SERVPRO of Oak Ridge Shares Tips for Fire Safety!

8/18/2022 (Permalink)

Ensuring your kid's safety in the event of a fire is a top priority.

Fire Safety

For a parent in an Clinton, TN home, ensuring your kid's safety in the event of a fire is a top priority. This is why it's essential to include them in your fire escape plans. While your plan may consist of essential things such as the location of a fire extinguisher or the number of a fire damage restoration company, you may also want to include fire safety lessons for your young ones. Here are three things you may want to teach them so that they know what to do during an emergency.

1. Where Are the Exits

During a home fire, it's essential to know where the exits are in case of a fire. Teach your children how to open an emergency window, or how to tell which door out is the safest. It might help to make a game out of learning possible escape routes.

2. How To Escape Safely

You may also want to teach your kids safety techniques for getting out of the home during an emergency. Teach them to crawl under the smoke, and also to test for heat from a door before opening it. Teach them to press the back of the hand to the door to feel for warmth, and if it's not hot, open slowly and check to make sure the way is clear.

3. Where To Meet Up

Another thing every member of your family should know is where to meet up after a fire. You will want to choose a location safely away from the home that every family member can easily find. This may be a mail box or a neighbor's yard. During your fire drills practice getting there as the end goal.

When ensuring your kid's safety in a fire escape plan, you may want to teach them these three things. How to get out of the home in the event of a fire, how to do so safely, and where to go afterward. Doing so can help ensure that every member of your family knows what to do during an emergency.

3 Questions You May Have About the SERVPRO 24 Hour Response

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

24/7 Emergency Services

SERVPRO 24 Hour Response

One of the most important SERVPRO features is the 24-hour response to any case. No matter the situation in your Marlow, TN, business, a response team is always open for you. Still, you may have questions about this approach, from the specific procedures to its importance in damage repair. Learn more about it from the following responses. 

1. What is the SERVPRO Response?
Commercial disasters can happen at any time, regardless of preparation. This reason is why SERVPRO is available on a 24/7 basis. Once you call, they can contact you back within the first hour. Due to the company's various locations throughout the country, you can expect a commercial restoration team within four hours from the call. Once the situation is assessed, you might receive a verbal briefing up to eight hours from your report. 

2. Why Is the Fast Response Important?
Commercial damage can affect your property at a fast rate. The 24-hour period alone can severely alter your building and your equipment. For example, an excess of water can spread throughout the area and be absorbed by the floors and walls within minutes. Furniture can bleed its finish while vulnerable paper items can warp and swell immediately. Within a single day, the drywall and furniture might expand and crack, while anything made of metal could start to tarnish. You might smell odors around this time. 

3. What Are the Consequences of Delayed Response? 
A late response that goes beyond a day can worsen the situation. Metal surfaces might start to corrode, while wooden items and surfaces can swell and warp. The extended time and humidity might also encourage the growth and spread of mold and mildew. After a week, the building can become dangerous for occupants and the expenses for repairs and replacements might significantly increase. 
While a 24-hour period may be a relatively brief amount of time, it is long enough for commercial damage to escalate. SERVPRO is always available 24/7 to promptly investigate and treat damage at any point. 

Key Elements of the Fire restoration Process

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Board up services in a commercial building in Rocky Top, TN.

Fire Restoration Process

When it comes to emergencies in your Rocky Top, TN, workplace, few could be more devastating than a fire. Fortunately, with the right help and response, fire restoration is possible. You can salvage some items and start to rebuild your building when you take the proper steps. 

1. Contact Emergency Personnel
As soon as you discover a fire in your Rocky Top, TN, building, you should get to safety and call 911. Once you are in a safe place, you can contact a team of local fire restoration professionals. A fire restoration company is available 24/7 to take your call and respond to your needs. 

2. Assessing the Damage
Once the restoration team arrives at your building, technicians will begin inspecting the area. They will carefully and thoroughly evaluate the extent of the damage, including how many rooms the fire affected and what was ruined or destroyed. The company will determine what fire rebuild actions are necessary. Technicians will work closely with your insurance company and fire marshals in this process.

3. Board up and Tarping Services
Team members will board up any damaged windows and tarp the roof where damaged occurred. This will promote safety and security in the house. 

4. Removing Any Water
Because firefighters will use a lot of water to put out the fire in your building, flooding and the development of mold could be a concern. Technicians will extract any water and thoroughly dry the affected area. 

5. Smoke and Ash Removal
Using specialized equipment, technicians will clean all surfaces and furniture of ash and soot. The team will sanitize and clean your building as well.

