Fire Restoration Can Save Businesses Time and Money

10/7/2022 (Permalink)

Every building can suffer the devastation of fire damage. Without professional help, a fire can close the doors of businesses for an extended period of time or for good. Regardless of how big or small a fire is, working with a trained fire remediation company helps businesses save time and money.

SERVPRO understands fire remediation  

We understand how commercial fire damage can affect your business. We have a highly trained team of IICRC-industry-certified professionals who can help return your business to normal operations quickly should a fire occur. SERVPRO understands the urgency involved in protecting your business and provides you with every service necessary to help you minimize any damages your facility might experience after a fire, including smoke damage, water damage from extinguishing the fire, and lingering odors. Our technicians work on the fire and smoke damage found throughout your property, ensuring that every area gets checked and cleaned thoroughly.

Advanced equipment and expertise makes a difference

With access to advanced equipment, SERVPRO technicians remove smoke damage to carpeting, walls, ceilings, electronics, wood, furniture, documents, as well as any machinery, appliances, or other equipment that helps maintain operations for your business. We also have extensive experience in the decontamination of HVAC systems and ductwork, an often overlooked area to consider after a fire.  SERVPRO technicians specialize in both document and electronics restoration services. We can help save furniture, electronic fixtures, and equipment while cleaning and deodorizing the entire structure with a broad range of cleaning methods. We inspect your entire facility, remove all fire-damaged materials, and work hard to limit any losses you might experience.

Our full range of services will save your business time and money

By providing a full range of fire remediation services, we help you get your business back on track as soon as possible. SERVPRO offers full-service solutions unique to the particular situation that helps return your business to a quality pre-damage condition. Our technicians are also trained to minimize any interruptions to your business's normal operations, helping you continue offering services whenever possible. SERVPRO of Phoenix can manage any emergency repairs, 24/7 and provide you with a stress-free restoration process from start to finish. Give us a call to begin your property's recovery today. (480) 503-2090

Let SERVPRO Help You Recover from a House Fire

9/23/2022 (Permalink)

A fire of any size can cause some serious damage to your home. You may need professional fire remediation services to minimize additional damage and ensure a complete restoration if a fire occurs. Knowing what kind of fire remediation services are available to you can help you be better prepared should your home experience a fire. SERVPRO can help!

SERVPRO professionals are trained to help

SERVPRO technicians are IICRC certified, which enables us to offer a range of fire remediation services to address fire damage and get the restoration process started immediately after a fire. We are dedicated to responding immediately to your fire damage emergency. A faster response is important to help prevent additional damage and reduce the restoration cost overall. With recovery solutions, including debris removal, soot, odor, and smoke residue cleanup, and reconstruction efforts, our technicians and contractors can respond quickly to help get your home back to normal.

Fire remediation services

Here are some of our services that are available to you after you experience a fire in your home.

• Mitigation services: These services secure your property and prevent further damage after the fire. These services include boarding up any openings to secure the property, providing an alternative source of electricity, and emergency drying to prevent secondary water damage.
• Structural cleaning services: Structural cleaning services involve removing smoke and soot residue from your home and deodorizing the premises after a fire. Our experienced technicians step you through the process and endeavor to repair as much damage as possible. As the homeowner, you’ll be fully involved in the process from beginning to end.
• Contents cleaning services: Smoke and soot can damage your personal belongings and furniture if not cleaned promptly and thoroughly. SERVPRO has expertise in cleaning and restoring many personal items such as furniture, documents, and other valuables after smoke and soot damage. We use state-of-the-art equipment to get rid of the damaging smoke and soot as efficiently and as possible and restore your belongings to pre-fire condition whenever possible.
• Specialty cleaning services: We also help you to subcontract the cleaning of precious or delicate items such as electronics, clothing, and expensive artwork.
• Reconstruction services: A fire can cause structural damage that cannot be restored by fire damage restoration services. If there is a need for reconstruction or structural repair, you may need the help of licensed general contractors. SERVPRO’s building services are available to help.

