Are your Holiday travel plans ready?

12/28/2022 (Permalink)

Traveling is quite a typical affair during the end-of-year Holiday season, but even a short trip can be dangerous when tons of other people are doing the same! With millions on the road, it is easily the busiest time of the year. Keeping your eyes and ears open and staying attentive and alert can help you identify possible issues that may impact your holiday commute.

Severe weather, packed roads, and even drunk drivers appear at higher percentages during the end-of-year holiday season. Taking the time to properly put together routes and plan your trip can help make everything that much smoother. Keeping tabs on weather and traffic also goes a long way in preventing delays or accidents!

After everything is said and done, we here at SERVPRO of Hanover Township / Bear Creek hope that you're able to spend some time with friends and family and experience a wonderful Holiday season! Have fun, and stay safe.

Happy Holidays!

Do you know the three categories of water damage?

12/24/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage comes in the form of three different categories. The main difference between these categories is how polluted or unsanitary the water is. The higher the category, the more pollutants can be found within.

The first category of water damage is the most common occurrence and is called Clean Water loss. The water in a category one loss is relatively clean and mostly free of pollutants that are dangerous to handle or ingest. Cleaning and restoration work can be done quickly when dealing with this category of water loss.

The second category of water damage is known as Gray Water. Gray water contains a moderate amount of contaminants inside and can cause illness and discomfort for any that may accidentally ingest it. Water sources that produce gray water are things like dishwashers, toilet overflows that contain urine, and other types of "used" water.

The final category of water damage is Black Water which deals with water from dangerously unsanitary sources. When dealing with water from this category, serious illness and even death are potential dangers should it be ingested. Black water-producing sources are things like sewage backups, rising river or stream water, floodwater, and toilet water containing fecal matter.

Combating water damage is more than simply removing the water from your home. Knowing what could potentially be in the water, and how to properly handle it helps homeowners know where and how to start with any water emergency!

2022 Cooking Safety Precautions

12/23/2022 (Permalink)

Cooking safety, while increasing in presence of mind in at-home chiefs everywhere, is still not second nature to everyone. Being aware of every object, utensil, and appliance that is in use within the kitchen makes your cooking station, not just cleaner but also safer. Both of these go a long way toward preventing cooking-related fires. Most cooking fires are due to negligence while in the kitchen, and while they aren't intentional, they spread fast. 

The USFA and FEMA estimate that just over 50% of all house fires in 2016 were caused by cooking accidents. That is a lot of easily avoidable property damage! The average amount of house fires per year in the United States is over 400,000, which means that negligence and accidents while cooking are the cause of over 200,000 property fires every single year. Proper cooking education goes a long way in preventing these types of fires from occurring altogether!

Proper safety in the kitchen isn't based on skill level. Everyone can have fun and do so safely! When cooking, never leave an active appliance (stoves, ovens, etc.) unattended. Additionally, knowledge about the common fires cooks may see while in the kitchen (grease, oil, etc.) can help extinguish them should they appear. Finally, make sure to have some fun. Making your favorite dish for friends and family to enjoy while sitting around the table is a tradition all over the world, and having fun makes it that much better.

Perfect your Holiday travel plans!

12/17/2022 (Permalink)

Spending time traveling is one of the most common things in the world during the Holidays, that's why it's important to do it safely. The winter Holidays are the busiest time of the year. In the days and weeks leading to New Year's and Christmas, millions of people will be on the road across the country. It's important to keep your eyes and ears open during Holiday traveling to be as alert as possible during your commute.

Dangerous weather, traffic, and potential drunk drivers all see a measurable increase in occurrence around the Holidays. By properly planning your routes and keeping up to date with local weather and traffic reports, you can beat the roads!

Spending time to hang out and reflect on the year with loved ones during the Holidays can make memories that last a lifetime. We here at SERVPRO of Hanover Township / Bear Creek hope you all enjoy a wonderful Holiday season with friends and family.

Happy Holidays!

Is your home prepared to combat ice damming?

12/16/2022 (Permalink)

As the temperature starts to drop and rain turns to snow and sleet, ice dams become a larger threat to property. When snow and sleet on the roof of a house go through quick bouts of melting and refreezing it can create a wall of ice, this ice wall then acts as a dam when more snow and sleet begin to melt. These dams can last for weeks or even months unless dealt with. As water pools along dams, it can begin to work its way under the shingles. When the water that has worked its way in freezes, the gaps created by the ice allow even more water to work its way into the property, causing all sorts of water damage!

