Post Water Leak Disinfection Process

11/3/2022 (Permalink)

Use fans and dehumidifiers to dry the area quickly, and do not allow standing water to remain in the area.

Post Water Leak Disinfection Process

Water leak disinfection is an important first step in the restoration process. It's also a critical part of preventing mold and other contamination from ruining your home or business. Here's what you need to know…

Removing soaked materials.

It is not just about getting the water out of your home; it's also about making sure you eliminate any bacteria or mold that might be present and keep your family safe. The best way to do this is by using antimicrobial products. They contain all-natural ingredients that kill germs, viruses, and other harmful microbes without leaving behind any toxic residue that could harm people or pets.

The first thing you should do after a leak is clear away furniture and belongings affected by water damage, so they don't encounter any contaminants. You should also turn off the electricity at the main breaker box before removing wet carpeting or insulation. Afterward, remove as much moisture from walls as possible using fans set on high speed—this will cut down on drying times later by reducing moisture levels in potentially damaged areas where mold can grow.

Drying out the structure.

The first step in the post-water leak disinfection process is to dry out the area. Use fans and dehumidifiers to dry the area quickly, and do not allow standing water to remain in the area. If you leave standing water in an area that has experienced a flood or other type of water damage, then mold spores can grow and spread throughout your home.

Then spray affected areas with antimicrobial.

Then spray the affected areas with an antimicrobial. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off with water and drying it with a towel. Repeat if necessary.

This step is crucial to keep mold from growing back, especially if you have a large area of mold-affected drywall that needs cleaning up.

You see, drying is an important part of disinfection. Antimicrobial products need to be able to penetrate through the surface of your moldy sheetrock or flooring and kill any bacteria that have been growing beneath it. But if the area isn't completely dry before application (which may take days or weeks depending on how big the leak was) then water will get in between these layers and prevent the antimicrobial from doing its job properly. 

Here's a procedure for a common first restoration task

• Dry the area out completely: Use a fan or dehumidifier to dry the affected area as much as possible before applying antimicrobial spray. This will help prevent mold growth and avoid having to deal with additional water damage later.
• Spray affected areas with antimicrobial spray: If you have any remaining mold, use an antimicrobial spray like Lysol or Clorox Clean-Up in conjunction with your existing cleanup efforts to disinfect each part of the room (and its contents) that was affected by water leakage during your home's leak detection process. We recommend using these sprays because they're easy to apply, non-toxic and effective at killing harmful bacteria.
• Let it air dry: Allow everything affected by water leakage during your home's leak detection process to dry completely before starting repairs (i.e., painting over mildewed areas).

Following these simple steps, you can not only restore your home to livable condition but actually prevent further problems!

Basic First Aid for Burns

10/10/2022 (Permalink)

Burns are a common injury that can be serious if not treated quickly.

Basic First Aid for Burns

Burns are one of the most common injuries that we see in the emergency room. They're also among the more serious, due to their ability to cause permanent damage as well as pain and scarring. If you're in a situation where someone has suffered from a burn, here are some tips for first-aid care:

First-degree burns affect the top layer of the skin and result in redness, pain, and swelling.

Cool the burn with cool water for at least 10 minutes, or until pain subsides. If blisters form, do not break them unless they are interfering with mobility. Do not apply butter, grease, or lotion to the burn as it will trap heat inside your skin which can cause blistering. Do not apply ice as this will further damage your skin's outer layers by causing more bleeding underneath your flesh.

If a burn is large or deep, seek medical attention. Get immediate medical treatment if the burn covers a large area of your body or if it covers an area of your face, hands, or feet.

Second-degree burns damage the second layer of the skin and result in redness, pain, blisters, and swelling.

First aid for second-degree burns includes removing any clothing that may be stuck to the skin and applying cold water to the burned area for at least 10 minutes or until the pain subsides. Seek medical attention if pain persists after 20 minutes of cold-water application or lasts longer than 72 hours after a burn occurs

Third-degree burns affect all layers of the skin and result in white or charred skin that may be numb to touch.

If you have a third-degree burn, get to the hospital immediately. Do not wait for the pain to go away or for the skin to turn white. If you can’t get to the hospital right away, treat it by applying cool water for at least 10 minutes and remove any clothing that is stuck to your skin. Cover with clean cloths or dressings if necessary and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Apply cold water to the burned area for at least 10 minutes, or until pain subsides.

Cold water will help reduce pain and swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the skin; instead, use a clean cloth or towel soaked in cool water that you can hold against your skin.

Keep cool compresses on a minor burn for 15 minutes at a time, then remove them for 15 minutes before reapplying if needed. Unless instructed by a doctor or nurse, do not break blisters.