SERVPRO is your remediation company

Fire damage restoration is a tedious process that takes time and patience. With SERVPRO, you get a team of fire damage restoration professionals who can help you restore your home back to preloss conditions in no time. Call SERVPRO of Phoenix today at (480) 503 - 2090 to schedule an appointment and discuss your options today. Our experts are here to offer you all the help and guidance you need to make the whole process as painless as possible. We’re here 24/7 to serve you!

Battling the Aftermath of Soot Damage Following a Fire

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

Sometimes even the smallest house fires can cause considerable damage. Not only can you experience fire damage on your walls and ceilings, but you may also suffer from extensive soot damage, which can be difficult to clean up. Here are a few tips on addressing soot after you experience a fire in your home.

What is soot?

Soot, sometimes called lampblack or carbon black, is a fine dark powder that can be sticky and is a product of incomplete combustion. It is unsightly and leaves a foul smell. During a fire, soot spreads to the whole house, attaching to several surfaces. The acidic properties of soot can damage your home if the soot is not removed immediately. Unfortunately, a simple swipe of a cloth will not help; you need professional remediation to completely remove it.

Do all house fires generate soot?

Most of the materials used for the construction of your home can catch fire and help it to spread throughout the structure. Unfortunately, this can spread the effects of the flames all throughout your property, which means you will experience some level of soot in your home after a fire has occurred. While you might be tempted to simply clean up the soot on your own, as mentioned above, cleanup is best left to the professionals, as it can be more difficult to completely clean than you might imagine.

How can soot be removed? 
 

Removing this residue requires multiple approaches. For wall surfaces, scrubbing with wet and dry sponges can often remove the bulk of the present film. Confined spaces like ductwork require high-powered vacuums to get used instead. SERVPRO of Phoenix can assist in cleaning ductwork. Smoke damage often presents itself in the form of a harsh odor lingering in fabrics, carpeting, and open spaces throughout affected areas of your house. Removal of this odor typically requires thermal fogging to break apart odor molecules and leave no discernable scent behind. Depending on the extent of soot damage found in the home, our highly trained technicians will know exactly what to do to address the soot throughout your home.

Call in fire clean-up specialists

Most often, the considerable effects that stand out from a house fire of any kind are smoke and soot damage. These are common versions of fire damage in homes, and they can often prove to be challenging to remove without the right equipment. Fortunately, our SERVPRO professionals have the tools and expertise to help you through often widespread soot damage throughout your household. While the most concentrated of this effect can get found around the fire originating point where it burned the longest, this is not always the case. The debris and film from the combustion leave a dark, often black residue on surfaces, furniture, flooring, and other materials. That is soot. Unless the fire didn’t spread at all and was quickly extinguished, it’s time to call fire clean-up specialists, or those skilled in fire damage remediation, to help with clean-up.

If you suffer a home fire, regardless of the extent of damage, it is a good idea to contact SERVPRO of Phoenix to help with all your fire damage remediation needs, including addressing soot. We can be reached 24/7 at 480-503-2090. Let us help restore your home to pre-fire condition.

How to Deal with Mold in Your Office Building

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

Everyone gets the occasional mold spot in a bathroom, but when you find ongoing mold growth in your office break room or another part of your building, it can be troubling. It has been a wet monsoon season, and rain is still in the forecast, which brings a higher level of moisture to the air. Mold thrives on moisture, and it is more likely to grow in damp conditions. Since mold spores exist everywhere, even in the cleanest office buildings, it is not too difficult for mold to grow and quickly become an issue in your office. If you find mold growth at your place of business, do not try to clean it yourself; it is best to contact a professional to manage it to address not only the growth but the cause as well. Many people choose to ignore the issue and let it progress or try to deal with it on their own. If you find mold, here is what to do and what to avoid. You will save time, money, and stress by approaching mold issues the right way.

Do not wait for mold to go away on its own

One of the most important reasons to call a professional mold remediation service like SERVPRO for mold damage to your office is that the mold problem cannot be solved without intervention; it won’t simply disappear on its own! The mold-impacted area must be dried, cleaned, sanitized, and possibly repainted or rebuilt if the mold infestation is substantial. If these actions are not done, mold spores can continue to grow and spread to other parts of the office, oftentimes completely undetected as it grows behind walls and other dark, out-of-the-way places in your office that are not noticed until the damage is substantial. Such undetected growth can lead to real damage to your office, making remediation more difficult. The best time to call SERVPRO of Phoenix is when the damage is relatively new to keep damage and expense at a minimum.

