Can You Repair a Fire-Damaged House?

9/29/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage to the roof of a home. The fire burned a large hole in the roof.

If your home has been harmed by smoke or fire, you are likely wondering if fire damage restoration is viable. It is in fact possible to return your home to pre-damage conditions. The key is to find the right restoration and cleaning service. If you live in Saunders County, NE, keep reading to find out how the effects of a fire can be reversed.

Repairing Your Home or Business After a Fire

Fire can have a devastating impact on any structure. The intense heat, smoke, and subsequent water damage caused by emergency crews and sprinkler systems can be highly destructive. However, unless a structure has been burned beyond repair, there is usually a way to clean and revive damaged surfaces so that they can be fully restored to their original condition.

The Fire Damage Restoration Process

The sooner your restoration crew gets to the site of the fire, the better. Responding right away with the appropriate resources and equipment will help to ensure that no further damage occurs. Your restoration technicians will immediately board up any windows that have been damaged and add a tarp to the roof if your roofing has been compromised. This will protect your home from further damage until these structures can be repaired.  

After a thorough inspection of the fire, smoke, and water damage, the process of removing black soot and drying out damp surfaces begins. It is important to initiate the drying and disinfecting process as soon as possible before mold begins to form. The right tools used by a qualified restoration professional can ensure that affected surfaces are restored before any permanent damage sets in.

How Does Soot Removal Work?

Soot is a particularly difficult substance to remove from any surface and requires specialized techniques to ensure its complete removal. There are custom vacuums, sponges, and cleaning products that are specifically designed to remove this sticky substance. Using the wrong product or equipment to remove soot can actually spread it around and make the stain even worse.

What Can Be Done About Water Damage?

If industrial-grade dehumidifiers and fans are brought in right away, the drying process should be complete before any permanent damage takes place. The key is to not allow moisture to sit on surfaces (particularly wood or drywall) for a significant length of time. This can lead to warping and mold formation.  
 

Finding a Reputable Restoration Professional in Saunders County

Restoring your home or business after a fire is not a do-it-yourself project. It requires the right equipment and expertise. A professional restoration company will not only clean, dry out, and disinfect any damaged surfaces, but it will also ensure that the right repairs take place. This may include painting, drywall, and flooring replacement, or in severe cases, a complete renovation of some rooms.

If your home or business has been damaged by fire or smoke, contact us today at SERVPRO. We will make sure that the right steps take place to return your structure to its previous condition.

4 Steps to Take Immediately After Water Damage

9/23/2022 (Permalink)

Water was left unattended on the kitchen floor.

In the US, around 14,000 homes and businesses experience water damage every day. While this problem is common, it can be extremely disruptive and cause significant problems. In the worst-case scenario, families have to vacate their home for several days or weeks while it is being restored by a water damage restoration company. Today, we'll have a closer look at what to do immediately after a flood or leak in Saunders County.

4 Steps to Take Immediately After Water Damage 

1. Stop the Cause of the Damage 

The first thing you should do is to make sure your family is safe. If necessary, get everyone out of the building and alert the neighbors to the problem. Then, you will have to identify the source of the leak and stop the water from flowing. If the damage was caused by a faulty household device, you should unplug it or switch it off immediately.

In some cases, the water supply to your property might have to be turned off. If the house is safe to enter at this point, you could try to save some of your possessions. However, you should always make sure there is no risk involved when reentering the property. Wear rubber gloves, boots, and protective clothing. Try to rescue the most important items, such as documents and electronic equipment, first.

2. Call a Saunders County Water Damage Restoration Company

Most types of water damage can't be addressed by the residents on their own. Instead, they should call a professional restoration company that has the necessary drying tools and techniques to extract water efficiently and detect hidden moisture. The faster you act, the less likely your building will suffer from long-term water damage.

To make sure you get a good result, you should always call a highly reputable company. Check the reviews to check that other people have had a good experience. You should also look for someone who offers a 24-hour service, only employs highly trained water damage specialists, and is able to respond quickly to your request.

3. Help the Restoration Company Assess and Remove the Damage

A good restoration company will help you assess the situation and then follow a standard process, which might include extracting all the water, drying and dehumidifying the rooms, cleaning up the damage, repairing your structures, and restoring the property to its former condition. To facilitate the work, you should follow all instructions and provide as much information about the property and the incident as possible.

4. Call Your Insurance Company  

Depending on the cause of the leak and the type of damage, your homeowners' insurance policy might cover the cost of getting your property restored and your valuable items replaced. Once you and your family are safe and the water restoration company has started drying out your property, you should get in touch with your insurance company to find out how you can make a claim.

