Cooking Fires

10/15/2024 (Permalink)

Fires involving cooking are the number one cause of residential fires, and about 50% of these cooking fires involve grease. It is important to understand how to properly put these fires out, if possible, in order to help prevent further damage to your home.

• Never Use Water
  • Putting water on a grease fire can cause the oil to splash and spread the fire to more areas of the home and cause serious harm to you as well.
• Turn off the Heat Source
  • If the fire is small and you can do so without hurting yourself, turn off the stove, or if it is in the oven turn off the oven and leave the door closed.
• Cover the Fire
  • Using a metal baking sheet or lid, cover the pan that is on fire. This will help reduce oxygen to the flames and hopefully help to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible. This is the same reason that you should not open the door to the oven if something catches fire in there.
• Putting Out the Flames
  • If covering the fire with a pan or lid isn’t an option, you can use salt or baking soda to cover the fire and hopefully smother the flames. Be aware that it will take a lot of baking soda or salt to properly cover the fire and put it out.
• Fire Extinguishers
  • If neither of the above methods work, you can use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Be sure to use a properly rated fire extinguisher. Class K extinguishers are meant specifically for putting out kitchen/grease fires and you should have one in your kitchen if you do not already in case of emergency. NEVER use a class A fire extinguisher on a grease fire as these are water based and can make the fire worse.
• Cleaning Up the Damage
  • Even small fires are capable of covering your kitchen in nasty smelling smoke and soot residue. Particles of soot from animal fats and other food products are sticky hard to clean, and often require professional help to clean up.

If your home experiences a kitchen fire, Your local SERVPRO is here to help! Our team of professionals is always training in the latest techniques and technologies to help ensure that cleaning up your home after a fire is done in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Pet Preparedness for storm

10/15/2024 (Permalink)

People often talk about making emergency preparedness plans and emergency kits for themselves and their families in the event of severe storms, but how much thought have you given to an emergency plan/kit for your pet? After all they’re part of the family so you’d never leave them behind, but how prepared are you to bring them along?

It’s important when you have pets to make sure that your emergency evacuation plans include places that are pet friendly. Many shelters and hotels do not offer accommodations for animals, so having a safe place to take your pets along with your family is crucial. You should also talk with friends or family to make sure that in the event that you can not evacuate with your pets someone is able to get them and care for them. Finally, you should get your pets microchipped. Keep this info up to date with correct addresses and an emergency contact that is outside of your immediate home. Emergencies can be hectic, and accidents can happen where pets get away from you, but if they are microchipped the likelihood of them being returned home safely is greatly increased.

Once your plan is in place you should build an emergency kit for you pets. Just like for your family’s emergency kit it should include the basic items needed for survival in the event of an emergency:

• Several days’ worth of food and water stored in airtight (waterproof for food) containers
• Medicine/First Aid Kit – talk with your veterinarian to find out what is best for your pets’ personal emergency needs
• Extra collar, ID tag, leash/harness - this should also include copies of your pets’ registrations and other documents in a waterproof container and electronically
• Crates or carriers for each animal
• Grooming items and sanitation needs - emergencies can be messy and having a dirty pet is less than ideal, additionally this should include things like a litter box/litter if appropriate or plastic bags
• A picture of you and your pet together - this can help people to identify your pet should you be separated as well as help prove ownership if needed
• Familiar items – As stressful as emergencies can be for you and your family, they can be even more so for pets who don’t understand what’s going on. Having familiar items like toys or blankets can help make your pet feel safe and more relaxed

Your local SERVPRO knows that during storms being prepared is key and having a plan for everyone involved makes things that much easier. We hope that this little checklist can help you keep your pets safe should any emergencies arrive.

Commercial Cleaning

10/15/2024 (Permalink)

Commercial properties often require complex solutions for cleaning up messes. From isolating potential biohazard issues, to being able to continue business operations while the cleanup efforts are happening, there are many factors involved.

In a retail environment a fast response is especially important to help prevent inventory loss from the damages, or to be able to allow customers to come back into the store. Our team will come in an expertly handle any cleaning of your shelves, displays, and even your merchandise, helping you get back to business as usual as fast as possible. We are a 24/7 business, so if needed we can work on your schedule, allowing you to keep your storefront operational while our work continues after hours.

In healthcare facilities, biohazard cleanup can present its own set of issues. Without the proper protocols and training it can be possible for cross contamination to happen and for things like mold to spread to other areas of the facility. Our highly trained professionals will quickly assess your needs and work with environmental and infection control teams to help ensure all health certifications are obtained prior to completing the job. Our teams are trained to handle all of the complexities involved with the cleanup and restoration of medical facilities including HIPPA and the proper disposal of medical waste.

Property managers can also benefit from our commercial cleaning services. We are able to follow strict isolation practices to help ensure that other tenants don’t experience any issues while we’re working in other units and their daily lives are not interrupted.

These are just a few examples of how our commercial cleaning services can help you and your business get back to operation as normal after a loss. Your local SERVPRO is available 24/7, 365 days a year for any help you may need, so please give us a call and let us know what we can do for you.