6. Making Necessary Repairs
Restoration companies offer rebuilding services after a fire. Construction work can commence on the building, including the structure and any components such as drywall and flooring. 
With the right fire restoration company on your side, you can have peace of mind. You can also enjoy working in a safe building again. 

Reasons to Call SERVPRO for Your Document Cleaning Needs

3/2/2022 (Permalink)

With SERVPRO’s document restoration processes, you don’t have to lose these important items.

Document Restoration

During and after a flood, a lot of things can go wrong. You may discover significant damage to walls, floors, the ceiling and furniture. Also, flood water can ruin documents, including books and financial paperwork. You may think these items are a total loss, but when the right team gets on the case, there is hope for document restoration. The best emergency response companies can take even the most delicate documents and salvage them following flood damage.

How Does SERVPRO Approach Damaged Documents?

Hopefully, you have backups for your most sensitive documents. However, with items such as books, pictures and other keepsakes, you need an effective document drying process to save them. This is where SERVPRO comes in.

• Technicians will examine the affected items and determine the extent of the damage.
  
• Technicians will decide what they can save and what is beyond repair.
  
• Technicians will use top industry tools and techniques to dry and restore your documents.
  
  

Drying Methods

SERVPRO has some unique document drying techniques that you won’t find with all other cleanup teams. The technicians will employ vacuum freeze-drying to save your books, papers and other documents. In addition to this, SERVPRO will carefully clean and sanitize the documents. This is especially important if you’ve had a flood in your Lake City, TN, home, and sewage is a concern. The team will ensure that harmful substances don’t stay on your documents.

A Better Choice

SERVPRO isn’t the company that does document restoration, but it should be your No. 1 choice when you have these needs. One advantage is that SERVPRO will help keep your cleanup costs down compared with other commercial companies. In addition, the team will work closely with your insurance provider to get the ball rolling on coverage so you don’t have to shoulder the bill.

Don’t despair if your documents suffered damage in a flood. With SERVPRO’s document restoration processes, you don’t have to lose these important items.

The Truth About What You Need To Do With Belongings Affected by Mold Damage

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

Mold can grow anywhere.

If you’ve recently discovered mold in your home in Norris, TN, you might be devastated to discover that the extent of the damage goes beyond the structure of your home. Since mold likes to attach itself to a large number of different types of surfaces, your personal belongings may be affected as well. The good news is that mold cleaning is possible for many different types of items around your home!

The Inspection Process

When a mold remediation specialist surveys the damage caused by mold to your home, they will inspect all the items affected. Often, the first step involves identifying whether items are porous, semi-porous, or non-porous. Porous surfaces have holes that quickly absorb water or other particles. Here are some examples of porous items:

• Paper
  
• Books
  
• Carpet
  
• Cardboard
  
• Mattresses
  
• Stuffed animals
  
  

Porous items that have experienced mold damage require a more extensive cleaning process, so they are often thrown out if they are not of any value. However, items of sentimental value or important documents can be restored using special mold cleaning methods. It is important to consider the cost of cleaning particular items when determining whether you should keep them or throw them away.

Item Restoration

Once the items you want to have restored are identified, the restoration specialist will identify the best cleaning method depending on the type of object affected. While non-porous surfaces can often be washed using dry and wet cleaning, spray and wipe cleaning, or abrasive and immersion cleaning, some items require special handling. For example, electronics, documents, photographs, and upholstery fabrics will go through a specialized mold cleaning process that will prevent further damage or corrosion from occurring.

While there is no guarantee that all of your items can be salvaged, it is certainly a relief to learn that you don’t need to throw out everything you own that has been affected by mold! With the help of a mold remediation specialist, you will be able to restore many of your most valuable belongings.

Home Insurance May Not Cover All Types of Fire Damage

11/23/2021 (Permalink)

Arson fire is not covered by any type of insurance.

Home Insurance May Not Cover All Types of Fire Damage

During a home fire, your first thought may not be about your insurance policy. Instead, you may be concerned with a few other things, such as:

• The safety of your family
• The ability to get to safety
• The condition of your belongings
• The damage to your house

Once the danger has died down and the residential fire remediation team has come in, you have some time to start worrying about insurance and the nuances of your coverage. Under most situations, a homeowner's policy will cover the damage done to your house. However, there are two instances that are often not covered.

