24 Hour Emergency Response Team

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring is available 24/7 for water emergencies, large or small. Our certified professionals specialize in residential & commercial water damage restoration, with training focused on restoring salvageable items and accelerating drying time while documenting the entire restoration process. We have more than 45+ years of experience in the cleanup and restoration industry. Our certified technicians care about your Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, and Silver Spring property and want to help you get your property to its pre-existing state.

What to Expect When You Call

Our customer service representative will ask you a series of questions regarding the water damage emergency. A water damage event can be traumatic, and when you call our office, we understand that you may be feeling confused and stressed out. SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring will guide you through your water damage emergency. 

When you call our local office, you can expect us to ask you a series of questions regarding your water emergency. These questions will help our team determine the type of equipment and resources to bring, including how many certified technicians are needed to complete the job successfully.

Here are some questions you may be asked:

• Name & Contact information
• Insurance information (if applicable)
• The address where the loss occurred
• The source of the water damage (if identified)
• If electricity and water are available on the on-site
• The time and date of the flood or water loss

Our certified technicians are here when the unfortunate happens. We provide water mitigation, fire restoration, contents manipulation, and reconstruction services. We also offer general cleaning, biohazard services, and so much more! Rest assured, our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your home, business, or commercial building. SERVPRO can complete the job from beginning to end. If you need emergency services, we recommend calling SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring immediately at 301-530-7400 or 301-588-2240.

Mold Damage Remediation Do's and Don'ts

3/9/2022 (Permalink)

Mold can enter your home or business in many ways: through windows, doors, HVAC systems-even on your pets or clothing. When these microscopic spores are exposed to moisture, they thrive and can grow into a bigger problem in a matter of days. You might start to notice a strong and musty odor. Before the mold remediation can begin, you need to find and repair the water source of the mold. 

When mold starts to invade your home, it is essential to deal with the damage quickly and safely. The mold remediation process depends on the mold growth and the surfaces on which the mold is present. Our certified professionals use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. Consider the following steps to keep your family and property safe.

What to Do:

• Help control mold growth indoors by keeping the humidity in the 30%-50% range.
• Attempt to determine the water source and take appropriate action to stop the source.
• Restrict access to the area with mold for pets, kids, and yourself. If the mold is in one room or area that has a door, close the door or cabinet to help with containment.
• Turn off the HVAC system, fans, or other air moving equipment you have on your property.

What Not to Do:

• Do not touch or disturb the mold.
• Do not spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.
• Do not paint over it.
• Do not attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Do not blow air across any surface with visible or suspected mold growth.

Why SERVPRO?

Our certified professionals handle your mold damage and have the credentials from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC). When dealing with mold, a quick response will help lessen the damage, help avoid costly repairs, and help result in less disruption. We have the specialized equipment and resources to handle the job, any size, commercial or residential.

Have Water Damage or Mold Damage?

Call Us Today (301) 530-7400 or (301) 588-2240

Air Duct Cleaning in Montgomery County

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

Leave air duct cleanup to our well-certified staff and decades of water and fire restoration experience!

Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality, but SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring can help change that! In most cases, HVAC systems have been operating for some time without any attention. Dirty ducts can circulate debris and dirt throughout your home, including odors, contaminants such as mold, and irritating dust. In some circumstances, such as after a fire, smoke, or suspected mold growth, duct cleaning becomes an essential part of the cleanup process.

A routine part of SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring professional’s service is inspecting the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (HVAC). Keeping the HVAC and ductwork clean potentially expands the lifespan of the equipment by allowing it to operate at peak conditions.

SERVPRO’s Duct Cleaning System

Our certified technicians will inspect your HVAC system and ductwork. We will recommend the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This air duct cleaning process is as follows: 

• The duct cleaning process begins by using patented equipment, including a rotoscraper, which automatically adapts to the duct’s shape and diameter while traveling through the duct, removing debris and filth before vacuuming begins.
• Our certified technicians will then use powerful push-pull air delivery and collection system to transfer the debris from the ducting to a 16-gallon container.
• Air is filtered through a HEPA filtration system, removing 99.97% of the particles in the airstream. HEPA filters capture debris and keep the indoor environment clean.
• As an optional step, our certified technicians can apply a sealant, or a coating product may be sprayed to address odor or microbial concerns.
• Filters will either be cleaned or replaced to remove odor and dirt.

Why SERVPRO?

Our duct cleaning system is proven and cost-efficient. SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring professionals use portable ventilation and air duct cleaning system to examine ductwork and make a clean sweep, removing years of dust and grime. Call us today to schedule an inspection. We are Here to Help!

For SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac Dial: 301-530-7400

For SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring Dial: 301-588-2240

SERVPRO is Here to Help You Combat COVID

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring work around the clock to keep homes and businesses safe!

We are once again facing an increase in COVID cases. As a leader in the cleanup and restoration industry, SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring is here to help clean and sanitize your home or business with our proprietary Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned services providing a safer environment for both your employees and customers in the Maryland region. To help combat COVID, SERVPRO offers different cleaning options to best suit your needs. We will work with you to schedule a cleaning time that fits your schedule. 