Hardwood Floors Water Damage

10/15/2024 (Permalink)

When your home experiences water damage, besides the structural concerns, one of the biggest can definitely be your hardwood floors. Hardwood floors are expensive and add both cosmetic and monetary value to your home so, if possible, you obviously want to try and avoid ripping them out and replacing them.

There are multiple factors that can play a part in our ability to restore your floors to preloss conditions:

• Moisture Levels – Hardwood floors have a very low moisture content. When water pools on them for long periods of time the moisture gets soaked into the wood and can take weeks to dry out on its own. This can cause the wood to buckle, have raised edges or have the panels separate from each other.
• Time – The type of wood in question plays a role in how quickly water is absorbed and then dried out. Wood rot happens when microbial growth in water is left without treatment in wood and begins to breakdown the wood. The faster that the water damage to your hardwood floors is addressed the more likely we are able to restore your floors and not have to replace them.
• Drying Methods – Both the kinds of woods used as well as the installation methods play a part in the decision of which drying method should be used to dry out your floors. Specialized equipment like drying mats can be used to dry large portions of your flooring at a time helping to speed up the process and ensure moisture readings are at the correct levels. Using the installation methods, wood density, and other factors, our trained technicians will determine just how long the mats should be left in place.

As you can see, there are quite a few factors that decide whether or not you will have to replace your expensive hardwood floors or not, and that it’s best left to the professionals to handle to help increase your odds of restoration. So, if you find yourself in need of water damage restoration, don’t delay and give us a call asap. Our team is waiting to see how we can help you today.

Duct Cleaning

9/14/2023 (Permalink)

When was the last time you had your ductwork cleaned?

While most people know the SERVPRO brand for water and fire damage restoration, we also provide other crucial services to homes and businesses. One such service is duct cleaning.

 Air ducts perform the essential functions of moving the air around your building, providing hot or cold air depending on the season, and helping to maintain proper air quality and circulation. Like everything else in your home or business, it requires regular maintenance and cleaning to perform at its best. Over time, ducts can be filled with dust and dirt particles, or even mold spores and other harmful contaminants. While your HVAC’s air filters are meant to help remove these things from the air, they don’t always get all of it, and a build-up can occur in the ducts. This buildup can limit airflow and ultimately affect your HVAC system’s efficiency. Not only will this increase your energy costs, but it can also make it harder to maintain a comfortable environment for your staff and customers. Not only are you losing efficiency and air quality by neglecting your air ducts, but if left long enough this dust buildup can become a huge fire hazard.

Air duct cleaning should be done roughly every three to five years, or more depending on the building and what it’s used for. If your business needs a duct cleaning give us a call or fill out our form online and let us know how we can help!

Emergency Tips

9/13/2023 (Permalink)

Do you know where your water shut-offs are located?

No matter the size, water damage has the potential to cause some pretty big issues structurally to your home or business. You must work quickly to make sure that the damage does not continue to worsen because as long as the moisture is present damage can continue to occur. While we will always recommend using a professional water damage restoration company to help ensure that your property is thoroughly dry and there’s no lingering moisture hidden in the structural materials there are a few things that you can do to help mitigate any more damage from occurring before we arrive on scene:

• Shut off the source – If the source is a leaky pipe or appliance, you’ll need to shut off the water supply to that leak, if you don’t know how to shut the water off in your home you should learn as soon as possible as you never know when you may need to.
• Electricity – If accessible without going through the water, shut off the electricity to the affected area as soon as possible. Water conducts electricity very well and this poses a serious safety risk. Not only that but an electrical hazard is also a big fire hazard and the last thing you need is another form of damage to be added on top of the water damage. If you can’t shut off the electricity from the breaker safely you may need to leave and shut it off from the outside so that you’ll be able to move about the area without worrying about getting shocked.
  • Additionally, you should never try and turn on any lights if the ceiling is wet.
• Excess water – Use mops, towels, etc. to soak up as much water as possible. Water damage increases by the minute. The more water you can soak up while waiting for us to arrive the less damage is likely to occur and it will allow us to start drying out your property faster.

Winter Storm Damage

9/11/2023 (Permalink)

Winter will be here before you know it!

Storms of any kind can cause all sorts of damage to our homes and businesses. Winter storms however can be some of the worst. These storms carry the same high wind and water damage risks as other storms, with the addition of heavy snow and ice that can cover trees, powerlines, and roads making things slippery and even more dangerous. We wanted to highlight a few potential storm damages that you should watch out for this winter.

Fallen Trees and Branches:

When the temperatures plummet below freezing, ice and snow can accumulate on tree branches. Water is very heavy, and this added weight can cause branches or even entire trees to fall over. Besides the obvious dangers of things falling from above, these branches and trees can take out powerlines causing a loss of electricity during a time when heating your home is crucial, as well as falling on your home and damaging your roof and other parts of your house.

Frozen Pipes:

Colder temperatures outside mean that the places in your home that are not directly heated (the parts of your house that your pipes are in) can reach sub-freezing temperatures. During these periods it is especially important to take care of and inspect your water pipes as the potential for pipes to crack is much higher. When water freezes it expands as it turns into ice, if the water in your pipes does this it can cause them to crack under the added pressure of expansion and flood your home.