Handling mold yourself is not a good idea

Trying to eliminate mold damage on your own can be detrimental to the office. Even if you remove all visual signs of mold in your office, it is almost impossible to eliminate airborne mold spores and hidden pockets of growth without advanced tools and cleaning products. SERVPRO uses moisture detection tools to identify patches of mold behind walls and surfaces and air scrubbers to filter as many spores out of the environment as possible. When business owners try to address mold growth on their own through cleaning, they are only going to eliminate the mold growth they see, leaving undetected mold spores behind to continue to grow unnoticed until the damage is substantial. What you do not see is just as damaging as what you do see.

Ongoing odors need to be treated

After a mold colony is removed, strong, musty odors it may have caused can remain in an office if not properly addressed. These odors can take a long time to leave your office on their own and can grow unpleasant if not handled correctly. SERVPRO technicians use industrial-strength chemical fogging machines to neutralize odor molecules, even if they are implanted deep within the walls and floors. Finding and eliminating mold is only part of the problem if your office experiences mold. Odor removal is a crucial step that should not be overlooked. SERVPRO of Phoenix can help.

Contact us for help

SERVPRO of Phoenix specializes in mold damage remediation services and odor removal for your business. For our assistance with mold growth and odors in your office, give us a call at (480) 503-2090. We are available 24/7 to help you with your mold issues and get your office back to normal.

Future Rainstorms May Uncover Summer Monsoon Storm Damage

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

Most Phoenix homeowners breathe a sigh of relief once the monsoon season has passed, assuming they have avoided storm-related damage. Most homes that suffer storm damage do so during the monsoon season when heavy rains and winds harshly impact buildings. The problem is that Phoenix does get storms in the winter months as well, so it’s important to know what to do after storm damage occurs. Regardless of the type of damage you incur, getting the repairs addressed is stressful and time-consuming. Preparation goes a long way to help with recovery, so keep these ideas in mind well before the next storm hits.

Check out your home, inside and out

It’s a good idea to take inventory of your home in and out after monsoons have passed each year, and snapping a few photos can go a long way. Having photographs of the “before” will help you recover during the “after.” When you experience storm damage, taking inventory of the damage needing repairs is your first step. Most insurance companies cover damages from the storm over the entire property, not just the structure on the property, so it’s better to document all damages just in case yours does. Document any damages from the storm to the outside of the house, like the walls, windows, doors, gutters, roof, and any major structural elements of the building. Look around the entire property, including the front and back yards, the side yard, storage areas, the garage, and any equipment kept outside. Note and take pictures of any damages you find. Also, examine any damages to any power or gas lines and anything else that serves power and water to the home, doing so safely.

Call your insurance agent quickly

Don’t jump in and try to address the damage on your own; patience is the key here. Call your insurance agent. The insurance company will likely open a claim for you, but it’s imperative to understand how your insurance company, in particular, works, so you know the process. Regardless of their process, you can save yourself some problems by educating yourself on the terms of the insurance policy regarding storm damage repairs, what is the deductible on the storm damage repair and the caps, and whether the insurance company has authorized vendors that you must contact or are you able to contact your own storm damage repair company. Knowing these, especially the ability to use a damage restoration company, is going to be very significant for the recovery process.

Work with a damage remediation company

Sometimes that monsoon damage storm doesn’t present itself until the next rainstorm hits in the winter. If that happens, and if your insurance company allows you to reach out to your own storm damage repair company, call the one you trust; SERVPRO of Phoenix, who has extensive experience repairing storm damage done to both the interior and exterior of properties. We are licensed, bonded, and certified, and our techs are well-trained in all kinds of disasters. Storm damage isn’t always unavoidable. If you experience after a storm, give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help you out. We’re available 24/7 and will help you recover, so give us a call at 480-503-2090 to get the help you need.

