Containment and HVAC Systems During Mold Remediation

12/12/2024 (Permalink)

Mold spores can easily spread throughout a building, especially through HVAC systems and open spaces. To prevent further contamination during mold remediation, it's crucial to implement containment strategies and consider the HVAC system.

HVAC System Considerations

• Mold Growth Within the System: If mold is growing within the HVAC system, turning it off may not be sufficient. Professional cleaning and disinfection of the system may be necessary.
• Spread of Spores: The HVAC system can distribute mold spores throughout the building. Turning it off can help limit this spread, but it's essential to assess the specific situation and consult with a mold remediation expert.
• Moisture Control: In some cases, turning off the AC during warmer months can increase humidity levels, creating ideal conditions for mold growth.

Containment Strategies

To prevent the spread of mold spores during remediation, containment strategies can be employed:

• Limited Containment: This involves using a single layer of polyethylene sheeting to isolate the contaminated area.
• Full Containment: This more rigorous approach involves double layers of sheeting, an airlock, and a decontamination chamber to create a controlled environment.

Additional Tips

• Seal Openings: Seal off any openings, such as vents, pipes, and doorways, to prevent the spread of spores.
• Limit Access: Restrict access to the contaminated area to minimize the risk of spore dispersal.
• Consult a Professional: A mold remediation expert can assess the specific situation and recommend the most effective containment and remediation strategies.

By understanding these factors and implementing appropriate containment measures, building owners and managers can effectively limit the spread of mold and ensure a successful remediation process.

Protect Your Home from Water Damage

12/12/2024 (Permalink)

Water damage is a common and costly problem that can affect any home. By taking a few preventative measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of water damage and protect your investment.

Here are some simple steps you can take this weekend:

• Inspect Your Roof: Check for missing, damaged, or aging shingles.
• Clean Gutters and Downspouts: Remove debris and ensure water is directed away from your home's foundation.
• Check Sprinklers and Irrigation Systems: Make sure they're not damaging your home's walls or foundation.
• Seal Windows and Doors: Use caulk and weatherstripping to prevent water seepage.
• Protect Outdoor Faucets: Turn off and drain outdoor faucets in winter to prevent frozen pipes.
• Install Gutter Guards: Prevent clogs and ensure efficient water flow.

If Water Damage Strikes

If your home suffers from water damage, it's crucial to act quickly. SERVPRO of Steuben, Dekalb and LaGrange is Here to Help®. Our team of experts can:

• Respond Quickly: We'll arrive promptly to assess the damage.
• Extract Water: We'll use advanced equipment to remove water from your home.
• Dry and Dehumidify: We'll employ powerful drying techniques to prevent mold growth.
• Clean and Restore: We'll clean and restore your belongings and property.

Don't Wait, Protect Your Home Today!

By taking these preventative measures and knowing who to call in case of a water damage emergency, you can safeguard your home and peace of mind.

Storm Damage to Your Home

12/12/2024 (Permalink)

In addition to the usual life certainties, living in Northern Indiana brings another: the inevitability of extreme weather events. Summers can bring torrential downpours and damaging hailstorms, while winters often feature heavy snowfall and icy conditions. These severe weather events can cause significant damage to homes and businesses.

Storm Damage to Your Home

Storm damage can take many forms, from wind and hail damage to flooding and water damage. Here are some common types of storm damage and how to protect your home:

• Wind Damage: Strong winds can cause significant damage to your home's roof, siding, and windows. To protect your home, consider installing hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows.
• Hail Damage: Hailstorms can damage your roof, siding, and windows. Regular roof inspections and prompt repairs can help prevent water damage from hail damage.
• Flood Damage: Flooding can occur due to heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, or storm surges. To protect your home from flooding, consider elevating your home, installing flood barriers, and purchasing flood insurance.
• Water Damage: Water damage can occur from a variety of sources, including leaky roofs, burst pipes, and flooding. To prevent water damage, inspect your roof and plumbing regularly and address any issues promptly.

Taking Steps to Protect Your Home

Here are some additional tips to protect your home from storm damage:

• Trim Trees and Shrubs: Trim trees and shrubs regularly to prevent damage to your home during storms.
• Clean Gutters and Downspouts: Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent water damage to your home's foundation.
• Inspect Your Home Regularly: Inspect your home regularly for signs of damage, such as cracks in the foundation, damaged siding, or leaky roof.
• Create an Emergency Plan: Develop an emergency plan for your family and practice it regularly.

By taking these steps, you can help protect your home from storm damage and minimize the risk of costly repairs.

Safety in the Kitchen

11/29/2023 (Permalink)

Its that time of year where we all gather in the kitchen to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. While preparing delicious meals you should keep in mind some safe cooking practices. According to the National Fire Protection Association cooking is the main cause for home fires and injuries.

Please take the time to review these safety tips.

• Always stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Use a timer as a reminder that the stove is on. Check food regularly while cooking.
• Keep kids away from the cooking area.
• Keep anything flammable away from the stove or any other appliance that generates heat. Such as pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packages and towels.
• Do not wear loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Avoid grease build up by cleaning cooking surfaces regularly.
• Always have a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen.
• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure everything is shut off.
• Install a smoke alarm in the kitchen and on each level of the home, near sleeping areas and inside and outside of bedrooms.