Specialized Training

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home and business, according to the protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We have years of experience dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond standard janitorial cleaning services.

Specialized Products

The CDC recommends the usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this strain of the COVID, Delta variant, and Omicron variant, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.

The CDC encourages the cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces:

• Kitchen/Food Areas
• Bathrooms
• Schools/Classrooms
• Offices
• Retail Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Shelving/Racks
• Sales Counters
• Carpets and Rugs 
• Stair Handrails
• Elevator Cars
• Playground Equipment
• Fitness Equipment

Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today – SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring, 301-530-7400 or 301-588-2240

Winter is Here. How to Prepare for Winter Storm Weather

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

Winter storm-related damages to your home or business? SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring are Here to Help!

This week Maryland was hit by heavy snowstorms and below-freezing temperatures. Colder temperatures can have an impact on your Montgomery County home or business. To help prevent costly damages due to severe storm weather, SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring would like to remind you to take the following steps to prevent winter weather disasters or accidents in and around your home.

How to prepare for winter storm weather:

• Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of freezing weather and winter storms.
• Gather supplies you need to stay home for several days without power.
• Winterize your home with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping.
• Remember the needs of your pet, including pet food and water. 
• Create an emergency supply kit for your car.
• Install & test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
• Contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) if you cannot afford your heating costs, weatherization, or energy-related home repairs for help.

In the event you have frozen pipes, take these steps to be safe and help further damage:

• First, find your home’s main water supply and shut it off.
• Next, turn off your main electrical supply to reduce the risk of electrical shock and damage to circuits and electrical appliances.
• If the water comes from a hot water pipe, shut the main valve to your water heater as well.
• Call a plumber for help as soon as possible.
• Please do not attempt potentially dangerous repairs. Be aware of submerged electrical outlets, appliances, or chemicals that may be inside the standing water.

Why SERVPRO? 

If you experience pipe bursts or other water-related damages to your home or business property, SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring are available 24/7 to respond to water damage emergencies. We are a water and fire cleanup and restoration company and can help. Call us at 301-530-7400.

In Prince George’s County, call our SERVPRO of College Park/Hyattsville and SERVPRO of District Heights/Landover franchise at 301-779-3662 or 301-577-1166. We are Here to Help!

Biohazard and Crime Cleanup Require Certified Technicians

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

Leave any size cleanup for our certified technicians. SERVPRO will restore your property to its original state.

If your property needs hazmat, trauma, or crime scene cleanup, Call SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring. A biohazard and crime scene situation requires competence and experience. After the police have completed their investigation of a crime scene, the cleanup and restoration can begin. When the fingerprints dust used by law enforcement gets too messy, our technicians can help transform these unhealthy environments back into clean, safe homes and offices.

For biohazards circumstances, SERVPRO technicians follow a special procedure:

Ensure, inspect, and evaluate the health and safety of our team and the occupants of the property.

Isolate and contain affected areas; establish a decontamination chamber if needed.

Remove the uncontaminated chamber, if applicable.

Contain and dispose of un-restorable contents.

Contain and remove restorable contents for the off-sire processing.

Clean, decontaminate, and possibly seal restorable structural materials.

Test, evaluate, and confirm cleanliness.

Remove all contaminants.

Why SERVPRO?

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring can provide cleanup and recovery services for many biohazardous situations, including crime scene fingerprint dust, suicide/death accidents, chemical spills, animal waste/remains, and hoarding.

Biohazard emergencies do not always happen during the regular work week. At SERVPRO, we are Here to Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can expect a quick response time.

We are locally owned and operated in Montgomery County. Our certified technicians are trained and prepared both physically and mentally to handle biohazard, trauma, and crime scene cleanup and restoration with respect and professionalism. We can respond quickly with the appropriate resources, which is critical. A fast response reduces restoration costs and prevents additional damage.

For more information visit: https://www.SERVPRObethesdapotomacmd.com/biohazard-cleaning

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring Cleans All Messes

11/12/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring certified technicians tackle specialty cleaning projects around your home or business, including air duct and HVAC cleaning, biohazard cleaning, odor removal, graffiti cleanup, and more.

Our certified technicians can cleanup and retore messes of all degrees:

HVAC/Air Duct Cleaning

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring provide air ducts and vents cleaning. If your HVAC system looks a bit dirty, you may need our services to better home air quality.

Biohazard & Crime Scene Cleanup

Whether your property needs hazmat, trauma, or crime scene cleanup, SERVPRO professionals can clean and restore your property and contents.

Document Restoration

SERVPRO professionals use vacuum freeze-drying technology to vaporize the water in affected items. Often, the process can recover most of the delicate documents. Our document restoration team has training and experience in specialties, including photo restoration services, document freeze-drying, and old document restoration.

Graffiti Cleaning and Vandalism

We can tackle broken windows and graffiti before it becomes a larger issue with more costly repairs. SERVPRO provides professional graffiti removal services, cleaning graffiti from exterior walls.

COVID-19 Cleaning

Our Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program is a new defense deep cleaning program. You can trust SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring to bring a higher standard of cleaning to your business or home.

Call SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring at 301-530-7400 or 301-588-2240. We are Here to Help, whether your business is in Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, or anywhere in between.

