Opening a New Business? Have an Emergency Readiness Plan in Place

10/11/2022 (Permalink)

There is a lot to consider when opening a new business. One aspect that most owners do not want to think about but should is being ready for disaster. Whether it is fire, flood, mold damage or biohazard issues, having a plan in place can save time and money, and may make the difference between whether your business stays open or not. Work with your local SERVPRO to design a plan to anticipate your issues and put in place a plan of practical solutions ahead of any troubles.

When damage happens at your place of business
 

Whether you own a restaurant, a retail enterprise, or manage an event center, your responsibility is to keep the doors open and provide the services or products you promise your clientele. Unfortunately, a broken pipe or appliance malfunction sends water surging through your business, possibly closing you down until the experts to arrive to get the situation managed. Fire, mold, or a crime scene situation can present similar operational challenges. Without a plan, which can waste precious time. SERVPRO suggests working on a proactive blueprint to streamline the assistance we can offer to get you back in business fast.

What does a disaster response plan include?
 

SERVPRO creates a comprehensive disaster response action strategy for damage with significant input from the business owner. Our Emergency Ready Plan and Profile (ERP) is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We take the time to visit your company location and to talk with you to assess your needs and understand how you deliver your goods or services. The assessment is free of charge and allows us to make a range of suggestions to limit your risk if your commercial space does experience a damage event such as fire, flood, or mold damage. Our experienced project manager walks through your business and sketches out your layout, including vital information like utility shutoff locations. We gather information, take pictures, and determine how we best meet your needs if your site is damaged. Having as much information documented before disaster strikes will help businesses react quickly, smartly, and effectively to keep damage to a minimum and operations less impacted should disaster strike.

How SERVPRO’s ERP works
 

Business owners take an additional step to increase our knowledge by completing your business’s profile on the SERVPRO ERP mobile app. On the app, indicate that SERVPRO of East Phoenix is your preferred provider. List any vendors and contractors who have essential information about your equipment and systems. Designate employees or others whom you allow to act on your behalf if you are unavailable during the water crisis. Gathering all this information is critical to a fast and effective response if a water emergency occurs.
 
Planning for an emergency should be a part of any new business opening. The professionals at SERVPRO of East Phoenix are by your side during an emergency. Be prepared by developing an Emergency Ready Plan and Profile we can use if the worst happens so we can react quickly to protect your business. Call us at (602) 507-6163 to get started.

Humidity Can Cause Damage in Your Home

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

One of the telltale characteristics of monsoon season is high humidity. In addition to flooding, water condensation from humidity as a result of a monsoon storm can lead to secondary damage and cause more damage. Here’s how water condensation can cause big problems in your home.

How humidity damages homes

One issue most homeowners in the Valley rarely think about is humidity, as the Valley tends to be a very dry place with little moisture in the air. However, when the relative humidity rises significantly, as it does after major storms, so does the potential for damage from condensation. How can humidity damage homes? High humidity can cause problems in your home if relative humidity regularly exceeds 60%. When the air contains water vapor above that level, mold and mildew start to grow, while excess moisture can cause rot, damaging your belongings.

Undetected mold can be damaging

Mold spores thrive on moisture, so with high humidity and resulting condensation, you can see how mold quickly becomes a problem. Mold spores can grow into colonies when exposed to water.  Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or get indoors from your clothing or a pet. Higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Most homeowners may not even know they have a mold problem until they smell that musty odor in their homes. Mold can hide under carpets, in attics, and behind walls and can be tough to battle. Because of high humidity during monsoons, homeowners see an increase in mold issues.

How SERVPRO helps with mold from humidity

SERVPRO of East Phoenix has a proven process for dealing with mold issues in a home. First, we inspect and assess mold damage, looking for those areas that are out of sight such as attics and behind walls to ensure we get a full picture of the issue. We then focus on mold containment to stop the mold from spreading any further. Next is air filtration. Our specialized filtration equipment allows our Professionals to capture microscopic mold spores out of the air. We utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in process. Depending on the situation, we then turn to removing mold and mold-infested materials such as carpeting, drywall, etc. Finally, we clean and restore all possessions impacted by mold to get your home back to normal.

