SERVPRO Can Help After Storm Damage

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

St Clair County homes have benefitted from the fast response and expertise of our SERVPRO team. As leading storm response professionals, we can assess the immediate damages when we first arrive and perform several emergency services. In most cases, many homeowners might think that the most restoration companies can offer immediately following a storm is board up.

As beneficial as fast board up services can be following storm-related flood damages in St Clair County homes, the other actions that our professionals can take when we arrive can have an equally beneficial effect on the residence. Understanding what to expect both from our experienced mitigation specialists and our licensed general contractors arriving at the damaged household.

Temporary Fencing
One of the most pressing concerns of homeowners, when they must vacate their property, is what becomes of their house when they are not around. Our SERVPRO team keeps close tabs on your property and what it needs and can deter intrusion and even animal infestations when you are away from the house with the installation of temporary fencing.

Extraction
Standing water is a grave concern for your home, primarily because of how prolonged exposure can weaken construction materials and irreparably damage contents in the house. Extraction is often one of the first focuses of the arriving water restorers of our team. We have multiple options regarding equipment, though, without the presence of solids to battle, the standard choice is the electric portable submersible pump.

Tree Removal
Trees can be catastrophic to homes, and their presence after the storm can hinder the immediate mitigation work that the property needs. Our in-house general contractors can remove this tree and its remnants to ensure that the work begins on the household as soon as possible.

As damaging as wind and storms can be to area businesses and homes, our SERVPRO of St Clair County team can help however you need. We have effective emergency services that can save you money and time. Give our technicians a call today at (205)-525-0332

Are You Prepared For Storms?

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

It is important to be prepared for disaster to strike. Without the proper preparation, families and communities can be completely devastated. Even though local officials and relief workers will be on a scene after disaster, they may not be able to reach everyone immediately. Therefore, it is important to prepare your home for the needs of your family, your neighborhood and your community.

When preparing for emergencies it is important to remember that basic utility services such as gas, water, electricity and telephones may not be available for a period of time. It will be vital to have certain supplies to mitigate these outages.

At a minimum, keep the following items in a central location in your home. Ensure that family members are aware of the "kit" in case of an emergency. Below is a list of items to keep on hand:

• 1 flashlight per person
• Extra batteries
• 1 gallon of water per day, per person
• Car charger for cell phone
• Non-perishable canned foods (be sure to have a non-electric can opener)
• Utensils
• Battery operated radio and clock
• First-aid kit
• Spare fuel
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Infant supplies
• Prescription medicine and glasses
• Whistle to signal for help
• Sleeping bags and blankets
• Sanitary items
• Pet supplies

Keep the SERVPRO of St Clair County's number (205-525-0332) handy in case of an emergency.

SERVPRO Storm Emergency Drill Tips

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

You probably participated in a fire drill when you were in school. Well, disaster drills are just as important for businesses in St Clair County. An unexpected event, such as a fire, severe storm or flood can stir up a lot of fear, panic and chaos. Conducting drills conditions your workers to react properly under these stressful conditions. Below are a few tips to keep your plan running smoothly.

1. Implement a Schedule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends regular drill sessions because it's the best way to prepare employees for an unexpected event. The number of drills your company needs to conduct can vary based on the following factors:

• Employee turnover rates
• Employee schedules
• Workplace risk factors
• State laws
• Local municipality laws or codes
• Industry-specific guidelines
  
  

For example, there are recommendations for fire drills. The International Fire Code recommends having a fire drill every 90 days. 

2. Keep the Drill Unpredictable

There are two types of crisis drills: planned and unplanned. The former is less disruptive to employee workflow and productivity. While it's more convenient, it's not the most effective approach. Often employees don't take planned drills seriously. On the other hand, an unannounced drill keeps staff on its toes. With this approach, employees are more likely to find the best and safest building exits during a real-life catastrophe.

3. Evaluate Each Drill

You can learn a lot from conducting post-drill evaluations. You can see what worked. You can identify problem areas. From there, you can devise an effective solution. Ongoing testing provides valuable feedback that helps employees remain safe during and after a crisis. 

Stay Prepared

A workplace fire drill (or another disaster drill) enhances employee safety. Practicing evacuations on a regular basis helps them remain calm when seeking safety in the midst of an unexpected disaster. Whether it’s a crisis ranging from a fire to a flood, you want to restore daily business operations as quickly as possible. You can do that with emergency restoration services in St Clair County.

SERVPRO Restores Commercial Properties

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Do you often find that your basement is always wet after what might just seem a small storm? Are you having to deal with the continuous drying of your basement during snow season? You are not alone. The majority of homeowners have the same issues with excess water or moisture intruding into their basements during very poor weather situations and are looking for all sorts of solutions to their problem.