After a flood or a leak, residents should first make sure that everyone is safe and, if necessary, stop the water from flowing. Then, they should get in touch with a damage restoration company. Restoration professionals can help identify the issue, remove the water, and repair the damaged structures, so the home is once again inhabitable. Often, their services are covered by insurance. Call SERVPRO of Omaha West to find out more.

SERVPRO Comes to the RESCUE

9/22/2022 (Permalink)

Thanks SERVPRO for your help!

Kudos to the SERVPRO Omaha Southwest group that came to my home 9/17. This is the emergency crew that came to Milwaukee to help remove water from many flooded basements and buildings. Their timely help saved my lower level from being destroyed. I am so grateful for their service!! SERVPRO is the BEST!! Thank you Lathe for your team and your kind help getting things done. Miracles do happen!! 

Sincerely, Gretchen Burt

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Helpful tips to prevent a house fire

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

House fires kill and injure many every year, while leaving many without their home, and valuable memories and possessions. Fire prevention is more important than many realize. 

Ways to Prevent House Fires

-Establish an emergency plan with fire routes. 

-Test all smoke alarms in your home.

-Teach your children fire safety. 

-Perform home maintenance consistently.

- Use candles with caution.

-Don't leave food cooking unattended.

- Store flammables safely.

- Know where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them. 

- Check all electrical cords in your home. If wires are frayed, throw it away.

Fire preparation is an important part of safeguarding your home and your family. Knowing not only how to prevent a fire but also how to escape it and get quick fire cleanup is essential.

Tips to get your business ready for the weather ahead

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Summer is over, fall is here, and winter is right around the corner!

Summer is over, Fall is here, and Winter is right around the corner! While not every storm will cripple a business, it is still necessary to be prepared. Along with frigid temperatures and snow, winter can create problems with plumbing and operations. Therefore, it is essential to make a plan for the worst-case scenario.

1. Prepare Your Building-Make sure you check your plumbing and electricity regularly, but even more so when a winter storm is heading your way. Outside plumbing should be shut off and cleared to prevent freezing and possible burst pipes. Additionally, it may be a good idea to secure a generator if your business does not already have one. If your company does have a generator, it is a good investment to have it serviced before the winter weather sets in.
2. Plan for Ice and Snow-Any winter storm is going to bring issues of snow and ice. Being prepared for this situation means having a plow service on contract and ensuring that all walkways and driveways are cleared and salted. It is vital to do everything in your power to ensure that customers do not get hurt on the way into your business.
3. Focus on Inventory-Also, as storms have the potential to cause significant business interruption as well as property damage, it is vital to take an accurate inventory of all your assets. This inventory will be used for insurance claims if property damage results in an inventory loss. You should move stock to a secure and climate-controlled area, photographing and documenting everything. This will help streamline the process if a claim is made.
4. Make a List of Contacts-While taking inventory is necessary, it is also crucial to make a list of emergency contacts. This list should include all personnel who are essential to your operations. Additionally, you should include a disaster restoration specialists in the Omaha area in case of an emergency.
   
   Winter storm season can produce significant threats to business operations. Massive snowfalls and ice storms can wreak havoc on you Omaha business, so it is essential to have a plan. 

Call SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County today at (402)835-5985 and schedule one of our marketers to come to your business to help you with an Emergency Readiness Plan at no cost to you!

Faster to your Omaha/Saunders County disaster

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding and water disasters don't wait for regular business hours,and neither do we!

Faster to your Omaha/Saunders County water disaster!

Flooding and water disasters don't wait for regular business hours, and neither do we. SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all emergency cleaning and restoration, including all holidays. 

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more.  SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – (402)835-5985

About SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County

SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

National Readiness Month

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Don't wait until disaster strikes. Call SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County at (402)835-5985 to discuss your ERP today!

Did you know September is National Readiness Month? Disasters can strike businesses big or small. Disasters can devastate a community in just a matter of moments.

Disasters caused by wind, fire, water, or weather can strike at anytime without warning. Business owners need to establish an Emergency Plan and practice it with all employees. 

Companies can find vital information regarding emergency plans at ready.gov/business. 

-Update all emergency contact information and give to all employees.

-Implement Emergency Policies and Procedures.

-Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area.

-Conduct Emergency drills with employees.

SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County offers a NO COST Emergency Readiness Profile (ERP) to help with your emergency planning. 

Don't wait until disaster strikes. Call SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County at (402)835-5985 to discuss your ERP today! 

Emergency Ready Profile

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

When fire or water damage strikes, you can either be ruined or you can be ready!

As the sales and marketing representative for SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County, one of my key targets each month is to help businesses be prepared in the event of a disaster.  One way we do that is through our Emergency Ready Profile program. 

