Is Your Virginia Business Storm Ready?

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding and other disasters can strike at a moment's notice. Even with advanced warning, things are going to go drastically wrong. However, having a plan for these kinds of disasters can help your business recover quickly. This is why you need to create an effective continuity plan for your business. You need to take the time to outline, test, and improve it.

Outline It

To start making your continuity plan, you will need to evaluate your business and note your processes, vulnerabilities, and potential losses. This step is crucial to creating a tailored plan for your business in Louisa, VA. From there, you can outline your plan. The things to include are:

• Scope of the plan
• Business areas
• Critical functions
• Dependencies
• Acceptable downtime
• Plan for hiring storm remediation professionals, maintaining operations, and reopening

Test It

The only way to know if your continuity plan works is to test it. A real incident will be the true test and the best way to see if your plan works. However, a controlled test is much more comfortable for business owners and can give you a realistic sense of gaps and areas that need improvement.

Improve It

You are going to put a lot of effort into creating and testing your plan. Once you complete the job, it is tempting to let your plan sit and hope for the best amid a disaster. However, if you do this, your plan could be useless when a disaster strikes, so you need to improve it after getting the test results.

This plan is crucial for businesses to recover from floods and storm damage. Therefore, you want to make sure you take the time to create an effective plan. Make sure you create a tailored plan and then test it out before a disaster hits. Keep improving it until it is thorough enough to withstand a disaster.

If you have storm damage to your business call the restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange, and Madison Counties (540) 513-3111.

Water Damage Solutions in Lousia

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

If you are a contractor, you probably want to avoid water issues, like a broken pipe that requires costly and time-consuming fixes, such as hiring a water pipe repair person. To protect your projects from requiring a water cleanup company, you should take the proper preventative steps. This means being proactive.

Identify Water Sources

Water leaks can sometimes happen when you are testing a building's systems and will require that you fix them with appropriate water pipe repair measures. The most common sources you should watch include:

• Water distribution fixtures
• Roof drains
• Sewer hookups
• HVAC fluid systems
• Fire sprinklers

Create a Plan

To avoid performing a water pipe repair, contractors should take the potential water sources and create a plan to mitigate threats. These methods of mitigation should also be included in your project budget since they are necessary precautions.

Use Water Damage Prevention Tools

When building, there are water damage prevention tools that can limit the amount of damage a site sees. It is recommended that contractors use at least two of the readily available tools to reduce water damage.

Conduct a Shutdown Inspection

To ensure that the building is safe, a shutdown inspection should be conducted every time your crew leaves the site in Locust Hill, VA. This inspection should be conducted according to a checklist that incorporates potential threats and your mitigation plan. It should also be conducted if a storm is approaching.

All project staff should conduct their part of the checklist before leaving the site. The responsibility can be handed to one staff member to ensure completion if necessary. However, this may not be feasible on larger projects. It is also a great idea to train new employees on the preventative measures used to reduce water damage and why they are necessary.

By incorporating these strategies, contractors can reduce the amount of damage they experience from flooded worksites. This is because they know where the potential threats are and plan to deal with them using the proper tools. Additionally, contractors should perform a shutdown inspection to ensure a site is waterproofed before leaving it.

If you suspect water damage in your home or business, don't hesitate to call the restoration experts at SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange, and Madison Counties (540)513-3111

Understanding Flood Zones Can Help You Prepare For Storms

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

If you experience storm damage to your home or business, call the restoration pros at SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties (540) 513-3111.

Floods are a relatively common natural disaster that many homeowners have to deal with at some point, especially if your home is located in a major flood zone.

1. Can Flooding Occur Anywhere?

Flooding can occur anywhere in the United States, no matter what time of year it is. There are certain seasons when floods are significantly more common, however. These seasons vary depending on where in the country you reside in.

2. How Can You Gauge Flood Severity?

The National Weather Service (NWS) has a list of flash flood warnings, categorized in order of severity. You typically receive these alerts via your emergency weather channels within approximately 6 hours of heavy rainfall or severe weather. The three major flash flood classes are "Base," "Considerable" and "Catastrophic."

3. What is a Flood Zone?

These are the areas that have the greatest risk of succumbing to a major flood in the event of a severe storm or natural disaster. There are multiple different levels, but it's still best to anticipate the worst, just to make sure you're adequately prepared.

4. How Do You Know Whether You're in a High-Risk Zone?

The easiest way to gauge your personal risk is to check the map provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There are several different maps provided, and each has their own unique information to offer regarding flooding.

5. How Can You Tell When a Flood is Coming?

The best way to stay informed is to sign up for an emergency broadcast alert system. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is just one of the many channels you should pay attention to in order to stay up to date on an incoming flood or storm.

Knowing your property's specific flood zone can help you prepare to face any imminent storms. If your property does succumb to water damage, then you need to contact flood remediation experts as soon as possible.

