Recent Community Posts

Extreme Heat This Weekend in Richmond!

7/20/2016 (Permalink)

Stay cool and take the proper precautions in this extreme heat!

This weekend, temperatures are expected to reach the 3-digit mark! SERVPRO of Richmond wants you and your family to be safe and take the proper precautions during this time of extreme heat. When temperatures reaching this high, the body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature.

Extreme Heat can cause the following:

Heat Exhaustion - Typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim's condition will worsen. Body temperature will keep rising and the victim may suffer heat stroke.

Heat Stroke - A life-threatening condition. The victim's temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.

To prepare for extreme heat, you should:

  • To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
  • Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
  • Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
  • Install temporary window reflectors (for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
  • Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
  • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.)
  • Keep storm windows up all year.
  • Listen to local weather forecasts and stay aware of upcoming temperature changes.
  • Know those in your neighborhood who are elderly, young, sick or overweight. They are more likely to become victims of excessive heat and may need help.
  • Be aware that people living in urban areas may be at greater risk from the effects of a prolonged heat wave than are people living in rural areas.
  • Get trained in first aid to learn how to treat heat-related emergencies.

What you should do if the weather is extremely hot:

  • Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for critical updates from the National Weather Service (NWS).
  • Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
  • Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
  • Postpone outdoor games and activities.
  • Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation.
  • Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
  • Drink plenty of water; even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
  • Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
  • Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.
  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
  • Avoid extreme temperature changes.
  • Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Go to a designated public shelter if your home loses power during periods of extreme heat. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).

With temperatures this hot, give your body a break and take a swim!

Public Pool:

Randolph Pool: http://bit.ly/29NWxPf

Information provided by: https://www.ready.gov/heat

#4 Best in the Nation!

7/7/2016 (Permalink)

Our awesome team at SERVPRO® of Chesterfield, Richmond, Henrico & Tri-Cities, Plus!

This year was the 47th Annual SERVPRO® Convention, which welcomes all franchise owners to take part in workshops for sales, marketing, production, office and executive divisions. They also attend a tradeshow highlighting the newest equipment in the industry. This is an opportunity to discuss new ideas and ways to improve each franchise using and developing new technologies that combat your fire, water and mold damage professionally 

Oh yeah – they also give out awards!

Out of almost 1,700 SERVPRO® franchises, SERVPRO® of Chesterfield, Richmond, Henrico & Tri-Cities, Plus was awarded #4 Best Franchise in the Nation! We want to thank everyone from our SERVPRO® team and our dedicated owners, Andy & Theresa Bahen for their continuous hard work! We couldn’t be more excited for this huge recognition of the great work our company has provided for more than 30 years. Andy and Theresa Bahen are the backbone to this company and have truly earned this title because of the hard work, dedication and passion they tirelessly put forth every day.

Thirty years ago, SERVPRO® of Chesterfield got its start working out of a 10x10 room. Now, the company has grown into a 50,000 square foot facility staffing about 100 people. Everyone including the wonderful office staff, the project managers, crew chiefs, the marketing department and technicians, all have major roles in creating this highly-valued company.

SERVPRO® of Chesterfield, Richmond, Henrico & Tri-Cities, Plus has earned an excellent reputation with homeowners, insurance companies, business owners, facility managers, local and state government agencies and commercial property management teams. We cherish these relationships and will continue to work hard, growing the trust and support we’ve earned throughout the years.

We can only move forward from here! Next stop: #3!

Go Team Bahen!

Chesterfield Water Damage - Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes

1/3/2015 (Permalink)

Protect your home in Richmond from water damage from frozen pipes.

Got frozen pipes and Chesterfield Water Damage? Blame hexagons.

Pipe Physics

The normal water molecule (H20) looks like a mom holding hands with two kids. When in the liquid state, these triangular molecules slide freely around each other, but when frozen, they rearrange themselves into a hexagonal lattice structure. By volume, water expands about nine percent when frozen.

