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Flood Damage Prevention in Manayunk/Chestnut Hill

8/22/2023 (Permalink)

<img src =”flood-damage-prevention.jpg” alt = "flood damage prevention”> Learn how to prevent floods in Manayunk.

Flood Damage Prevention

After a severe storm hits our area, flood damage is a common concern. Whether stormwater leaks into your property at an alarming rate or at a much slower pace where it goes unnoticed, storm damage can be quite overwhelming for those involved. SERVPRO of Manayunk & Chestnut Hill is here to help when flood damage occurs. Before a storm, there are several preventative measures we recommend to help stop a storm from disrupting your home or family.

  • Before a storm, you should inspect your home for any structural issues. A damaged roof for instance can easily allow water to enter your home.
  • Clean out your drainage system. Should your gutters or downspouts be clogged with dirt, leaves and other debris, the rainwater that is collected in your system will not flow properly away from the foundation. This is a common cause of storm damage.
  • Check your sump pump to ensure it is working properly.
  • Seal your foundation and any cracks to help avoid water making its way in.

Flood damage can compromise the stability of not only a structure, but also the contents inside. Even a small water leak can potentially cause a large water or mold issue if left to progress. SERVPRO of Manayunk & Chestnut Hill understands each client’s situation, and we handle each water or storm loss based on your particular needs. Our storm damage restoration team is here to help make any size flood disaster “Like it never even happened.”

Ozone Treatments for Smoke Odors and Damage

8/22/2023 (Permalink)

<img src =”ozone-treatments.jpg” alt = "ozone for smoke damage”> Learn more about how ozone treatments can remedy smoke damage.

Ozone Treatment for Smoke Damage

After a fire occurs, the smoke damage left behind can often be more significant than the particular area where the fire took place. Smoke can linger and pose a health risk for those who reside in the space. In addition, smoke can be difficult to remove, and it can also circulate throughout your home through the duct system. This is why we often provide duct cleaning services as part of the fire damage restoration process. However, it can take more than an extensive cleaning to remove all signs of smoke and odor after fire damage. In these situations, SERVPRO of Manayunk & Chestnut Hill provides an ozone treatment to fully destroy all smoke particles in the air from the affected areas.

Ozone treatments are used when nicotine or other offensive odors require a high strength solution to rid a home of the issue. The treatment involves trapping the air in an enclosed space. Using electricity, the oxygen in the air is altered to form ozone. The ozone then attaches to the odor and eliminates it in all forms.

This specialty treatment is necessary in some cases of fire damage, but it should only be performed by a certified professional. Ozone is dangerous to inhale, so it is critical to not enter the space where it is being used, which is typically for a 24-hour time period.

SERVPRO of Manayunk & Chestnut Hill’s smoke damage services vary based on your needs, but we always treat your home and content with your concerns in mind. Our advanced equipment, expertise and treatments allow our fire damage restoration team to help restore your property to preloss conditions quickly.

Summer Mold Prevention in Manayunk

8/22/2023 (Permalink)

<img src =”mold-prevention.jpg” alt = "mold damage preventions”> Learn how to prevent harmful mold in your home or business.

Summer Mold Prevention

During the summer, mold damage can occur more frequently due to the humidity and moisture we experience. Areas that are prone to bacteria and wet surfaces such as showers or windows can quickly grow mold if left unattended. To prevent the need for mold remediation in your home, make sure you are staying on top of several actions.

  • Inspect your home for signs of moisture. Windows, HVAC systems, bathrooms and other areas where water can play a role in mold growth should be routinely cleaned.
  • The interior temperature should be kept cool enough to prevent warm air and moisture. Keep your doors and windows closed to prevent stagnant air.
  • Ensure that your HVAC system is working properly and that all windows are sealed to prevent a water leak that can slowly progress into a larger issue.
  • Clean out your gutters. Mold can even grow from the moisture trapped in the leaves in your drainage system.
  • Ensure that you hire a restoration professional to clean up any water damage you may experience. Improperly removing water from a structure often leads to mold growth that can spread quickly.

In the event of mold damage this summer, SERVPRO of Manayunk & Chestnut Hill provides thorough services to remove, clean and restore the affected areas of your Manayunk home. Our mold remediation team will help you to determine the extent of your damage as well as guide you through the entire process. We also work with your insurance provider to help get everything back on track quickly for your family. SERVPRO of Manayunk & Chestnut Hill is proud to provide a variety of cleaning and restoration services to our local community.