If you experience storm damage to your home or business, call the restoration pros at SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties (540) 513-3111.

Mold Testing and Professional Restoration

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

A specialist with SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties can help commercial property managers and owners determine whether mold is present in a building in in Orange, VA.

A visual inspection may be sufficient, or a trained expert may take air, batch or surface samples to detect mold and identify the species.

Schedule a Mold Inspection with SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties (540) 513-3111

A mold inspection may start with a search for visible mold and lead to a mold test. Testing is only cost-effective at early stages for the following reasons:

detecting the presence of hidden mold

determining the toxicity of mold

measuring concentrations of spores or off-gasses

If an infestation is obvious, testing is more practical to confirm the completion of cleanup. Bringing in the trained professionals at SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties is recommended for all mold cleanup, though full containment is necessary for toxic species.

Have Experts Take Samples

Our specialist may take any of the following types of samples from a commercial building:

Airborne spore and gas samples

Batch spore samples

Surface spore samples

Spores can be gathered from the air inside a building or directly from contents or surfaces. These samples are used to grow the same mold in a controlled lab environment for identifying the species and toxicity status.

Lab Results

Once test results are in, an expert from SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties will contact property owners to report on the species or concentration of spores and microbial volatile organic compounds. This data can help a specialist recommend the best strategy for stopping mold growth and eradicating existing colonies.

Regardless of test results, our SERVPRO specialists can recommend the right approach to cleaning up mold or preventing an infestation. Cleanup can take up to a week and remediation may go on for longer based on whether contaminated building materials need to be replaced during restoration.

Call the restoration pros at SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties (540) 513-3111.

Protecting Your Home from Water Damage

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

If you have water damage call SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties (540) 513-3111.

Our homes are a big investment and it's important make every effort to take care of them. Maintaining your house can go a long way toward helping you avoid major catastrophes, including the following:

Water in home

Roof in disrepair

Electrical fire in the kitchen

Mold in home

Even with taking precautions and regular maintenance damage can happen to our homes. This means there may be times when you have to turn to a professional remediation team to help you clean up water damage. You may be able to prevent some water dilemmas by keeping the following tips in mind.

Be Observant

An excess amount of moisture from a broken pipe can leave you with a lot of damage if you don't catch it early. If you're vigilant around your house, you'll notice signs of leaks before the water introduces mold into your space. Watch for water stains on your walls and ceiling. Look for other signs of moisture, such as peeling paint and bubbling flooring.

Have Inspections

Your plumbing, HVAC unit and appliances could malfunction and lead to water in home. If you have these parts of your house inspected annually, you can reduce the chances of a flood happening. A plumber can look at your pipes to ensure there are no clogs or breaks you need to know about. An HVAC repairman can assess your heating and cooling units to check for signs of wear and tear. You should make sure your dishwasher, washing machine and refrigerator are inspected too because these appliances can have faulty hoses or broken water supply lines that lead to flooding.

Make a Plan

Sometimes knowing who you would call for a pipe cleanup can help you prevent major damage to your home. Figure out which restoration team you want to turn to before flooding starts, so you can react as quickly as possible. Call SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties (540) 513-3111.

Costly Damage to Your Home is Preventable

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

Never pour grease in a sink.

A sewage backup is one of the most common causes of black water floods. These dangerous incidents contain harmful biohazards and can cause severe damage to your property.

Preventing the issue in the first place is preferable to having to pay for expensive damage repairs.

1. Take Care of Your Sump Pump.

Proper sump pump maintenance is super easy and can save you a lot of storm damage and flood-related trouble in the long run. Make sure to check the filters and pipes for debris, such as gravel and silt, regularly. Also, make time to test your sump pump to ensure it's working properly.

2. Install Backwater Prevention Valves.

Backwater prevention valves can help prevent sewage backup and flooding. These devices are typically installed into your residential sewer line, working to enhance sewer cleaning. They permit raw sewage to leave your pipes, while simultaneously preventing it from backing up into your basement.

3. Choose Plastic Sewer Pipes.

Older sewer pipes are typically made out of cast iron, which can age and crack over time. Newer pipes are constructed from plastic, which has a significantly longer lifespan.

4. Only Flush Proper Paper Products.

You can easily clog your toilet by flushing the incorrect items down the pipes. Make sure you never flush feminine hygiene products, diapers, paper towels, or other thick items down the toilet. If you use multi-ply toilet paper, try to limit how much you flush at once to prevent toilet flooding.

5. Never Pour Grease Down the Drain.

Oils can harden inside your pipes, gradually slowing drainage and building up clogs over time. Instead, you need to pour the grease into a heat-resistant container and dispose of it in the trash.
Sewage backup floods are extremely messy and can cause a lot of damage. This is why your best course of action is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Contact flood remediation experts if you have suffered from one of these floods.

If you experience storm damage to your home or business, call the restoration pros at SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties (540) 513-3111.

