Spring Water Woes: Protect Your Home from Seasonal Water Damage

3/25/2024 (Permalink)

As temperatures rise and spring showers roll in, it's essential to safeguard your home against potential water damage. Here's how you can prevent water-related headaches during the spring season:

1. Inspect Your Roof: Winter weather can take a toll on your roof, leading to shingles becoming loose or damaged. Perform a thorough roof inspection to identify any signs of wear and tear, such as missing shingles or cracks. Addressing these issues promptly can help prevent water from seeping into your home during spring rains.

2. Clean Gutters and Downspouts: Gutters and downspouts play a crucial role in directing water away from your home's foundation. Ensure they are free of debris, such as leaves and twigs, which can cause clogs and lead to water overflow. Regular gutter maintenance can help prevent water damage to your roof, siding, and interior walls.

3. Check for Foundation Cracks: Fluctuating temperatures and increased moisture levels in the spring can exacerbate existing foundation cracks or cause new ones to form. Inspect your home's foundation for any signs of cracking or shifting. Seal cracks promptly to prevent water intrusion into your basement or crawl space.

4. Monitor Indoor Plumbing: Spring thawing can put added pressure on your home's plumbing system, increasing the risk of leaks or burst pipes. Keep an eye out for signs of water leaks, such as damp spots, water stains, or unexplained increases in water bills. Addressing plumbing issues promptly can help prevent costly water damage repairs.

5. Maintain Sump Pump: If your home is equipped with a sump pump, ensure it is in good working condition before the spring thaw begins. Test the pump regularly to ensure it activates properly and consider installing a battery backup system to keep it running during power outages.

By taking proactive measures to protect your home from water damage this spring, you can enjoy the season worry-free. In the event of water damage, trust SERVPRO for prompt and professional restoration services. Don't let water woes dampen your spring spirits – safeguard your home today! 

Avoiding Fire Damage to Your Home Or Business in the Spring Season

3/25/2024 (Permalink)

Spring is upon us, bringing warmer weather and a host of outdoor activities. However, along with the joys of springtime, it's important to remain vigilant against potential fire hazards that could threaten your home. Here are three key fire hazards to be mindful of during the spring season:

1. Grilling Safety: As the weather warms up, many of us will be eager to fire up the grill for outdoor cooking. However, it's essential to use caution to prevent dangerous fires. Make sure your grill is placed away from any flammable materials, such as overhanging branches or wooden decks. Always keep a fire extinguisher nearby and never leave the grill unattended while in use.

2. Yard Debris Management: Spring cleaning often involves clearing away yard debris like dry leaves, branches, and dead vegetation. While tidying up your outdoor space is important, it's crucial to dispose of these materials properly. Avoid burning yard waste on windy days, and always adhere to local regulations for outdoor burning. Consider composting or using designated disposal methods to reduce the risk of accidental fires.

3. Electrical Equipment Usage: With the arrival of spring, there's typically an uptick in outdoor activities that require the use of electrical equipment, such as lawnmowers, trimmers, and power tools. Before using these devices, take the time to inspect their electrical cords and outlets for any signs of damage or wear. Avoid overloading circuits with too many devices, and ensure that electrical equipment is kept away from water sources at all times.

By remaining vigilant and addressing these common fire hazards, you can help protect your home and loved ones throughout the spring season. Remember to install and maintain working smoke detectors in your home, and develop a family fire escape plan in case of emergencies. Should you ever experience fire damage, you can trust SERVPRO to provide professional restoration and cleanup services. Stay safe and enjoy the spring season!

Water stain on the ceiling? Why not to delay getting it fixed.

1/23/2024 (Permalink)

Have you noticed water stains on your ceiling? This is a common occurrence in residential homes that should not be ignored. Instead, we recommend you take the necessary steps to rectify this urgent matter.

If you see water stain(s) on your ceiling, you should contact SERVPRO promptly.

Water stains can mean:

• Problem with roof
• Poor insulation
• Leaky pipe(s)
• Leaky Caulking

Whatever is above your ceiling is typically the source of the moisture issue. Is your property’s roof or a bathroom above the water stain? That may be the cause of the problem. Or there may be multiple underlying issues that have yet to be discovered and dealt with. 

Water seepage from old caulking or piping in disrepair are other common sources of water stains. It’s very important that damaged or old pipes are replaced to avoid leaking and causing further damage to the interior of your property

After a snowstorm or a major weather event,  water stains can show up on your ceiling. For example, rain can seep into your home via the gutter. This would show us that you have a roofing issue.

However, if an ice dam forms on your roof and water is able to make its way in, it’s a good indicator that there needs to be an improvement on the insulation.

On occasion, a professional may need to remove a portion of the ceiling, and possibly the wall, to indicate what the issue is and fix the problem. 

Dealing with the stain in a timely manner is key. Applying a quick coat of paint over the stain can make a temporary, cosmetic difference, but oftentimes, the stain will bleed right through the new paint.

Instead, call a professional to ensure the source of the water is correctly identified and handled properly. Ignoring the issue can lead to expensive repairs. It’s much better to catch the problem sooner rather than later leading to having to have sections of your ceiling torn down and replaced.