Roof collapse:

Roofs are meant to withstand a lot, after all, they protect your home from the elements, but that doesn’t mean that they are impervious to damage. As mentioned above, snow and ice are heavy and a large build-up of either can put enough stress on your roof to cause it to collapse. This is why it’s important to make sure that your gutters are cleaned during the winter months, in order for snow and ice melt to drain off properly and not collect in ice dams.

You can never really be too prepared for emergency scenarios and disasters, but sometimes there’s nothing you can do to prevent storm damage from occurring to your home. Should you be on the receiving end of a winter storm this year and find that you need emergency cleanup and restoration services give your local SERVPRO a call, We’re here to help 24/7, 365 days a year.

Pests and water Damage

9/5/2023 (Permalink)

Some little critter was living in the drain!

It should come as no surprise that water is one of the biggest causes of costly damage to homes. From heavy rainfall due to storms to sewage backups, and appliance leaks there’s no shortage of potential water damage dangers. One potential way your house might get water damaged that is not often thought about is from pests.

Animals like rodents and raccoons often seek shelter in openings in people’s homes and get into areas they should not be in like your attic or in the walls. On top of the obvious damage they can cause from chewing on your home's structure and leaving waste behind, these pesky animals also love to chew on plastic pipes. These animals include:

• Squirrels
• Raccoons and opossums
• Mice and rats
• And any other animals that can fit into the small openings in your home

When these animals decide to eat away at your pipes it can cause some serious leaks in your home, and if not caught early enough, thousands of dollars in damage.

The best way to prevent this is with regular inspection and maintenance of your home. Check to make sure that there are no exposed openings to your home from the outside like holes around vents, your crawlspace, or in your roof. Typically, these are the areas where you will likely see animals trying to get in. You should also regularly inspect all of your visible pipes in your home for leaks. While they may start out small and unnoticeable, even just a small amount of water can slowly become a big problem.

If you notice water damage during your regular home inspections, call us at SERVPRO of Chesterfield. Our team is constantly working to help ensure that they are using the best techniques and equipment available to make your water loss, “Like it never even happened.”

Why SERVPRO - SERVPROXIDE

9/13/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know that when you call SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico to clean your home or business that we use our own in-house formulated surface cleaning agent? That’s right, we’ve developed a non-bleach disinfectant that can treat any surface hard and soft. SERVPROXIDE is our answer to all of your disinfecting needs.

SERVPROXIDE is 100% biodegradable and food safe. You don’t need gloves to clean with it, it can be used around kids and pets, and sanitizes non-porous surfaces in 60 seconds.

We offer 99.999% sanitation of food contact surfaces so that you can use it in your restaurant or any other place of business as well.

Our SERVPRO team prides ourselves on using high-standard disinfecting tools to ensure our customers that we mean clean.

Hurricane Prep Guide

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

Getting prepared for a hurricane in Richmond is not only about buying lots of water or filling up the gas tank.  There are steps needed to help protect you and your family if your home is threatened by a hurricane.

Stock Emergency Supplies

1. Water & food, at least a 3-day supply for you and your pet
2. Tools like flashlights, extra batteries, a wrench, plastic sheeting & duct tape, trash bags
3. Medical hygiene and cleaning supplies like a first-aid kit, necessary medications, glasses, contact lenses, moist towelettes, toothpaste, and personal hygiene products
4. Personal Items, like a sleeping bag for each person and a change of clothing
5. Activities like books, games, playing cards, paper, pencils, and pens
6. Radio for NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries
7. Other Items like a whistle to signal for help

Prepare and Protect Your Property

1. Do a Home inventory of the contents of closets, drawers, and cabinets. Store your home inventory lists, photographs, and videos in a waterproof place off the premises.  Keep receipts of high-valued items, which may separate insurance coverage.  Always update your home inventory after making large purchases.

Review Your Insurance Policies

1. Is everything up to date? If you’ve done any major renovation or made a major purchase, make sure your insurance agent is aware to help determine if your current limits are enough to cover the value.
2. Coverage for additional living expenses in case you can’t live in your home until it has been restored from damages.
3. What about flood damage? Do you have coverage?
4. Do you have comprehensive coverage on your car insurance policy? What happens if a tree falls on it, or water, wind, or flying debris damages your car?

Plan Your Evacuation

1. Become familiar with alternate routes in case travel becomes treacherous or traffic-congested.
2. If you don’t have a car, plan how you will leave if you need to evacuate; make plans with family, friends, or your local government or aid agencies.
3. Plan what you will do with your pets, leave them with family, take them with you, or to a kennel.
4. Keep a road map in your car in case you need another route on unfamiliar roads.
5. Prepare a bag or file with important papers, like your homeowner’s insurance policy, medical documents, and id cards, and keep it with you.

If you have suffered water damage after a storm, SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico is prepared to assist you after the storm to clean up the mess and help restore your home to its pre-storm condition.