How Do I Get Rid of this Soot and Fire Damage?

11/6/2023 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO, our goal is to restore your belongings, home or business to it’s pre-fire condition. Depending on the amount of damage and its severity, our SERVPRO experts must assess the needs of your property and find the most efficient clean up solution. But where do we begin? 

First, our highly qualified team locates smoke residue by inspecting the affected area. This inspection starts at the source of the fire. We then follow its path and trace the distance of the smoke throughout your property. Next, we identify the type of residue left behind. Depending on the type of fire, residues may be powdery or sticky.  Several types of residue may exist even within the same affected area. 

Additionally, the type of affected surface is identified. Our restorers will choose the best cleaning solution to address each type of residue based on the type of material affected.  Some examples include sheetrock, metal, plastic, wood, brick, cloth, granite, concrete, etc.   We carefully inspect each aspect of this process to ensure that your materials are preserved. Using wet and dry cleaning processes, we are then able to remove residue particles from your surfaces before carefully disposing of all cleaning waste used in the process. 

Each step of our Fire Restoration process is important to bring your property back to it’s preloss condition. Our detail-oriented team ensures that all of these steps are applied appropriately and that the most efficient methods are used to best ‘SERV’ you. 

How Does a Water Damage Occur?

11/6/2023 (Permalink)

If you own a  home or business, you need to know the risks of flooding and take measures to avoid it all costs. This is because flooding can bring significant damage to your home. When flooding does occur, a homeowner or business owner should be prepared to take quick action to reduce secondary and long-term damage that may arise if left unattended.  

CAUSES OF WATER DAMAGE

Water Damage can stem from several different sources. Frozen and broken pipes, supply lines to hot water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, and sinks are among the most common. Groundwater, rainwater and storm flooding can even creep in causing mild to extreme damage.

Regardless of the originating cause of the flood, water can not only damage your home or business structure, but it can damage your personal belongings, lead to the growth of mold colonies, as well as pose various electrical or fire hazards.  It is essential for you as the homeowner or business owner to resolve water damage as quickly as possible and take steps now to prevent it from occurring whenever possible.  

WHAT TO DO WHEN WATER INVADES YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS

When flooding occurs in your home  or business, it is essential to address it as soon as possible. To what extent you can, mop up the moisture from the flooded areas and remove it as quickly as you can. Then look to hire a consultant that provides flood remediation services like SERVPRO of Union County. We will inspect your home and initiate services that will remediate the visible and hidden water.  From extracting all the water, to setting the proper amount and kinds of drying equipment, removing affected materials and personal belongings, to applying anti-microbials, and providing recommendations for repairs and other services, SERVPRO of Union County can tackle any size disaster and help bring order back to your home or business.

I Didn't Know You Did THAT!

11/6/2023 (Permalink)

Many times we hear, "I didn't know you did THAT!!!!"  Home and business owners are always amazed at the numerous different services our franchise offers aside from routine fire and water damage cleanup and restoration.  

As part of our detailed fire and water damage cleanup and restoration services, we often times clean personal belongings that we call CONTENTS. What exactly is a content you ask?  Well, if you could turn your house upside down, anything that would fall out and is not physically attached to the structure, is considered a content.  That goes for furniture, mattresses, bedding, clothing, draperies, free-standing appliances like refrigerators, washers, dryers, freezers, countertop microwaves, storage bins shelving racks, wall decorations, as well as all the "do-dads" and "knick-knacks" that we all have in our homes.  More times than not, insurance covers the cleaning of such items because it falls under policyholders' content coverage.  If you are not sure if you have that type of coverage, contact your insurance agent for more details.  

As part of the content cleaning process, our expert professionals will assess the type of item needing to be cleaned to determine if it in fact is salvageable, aka "cleanable".  Most of the time, we can save items that you may think are beyond saving!  Our proprietary cleaning agents and methods can get even the stinkiest water or fire smell out of your belongings.   The next step in the content process is to inventory and packout the contents to either a storage unit onsite, or to our warehouse where we have dedicated cleaning rooms and deodorization chambers. That includes soft contents too!  Clothing, bedding, luggage, shoes, backpacks, rugs, etc. can be cleaned as well!  We are a CERTIFIED ESPORTA operator and our patented washing system can process items of all kinds!  Football uniforms & pads, firefighter uniforms, boots & helmets, and porcelain dolls are just a few of the unique kinds of things that can be cleaned and sanitized in our ESPORTA machine.  We wash, dry, iron, and package many soft contents from all kinds of losses, even from sewage and mold losses.  Once cleaned, deodorized, and packaged, your belongings are securely stored in vaults until your home or business is repaired and ready for return.