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring Stand Ready to Help!

10/28/2021 (Permalink)

Our team & equipment stand ready to help friends & customers in Montgomery County!

When you call SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring, you are calling our team of well-trained professionals and expert technicians to make it “Like it never even happened.” Our SERVPRO organization has been in business for 45 years and is managed under team Hargrove. We keep adapting to the current technology and standards in the restoration industry.

Large loss commercial adjusters and agents trust SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring with the most serious and complex damage claims. At our facility, we have two warehouses, different service vehicles, and let not forget our 18-wheelers. We are well equipped and can ensure that you will be receiving a one-of-a-kind service from us. Read on to learn more about our restoration and commercial services.

Learn more about our restoration services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• General Cleaning Services
• COVID cleaning Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

Learn more about our commercial services:

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
• Commercial Mold 
• Commercial Storm Damage Cleanup
• Disaster Recovery Team

Have Questions? Call us!

Our trained technicians have served residential and commercial communities in Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, and Silver Spring for 45 years. If you need our help with water damage and fire damage restoration, call us at 301-530-7400 or 301-588-2240. We are Here to Help!

Meet Our Crew

Company Profile Certifications

What should you expect when you call SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring?

9/28/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring specialize in the cleanup and restoration of residential & commercial properties.

We are on call and provide 24/7/365 emergency services.

SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring provide our local communities with disaster response and emergency services. We respond quickly to our Montgomery County residents to facilitate an efficient cleanup and restoration. When you call our 301-530-7400 or 301-588-2240 numbers, you can expect to hear back within a few minutes. During the call with one of our fantastic office staff, we will begin to assess your situation, dispatch a project manager to your location, and begin to inspect and address your damages. 

Reducing recovery time and costs

Upon the project manager's arrival, you can expect a call notifying you that our team is on their way to help. The project manager will either inspect or start the mitigation process immediately. Beginning the restoration process, we will reduce damages and overall costs to the insurance company.

Property walkthrough 

Once our certified technicians have completed the walkthrough, they will determine the best approach moving forward. SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring technicians will provide you a plan to make you aware of the next steps. Our team's quick 24-hour response will allow us to begin mitigation as soon as possible to prevent any further damage before we start work on necessary repairs.

Get a quick quote for your business or home repair from an IICRC certified company. Contact SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/Silver Spring at 301-530-7400 or 301-588-2240. Our phone lines are available 24/7, all 365 days a year. 

Storms And Intense Lightning In Montgomery County

8/25/2021 (Permalink)

September is National Preparedness Month. SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring 301-530-7400

Stormy forecasts ahead, make sure you understand the power and danger of late summer storms in Maryland. According to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency such storms usually affect Maryland in the late spring, summer or early fall, but can happen any time cold and warm air masses collide.

About 2,000 thunderstorms are in progress around the world at any given moment with lightning striking about 100 times every second. Lightning can, and does, strike twice.

Each year lightning kills 80 - 100 people and injures hundreds more. Thunderstorms and lightning are very common for Maryland.

Thunderstorms often come up suddenly and can present a variety of hazards, including power outages, heavy rains, hail and wind.

Professional Restoration In Montgomery County

If you experience storm damage to your home or business call SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring 301-530-7400.

SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring specialize 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.

Whether your home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best.

SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring 301-530-7400

24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

3/25/2021 (Permalink)

Read time: 1 minute

SERVPRO provides 24-hour fire and water damage restoration service

SERVPRO is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for every size water emergency. When coping with water damage, it is important to act quickly. A few hours of delay will significantly increase the severity of the water damage.

We know that when you call us, you might be confused, stressed, or vulnerable. You need the assistance of a professional to help you navigate this situation. SERVPRO specializes in water damage restoration.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask you a series of questions about your water damage emergency. These inquiries will assist us in determining what equipment and services to carry, as well as how many qualified SERVPRO Professionals will be required.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact details
• Your insurance details (if applicable)
• The water-damaged home's or business's street address
• When was the flooding or water damage that occurred?
• What was the source of the water damage (if known)?
• Is there power available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/ Silver Spring

SERVPRO specializes in repairing residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke, or water damage incident. Our team is well-versed in property damage repair. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO's corporate training facility to routine IICRC-industry certification, you can be confident that our staff is prepared to restore your land.

SERVPRO Again Named Top 10 Overall Franchise in Nation, #1 in Category

3/7/2021 (Permalink)

Hard work pays off! SERVPRO returns to Entrepreneur Magazine’s top 10 overall franchise in the nation, plus  #1 in the cleaning and restoration industry for the 21st year!

“During a year when many businesses were negatively impacted, slowed, or closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SERVPRO system of MVPs adapted and took the brand to greater heights based on our collective goal—to help people in their times of greatest need and make it "Like it never even happened," CEO Rick Isaacson said.

When stadiums, shopping centers, and small business owners started calling SERVPRO to disinfect their properties, we moved quickly to launch a new program. We began to develop a COVID-19 disinfecting protocol with insight from industry groups.  Next thing you know, businesses started posting "Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned" badges in their windows and on their websites.

