IICRC: Why and What

3/1/2023 (Permalink)

Well this is what IICRC has to say  "Water damage can be deceptive. Water penetrates into structural cavities creating trapped pockets of saturation. The detection of water in these areas can often only be discovered with sophisticated moisture detection meters. Undetected moisture will continue to cause damage. This damage, at a minimum, will cause odors. Greater damage will surface when materials delaminate, shrink, split and further deteriorate to where costly repairs are required."

I hear this a lot from consumers...I got the water mopped up, I think it have it under control. More than just removing excess water, IICRC-certified restorers have the knowledge and equipment to further dry a home or facility (including substructure materials) completely back to preloss conditions. Through timely response and the careful monitoring of water damage, mold and other health issues can be prevented. If water damage has been present too long, mold will occur.

All IICRC-certified professionals have the training and experience to identify moisture sources, evaluate mold growth (visible or suspected), contain damage, remove contamination and dry materials to ensure that mold will not return.

SERVPRO - Your experts in Fire Damage

3/1/2023 (Permalink)

When we visit your home after a fire loss, we will scope the affected areas to determine the extent of the loss. We will always pretest affected surfaces to determine the type of smoke and which products will help us recover the area most effectively. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage needs. 

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• The type of smoke may affect the restoration process.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, we will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is different, each job requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage. 

Indoor Air Quality

3/1/2023 (Permalink)

Discovering the environment of a new job is often a part of the first day. You figure out who to go to for help, how to use the copier, and what time of day is best to visit the break room to guarantee the coffee will be fresh. But another vital part of our work environments that we often neglect to evaluate is the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). As a business owner or a building manager, this element is a vital part of a thriving business and happy and healthy employees.

The sources of pollutants are sometimes hard to identify and are hard to totally eliminate from a building. They come from multiple sources and some causes, specifically building materials like insulation or paint, continuously emit pollutants. In other circumstances, pollutants that originate in an appliance or building system could be spread at regular intervals or even seasonally when things like air conditioning or the furnace turn on. And still, other pollutants are harder to predict as they are associated with human behavior, such as cleaning or re-decorating.

Thankfully, administrations like OSHA have provided guidelines to give us a baseline for treating and assessing Indoor Air Quality. OSHA suggests considering the following factors when assessing your building’s IAQ: temperature, humidity, ventilation, and the presence of mold and chemicals. Improving these factors can improve the Indoor Air Quality even when the sources of pollutants cannot be totally eliminated.

If you are concerned about the air quality in your workplace, give SERVPRO a call to find out how we can help.  

Smoke Webs

3/2/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know?

Residues (such as burning plastics or the soot from furnace disorders) form long chains of ionized smoke particles that assemble in corners or at junctions of walls and ceilings which are called smoke webs!

Does your business have a plan? Check out these tips:

Protect your people : Your employees are your most important business asset. These tips can help prevent them from being injured in a fire.

• Fire Plans: Make sure your employees know what to do if there's a fire, including calling 911 immediately. Conduct a fire drill at least once a year to keep employees aware of your workplace fire safety protocol. 
• Evacuation Plan: In larger buildings, post a fire evacuation plan in several spots around the workplace. Never include elevators in an evacuation plan; always use the stairs. 
• First Aid: In case of fire injuries, your employees should be familiar with the location of the first-aid kit, which should be kept where possible hazards can occur most-such as in the kitchen.

10 Reasons to use SERVPRO of NEDL

2/17/2022 (Permalink)

People and businesses rely on SERVPRO to restore damaged property for many reasons. Here are just 10.

1. We Get It
SERVPRO of NEDL understands your situation. You want to keep costs down, repair the damage, and get back to normal. Those are our goals, too.

2. SERVPRO Is Qualified
Our repair and restoration team members have the best training in the industry. SERVPRO of NEDL is one of the top SERVPROs in nation. Our results will create a measurable difference for you.

3. We Respond To You Immediately
You can reach us 24/7. When a disaster strikes we respond as quickly as possible. SERVPRO of NEDL can draw on more than 1,650 U.S. and Canadian locations to get the right equipment and right professionals to you faster than other companies.

