Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work For You! - 2024 NFPA Fire Prevention Week Theme

10/1/2024 (Permalink)

Are your smoke alarms in working order?

Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has sponsored Fire Prevention Week to promote public awareness. It's observed annually during the week of October 9th to honor the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, which caused widespread devastation over a century ago. During this week, firefighters provide critical fire safety education to children, adults, and educators to help reduce fire-related casualties.

This year's theme emphasizes the importance of having functional smoke alarms in your home. Here are some key tips and guidelines:

• Installation: Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area (such as in hallways), and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Testing: Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button.
• Replacement: Replace smoke alarms when they reach 10 years of age or no longer respond to testing.

If you experience a fire in your home or business, contact SERVPRO of Eaton County, SERVPRO of Clinton & Gratiot Counties and SERVPRO of Lansing & Holt at 517-541-1170. Our expert team is Here to help® restore your property safely and efficiently.

September is Preparedness Month - Is Your Business Ready For a Disaster?

8/29/2024 (Permalink)

Be "Ready for whatever happens." with SERVPRO

As many as 50% of businesses may never recover after a disaster. While no one plans on facing a disaster, you can plan ahead to be prepared. With National Preparedness Month upon us, now is the perfect time to ask yourself, "Are you ready for whatever could happen?" The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) offers peace of mind by providing critical information needed to begin mitigation and recovery services. It also serves as a quick reference for important building and contact information.

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Advantage:

• A no-cost assessment of your facility.
• A concise Profile Document containing only the critical information needed in an emergency.
• A guide to help you quickly get back into your building after a disaster.
• Establishes SERVPRO of Eaton County, SERVPRO of Clinton & Gratiot Counties, and SERVPRO of Lansing & Holt as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.
• Identifies the line of command for authorizing work to begin.
• Provides facility details, such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas, and key contact information.

In honor of National Preparedness Month, call SERVPRO of Eaton County, SERVPRO of Clinton & Gratiot Counties, and SERVPRO of Lansing & Holt today at 517-541-1170 to get started and be "Ready for whatever happens."

A Step-by-Step Explanation of How We Handle Water Damage Claims

3/11/2024 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Eaton County, we've seen firsthand the havoc that water damage can wreak on homes and businesses. From burst pipes to natural disasters, water damage doesn't discriminate, and the aftermath can be devastating. However, amidst the chaos, there's a glimmer of hope in the form of professional cleanup and restoration services. 

First and foremost, when dealing with water damage, time is of the essence. The longer water sits, the more extensive the damage becomes, leading to mold growth, structural issues, and potential health hazards. That's why our response time is crucial. We're trained to act swiftly, arriving on-site promptly to assess the situation and begin mitigation efforts immediately.

One of the first steps in water damage cleanup is extraction. Using specialized equipment such as pumps and wet/dry vacuums, we remove standing water from the affected area. This step is vital for preventing further saturation of building materials and minimizing the risk of secondary damage.

Once the excess water is removed, we focus on drying and dehumidification. Industrial-grade air movers and dehumidifiers are strategically placed to facilitate evaporation and draw moisture out of the air and surfaces. This step may take several days to complete, depending on the extent of the damage and environmental conditions.

In addition to drying, thorough cleaning and sanitation are essential components of the restoration process. We use antimicrobial treatments to disinfect affected areas and inhibit mold growth. Porous materials like carpeting and drywall may need to be removed and replaced if they cannot be adequately cleaned and dried.

Throughout the cleanup and restoration process, communication with the property owner is paramount. We provide regular updates on our progress and work closely with insurance companies to streamline the claims process. Our goal is to alleviate stress and uncertainty for our clients while restoring their property to its pre-damaged condition as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Water damage cleanup is a complex and multi-faceted endeavor that requires expertise, experience, and dedication. At SERVPRO of Eaton County, we take pride in helping our customers navigate the challenges of water damage restoration, providing peace of mind during a stressful time. If you ever find yourself facing water damage, remember that SERVPRO® is Here to Help®. You every step of the way.

Call us 24/7 at 517-714-1170

4 Homeowners Insurance Terms Everyone Should know

10/6/2023 (Permalink)

9/5/2023

Owning your own home can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be expensive. Not only do you have to constantly maintain your home, but there are risks you can't control, such as flooding and fire. For this reason, if you own a home, you need homeowners insurance, which will cover some or all costs of covered disasters. To better protect your home, check out these four insurance terms you need to know.

1) Peril
A peril is anything that could risk damage to your home, and it's one of the main reasons to have homeowners insurance because the insurance company may pay some or all repairmen/replacement costs. Not all perils are included in most homeowners insurance policies. In general, however, they cover the most common types of perils, such as theft or fire.

If you live in an area with frequent flooding, you may be able to purchase additional insurance to protect against flood damage. Most general policies exclude flood damage unless the damage was sudden and unexpected, such as a new washing machine that fails and floods your laundry room.

2) Catastrophe
Flood insurance is actually a type of catastrophe insurance. A catastrophe is a disaster (man-made or natural) that causes significant damage. It can be one major event or a handful of events that devastate your property. Catastrophes are not usually covered under your standard insurance policy, but they may be necessary if you live in an area with lots of earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes or hurricanes.