Learn more about the "Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned" program

“When COVID forced much of the world to slow down or step back, our team stepped up and did what it took, whether that was cleaning businesses so they could reopen safely or disinfecting first responders’ vehicles – many of those at no cost – to give back to those working every day to keep us safe.” CEO Isaacson continues.  

While we honor being named the 10th best franchise system in the country, we're not going to rest here. We will continue working tirelessly to reach our goal of becoming the #1 franchise system on the planet!

We Are Here To Help Montgomery County

3/5/2021 (Permalink)

We have the rare opportunity to assist property owners in a number of ways here at SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring. Disasters come in a variety of sizes and shapes. We've seen almost everything in our three decades of experience. We can't tell anything because we continue to learn new stuff even after decades of assisting our neighbors in Montgomery County. However, there are a few disasters that we always deal with.

Water Damage 

Water damage may occur from a variety of sources. To name a few common causes, there are burst pipes, malfunctioning equipment, human error or negligence, and ground flooding. We have a plan to get you back to life “Like it never even happened,” regardless of the cause or the epic tale that explains it.

Fire and Smoke Restoration 

A fire can be a major annoyance, but it is not the end of the world. You'd be shocked how much of your personal property can be returned in certain cases. We will clean and deodorize everything in your home or company, including family heirlooms, papers, and even the walls.

Mold Remediation 

Mold can be a problem in our region of the country due to the naturally high levels of humidity. If water infiltration is not adequately addressed, mold can develop. We not only provide remediation facilities but also mold monitoring and preventative measures like crawl space moisture barrier installation.

Bio Hazard Clean Up 

This aspect of our work is unpleasant to discuss, but it is often important. We have the necessary training and expertise to properly clean up any environment where blood-borne pathogens may be present. Trauma and crime scene cleanup are examples of these events.

Trust the #1 Company In the Cleaning and Restoration Industry!

SERVPRO was named Entrepreneur Magazine’s  #1 Franchise in the cleaning and restoration industry for the 21st consecutive year! These aren't the only programs we have. To be honest, whatever man or nature can throw at a system, we can more than likely help restore it.  

Top 3 Reasons Why Your Roof Leaks

2/22/2021 (Permalink)

Roofs are susceptible to water damage, which can lead to structure and mold issues if not addressed immediately. There are several ways water can infiltrate building materials surrounding a roof. Here are the three most common reasons why roofs leak:

Water pipes leaking or dripping.

Condensation accumulating inside your home.

Clogged gutters and downspouts

Routine attic and roof inspections can help avoid any roof leak issues. If you spot damages and need professional repairs, please call SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring
Faster to Any Size Disaster for help.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment we will need to bring with us as well as how many SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring
Faster to Any Size Disaster team members we need to help clean up the damages.   

Call Today

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase / Silver Spring
Faster to Any Size Disaster has specific water damage training and experience to help you through such a difficult time. We specialize in water damage restoration. In fact, it is the cornerstone of our business.

Our professionals will likely ask for the following information:

• Your name and contact information.
• Your insurance information (if applicable).
• Street address of the damaged home or business.
• When did the water damage take place?
• If known, what caused the water damage?
• Is there electricity on-site?

If you have a roof leak in your home, don't wait, call us today, and we will make it "Like it never even happened." 

Water Damage Emergency | SERVPRO of Bethesda/ Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/ Silver Spring is Here To Help 24/7

1/5/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help

Call Today 301 530 7400

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Bethesda/ Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/ Silver Spring has specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About  SERVPRO of Bethesda/ Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/ Silver Spring

We specialize 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.

Do You Have Dirty Ducts?

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

Title with a photo of a dirty duct

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality With Duct Cleaning

Did you know your ventilation system is often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality? Inspecting ductwork in your facility or home should be a high priority. In most cases, the HVAC system has been operating for some time without much attention. Dirty ducts can circulate odors, contaminants such as mold, and irritating dust throughout your building or home.

A routine part of our Professional's service is inspecting the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (HVAC). Keeping the HVAC and ductwork clean can potentially extend the life-span of the equipment by allowing it to operate at peak condition, which may help save you money. Duct cleaning may not always be necessary. Our  SERVPRO of Bethesda/ Potomac and SERVPRO of Chevy Chase/ Silver Spring Professionals will inspect your HVAC system and ductwork and make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This inspection can help save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your HVAC system and ductwork.

In some circumstances, such as after a fire, smoke, or suspected mold growth, duct cleaning becomes an essential part of the cleanup process. In these cases, your SERVPRO Franchise Professional can restore the HVAC system and ductwork to pre-damage condition.

If you have a fuel-burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends they be inspected for proper functioning and be serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. 

The SERVPRO Duct Cleaning System is proven and cost-efficient. Unlike the majority of duct cleaning services, we use a portable ventilation and air duct cleaning system to examine ductwork and make a clean sweep, removing years of dust and grime.

• The process begins by using patented equipment, including a roto-scraper, which automatically adapts to the duct's shape and diameter while traveling through the duct, removing debris and filth before vacuuming begins.
• Next, powerful push-pull air delivery and collection system transfer the debris from the ducting to a 16-gallon container.
• Air is filtered through a HEPA filtration system, removing 99.97 percent of the particles in the airstream. HEPA filters capture debris and keep the indoor environment clean. 
• As an optional process, a sealant or coating product may be sprayed to address odor or microbial concerns.
• Filters will either be cleaned or replaced to remove odor and dirt.

