What To Do If A Storm Passes Through

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit James City County, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,900 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Give SERVPRO of York, James City County and Poquoson a call 757-229-3442.

Get to Know Our Tools

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® uses a variety of tools to get the job done:

• Moisture Sensor: used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards, and walls
• Moisture Meters: used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture tester provides accurate readings, allowing us to monitor the drying process.
• Thermo Hygrometers: measure temperature and relative humidity. When armed with this information, we can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized.
• Ultra Low-Volume Fogger: these will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas.
• Thermal Foggers: these dispense solvent-based products by creating a dense fog. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attach to and neutralize odor-causing particles.

Call SERVPRO of York, James City County and Poquoson today at 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

Vandalism

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

For many commercial properties like hotels, apartments, or offices there are a range of every day disasters that can strike that don’t include fire or water damage.

Vandalism 

Vandalism is tragically a common issue faced by commercial buildings. Webster dictionary defines vandalism as willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property. When an incident occurs we are Here to Help®

SERVPRO® professionals are recognized as experts at helping property owners recover quickly from fire and water damages but also when vandalism happens. It is commonly assumed that you just paint over the graffiti or other methods used. That however is not the case. SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson professionals come in and provide general vandalism cleaning and deodorization services for graffiti, egg and spoiled foods, and human or animal waste. Our professionals are have specialized chemicals that SERVPRO produces to rid a property of smell and remove the cause of the smell.

Are you having any experience with vandalism?Give SERVPRO of York, James City County and Poquson a call at 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

We Are Here for Poquoson Businesses

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

While water damage can be dreadful for homeowners it is especially inconvenient for business owners. Unexpected leaks can be disturbing to the average work day for many.

 SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson is here! We do not only help our fellow small businesses but also large commercial warehouses and everything in between. We try our best to get your business back up and running. No matter the cause you can be sure that we are here to aid in the recovery.

It is very important that as a business owner that any water damage is addressed quickly. Prolonged delays in mitigation can result in further damage to your property specifically microbial growth or in other words mold. Many types of molds exist. All molds have the potential to cause health effects. 

If your business is experiencing any water or mold damage give SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson a call 757-229-3442!

FACTS: There are thousands of known species of molds, mold thrives in a moist environment.

REF: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold

Pollen Has Arrived!

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

As the season finally warms pollen is close behind it. Often times it is nowhere near as welcomed as the warm weather. Running noses and itchy eyes do not seem like a dream come true but they are a reality for most people suffering from allergies. Common seasonal allergies include oak, western red cedar, sycamore, maple, elm, birch, ash, cypress, walnut, hickory, and poplar tree pollen and well as a number of weeds and grass varieties. Various symptoms include sneezing, congestion and itchy eyes, ear, nose, as well as throat. To combat this many homeowners, believe that they will be safe from such allergens inside.

Dirty duct work however can cause allergens to follow you inside your home as well. A professional duct cleaning by SERVPRO of York, James City, and Poquoson can be effective at removing potentially disturbing allergens from persisting in your home.

Give SERVPRO of York, James City, and Poquoson call at 757-229-3442 

Tips While You Wait - Water Damage

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

Sometimes it takes homeowners or business owners as soon as few minutes to a few days to notice. So here are some tips to help you while you wait for our crews. These tips are for clean water sources such as cold supply lines, etc.:

• Shut off the water source if possible or contact a professional to do so.

• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if access to the power distribution panel is safe from potential electrical shock. Do not enter rooms with standing water as electrical shock hazards may exist.

• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting. Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.

• Move any painting, art objects, computers, documents and other valuable items that may be sensitive to moisture.

• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushion to allow more even drying.

• Do not leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors as they may cause staining.

• Do not use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water as there is potential for electrical shock or causing damage to the vacuum cleaner.

• Do not turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet: don’t enter rooms where ceiling are sagging from retained water.

• Call insurance company
• SERVPRO® cares we can help with any water damage
• we are here to make it "Like it never even happened."

Experiencing water damage? Give SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson a call at 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-229-3442!

Having water damage at your home can be stressful and overwhelming, let SERVPRO help get your home back to normal

York Residents: Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

Call About Our Mold Remediation Services

Basic Mold Information

• The key to mold control is moisture control.
• If mold is a problem in your home, you should call a professional in like SERVPRO® clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.
• It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business.  Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

Homeowner Fire Prevention Tips

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

If there is one common practice that everyone was taught in school it was to stop, drop, and roll in the case of a fire. While this common practice has been all but drilled into us in childhood there is one piece of information that is often forgotten in the midst of a fire, preparation. Being prepared in the case of a fire is your best bet for keeping yourself and your family safe. Here are five tips to prevent a fire.