Call us, SERVPRO to have water stains in your home or office checked out. We are the area’s water damage experts and are always “Faster to any size disaster.”

Call us with any needs or questions at 217-355-0077

Our Experience in the Commercial Sector

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial property in Vermilion County that needed a general cleaning

SERVPRO of Vermilion has assisted Vermilion County businesses with their restoration needs such as water damage, fire damage, and mold remediation and construction.

As authorized contractors, and with more than 15 years of experience, we have a wide range of experience in different commercial sectors, that is why in all the projects we execute we provide a complete experience "Like it never even happened." An example of the different types of companies we have worked with are:

Small office buildings

Large offices/high-rise office buildings

Apartment building

Restaurants

Hotels/Motels

Small retail stores

Large retail/big box stores

High rise residential

Manufacturing and Industrial

Military government

If you experience emergency damage to any of your Vermilion County properties and are looking for quality, efficient service, call us at (217) 443-0077. We will be ready to respond using our innovative technology and experience.

What to Save When Your Office Building Gets Flooded with Water

7/31/2022 (Permalink)

Vermilion County Commercial Property that experienced flooding to their first floor.

What to Save When Your Office Building Gets Flooded with Water

Flooding at your office building can be overwhelming and devastating. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of damage that can occur over such a short period of time. It’s necessary to stay focused and do what you can to save important materials. Here are some suggestions of what to prioritize. 

Power Down

Water and electricity can not only destroy valuable computers and data; it can electrocute you as well. If flooding is extensive, be extra careful. If you feel that you can safely reach the circuit board to shut down the power supply to your office, this should probably be your top priority. 

Computers

These days, many businesses have cloud backup for their digital documents to safeguard against events such as flooding or other misfortune such as fire, theft or electrical mishaps. Regardless of your backup capacity, those computers are valuable and can be ruined by exposure to water, so you may want to place them onto tables or shelves to keep them dry, or remove them from the building. 

Paper Documents

Many paper documents are high priority, and of course will be ruined by flooding, so move them to a safe place or remove them from the building. As a matter of protocol, it’s a good idea to routinely back these documents up by scanning them and uploading them to a cloud server, and to store them at least a few feet above the floor if it’s necessary to hold onto physical copies. 

Printers

Your printers may be one of the most expensive items in your office, so move them to safety if possible. Many commercial grade printers also store a copy of everything that’s been copied on them, so they can be a valuable data source after a disaster. Of course, it’s important that the power be off when you do this if you’re standing in water. They can also be extremely heavy, so get help. You don’t want to add a sprained back to your troubles. 

Get Professional Help

A professional water cleanup and restoration company has special tools, experience and methods to save as much of your office building, equipment and materials as possible, so call them as soon as you can. The quicker they can get to your business, the more they can save. 

If your Northeast Florida business has experienced flooding, call SERVPRO of Vermilion County for help. Our highly-trained restoration technicians have the experience and equipment to restore your North Florida business and get everything back to preloss condition. A trusted leader in the industry, we’ve served our community for more than 40 years. Call 217-443-0077

Where Should Home Fire Alarms Go?

7/31/2022 (Permalink)

Home Fire Alarm set inside every bedroom of Vermilion County Home

While many homes in Danville, IL come already installed with all the smoke alarms you need to make sure you are keeping your family safe. As more research has been conducted over the years on fires and how they spread, requirements have changed. Many older homes do not meet these standards which can be dangerous in the case a fire does occur. Keep your family safe by ensuring a fire alarm is located in the following four locations! Bedrooms - The National Fire Protection Association suggests the placement of a fire alarm in every bedroom of the house. This ensures that if a fire occurs while your family is asleep, the alarms will wake quickly wake up everyone. Outside Every Sleeping Area - Not only should alarms be inside every bedroom, but there should also be a smoke alarm right outside the room or any other sleeping areas as well. This is so you can react and start to escape before any fire or smoke even enters your room. 10 Feet From Your Kitchen - Kitchen fires result in approximately 50 percent of all home fires, many of which result in serious fire damage to your home. Make sure a fire alarm is located 10 feet from your kitchen rather than inside it since smoke or steam from cooking can easily trigger it. Every Level of Your Home - Ensure that there is as least one smoke alarm on every level of your home. Don’t forget your basement! Serious fire and smoke damage can occur from an undetected fire that starts in the basement. It doesn’t take long for a house fire to quickly get out of hand! That’s why it is so important to have all the required fire alarms installed so you can quickly get everyone out of your house and get in contact with the fire department and a fire restoration company to minimize the fire damage to your home.

Commercial Property Damage in Vermilion County?

7/28/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial Property in Vermilion County that used SERVPRO after a water loss

At SERVPRO of Vermilion County we understand how difficult it is to close your Vermilion County business for a few days due to an emergency. We have a 24-hour service to minimize disruption for your employees and customers.