What's In My Ducts?

Over time, different contaminants or foreign objects can enter and collect in your air ducts that may diminish the indoor air quality of your home or office or cause other damages to your HVAC system.

• RODENTS
• INSECTS OR PESTS
• DUST
• DIRT 
• DEBRIS
• BACTERIA
• MOLD 
• POLLEN

Why SERVPRO

Whether it is a business or residence, SERVPRO is equipped to come to your property and our trained experts will do a thorough examination of your ventilator. For quality service, you can trust SERVPRO professionals to help make it "Like it never even happened."

Document Drying and Restoration

11/11/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO  offers a variety of services from water/fire damage restoration, mold mitigation, and commercial/residential cleaning services. But did you know that we also provide Document Drying and Restoration for our commercial clients?

Damage from a water or fire event is not limited to the building and furniture. Sometimes files such as patient records, invoices, and legal documents are impacted by water, smoke, and soot contact. SERVPRO’s document drying process is designed to stabilize damaged documents and prevent further damage quickly. The treatment facility is secured, the chain of custody follows HIPAA guidelines, and our Drying Chamber personnel is Master HIPAA certified allowing them to handle protected health information (PHI).

Our Document Restoration Facility:

• Innovative: we use the latest vacuum freeze-drying method, as well as gamma irradiation technology for sterilizing
• Secure: managed by HIPPA Master-certified technicians, under 24/7 surveillance
• Digital: we use a computerized inventory system for digitizing your documents
• Flexible capacity - we can accommodate large commercial losses or small residential jobs
• Full Service: we offer a range of services including drying, cleaning/disinfecting, re-jacketing, digitizing, and deodorization

SERVPRO document services also include digitization services that reduce the need for large filing rooms and help make data access more accessible for businesses. Certified destruction services allow for sensitive information to be appropriately disposed of and provide peace of mind to businesses and their clients.

Types of content:

• paper documents
• books and magazines
• manuscripts and files
• photographs, films, negatives, and microfiche
• x-rays
• blueprints and maps
• parchment

When Disasters Happen, We Are Here To Help.

11/11/2020 (Permalink)

When you are a business owner, insurer, or property manager, you can have the opportunity to be a leader in your community by setting an example for your employees and customers.

Join your community in preparing for all types of emergencies and disasters. It is important that your entire community as a whole is prepared. Disasters happen and not only devastate individuals and neighborhoods but entire communities including businesses of all sizes.

As an employer in your community, having a business continuity plan can help protect your company, its employees, and its infrastructure, and maximizes your chances of recovery after an emergency or disaster. We must all work together as a team to ensure that our families, businesses, places of worship, and neighborhoods are ready. At Ready.gov/business, businesses can find information on how to be better prepared. You can also contact SERVPRO of Bethesda/Potomac for information on the Emergency READY Program.

We Are Cleaning Experts

3/19/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is Here to Help During This Time of Need

During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus, this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.

Specialized Training

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have 45 years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform daily.

The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces include:

• Kitchen/Food Areas
• Bathrooms
• Schools/Classrooms
• Offices
• Retail Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Shelving/Racks
• Sales Counters
• Carpets and Rugs
• Stair Handrails
• Elevator Cars
• Playground Equipment
• Fitness Equipment

Specialized Products

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.

Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today – SERVPRO of Bethesda / Potomac at 301-530-7400

Do's & Don'ts After a Flood by SERVPRO

3/2/2020 (Permalink)

Proceeding water damage, your primary focus should be safety:

• Is it safe to stay in the house?
• Electrical and “slip and fall” hazards are a prevalent concern.
• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform with the damage.
• Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful lifting them!

Have A Water Damage Emergency? 

• What To DO After A Flood
• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal or lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying if damage is in the summer.
• Remove colored rugs from water damage.
• Remove art objects to a safe, dry place.
• Gather loose items from the floors.

• What NOT To Do After Flooding
• Don’t leave wet fabrics in damaged areas. Hang furs and leather goods.
• Don’t leave books, magazines, or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.
• Don’t use your household vacuum to remove water.
• Don’t use television or other household appliances.
• Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet.
• Stay out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

How Critical Thinking Can Help Communication

1/8/2020 (Permalink)

It has been said that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.” So how do you get a message across when the most direct way is not working, or the other party isn’t exactly receptive? You have to change the delivery of the message without changing the message.

The concept of making a message more receptive isn’t the same as hiding pet medicine in a treat, the point of adjusting the message is so that the other party comprehends the message not just accepts it. It can take a lot of creativity and critical thinking skills to “customize information for the audience.” 

Years ago, there was a hashtag on Twitter #ExplainAFilmPlotBadly that centered around describing a film’s plot without any significant details. It was just as much fun to decipher the movie as it was to come up with a description all of your own. I then tried using it to train a group of support reps on how to deliver a message to a customer if they did not seem to understand or accept it: saying no without using “no,” describing directions on a computer or phone, etc. And this method seemed to click with those that I trained even more so than the standard “say this not that” lessons. So the idea was itself an example of how it worked.