Our trained professionals are available to remove the stress from your work load and in return, you can focus on growing your business or managing your family life during the upset of a water or fire damage.

Reach out to our office with any questions you may have & we will make sure you speak to someone that can help!

SERVPRO of Union County

704-764-3216

Commercial Duct Cleaning

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Union County we are available for your commercial needs when it comes to duct cleanings.  

We service the entire three counties in our franchise territory.  We have performed numerous duct cleanings during our years of service.  

We have a team that can assist you in the cleaning of the duct systems at your business.  

Give us a call today at 704-764-3216 to schedule for our estimator to come out and access the duct systems at your office, warehouse or distribution sites.  We will perform the assessment, offer and detailed estimate on the cleaning and review the cleaning process.  

Once the estimate has been approved, scheduling is usually done within the same week of approval.

So get your office ready for spring and summer, and give us a call today.  

Carpet Cleaning Tips

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Union County offers carpet cleaning services to residential or commercial companies. When it comes to carpet stains be sure to attend to the situation as soon as possible. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove. Here are some helpful hints on spot cleaning carpets:

Always pre-test before you begin cleaning! Choose an inconspicuous spot to use your cleaning solution. Dampen a white cloth with your cleaning solution, and blot carpet and inspect carefully for dye transfer or other changes in appearance.

Food – Drinks – Blood

Rinse the area with hot water and blot with a clean white towel. Mix 1 tablespoon of #485 StainZap into 16 oz. of hot water and apply to the affected area. Allow to dry 15 to 30 minutes and the stain should “disappear”. Rinse the area thoroughly with water and blot dry.

Sticky Spills

Scrape or blot up the excess spill. Dampen a sponge with a carpet and upholstery cleaner, and blot the area with your sponge until the residue is removed. If some color remains, follow the outline above for food and drink.

Urine – Feces

Rinse the area with hot water and blot dry. Apply a carpet and upholstery cleaner to a sponge and apply to the affected area. Blot up with a damp towel. If an odor persists, apply an odor and stain remove product. If the stain remains, follow up with the steps outlined for food and drinks.

Candle wax – Nail polish

For wax, melt and absorb wax with a warm iron over an absorbent cloth and blot with SERVPRO Solvent Spotter. For nail polish, blot with a non acetate nail polish remover until the stain is gone.

Cosmetics – Ink

Rinse the area with hot water and blot. Apply a carpet and upholstery cleaner to the area and blot it dry. If any stain remains, follow up with the steps outlined above for food and drink.

If all else fails...let the professionals handle those carpets while you relax!! Call your local SERVPRO today at 704-764-3216

Cleaning and Restoring Damaged Items

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

Fire and water emergencies can bring homeowners many checklists, worries, and questions. The question of whether they will have to replace all clothing and textile items may plague many homeowners. During the process of cleaning and restoring, personal items and valuables are sorted to determine what is salvageable and what is not. Cleaning salvageable items is a part of the restoration process.

Traditional washing machines, home-owned or industrial, do not have the capability to properly clean water, mold, or fire damaged clothing. The Esporta Washing System cleans twice as much than a dry cleaner can. The Esporta cleans 90% of all damaged soft contents including clothing, bedding, stuffed animals, leather shoes or purses, and more.

The Esporta Washing System uses a hydraulic cleaning method. This method uses water as pressure to force contaminants out of any items. This system differs from a traditional washing machine, as a traditional machine uses blades or paddles to press against the items, proving to be ineffective against organic or inorganic contaminants.

The detergent used in the cleaning process is also what sets this washing system apart from other methods. The proprietary detergent is harsh on contaminants but gentle on the environment. The blend is free of any hazardous chemicals, proving to be kind to those using the washed items, anyone operating the machine, and to our planet.

SERVPRO of Union County has accessibility to the Esporta it gives us an edge on our competitors in providing quick, quality service and ensuring as much of our customer’s contents are restored. Restoring and cleaning your salvageable items usually helps to expedite the process of dealing with an insurance claim and returning back to your normal life. SERVPRO of Union County also eases the worries and many steps that comes with a fire or water damage emergency. We offer inspection, cleaning of both buildings and items, along with restoration.

