What Happens to Your Home After a Flood?

7/23/2023 (Permalink)

Flooding: It's every homeowner's nightmare. It's something you hope never to experience. Unfortunately, in Germantown, Tennessee, or Collierville, Tennessee, residents have to deal with this reality. While you can do some things to minimize flooding in some cases, you can't always hold back floods from getting into your home. If water has damaged parts of your home, you'll need to tear out the affected areas. There're other steps SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville recommends to get your home back to a livable state.

Get Rid of the Water

Different amounts of water find their way into your home during a flood. Even small amounts can cause water damage to your valuables and various parts of your house. You must remove this water as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of mold.

• Extract the water using a wet vacuum.

• Use an industrial-strength carpet cleaner to suck up water. 

• Call a professional company that specializes in storm restoration to help.

Remove Damaged Items

After a flood, the chances are high that your walls and flooring will have damage. These areas might even be destroyed or unusable. In these cases, you need to tear out ruined carpet, hardwood, tile, or drywall. This will help ensure that mold and other foreign materials don't form.

Sanitize

Don't forget to clean the affected areas once you've removed flooring and drywall. Getting rid of water and damaged areas isn't enough. You also should use a heavy-duty cleaner and sanitizer to reduce the risk of bacteria growing in your home. This process will also help eliminate unpleasant odors.

After a flood in your home, it's vital that you remove any remaining water and that you tear out and clean affected places. You don't have to perform these tasks on your own. Contact SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville at (901) 755-3705 to get your home back to normal.

Fire Damage: Cleaning Porous Items After a Fire

7/23/2023 (Permalink)

Cleaning After a Fire

When you experience a fire in your business, it can be hard to assess what is salvageable. Smoke and water damage can make everything appear irreparable. You may even question if content cleaning is possible, if specialty services, like dry-cleaning, can make a difference. Fortunately, for your business, they can. SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville has examples of items that can be cleaned.

1. Carpets and Furniture

Flooring, like carpeting, and other furniture, like fabric chairs, will likely require rigorous shampooing with an industrial floor scrubber. As smoke odors are powerful, you may have to perform this task several times before everything begins to look and smell normal. Soaking the fabrics in a cleaning solution can speed the process, depending on the severity of the damage.

2. Rugs and Clothing

Items that are removable, like area rugs, clothing, or other fabric merchandise, can be taken in for dry cleaning. Several dry-cleaners specialize in smoke-damaged materials. The process involves steam cleaning the materials to remove the odor.

3. Walls and Other Surfaces

It may be necessary to replace drywall and other surfaces if the fire and smoke damage are too significant, but some areas may be cleaned with appropriate solutions and disinfectants. It is necessary to avoid using water alone because it can spread smoke residue and soot, making the surface filtheir than before.

4. Professional Cleaners and Preventative Measures

As the soot and smoke residue are finicky, hiring an emergency restoration service in Germantown, Tennessee, or Collierville, Tennessee, area may be a better option for your business. These companies specialize in fire damage and have access to the appropriate tools and chemicals needed for cleanup. Beyond cleanup, they can also offer fireproof content storage; deciding this now will prevent damage to important documents later

While things may seem dire, and your merchandise and business may seem irrecoverable, a proper cleanup can boost your spirits. Dry-cleaning and floor scrubbing may prove that your property's damage is not as terrible as you thought. Give SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville a call at (901) 755-3704, and let us scrub that worry away.

5 Steps of the Fire Restoration Process

7/19/2023 (Permalink)

When you think of fire restoration, you probably think of the results of fire damage cleanup, when everything that was destroyed gets rebuilt. However, before rebuilding, fire damage experts in Germantown, Tennessee, and Collierville, Tennessee, have to do cleanup and damage repair. There are several steps of mitigation that technicians have to work through to get to the final stage of restoration.

1. Assessment

Before technicians do anything, they have to see how bad the damage is. Therefore, the first thing they will do when they arrive is to assess the damage to your home. They know they will likely need to contend with fire, water, soot, and smoke damage.

2. Water Damage Repair

Firefighters usually have to use a lot of water to extinguish the flames. Unfortunately, this means your home probably has a lot of water damage. Water extraction will be needed, and the affected area will need drying.

3. Smoke and Soot Damage Repair

Smoke and soot get everywhere during a fire. Before the fire restoration process can occur, all of it must be removed out of every crack and crevice.

4. General Cleaning

After the significant issues have been tackled, there is probably some minor damage cleaning needed before rebuilding the structure begins. Any materials that are damaged or have sustained secondary damage must be repaired or removed. All surfaces must be disinfected to get rid of bacteria or other microbes.

5. Restoration

After cleaning, restoration specialists can begin to rebuild your home. Not only replacing the parts of the structure not salvageable but also ensure the rebuild matches the remaining structure so that the outcome looks "Like it never even happened."