Vacancy

If a home is empty at the time a fire started, it may not be covered by your policy. Most companies define a vacant house as one that has not been lived in for more than 30 consecutive days. If a provider can prove a home was not lived in, you may have to pay for the damage done during a vacant home fire out of pocket. Summer or winter homes can be protected by an additional clause or endorsement to the normal policy. You should make sure your clause remains in effect every time you update your policy.

Arson

If a homeowner deliberately sets fire to his or her own house, the resulting damage often won't be covered by any type of insurance. Someone may commit arson with the intention of cashing in on insurance money. For this reason, many providers send out independent investigators to determine the cause of a home fire. If it is proved that the flames were started intentionally by the owner, the agency has no obligation to help pay for the repairs and restoration.

In Rocky Top, TN, the average home fire will be covered by a homeowner's insurance policy. However, the coverage provided by each agency may be slightly different. Most companies do not help pay for the damages caused by arsonists or vacancy.

Best Purifiers for Mold Removal

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

Quality air purifiers eliminate several types of indoor air pollutants, keeping us healthy.

The Best Purifiers for Mold Removal

Air purifiers are supposed to rid your Oliver Springs, TN, home of pollens, dirt and other unwanted particles. However, not all filtration systems have the ability to remove mold spores. If you work with a residential mold cleanup team, you may be able to get advice on the best purifiers for mold removal. You can also use this list of some of the best products available.

• Oransi OV200: This moderately priced purifier uses a HEPA air filtration system and pre-filter to rid the air of spores, pet dander, pollen, dust and bacteria. This product is easy to use and very efficient at removing particles from the air.

• Oransi Max: This air purifier removes pet dander, mold, bacteria, dust and pollen from the air through a pre-filter and a v-HEPA filter. One of the best things about this product is that it has good air flow and tends to be quieter than other options.

• Austin Air Healthmate: This purifier uses three types of filters—a pre-filter, HEPA filter and carbon filter—to rid the air of odor, dust, pollen and mold spores. While it's not as easy to use as some of the other options, it is still very efficient and not too loud.

• BlueAir 450E: This machine combines a HEPA filter and an air ionizer to better remove bacteria, dust and mold from the air. With this high-quality air filtration system, you'll love how clean the air in your house feels.

• Amway Atmosphere: This pricier option uses a pre-filter, HEPA filter and carbon filter combination to remove small particles from the air. The equipment is very good at removing particles from your home, but it has a high maintenance cost due to the expense to replace filters.

• RabbitAir MinusA2: This purifier uses four different kinds of filters to clean your air. The pre-filter, HEPA filter, medium filter and carbon filter work together in this effective appliance.

There are plenty of other air filtration products on the market. As you try to pick out one for your home, consider price and quality.

Detecting and Treating Plant Mildew

9/28/2021 (Permalink)

The discovery of mildew on plants requires immediate action.

Plant Mildew Detection And Treatment

Mildew is a fungus found only on living plants. Because it’s a parasite, it can quickly spread and completely destroy the infected plant and others in the vicinity. Damp climates can assist in causing plant mildew in Oliver Springs, TN. If there isn’t proper air circulation and the environment is especially humid, this fungus can show up and begin to take over your plants.

There are two types of mildew, and they are distinguished in two ways. The first is a powder-like matter that can be seen on the top and bottom of the leaves. The second is a velvety substance and will grow only on the bottom of the leaves. Of the two, the latter can actually be spread by watering.

Important Tips To Get Rid of Plant Mildew

The discovery of mildew on plants requires immediate action. Here are some ways to treat your plants and stop the fungus from spreading:

• Any leaves that are infected must be clipped and thrown away
• Ensure proper air circulation around the plant and don’t group plants too closely together
• Keep the room that the plants are in dry, not humid
• Water at the roots only
• Use a fungicide to treat the mildew growth

Things To Look for When Checking for Mildew

Your plants will show you in color if they are suffering from mildew. Look for discolored leaves, typically a yellowish color. Sometimes they will begin to look gray and faded. The obvious sign will be the appearance of the mildew itself, which may take on a range of different colors, such as yellow or purple. Once detected, take immediate action to save your infected plant and any others in your home.

Keeping your home free of excess humidity and checking your plants regularly are great preventative steps to protecting your plants. If you discover plant mildew, quick action on your part may save them. If you believe your home may be experiencing high air moisture content, you can always consult a professional company that deals with issues such as mildew for guidance.