Here at SERVPRO® of Steuben, DeKalb and LaGrange we wish the best Holiday season.

Frozen Weather Brings Frozen Pipes

11/29/2023 (Permalink)

When the temperatures are below zero, it is possible for your pipes to freeze. Frozen pipes can create a massive water damage in your home if the pipe breaks.  If you experience this please give us a call. A few things you can do to help prevent frozen pipes are:

1. Drain water from sprinkler supply lines. 
2. Remove, drain and store hoses used outdoors
3. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs
4. Add insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces
5. Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas
6. consider installing products made to insulate pipes such as pipe sleeves
7. consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing

If you have a water damage please give us a call. We are faster to any disaster and are ready and waiting to put our expertise, equipment and experience to work for you! 

260-665-7998

Emergency Ready Plan

11/29/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Steuben, DeKalb and LaGrange counties offers an emergency ready plan for your business at no cost. This plan is a start up approach that provides critical information needed to begin mitigation and recovery services in the event of a disaster such as water or fire damage. It is designed as a quick reference of important building and contact information.

Preparation is a key component for making it through any size disaster. The best time for planning for such events is not when it happens but well before.

Give us a call today to schedule an appointment for our no cost Emergency Ready Plan.

260-665-7998

Ask The Experts: What is secondary damage?

11/29/2023 (Permalink)

Water damage is a serious issue that you need to deal with promptly when it happens.

There are some things you can do on your own to help while waiting for professionals and those tasks are in our previous post of do's and dont's for water damage.

If water damage is not fixed quickly can destroy the integrity of your house.

Structural Damage

The biggest problem faced by homeowners after their houses are damaged by water is structural damage. It might sound obvious, but when your house has been hit by a lot of water the whole structure can be weakened. That’s particularly true in any area where water was allowed to sit for more than a few hours.
If you have water sitting on the floors and on your walls for days, after a major catastrophe you could really be facing some serious structural issues. Hire a professional to look at your home and don’t walk on floors, else it could be very badly damaged.

Even if your home doesn’t have significant structural damage, being in a home that’s been badly damaged by water can create some other serious issues. Mold and mildew are the most common problems, and walls and floors that have been soaked by water can start growing mold in just a few hours.

So give us a call today! We are faster to any disaster and are ready to put our years of experience to work for you! 

Check out our reviews and other information on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau.

Sump-times Storms Can Be Awful, but SERVPRO is here for you!

7/23/2022 (Permalink)

Sump pumps keep your basement dry. The sump pump will remove the unwanted water from the structure. Sump pumps are a great solution except for when the power goes out. When a storm hits the loss of power can be a significant issue for the homeowner or business owner. One way you can help prevent your sump pump from losing power is with a battery back up.  This will make a  significant difference on if your building or home will flood. 

If you lose power and do not have a battery back up for your sump pump and are flooded  please give us a call. We are here to help. We are faster to any disaster and are ready to put our experience, expertise and equipment to work for you!

SERVPRO of Steuben, DeKalb and LaGrange 

260-665-7998

SERVPRO Is Ready To Respond & Help When Home Fires Hit

6/25/2022 (Permalink)

Contents Services

Inventory

One of the first priorities to complete an accurate inventory to help ensure you properly account for all your belongings. We provide a detailed room by room inventory of contents.

Move outs

When the structure has suffered extensive damage, everything will be relocated for cleaning and stored during repairs.

Contents Cleaning

All of the restorable contents in the affected areas will be professionally cleaned and deodorized. SERVPRO of Steuben, DeKalb and LaGrange counties offer wet or dry professional cleaning.

Structural Cleaning

Ceilings and walls

We will pre- test the walls and ceilings to analyze the extent of damage. We will reduce the cost of recovery by cleaning off the light soot from walls and ceilings.

Carpet and Floor Restoration

Residue from smoke or soot will settle and can be ground into flooring. SERVPRO of Steuben, DeKalb and LaGrange has the experience, the equipment and the cleaning products to protect and clean your flooring.

Ductwork

The HVAC system will be inspected to determine if they were affected. A restoration process will be determined to properly clean and deodorize.

Deodorization

We provide specialized services that will rid your home of offensive odors left by smoke damage.

SERVPRO is here for you no matter how big or small the disaster

6/20/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Steuben, DeKalb and LaGrange counties is a privately owned and operated business. SERVPRO is a franchise system that we are proud to be part of. There are more than 1,700 franchises across the country. We work together to provide the resources that another SERVPRO franchise might need. No job is too big for SERVPRO.  SERVPRO also works together to respond to storms that happen all over the country. We are a privately owned and operated business but have the national resources when needed. The SERVPRO franchise system that we are a part of works together to provide the equipment and man power when needed. No job is too large. Please give us a call to assist in your large loss.

SERVPRO of Steuben, DeKalb and LaGrange counties

260-665-7998