You May Have Water Damage in Your Home and Not Even Know It

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Water can seep undetected into your home after a storm, pipe leak, or slow dripping cracked appliance hose issue. Left unaddressed, these small leaks can become big problems, but how do you know that you have a leak if water isn’t visible? Identifying signs of water damage to your home can make a difference in lessening the damage and the costs to repair and restore your home back to normal. By identifying and treating problems earlier, we can help to prevent situations such as mold growth and severe oxidation from causing damage to the structural components of your home. Here are a few signs that may indicate water damage in your home.

Discolored walls or materials

Many items common in homes show water damage through discoloration. Pigments used in fabrics, paints, flooring, ceilings, and other surfaces can change color when they come in contact with water. The shape, spread, and specific color of these spots can vary depending on how much water has been released, and what materials it has already come in contact with. One of the most destructive processes in a water-damaged home is color bleed from one fabric to another, but a call to SERVPRO can help to avoid color bleeding by addressing issues as quickly as possible. If you notice an odd change in colors in walls, carpets, etc. you may have water damage.

Unusual or musty odors

Several results of water damage can create unusual and off-putting odors, sometimes very soon after the damaging water incident happens. Oxidizing metals, freshly soaked wood, other materials, and long-term mold growth can all create unique and pungent odors in your home. While smells can be useful to identify a problem, you don’t want them around forever! If you notice an unusual smell in your home, call the pros to get the problem handled quickly! SERVPRO technicians use multiple deodorization methods to rid your home of any unwanted smells and approach each unique situation with action needed to address the odors.

Unusual sounds in walls and floors

Unusual sounds behind walls and below floors could be indicative of a water leak or other plumbing issue in your home. Drips may be obvious when you hear them but be alert for other unusual sounds as well. Water at high pressure inside pipes in your home can create unique sounds when something is amiss. It might be a whooshing sound or even a hum. If you hear anything unusual behind those walls, give us a call! Even the smallest of leaks can create an unusual sound and should be addressed immediately.

Buckling or indentation

Water that has been present for some time can lead to structural damage in your home. If you notice unusual cracking, buckling, or indentations in your walls or flooring, it’s a good idea to call in the pros to check it out. It may be undetected water damage and needs to be remediated as quickly as possible.

SERVPRO of Phoenix helps homeowners who experience water leaks, floods, and other disasters in their residences, helping get their homes back to normal. SERVPRO technicians are ready 24/7 to respond quickly to floods, burst pipes, and other mishaps, saving time and money by getting to the job site faster. Call us at (480-503-2090 if you experience water damage of any kind.

How Much Emergency Planning Should Your Business Do?

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

Business owners, regardless of company size, have a lot to worry about while running a business. How to handle an emergency should not be one of those concerns yet not having a plan at all can result in profound consequences. Learn more about SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) and see how your business can be better prepared.

What is the SERVPRO ERP?

Not all calamities can be prevented, which means it is essential to have an emergency plan set just in case an unexpected event occurs. The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan works to prevent situations from escalating and becoming more costly and negatively impacting your business. The app, designed for commercial use, is marketed toward property and risk managers, and towards business owners as well. The SERVPRO ERP works on the principle that the more you know what to do and what to expect in advance of any kind of emergency the more likely you’ll get timely mitigation and can help minimize how water, storm, and fire damage can affect your business. The SERVPRO ERP includes:

• A no-cost assessment of your facility.
• A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.
• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster.
• Establishes your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.
• Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin.
• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas, and priority contact information.

While some of these activities you can do on your own, having a professional implement a comprehensive plan is always advisable.

Is it necessary for businesses to have a plan?

As many as 50% of businesses close down following a disaster. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place so it makes sense that your business should too! Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind knowing that you’re prepared to react if disaster strikes. Knowing you are "Ready for whatever happens" speaks trust to your clients and employees that in the event your business is affected by a disaster, they do not necessarily have to be. If you prepare for the future, you will save early for disaster costs. Utilizing tools to prevent damage, to prevent loss, and to prevent losing your business to a disaster, is one of the best ways to ensure the “health” of what you own or manage. 