The Emergency Ready Profile, or ERP, is a free service provided by SERVPRO in which we help area businesses with such things as locating their emergency shut offs for their electrical systems, water, and gas.  We also compile information on their key contacts in the event of any emergency so the business is prepared and can calmly work through the situation.  Since this is a free service, there are no contracts to sign and no obligations to purchase any products.  Our only request is, if your business does suffer from a disaster to give us an opportunity to make it "Like it never even happened".

The ERP also contains tips and suggestions that the business can do before help arrives and provides somewhat of a roadmap helping them get back into their business more quickly and ultimately minimizing the interruption. 

One example where we had the opportunity to truly see the power of the plan in action was last February.  A local business suffered a frozen pipe on the third story of their building reaching numerous rooms within the facility.  With this plan, the building contact knew exactly who to call and within hours our team was on site helping them to restore function to nearly 50% of the rooms affected by the end of day 1.  The other rooms required more drying time, but they were able to recover a fair amount of potential lost income by simply having a plan in place and knowing what to do prior to help arriving. 

The best part of the ERP process is the amount of work the business owner or manager must do to get this set up is minimal.  A sales and marketing representative will come to your business and take the necessary photos and information, then finish putting the document together at the office.  This process usually only takes 30 minutes or less and the business owner can proof and edit the document as often as they would like.  When approved, the business will receive both a hard copy and a digital copy through our ERP app. 

For more questions or to set up an Emergency Ready Profile for your business, call SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County at 402-835-5985.

Dishwashers Lead to Water Damage

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Having a dishwasher in your business, home or office means there is a water line which can lead to potential water damage if leaking starts to occur.

It is pretty common nowadays to clean your dishes using a dishwasher. Having a dishwasher in your business, home or office means there is a water line which can lead to potential water damage if leaking starts to occur. 

SERVPRO recommends all Omaha/Saunders County restaurateurs, home owners and offices take the following steps to take care of their dishwashers to reduce the risk of water damage.

Do Not Overfill

It is tempting to fill your dishwasher to the brim especially when there only a couple of dishes left in the sink. However, tell yourself and your staff not the crowd the rack, as an over filled dishwasher is much more likely to leak. It is better to do a couple of smaller loads rather than trying to fit everything into one big load.

Do Regular Maintenance on Doors

Dishwasher door hinges become loose, door latches become misaligned or door seals break, all of which can cause a leak. Sometime the problem can be solved with a tightening of a few screws and you can use an epoxy patch kit to remedy minor seal breaks. However, other times it is not possible to fix the door hinges, latches or seals on your own and that leads to buying a new dishwasher.

Check the Tub and Hose

The tub and hose can both develop faults over time. Consistent and constant use may corrode the tub and create a big hole, and aging hoses can become unstable or cease to fit properly.

Use the Correct Detergent

Always use a dish washing detergent and follow the manufacturer instructions. The incorrect dish washing detergent or too much of the correct dish washing detergent can cause suds and even a blockage. 

These leaks, if not dried fast or correctly, can lead to mold.

For help with water damage to your business or home give SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County a call at (402) 835-5985 to help remedy the situation.

Services Offered by SERVPRO of Omaha West/ Saunders County

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Do you know the services offered by SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County?

Do you know the services SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County offers?

1. Water Damage Repair and Restoration: Whether the damage is from heavy rains or flooding, a burst pipe, or an appliance malfunction, our techs are highly trained and certified in water damage restoration. We have specialized high tech equipment to efficiently dry out your property.

2. Fire Damage Repair and Restoration: Each fire situation is unique and requires a specific cleaning and restoration process. We have high tech equipment that allows to restore contents instead of having to replace. 

3. Mold Remediation and Restoration: From setting containment to using negative air, our techs are trained in proper mold remediation. 

4. Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration: We have the resources and personnel to quickly respond to any storm or disaster. With over 1800 franchises, SERVPRO is close by and ready.

5. Commercial Cleaning Services: SERVPRO offers commercial COVID cleaning and disinfecting, along with proactive cleaning. We follow protocol set by the CDC, and use a hospital grade EPA registered disinfectant. 

6. Bio-hazard Cleanup: Crime scene cleanup, sewage backup, and suicide cleanup are a few of the bio-hazard cleanup services we offer.

7. Vandalism and Graffiti Removal: The media blaster can clean almost any surface. We can seamlessly remove graffiti or cleanup after a break-in.

8. Air Duct and Carpet Cleaning: Cleaning your HVAC unit can extend the life of the equipment. This can save you money, and give you cleaner air to breathe. Carpets act as a filter trapping contaminants. Regular cleanings can extent the life span of your carpet.

9. Odor Removal: Our techs are trained to identify and quickly eliminate offensive odors. 

Call SERVPRO of Omaha West/Saunders County for all your restoration and cleanup needs.