Water Damage in your home

7/17/2024 (Permalink)

Hardwood floors after water damage

When your home experiences water damage, besides the structural concerns, one of the biggest can definitely be your hardwood floors. Hardwood floors are expensive and add both cosmetic and monetary value to your home so, if possible, you obviously want to try and avoid ripping them out and replacing them. There are multiple factors that can play a part in our ability to restore your floors to preloss conditions:

• Moisture Levels – Hardwood floors have a very low moisture content. When water pools on them for long periods of time the moisture gets soaked into the wood and can take weeks to dry out on its own. This can cause the wood to buckle, have raised edges or have the panels separate from each other.

• Time – The type of wood in question plays a role in how quickly water is absorbed and then dried out. Wood rot happens when microbial growth in water is left without treatment in wood and begins to breakdown the wood.

As you can see, there are quite a few factors that decide whether or not you will have to replace your expensive hardwood floors or not, and that it’s best left to the professionals to handle to help increase your odds of restoration. So, if you find yourself in need of water damage restoration, don’t delay and give us a call asap. Our team is waiting to see how we can help you today.

With the correct equipment and training it is possible to save your floors from having to be removed, so it is imperative that you call a professional restoration company like us here at SERVPRO of Newport News at 757-465-9700.

Storm Readiness 101

1/16/2024 (Permalink)

As leaders in the restoration industry, we know firsthand the amount of damage that a storm can do to your home. Addressing the damage as quickly as possible is key to preventing further damage from occurring. We wanted to share some of the most important areas of your home that can be affected by storm damage, so you know where to check afterward.

1. Basement – Areas of your home that are underground are some of the spots that are the most prone to water damage following a storm. Check around the edges of your basement floor and walls for signs of moisture. Make sure that drain spouts are properly angled away from your home and that there are no areas where water can pool next to your house.
2. Foundation – Similarly to basements, your home’s foundation is particularly threatened by water damage after storms. Water from the outside can seep into cracks in your foundation and weaken it over time. Double-check check there is no standing water or signs of moisture in your concrete, and make sure that your sump pump is functioning properly.
3. Crawlspaces – Water can pool in areas underneath your home and cause significant damage to the structural components, like mold and rotting wood.
4. Windows – Over time the seals on your windows can degrade and strong storms can crack windows and window frames, allowing water to get into your home.
5. Roof – Probably the most prone to storm damage, wind can damage shingles and throw broken tree branches all over your home. As one of the main sources of protection from the outside elements. It is crucial to inspect your roof after a storm. Ensure there are no leaks and remove any debris that could further damage your home. Check for any signs of moisture in your attic as well as this could be a sign that there is a hole somewhere you might’ve missed.
6. Gutters – Strong winds and falling branches can damage your gutters or even completely rip them off the side of your house. Your gutters are essential in preventing water from getting into your home and directing it away from your home’s foundation. Make sure that your gutters are in good condition and free from any debris that may clog them.

While storm damage may not always be 100% preventable, hopefully, these tips can help you prevent any further damage from happening, and if you do happen to find any signs of damage to your home after a storm. Our technicians are here to help. We’re available 24/7, 365 days a year, so don’t wait, give us a call and let us know what we can do for you.

The Heat is On! Staying Warm with Heating Safety

1/16/2024 (Permalink)

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the leading cause of home fire deaths is from equipment used to heat your home during the cold winter months. Continue reading to make sure that you’re taking the proper safety steps to make sure that you’re using heating equipment in a responsible way.

Portable Heaters – You should never leave any sort of space heaters, electric blankets, or any other portable heaters unattended. It’s possible for these items to short out and start fires.

Chimney Inspection – It’s very important to have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually. This makes sure that they are structurally sound, as well as getting rid of any blockages that may prevent the chimney from properly venting smoke from your home.

Three Foot Rule – For anything in your home that is used to generate heat (fireplace, woods stove, furnace, space heater) you should ensure that there is at least three feet of space between that and any flammable items in your household.

Smoke Alarms – Check your smoke alarms regularly. Smoke alarms should be checked every month to ensure proper function, as well as making sure that the batteries do not need to be changed.

When it’s cold outside there’s nothing like curling up in a nice warm house and keeping cozy. Just be sure to enjoy the warmth by following proper safety rules to ensure your winter plans go off without a hitch!

Bonfire Safety

9/18/2023 (Permalink)

How to be safe around the Camp Fire!

With autumn in full force and winter just around the corner, many of us have taken to the outside to enjoy the cool weather sitting around a bonfire. Bonfires can be a great activity for the whole family, but it’s important to remember the dangers of open flames and how to responsibly have a bonfire!