Technicians have to do a lot of work to restore your home after a fire. Fire restoration is merely the final step of the process of making your home livable again. Contact SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville for additional information.

Top 6 Fire Safety Tips for Children

7/17/2023 (Permalink)

If the fire alarm went off in your home, would your children know what to do? Would kids see where the family could go for safety? Parents often forget that children are not intuitively aware of how to escape from the building during a home fire. Nor are children aware of how quickly a fire can spread. To help ensure kids' safety, SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville has provided these safety tips.

Fire Safety Tips

1. Windows can be escape routes. Small children may not be able to open a window, but they can be taught to go to a window and wait for help.

2. Practice feeling the way out of the house. Check your local fire department if they provide classes on how to exit a house at night.

3. Find the ladder to escape from upstairs. Teach children where to find a fire escape ladder on the second floor and navigate the rungs.

4. Smoke detectors can be your friend. Explain the noise when the smoke detector goes off and lets children know what to do when they hear the sound.

5. Don't open doors and stay low. Children of all ages need to know not to open doors during a fire. Little ones should also understand that kids' safety can depend on crawling along the floor instead of standing up.

6. Once you get out of the building, stay out. Often children want to go back into the house for a favorite toy. To prevent this, explain the necessity of staying out of your home and gathering at a prearranged meeting place.

Teaching your children these six escape tips can make the difference in how the little one copes in a disaster scenario in Germantown, Tennessee, or Collierville, Tennessee. Practice can ensure the children are familiar with the potential situation and know what steps to take rather than standing and yelling for a parent. Kids' safety can be difficult to ensure, but you can help them understand how to find a safe way out of the building.

Cleaning Foul-Smelling Sewage Damage

7/11/2023 (Permalink)

With an unpleasant odor, contamination concerns, and health worries, sewage backup can be a real issue. In addition to the water containing bacteria, parasites, and viruses, the liquid can also contaminate items it comes in contact with — including humans. To remove the offending blackwater can be an arduous and risky task, consider contacting SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville to ensure your commercial building is clean and safely disinfected.

Blackwater

Referred to as blackwater, sewage backup is generally considered the most dangerous category of floodwater by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Blackwater can have several sources:

• Sewer run-off

• Dangerous chemicals

• Flooded toilet

• River flooding

The IICRC warns that all contact with the polluted water during a sewage cleanup should be avoided. The institute recommends hiring a professionally trained team to clean the contaminated area. This can prevent infections, allergies, and illnesses.

Sewage Cleanup

One of the biggest sewage cleanup problems a commercial building owner faces may be in asking employees to clean a blackwater flood because OSHA has stringent requirements to follow. Hiring a water damage repair team can ensure all safety standards are complied with and the contaminated area is cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected correctly.

Chemical Safety

Before attempting to clean a flooded area, open the windows, and set up fans to mitigate moisture and ensure airflow. When the blackwater is removed, common cleaners can be safe and effective when used as directed. Potentially toxic compounds from mixing chemicals must be avoided. Many people consider bleach a good sanitizer, but the chlorine compounds from mixing bleach can be highly caustic and dangerous.

Emergency Help

Blackwater and sewage cleanup are generally considered an emergency. With the help of SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville, the building can quickly become contaminant-free once again. Contact us today at (901) 755-3705.

How to Clean Items Affected by Water Damage

7/4/2023 (Permalink)

It can be disheartening to discover the aftermath of a flood in your home. When you have water in your home located in Germantown, Tennessee, or Collierville, Tennessee, family heirlooms, photographs, and important documents may be affected. It's possible to restore them, though. Follow the steps to get the restoration process started. The water mitigation experts at SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville, who'll handle your cleanup, may be likely to save your valued items.

1. Remove the Item From Harm's Way

First, take the item out of the water. Wearing the appropriate gear, such as goggles, gloves, rubber boots, and protective clothing, gently move the items to an area where they can start to dry out. Clean the debris off as much as you can without grinding dirt into the items. If possible, keep affected belongings indoors, as the sun and other outdoor elements can cause more harm than help.

2. Reduce Humidity

While items are air drying, it's essential to do everything you can to reduce your home's humidity. Talk to the professionals handling the water in the home about the best way to increase the airflow. They may recommend opening windows or bringing in industrial dehumidifiers to help your items dry and prevent mold growth.

3. Trust the Experts

When you hire mitigation experts, they are there to do more than fix broken pipes and replace walls. They can be a sounding board for your concerns and answer any questions you have. Their experience allows them to advise on the best method for recovering your items, whether dry cleaning or gamma irradiation. Trusting their guidance is the path to restoring your home to its former state as soon as possible.

Water in the home may be daunting, but it doesn't have to be devastating. Preserve your precious memories and other items in your home by following these tips and. Contact SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville at (901) 755-3705 for additional information.

