Recent Posts

Smoke and Soot Damage

9/25/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

-Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.

-Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.

-The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Eaton County will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

      Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky,  smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

        Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

      Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today –517-541-1170

Critters in The Attic

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Eaton County responds to dozens of calls each year for home damage caused by a small critter. Raccoons, rats, and birds are all small animals that can set up camp on or even in your roof. This may seem like a small issue but in fact can lead to major issues.

These small animals can claw and chew there way through the layers of your roof until they eventually make there way through. This leads to massive roof underlayment damages followed by costly repairs. Once they are established, it is very difficult to keep them away permanently. An exterminator will need to come in and remove any scent of the animal and often that is just the beginning of the repair efforts needed.

Water Damage

If these animals do make it through the layers of your roof, water can seep through into your attic and make its way inside your home. That water can cause damage to your ceilings, walls, and floors.

Soffit Damage

Heavier animals can knock the soffit right off your home, giving them access to your attic.

If you find yourself in need of repairs after damage to your roof call SERVPRO of Eaton County today!

The Dangers of Mold in Your Office

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

A mold problem can present serious health risks for you and your employees. Mold growth can be caused by the smallest water intrusions, like faulty plumbing or a leaky roof.

Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. If you suspect your property has a mold problem, call a SERVPRO Franchise Professional, who will respond quickly and work fast to manage the situation.

Have a Mold Problem? Call Us Today 

517-541-1170

Commercial Mold Remediation Presents Unique Challenges

Mold can spread quickly through a property if left untreated. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals can respond quickly, working to first contain the infestation to help prevent its spread to other parts of the building. Next, they will begin the remediation process, working safely and effectively to manage the situation. They have the training, experience, and equipment to contain the mold infestation and remediate it to preloss condition. Learn more about SERVPRO Franchise Professional training and certifications.

Lightning Safety Tips

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

Although lightning can strike anytime, the chance for lightning increases in the summer months.  Stay safe with these basic tips:

  • Have a safety plan, and cancel or postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are expected.
  • If you do get caught outside, avoid high ground, open spaces, and all metal objects (this includes electric wires, fences, etc).  Seek shelter in a substantial building, or a fully enclosed vehicle.
  • If you are indoors, stay away from doors and windows.  Do not use the telephone, and consider unplugging computers, power tools, and television sets.  Lighting may strike exterior electric or phone lines, and send jolts of electricity to inside equipment.

If a storm has damaged your house and you need help cleaning or repairing the interior or exterior of your home, don't hesitate to give us a call.  You can reach SERVPRO of Eaton County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 517-541-1170.

What SERVPRO Can Do For You After A Fire

8/31/2022 (Permalink)

What does SERVPRO of Eaton County do for you when your home and family are affected?

1. Within one hour a SERVPRO Franchise Professional will call to arrange for service.

2. Within 4 short hours a professional will arrive on-site prepared to begin emergency mitigation services, if so needed.

3. A Project Manager of SERVPRO will review your home with you and address any questions or concerns.

4. The SERVPRO Project Manager will then go through your home starting from the fire and working his way outward to see what is restorable or salvageable. 

5. Next SERVPRO will present to you and your insurance adjuster a plan of action, also known as a "Scope of Work".

6. Your home will be cleaned and restored by SERVPRO Franchise Professionals.

7. After all of the work is completed, a final walk-through will be conducted with you to help ensure your satisfaction

Water Under Ceramic Tile

8/24/2022 (Permalink)

Tile can withstand small quantities of water but if your home has been flooded and you are thinking of leaving the affected tile untouched, there are a few important things you should know. Water that has found its way under ceramic tile can cause mold growth. If that mold is not taken care of it can become very dangerous. Mold spores can lead to health effects and will eventually compromise the structure of the tile itself.  

This is where your insurance company steps in and tells you to call SERVPRO of Eaton County. Our trained professionals will come in, asses all damage and identify potential future problems that you may not have even known to check for. Our Project Manager will work directly with you and your insurance adjuster to repair or replace all damaged areas.  

With 24/7 on-call technicians, we are faster to any size disaster.

517-541-1170

Steps to Take After A Basement Flood

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Few things are more stressful and disgusting than basement flooding. Whether it’s one inch or one foot of water, the effects can be detrimental to your home. And while damage to things like carpet, drywall, and furniture are immediately noticeable, something more serious could be lurking underneath your floors.