Seeking medical attention for burns.

If your burn is not minor and you have any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention:

• Pain that lasts longer than a few days
• Pain that increases in intensity
• Redness, swelling or blistering

Burns are a common injury that can be serious if not treated quickly. Be sure to seek medical attention immediately in the event of any burns, no matter how small they may seem.

3 Essential Flood Safety Tips

8/26/2022 (Permalink)

Keep an emergency kit in your home

Ways To Prepare For The Event Of a Flood

If your home in West Glenn Estates, AZ, is prone to flooding, it is important to be prepared in case of an emergency. Knowing proper flood safety can be pivotal to keeping yourself and your family safe, especially since events such as flash floods can come quickly and without warning. Use these three essential safety tips to help you prepare for the event of a flood.

Keep an Emergency Kit In Your Home

An emergency kit is a good idea to have around the home at any given time in case of a flood, as these events can quickly turn into an emergency. In your kit, you should keep a flashlight with extra batteries in case of a power outage. In addition, a radio may be helpful to keep track of the weather and any emergency services. Keeping a portable phone charger may also be a good idea. Non-perishable, canned foods and bottled water should also be included in any emergency kit.

Stay Away From Flood Waters

Flood safety also means staying away from floodwaters as much as possible. Driving especially can be dangerous and quickly become deadly. If your home begins to flood or is at risk to begin to flood, try, and stay on the upper floor to avoid these waters, as they can be dangerous or contaminated.

Know When to Relocate

It's important to understand when you need to relocate during a flood. If local officials recommend relocation or evacuation, it's important to do so promptly to avoid dangerous flooding. If you choose to relocate during a flood, be sure to do so as soon as possible, as roads can very quickly become dangerous to drive in.

Flood safety is an important part of staying prepared during national disasters. Floods can quickly become overwhelming and dangerous, so be sure to stay prepared and keep up with local officials recommendations. In the event of a damaging flood, contacting an emergency restoration company as soon as it's safe to do so will help you restore your home.

Avoiding Insurance Claims: Protecting Your Pipes

8/21/2022 (Permalink)

Avoid having to file a business claim by taking steps to prevent water damage to your building.

Keeping Your Pipes Safe to Avoid Insurance Claims

When you are considering what type of coverage you need in your commercial insurance package, you need to consider all the issues that could occur and how well the policies you've chosen cover those issues. Filing a business claim for your property in Peoria, AZ, is not a pleasant task, but it can be a relief to discover that your insurance company has your back. Some things are not covered by your basic property insurance, though, and it's important to know what those things are.

Possible Exclusions

Commercial property insurance is designed to cover the costs of things that happen to your building, such as a pipe break, fire, or theft. There are some instances when this policy probably doesn't pay:

• Flooding from storms or other natural disasters
• Extensive mold growth
• Damage that occurs due to neglect or improper preparation
• Problems that result from code violations

Pay close attention to the exclusions in your policy before you need to file a business claim. The bill from water damage specialists may not be covered if the damage was simply a consequence of poor maintenance.

Claim Prevention

The best course of action is to avoid the damage in the first place. You can protect your pipes and thus your building by taking a few precautionary measures. Make sure your pipes are insulated, especially if they are close to an exterior wall.

Protect your building from leaks by having a strong building envelope and keeping drainage systems clear of debris. In the winter, don't turn off the heater over the weekend; your building should still remain at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher at all times to avoid frozen pipes. Finally, if a pipe does burst, know your building well enough that you can shut off the water at the source to stop the gushing.

When you own property, it is in your best interest to avoid having to file a business claim by taking steps to prevent water damage to your building. Preparation is the best way to protect your investment.

Where To Look for Mold

8/15/2022 (Permalink)

When water damage leads to mold damage

Where To Look for Mold

Getting rid of mold in your home in Grand Manor, AZ is not always as easy as it seems. One of the most difficult things about remediation is that the mold growth you see on the surface is usually only a small part of the overall problem. There are many places additional mold can hide.

Overflowing Toilet
If your toilet leaks or overflows, it can release a lot of water in a very short amount of time. You can mop up the standing water on the floor, but there is probably more water hidden out of sight that you can't reach. Your bathroom may have water damage in other areas:

• Under floor tiles
• Behind baseboards
• Inside the wall
• In ceiling tiles of lower level

If the water issue is not addressed, saturated materials can lead to moldy drywall and other secondary damage. It's best to call certified remediation specialists before such an extensive problem occurs.

Leaking Pipes
If a pipe breaks, the damage is usually obvious pretty quickly. A slow leak behind a wall or under a sink, however, can trigger mold growth before you ever know it's there. Keep an eye on your water meter so that you can notice unusual spikes in usage. This is often indicative of a water loss somewhere in your home. It may take an hour or two to find it, but then you can get it repaired before mold starts to grow.

