Tips For The Rain!!

12/18/2023 (Permalink)

Don't forget to check your windows.

Window Check

The leaks could be anywhere around the window  top, sides or bottom. Often, these leaks happen because the caulk or sealant around the window has gotten old and cracked, allowing rain to enter the house. Make sure you check your windows to avoid any water intrution.

A Leaky Roof
It is easy to forget about in southern California, but a roof leak can turn things sour quick, causing damage to the ceiling, carpets, hardwood floors and furniture. As a safety precaution, we suggest tarping your roof with a thick plastic and weighing each of the 4 corners down with weights.

Prepare with Sandbags
If a heavy rainfall is predicted, it is a good idea to line your front entryway, back and crawl space with sandbags. This will block the water from flooding your home and minimize the chance of water damage.

Mop Up and Blot Excess Water
If water has already found its way into your home, do mope it up and dry quickly with towels (microfiber towels absorb even more moisture). Collecting as much moisture as possible as fast as possible will help from further damage.

If you experience water damage from the rain, give us a call and speak to one of our water specialists to schedule an appointment.

What is a Category 3 water

12/18/2023 (Permalink)

Toilet Back up

A Category 3 Water is grossly unsanitary water containing pathogenic agents, arising from sewage or other contaminated water sources and having the likelihood of causing discomfort or sickness if consumed or exposed to humans.

Examples include, but are not limited to: sewage, toilet backflows that originate from beyond the toilet trap regardless of visible content or color, all forms of flooding from seawater, ground surface water and rising water from rivers or streams, and other contaminated water entering or affecting the indoor.

How do you prevent sewage backflow?
Install a backflow valve to prevent backups

from backing up into your home. Clean it periodically to keep it working. The valve closes when water comes into it from the wrong direction. If a clog occurs, the backflow valve will stop the sewage from backing up into your house.

Taking precautions is really important in case of this event don't hesitate to call us SERVPRO of Garden Grove West/Stanton we are here to help you 714-622-5096. 

What to do if you have a leak in your ceiling

12/18/2023 (Permalink)

What to Do When Your Ceiling Has Water Damage

What to Do When Your Ceiling Has Water Damage

1. Find the Source of the Leak. There are lots of places that might be causing the water to leak.
2. Stabilize the Leak.
3. Fix the Source of the Leak.
4. Remove the Damaged Materials.
5. Let the Drywall Completely Dry.
6. Repair the Ceiling.

Most common questions:

How do you know if a ceiling leak is serious?

Sagging or bulging: If the ceiling appears to be sagging or bulging, this could be a sign of structural damage caused by the leak. Mold or mildew: If you see mold or mildew on the ceiling, this could be a sign that the ceiling is damaged.

Do I need to replace the ceiling after the leak?

Water damaged ceilings are high-priority issues that lead to rot, mold and a weaker house frame. Leaks must be fixed, and water damaged ceilings repaired, as soon as possible.

When should I worry about a water damaged ceiling?

Other than the obvious water leaking from your ceiling, some things to watch out for include: Slightly discolored spots, usually copper, yellow, or brown. Peeling, cracking, or bubbling wall surfaces. Discolored growths.

It is important to address any leaks right away to avoid any secondary damages!!!

Commercial services

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

The #1 choice in cleanup and restoration.

Commercial Services, do you know what it means?

Let us explain to you and tell you how SERVPRO could help you.

“SERVPRO helps commercial customers with a wide variety of cleaning, construction and restoration projects, both large and small.” 

We can help restore your business with  services like: large loss, emergency ready plans, industry specialization, restoration services, general cleaning services and specialty cleaning services.

Here is some information about every single one of these services so you can relate better.

Large Loss:

When your commercial property is suddenly hit with damage due to a storm, flood, fire or other disaster, it can leave you, your employees and customers in shock. It’s important to know that you have professional large-loss specialists to handle the restoration process as quickly as possible so that you can get back to business. 

Emergency Ready Plans: 

When disaster strikes your business, having a plan in place ahead of time for what you will do can make all the difference in whether your business survives the event.

Industry Specialization: 

With more than 50 years of experience, we’ve earned the reputation as a trusted leader in the restoration industry and specialize in fire and water damage, specialty cleaning, mold, and so much more. 

Restoration Services: 

Whether your business or commercial property needs emergency restoration services or professional cleaning services, we count with professionals who have the training and experience to handle any size project to get you back to business.

General Cleaning Services:

Life can get a little messy sometimes. When it does, we can help you clean it up.

Specialty Cleaning Services:

The certified technicians at SERVPRO are available to help business and commercial property owners handle specialty cleaning projects such as duct cleaning, odor removal, graffiti removal, biohazard cleaning services, and so much more.

Why SERVPRO?

• Available 24/7
• Commercial Large Loss Division
• Strategically Located
• Personal Attention
• Easier Insurance Claim Process
• Service of Construction

CONTACT US.

Emergency Ready Plan

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

Emergency ready plan

Did you know that 50% of the companies that close due to a disaster never reopen again? The majority of the ones that reopen had a response plan but do you have yours? Our ERP (emergency-ready plan) app offers information on how to handle every situation, minimizing the damage and the time your business would be inoperative. This plan contains what to do, how to do it, who to call, and what to expect, as long as information on shut-off valve locations, insurance contact information, priority areas and contacts, and photos of each utility location as a visual aide for quick reference. Currently, 95% of these situations are internal or man-made as fire and flooding. Many buildings have emergency contingency plans (incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity). Still, they keep it in a folder and don't have the time to look at it during an emergency, but at SERVPRO of southwest Irving, we are " Ready for whatever happens."