SERVPRO of St Clair County technicians understand that a wet basement can cause all sorts of problems. As a finished living space, any moisture intruding into your basement can ruin carpet, drywall, insulation and framing.

Water getting into a cellar you use for your storage can warp flooring one level above and encourage the spread of mold to other areas of your home. 
 
Inclement weather conditions that occur such as rainfall and melting snow have the ability to produce thousands of gallons of water and can cause all sorts of major problems you simply aren't ready to handle.

Maintaining clean gutters and making sure that you provide the proper soil slopes in your landscaping can channel excess water away from your home. Correct R-rated attic insulation can help prevent ice damming on the roof and gutters leading to more harm.

Call SERVPRO of St Clair County at 205-525-0332 with any questions or concerns you may have. 

SERVPRO Tips For Keeping Water Bills Down

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

We have talked about all sorts of ways to prevent and reduce the risk of water damages in your home or place of business, but what about reducing the cost of that water bill you receive?

Here are a few tips from our wonderful highly trained team of experts here at SERVPRO of St Clair County that will help you keep your water bill lower while also helping your home or business and the environment in the process:

1. First and foremost, it’s important to identify and then fix any water leaks you may have. Not only can leaks potentially drain thousands of gallons worth of water, they can lead to major water damage problems for your home. Check faucets, drains, and plumbing around the house to look and listen for any signs that could indicate a leak. If you find one, get it fixed right away!

2. Use your dishwasher! That’s right – running a full load of dishes in the dishwasher is actually a much more efficient use of water than washing dishes individually by hand. The key here though is running a full load, that’s how you’ll get the most out of your water usage.

3. Take shorter showers, or switch to a low-flow shower head. Reducing your shower time by even a couple of minutes makes big cuts in the amount of water you use from month to month. As an alternative, low-flow shower heads use 2.5 gallons per minute, which according to the US Department of Energy could end up reducing you water bill by 25-60 %, saving you a significant amount of money in utility bills.

4. Insulate your water pipes. One trip to the hardware store for some foam insulation cut in the shape of a pipe and your half-way there! Taping insulation to your water pipes will help them heat up water faster, which in turn means less time running water from your sink or shower waiting for it to warm up.

5. Limit your use of the garbage disposal in your kitchen sink. Instead, scrape whatever excess food that’s on your dishes into the trash, then place them in the dishwasher – remember? We want a full load! Disposals use a lot of water to flush things down the drain, so reducing its use will reduce the amount of water you’re using in your kitchen.

With these helpful tips to get you started, you should start seeing a big drop in your water bill in no time at all. By also being mindful of your water usage and very aware of the conditions your pipes, faucets, and appliances are in, you can help prevent any costly water leaks or damaging water spills that may occur.

What To Do If You Have A Commercial Water Damage

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial water damage often involves larger spaces, pipes, or roofs, and it may be more costly to fix than damage in a residential structure. If your commercial property in Las Vegas, NV has sustained damage from broken pipes or a leaky roof, you should take steps to reduce the amount of excess water and contact a commercial restoration service that specializes in water cleanup.

Cleaning up after a leak can be a messy process, but there are several ways to limit the extent of the damage and the potential for secondary damage. Immediately after a leak occurs, you should:

• Use buckets, mops, or towels to prevent water from soaking into building materials, carpet, furniture, or other items.
• Contact a plumber or roofing company to handle the leak as soon as possible.
• Contact a cleanup and restoration service that’s certified to handle leaks and prevent secondary damage within 24 hours of the leak.

Once you have dealt with the broken pipe or any other source of excess water in your commercial property, you should contact a certified commercial restoration service to dry, clean, and restore the affected areas to their original conditions.

A water damage restoration company can provide several services, including:

• water mitigation by removing standing water from your commercial property
• Dehumidification and ventilation to control moisture and prevent secondary damage, such as mold growth
• Restoration of property damaged by storms, burst pipes, or roof leaks

If broken pipes or a leaky roof have caused damage in your commercial property in St Clair County you should contact a local or regional service that specializes in water damage cleanup and restoration. The sooner you fix a leak and address any damage that has resulted, the more affordably, effectively, and quickly you will be able to restore your property to a functional and safe condition. 

What's In Your Ducts?

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Sweeping Away Years of Dust and Dirt - Helping Reduce Potential for Damage and Health Risks

Since the ventilation system is often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality, inspecting the ductwork should be a high priority. In most cases, the HVAC system has been operating for some time without much attention. Dirty ducts can circulate odors, contaminants such as mold and irritating dust throughout your building or home.

