Commerial Water Damage Tips

10/25/2022 (Permalink)

If you find yourself in a commercial disaster he first thing you should do is call SERVPRO we can dispatch right away and we will make sure you get some help.

Tips until SERVPRO arrives:

• Shut off the water source if identified.
• Place aluminum foil or wood block under furniture legs.
• DO NOT use regular vacuum to remove water

When we arrive we will do a very thorough dry out and complete in a timely manner. We practice the science of drying...and we specialize in restoring your property. We are a "One Stop Shop"- A company that can dry your property, take care of your contents, and rebuild if necessary. Call us at 623-594-6033 and we will be there 24//7, 365.

SERVPRO makes it look like it nothing ever happen! Restoring business to a preloss condition is not simple, but hiring the right service can make the process much easier for you. SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix has decades of training and experience to do just that for you. Call us today at (623) 594-6033 to get started

Smoke and Soot Removal Best Practice

10/25/2022 (Permalink)

For people who’ve experienced a fire in their home, the initial cleanup of soot and water can be only the beginning. On top of the devastation of possibly losing irreplaceable personal items and memorabilia, the process of getting the home back in living order can be filled with difficulties.

Restoring the home requires professionals who are experienced in dealing with fires and restoration of the property. The national association that certifies companies’ expertise in fire cleanup is the IICRC, the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification. IICRC-certified companies must meet a rigorous list of standards in business ethics and expertise.

IICRC, working with the manufacturers of carpet, upholstery and fabric, works to establish the standards on how these items can be restored, whether from fire or water damage. When it comes to cleaning, restoring and inspecting that items are safe to be replaced in the home, the IICRC writes the books, so their certification of a local company offers homeowners the reassurance that the fire restoration work will be done correctly.

SERVPRO of Litchfield/West Phoenix is IICRC-certified, and our technicians receive ongoing training in the IICRC best practices. We also understand the need for immediate response, working with your insurance agent to document the loss and items that are able to be restored versus those that are a total loss.

If you ever experience a fire and need a restoration company, look for these factors in your chosen company:

• Proof of proper insurances and licenses
• Their level of experience in fire-related restoration
• Formal and recent training in specialized fire restoration work
• IICRC Certification

For restoration of your home and its contents after a fire, Litchfield & the West Valley turn to SERVPRO of Litchfield/West Phoenix. We take pride in keeping our customers informed about their restoration work, and in upholding the standards of our IICRC certification.

Dealing with Fire Damage

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

No matter how big or small your structure is—whether it’s a house, business, mobile home, or garage—the damage from a fire can be devastating. First things first: Take a deep breath. A fire is scary and cleanup can be stressful, but the best thing you can do now is keep a level head and take on the next steps calmly and deliberately. 

1. Contact your insurance company right away.

If you have insurance on your property, you’ll want to call them as soon as the fire is safely extinguished. The faster you file a claim, the sooner you’ll receive payment and your life can get back on track.

2. Have the damage inspected by a third-party, licensed professional.

This is why it can be in your best interest to hire a licensed contractor or structural engineer to accurately evaluate the extent of the destruction, determine the integrity of the structure, and provide an honest estimate of the overall cost of repairs.

3. Decide if you should repair or demolish and rebuild.

Once the inspection is completed and you have an accurate estimate, you’ll be able to determine whether you want to repair the damage or demolish and rebuild.

Professional Mold Remediation

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

Battling with mold growth on your own can make many to feel like it is a losing battle. Using bleach to clean mold away from surfaces, a method claimed by many people to work well is counter-productive and can be part of the reason that mold returns to the same location repeatedly.

There is no reason to continue your solo-battle against mold damage in your home. SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix is only a phone call away. We are ready to help you with the devastation that microbial infestations can cause, 
 
The climate in Phoenix can be dry, but mold damage can still happen to your home's interior. The tiniest drip from a water line can provide enough moisture for fungal infestations to prosper in hidden areas of your home. This shows how vital a nutrient water is for the spores.
 
Remove water from the interior environment of your home, and unwanted mold colonies find it nearly impossible to return after they have been cleaned away. Removing mold with the use of bleach fails to work as claimed because of bleach's high concentration of water and the physics involving permeability of a common material used in homes – sheets of drywall. Our IICRC trained technicians, here at SERVPRO of Litchfield/West Phoexni, can win your battle and let you relax.
 
Moisture can penetrate into the drywall, while bleach molecules are too large to do the same. While water remains inside the porous drywall, and available to mold's hyphae, all of the bleach remains on the surface, only discoloring this tough, durable, but tiny microbe, creating the illusion that the mold has been killed and removed.
 
To remove unwanted mold and prevent damage, remediation is required. During this process, any materials affected by mold damage are removed and repaired, so the area involved is completely restored, “Like it never even happened.” Hard surfaced materials such as cast iron, glass, and ceramic tiles can be cleaned and treated. These materials cannot be penetrated by fungi as it grows, but any dust or other minute debris can provide the basic surface changes to allow this to happen.
 
