Recent General Posts
Seasonal SERVPRO Tips!
11/25/2024 (Permalink)
At SERVPRO, we are thankful for many things, our amazing team, but most of all, you! Our customers come first every step of the way, Happy Holidays!
As the crisp air settles in and the leaves begin to fall, it’s time to prepare for the colder months ahead. At SERVPRO®, we know that seasonal transitions can bring a host of challenges for homeowners and business owners alike. From potential fire hazards to frozen pipes and mold growth, there are several things you can do now to safeguard your property.
Here are some essential fall and winter tips to help protect your home or business and avoid costly damage:
- Check Your Heating System
Before you turn on your furnace for the season, make sure it's in good working condition. A malfunctioning heating system can lead to home fires if clogged with dust and debris. Have a professional inspect and clean your furnace to ensure it runs efficiently and safely. If you use a fireplace be sure the chimney is clean and checked for obstructions.
- Prevent Frozen Pipes
As temperatures drop, the risk of frozen pipes increases. Burst pipes can cause extensive water damage and be expensive to repair. Insulate exposed pipes particularly those in unheated areas like basements, the garage, and attics. Let Faucets drip slowly during extreme cold spells to keep water moving and prevent freezing. If you plan to be away during the winter, consider shutting off your water supply to prevent potential leaks.
- Inspect Roof and Gutters
Winter weather can be hard on your home’s roof and gutters. Fallen Leaves and debris can block gutters, leading to water buildup and potential ice dams that can cause water to back up into your home. Clean your gutters thoroughly and inspect your roof for any loose or damaged shingles that could allow water to seep through during a storm.
- Prepare for Snow and Ice
Snow and ice can be beautiful, but they can also cause significant damage. Make sure to salt or sand walkways, driveways, and stairs to prevent ice buildup and slip hazards. If you live in an area prone to snowfall, make sure you have a snow shovel or snowblower on hand and ready to use.
- Inspect and Maintain Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
With the increased use of heating systems and fireplaces, the risk of fire and carbon monoxide exposure rises in the colder months. Test your smoke detectors to make sure they’re operating properly. Replace the batteries and consider updating dated heating systems to newer models.
- Watching for Signs of Mold Growth
Mold thrives in warm, damp environments, making fall and winter an ideal time for mold to grow, particularly when you have excess moisture from rain or snow. Check areas like basements, crawl spaces, and around windows for visible mold growth or a musty smell. If you suspect mold, act quickly, and address the issue, as mold can spread rapidly,\ and cause damage to your home and health.
- Fire Safety During the Holidays
The holiday season brings with it the potential for increased fire risk. Keep candles away from flammable materials, never leave them unattended, and make sure to extinguish them before leaving a room. If you use space heaters, keep them at least three feet away from furniture, curtains, and other combustibles. Always plug space heaters into the wall socket alone and never in an extension cord to avoid electrical fires.
- Have Winter Emergency Kit Ready
Being prepared for winter storms and power outages can make all the difference in the event of an emergency. Keep an emergency kit in your home with essential items like flashlights, batteries, bottled water, blankets, a first aid kit, and nonperishable food. Having these items on hand can help you feel safe and comfortable in case of an emergency or power outage.
- Plan for Storm Damage
Heavy rain, snowstorms, and even flooding can occur this time of year. If you’re in an area prone to flooding, consider sandbagging or installing sump pumps to mitigate water damage. Review your homeowner's insurance policy to ensure you have adequate coverage for storm-related damage.
Why SERVPRO?
Even with all the preparation, sometimes disaster still strikes. When they do, SERVPRO is Here to Help®. Our team specializes in water, fire, and mold damage restoration, and we’re ready to respond quickly to any emergency. Whether you’re dealing with a burst pipe, a fire caused by a malfunctioning heater, or mold after a winter storm, we’ve got the experts and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.”
Don’t wait till disaster strikes- take proactive steps now to protect your property this fall and winter season. And if the unexpected happens, SERVPRO is just a call away.
National Preparedness month at SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus.
9/13/2019 (Permalink)
Hope for the best, plan for the rest.
For the entire month of September, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sponsors National preparedness. This month, SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus also encourages everyone to take steps towards preparing for disaster in their home or business. Remember to consider everyone in your household, and make the accommodations necessary for each person. Below is a survival kit inventory list, courtesy of the American Red Cross Association.
At a minimum, you should have the basic supplies listed below:
- Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio(NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- Deluxe family first aid kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash
- Emergency blanket
- Map(s) of the area
Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit:
- Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc)
- Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
- Games and activities for children
- Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
- Extra set of car keys and house keys
Additional supplies to keep at home or in your survival kit based on the types of disasters common to your area:
- Tools/supplies for securing your home
- Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
- Blankets or sleeping bags
We hope that this list gives you an idea of what you need in your home or business in order to be prepared. Keep in mind that a disaster can happen at any time and it’s always a good idea to be prepared. Remember that your SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is always here to help, and make it “Like it never even happened.”
July 4th safety tips from your SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus.
6/28/2019 (Permalink)
Happy 4th of July!
July 4th is a day to celebrate with friends, family, and fireworks! While enjoying such a festive occasion, be sure to keep your family and home safe. Bellow are a few tips to consider when celebrating with fireworks.
- Have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.
- Supervise children handling fireworks.
- Soak fireworks in a bucket of water before putting them in a trash can.
- Light the fireworks at arms length and then stand back.