As authorized contractors, and with more than 15 years of experience, we have a wide range of building and construction services to provide you with a complete experience "Like it never even happened,” some of them are:

Board Up

Carpet Repair and Installation

Drywall Installation

Drywall Removal

Pack out

Pack back 

General Contracting

Hardwood Floor Repair

Tile Floor Repair

HVAC Services

Painting

Plumbing

If you experience an emergency circumstance in your Vermilion County business, we'll be ready to respond using our innovative technology and experience. Call SERVPRO of Vermilion County at (217) 443-0077.

The 1-4-8 Method

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage. Something you never want to encounter. Something that’s never fun. Something that many may face one day. According to industry estimates, 14,000 people in the U.S. experience a water damage emergency at home or work each day. And did you know 98% of basements in the U.S. will suffer from some type of water damage during its lifetime? If your home happens to fall into that percentage, rest assured, the highly trained water restoration technicians at SERVPRO of Vermilion County can make the damage "Like it never even happened.” SERVPRO’s 1-4-8 philosophy for water damage is a guarantee. 

Our water damage process overview:

One Hour

Within one hour from notice of loss, a SERVPRO of Vermilion County professional will contact you to arrange for service. You’ll know professional help is on the way.

Four Hours 

Within four hours of loss notification, we’ll be on-site to start mitigation services. The key to reducing damage and saving money is responding quickly to your damage.

Detailed Explanation

Our trained, uniformed and equipped professional will walk you through the job process step-by-step. He or she will thoroughly explain what to expect and the anticipated outcome.

Pretesting 

Our professionals will begin pretesting for restorability, working from the source of the damage outward. 

Eight Hours 

Within eight business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to the appropriate person -- normally your adjuster or property manager.

Cleaning & Restoration

SERVPRO of Vermilion County professionals will work diligently and efficiently to help you regain control of your property when a damaging event has taken over. We use state-of-the-art restoration techniques to ensure your property is taken care of right the first time.

Final Walk-through 

After the restoration and/or mitigation work has been completed, a final walk-through will be conducted with you to help ensure your satisfaction. Our team always strives to create happy customers.

When there’s a disaster at your residential or commercial property, you don’t have time to waste; you need to act quickly to help prevent secondary damage. You need a quality restoration company that’s fully capable and quick to respond. SERVPRO of Vermilion County is fully capable and faster to any size disaster. You can fully rely on and trust our experience, reputation, credibility, integrity, equipment, and knowledge. You can also rely on and have faith in SERVPRO’s 1-4-8 philosophy for water damage.

How to File a Water Damage Claim

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

How To File A Water Damage Claim In 3 Easy Steps

If bursting pipes, severe weather, or other factors cause flooding in your Vermilion County home, you may rely on your insurance policy to cover the cleanup bills. It’s important that you file a claim promptly and correctly to make this as smooth a process as possible. Understand your coverage and what steps you must follow.

Things To Initially Consider

Your insurance plan won’t cover all water damage and related issues. In the following cases, you’ll either need supplemental coverage, or you’ll need to take care of the repair costs yourself:

• The damage occurred due to normal wear and tear.
• The damage occurred due to your own neglect of maintenance and upkeep.
• The damage occurred because you intentionally tampered with or broke pipes.

Assess the Damage

Before you start trying to fix a broken pipe or do any other maintenance, determine exactly what areas of your home suffered damage and where the water problems originated. No matter how large or small the incident was, it’s crucial to provide this information to your insurance agent.

Record the Damage

Write down different items of your home that bursting pipes affected and ruined. Also, take photos of the water damage and areas that will require cleanup and restoration. Save these pictures and records for your insurance representative.

Contact Your Agent Promptly

Obviously, you’ll want to get in touch with an experienced disaster cleanup specialist to remove water from your home and to make the area safe once again. But you’ll also want to speak to your insurance company without delay to start the claims process. It’ll be much easier to file a claim and get payment if you communicate with the insurance representative on the day of the incident.

You hate thinking about bursting pipes or other issues causes water problems in your home. It’s nice to know you can count on a competent insurance provider to ease your burden.

The Science of Drying

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

Psychrometrics: The Science of Drying

The knowledge of psychrometrics is essential to restoring a water damaged structure to its preloss condition. While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, SERVPRO of Vermilion County is trained in the science of drying and follows strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages.

If your business suffers water damage, SERVPRO of Vermilion County will:

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet, to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.
• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

What exactly does “speed up Mother Nature” mean? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material–but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is, nature often takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out. For this reason, SERVPRO of Vermilion County has been trained to use top-of-the line equipment to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls, and much more.

DRYBOOK™ DOCUMENTATION 

SERVPRO of Vermilion County uses the latest technology to help ensure your property is dried quickly and efficiently. You will see our technicians using iPads to document the drying process. DryBook™ is a proprietary tool that:

• Manages industry drying requirements.
• Provides real-time documentation on the drying process.
• Validates that services are executed to standard.
• Reports to all stakeholders involved. 
• Allows real-time updates through DryBook™ Mobile integration. This improves results and restores your property at a faster rate, getting you back in your home or business sooner.

SERVPRO® also uses state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business.

The bottom line? 

SERVPRO of Vermilion County has the training and equipment to help make it “Like it never even happened.”