The Silent Killer

8/13/2021 (Permalink)

Carbon monoxide, considered “the silent killer,” is a gas you cannot see, taste, or smell. It can be created when fuels, such as kerosene, gasoline, coal, natural gas, propane, methane, or wood, do not burn properly. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, around 150 people die every year from accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Often, it is the result of faulty, improperly used or vented consumer products like furnaces, ranges, water heaters, room heaters, and engine-powered equipment, such as portable generators. However, there are precautions you can take to help protect yourself, your family, and your employees from deadly CO fumes.
Reduce the chance of CO exposure in your workplace by performing regular maintenance on equipment and appliances that can produce CO. Consider switching from gasoline-powered material to computer powered by electricity or batteries. Prohibit the use of gasoline-powered engines or tools in poorly ventilated areas.
To protect your home, install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the house, including outside of all bedrooms. Consider having all fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys serviced annually by a professional. Use portable generators only in well-ventilated areas away from doors, windows, vents, and other openings to prevent fumes from entering the home.

How To Keep Mold Out of Your Bathroom

7/19/2021 (Permalink)

Mold cleaning.

Mold Prevention In Your Bathroom

Every bathroom contains moisture, and it can be a challenge to keep it at low levels. High levels of humidity make bathrooms a prime location for mold growth and water damage. Here are tips for mold prevention in your Claxton, TN, bathroom.

Collecting Tools You Need

Start by making sure you have the following on hand:

• Squeegee
  
• Grout sealer
  
• Bleach
  
• Detergent
  
• Scrub brush
  
• Sponge
  
  

If your bathroom isn't equipped with a fan, it's a good idea to consider installing one.

Eliminating Moisture
The best way to prevent mold growth and the need for water damage repair in your bathroom is to eliminate the moisture that can cause it. After bathing or showering, use a squeegee to wipe down the shower walls. This simple step can eliminate 75% of the moisture that encourages mold to grow.
If you have a bathroom fan, turn it on while showering or bathing and let it run for half an hour after you finish. This step will help remove moisture from the air. Your fan should have a label with a cubic-foot-per-minute volume. This rating is the amount of air the fan can move measured in cubic feet per minute. The standard is to have a fan that moves 1 CFM per square foot of room area.
If you have tile, use a grout sealer once a year to waterproof it.

Removing Mold
If you have existing mold, scrub the area with detergent and water. Use a solution of 90% water and 10% bleach if detergent alone doesn't work. Brush or spray on the bleach mixture and allow it to sit on the surface for 10 minutes before scrubbing, rinsing and allowing the surface to dry.
If you notice mold on caulking, remove and replace the caulk.
While all bathrooms have moisture, you can take simple steps to remove most of it and protect your Claxton, TN, bathroom from water damage and mold growth.

Cleaning Up After Damages in Oak Ridge

5/28/2021 (Permalink)

Water damages need specific equipment to mitigate!

Water damage and flooding in someone’s home or business is one of the most destructive and potentially expensive experiences a property owner can experience. Water damage can vary from being a small, easy to fix the problem, to being a complete disaster that could ruin your entire property. So, what should you do if your Oak Ridge home or business is affected by water damage? As soon as you suspect water damage in your property, it is essential for you to immediately contact your insurance company to notify them of the cost and have them assess whether your property is safe to be in or not.

As soon as you suspect water damage in your Oak Ridge property, it is essential for you to immediately contact your insurance company to notify them of the cost and have them assess whether your property is safe to live or work in or not. Time is of the essence when dealing with water damage for your home or business. It can be the difference between having minor damage that can be fixed, to ruining the entire structure of the building and costing yourself a lot more money to restore your property to normal.

Water damage or flooding poses severe risks for anyone in or around the property. You may or may not know some of the hazards you could run into while inspecting the property post water damage. SERVPRO of Oak Ridge are experts at water mitigation and restoration, and we want to inform people of the initial steps that need to be taken to ensure the safety of the property as well as provide the least amount of damage to their properties.

What to Do Before Help Arrives

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

Do you know what to do before help arrives?

A fire can leave behind soot, smoke damage, and a host of other problems.

Ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting, and floors will often need a thorough

professional cleaning. If your home or business suffers a fire, it is essential to take the appropriate steps to prevent further damage until your local SERVPRO® of Oak Ridge arrives. The following tips may help reduce costs and increase the chances of a successful restoration.

DO:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpet.
• Keep your hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork.
• Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer/refrigerator completely and prop doors open to help prevent odor.
• Wipe soot from chrome kitchen/bathroom faucets, trim and appliances, then protect these surfaces with a light coating of lubricant.
• If heat is off during winter, pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks, and tubs to avoid freezing pipes and fixtures.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers to stop particles of soot from getting in or out of the HVAC system.