4. You’re Part Of Our Team
We work with you and for you. You are in charge. You receive a complete explanation of the work we will do and why it needs to be done a certain way. Like you, we don’t appreciate surprises.

5. We Use The Latest Technology
The past few years have seen a rapid advancement in the technology and techniques used in the restoration industry. These advancements allow SERVPRO of NEDL to restore your property to preloss condition quickly, reliably, and more effectively.

6. We Practice The Golden Rule Of Restoration
Restoring property is less expensive than replacing property. SERVPRO of NEDL professionals practice the golden rule, "Restore whenever possible, replace only when necessary." We make sure pretesting is completed on every loss to determine restorability.

7. For Claim And Other Purposes, Your Loss Is Itemized
SERVPRO of NEDL can give you an itemized loss inventory. You will receive an Excel formatted report and pictures of important items. 

8. We’ll Help You Prevent Losses, Not Just Deal With Them
Our services start with prevention. We’ll come out to your business or home and do a review of how you can protect yourself, your family, your business, and your property from potential losses. That’s another old rule (from Ben Franklin) we like: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Check out our SERVPRO Ready Plan. 

9. We Handle Any Loss From A Natural Disaster—Big Or Small
Have multiple locations? No problem. Suffer a small loss from water or fire or wind? We can handle it. Have a massive, complex disaster to recover from? That’s within our scope of services, too.

10. We’re Approved, Certified, And Experienced
We’re trained to IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) standards in fire and water cleanup and restoration. Our professionals attend SERVPRO continuing education classes. SERVPRO has been in business for more than 45 years.  Hard-earned results have made SERVPRO a leader in the fire and water cleanup and restoration industry. 

3 services SERVPRO provides after storms

2/16/2022 (Permalink)

Here are three services that make a local SERVPRO franchise the right choice for storm restoration.

1. Disaster Response

No matter how many properties are affected by astorm, a Disaster Response Team can arrive on each location within a matter of hours. Independent mitigation and restoration services are more likely to be backlogged than a national corporation that can dispatch employees and equipment from nearby franchises to areas that have experienced large losses.

2. Mitigation and Cleanup

The initial stage ofstormresponse involves mitigating damage. In the case of structural damage, this may involve boarding up broken windows or breaches in a building envelope or tarping over a damaged roof. Standing water resulting from flooddamageshould be extracted as soon as possible. A full-service company can ensure that these initial measures contribute toward complete storm restoration.

3. All-In-One Restoration

A company that offers mitigation and restoration services can reduce the workload on insurance agents and adjusters while simplifying the claim process for property owners. Relying on a one-stop shop may make miscommunication less likely, prevent scheduling conflicts and allow for a faster and more thorough restoration job. Depending on a single service also means that the initial estimate is likely to be more accurate.

These storm restoration services set SERVPRO franchises apart from independent companies. The business model means that each location has the backing of a national corporation and the ability to call on nearby locations for additional personnel and equipment. A single estimate from a service that can clean up damage and rebuild a commercial property can also be more convenient for insurance agents, adjusters, and clients.

Flood Damage from Within the Home

2/16/2022 (Permalink)

Many flooding issues caused within your home are actually caused by appliances. Anything from a failed dishwasher to a broken hose connected to a washing machine. A failure of either of these machines can drop five gallons of water, every hour, onto your floor. If this does happen while you are gone, it means an entire home can be under an inch of water before you come back.
How we help to remediate the issue:
1. Stop the flow of water. If you haven’t been able to for any reason we will do it immediately upon arriving on the property.
2. We start removing any standing water. Depending on the amount of water we bring various pieces of equipment. We bring extractors for multiple surfaces and inspect the floors, carpets and walls.
3. We draw out any remaining water trapped on carpets and floors as long as there is no permanent damage.
4. We lower the moisture readings in the air after the water has been removed. To do this we use dehumidifiers to draw moisture out of the air. It’s also used as a preventative of rot and possible mold growth in walls and on the floors.

Water Heater Upkeep

2/16/2022 (Permalink)

As a homeowner there is always something to do. Maintaining your water heater is a very important task. Flushing the system is a great way to ensure your water heater stays in the best health. 