High Humidity
Sometimes the instigating incident isn't one isolated problem. It may just be too humid in your home. Excess moisture in the air can cause mold on wood, textiles or other surfaces. Strive to keep a 45-50% humidity level in your house at all times to prevent spores from gathering and growing.

If you see mold growth on a surface in your home, chances are pretty good that there are some problems underneath it as well. Mold damage experts can identify all the affected areas and mitigate the issue thoroughly.

3 Lease Clauses Smart Landlords Use To Protect Themselves in Case of Fire

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Make Sure You Have These Three Covered In Your Rental Agreement

If a fire damages your rental property, do you and your tenant(s) understand who pays for what? It’s best to address any questionable situations in advance, and the easiest way to do that is by including clear provisions in the lease. Make sure you have these three issues covered in your rental agreement so that you’re protected if an apartment fire breaks out.

1. Require Renters Insurance
Renters insurance covers fire damage to the tenant(s)’s personal property, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and other belongings. Most renters insurance policies also pay for tenants to stay elsewhere, until fire restoration is complete. If there’s a fire and your tenants don’t have renters insurance, they’ll be completely out of pocket for belongings and temporary housing. Avoid this situation by including a lease provision that requires tenants to maintain valid renters insurance.

2. Outline Some Temporary Lodging Rules
Renters insurance should cover temporary housing in Peoria, AZ, for your tenants while the fire damage is being repaired. However, temporary lodging is the most frequent source of misunderstandings after an apartment fire. Save yourself the headache and clearly outline your policy ahead of time, in the lease. Note: if the tenant (or his/her insurance) is responsible for temporary housing, make sure that you pro-rate or refund rent paid for any time that the apartment is uninhabitable.

3. Set Time Limits for Repairs
Your lease should contain a provision for situations where the fire damage is so severe that the property will remain unlivable for an extended or indefinite period. In that situation, you and the tenant should consider the lease terminated, and you should refund any deposits as appropriate based upon the other terms of your lease.

You and your tenant will both have plenty of things to worry about after an apartment fire. A well-drafted lease will ensure that a disagreement over rental terms won’t be one of them.

3 Steps to Take After a Black Water Flood

7/8/2022 (Permalink)

Water cleanup services after severe damage in Glendale, AZ.

Three Steps To Take After A Black Water Flood

Commercial property owners in Glendale, AZ, know the devastating effects of water damage to their buildings. The source of the water that floods a building could leave its natural construction materials irreparable, especially if it is black water or highly contaminated water. Some common causes of floods in buildings include:

• Toilet overflow
• Inclement weather
• Sewage backup

1. Clean the Water
The first step is to get rid of as much water as you can. If the water you are handling is black water, use protective gear, such as gloves and a mask, to prevent infections and illness. Sop up the flood with old rags, towels, and a water vacuum if one is available to you.

2. Dehumidify Your Property
The natural construction material used to build your property, such as wood and drywall, will remain humid after a flood. This causes severe damage if you do not treat it, leaving room for microbial growth and rotting. To dehumidify materials, you can run a dehumidifier in the room until the moisture has left most of the porous items in the room. There are services available to dehumidify property if you would rather leave the job to a professional.

3. Restore Property
To complete the process, restore any materials that have been left irreparable. If the job is too severe for a single person, contact a professional water damage restoration service to aid in restoring your property to normal. Insurance companies often cover damage expenses from plumbing leaks. Check with your insurance provider before attempting to fix damages yourself.

Water damage can be costly and causes property owners a headache. Know these steps to get ahead after experiencing heavy damage to your building. Acting quickly in an emergency plumbing situation can prevent severe damages from leaving the natural construction materials of a property irreparable.

3 Tips for Reduction of Odors From Water Damage

7/1/2022 (Permalink)

While floods often lead to less than pleasant odors due to factors like mold growth and bacteria, the smells can be removed or at least mitigated.

3 Ways To Reduce Odors Caused By Water Damage

Even after you or a professional cleanup and restoration service from Weedville, AZ, has removed any standing flood water from your building, there might be disagreeable smells. They may be the result of sewage loss from pipes or the street, mold growth from leftover moisture or bacteria carried in by gray water or black water. There are some actions that can help reduce or eliminate the unpleasant odors that arise from water damage.

1. Make Sure Everything Is Actually Dry

Any excess moisture can serve as a breeding ground for mold growth and mildew. The microorganisms emit musty scents akin to dirty socks or dirt as they progress through different stages of development. It can also harbor stink-producing bacteria. It is important to remove as much water as possible by opening windows, wringing out or trashing soaked textiles, drying off surfaces, and using fans and dehumidifiers.

