How to Keep Your Business Safe During Emergencies

6/30/2023 (Permalink)

As a business owner, it is important to be prepared for anything that can happen. Occurrences like pipes freezing in the winter, flooding unexpectedly during the rainy seasons; the reality is that there are too many things outside of your control. That is why you need to protect your business. SERVPRO® wants to help keep your company safe and productive even during a disaster. Here are some of our helpful tips to ensure that you are prepared.

Preparation and Prevention

The first step is to review the current insurance coverage with your provider to make sur you can financially handle potential disasters like floods or fires. It is good to keep a compiled list of your equipment and inventory, along with where they are located, to know what could potentially be lost or damaged ahead of time.

Prevention is key when owning any type of property, but especially for a business. You will need to have properly functioning extinguishers, smoke/carbon alarms, and a sprinkler system. It would also be good to have your HVAC system regularly maintained to avoid potential additional damage. If you need some assistance creating and implementing a plan, SERVPRO® can help you.

SERVPRO® of Augusta North is ready, equipped, and available 24/7. In the event of any disaster, there is no one faster. If your business needs emergency services, call our office at 706-750-0200, we are “Here to help.®”

Icemaker Leak in Your Augusta Home? SERVPRO Can Help!

6/28/2023 (Permalink)

Everyone has a refrigerator, and today most of them are equipped with ice makers. We have grown accustomed to the conveniences of the clean and fresh ice cubes that are available on command. There are times, however, these modern machines can cause extensive water damage to a home. Icemakers can develop leaks that both reduces its efficiency and causes damage to areas around the fridge. Additionally, if the water damage is left unmitigated, it could cause secondary damage to the home, such as potential microbial growth. Before that happens, here are some identifiers to look for when trying you are trying to determine if your ice maker is leaking.

What to Look For

If you are suspicious that your ice maker is leaking, the first step you should check for pooling water around the base of the refrigerator or for dampness in a nearby rug, this could indicate a leaky water line. A small amount of water would mean that it is a recent loss and the leak recently occurred. The longer the leak has been present, the more damage to the surrounding area would be. For example, there would be damage along the baseboards, cracked paint, mold, mildew, or swelling of floorboards.

How SERVPRO® Can Help

When a suspected ice maker leak call comes in, our first step is to determine how long the loss has been occurring. A lot of the time, these losses are what we call, “slow leaks” which means that it may have been happening for a longer period. SERVPRO® will then preform moisture check to confirm that the area does need to be mitigated. Drying equipment will be placed to stabilize the environment and if demo is needed, our trained technicians will take the utmost care when removing damaged materials.

Icemaker leaks can be a headache to deal with but SERVPRO® of North Augusta is “Here to help. ®” Give us a call at 706-750-0200 for more information and to schedule a moisture inspection today. We can help get your home back into working order.

Facts About Fires in Georgia

6/22/2023 (Permalink)

Fire is among the most important element humanity has harnessed. It has changed the course of human technology and is a tool that has helped us with numerous aspects of our daily lives. In that same token, fire can also be extremely dangerous and has caused an astonishing amount of damage all across the world.

According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), in May of 2021 Georgia has reported an estimate of 368,500 residential building fires and $8.1 billion in property damage. Furthermore, 51% of residential fires indicated that the primary cause of the loss was due to cooking. There also appears to be an uptick of fire losses in the cooler months, peaking in January during the hours of 5 to 8pm.

Identifying the Right Fire Restoration Company for You

There are multiple, detailed steps to mitigating and restoring a fire-damaged home, SERVPRO® of Augusta North can assist with the following:

• Board up
• Dry out
• Deodorization and emergency pre-cleaning
• Content pack out & inventory
• Dry cleaning and garment restoration
• Contents cleaning and restoration
• Structure cleaning

Doing the cleanup and deodorization may seem doable, but it can quickly become physically and emotionally overwhelming. It is vital that an experienced fire mitigation and restoration company that you can rely on, like SERVPRO® is hired.

SERVPRO of Augusta North has trained technicians that work on fires regularly and utilize specialized deodorizing techniques. If you need fire or smoke restoration, give us a call at 706-750-0200, we are available 24/7/365 to help!

3AM Water Emergency Averted in Broad Street Home

12/13/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Augusta is Here to Help ® – Day and Night

Water emergencies happen when we least expect them, and typically when we are most inconvenienced by them. That was the case for a local family living in an old, restored home on Broad Street in downtown Augusta, GA. In the middle of the night their water heater burst, sending gallons of water spewing into their home rapidly and without warning. It brought them great relief to be able to have their local SERVPRO’s experienced mitigation team come on site quickly and begin helping them to avert their catastrophe.

What Is SERVPRO’s Process of Handling a Late-Night Water Crisis?