- Do not attempt to re-shoot fire works that did not initially fire.
- Set your fireworks in an open space, not to close to your home.
We hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July. Always remember that your SERVPRO ofPoolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is always here to help and make it "Like it never even happened."
Christmas tree precautions from your SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus
12/3/2018 (Permalink)
Happy holidays from your local SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus!
Though Christmas is a time for celebration, it is wise to be cautious too. Old fashioned Christmas trees were displayed with wax on live tree branches to simulate snow. Since then we’ve grown wiser, and safer. Your SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is her to help with safety tips to reduce the risk of a fire caused by Christmas trees.
- Be sure to water your live trees, this decreases dryness on the branches. Dry needles and wood are more likely to catch on fire quicker.
- Avoid plugging more than 3 strings into one outlet. It’s best to opt for a power strip.
- Discard light strings that are worn or broken.
- Always remember to turn off your Christmas tree when leaving your home.
- When placing your tree in your home, choose wisely. Make sure that your Christmas tree does not block an exit. Also, try to keep it at least 3 feet away from any heat sources like space heaters, candles, fireplaces, heat vents or lamps.
For this Christmas season keep yourself and your family safe. We hope that you find these safety precautions helpful. Always remember that your local SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is always here to help, and make it “Like it never even happened.”
Home Emergency Evacuation Plan
8/16/2018 (Permalink)
Get out, and stay out!
Are you ready for a fire, if a fire were to happen in your home? Where would you go? What do you take with you? Who do you call?
Most home owners are not prepared for an unfortunate event like a fire in their home. Fortunately SERVPRO of Poolesville/Clarksburg/Damascus is here to remind you. Nobody ever expects to be a victim of a fire loss, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for one.
A home Evacuation plan is a precautionary measure you should review with everyone in your household. It is a sketch drawing of your home including all of the possible exits and escape routes. It’s recommended that you include at least two exits. In your home sketch include all of the rooms in your home, including restrooms. Draw markers like trees, fences, or your mailbox. Each room should have arrows pointing towards the exit route, and towards the meeting place.
The meeting place is where everyone in the household should reunite in case you are separated during the process of evacuation. Keep in mind that during the process of evacuation you should worry about getting out as quickly and as safely as possible, don’t worry about appliances and furniture. Those things are replaceable, you aren’t!
Once you are safely out of your home call 911. They will contact the fire department, police department, and ambulance if needed.
Give us a call for a free sketch sheet for the home emergency evacuation plan. Remember were always here to help!
Emergency Ready Profile - Phone Application
11/1/2017 (Permalink)
ERP
Emergency Ready Profile - Phone Application
In times of emergency it is crucial to be prepared. The Emergency Ready Profile application is a great step in the right direction of preparedness. Download the application in App Store by searching SERVPRO. You can also login and see profiles at www.ready.SERVPRO.com. The application allows the user to:
- Add multiple location profiles.
- Take pictures of shut off locations for fire sprinklers, water, and gas.
- Add insurance information
- Add local police and firefighter phone numbers
There are many other features within the application. One of the most popular is that of sharing the profile. Once the ERP is finished the owner of the profile can share with anyone who needs to be prepared. Now all your emergency personnel can find the shut off location just by opening their shared profile.
We never hope that you have an emergency in your home or business, but if it does, we hope you are prepared. And like our motto says, we are always here to help!
Types of Contaminated Water
10/9/2017 (Permalink)
Water Damage
Did you know that there are three different types of contaminated water that can cause water damage? The three different types of contaminated water are clean water, gray water, and black water. SERVPRO comes across all of these types of water in the field. Here are the 3 major differences.
Clean Water:This type of water generally comes from a clean source like a broken water supply line or faucet. Depending on the time it has been left, the temperature, contact with bacteria, and surrounding contaminates, this water can quickly become gray or black water. This is the most common type of water damage.
Gray Water: This type of water and water damage can cause discomfort or illness as it likely contains bacteria and illness. When left untreated, gray water will quickly become black water and the water damages associated with black water is much worse.
Black Water: This water and its water damages generally spawn from sewage, biological hazards, or flooding from rivers and streams. If left untreated, it will cause microbial growth, severe illness, and even possibly death.
The best solution when there is any kind of flooding or water damage is to have it treated as soon as it is noticed. Hiring a professional company like SERVPRO is recommended as they can give advice on why the flood occurred, the category of the flood, and how to prevent water damages.
Are You Prepared?
10/5/2017 (Permalink)
Damaged Building
Severe weather can happen any time, anywhere. Each year, Americans cope with an average of the following intense storms*:
- 10,000 severe thunderstorms
- 5,000 floods or flash floods
- 1,000 tornadoes
- 2 landfalling deadly hurricanes
Approximately 98 percent of all presidentially declared disasters are weather-related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damage. * Knowing your risk of severe weather, taking action and being an example are just a few steps you can take to be better prepared to save your life and assist in saving the lives of others.
How to be prepared:
- A gallon of water per person per day.
- Supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and a manual can opener.
- Change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.
- Blankets and sleeping bags.
- First aid kit and prescription medications.
- Battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.
- Credit cards, cash and extra set of car keys.
- List of family physicians.
- Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.
- Call SERVPRO to get an Emergency Readiness Plan into place for your facility. The plan can help minimize business interruption in the event of a disaster.
Welcome
10/30/2015 (Permalink)
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. With a nationwide system of qualified franchises, no damage is too large or too small
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