These exercises helped to jump start the trainees critical thinking on how they can change the message and improve their customer service skills and increased efficiency. And are a great way to see you can help get your message across the next time you feel like you are stuck in a loop with a customer, coworker, or family member

When the Power is out , The Generator Should stay Out

1/8/2020 (Permalink)

Always place your generator Outside of the home for safety.

When the lights start to flicker one's first instinct is to grab the flashlights to be ready if the power goes out.

There is a large number of homeowners and businesses that own generators that can keep the vital systems in a building running.

The generators exhaust fumes very similar to your automobile. Making sure these fumes don't come back into your home is extremely important!

Generators should be placed Outside in order to exhaust the fumes out into the open.  Even putting the generator in the garage is not a safe practice, the generator should be outside of the home and venting away from any fresh air inlet.

When the power goes off and your property sustains property damage, call SERVPRO to do your repairs and mitigate the damage.

Why SERVPRO? 

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Seattle, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Build An Emergency Kit

11/11/2019 (Permalink)

Whether if it is at home, in a business setting, or in your very own vehicle, it is important to be properly equipped with an emergency kit.

Now, the true question is what are the essentials needed to complete this kit? Ready.gov suggests having enough supplies to last you at least three days. In the state of an emergency, this is critical.

Below, you can find a list of items that we believe are necessary to include in your emergency kit:

• 3 day supply of non-perishable foods
• Water
• First aid kit
• Medication
• Fire extinguisher
• Hygiene products 
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• Chargers
• Clothes
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities 
• Whistle - to signal for help
• Pet supplies
• Infant formula and diapers
• Important documents such as insurance policies, IDs, and bank records in a plastic container

SERVPRO Is Ready For Any Disaster

11/11/2019 (Permalink)

When a disaster strikes, SERVPRO's Disaster Recovery team is ready for anything that happens. With a network of over 1,700 franchises, SERVPRO strives to be faster to any disaster. While in business for more than fifty years, our mission is to develop a team of people who focus on excellent service, fairness, and mutual respect. Our team is trained and equipped to handle fire, water, mold, and other specialty cleanup and restoration services. SERVPRO professionals are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are ready to restore and clean your property. Our disaster recovery team has responded to an abundance of disastrous events. In the aftermath of a disaster, our objective is to help make it feel "Like it never even happened."

Did you know?

6/24/2019 (Permalink)

Residues (such as burning plastics or the soot from furnace disorders) form long chains of ionized smoke particles that assemble in corners or at junctions of walls and ceilings which are called smoke webs!

The picture is from a fire damage that our large loss division assisted with out of state. The building had 35,000 square feet that was affected, it took our team a few weeks to completely clean the facility. 

Does your business have a plan? Check out these tips:

Protect your people : Your employees are your most important business asset. These tips can help prevent them from being injured in a fire.

• Fire Plans: Make sure your employees know what to do if there's a fire, including calling 911 immediately. Conduct a fire drill at least once a year to keep employees aware of your workplace fire safety protocol. 
• Evacuation Plan: In larger buildings, post a fire evacuation plan in several spots around the workplace. Never include elevators in an evacuation plan; always use the stairs. 
• First Aid: In case of fire injuries, your employees should be familiar with the location of the first-aid kit, which should be kept where possible hazards can occur most-such as in the kitchen.

What's the deal with that Bathroom Fan?

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

Keep your Fan Clean for a Happy Home

Bathroom fans are a unique part of your home’s overall health.  Oh sure, “getting that smell out” is one of the obvious benefits of the fan but it provides more than a clean smelling bathroom.

• Did you know that a bathroom fan that’s used one hour a day will exhaust over 2,000,000 cubic feet of air a year, or the equivalent of the air inside 1,000 homes?
  
  The moist air that is created when you take a shower or bath can combine with spores and all kinds of organic materials that are brought from the outside into your home.  This can increase the occurrence of microbial growth , which has shown to cause several health conditions.
  
  Exhausting this moist are from the structure helps keep moisture levels low.  To be efficient , though, the vent on the fan should be cleaned and inspected on a regular basis to allow for proper air flow.
  
  Turn the fan off at the switch or circuit breaker before removing the vent cover.
  
  Remove the cover by pulling down until the cover is several inches from the ceiling.
• Press the spring loaded wire clips, found on two sides of the cover, together then remove the clips from the slots in the fan housing.
• Use a vacuum to clean the vent of lint and debris.
  
  Use an extension attachment to vacuum out the cavity of the fan.
• The last step is simply replacing the vent cover and testing it out with a flip of a switch!

Do you know where your Shutoffs are?

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

Knowing where your shutoffs are in your commercial building could save you thousands of unnecessary damage to your building.

Often times building owners will rely on the Fire Department to come in and shut off the water to the buildings once a loss has occurred.

Knowing where your shutoffs are and clearly marking them enables the building owner to shut off water several minutes before first responders can.

In the case of sprinklers that malfunction and turn on, just 1 minute less of water flowing could cut days off of a drying project.