For your next fire or water damage emergency, contact the pros at SERVPRO of Union County at 704-764-3216

Removing Tobacco Odors In Your Home

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

The smell of cigarette smoke can permeate a home and give it a stale smell. Thirdhand smoke refers to smoke that settles onto surfaces of your home and they remain long after smoke has ceased. If you have recently quit smoking or have moved into a home where the former residents smoked indoors, you may be exposed to this type of passive smoke. Smoking also causes hundreds of deaths each year due to fires. Regardless of the reason behind your cigarette removal need, home deodorization is high on your list of priorities. If you have allergies or asthma, cigarette smoke can be especially irritating.

This odor can be difficult to remove. This is because cigarettes leave behind

• Toxic and irritating gases
• Tar vapors
• Smoke residue

Cigarettes produce toxic and irritating gases such as phenol, ammonia gases and carbon monoxide. They also release tar vapors that become sticky. These vapors, residues and gases are able to travel everywhere.

Ozone, or O3, is one of the few home deodorization techniques that actually works to combat this. That is because an ozone generator eliminates odor by oxidizing the air. The oxidized air is circulated through the air just as smoke is and so is able to get to all the places cigarette smoke does, effectively getting rid of the smelly residue.

If you have a smelly home, you can hire SERVPRO of Union County that can help you identify the source and eliminate the problem. Many odors can be removed without a trace. Although cigarette smoke is one of the most offensive and prevalent odors, it is not the only one. Home deodorization can also include pet odors, mold growth, spill odors and other foul smells.

Oxidization is just one of many ways specialist might remove offensive smells. Sometimes special equipment and treatments are necessary to clean air ducts, carpets, upholstery and hard surfaces.

If cigarette smoke is the culprit, all of these surfaces and areas must be deodorized for your home to smell fresh and clean again. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you might benefit from a trained odor specialist at SERVPRO of Union County

Call us today, 704.764.3216 to schedule an estimate, SERVPRO of Union County

Tornado Safety

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

If you're in a building:

• Have a portable radio for weather alerts and updates nearby.
• Get to the lowest level of your home, such as a basement or storm cellar. If you don't have a basement, go to an inner hallway or a closet.
• Keep away from all windows and glass doorways.
• Do not use elevators because the power may turn-off, leaving you trapped inside.
• Cover your head and eyes with a blanket or jacket to protect against flying debris and broken glass.
• Keep pets on a leash or in a crate close by.
• Stay inside until you're certain the storm has passed!
• Do not leave a building to attempt to "escape" a tornado.

If you're in a mobile home:

• Do not stay in a mobile home during a tornado. Even mobile homes equipped with tie-down systems cannot withstand the force of a tornado's winds.
• Heed all local watches and warnings, and leave your mobile home to seek shelter as quickly as possible before a tornado strikes, preferably in a nearby building with a basement.
• If no shelter is immediately available, find the lowest-lying area near you and lie down in it, covering your head with your hands.

Emergency Water Damage

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Union County will respond to your emergency water call 24 Hours a day.

• 24 hour on call staff
• 24 hour answering service
• Rapid Response time
• Large Loss
• Insurance company communication

SERVPRO of Union County has a team of experienced personnel that is on call 24 hours a day to be on site as soon as possible to handle your emergency water issues.  We will be at your home ready for the water extraction and removal of any damaged materials affected by the water.  We will set all the necessary equipment to make sure that dry the home out as soon as we can.

Feel free to call us at 704-764-3216

Prevent Fires This Summer!

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

Summer is usually filled with cook outs, BBQs, and family get-togethers! While this is fun it also brings the possibility of fire hazards. Here are a few precautions we can take!

Precautions to take while grilling Propane:

• Stay alert when grilling. Avoid grilling when you are tired or have consumed too much alcohol.
• Do Not leave your grill unattended.
• Keep the grill in a place that is free from flammable items and away from porch rails, and low lying branches.
• Keep children and pets as far away from the grill as possible
• Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year.

NOTE: A light soap & water solution applied to the hose is a great way to check for leaks. You can often smell a propane leak, but propane will also release bubbles when the soap and water solution is applied. If you detect a leak, turn the gas tank and grill off. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.

• Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before igniting.
• If you smell gas while cooking, immediately move away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.
• If the flames go out for any reason, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least 15 minutes before re-lighting it.
• Keep your grill clean by regularly removing grease or fat buildup from the grates and trays below.

Charcoal grill safety tips to consider:

• If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquid to the flames.
• Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
• Electric charcoal starters do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord for outdoor use.
• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container with a lid.