We help with commercial damage after an event

SERVPRO of Phoenix has a highly trained staff to help with any remediation needs you may have! We offer remediation for water, fire, mold, storm damage, and more. We also can help with other situations such as crime scene cleanup or other biohazard issues. In addition, we can help with your everyday commercial cleaning needs.

If you are a small business owner considering adding SERVPRO’s ERP to your overall business preparedness plan. You can learn more about the program by contacting us at 480-502-2090. Be prepared for any disaster! Let SERVPRO help.

SERVPRO Trained Specialists Know How to Assess Mold Damage

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

As trained mold specialists, SERVPRO technicians know that a fungus only needs three things to grow and survive inside a building: it must have excessive moisture, an organic food source such as wood or paper, and temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit to thrive. Mold damage can occur because microbes naturally exist throughout your home inside dust particles and in other places. Once conditions inside your home reach the ideal range for development, these microbes get activated and form into mold contamination. That’s when SERVPRO can help.

We know how to handle mold growth

Our SERVPRO crew takes extra measures to maintain good air quality inside your home. When we conduct mold damage mitigation services, we design a safety plan that will keep our workers and all of the occupants in your residence protected. Everyone that works on the job site has to wear specialized personal protective gear; our team shows up equipped with full protective body suits, and full-face respirators, along with their hand and foot protection gear, ready to get to work!

What causes mold growth and spread in a home

Microbial growth often takes place in dark areas that you do not look at every day and can therefore miss. A slow water leak or one that went unnoticed for a long time are common causes of mold issues. Once the fungus exists, it grows and spreads across, into, and out above the affected surface. While growth can be hard to spot, it often looks like small black dots that contain a little white fuzzy substance at first. These spores become airborne and float around the structure until they find a place to settle and contaminate a different section of the house.

Dealing with fungus and mold

The first step to mitigating issues with mold is to determine whether or not mold actually exists. Our SERVPRO experts work directly with you the homeowner and find out where you believe the contamination is located. We inspect contents and building materials in your house to see whether mold exists by looking at possibly contaminated materials and by smelling the dwelling to see if foul, musty odors exist. We then find out from you if you have had previous problems with microbial formations or if you experienced a water leak recently. Determining the cause of mold development can help prevent issues from returning in the future.

Call on SERVPRO for mold remediation needs

If you ever notice black mold forming in your home, call SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 seven days a week. We’ll help find the source of mold, remediate the situation, and help with any odor issues that may be a result of mold infestation. We’re here to help!

Prepare Your Home Now for Upcoming Storms

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

It’s no secret that with the monsoon season comes damage to some Phoenix homes. High winds tear off shingles, lightning can strike nearby trees, and dust can leave a coating of dirt everywhere. One of the more common damage challenges is water-related, as monsoons can dump a significant amount of water if very little time. While you can’t stop the rain, you can prepare your home to avoid or minimize damage.

Of the many issues that can cause flooding in your home or attic, an often-overlooked item is a clogged gutter system. This critical network of water diversion works to send runoff from your roof to areas away from your house's vulnerable foundation but can often get filled with leaves and other debris. When this system fails or does not work as it should, the results could be serious. Learn how to keep your gutters clean and what to do if you experience flooding.

Keep gutters clean

Of the many issues that can cause flooding in your home or attic, an often-overlooked item is a clogged gutter system. This critical network of water diversion works to send runoff from your roof to areas away from your house's vulnerable foundation but can often get filled with leaves and other debris. When this system fails or does not work as it should, the results could be serious.

The gutters surrounding the eaves of your home exist to help prevent flood damage from occurring. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not even know they have a water channeling problem in their gutters until it is full and causing a water backflow or overflow situation to arise. Gutters need to be cleaned at least twice a year – in the spring and in the fall when you’re most likely to experience leaves or needs dropping and clogging up drains. If you have pine trees near your home, needles need to be removed every three months to reduce the potential for clogging the gutters and downspouts. There are actually a few simple steps to prevent this from happening, so you don’t experience a flood in your home. Simply getting up on the roof near your gutters and manually cleaning out the blockage is a good start. Many homeowners use a power spray or hose with a narrow nozzle to get the blockage you’re unable to get by hand. There are also services that will come out and keep your gutters clean if you prefer not to do it or shouldn’t for safety reasons.