If you don;t already , make sure you put together a plan of where the following shutoffs are:

• Gas

• Water

• Electricity
  
  
  

Commercial buildings often times require elevated training and equipment to dry and repair.

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints.

We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO

SERVPRO specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a 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.

Cold weather storms can cause damages to your home

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

Severe freezing with high winds are a recipe for downed trees which can cause property damage.  Every year the Puget Sound experiences a few storms that pass through leaving millions of dollars in property damage.

The biggest source of property damage comes by way of downed trees which fall onto the roofs of homes.

Damage to Gutters and Siding are just a couple of the types of damage a home will incur.  Broken windows and roof penetrations are two types of damage that require emergency mitigation services to cover up the opening in the structure.

When damage from the cold and wind occur SERVPRO is the choice for repairing your damaged home.

Why SERVPRO?

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Seattle, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

When the Power is Out, the Generator should Stay Out as well

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

When the lights start to flicker one's first instinct is to grab the flashlights to be ready if the power goes out.

There is a large number of homeowners and businesses that own generators that can keep the vital systems in a building running.

The generators, which run on gas, exhaust fumes very similar to your automobile.  Making sure these fumes don't come back into your home is extremely important.

Generators should be placed Outside in order to exhaust the fumes out into the open.  Even putting the generator int he garage is not safe practice, the generator should be outside of the home and venting away from any fresh air inlet.

When the power goes off and your property sustains property damage, call SERVPRO to do your repairs and mitigate the damage.

Why SERVPRO? 

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Seattle, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

When Storms or Floods hit SERVPRO is ready!

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Rains Bringing Storm Damage Pains? SERVPRO is Here to Help!

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

The unpredictable weather of the last several weeks has brought about an incredible amount of inconveniences and headaches for many Central Seattle home owners and property managers alike.

The recent bouts of cold temperatures and snow, milder temperature and rain, and sporadic gusts have tested many of the neighborhoods and systems around the city, including backing up King County's West Point Treatment Plant to its maximum intake capacity and forcing the facility to temporarily bypass the excess into the Puget Sound.

Always Ready to Help

Because we are locally owned, we are ready and capable to respond at a moments notice. With 1650 franchises operating nationwide, SERVPRO  has access to equipment required to handle any issues a storm or flooding may bring.

The Importance of Adding Value to the Client/Realtor Relationship

11/7/2018 (Permalink)

The Importance of Adding Value to the Client/Realtor Relationship

SERVPRO  had the opportunity to interact with the That Realty Group sales team during a lunch and learn earlier this week. Both teams had a great time and shared a delicious meal form Palmetto Restaurant and Ale House. The focus of the lunch and learn was to highlight the benefits of SERVPRO residential service to both buyers and sellers of homes

One such benefit is the knowledge that any water or mold damage that is discovered during an inspection will be mitigated by a professional company with an excellent reputation and level of customer service. This can add peace of mind for the buyer, seller, and realtor throughout the transaction.

Realtors can also further develop a level of trust with their clients by being proactive with SERVPRO’s contact information in anticipation of an event. These events do not have to necessarily disastrous in nature either. A great example is a home was vandalized with tattoo ink on the front porch, windows, and some exterior walls, and this was within three months of purchasing the home. The homeowners felt angry, victimized, and embarrassed. And they were completely new with the police, so they reached out to their realtor. Their realtor contacted our office to see if there was availability to assist her former clients quickly, and SERVPRO was on site that same morning to determine the best action plan. The home was cleaned up and only a few pieces of wicker furniture needed to be replaced, saying the homeowner a significant amount. But more importantly, the homeowners and realtor relationship grew stronger even though their transaction had been completed. A month later when friends of the homeowner were looking to relocate, they immediately reached out to that same realtor because they trusted them to take care of those they cared about.

Realtors that utilize SERVPRO get the immediate benefit of quality, reputable work. But they also get the long-term benefit of adding value to their client relationships as well.  

Clear Communication and Customer Service

11/7/2018 (Permalink)

Clear Communication and Customer Service

Developing strong communication skills is essential for many levels of personal and professional success. Those same skills can be applied to assist in creating exceptional customer experiences. Practicing a communication skill will make that skill second nature and reinforce the benefit clear communication will have. Many communication skill drills involve role-playing, and while that can be helpful it is not necessarily retainable, and “retainability” is a significant part of training.

One of the alternatives to role-playing exercises is the “building block challenge.”Which involves breaking up participants into groups of three and having them work together to build a small set from a building block toy line. The catch is that only one person can see and read the instructions, one person is allowed to build the set, and the “middle person” identifies the pieces based on the description. You set a time limit and rotate roles so that each participant gets an opportunity with providing and executing the instructions and change out block sets each rotation to ensure each experience is different. The purpose of this activity is to build skills based around providing instructions and directions without having any physical input on the project. The challenge has been used to train over the phone technical support specialists and provided measurable positive changes to efficiency and customer service metrics.   

You may not provide support over the phone, but practicing conveying a message clearly while having tactile tools for the exercise to view progress, can improve your ability to communicate and provide benefits to personal, professional, and customer relationships.