• You should always either use a fire pit purchased from the store or dig your own – Fire pits are a crucial part of keeping a bonfire contained where you want it to be and not have it spread, be sure also to clear away brush from around the fire pit as well
• Make sure your fire is a safe distance from houses, trees, powerlines, or anything that can be affected by the heat
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose close by – Accidents happen and being able to address them immediately is how to prevent things from getting worse
• Use newspaper and small kindling to get the fire started, NOT gasoline or other accelerants
• Never spray aerosols or toss canisters into the fire – The heat can make these containers explode and throw burning embers everywhere
• Limit your fire size – It’s tempting to make a big fire, but you should make sure to keep your fire to a manageable size, no bigger than a few feet around
• When you’re done be sure that the fire is completely extinguished – Stir the ashes around and use more water than you think you need to ensure there is nothing still smoldering, embers can stay smoldering, hidden under a bed of ashes for hours and can be relit by the wind unexpectedly

 Bonfires are a lot of fun and a great way to spend time outside, just be sure you are taking the proper precautions to do so safely.

Removing Water From Your Home

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

When water invades your home, quick action needs to be taken in order to get matters under control and your life back to normal. When water is left to soak into and remain, the greater the water damage and the repair.

SERVPRO of Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk West, and Hampton North handles water damage with an inventory of equipment with large and powerful pumps that we can submerge enabling a quicker extraction of the floodwater.  Our machinery will raise the interior temperature so that evaporation happens at a precise rate.

Our trained technicians and supervisors determine the best drying method to utilize to maintain the quality of the water-damaged area and product. For instance, if a wooden floor is dried out too quickly or with extreme temperatures, the floor can be ruined. Our motto is to restore, not replace. So, we work diligently to help ensure that we can save as much of the structure and belongings of the home as possible. This is beneficial to not only the homeowner but to your insurance company too as it helps to save money.  

After the extractor has removed the water, smaller hand-held equipment is used to remove the remaining water found in crevices and baseboards. Once the water has been removed, the drying process begins for the remaining surface dampness and porous household items with the use of our desiccant machines and air movers. An Air Scrubber, our portable filtration system can be used to help clean the air of any contaminants such as dust, gasses, or chemicals in any area.

If you need help with water damage in your home, SERVPRO is here to help.

Mold in Commercial Buildings

9/21/2022 (Permalink)

Dealing with mold in your commercial building is often an unavoidable necessity. Leaks, humidity, poor airflow, and moisture build-up all can cause mold to grow unexpectedly. If you see mold in your building, it’s important to take steps to correct the issue as soon as possible. Mold spreads quickly and a small issue can rapidly grow into a large infestation if left alone. A musty smell, discoloration of walls or ceilings, and leaks are all signs that you may have a mold issue.  When addressing a mold problem, it’s important to use a professional mold remediation company like us here at SERVPRO of Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk West, and Hampton North.

Our teams are trained in the proper techniques and procedures to help reduce the likelihood of regrowth. Additionally, we’re able to follow specific containment procedures in order to help prevent the spread of the mold to other surfaces when cleaning including negative air chambers and physical barriers. In more severe cases, it may be necessary to remove the affected materials as just cleaning them will not fix the issue. If this is the case, our teams can also handle the reconstruction of your building, making the process as smooth as possible and eliminating the need for dealing with additional companies. If you see mold in your commercial building give us a call and ask how we can make it “Like it never even happened.”

Clean Your Gutters Before the Storm

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

It’s officially storm season and with all this rain incoming now has never been a better time to make sure that your gutters are in working order. Here are some tips from us here at SERVPRO of Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk West, and Hampton North to help make sure your gutters are in tip-top shape before the storms.

• Your gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year, once before winter to make sure they’re clear of all the fallen leaves, and once after winter before the spring rain.
• It’s also a good idea to inspect your gutters and your roof after a heavy storm. Strong winds can blow debris into them and clog them up, or even cause damage to them so that they are not functioning properly.
•  Make sure that your downspouts are secured and pointed away from your home. If your downspouts are not aimed correctly, you could be directing the water into pools around your foundation which can lead to flooding.
• You’ll also want to make sure that the downspouts are extended at least two feet from the home. This will also help to ensure that water does not pool around your foundation.
• Run water through your gutters after cleaning them to make sure that they are draining properly to the downspouts and that there are no areas where water is leaking out.

You can’t always prevent water damage from happening but following these tips will certainly help to reduce the probability of water entering your home. If you do experience a water damage emergency our team is available 24/7, 365 days a year to help make it “like it never even happened.”

Repairing Damage after A Storm

8/11/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Chesapeake North offers full storm damage cleanup and restoration services for our local area. From a small puddle from a leaky window to a tree falling on your roof and causing severe water damage, our team can help you get your home back to “Like it never even happened.”

Recently our team helped to restore a home after a tree had fallen onto the roof after a storm. The tree broke a hole in the roof in the middle of a rainstorm and the water damage to the home was extensive and spanned multiple floors. Once the tree was removed, we were able to tarp up the roof to prevent any further water intrusions so that we could begin cleanup. First, we addressed the contents of the house, helping to determine what was and wasn’t salvageable and packing it all out to begin water extraction. Once the contents were removed, we were able to set up a plan to get the house dried as efficiently as possible. Our mitigation team visited the home frequently to check on the drying process and ensure that everything was going as planned, taking moisture and humidity readings throughout the process. Our SERVPRO team also offers reconstruction and repair services, so after the water was removed, we worked with the homeowners to help rebuild the home back to preloss conditions. We also boast healthy relationships with many of our local insurance companies and were able to work directly with their agent to help make things as go as smoothly as possible for the homeowners in an already stressful and frantic time.