If you have mold other damage in your home from humidity, contact SERVPRO

If water condensation from high humidity has caused mold or other issues in your home, call us today at (602) 507-6163. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all your damage restoration needs.

Dealing With Mold at Your Phoenix Business

8/31/2022 (Permalink)

Savvy business owners understand that they need to plan for unexpected disasters of all kinds at their place of business and be prepared. However, few probably consider mold as one of those threats, but the risk is real. Owners need to ensure that the spaces they rent to their tenants or ones they occupy themselves are continually maintained in a suitable condition. Allowing damage to accumulate can lead to problems related to such damage. If the damage is significant and impacts business, the result can be costly from several sources. Here is what business owners need to know about dealing with mold at your Phoenix business.

Protecting your property from mold

Business owners must protect their properties from mold infestation, and certified mold cleanup professionals can help. We can provide you with an experienced technician that is trained to know what allows such problems to exist in the first place on your property, what makes the problem worse, and how to prevent it after we finish with remediation and mold cleanup. Prevention is key to protecting your property as much as possible!

How mold grows in commercial buildings

When people think of mold growth, they typically envision showers in homes with constant moisture and other elements that can encourage surface mold. Microorganisms like mold and mildew do require moisture's presence. They naturally cannot grow without some form of humidity, water vapor, or water. Oftentimes, these problems are not readily noticed by the owner or tenants until visible mold appears or a musty odor starts to permeate the building. By then, mold growth and damage are well on their way, and it is time to call in mold remediation specialists.

How SERVPRO helps with mold damage

We use thermal imaging cameras that quickly reveal any moisture existing in walls and ceilings. Once located, we check each area with a moisture meter that shows the amount of moisture as a percentage. We document these findings for later use during cleanup procedures. Reasonable amounts for such materials are often located on a universal sheet or dry materials, giving us a range to work toward with our desiccant machines. When such materials exist in your building but not on the sheet, we note the moisture content of similar materials elsewhere in your property that do not hold any excess moisture.

Once the problem has been addressed, our experts can provide you with guidance on how to discuss mold cleanup with your tenants and what they can do to help make sure the problem does not return in the future or how to notice it more quickly to keep future damage at a minimum. When necessary, we can work within your tenants' office spaces as discretely as possible. We understand that their business operations do best with as little interruption as possible. This also protects the business owner from additional hardship.

SERVPRO of East Phoenix can help reduce your liability and address tenant concerns about mold infestations. Our IICRC-certified employees have experience in performing mold cleanup in different settings and can get this completed for you quickly and efficiently. Contact us at (602) 507-6163 any day of the year, 24 hours a day.

Bathrooms Are Common Source of Water Damage in Homes

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Much of the flooding and other water damage experienced in homes start in the bathroom. Bathrooms are a common source of water damage which can be created by overflowing toilets, burst under sink pipes, overflowing bathtubs or water pipe leaks underneath the flooring. Luckily, SERVPRO of East Phoenix has the water restoration specialists to help recover from the water damage.

Water damage not easy to detect

While an overflowing toilet or bathtub is maddening, a homeowner is usually instantly aware when the damage happens, assuming they are home at the time to witness the event. Unfortunately, there are leaks that can happen behind the walls, going on for days, weeks or even months that don’t get found until the damage is significant, including the presence of mold and resulting odors. That’s why water damage in bathrooms can cause little to considerable damage. Even the more “obvious” issues can go undetected if the homeowner is out of town for any significant amount of time, such as “snowbirds” who only frequent the state part-time. A telltale sign of a whooshing sound may be detected in other rooms, but water sounds are common in a bathroom and therefore may be ignored. Water damage needs immediate attention to help restore the bathroom quickly once it’s been detected.