How Critical Thinking Can Help Communication

11/7/2018 (Permalink)

It has been said that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.” And if you have tried to make an eight-year-old do their homework or walk someone through a full system restore to their cell phone, then you may feel that this in fact true. So how do you get a message across when the most direct way is not working, or the other party isn’t exactly receptive? You have to change the delivery of the message without changing the message. Simple right, not so much.

The concept of making a message more receptive isn’t the same as hiding pet medicine in a treat, the point of adjusting the message is so that the other party comprehends the message not just accepts it. It can take a lot of creativity and critical thinking skills to “customize information for the audience,” but how do you practice that? Puzzles? Puns? Math? Well, yes. But there is a way to do so that doesn’t require an investment in school supplies.

Years ago, there was a hashtag on Twitter #ExplainAFilmPlotBadly that centered around describing a film’s plot without any significant details. It was just as much fun to decipher the movie as it was to come up with a description all of your own. I then tried using it to train a group of support reps on how to deliver a message to a customer if they did not seem to understand or accept it: saying no without using “no,” describing directions on a computer or phone, etc. And this method seemed to click with those that I trained even more so than the standard “say this not that” lessons. So the idea was itself an example of how it worked.

Some of the examples are simple and easy to guess:

Moody billionaire works out his abandonment issues by arguing with clowns (Batman).

And some were more complex and required a great deal of thought:

A widower’s son is kidnapped, and the only person that will help him has short-term amnesia (Finding Nemo).

These exercises helped to jumpstart the trainees critical thinking on how they can change the message and improve their customer service skills and increased efficiency. And are a great way to see you can help get your message across the next time you feel like you are stuck in a loop with a customer, coworker, or family memb

Vacant homes can be breeding grounds for mold growth

10/31/2018 (Permalink)

Vacant homes can be breeding grounds for mold growth. Quite often we are called to a vacant home that is up for sale or the renter has moved out. The realtor/rental agent has come to show the home and finds mold growing on the walls. Mold can be seen growing most often in the upper wall locations, though it is not unusual to see growth at the lower wall levels as well. Closets that have been closed will quite often have the worst mold growth, partly because they are dark and mold loves the dark.

What could cause this? No broken water lines are found, the water is usually turned off to the home. Sometimes the HVAC system is off and that is the source of the problem. Having the heating and air turned off creates a high humidity level in the home. When the HVAC system is off there is no airflow circulating in the home therefore the air becomes stagnant. This is the perfect scenario for mold development.

Here are some tips on preventing mold issues in vacant homes:

• Always keep some heat and air running in the home. Set temperature so heat or air runs periodically during the day.
• Open closet doors to allow for airflow and light to enter.
• A ceiling fan left on low can help circulate the air in the home.
• Open window treatments/blinds at least ¼ open to allow in extra light. Remember, mold loves the dark.
• Visit the home occasionally. Just opening the doors and entering the structure allows for the exchange of fresh air and extra airflow. It’s also a great way to catch any issues before they become serious problems

Smoke and Soot Cleanup

10/31/2018 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

What Used to Be...

10/31/2018 (Permalink)

Once upon a time not so long ago, there was a quaint little store located in a quiet little town.  The store was doing great and was a nice addition to the down town area.  

One day, the owner's husband passed away unexpectedly, leaving her in shambles.  She began to move on by putting all of her energy and focus into her store.  Soon, she had begun to acquire so much merchandise, that she had run out of shelf space.  

Boxes and totes, even closets began to expand with all of the stuff that she was bringing in.  The little town's people became concerned.  They called in their #WeAreLocal SERVPRO to help with the situation.  Not only were all three floors of this once beautiful building full, but the basement and the garage were also filled to the brim!  

When traumatic things happen, some people are unsure of how to cope.  This owner bought things to fill the emptiness inside and created for herself a very dangerous living situation.  With the help of SERVPRO, we were able to save the building and the woman's home.

When Winter Hits Hard

10/31/2018 (Permalink)

hen winter comes and you can have "faith" in SERVPRO.  Frozen pipes that can break and cause flooding as well as other types of water and fire damage that can cause trouble to your home or business are never convenient.  At SERVPRO "We can Manage the Damage" and have been helping customers deal with disaster for over 50 years.  SERVPRO has the Experience, Equipment and Expertise.  Besides water and fire damage we do mold mitigation and remediation.  Move outs and contents restoration.  We do Document drying and we also do carpets, upholstery, drapes and hard floors.  We can tackle  Biohazard, crime scene and vandalism which includes board ups

Once the Fire is Out-Who do You Call?

10/31/2018 (Permalink)

Although a fire itself does a significant amount of fire and smoke damage to items touched by flames - smoke, soot residues and water damage or flooding from the fire department will affect other parts of your home. It is important to take all necessary precautions before entering your home after experiencing fire damage.

Besides natural hazards that may exist, entering your house can be 1) unsafe and 2) lead to secondary damages as movement or foot traffic can make some of your personal items unsalvageable. Protect your investment wisely and hire an established restoration contractor like SERVPRO to help get you back on your feet after fire or smoke damage has affected your home.

SERVPRO has 24-hour emergency services available 365-days a year, including holidays. Our technicians have received the necessary IICRC certifications and follow all municipal and OSHA safety guidelines to perform fire damage restoration on your property.