Keep your roof in good condition

The Arizona sun is tough on your roof. The intense, prolonged heat can dry things out, and monsoon winds can loosen tiles as well. It’s important to keep an eye on your roof and focus on any areas of weakness where water may come through. Whether you go up on the roof yourself to inspect or hire a professional to do it, it’s a smart idea to give your roof the once-over at least once a year to prevent water damage from a leaky roof. Depending on what your roof is made of a simple repair could do the trick, or you may need more substantial work. It’s always a good idea to get a professional opinion to ensure your roof is OK. Even the smallest water seepage can cause damage, including mold.

Keep good drainage surrounding your home

Some monsoon seasons are more damaging than others. Before you experience a heavy rainstorm, walk around your home to make sure you have good drainage all around your home. If you find water puddling next to your foundation or see the water moving toward your home instead of away, it’s important to fix this so that water doesn’t seep in and cause damage to your home. Water should drain away from your home, not towards it! Not addressing this problem can cause issues eventually, so if you spot it, handle it early, well before the storms arrive.

What do if you experience water damage

When you find monsoon stormwater making its way into your house, it’s time to call in professionals who can handle this situation as effectively as possible. From the moment that our SERVPRO team arrives at your home, we work to assess what needs to happen to prevent water from continuing to enter your home and allow for extraction and drying to occur successfully. Depending on the severity of the flooding inside of your home, our SERVPRO technicians might need to use portable pumps to remove the water. Larger quantities of water may require the use of a pump truck. Once the water is removed, we’ll dry the premises and work with any water-damaged items to restore or remove the materials. If clogged gutters, a leaky roof, or poor drainage cause flooding to your home, reach out to our experienced SERVPRO of Phoenix team of restoration specialists. We can help you remove the water and restore your home to pre-storm condition. Give us a call anytime, 24/7, at (480) 503-2090.

Let SERVPRO Help with Your Biohazard Cleanup Needs

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

Most homeowners don’t even think twice about knowing who to call for a biohazard situation. If it does possibly cross their minds, the word “biohazard” typically is thought to be something like bodily fluids or perhaps toxins that need to be cleaned up. However, biohazard cleanup addresses an array of cleanup situations best left to the professionals.

What is considered a biohazard that needs professional cleanup?

The decontamination of a home or business due to trauma, sewage backups, chemical spills, hoarding, or other biohazards can be both dangerous and emotional. In addition to what is listed above, here are situations considered biohazardous and best left to the biohazard cleanup professionals at SERVPRO:

• Crime scene residues
• Suicide/death accidents
• Homicide cleanups
• Blood cleanup
• Accident cleanup
• Animal waste/remains
• Tear gas cleanup
• Meth lab cleanup

SERVPRO has dealt with all of these situations and knows how to approach them for the best possible outcome.

How SERVPRO can help

Sewage backups and dark water introduce harmful microorganisms into a home. We remove the sewage, contaminants, and moisture, and help ensure the structure is thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized. In trauma, medical or crime situations, we remove and dispose of bodily fluids, tissue, and other potentially pathogenic substances resulting from accident, trauma, crime, or death according to state guidelines. Trained SERVPRO of Phoenix Professionals clean, disinfect and deodorize the structure to help homeowners recover. SERVPRO realizes many of the chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs are volatile and can leave harmful residues throughout a structure. Should your home experience such a biohazard, we can help. We follow federal and state guidelines to meticulously clean all surfaces.

No matter the situation, SERVPRO can help

We are available 24 hours a day—our highly trained technicians are standing by to help in any emergency. We have qualified trained professionals who are ready to respond to these incidents. Understanding the additional stress caused by biohazardous situations, we will always treat your property and the people involved with the greatest empathy and respect in the face of trying circumstances. If you need assistance with biohazard cleanup, don’t hesitate to contact SERVPRO of Phoenix at 480-503-2090.