Using Drain Cleaners: 3 Important Facts

9/4/2022 (Permalink)

The Chemicals May Damage Older Pipes

Using a drain cleaner to clear a clog may harm your pipes if you have an older home. These liquids can contain several caustic ingredients designed to dissolve hair and waste, and the heat they create once introduced in the line can warp older metal pipes. If this happens, your plumbing problems may multiply instead of being resolved.

The Compounds May Not Remove Clogs

While some drain cleaners effectively clear a clogged drain or bathroom sink, they don't always work on large toilet clogs. Suppose the chemicals are unable to deal with the mass. In this scenario, the product can remain in the pipes and sometimes cause warping or other damage, leading to a massive toilet overflow and the need for a sewage cleaning and removal company. If a drain cleaning product doesn't produce results within 24 hours, it is wise to call a plumber.

The Cleaners May Be Hazardous

Clearing a drain with a liquid cleaner can be convenient, but these products could pose a threat to you, your pets, and wildlife. They sometimes contain toxic ingredients that can be harmful when inhaled and harm the local environment if they find their way into natural water sources. As such, it's essential to handle these products carefully.

Dealing with a clogged drain in your Germantown, Tennessee, or Collierville, Tennessee, home can be frustrating. Before reaching for a liquid drain cleaner, it's essential to know the cleaner's facts and its use. Keep your home and family safe today.

Commercial Water Damage Remediation in Your Business

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Some of the Regular Water Damages SERVPRO Sees in Hotels

Water damage can happen anywhere in a hotel, but some areas and types of damage happen far more often than others. When problems go beyond simple cleanup and sanitation matters, your cleaning personnel or company may be ill-equipped to handle the consequences of significant water damage. Professionals in the restoration industry are specialized in fast and complete hotel services, ensuring rooms stay clean, undamaged, and pleasant-smelling after the incident. If these common problems happen in your building, call a highly-esteemed restoration company or use our Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) system to get a crew of technicians to your location.

Overflowing Sinks and Bathtubs

One of the reasons SERVPRO might be called into hotels is when a guest causes a sink or bathtub to overflow. Guests remain in their rooms for various lengths of stay, so it may not be uncommon to only find out about the matter days later or when water starts to leak elsewhere and cause further damages. SERVPRO inspectors create a detailed assessment of the situation to understand what specific problems might come from these scenarios and estimate our work times and costs.

Water Line Leaks and Breaks

With so many water lines running throughout the building, it may not be uncommon for them to leak or burst, especially when they are ancient. Be sure to call us as soon as you suspect that a water line may have been ruptured, as the speed of our response may be critical to prevent as much damage as possible. To avoid most water line problems in your hotel, make sure that pipes receive semi-regular maintenance and checkups.

Left-Open Windows

Any time a guest can open a window, the potential for damage rises. Currently, there are laws about which levels can have fully-open windows in certain facilities, but regardless, if the window opens even a tiny bit, moisture can enter the facility. If guests can open a window in your hotel rooms, they may forget to close it before a storm rolls through the area. Water entering through the open window can cause significant damage to the carpet and upholstery.

SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville can handle both small, isolated incidents and large-scale disasters throughout an entire building. For the best outcomes, call quickly after an incident at (901) 382-0900.

Immediate Service: Day or Night!

7/24/2022 (Permalink)

Immediate Service: Day or Night!

SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville provides 24-hour emergency service and dedicates being faster to any-sized disaster! We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
• Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment 

Residential Services

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. Learn more about our residential services:

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

Commercial Services

There's no convenient time for fire or water damage to strike your commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So, when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services, we have the training and expertise to respond with trained technicians to get your property back to business.

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

SERVPRO Helps Prevent Fire in Your Home with Dryer Vent Cleaning

7/17/2022 (Permalink)

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 2,900 dryer fires are reported each year. These fires lead to a staggering national average of 35 million dollars in property damage, 100 injuries, and five fatalities annually. 

PSA: Vent cleaning service may reduce your clothes dryer's workload while lowering energy usage!

A dryer inside the house or apartment uses a metal exhaust pipe (galvanized iron or steel usually) to vent hot air outside the home. The zinc-coated material is designed to handle the highest dryer settings and more but not open flames from burning built-up lint. Since this is an exhaust pipe and smoke seeks the most comfortable access, a vent fire goes undetected by the smoke detectors much longer than a fire anywhere else in the house. 

If your dryer is in the garage or under a carport, the chance for a significant fire is reduced. The flexible vent tube may not run under the house, but it is still at risk. The build-up of lint can still ignite, destroying your dryer and the washer next to it. As the flexible plastic pipe melts, the burning material quickly ignites drywall and other building materials. 