When water damage occurs

When the SERVPRO water damage team arrives at the home, they immediately get to work to assess the extent of the damage and determine the source of the damage if it wasn’t previously identified. First, they’ll inspect the damage and make an appraisal in order to be address the issue. Next, they’ll use their expertise with advanced equipment to extract the water using powerful pumps and vacuum units to quickly remove water from your property, which helps prevent secondary water damage and mold growth. After that is the drying and dehumidification to help prevent odors and mold from growing. Next, they’ll clean all the restorable items and structures damaged by the water using several proven techniques as well as sanitizing treatments to remove odors and deodorize your property.

Restoration and rebuilding may be necessary

The last step is restoration, restoring your home to its pre-water damage condition. This might include minor repairs such as replacing drywall, tile floor repair, painting, or installing new carpeting. Depending on the extent of the damage, the repairs may be more substantial which can include tarping, boarding up, packing and moving, etc. SERVPRO of East Phoenix can simplify the restoration process by handling both the initial water damage mitigation and rebuilding the affected areas that will bring a building back to full functionality…like it never happened!

Bathrooms are a common area when it comes to residential water damage but choosing the best water damage restoration company can make the recovery process easier. Contact us at (602) 507-6163 to get your water damage handled quickly and professionally. We’re available 24/7 to help!

Eliminating Odors After a Water Disaster in Your Office Building

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

One of the biggest and most unexpected challenges after an occurrence of water damage to your commercial property is getting rid of the damp and musty odor long after the water is gone. Regardless of the kind of business you have, your building is at risk during monsoons of experiencing water damage and the aftermath of odors. Here’s how to address the lingering odors after the water is gone.

What causes odors once the water is gone?

When your business experiences water damage from severe monsoon rains, the immediate need is to address the source of water and then remove the water as quickly and thoroughly as possible. SERVPRO water remediation specialists know how to assess the situation quickly, moving into action to get all the water out of a business and address any damage such as wet carpet, drywall, or furniture. However, once this work is completed, SERVPRO techs still have work to do, as lingering dampness may have caused odors from mildew that need to be tackled.

We are odor removal specialists

Why do odors remain after the water is gone? Depending on how long the water sat, mold and mildew may have grown, causing a damp and musty smell throughout the impacted areas of your office building. SERVPRO professional restoration experts can eliminate such odors from your building after an occurrence of commercial water damage. We use a multi-approach method to combat odors after any water damage and understand that each situation is approached differently. A variety of deodorants and odor combating techniques can eliminate the odors in no time.

Using a multiple method approach

Odors often come from various sources after a water damage incident. It can be challenging to find all the sources and determine a specific method to combat them individually. However, it can be easy to use multiple methods that use various deodorants to get a better result. We use a combination of several types of deodorants that can combat the most common smells after a commercial water damage event. Our trained professionals know how to assess the situation and determine the best approach for an ideal outcome.

Various deodorants focus on odors

More often than not, one type of deodorizing agent is not enough to combat smells from various sources. Different odors, both real and imaginary, need different deodorants. Masking agents in time-release beads are often used to cover up unpleasant odors with a pleasant-smelling chemical. Our professionals use these agents to combat both real and imaginary odors as well. Masking is necessary as people often feel they can still smell something even after the odor is removed completely, so these agents create a different, more appealing smell. Pairing agents, on the other hand, combined with the odor-causing particles in the air and neutralize them. Once these agents combine with the particles in the air, they cause them to fall to the ground, which can be cleaned later on. These agents are often used in Ultra Low Volume foggers and wet foggers. A perfect combination of all these techniques and agents is essential to eliminate the odors from your commercial property after water damage.

Work with SERVPRO for all your odor removal needs

If your office building experiences water damage that results in lingering unpleasant odors, call SERVPRO of East Phoenix today at (602) 507-6163 to discuss your restoration needs with one of our professionals. We’re here 24/7 to help you get your business back to normal as quickly as possible.

Proper Drainage Will Protect Your Home During Storms

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

The time to be thinking about proper drainage is before the monsoons hit. Our monsoons can deliver a significant amount of water in a very short period of time, burdening rain gutters on homes to keep water away and drain correctly. Be sure to maintain rain gutters and overall proper drainage to keep your home from flooding during storms.