Five Things to Do After Basement Flooding

Whether it’s just a couple of inches of water or a few feet, you must respond quickly to basement flooding. Here are a few things you’ll need to do:

  1. Kill the Power

If there’s standing water in your basement, then you shouldn’t attempt to walk or wade through until you’ve shut off the power and made sure that open circuits aren’t covered by water. This can obviously be an electrocution hazard and isn’t something you want to mess with.

If you’re unsure of whether the electricity is cut off, can’t get to the circuit board, or simply don’t feel comfortable with the situation, then don’t attempt to go anywhere near the water.

  1. Get Rid of the Standing Water

The next order of business is to get rid of the water. The longer the water sits in your basement, the more damage it will cause. Make sure you put on a pair of sturdy shoes or boots and pants that cover your legs. You never know what’s lurking underneath the water and don’t want to risk hurting yourself.

If the standing water is high, your first step is to get a bucket and start manually removing the water (be sure to dump far away from the home’s foundation). Once you extract most of the water, you can use a wet vacuum to suck up the moisture from the floor.

  1. Call in the Professionals - Like SERVPRO of Eaton County

Once the standing water is removed, you should call in the professionals to take a look. Depending on the extent of the damage and how meticulous you want to be, this may include calls to an electrician, a flood cleanup crew, and a general contractor.  Fortunately, a single call to our office at 517-541-1170 can handle all of those repairs

Any carpeting or absorbent materials that were affected will need to be ripped up or replaced. If appliances spent any time sitting in the water, they should be looked at by a professional before being used.

  1. Call Your Insurance Provider

Once all of the time-sensitive issues have been handled, take a few minutes to call your insurance provider to let them know about the problem. If the flooding happened as a result of one of your home’s plumbing systems, then your home insurance policy may cover some or all of the damage. However, if the flooding was the result of a natural disaster, then you’ll most likely need flood insurance. Regardless, place a couple of phone calls to see what can be done.

  1. Protect Your Home

As soon as everything gets repaired and restored, you should begin taking proactive steps to protect your home from similar issues in the future. The ground next to your basement and foundation should slope away from the home. Gutters and downspouts should slope away too while discharging water a minimum of five feet away from the home. All windows and vents should be sealed and your basement walls should be waterproofed with an appropriate product. If flooding is common, consider installing special French drains or even a sump-pump.

Mold Damage

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Does your Eaton County home have mold? Of course it does- Even if it's not visible.

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is actually impossible.

 Consider the following mold facts:

  • Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
  • Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
  • Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
  • Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
  • Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.

If you notice mold growth in your home, give us a call today at 517-541-1170 and let SERVPRO of Eaton County remediate your mold problem!

SERVPROXIDE

8/3/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians have been developing and cleaning with the most advance products around. For over 50 years SERVPRO has been at the forefront of extreme fire and water disaster clean ups and restoration. In addition to offering our Certified SERVPRO Cleaned program, where our franchises perform a professional pathogen cleaning on your site, we are now proud to offer SERVPRO's certified disinfectant, SERVPROXIDE. This single product kills most viruses and bacteria and has an extremely low EPA toxicity rating, making it safe for everyday use.

SERVPROXIDE vs COMPETITION

SERVPROXIDE

-kills 99.999% of bacteria

-Requires no dilution

-Non bleach formulated

-No harsh chemicals or fumes

-NSF certified (safe around food)

-Lowest toxicity rating by EPA. 

COMPETION

Kills 99.999% of bacteria

The facts speak for themselves. Add this to your daily cleaning protocol today!

Document Restoration

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

Major water or fire damage can leave you feeling helpless over the loss of important family documents and photographs or books. SERVPRO knows that quick mediation is the key to recovering your damaged property. 

What can we restore?

  • paper documents
  • books and magazines
  • manuscripts and files
  • photographs, films, negatives, and microfiche
  • x-rays
  • blueprints and maps
  • parchment

How do we do it?

We use innovative vacuum freeze-drying techniques. Our vacuum freeze-drying process is the only method approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the General Services Administration (GSA).

With major water damage documents can we exposed to mold and bacteria. SERVPRO uses a gamma irradiation process to safely and effectively sterilize your documents. We are also able to digitize your valuable documents and photographs. It will save you space allow for easy and fast access