Our technicians can eliminate this threat with an inspection. We can attach an air mover that introduces high-velocity airflow into your vent for just a few minutes. If the build-up has caked against the sides of the pipe, we'll then use a brush with a telescoping handle to scrape the sides and then blore-attach the air mover to the lint outside your home. We detach it from the dryer for a flexible conduit and clean it outside using either an air mover or garden hose to wash it out. 

The cost for vent cleaning is minor compared to the possible cost(s) to restore your home fire-damaged home. Aren’t convinced? There are still some things you, as a property owner, can do to keep your home as safe as possible.

What You Can Do

Clean the lint filter.

A clogged lint filter is the leading contributing factor in residential dryer fires. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failing to clean out the lint trap causes 34 percent of reported dryer fires every year.

Each time you unload the dryer, clean out the lint trap. Before putting the next load of clothes in, double-check that the lint trap is completely clean to lower your risk of fire. A clean lint filter allows the dryer to run more efficiently, too, thus drying your clothes faster while also preventing your machine from overheating.

Inspect the ducts regularly.

Blocked ducts frequently cause dryer fires. To ensure your dryer is running correctly, check your ducts about once a month to ensure there are no blockages. Some telltale signs that your ducts are clogged include the following indicators:

• Your laundry is taking longer to dry
• Exhaust air is failing to exit the vent
• You suspect that your machine is overheating

Sometimes, a blockage occurs because the venting system itself is damaged. Other times, blockages may be occurring because of an accumulation of lint, animals building nests in the vents, or snow building up over the outside vents.

If you notice any blockages, clean them out before using your dryer again. To clean your ducts, disconnect them, remove the blockages and reconnect them. If you notice any damage to the venting system, call in a professional to repair the issue.

Replace outdated ducts.

Older ducts made of plastic or foil are prone to sagging. These accordion-style ducts can easily trap lint in hard-to-reach spaces, increasing your risk of fire. To keep your home safe, replace your older models with new ducts designed with heavy-duty metal.

DON'T overload the dryer.

Stuffing too many wet clothes or bedding into a dryer can cause an excess of lint to accumulate. Since lint build up reduces a dryer's ability to ventilate, the machine may quickly overheat and cause a fire to break out. Read your owner's manual to determine your machine's maximum hold to ensure you aren't overstuffing it.

DON'T leave the dryer running unattended.

Never go to sleep or leave the house while your dryer is running. If a fire breaks out, your ability to extinguish it or call emergency services right away can make all the difference between damage to your laundry room and complete loss of your home.

DON'T dry clothes without the lint filter.

A dryer without its lint trap is an accident waiting to happen. The filter protects the dryer's inner workings from collecting lint. Without this defensive shield, a buildup of lint in the ducts can easily lead to a dryer vent fire.

To lower your risk, always use your dryer with the lint trap in place. If your existing lint trap is worn or develops any holes, replace it immediately at your nearest home supplies store.

When it comes to disasters, one could argue that none are worse than a residential fire. Not only do the flames cause inherent danger as they destroy your family's home and or business, but there is also the after effect concerning the removal of debris, soot, the smell of smoke, compromised structure, and additional damages that have been inflicted on your property. For most homeowners, fire is an incredible event. However, they DO happen and for a variety of reasons.

Top 10 Other Causes of Fires

1. Home heat fires: Your furnace needs regular inspection(s) and ensures combustibles are not near any portable heaters.
   
   
2. Cooking fires: Unattended kitchens, splattering grease, and combustibles near the source of heat are very common fire starters.
   
   
3. Smoking: Always ensure that you properly and completely extinguish the cigarette if you smoke in your home.
   
   
4. Electrical fires: Look out for frayed cords, overloaded plug outlets, and the overuse of extension cords.
   
   
5. Children: Keep lighters and matches away from children to stifle any curiosity they could have about what happens when various items catch fire.
   
   
6. Candles: Candles may smell nice, but if left unattended, they could cause a significant issue.
   
   
7. Flammable items: Do not keep adhesives, paint, or cleaning agents close to sources of heat.
   
   
8. Faulty wiring: A significant safety hazard is inadequate wiring (MOSTLY prevalent in older apartments and homes).
   
   
9. Grills: Never cook on the grill under an awning or a covered porch. Give yourself ample space away from your home and automobiles.
   
   
10. Holiday décor: Be mindful of how close your Christmas tree is to your fireplace and always safely hang another décor.

Despite our best efforts as homeowners, accidents still happen. If your home has been damaged by fire and smoke, call SERVPRO of Germantown / Collierville. Our team of highly trained technicians can help get your life back to normal as quickly as possible. With the proper training, innovative equipment, and helpful guidance, our expert technicians will be with you every step of the way to get you back on your feet.

We will arrive at your home quickly to mitigate the damages, secure your property and start the emergency cleaning process to items that are of priority. While we are on the site, your property will be inspected, assessments of damage(s) will be documented, and preliminary estimates made to give you a comprehensive restoration plan of action.