How proper drainage can protect your home

The rain gutters surrounding the eaves of your home are there to help prevent instances of flood damage from occurring. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not even know about a problem with their gutters until it is malfunctioning and causing a backflow or overflow situation to arise, flooding your home. These spouts can get clogged up from debris such as leaves, bird nests, or other material, or may fall into disrepair over time and not adequately drain water away from your home. It’s a good idea to inspect your rain gutters at least once a year to ensure they’re capable of properly channeling storm waters away from your home. It’s also a good idea to review how the drainage of your surrounding yard is overall. Is water draining away from your home, or towards it? If you find that the majority of the rain is pooling around your foundation, work with a professional to rectify your draining situation before the next storm hits to prevent water damage

When rain gutters fail

Unfortunately, many homeowners fail to inspect their rain gutters and drains and only discover there’s an issue when water starts to seep in through the ceiling or roof. When that happens, it’s imperative to call a water remediation specialist like SERVPRO of East Phoenix as quickly as possible. From the moment that our SERVPRO team arrives at your home, we work to assess what needs to happen to seal up water entry points of your home. Depending on the severity of the flooding inside of your house, our SERVPRO professionals might only need to use portable pumps to remove the water. Larger quantities might require the use of pump trucks from our fleet of vehicles.

Our water remediation process

SERVPRO follows a tried and true water repair process for homes. We inspect and assess water damage. We then remove as much water as we possibly can using whatever equipment necessary to get the job done. We then tackle drying and dehumidification. Drying is one of the most essential components to flood damage restoration. Lack of proper drying can lead to further weakening of construction materials in your home, can allow for more water penetration in the immediate future, and can also allow for unfortunate damages like mold growth to occur in this affected area. After drying and dehumidification, we deal with cleaning, sanitizing, and restoration if needed. It’s a process that can help your home return to the preflood condition as quickly as possible.

A clogged or damaged gutter system cannot divert the water away from your home, and it eventually allows water to find a way inside your home. Improper drainage surrounding your home will do damage as well if not addressed. When you struggle with situations like this, reach out to our experienced SERVPRO of East Phoenix team of restoration specialists. We can help you remove the water and bring your home back to the way that it should be. Give us a call anytime at (602) 507-6163.

Dealing with Smoke Odors After a House Fire

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Home fires leave behind destruction that has to be dealt with, often on various levels. One of the most challenging results of fire damage is the odor that stays stubbornly behind, which few people plan to deal with after a house fire. Eliminating these odors requires knowledge and specific deodorization equipment. That’s where SERVPRO of Central Phoenix can help! Learn how we can assist with odor removal after you experienced a house fire.

Smoke odor removal

After a fire in your home, SERVPRO specialists can help you throughout the fire restoration process, including assistance with odor removal. With many years of experience in fire remediation, we understand how trying it can be when this type of tragedy occurs and how difficult it can be to recover and get back to normal. Our technicians can restore your home to pre-fire condition quickly and efficiently to make it livable again after a house fire, especially when dealing with unexpected smoky odor aftermath. Effective fire damage deodorization requires using different techniques. SERVPRO fire remediation specialists can usually get rid of the unpleasant smells without needing additional steps.

When it comes to deodorization, the first step is removing the source causing the odor. The second step is getting rid of any residues in the area. After cleaning, SERVPRO technicians follow up by air “scrubbing” or ventilating to get rid of odor molecules from the house to get rid of the odors.

Containing odors from a fire

Chemical containment is important in fire damage deodorization to prevent odor molecules from remaining in the air after a house fire. This requires decontaminating materials with a chemical deodorizer, which forms a barrier that keeps the odor molecules from escaping from the source material, thus reducing the smell. Our experienced technicians then neutralize any odor particles that may have dissipated into the air by applying deodorant products into the surrounding air of the affected area. These products neutralize the overpowering smells. This process is a part of SERVPRO’s tried and true fire remediation process, so we’re confident we can successfully address odor issues in your home after a blaze and make your home enjoyable to live in once again.