If your home suffers from storm damage and you are in need of a professional restoration company, look no further than SERVPRO of Chesapeake North. Our teams are available 24/7, 365 days a year for any emergency services. Just give us a call and let us know what we can do for you, we’re always here to help!

What SERVPRO Can Do For You

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

As leaders in the industry, when most people think about SERVPRO the first things that come to mind are fire and water damage mitigation, but we also offer quite a few other services to both commercial and residential customers that you might be less familiar with!

Air Duct and HVAC Cleaning

Our SERVPRO of Chesapeake North professionals can inspect your HVAC system and ductwork. Cleaning services can be provided to help restore peak energy efficiency, eliminate offensive odors, and improve indoor air quality.

Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning and Care

Technicians use the latest IICRC training as well as state-of-the-art equipment to remove entrapped soils from deep within your carpet's pile and backings.

Stain Removal and Stain Resistance Applications

Using IICRC standards for carpet as a guide, SERVPRO technicians will show you what cleaning option would be best for our carpet's level of soiling and explain the benefits of soil protection.

Odor Identification and Deodorization

SERVPRO professionals will find the source of the odor and determine the best methods to neutralize and eliminate it.

Upholstery and Drapes: Wet and Dry-Cleaning Methods

Fabrics are inspected and tested to determine the safest and most effective cleaning methods.

Crime Scene and Biohazard Cleanup

SERVPRO technicians are trained to safely and effectively clean biohazardous substances and prepare waste for proper disposal according to OSHA, EPA and state and local health regulations.

Vandalism Cleanup

We offer cleaning and restoration services for damaged parts of your property as well as graffiti removal services exterior walls and surfaces around your building including driveways, walkways, asphalt, and masonry.

When it comes to protecting your business and dealing with unforeseen damages to your property, look no farther than SERVPRO of Chesapeake North. Our team of highly trained professionals are available 24/7, 365 days a year for emergency services.

How SERVPRO Uses Deodorization

4/19/2022 (Permalink)

Unpleasant odors in your home or business are never a good time. While some odors go away on their own, many tend to linger causing lasting issues of olfactory distress. Odor molecules can settle on items in your home or even into items with porous surfaces like wood, upholstery, and carpets, which can make them very difficult to get rid of.

Here at SERVPRO of Chesapeake North our technicians are IICRC certified in odor removal techniques using advanced technology and equipment to help eliminate even the most stubborn odors. Deodorization is a science that includes many different products and procedures:

Masking Agents

Masking agents are exactly what they sound like. Sprays or other various items that help to mask unpleasant odors with a more acceptable smell. While masking agents may give the most immediate relief, they are only temporary and do not do anything to address the actual source of the bad odor particles. For this reason, SERVPRO never uses masking agents as a primary method of odor mitigation, but we will use them to help make the odors less unpleasant while other methods of deodorization are in progress.

Pairing Agents

These are chemicals designed to combine (or “pair”) with the odor causing particles. There are two kinds of pairing agents: humectant, or counteractant. The first is one that is designed to absorb the odor particles floating in the air and cause them to fall onto surfaces where they can then be cleaned and removed. The second is meant to combine with the particles and chemically alter the odor molecule in a way that changes the odor causing properties or destroy it all together. These agents can be delivered in multiple ways including fogging and spraying.

Filtration Agents

There are two main kinds of filtration agents used in deodorization: absorption and adsorption. Absorption agents are made of highly absorptive compounds, fillers, and perfume. Adsorption agents work by capturing odor particles and holding them to the surface of the agent. Both methods are meant to pull odorous gasses from the air as it flows by or is pushed through the filtering agent.

Disinfectants and Sanitizers

Odors don’t just appear out of nowhere, something has caused or produced the particles responsible for the odors that you are smelling. Disinfectants and sanitizers are used to help control or kill the odor producing bacteria or fungi in your home or business.

Enzyme Digesters

These enzymes are used on odors caused by organic materials or protein-based odors. These work by breaking down organic molecules into other substances that are odorless like water or carbon dioxide.

Air Purification

Air purification works by using electronic filters that create a charged grid to kill microorganisms as they pass through the filter.

Oxidation

SERVPRO also uses equipment like Ozone and hydroxyl generators to help eliminate odors. These machines produce ozone or hydroxyl radicals. These compounds alter the odor particles causing them to bind with oxygen molecules and assists in breaking them down through the process of oxidation.

Often, odors will require a combination of these various different products and techniques to be fully eliminated. Whether your odor issue is from mold, smoke, sewage, or other unpleasant smells, SERVPRO of Chesapeake North is fully equipped to help eliminate these odors from your property and belongings. Give us a call or fill out a form online and let us know how we can help to make your unsavory odors “Like it never even happened.”