Catastrophe insurance comes in many forms. If you really want to protect everything you own from flooding or terrorist attacks, you can get a policy that will cover the property and everything inside. For a cheaper premium, however, you can also choose a policy that only covers the house and nothing inside.

3) Actual Cash Value
When your insurance carrier reimburses you, they may give you the actual cash value (sometimes referred to as market value). This will provide money to repair or replace the damage after considering depreciation. For example, if your deck is destroyed, but it was getting old anyway, the insurance carrier will take the age into account. In other words, they may not give you enough to actually cover the total replacement.

If the deck was brand new, however, there is less depreciation, so you may not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses. In this case, the insurance carrier would give you the replacement value. Regardless of what type of coverage you have, however, they will only provide money for similar materials and quality. You can't have the insurance carrier replace your damaged asphalt roof with a tile shingle roof.

4) Exclusion
Every insurance policy has exclusions. Exclusions are disasters and instances when the insurance carrier will not reimburse you. Exclusions usually include any damage that was related to maintenance issues or damage that was easy to control. Even if you take great care of your home, parts need to be replaced. Insurance will not cover these routine repairs.

In most cases, the policy will have an actual section detailing all the exclusions (all-risk policies), so you can immediacy know what is and what is not covered. A peril-specific policy, which only covers a handful of disasters, will list what is covered. Anything else is considered an exclusion.

Don't gamble with your property by neglecting to purchase or have enough homeowners insurance. It can be the difference between losing your home and repairing it after a disaster.

How to Prevent Further Damage After a Disaster

9/26/2023 (Permalink)

Disasters can happen at any time, and they can cause a lot of damage to your home or business. If you're unfortunate enough to experience a disaster, it's important to act quickly to prevent further damage.

Here are some tips on how to prevent further damage after a disaster:

• Turn off the utilities. This will help to prevent further damage from water, gas, or electricity.
• Secure your property. This includes boarding up windows and doors, and removing any loose debris.
• Remove any standing water. This will help to prevent mold and mildew growth.
• Ventilate the area. This will help to remove moisture and prevent mold and mildew growth.
• Clean and disinfect any affected areas. This will help to prevent the spread of bacteria and other contaminants.
• Contact a professional restoration company. If the damage is extensive, you may need to hire a professional restoration company to help you get your home or business back to normal.

SERVPRO of Northwest Genesee County is a trusted leader in damage restoration. We have over 20 years of experience and a proven track record of success. We're committed to providing our customers with the best possible service, and we'll do everything we can to get your property back to normal as quickly as possible.

If you've experienced a disaster, don't wait. Call SERVPRO of Northwest Genesee County today at 810-732-3298 to get started with the prevention process. We'll be there quickly to help you keep your property safe and prevent further damage.

Here are some additional tips for preventing further damage after a disaster:

• Take pictures of the damage before you start cleaning up. This will help you document the damage and file an insurance claim.
• Keep receipts for all of your expenses related to the disaster. This will help you get reimbursed by your insurance company.
• Be patient. It may take some time to get your property back to normal.

By following these tips, you can help to prevent further damage after a disaster and get your home or business back to normal as quickly as possible.

Contact SERVPRO of Northwest Genesee County today at 810-732-3298 to learn more about our prevention services.

5 Things to Do After Basement Flooding

9/5/2023 (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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

Top Three Causes of Fires

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

Did you know that the top three causes of residential fires include cooking, heating and electric systems/equipment. Let’s discuss each cause in more depth so you are able to determine how each can be avoided.

• Cooking: Causing nearly half of home fires, cooking-related fires are also, unfortunately, the second leading cause for residential fire deaths. These fires peak during the holidays, first Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas. Unattended cooking plays a large role in how fires begin. Other factors include grease and oil. Heating oil too quickly can cause fires. Leaving grease on the stovetop can also create fires. Leaving common kitchen items such as over mitts and food wrappers on or near the stove can also start fires.
• Heating: Spiking during the cold winter months of December, January and February, heating fires typically stem from space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves. While it may be tempting to keep your portable heater right near you on the chilliest of days, fires can easily be created if furnishing or personal belongings, such as mattresses and blankets, are within 3 feet of the space heater. Fires also start when heating sources such as space heaters or fireplaces are left unattended.
• Electric: Wiring, cords (including extension cords), lighting, and plugs all fall under the umbrella of electric distribution. Malfunction and damage, such as fraying, are a couple reasons as to why fires begin from electric distribution. Faulty electrical outlets cause fires, as do worn out sockets. Using an unqualified electrician to install or update wiring, lighting, etc. is another reason why fires may begin in your home. Additionally, the exposure of water to electricity can create fire.

Be sure to be mindful if you smoke, light candles, use a grill, or have children and/or pets, as these are a few other leading causes of residential fires. Taking caution and remaining vigilant can greatly help keep you, your family and home safe!

If you suffer fire damage to your home or business, SERVPRO of Eaton County is Here to Help!  Call us 24/7 at 517-541-1170

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.

• 24 Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any Size Disaster
• A Trusted Leader in the Mold and Water Restoration Industry with over 1,700 Franchises
• Highly Trained Mold and Water Damage Restoration Specialists

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.