Get rid of odors fast

House fires are traumatizing. Knowing who to reach out to for fire remediation efforts, including unplanned odor removal, can make the experience less painful, and recovery faster. We can help you eliminate odors that are a result of a fire in your home. SERVPRO of Central Phoenix can come in and begin the fire restoration process immediately so don’t hesitate to call; we’re available 24/7 to help. To get help after a house fire, call us at (602) 386-4268.

Using an Air Purifier May Help Battle Mold Growth in Your Home

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

While Phoenix tends to be a fairly dry climate most of the year, during monsoons, the moisture level in the air can go up significantly. Many homeowners turn to air purifiers in hopes of keeping any mold growth at bay, but does it really work?

Air purifiers may help in some instances

Using an air purifier to eliminate mold spores in your home can actually help. Mold and mildew can make for some challenging conditions in your Phoenix home both cosmetically as well as odor issues. With your home being one of the biggest investments you may have, doing everything you can to protect it is key. Utilizing an air purifier or air filtration system can help you eliminate mold spores before they are able to spread.

Mold can grow anywhere

Most people think moisture brings mold and therefore, mold spores only are present during the monsoon season. However, Microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, outdoors, and indoors, making it impossible to remove all mold from a home. Mold spores easily reproduce when they float on the currents of air. If you see a spot in your home that has mold growth, you can be sure that mold spores are constantly attempting to travel those air currents in order to grow elsewhere. Take a good look throughout your home and check for any mold growth. Look closely at places that have wet spots like bathrooms, kitchens, attic crawl spaces, and garages. Even if you don’t see mold growth, if there’s a musty odor, chances are you have mold growth.

Air filtration systems trap mold spores

Stopping mold spores from spreading to other moist surfaces is ideal, making it easier to stop mold growth elsewhere. Not all air purifiers function the same, so when looking to purchase a new one, find one with a HEPA filter. The HEPA filter is made specifically to capture the microscopic mold spores, removing them from the air. Some filtration systems work better on mold than others so when eliminating mold spores use the advances of technology available today. Some purifiers come with a sensor that will alert when mold is detected and automatically starts catching the mold spores in the air. While air filtration systems are a good step toward controlling mold growth, more substantial situations like a water leak may cause mold to grow; an air filtration system will likely not be able to prevent that.

Know when to call SERVPRO

If you continue to see excessive mold growth in multiple areas of your home or you have a musty odor in your home, it’s time to call in the mold experts at SERVPRO of East Phoenix. Available 24/7 for your mold emergencies, call 602-507-6163.

Prepare for Fire Damage Recovery Before It Occurs at Your Business

7/11/2022 (Permalink)

No one wants to think about the possibility of a fire damaging their business but unfortunately, disasters such as fires do happen to businesses all the time. From faulty wires to lightning strikes to discarded cigarette butts, flames can erupt in any business. Business owners have options when it comes to facing fire damage. They can wait until something actually happens, and then deal with it, hoping for the best, or they can take the opportunity to work with SERVPRO of East Phoenix to design a plan to anticipate issues and put in place a plan of practical solutions ahead any disasters.

When fire damage occurs in your business

Operating a business is tough if commercial fire damage occurs. Regardless of what kind of brick-and-mortar business you have, your responsibility is to keep the doors open and provide the services or products your customers expect. Unfortunately, if a fire sends flames surging through your business, you’ll face possibly closing down until the experts arrive to get the situation handled. Without a plan, that can waste precious time and money. The best plan of action is to work on a proactive emergency plan to streamline efforts to get you back in business fast.

What does an emergency response plan entail?

SERVPRO creates a comprehensive disaster response action strategy for fire damage or other disasters with significant input from you. Our Emergency Ready Plan and Profile (ERP) is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We take the time to visit your company and to talk with you to assess your needs and understand how you deliver your goods or services. The assessment is free of charge but allows us to make a variety of suggestions to limit your risk if your commercial space does experience a fire. Our experienced project manager walks through your business and sketches out your layout, including vital information like utility shutoff locations, points of contact, and much more. We gather information, take pictures, and determine how we will best meet your needs if your site is fire damaged.