Maintain Your Sprinkler System for Fire Damage Prevention

8/22/2023 (Permalink)

<img src =”sprinkler-system.jpg” alt = "sprinkler system maintenance”> Learn how to Maintain Your Sprinkler System for Fire Damage Prevention.

Maintain Your Sprinkler System for Fire Damage Prevention

In the event of a fire in your commercial facility, it is critical to have several key safety elements including an emergency plan, fire extinguishers and a working sprinkler system. When a fire causes your sprinklers to go off, this system will help to prevent much further fire damage and risk to your employees and property. Having a properly functioning fire sprinkler system in your facility will help to lessen the stress and downtime of your business and get you back on track in a matter of days.

  • Ensure that your sprinklers are tested annually, and that routine maintenance is performed.
  • Sprinklers are designed for particular types of buildings, such as how many floors there are and the square footage of the business. When installing sprinklers, you should choose the system that fits the standards of your building.
  • Control valves should be inspected weekly.
  • The National Fire Protection Association requires that pipes be checked for signs of clogs every five years.

By preparing your commercial facility for a fire damage event, your property will remain intact with minimal damage and business. SERVPRO of Manayunk & Chestnut Hill provides immediate fire damage services for when disasters occur. This includes water damage after the sprinklers have been set off. Our fire and water damage restoration professionals provide complete services for every stage of a loss, no matter the extent of the damage. We are proud to help restore commercial businesses from an unexpected disaster immediately!

Steps to take when your basement is flooded.

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

<img src =”rain-storms.jpg” alt = "rain storms”> Prevent basement flooding.

A flooded basement is no small risk. Even one inch of flooded basement in a 1,000 square foot home can cause $10,000 in damage. Six inches of water can easily double that cost. If you come down the stairs to find water in your basement, here's what to do. Dangers of a flooded basement Be careful before charging in a damp basement. There are some risks you should check for: Electric shock: Loose wires can conduct electricity through water. Turn off the circuit breakers in your home before entering the water. Gas Leaks: Problems in your basement can lead to gas leaks. If you smell gas, leave your home and contact your gas company. Sewers: If your flood is a sewer leak, be careful before entering the water. Wastewater can contain disease-carrying bacteria. Use protective equipment such as suits, gloves, safety glasses and face masks. And be prepared to call in the professionals If the flood is caused by a water pipe If your basement is flooded with water pipes, it falls into two different categories. Leaks will fill your basement with cleaner, mostly clean water. If you see this, try to get to the water supply and turn it off. Another type of pipe flooding is a sewer backup in your basement. Just smell it and you know if it's not coming from the sewer. If this is the case, then you don't want to use anything that uses drain. Do not flush down the toilet, washing machine, dishwasher or anything else. This will only increase the dirt backup in your basement. If you have a sewer backup in your basement, be sure to call your local utility company as soon as possible to report it. If the leak is outside your home Flooding, rain, snow or inclement weather can easily lead to basement flooding if it is not properly waterproofed. In this case, try to find the source of the leak as soon as possible. It could be something as simple as a leaking window opening or as complex as a foundation leak. If you can't find the leak easily, call the professionals. Call your insurance company Different insurance companies deal with flood damage differently. When you call to make a claim, your insurance company will go over all cleaning procedures, specific contractors to use, and other information. 

General Safety Tips

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

<img src =”general-safety-tips.jpg” alt = "general safety tips”> General safety tips.

Everyone wants to be warm at home during the winter months. Here are some safety tips to follow: - Do not use an oven, bag or heater to heat your home- Do not burn garbage, paper or green wood in the stove. These things cause heavy green wood in your fireplace. These things cause a heavy buildup of creosote that can eventually burn your chimney.- Only buy heaters that have been evaluated by a national laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL)- Buy electric heaters that have a thermostat control mechanism that shuts off when the heater tilts- Do not use electric heaters to dry clothes or other things- Keep space heaters at least three feet away from combustibles- Plug the electric heater directly into the wall. Do not use an extension cord or extension cord.- Always turn off the electric heater when not in use 

Steps to minimize mold risk after prolonged shutdown

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

<img src =”warehouse-shutdown.jpg” alt = "prolonged warehouse shutdown”> Shutdown warehouse.