Make sure that all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are functional in your home.

Just having a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector in your home is not enough. It is extremely important to verify that these instruments are working how they are intended too.

Invest in fire extinguishers and sprinklers.

It is important to have fire extinguished and sprinklers in the home as they can help prevent the spread of small fires. A fire extinguisher should be used when a fire is confined to a small space. Remeber these acronyms when you are using a fire extinguisher

R.A.C.E. RESCUE, ALARM, CONFINE, EXTINGUISH/EVACUATE.

P.A.S.S.

• Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
• Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

Stay alert while cooking.

Kitchen fires are very frequent causes of fires. It is important to know how to put out a grease fire. Grease fires is not to be doused in any kind of liquid. A liquid on a grease fire will only work to expand the already growing fire. A better method is if the fire is in a pan to cover it completely with a metal lid or a baking sheet. It is best to also call 911.

Have a plan.

It is very important to not only be avidly working to have a preventative plan in case of a fire but to also to have an up to date backup plan. An escape plan is crucial to ensuring that individuals are calm and not panicked.

Despite how prepared one might be there are still events that result in fires that are uncontrollable. That is where SERVPRO® steps in to help. Fire clean up should be left up to a professional that can aid in minimizing the fire damage as much as possible.

If you need any help with fire clean up give SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson a call.

757-229-3342 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

SERVPRO cares and are always Here to Help®!

Be Safe with Your Space Heater

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

Space heaters are designed to supplement cold rooms and must be used with extreme caution. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), nearly half of all home heating fires occur during the peak months of December, January, and February.

According to NFPA - Space heaters are the type of heating equipment most often involved in home heating fires, figuring in two of every five of these fires and accounting for 86% of associated civilian deaths, 78% of civilian injuries, and 54% of direct property damage.

General Guidelines for Space Heater Safety

There are several ways people can prevent accidental fires in their homes. One of the most important is to select heaters that have been tested and certified by testing laboratories. Also, keep areas around the heat source free of paper and trash.

When choosing the placement of the heater, remember the three feet safety rule by keeping everything that can burn at least three feet away from the heat source. Only use the heaters to heat the small space. 

Place the space heater on a hard level nonflammable surface, never on carpet, blankets, or rugs. Never use a defective heater or one that is missing its heating element guard. Make sure you use the proper size space heater for the room.

When purchasing a new space heater, look for a model with an automatic shut-off in case the heater is left on too long. In addition, a tip-switch will automatically cut off the heat if the unit topples over. Even with the safety features, never leave the heater on when sleeping, out of the room, or away from home.

If you use space heaters please use with caution and make sure its not being used inappropriately.

Give SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson call at 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002!

Poquoson Residents: We Specialize in Flooded Basement Cleanup & Restoration

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall. Basements are inherently prone to flooding because they are the lowest level of a building and are normally built partly or entirely below ground level. There are a number of reasons why your Poquoson basement could flood, including: 

• A blocked or failed sewer lateral pipe
• Heavy rain causes surface water to pool around your home
• Storm sewer backup
• Sanitary sewer backup
• Foundation drainage failure
• Water supply-line break or hot-water tank failure
• Sump pump failure
• Inproperly installed downspouts
• Debri in the gutters

SERVPRO® is highly trained in water damage restoration including basement and crawlspace flooding. We have the experience, expertise, and equipment to remove the water and dry your basement properly.  Our water removal and drying process emphasizes monitoring and documentation to validate your property is dry.

• 24 Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any Size Disaster
• Highly Trained Water Damage Restoration Specialists
• Locally Owned and Operated

Have Questions about Basement Flooding?

Call Today – 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

If flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your health and safety, and cause severe damage to your home’s structure. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse the problem will get.

The bottom line: a flooded basement can jeopardize your health, safety, and your home’s integrity. It’s worth making a call to SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson and let our trained, professional crews handle the situation safely and correctly. We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals.

We are Flooded Basement Specialists:

• We are Available 24 hours/7 days per week
• We’re a Preferred Vendor to many National Insurance Companies
• We Bill The Insurance Directly – One Less Thing For You To Worry About
• Our Technicians are Highly-Trained  in Water Restoration Techniques
• We use s500 IICRC Restoration Standards
• Advanced Inspection and Extraction Equipment

Basement Flooded? Call Us Today – We’re Ready to Help 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-229-3442!

SERVPRO can help get your home or basement back to normal after a flood.