SERVPRO of Augusta teams are available and on-call 24/7/365. Our afterhours customer care team answer the call and gather as much information as possible, to educate the crew chiefs on the situation so they are prepared when they arrive on-site.  SERVPRO has a 1-4-8 policy, meaning that we are guaranteed to be at your property with the clean-up process begun within an eight-hour window. Once the clean-up process is completed, our restoration crew will come out to the property and gather the scope of work that needs to be completed. This entails restoring flooring, drywall and any other affected materials.

SERVPRO is a One Stop Shop! We can provide the help that you need from the beginning of a disaster all the way to the end.

Got A Water Damage Emergency? Give SERVPRO of Augusta a call today at 706-750-0200 to schedule a consultation with our team!

Is Your AC Leaking into Your Augusta Business? SERVPRO® Can Help!

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

Welcome to Summer!

This time of year, the heat is almost impossible to beat, especially once noon hits. As the temperature climbs outside, people on the inside turn the thermostat down. For a while, the AC circulates throughout the building, keeping everyone at a comfortable temperature. That is, until you start noticing that the AC isn’t working as well and there is water or moisture leaking down from the ceiling. If your commercial business has a unit on the inside, it runs the risk of damaging the flooring and furnishings in its wake.  As soon as you notice the water coming from your AC unit, call your HVAC company for repairs. SERVPRO® of Augusta North can take care of the water loss!

How SERVPRO® Will Help

The first step we will take would be assessing the damage. Based on our inspection, after we dry up the water, we will ensure that the area is dry by performing necessary demolition and placing our professional grade equipment. The equipment we will likely use would be air movers and dehumidifiers. However, if the area is particularly saturated, we may utilize specialty equipment such as injecta-drys. Our main goal, with any type of water loss, is to prevent further and more extensive damage from occurring, such as mold growth. Additionally, we want you and your employees to be able to resume business as usual as soon as possible.

If you are currently experiencing water damage, SERVPRO® of Augusta North can help! Contact our office team at 706-750-0200 to schedule our professional technicians to come out and fix the water damage, we are “Here to help. ®”

New vs. Old Water Damage

6/27/2022 (Permalink)

The Many Sources of Water Damage

The most frequent form of property damage is caused by water, and there are numerous ways it can occur. Nature, for one, can be the culprit through sudden storms and flooding. A pipe burst is another common offender, especially those sneaky slow leaks. The worst and most unmistakable type of water loss would be the sewage backups. If you are not sure when the water loss occurred, here are some tips to determine whether it’s new or old.

Firm vs. Soft Materials

If one day you discover some extra water in an area it shouldn’t be, or suspect a leaking pipe, the first thing you can do to determine the age of the loss is to feel the affected area – but only if it is safe. When you touch the potentially affected area and the impacted material is firm, the would be considered a more recent loss. However, if the affected material has more soft, mushy spots it is an indication that the water has been present for a longer period.

Staining

Drywall is often affected in water loss, and rings that may develop as a side effect to the water damage. Darker rings can signify that the damage is more recent while older, periodic water damage will have multiple different colored rings around it, like rings on a tree trunk. The different shades of the rings show that the area has been soaked, dried, and repeated multiple times. These can also be called “mit lines” in our line of work.

Mildew and Microbial Growth

Water, especially stagnant water, attracts and produces perfect conditions for mold spores to grow and form colonies. If there is a moisture, microbial growth is never far behind, usually occurring 24 to 48 hours after the initial water loss. Therefore, you spot what you think could be some growth, the loss may be older and would need immediate attention.

If you discover water damage in your home, regardless of if it’s old or new, SERVPRO® of North Augusta can help with our professionally trained technicians. Give our office team a call to schedule services right away at 706-750-0200.

A Song of (Dry) Ice and Fire

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know that one of the best ways to restore properties that have been affected by fire damage is dry ice blasting? It is ideal for the restoration of wood, concrete, brick, and building materials because it dries instantly, is fast, and leave little to no residue behind. Additionally, dry ice is effective in removing smoke and even mildew smells from fire damage without causing further deterioration of surface material.

Why Dry Ice Blasting?

Dry ice blasting is precise in tight spaces with the added benefit of not damaging to the affected services. It takes three to five times longer for traditional fire restoration methods to clean an area than the dry ice blasting technique. Dry ice blasting utilizes CO2, which converts to high pressured gas and is then blasted against surfaces, simultaneously eliminating odors as well.

Additional Benefits of Dry Ice Blasting

• Cleans and deodorizes concrete, wood, brick, and more.
• Avoids the typical abrasive blasting and cleans area without erosion and etching.
• There will not be water damage.
• It is more environmentally safe—no need for using caustics and acids when cleaning.
• It is safe for electrical components.
• Dry ice blasting is faster than other methods of restoration.

Have you experienced fire or smoke damage? Contact SERVPRO® of North Augusta at 706-750-0200 to schedule an inspection with our trained technicians.