Keep indoor humidity as low as possible, no more than 50%, as measured by a hygrometer. Building managers may consider continuous indoor humidity monitoring with a digital hygrometer, preferably more than once a day, to minimize the need to enter the building. After a longer shutdown and before the residents return, buildings must be checked for mold and excessive moisture. After an assessment confirms that mold and moisture are not detectable, OR after remediation is complete, a building's HVAC system that is inactive during an extended shutdown must be shut down for at least 48 to 72 hours (known as a "flush-out period"). be abused before the inhabitants return. After the building is opened and occupied, routine (e.g., weekly) inspections of the HVAC system are recommended to ensure efficient operation. If a routine HVAC operation and maintenance program does not exist for the building, one must be created and implemented. 

Our Large Loss Commercial Services

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

<img src =”commercial-building.jpg” alt = "commercial large loss”> Large commercial building.

SERVPRO's Commercial Major Loss Division is comprised of our best of the best in restoration. Our elite major loss specialists are pre-qualified and strategically located in the United States to handle any major disaster. Each major loss is managed by the Commercial Operations Manager to help ensure smooth communication and timely mitigation. We have found at many conferences that many people connect with us only for residential services, but we also handle many job losses. Our crews are trained to handle both small residential losses and large commercial losses. At SERVPRO, the difference is our ability to deploy trained manufacturing professionals and reduce costs through strategic placement and temporary workforce management. Get the professionals, call SERVPRO. Commercial Large Loss Program customers include: Hospitality Property managers Universities Municipality Pentagon Manufacturing Multigenerational housing Logistics Student housing 

3 Tips to Manage Power Outages

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

<img src =”pexels-matej-novosad-754062.jpg” alt ="candles during power outage”> Candles during power outage.

Natural disasters, which cause power outages in the middle of winter, pose many potential problems for homeowners and businesses.

1) Power outages can cause the pipes to freeze, which is the main cause of water damage in winter.

Many regions are struggling with this common problem. Leaving homes or businesses without electricity for a long time will cause temperatures to drop below freezing, so piping may freeze. This could cause cracks or explosions leading to water damage. One way to prevent this is to insulate the pipes. This can be done by visiting any local hardware store. Most hardware stores have special tapes, polyester covers and many other products that can offer protection against a sharp drop in temperature.

If you have water in a village, town or city and you have not lost your water supply, it may be a good idea to run the water source as far away from the water source as possible. This ensures a constant flow of water to prevent the increase in water pressure in the pipe from freezing. 2) Power outages can cause septic backups.

In the event of a power failure, the waste is not pumped into the drain field. The septic tank and the pump tank catch dirty water throughout the power failure and release it all at once when the supply is resumed and the pump starts. Excess water that is pumped at one time can flood the canal field and cause flooding or backup.

3) Power outages can cause loss of drinking water if you have a well. Due to a power failure, the well pumps may stop working, which may lead to water loss. This includes drinking water, baths and toilets. No access to clean drinking water can lead to many other problems. It is important to store additional bottles of water to prevent dehydration.

Restoring your Norristown commercial property | SERVPRO of Norristown

9/1/2021 (Permalink)

view of commercial facility View of commercial facility post-remediation.

Flooding and water damage catastrophes in Norristown Commercial Properties.

Business/commercial properties are regularly intricate with various issues that require a learned and adaptable reaction. Regardless of whether we're managing a somewhat little water cleanup situation or a huge scope occasion, we work rapidly to evaluate every one of a kind circumstance and confine the harmed region. In many occurrences, typical activities can proceed in a brief space while we reestablish your office.

Reestablishing Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our experts are prepared to be aware of legitimate and natural concerns and endeavor to completely reestablish the harmed region while working inside your budgetary requirements. We comprehend that consistently spent tidying up is an hour of lost income and usefulness. So when a crisis circumstance emerges in your business, call us and we'll be there quick with the assistance you need.

About SERVPRO of Norristown

SERVPRO of Norristown works in the cleanup and reclamation of business and private property after a water harm occasion. Our staff is exceptionally prepared in property harm reclamation. From beginning and continuous preparing at SERVPRO's corporate preparing office to normal IICRC-industry confirmation, have confidence our staff is furnished with the information to reestablish your property.