Our technicians available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is critical. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration.

We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals.

Storm damage can happen any time, that's why our team is available 24 hours a day. Specialists from SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties arrive quickly and start the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Fire Safety and Your Family

7/21/2022 (Permalink)

The thought of a fire in your home can be terrifying but considering fire safety is not something to avoid. The American Red Cross responded to more than 74,000 disasters in communities across the United States last year and 93 percent of these were fire related.

Fire safety is something to consider for you and your family. Eighty percent of Americans don’t realize that home fires are the single most common disaster across the nation.

Having an escape plan is an important part of fire safety. According to the American Red Cross, only 26 percent of families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. You don't want to wait for an actual fire to find out if your family can escape.

It's important to remember children under five and adults over 65 are more than twice as likely to die in a home fire than the rest of the US population.

If you have fire damage in your home, call the professional team at SERVPRO of Lousia, Orange and Madison counties, (540) 513-3111. We have the experience and training to make sure your home is restored professionally. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration, and we are an IICRC Certified Firm.

We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

SERVPRO of Lousia, Orange and Madison counties, we can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best.

Flood Risk to Your Commercial Business Site

7/21/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding is an issue most business owners will face at some point. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, damage from flooding in the US costs billions of dollars each year.

Understanding flood risk is important to business owners:

R: Reduce Your Risk

I: Insure Your Risk

S: Share Information on Risk

K: Know Your Risk and Your Community's Risk

The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides this guide to homeowners and businesses as a place to start flood planning.

If you have flooding at your commercial site, call the restoration pros at SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties (540) 513-3111. Our technicians available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is critical.

From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration.

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours, that's why our team is available 24 hours a day. SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison counties arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals.

Fire Damage Restoration in Louisa, Orange and Madison Counties

7/8/2022 (Permalink)

If you have fire damage to your home or business, call SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange, and Madison Counties (540)513-5111.

If a fire starts in your home, your priority is to get out safely. Your next concern will be about the condition of your home and your possessions inside. Unfortunately, some things might not be salvageable. The good news is that with the right help, you can clean damaged items and restore your home to a livable condition once again. By learning how the professionals clean up after fire and smoke damage, you can have peace of mind knowing that this process can be effective.

Calling the Pros - SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange, and Madison Counties (540) 513-5111

When you have something as serious as a house fire, you need a professional disaster cleanup and restoration company to get you back on your feet. Professional technicians offer these benefits:

They can respond promptly and give fast service.

They have the training and experience necessary for cleaning up after house fires.

They have the tools and equipment to thoroughly handle smoke cleaning.

They are licensed and insured.

Getting Rid of the Smell

The odor of lingering smoke can stay in your home for months or even years after a fire. Smoke damage can especially affect furniture and clothing. To remove the odor, technicians dry-clean the items and then use a deodorizer. Professionals also use ozone generators, which eliminate the molecules that smoke leaves in your home.

Removing the Soot

After a fire, the smoke will likely leave a layer of soot on the surfaces of your home. Soot damage can be detrimental to electronics, carpet, and other materials. You can start by wiping off the damaged surfaces with a damp cloth.

Professional cleanup teams use powerful soot-removal sprays to eliminate the layers. After spraying the affected area, the product hardens and technicians can then peel it away, bringing the soot and its harmful components with it.
Don't let smoke damage sit in your home for too long. Remediation professionals can take these steps and more to properly clean your home.

Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange, and Madison Counties will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pre-testing.

We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. if you have questions about fire damage, call us today (540) 513-3111.

Water Damage and Flooded Basements

6/15/2022 (Permalink)

A basement full of stored items can be a mess when you have a flood. SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison Counties (540) 513-3111.

If you have water damage in your home there is a lot to consider, that's why it's important to call a reputable restoration service. Consider what you will do with wet, damaged items that can be saved. Our pack out and content cleaning services might be the answer.

This photo is an example of a flooded basement. The basement was completely full of contents. What do you do when you have this much content in a flooded basement?

SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison Counties provides pack out and content cleaning services. We carefully document, wrap and protect each large item and box all smaller items. Once the home is packed out, the contents are transported to our climate controlled warehouse where we unwrap, clean and process the affected items, then wrap and protect the items again to be delivered back to the client once all repairs are performed.

This photo shows a job where we performed the pack out services, then we mitigated and dried this basement before any microbial growth began. Once the repairs are performed in this home, and we deliver all of the customers household goods, this basement will be back to preloss condition, or as we say, " Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison Counties is locally owned and operated, this means we know the community and can get to your emergency quickly. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration, and we are an IICRC Certified Firm.

In some cases, water damage can lead to mold. If you suspect mold, be sure to call us right away. We have the knowledge, tools and track record to effectively remediate mold in your home or business.

SERVPRO of Louisa, Orange and Madison Counties (540) 513-3111.