Winter Headaches

That measly nine percent causes countless headaches when Father Winter comes knocking. Burst water pipes can rot out subfloors and damage ceilings – and problems only escalate. Once wet, untreated wood and carpet can mold and mildew, causing sickness and requiring renovation. Older pipes installed prior to the 1970s may leach toxins, like lead, when ruptured. Once damaged by major water leaks, a home may even lose its insurance eligibility.

A water supply pipe pumps water into the home; a sewer pipe flushes waste water to a municipal treatment facility. Between the two is a 3D labyrinth of pressurized water. Each one is at risk. If ice builds in a pipe, similar to plaque in an artery, backup pressures can rise to 3,000 psi. That is 75 times the pressure of a car tire. A 1/8-inch crack in a supply pipe can uncork 250 gallons of water every day.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

The best cure is prevention. Before Jack Frost comes to play, a homeowner should:

  • Drain water from seasonal pool lines, outdoor hoses, garden drip lines, etc. Store the hoses and pipes appropriately.
  • Insulate any remaining outdoor water lines to outbuildings, guest houses, and built-in jacuzzis.
  • Caulk and seal window trim gaps, cracked door jams, dryer vents, and any other gaps around the home where cold air can infiltrate.
  • Insulate pipes that run along exterior walls. Attics, crawl spaces, garages and basements often have little insulation, particularly if they are additions. Naked pipes should be covered with commercial sleeves, insulation wrap or UL-listed heat tape, but even one-fourth an inch of newspaper is better than crossed fingers.
  • If needed, pipes can be relocated by a licensed plumber.

Preparing for the Worst

But what happens when the mercury plummets? What happens when, as in the winter of 2013-2014 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, temperatures do not rise above zero degrees for 75 consecutive days? 

  • Keep all exterior doors closed. Seal the garage. Barricade the patio. It’s a war, and the exterior doors are the front lines of the offense.
  • Promote air circulation by opening cabinet doors, leaving doors cracked open, and let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed supply pipes.
  • If leaving for the weekend, keep the thermostat temperature no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If traveling long-term, shut off and drain the water supply system.

Thawing Frozen Pipes

But sometimes Murphy’s Law kicks in. Pipes freeze despite the homeowner’s best efforts. A sharp drop in water pressure can signal a plugged pipe and requires immediate attention.

  • Pipes that are frozen but unruptured can be wrapped in hot, wet towels. But be aware that once frozen, a pipe is more likely to burst the next cold snap.
  • If a frozen pipe restricts all flow, the main water supply valve should be shut and the faucets left open.
  • Burst frozen pipes require a 911 plumbing call.

SERVPRO of Richmond is a 24/7 emergency water removal & flood clean up repair service company, Our technicians are highly trained and experienced with every Richmond water damage situation from sewage damage clean up, Richmond mold removal, Richmond smoke damage repair, Richmond fire damage repair, Richmond flooded basement, Richmond wet carpet, wet walls, Richmond water damage to carpet, Richmond basement water damage, flooded crawl space, sewer backup, sewage removal, mud removal, commercial water damage, restoration, house water damage, building water damage, hotel water damage, flooded building, crawl space water damage, crawl space sewage damage, pump out, dry out, flood water removal.

SERVPRO of Richmond Professionals provide fire and water damage restoration services. SERVPRO of Richmond proudly serves Richmond, Henrico, Glen Allen, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Short Pump, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Chester, Hopewell, and surrounding areas. We are available 24 hours/7 days a week and are ready to restore damage to your home or commercial structure caused by:

We are expanding! SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico are now a part of the SERVPRO of Chesterfield family. We are excited RVA!

8/5/2014 (Permalink)

The Bahen Team at SERVPRO of Chesterfield is excited to announce we have acquired SERVPRO of Richmond and SERVPRO of Henrico. We look forward to working with homeowners and businesses all over RVA. Call us - You can expect the same quality and great service SERVPRO of Chesterfield has been providing since 1985. 

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Chesterfield Water Damage - Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes

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Preventing Damage and Ensuring Safety During a Richmond Winter Storm