How SERVPRO® of North Augusta Can Help You!

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Services We Provide for Commercial Properties

Owning and running a business can be stressful when everything goes right, let alone when things go wrong. Things like extreme weather conditions and accidental human error are among the things that can happen that are out of your control.

Water Damage

Water can wreak havoc on a building even before the damage is discovered. Flooding can occur due to burst pipes, overflowing sinks, backed up toilets, among other things. Whatever the cause, SERVPRO® of North Augusta can extract any type of water and provide expert drying services for your facility.

Mold Testing & Remediation

In addition to being able to take care of water mitigation, we are also experts in mold remediation and can complete mold elimination. Microbial growth often originates from water damage that has been left for a few days or not properly mitigated when found. We are capable of performing Air Quality Tests that can identify if there is a problem within your facility, and help you through the removal process.

Fire & Smoke Damage

When there’s a fire, there are many steps that you need to take to get your business back to normal. The good news is SERVPRO® of North Augusta is qualified and able to assist with whatever fire damage your property is faced with. Even when it’s just smoke damage, it can have a big impact on a business. At SERVPRO® we are capable of restoring your place of business back to normal with our knowledge and equipment.

SERVPRO® of North Augusta is prepared to help your business no matter the issue at hand, we are “Here to help.®” If you are in need of assistance, give us a call at 706-750-0200.

The Dangers of Thunderstorms

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

According to the National Weather Service, a severe thunderstorm is one in which there are winds 58 mph or greater and ¾ inch hail or larger, and at times there may be tornadoes.  There are nearly 1,800 thunderstorms occurring at any one moment around the world, 100,000 of those happen in the United States. An estimated 10% of those 100,000 storms are considered to be severe.

Facts and Myths About Lightning

• MYTH: “Heat lightning” occurs after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
• FACT: “Heat lightning” is lightning that is occurring in a distant thunderstorm that is too far away to hear its associated thunder.
• MYTH: If it is not raining, there is no threat from lightning
• FACT: Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as ten miles away from rainfall.
• MYTH: Rubber soles of shoes and tires on a car will protect your from being stuck by lightning.
• FACT: This is false; these items proved NO protection from lightning. However, you are much safer in a vehicle than outside during a thunderstorm if you are not touch the metal.
• MYTH: In a pinch, it is safe to seek shelter under a tree.
• FACT: Contrary to common belief, it is not safe or advised to be under a tree during a storm, it is the second leading cause of injury. It is best to get indoors or crouch low to the ground.

How to Keep Safe:

• At the very first sign of a thunder or a storm, take action. Go indoors or seek shelter. 
• Stay away from windows and doors. Do not use a landline and unplug appliances, computers and other electronics. 
• Avoid showering, doing laundry or dishes. 
• Monitor and obey instructions of public safety officials. 
• If you are outside, shelter in a vehicle. Stay put and avoid touching metal. 
• If you are in an open area, go to a low place and stay away from trees.
• If you are on the water, get to land immediately. 
• Stay indoors at least 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning.

What to do After a Thunderstorm:

• Continue to monitor emergency information.
• Call 911 to report downed power lines or gas leaks. If you suspect leaks in your home, go outdoors immediately. 
• Check your home for damage. Document any damage and contact your insurance company immediately.
• If you suspect water damage, call SERVPRO® of North Augusta immediately.

If your home has received storm damage, give SERVPRO® of North Augusta a call! We can perform board ups, tarp roofs, extract water – anything you may need to get your home back in order. Our expert call is ready to help, you can contact us at 706-750-0200.

Suspect Moisture? SERVPRO® Can Help!

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Moisture Checking

The first sign of a potential water loss is moisture. In fact, moisture is the bane of any homes existence as it can cause more than a few issues if not properly mitigated in a timely manner. If you suspect, or even smell moisture in your home, don’t wait – call SERVPRO® of North Augusta immediately.

Signs of Moisture in Your Home

Undetected leaks are common in homes and likely to occur no matter what you do to prevent them, that is why routine maintenance is necessary. However, if you are looking to purchase a home or new homeowners, it can be hard to determine the water loss history of a house. For that reason, be on the lookout for the following signs of moisture:

• Softened, spongy drywall
• Peeling or bubbling wallpaper
• Moist, damp smells
• Water seeping from portions of the wall

Why is it an Issue?

One normally would think, “if there is no visible water, there’s no problem, right?” The short answer is no. Moisture is an invitation fold microbial growth to come right in, and once that occurs, the damage is done. No matter the extent of mold, it is always expensive to take proper care of if left alone. The sooner the moisture is taken care of, the less likely mold is subject to grow.

SERVPRO® of North Augusta is ready to help with any sized water loss. We are capable of detecting and eliminating moisture in your home. Call us at 706-750-0200 to schedule a consultation today, we are “Here to help.®”