How SERVPRO’s ERP works

It’s easy to work with SERVPRO’s ERP. Business owners complete a business profile on the SERVPRO ERP mobile app to get started. On the app, indicate that SERVPRO of East Phoenix is your preferred provider. List any vendors and contractors who have essential information about your equipment and systems. Designate employees or others whom you allow to act on your behalf if you are unavailable during the crisis. Gathering all this information is critical to a fast and effective response if a fire or other emergency occurs.

We’re by your side to help you be prepared
 
The professionals at SERVPRO of East Phoenix are by your side during a commercial fire or other emergency. Be prepared by developing an Emergency Ready Plan and Profile SERVPRO can use if the worst happens so we can act fast to help you recover. Call us at (602) 507-6163 to get started.

New Valley Residents Unprepared for Monsoon Season

7/1/2022 (Permalink)

The Valley continues to attract new out-of-state residents every year. Many move to the area when the weather is idyllic and are caught by surprise when monsoon season rolls around Few understand how damaging monsoon storms can be. Here are a few things new homeowners and business owners in AZ should understand about monsoons and the damage they can cause.

Flash flooding can occur anywhere

Flash flooding can cause a moderate amount of damage to your property to substantial damage. With Phoenix's unique geographic location, it is vulnerable to the remnants of tropical storms, which originate from the Pacific ocean and make their way to our fair state. The amount of water from these storms is fast and furious, which can lead to flash floods, even in areas where they’re not necessarily expected (like a flood zone). It’s important to heed all flash flood warnings and signage; never try to cross floodwaters or enter a property that’s been flooded. Make sure your home or office building has proper drainage so excess water doesn’t permeate your structure in the first place. Flash flooding is just one of the many ways monsoons can impact the Valley.

Gusty winds can cause damage

Storm damage can be extraordinarily destructive to your home, regardless of whether it’s old or new, one-story or two-story. High winds and flying debris can break a window and allow the water to enter. It can tear apart roofs and rip off rain gutters. It can uproot trees that can fall on your home, vehicle, or wall. As the winds from the storm recede and some of the water goes with it, the damage might seem like it is ending. While the remainder of the situation can seem like nothing more than a massive mess to clean up, that is not always the case. With high winds and water, undetected and unaddressed water can result in mold so be sure to inspect the damage thoroughly from the wind as well as the water that may have entered your home. Roofs can be particularly vulnerable to wind damage so be sure to be diligent to check your house thoroughly to prevent further damage after the storm resides.

Floodwaters are more than messy

Floodwaters are not always clean; in fact, they can often come teaming with chemicals, pesticides, petroleum products, and sewage depending on where they came from. When the water becomes mixed with such things, disposing of it is not a job for an untrained person. When compromised water floods your home or office building, it is best to call SERVPRO because we have the proper equipment and tools to deal with the problem. If left unaddressed, flood water can ruin furnishings in your house. It is essential to understand and know what possessions and materials are safe to keep and dry out inside of your home, and what is not. SERVPRO can sort through your belongings and advise you on what you can and what you should not keep. It is best to be safe in these situations and leave addressing flood waters to the pros.

Lightning strikes

Lightning strikes during monsoons are a very real threat to homes and businesses. Lightning is most frequent during Arizona's summer monsoon. It has to do with shifts in the wind and the amount of moisture in the air. Lightning strikes in Arizona over 500,000 times a year, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix. But while lightning may look cool, it can be highly dangerous and even fatal. It’s important to get inside during a lightning storm, not be in standing water (like a pool or jacuzzi), avoid using appliances with electric cords, and make sure your electronics such as laptops and computers are protected from a power surge by a surge protector.

Call SERVPRO if you experience monsoon storm damage

Homeowners new to AZ are often taken by surprise by the amount of damage caused by monsoons. When storm damage strikes your Phoenix home, as soon as you are able, call SERVPRO of East Phoenix so that we can assist you with the damage and get your house back to normal. Call us today at (602) 507-6163.