There are few preventative measures that can be taken to combat ice damming. One method is to run heating cables in your attic that go along the sections of the roof that have the most trouble with dams forming!

When ice dams are forming on your property, it can indicate that the insulation in your home is failing. You can check the attic beneath problem areas on the roof for any inconsistencies. Retaining heat in the attic is the natural way to combat ice damming and can even keep your home a bit warmer during the cold winter months.

Stay safe this winter season, and if you intend on directly dealing with any problems you or your family are facing be sure to be careful. Many instances of people getting hurt while they are attempting to help themselves or their family is due to negligence.

Water Damage Doesn't Always Mean the End for Your Papers and Documents!

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

When water makes its way into your home, few things are left untouched. If important documents and papers are among the list of damaged items, it may be possible to fully or partially restore them if you act quickly!

When paper documentation is in a water loss, the faster restoration work begins, the higher the likelihood that restoration can be achieved. SERVPRO keeps any papers undergoing restoration work locked away in our facilities to ensure their safety! 

When logging the damaged items and papers in the water loss, try your hardest not to touch or mishandle them in any way. Professionals can safely remove damaged documents with less risk of irreversible damage. Water-damaged papers are extremely fragile and even the slightest movement can damage them even further, potentially preventing their restoration!

Is Your Home Ready for the Unexpected?

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

Safety is often the priority new homeowners have after moving into their new homes. Creating and practicing plans in the event disaster strikes and correctly setting up detection and alarm systems can go a long way in ensuring that you are ready for anything! 

Take a look at the various detection and alarm devices around your home if it has them. Are they correctly set up and spaced out? Devices should be located on every floor and spread out enough to cover the entirety of it. Take the time to inspect and test any devices left by previous owners to see if they still work. The last thing you want is for a device to fail when it's needed most! 

If your new home lacks safety devices, be sure to have the appropriate amount professionally installed as soon as possible. Safety devices can give your family the extra security to make your house a home.

Create a habit of safety and precautionary checks throughout your home!

24/7 Service, Whenever and Wherever You Need It!

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here for you any time of day, any day of the year! We take it upon ourselves to respond to any disaster as soon as we possibly can, no matter the weather conditions. Rain, sleet, or snow won't stop us from getting you the help you need!

Our specialists are always on call and ready to respond to a fire, water, storm, or mold loss at a moment's notice. We offer our services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year to ensure that you receive the help you need when you need it.

When your home has been through the wringer, don't fret about who to call. SERVPRO has all the fire, water, storm, and mold repair and restoration training and equipment to make any damage done to your home look "Like it never even happened"!

SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster!

Water Damage to Your Property? Look No Further!

7/11/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO supplies our specialists with frequent and up-to-date pieces of training to ensure that your home or business is in the best hands possible. 

We're always prepared for any unforeseen event that may be thrown your way. Water damage from flooding, severe rain, or harsh storms is extremely stressful, which is why we work to ensure your home or business is back to normal as quickly as possible by using every piece of training and equipment at our disposal.

Depending on the type of water loss, SERVPRO comes prepared to the site with any equipment we may need to restore your property. Hoses and pumps, fans, dehumidifiers, etc., the list of gear we bring doesn't stop. Due to our equipment, we're able to clear the property quickly and effectively, which means restoration can start much faster.

A quick breakdown of the steps that restoration might take are as follows - 

• Dehumidification and drying
• Removal of contaminated contents, flooring, and walls
• Further moisture removal in all hard-to-access areas
• Drying of all documents and photographs
• Restoration of your home

We work tirelessly to ensure that your home or business is back in your hands as soon as possible after water damage. Stay safe and remember, SERVPRO is here for you!

Is Your Home Suffering From Post-Fire Damage Odor?

7/6/2022 (Permalink)

Many things go into extinguishing a fire, even more when it has spread throughout the building. After the battle to contain the flames is finished, there is another just over the horizon. The chemical mixtures used to fight the fire leave behind strong odors that need to be dealt with, along with odors left by the flames and smoke themselves. While it may seem like a lot to handle, SERVPRO knows just where to start!

The first step is to act fast. The longer these odors are allowed to sit and sink in, the harder it is going to be to remove them. As the odors grow stronger, they can cause issues like headaches, dizziness, nausea, and many more that can begin to affect your health.

Equipment like industrial scrubbers and extractor fans are used to shake loose the odor from carpet, furniture, walls, and ceilings so it can be removed.

When dealing with post-fire odor concerns, look no further than SERVPRO!