DON'T:

• Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without first
• contacting your SERVPRO® of Cedar Bluff
• Don't try to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first consulting your SERVPRO® of Oak Ridge.
• Do not attempt to clean any electrical appliances (TV sets, radios, etc.) that may have been close to fire, heat, or water without first consulting an authorized repair service.
• Do not consume any food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat, or water, as they may be contaminated.
• If the ceiling is wet, do not turn on ceiling fans.
• The wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock, and air movement may create secondary damage.
• Don't send garments to the dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set in smoke odor.

Clogged Dryer Vents

4/19/2020 (Permalink)

Dryer vents clog when enough lint accumulates in your ventilation system to cause a blockage. Dryer vents can plug in a variety of ways. For one, a lengthy distance on a dryer ventilation system increases the likelihood of bends and curves in the system, where lint is most likely to collect. Second, dryer ventilation tubes are made from pliable plastic or foil, which can be easily crushed or dented given enough pressure. Finally, poorly connected ventilation or dryer vent screen can cause lint to trap. Some ventilation screens serve to prevent animals from accessing the ventilation, but these screens can also create a barrier for dust.

The highly trained professionals at SERVPRO of West Knoxville/Farragut can help. Give us a call at 865-690-9658

Commercial Cleaning

4/19/2020 (Permalink)

Germs have been rough this year and continue to hit during spring. Reports on the potential dangers of antibiotic-resistant superbugs mingle with discussions of the effectiveness of vaccinations and various other medical interventions. While germs may be too small to be seen with the naked eye, encountering them can have a significant impact on your health, and these microscopic menaces can lie in wait on a wide array of joint surfaces. How long can germs live on surfaces? And what can you do to protect yourself and your health?

HOW LONG CAN GERMS LIVE ON SURFACES?

When germs are on the prowl, no place is safe. Buses, commuter trains, rental cars, and private vehicles transport both people and virulent bacteria. Retail establishments, health clubs, educational institutions, restaurants, hotel rooms, and even cruise ship cabins can shelter germs. Practically anything that you touch can expose you to viruses, putting your health at risk. According to the National Health Service, the lifespan of a germ varies depending on the type of germ and the surface that it is on. How long can bacteria live on surfaces? Below we explore a few common examples.

COLD GERMS

The common cold is a frequent source of misery. A variety of viruses can trigger it, and like other viruses, cold germs tend to survive for more extended periods on hard, nonporous surfaces like desktops and handrails. On suitable indoor surfaces, cold germs can linger for days, but fortunately, they rarely remain infectious for more than 24 hours. Cold viruses can also thrive on the skin, but their survival time there is generally measured in mere minutes or hours.

INFLUENZA GERMS

Viruses that cause influenza can survive in the air as droplets for hours and live on hard surfaces like phones and keyboards for up to 24 hours. Infectious flu viruses clinging to a tissue can last for about 15 minutes, but germs on the hands tend to fade quickly. Most will be only a minimal threat after five minutes. It may be a small window of time, but influenza germs don’t warn you of their presence and can make you very sick if you’re unlucky enough to encounter them when they’re infectious.

NOROVIRUS GERMS

A highly contagious virus that triggers stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea in those unfortunate enough to catch it, a norovirus can spread through small droplets that travel through the air before settling on surfaces like elevator buttons, tabletops, and clothing. While they don’t thrive as successfully on porous materials like tissues and fabrics, noroviruses can survive on hard surfaces for days or weeks if the conditions are favorable.

MRSA GERMS

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, the culprits behind dangerous MRSA infections, are unfazed by many of the antibiotics that are effective in combating other staph infections. Like viruses, these germs tend to survive for shorter periods on porous surfaces than they do on nonporous ones, but they’re capable of living for days or weeks on surfaces if the circumstances are right.

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM GERMS

Everyone has seen it. If you’ve worked in restaurants or other public venues, you may even have wielded it: the dreaded wet, grey rag. Habitually passed over tabletops between customers with a few desultorily swipes, it is an inadequate weapon when it comes to eradicating germs. But what is required to disinfect a surface?

DISINFECTING BASICS

If you want to kill the germs lurking on a surface, you need to choose an appropriate disinfectant. You also have to apply it correctly. That means saturating the surface with enough of the germ-fighting chemical to get the job done and ensuring that there’s enough contact time (the time when the chemical is on the cover) to allow it to eliminate any germs present. Choosing a low-grade disinfectant or skimping on either saturation or contact time can compromise your germ-fighting efforts, so it’s vital that you select your products carefully and read and follow their directions.