Benefits of Flushing the System

By doing a regular water heater flush can help you extend the life of your appliance. A flush drains out sediment buildup. Sediment buildup can lead to interior damage to your heater that may result in the need for costly repairs or a replacement.

How to Flush - The task is fairly simple, but by hiring a residential cleaning service can make the process even easier.

1. Turn off the water heater. Either turn off the gas or electricity, depending on what type of heater you have.
2. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Run the other end to a designated drainage area that can handle warm water with sediment.
3. Open the drain valve to drain the tank. After several minutes, you can turn on the hot water faucet in a kitchen to help speed up the draining process.
4. Close the drain valve after all of the contents have been drained. You'll know the water is empty when the flow out of the hose slows and then stops.
5. Resupply water by turning the water supply back on. Watch the open water faucet in the kitchen for a smooth stream of water to know when the tank is full.
6. Turn the power back on. Once the tank is full again, you can return power to the unit.

A professional crew can help you make sure you get a thorough cleaning of your water heater. They may also be able to help you determine where you can drain the water and sediments. 

Rain Damage vs. Flood Damage

2/15/2022 (Permalink)

What is the difference between rain damage and flood damage to your home?

Rain damage is caused by falling water. A leaky roof or window can cause rain to intrude into your home. Gutters and downspouts can also be a large contributor to rain damage. It is important to clean your gutters and downspouts to keep the rain away from your walls and windows.

Flood damage is caused by rising water. Improper grading, failing drainage, or rising creek water are all examples of how flood damage can occur in your home. Flood damage can also cause cracks to your foundation allowing excess water to intrude into your home.

It is important to professionally dry the structure so as to prevent further damage. SERVPRO of NEDL uses updated technology and professionalism to treat your home as it is ours. We want to help you restore your home “Like it never even happened.”

Thunderstorm Safety Tips

2/15/2022 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms are common in Mississippi, and can oftentimes become very severe with strong winds, lightning, tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding. It is important to be prepared before these storms happen to protect yourself and your family. Take the following precautions in order to keep you and your family safe. 

Before a Thunderstorm: 

• Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a thunderstorm hazard, including understanding the difference between a severe thunderstorm watch and a severe thunderstorm warning.
  A severe thunderstorm watch means there is the potential for severe thunderstorms (damaging winds/large hail) to impact your area within the next 6 hours.
  A severe thunderstorm warning means a severe thunderstorm is occurring or will likely occur soon. If you are advised to take shelter, do so immediately.
  Note, a severe thunderstorm refers to a thunderstorm producing winds of 58 mph or greater, 1-inch (quarter) sized hail or larger, and/or a tornado. Although lightning can be deadly, severe thunderstorm watches and warnings are not issued specifically for lightning.
• Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a thunderstorm.
• Know your lightning safety rules. For example, if you hear thunder or see lightning, go indoors. Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
• If thunderstorms are expected in your area, postpone outdoor activities.
• Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage. 
• Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades, or curtains.

During a Thunderstorm: 

• If there is a thunderstorm in the area, go quickly inside a home, building, or hard top automobile, if possible.
• If shelter is not available, go to the lowest area nearby.
• If on open water, get to land and shelter immediately.
• Listen to a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio or radio for the latest updates.
• Avoid taking a shower or a bath during a thunderstorm. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.
• Do not use electrical items such as computers or television sets as power surges from lightning can cause serious damage.
• A corded telephone should only be used in an emergency, but cordless phones and cell phones are safe to use.
  Things to avoid include:
• Tall or isolated trees or other tall objects
  Hilltops, open fields, the beach, a pool, a boat on the water, isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas.
  Anything metal — wires, metal fences, tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs, and bicycles.

After a Thunderstorm, remember to: 

• Never drive through a flooded roadway. Turn around, don’t drown!
• Stay away from storm-damaged areas to keep from putting yourself at risk from the effects of thunderstorms.
• Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately to your local power company.

If your home or business is damaged by a storm, please contact SERVPRO of NEDL.  Our highly trained professionals use specialized equipment and advanced training to quickly restore your property to pre-storm condition. We’re dedicated to responding immediately, which helps to minimize secondary damage.