When an area has re-attained a normal microbe level again, treating the previously affected areas with microbe-inhibitors can prevent recurrences. This can include a special liquid that is applied like paint or simply sprayed on directly. After it has dried, it is both long-lasting, but also safe around children and pets.
 
There is no reason to continue your solo-battle against mold damage in your home. SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix is only a phone call away. We are ready to help you with the devastation that microbial infestations can cause, so call us, 24/7, at (623) 594-6033. Our IICRC trained technicians can win your battle and let you relax.

Preparing for the Possibility of Flood Damages in Phoenix

8/19/2022 (Permalink)

While Phoenix on average gets significantly less water throughout the year than other parts of the country, this does not in any way imply that the capital city does not have the appropriate weather conditions to allow for flash flooding. In fact, over the course of the last several years, there have been numerous instances of this type of disaster happening to areas all across the city, but lower lying plains were hit the worst.
 
The problem with flash flood damage to your Phoenix home is that there is a very little warning to prepare for the incident adequately. In many cases, this has caused residents to do more to prevent this kind of home-life crisis by improving water diversion implements that exist all around the exterior of the house. When Hurricanes Irma and Harvey were sweeping across the southern part of the country, many in the city feared that whatever lingering torrential rains still due to head their way could cause these dire conditions for them or their neighbors.
 
Truthfully, preparing for such a disaster is often easier said than done. Our SERVPRO professionals can help you to inspect the areas of your house that are more prone to experiencing water damage and help you to determine what might need to be repaired or replaced for the water to stay outside of your home (even in the event of forceful flash flooding).
 
Many people did not even realize that our SERVPRO team is available for smaller tasks like this, offering up our advice and expertise to keep your entire home safe and avert a potential crisis. Much like our emergency response team (that can be called at any hour of the day or night to help you in your most urgent times of need), you can also call us 24/7. We can have a professional on-site to begin assessing where the primary problem areas are and which components to thwart water penetration are not up to snuff.
 
Whether you would like your home checked for potential threats or you are currently dealing with flood damage already, you can always give SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix a call. We are available anytime at (623) 594-6033.

Water Damage Experts in Phoenix

8/19/2022 (Permalink)

Nobody ever plans it, but accidents do happen. Sometimes disasters come in the form of a pipe leaking in your Phoenix townhouse. Whenever a pipe breaks, water gets into your townhome and causes damage.
 
During this type of situation, it is a possibility that building materials and contents inside your home get negatively affected. Whenever a pipe breaks inside your building, it is wise to call SERVPRO's professional water damage crews in Phoenix. 
 
The first step to mitigating a problem inside your home is to repair the problem at its source. Our crews first make sure that there is not any more water leaking into the structure. Then our specialists assess the damage caused by the leak.
 
After our team determines all of the areas affected, we extract any water present. After all standing water gets removed, we use specialized equipment to extract more from carpet and hard surface floors. The next step in the mitigation process is the drying procedure.
 
It is possible in some cases that moisture causes damage to your building's structure. Sometimes building materials such as drywall and insulation get too wet, and removal becomes necessary. In other cases, building materials get dried out back to normal moisture levels.
 
One building material inside a structure that possibly gets damage when pipes break is insulation. Moisture lessens the insulating power of the insulation inside your walls. At times, water mats the insulation and causes the materials "R" value to drop.
 
Some types of insulation like fiberglass easily get dried without ruining its effectiveness. Other types of insulation such as cellulose and Rockwool get destroyed and removing the material becomes mandatory. When drying out walls with fiberglass insulation, our experts at SERVPRO pull your baseboard and drill holes into the drywall behind it so that air can get to the insulation located behind the wall.
 
When you call experts in to mitigate your problem, it often prevents you from being forced to replace contents and building materials. When dealing with any damage to your home, it is smart to call SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix at (623) 594-6033 for help 24/7.

Smells from Fires

8/19/2022 (Permalink)

If you are dealing with the after-effects of a fire in your home, one of the biggest frustrations is the smell. It can foul the air for days, weeks and even months. People never get used to a bad smell. It can make your home unlivable. The technicians here at SERVPRO know how to deodorize thoroughly, making a home smell “Like it never even happened.”

Removing the source of fire damage odors in Phoenix is the first step. Our team never tries to cover up the smell. We know we need to eliminate the cause of the smell. Without doing that, efforts to deodorize don’t stand a chance. For example, charred materials left in place continue to give off an offensive smoky scent for months. That is why our experts remove building material and debris tainted with smoke residue before starting the process of deodorization.

Once our experts take away the cause of the smell, we turn our attention to deodorization. We clean all surfaces that have residue because even tiny particles can keep giving off the stench of smoke. Did you have a kitchen fire? Then your stove, counters, vent hood and cabinets likely need a thorough scouring, using advanced cleaning agents.

After cleaning, we ventilate the area to find out if odors linger. At SERVPRO, we use state-of-the-art tools and cleansers to remove smells from your home. We tailor the method to the cause of the problem. The rule of thumb is that “like works on like” in most cases. Special fog products often work on smells caused by smoke. It follows the original path of the smoke, deodorizing as it travels through your home.