A routine part of a SERVPRO Franchise Professional's service is inspecting the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC). Keeping the HVAC system and ductwork clean can potentially extend the life span of the equipment by allowing it to operate at peak condition, which may save you money.

The SERVPRO System is the Difference - We Can Help:

• Remediate Bacteria, Fungi and Mold.
• Reduce potential for Mold Growth.
• Restore Peak Energy Efficiency.
• Eliminate Offensive Odors.
• Provide Free Written Inspections and Estimates.

SERVPRO Is The Best Cleanup Crew Around

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Spring is in the air! With the warmer weather comes the tradition of spring cleaning, a time to organize and clean the environments--home, business, office--we encounter on a daily basis.

Perhaps you are selling a home and want to vanquish years of cigarette smoke odor that won't go away, or want to see if your ducts or HVAC system needs to be cleaned. Detailed articles on dryer vents, deodorization, and ducts are featured this month, but SERVPRO Franchises also offer the following cleaning services: 

• Carpet Cleaning
• Upholstery and Drapery Cleaning
• Ceiling and Wall Cleaning
• Hard Floor Cleaning

Whatever your spring cleaning needs, SERVPRO of St Clair County has you covered. Call us at 205-525-0332 to discuss or schedule your necessary spring cleaning services.

SERVPRO Space Heater Safety Tips

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

The ability to return to a cozy, heated home after spending time outside will become increasingly important as temperatures rapidly drop this winter in St Clair County. While many homeowners utilize central heating systems to maintain warmth in their homes, many seek additional heat through space heaters. Creating a warm environment, space heaters can be helpful in heating a specific room, but space heaters do not come without safety risks. Space heaters caused an estimated 25,000 residential fires and 300 deaths each year, according to a 2013 study by The Consumer Product Safety Commission. While this statistic is alarming, your home’s individual risk can be decreased and your family can be kept safe with a thorough understanding of space heater safety.

Combustible objects, such as curtains, rugs, clothes, or paper can ignite if they come into contact with a space heater. To prevent a fire from starting, remember to always keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from combustible items while in use. Additionally, you should also be conscious of keeping your space heater situated on flat, level surfaces and away from major walkways in your home, as a fire could ignite if someone were to trip over the heater, knocking it over onto an object. Always be sure to check your space heater, including its cords and plug, for damage prior to usage. Damage increases the space heater’s risk of malfunctioning and creating a dangerous situation. Therefore, if you discover that the space heater has sustained any damage, do not use the unit. Finally, space heaters should never be left unattended during use. A nearby person could most likely detect a fire early on from the smoke smell and initial flames, which would decrease the chances of the fire spiraling out of control and protect the home from potential destruction. Therefore, it is imperative that you power down the space heater and unplug the unit before leaving the room.

Despite your best efforts to use space heaters safely, accidents can still happen. Taking precautions such as installing smoke detectors on every floor of your home can therefore serve as beneficial backup plans and help to protect your home from destruction. Lastly, if you have children or pets in your home, be sure to keep a watchful eye while a space heater is in use, as they could burn or injure themselves if they get too close. If your home sustains fire damage as a result of space heater usage this fall, you can count on SERVPRO for all of your restorative needs.

SERVPRO Tips To Escape Fire

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

Remember to always think ahead by Being prepared, having a plan, and practicing that plan. these are essential to escaping a fire. Craft your plan by taking into account your home's particular layout and your household members. Let's look into the 3 different ways you can escape from a fire: 

1. Have an escape plan and practice it.

Start off by developing a fire escape plan and making sure everyone in your household knows what to do in case of a fire. Your plan should include all available exits from each room, and routes that lead from the room to a safe, open-air space. Be sure to designate a meeting space away from your home.

• It's important that your exit routes do not lead to a closed-in area that would prevent being able to escape.
• Make sure that everyone in your household knows how to unlock or unlatch any doors, windows, gates, or fences.
• Practice your escape plan every 2 months.

     2. Plan Around The Abilities Of Everyone in Your Household.

When making an escape plan, Take any handicaps or abilities into account. If you of someone in your household depend on glasses or hearing aids, and will need them in order to find their way out, make sure they're always on a nightstand or other easy access spots.

• It's best for anyone mobility issues to sleep on the ground level of a multi-story home.
• Contact your local fire services non-emergency number and tell them about anyone in your household with special needs that should be kept on file.

     3. Stay Low And Crawl To An Exit To Avoid Smoke Inhalation. 

Stay as low to the ground as possible while you swiftly make your way to the nearest exit, Especially if there is smoke in the area you're located. Smoke inhalation can cause you to lose consciousness, and the freshest air will be closest to the group since smoke, and toxic chemicals rise. In addition, staying low below the smoke will increase your ability to clearly see your escape plan.