2. Use Common Remedies

If the smell clings to a room, there are certain substances you can place in open containers around it to try and absorb the odor from the air, including:

• Cat litter
  
• Vinegar
  
• Baking soda

These are available for purchase at many generic stores or shopping centers and have deodorizing capabilities. Baking soda can also be sprinkled on carpet, rugs or fabric-covered office furniture and vacuumed up to remove both liquid and nasty fragrances.

3. Disinfect Affected Surfaces

Sanitizing anything the water has touched can help ward off or kill mold in its beginning stages. Even if there is none visible, it might already have begun to release spores and infect porous materials. While bleach may seem like the obvious choice of cleanser, it generally only affects surface mold, not the filamentous roots or spores. A vinegar and warm water solution or soap and warm water mixture will prove more effective at removing the fungus.

While floods often lead to less than pleasant odors due to factors like mold growth and bacteria, the smells can be completely removed or at least mitigated. There are also professionals trained at disaster cleanup you can contact.

How Can SERVPRO Restore My Documents?

6/25/2022 (Permalink)

Document restoration is an important process if your paperwork has been affected by a disaster in Grand Manor, AZ.

How Will SERVPRO Help Me Recover My Documents?

Document restoration is an important process if your paperwork has been affected by a disaster in Grand Manor, AZ. These documents are essential to your business operations, so they should receive the same recovery treatment as your building, equipment, and other belongings. Learn about how the same commercial restoration professionals handling your property can also help with your documents. 

Featured Techniques 

A proper restoration project is not just a one-step process, but rather a series of techniques that ensures your paperwork is restored and its information is secure. For instance, experienced technicians use vacuum freeze document drying to avoid damaging the papers in their vulnerable soaked state. Since there is a strong chance of contamination in the water, they also use gamma irradiation to sterilize the items and eliminate bacteria and toxic chemicals.

Drying and Restoration Process

As a business owner, you should know about every step of the document restoration process. While specifics can vary depending on your case, you can expect the following parts:

• Package and delivery to the restoration facility
• Inventory and procedure assessment
• Placement of items in storage freezer
• Drying of items via vacuum freeze chamber
• Sterilization via gamma irradiation if necessary

After these steps are complete, the professionals may include additional processes such as manual cleaning and deodorization to improve the appearance. They can also offer document digitization so you can keep all the information in a form immune to physical damage. 
Advantages of In-House Service

Since SERVPRO is already working on the restoration of the establishment and all the equipment and furniture inside, it makes sense to trust them with your photos and paperwork. Keeping the recovery efforts within one company ensures the procedure is fast and simple. It also maintains the privacy of your information, especially if you choose to create digital copies. 

Document restoration is necessary when water, smoke, and mold affect books, files, and pictures that are crucial to your activities. Entrust these assets to your current remediation specialists to guarantee fast and effective results.  

Reasons To Own a SERVPRO Franchise

6/20/2022 (Permalink)

Our crew is trained to assist in any damages such as Fire, Water, or Mold. Residential and Commercial.

The Benefits of Owning a SERVPRO Franchise

There are many different business models that aspiring entrepreneurs can follow. For those with an interest in the mitigation and restoration industry, a SERVPRO franchise in Weedville, AZ, offers multiple benefits. It's the perfect blend of independence and support.

Corporate Support

Partnering with an existing brand is a good way to start a business. It's difficult to get a new company off the ground, but franchising with SERVPRO means that a lot of the groundwork is already done for the owner:

• Brand recognition
• Basic business model
• Corporate referrals
• Training and certification

When aspiring business owners research the benefits of buying a SERVPRO franchise, they often find more than they bargained for. They get the backing of a powerhouse corporation for everything from setting up the business to extra assistance from neighboring branches during natural disasters.

Locally Owned

Franchisees enjoy many benefits of business ownership. They get the flexibility of being their own boss and building a team that will make the branch successful. Because they don't have to worry about finding their own suppliers or establishing the brand, SERVPRO owners can focus on maintaining good relationships with other local businesses and securing their unique reputation.

Solid Reputation

A commercial business that needs fire or water damage mitigation services deserves a team that can be trusted to do the job right. SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for many insurance companies. When a branch's technicians become certified through the company's training program, it can receive referrals when local businesses or insurance providers contact the corporation. People trust the SERVPRO name, and franchisees benefit from that established reputation.

A SERVPRO franchise is more than just a great business model. It ensures independent ownership with corporate support, providing numerous benefits to anyone who hopes to get his or her start in the remediation industry.