Headed For The Holidays!

11/15/2021 (Permalink)

Now that Halloween has come and gone, we are in full speed ahead towards the holiday season! This means that family gatherings are at the top of everyone's list. It’s as important to keep safety top of mind with a small family gathering as it is with a large holiday gathering. We all enjoy bringing the glow of the holiday season to our homes with Christmas trees or other holiday decorations, but these statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration show how easy it is for home decorating to turn into a home disaster.

• The top three days for home fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve.
• More than half of the home decoration fires in December are started by candles.
• A heat source too close to the Christmas tree causes one in every four winter fires.
• On average, one of every 52 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in death. In addition to exercising caution with candles and heat sources, it is important to follow manufacturers’ guidelines for holiday lighting.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in 44% of home Christmas tree fires. Though Christmas tree fires may not be common, they can be devastating to more than the house itself. They can destroy irreplaceable photos, mementos, and family heirlooms and even cost lives.

To help keep your holidays bright and your home and family safe, use common sense with candles and tree placement, and follow these important home decorating guidelines:

• Only use decorations that are flame-retardant or not flammable.
• Check holiday lights each year for frayed wires or excessive wear.
• Don’t link more than three strands of holiday lights.

Fire? Vandalism? Storm? We Can Board Up Windows

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage can often compromise windows, walls, and roofs. To maintain security and to protect against further damage, SERVPRO of Walker & Winston Counties has the capabilities to board up missing windows and walls and place tarps on damaged roofs.

Vandalism Board-Up

Vandalism and graffiti can be very upsetting. It can range from relatively minor pranks to malicious destruction of property. Often simple acts of vandalism, like breaking a window, can cause significant water and mold damage if not addressed in a timely manner. SERVPRO of Denver West Professionals will act quickly to remove broken glass from inside & outside your home or business and effectively board up all windows securing the inside of the building.

What About Other Types of Vandalism?

In addition to boarding up, our professionals can remove spray-painted graffiti from exterior walls. They can also clean driveways, walkways, asphalt, metals, wood, glass, plastic, and masonry.

Our trained technicians can offer the following services: 

• Temporary secure enclosure
• Roofs will be temporarily secured with tarps; fencing can be provided as an extra measure
• All openings will be temporarily secured 

We Are an IICRC Certified Firm

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

We are an IICRC Certified Firm. IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. The IICRC creates standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies and their employees. Some of the standards are as follows.

IICRC Certified Firms Must:

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.
• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.
• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up to date on the latest changes in the industry.
• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations on arbitration.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace as well.

Let Lunch Be On Us!

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

Lunch is on us! Our marketing team at SERVPRO of Walker/Winston Counties will hold an event for business owners, agents, brokers, office managers and/or insurance agents. Our Lunch and Learn event will give you an opportunity to learn more about our company, including how we can be of service to you and your company when you need it the most. Additionally we will review what services we offer for your customers and clients. Our scheduling is very flexible for those who are interested: we schedule based on your availability!

During lunch we will do a short 20-30 minute presentation focused on a predetermined topic of your choice. You can choose any of the following topics:

Topic 1: General Overview of SERVPRO of Walker/Winston Counties including our services, training, certifications, & equipment we use to get the job done.

Topic 2: SERVPRO of Walker/Winston Counties Emergency Readiness Profile. Our no-cost service that helps restore operations to your business building faster after you’ve experienced a disaster

Topic 3: Commercial & Industrial Large Loss: Capabilities, Response, and Preparing your Commercial Clients for Whatever Happens (Emergency Ready Profile for disasters that affect multiple businesses, for example a mall or shopping center)

Topic 4: Water Damage. This covers water damage timelines, categories of water damage, flood damage, mold damage, indicators of water damage, and how water damage affects your client's properties.

Topic 5: Fire, Smoke, & Soot Damage. This covers types of smoke, how it affects your client’s properties, statistics of fire/smoke damage,  fire safety tips, and what to do until help arrives.

Contact your local SERVPRO Sales Representative to get on the schedule!

After A Fire, Call Us

10/8/2021 (Permalink)

After a fire, the spread of smoke and other destructive effects can quickly compromise a home or business. Protecting your property means much more than reducing structural damage and focuses most heavily on what our crews can do to ensure that your personal belongings, treasures, and possessions do not become irreparably damaged by lingering smoke, soot, and debris. Content management is one of the cornerstones of our fire recovery efforts, and that begins with a team of qualified technicians.

Scoping the job before the bulk of our field technicians arrive can designate the full measure of the damage in the residence and what efforts must get taken to get the growing threat under control. The more extended contents and belongings remain exposed to these hazardous conditions, the less likely successful restoration becomes.

Content management is a safe solution for undamaged and even soiled contents from your home. Homeowners authorize our SERVPRO professionals to work to recover and restore these belongings through various techniques, including immersion cleaning, deodorization, and other practices. In some situations, we must dispose of your possessions that are too severely damaged to preserve – this only happens when any restoration practices would not improve the condition of these items.

Fire recovery is inevitable after a loss incident, and our team of trained professionals can help however you need. We have cleaning and content management professionals that can reduce restoration costs and overall losses after a fire emergency.