Our team not only has access to industrial strength products and the latest tools. We also have the training to use them correctly. Each technician meets the standards of the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Cerfitication).

For help with odors and other fire damage restoration, call in the experts at SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix. Available 24/7, we are strategically located to serve Phoenix and surrended areas.

Professional Mold Remediation

6/17/2022 (Permalink)

Battling with mold growth on your own can make many to feel like it is a losing battle. Using bleach to clean mold away from surfaces, a method claimed by many people to work well is counter-productive and can be part of the reason that mold returns to the same location repeatedly.

There is no reason to continue your solo-battle against mold damage in your home. SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix is only a phone call away. We are ready to help you with the devastation that microbial infestations can cause, 
 
The climate in Phoenix can be dry, but mold damage can still happen to your home's interior. The tiniest drip from a water line can provide enough moisture for fungal infestations to prosper in hidden areas of your home. This shows how vital a nutrient water is for the spores.
 
Remove water from the interior environment of your home, and unwanted mold colonies find it nearly impossible to return after they have been cleaned away. Removing mold with the use of bleach fails to work as claimed because of bleach's high concentration of water and the physics involving permeability of a common material used in homes – sheets of drywall. Our IICRC trained technicians, here at SERVPRO of Litchfield/West Phoenix, can win your battle and let you relax.
 
Moisture can penetrate into the drywall, while bleach molecules are too large to do the same. While water remains inside the porous drywall, and available to mold's hyphae, all of the bleach remains on the surface, only discoloring this tough, durable, but tiny microbe, creating the illusion that the mold has been killed and removed.
 
To remove unwanted mold and prevent damage, remediation is required. During this process, any materials affected by mold damage are removed and repaired, so the area involved is completely restored, “Like it never even happened.” Hard surfaced materials such as cast iron, glass, and ceramic tiles can be cleaned and treated. These materials cannot be penetrated by fungi as it grows, but any dust or other minute debris can provide the basic surface changes to allow this to happen.

When an area has re-attained a normal microbe level again, treating the previously affected areas with microbe-inhibitors can prevent recurrences. This can include a special liquid that is applied like paint or simply sprayed on directly. After it has dried, it is both long-lasting, but also safe around children and pets.
 
There is no reason to continue your solo-battle against mold damage in your home. SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix is only a phone call away. We are ready to help you with the devastation that microbial infestations can cause, so call us, 24/7, at (623) 594-6033. Our IICRC trained technicians can win your battle and let you relax.

Water damage in Avondale, AZM

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

This home in Avondale, AZ was affected by busted pipes from the shower head affecting bathroom wall, dining room wall area, ceiling and surrounded walls to be completely demolished. SERVPRO of Litchfield/West Phoenix came right after initial call. Our trained technicians, Nicholas Laducer started work immediately, advising owners of the entire mitigation process. Owners were also advise if they should file a claim or not, and whey were giving a choice to go with insurance or treat it as self-pay. Customer was very satisfied with the final effects and how quick we were able to clean up the damage. Owners were thrilled with the short clean up time and how great the our crew was!  

SERVPRO of Litchfield/West Phoenix is always here to help! We take every job seriously and we consider all of our clients as a SERVPRO family!

Rely on SERVPRO for flood damage cleanup!

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

All of the danger surrounding flash floods can be scary. Winds can exceed 70 mph forcing large amounts of rain to enter your neighborhood like a stampeding herd of wild buffalo. You may have little to no warning before freeways and highways close, trapping you in a swift-moving current of water that cares very little about your safety.

Obviously, it is important to recognize the problem, remaining informed about flood warnings throughout the Phoenix area. Flood damage can happen fast and escape from a flash flood area can be rough. However, if you have a plan, avoid walking through moving water, or driving through flooded areas, you can safely evacuate without much of a problem.

It is possible to become trapped, unable to leave the confines of your home, making it necessary to store some supplies. Local drinking water can become contaminated by oil, gas, and sewage. Having water, food, clothing, and first aid available for each member of your family to survive for at least a week is best.

While you already understand not to drive through flooded roadways or bridges, it may not always be possible to stay on high ground. If your vehicle gets stuck, or it becomes submerged in water, remain calm, wait for your vehicle to fill with water. It can be scary, but if you wait until the vehicle is full of water, the doors open easier. You can then hold your breath, open the door, and swim to the surface. Flash flooding without warning, can become lethal.

You are likely to be told by local authorities that it is safe to return to your home at some point. However, returning without the right support can produce drastic results. You benefit more from contacting a company like SERVPRO to provide you with flood damage restoration services. We can be the first to enter your home and assess your situation correctly.

SERVPRO has access to vast resources, equipment, and years of experience handling unfortunate situations just like these. Keep your family safe and sound, leave the recovery to those trained, never take unnecessary risks.  

Contact SERVPRO of Litchfield / West Phoenix in preparation for flash flooding in your area, we can help you prepare to survive. (623) 594-6033