Tips for handling with fire

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

Fire tips

After a fire emergency, you do not know how to act. It is essential to keep in mind that specific residues of what may remain are dangerous to health, but no worries, We got you! Below, we will provide you with tips that will help you manage the situation; take a look at them:

-Have a professional examine your home to make sure it’s ready and safe.
-Send text messages or use social media to reach out to your family and friends.
-Proceed with caution: maintain a “fire watch” and check your home and surrounding areas for tiny, lingering embers.
-Do not drink, prepare food or wash with water until officials deem the water source safe.
-Photograph any damages for your records and contact your insurance agency.
-Outline clear pathways to exit doors.
-Conduct regular fire drills.
-Use flame-retardant materials in interiors.

Call SERVPRO – you need professional services; get the experts before moving to the next step. You must consider the above for better management; we will always be there to take care of your

Cleaning and removing smoke odor

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

Like it never even happened.

Products containing tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) can reduce odors in fabrics, but we need to read the label for directions and safety instructions.

• Test clothing before using any treatment, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke odor and soot can be removed from clothing that can get bleached. Measure 4 to 6 tbsp of Tri-Sodium Phosphate and 1 cup of household cleaner or chlorine bleach for every gallon of warm water you will use. Alternatively, consider washing clothes in cold water with your usual household laundry detergent and adding one pure vanilla extract tablespoon.
• To remove soot and smoke from walls, furniture and floors, use a mild soap or detergent or mix 4 to 6 tbsp of tri-sodium phosphate and 1 cup of household cleaner or chlorine bleach to every gallon of warm water. Wear rubber gloves and rinse surfaces with clear warm water and dry thoroughly.
• Wash walls one small area at a time, working from the floor up to prevent streaking, and rinse with clear water immediately; ceilings should be cleaned up last. Do not repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry. Washable wallpaper can be cleansed like painted walls but refrain from wetting through the paper. You can use a commercial paste to repaste any loose edges or sections.

Other Cleaning Tips

Consult a SERVPRO professional about replacing drywall and insulation that has been soaked by water from fire hoses. As a result, it can not be dried out and maintain structural integrity or resistance to mold and mildew.

Thunder storm

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

We can prevent disasters caused by thunder storms

Each year the USA experiences over 100,000 thunderstorms, and while the most significant threat extends from Minnesota to Texas, every state can be at risk with little to no warning. To protect yourself, your family, and your home from the dangers of a thunderstorm, you can consider these safety tips:

• Avoid contact with water during a thunderstorm. Don´t bathe, shower, wash dishes, or have any other contact with water during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing.
• Avoid using electronic equipment of all types. Lightning can travel through electrical systems and radio and television reception systems.
• Avoid using corded phones. Corded phones are not safe to use during a thunderstorm. However, cordless or cellular phones are safe to use during a storm.
• Avoid concrete floors and walls. Don´t lie on concrete floors during a thunderstorm. Also, avoid leaning on concrete walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.
• Stay away from windows, skylights, and doors.
• If you have advanced notice of a storm, consider turning off circuit breakers to avoid power surges that may occur from a lightning strike.

We have the necessary equipment to help you. If you find any alert caused by this storm, do not hesitate to call us, and we will come with all our specialized team to put ourselves at your service.

Tornado damage facts

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

“Tornadoes cause around 70 fatalities and 1,500 injuries in the U.S. each year.”

Nature can take a violent turn without warning: floods, wildfires, tornadoes. Any of these can have a devastating effect on your home; that’s why we share with you some facts for you to know if any of these happens to you. 

Here are some facts about tornadoes:

Have in your mind some of the signs of a tornado:

• Dark-greenish sky
• Large hail
• Dark, larges, low-lying clouds
• Roars

The average forward speed is 30 mph but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over warm water. They can move onshore and cause damage to coastal areas.

Tornadoes can be more than one mile wide and stay on the ground for over 50 miles. Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer.

We recommend being prepared for this, having an emergency kit in your home, with a lamp, batteries, medicine, a backpack with a change of clothes, etc. So you should always be prepared.

When a storm damages your home, we’re one call away. With more than 1,900 locations, SERVPRO is waiting to serve you 24/7.

The 3 Categories of Water Damage

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

Clean water or Category 1

Water damage from broken pipes, overflowing sinks, or rainwater. Health risks are low if you respond to the situation within less than 48 hours; after that period, the water would get exposed to different contaminants, turning it into category 2.

On most occasions, overlooking water damage can cause major headaches if left unattended because it can escalate the situation.

Greywater or Category 2

Some familiar greywater sources are equipment discharges, chemical wastes such as solid, liquid, or gaseous waste material that can pose mild to severe contamination risks. Greywater can promote microbial growth, and the severity of the condition usually escalates with time; both direct and indirect exposure can affect your health and the property.

Blackwater or Category 3

This classification refers to sewers, seawater, or water containing grease, oil, or body fluids. When this occurs, most of the materials and belongings would need to be removed from the property, and after the remediation procedure, we will do a disinfecting process.