How Water Damage Advances As Time Passes | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

8/22/2023 (Permalink)

No matter the damage sustained, SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County has the tools and team to help your home return to a normal state quickly.

So you noticed a slight, steady drip of water coming from your ceiling. For the moment, a bucket can easily take care of the mess, and you don’t think much of the water since it’s a small amount.

However, you should never underestimate the destructive effects moisture can have on your home. The average household leak can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water in a year, with much of that water circulating somewhere in your home.

It’s vital you address water damage before it gets out of a hand to prevent irreparable damage. Moisture will quickly seep into your floors, walls and soft surfaces. You can expect any significant water damage to follow this destructive path:

<h2the-first-24-hours">In the First 24 Hours

In your Eastern Rockland County house, there is a one in four chance of a flood damaging your home within a 30-year period in a high-risk area. Knowing what to do next is essential.

You want to take advantage of the first 24 to 48 hours because it will become much harder to salvage items after this point. Fragile personal belongings like books and photographs will immediately fall victim to water’s harmful effects.

Soft furnishings and upholstery will soak through, and wooden structures can swell from the moisture. In addition, mold typically starts to develop within this timeframe. It’s essentially you act quickly.

SERVPRO’s expertise and “restore vs replace” mentality can help you save money and preserve precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced, such as family heirlooms. Our experts will go ahead and remove any salvageable items to speed up the drying process. If we encounter any items that cannot be saved, we will communicate this to you as soon as possible.

<h2the-first-week">Within the First Week

After the first 24 hours, water damage will progress further and quickly. At this point, mold will begin to form, and it can spread like wildfire with excessive moisture. Mold will also lead to further structural damage.

Additionally, porous surfaces, such as wood surfaces and walls will become increasingly compromised, and metal surfaces will start corroding.

<h2one-week">After One Week

Most likely, the damage will have progressed significantly, perhaps even too far, by this point. You want to avoid letting moisture sit and fester in your home for over a week because as time goes on, the costs and efforts to restore your property will increase significantly, as will the risks of structural damage.

<h2SERVPRO-will-help">How SERVPRO Will Help

Here’s where we come in. Our Eastern Rockland team of specialists will start the restoration process as soon as you make that first call. Service work typically begins by drying your home completely and extracting excess water to prevent any more damage.

Mostly likely, floors, furniture and other belongings will require cleaning, sanitizing and deodorization. After the bulk of the water has been removed, our specialists will use industry-leading drying equipment to remove the water you can’t see.

Once these steps are completed, our team can move on to the construction phase, where we will make minor or major repairs to your home. We will do whatever it takes to get your property back to its preloss condition.

Allow our team to simplify the restoration process by handling both the initial damage mitigation and rebuilding the affected areas. SERVPRO will keep you up to date on every step and have you back in your home or business in no time.

Regardless of the type of water damage sustained, SERVPRO has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover. Contact us 24⁄7 when you need a dependable team to help you recover.

Summer Backyard Safety Tips | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

7/17/2023 (Permalink)

Restoring fire and smoke damage is one of our specialties. Contact SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County to learn more.

The summer season means the rise of backyard events like family reunions and graduation parties, gender reveals, and church socials, all of which definitely call for a good barbecue session. What’s a party without chicken wings, right?

Unfortunately the rise in backyard activity also brings with it an increase in fires. 

So what can you do to ensure your backyard parties are safe this season? Here are a few places to start:

The grill. Whether it’s propane, charcoal or a big fancy smoker, your grill needs fire to get going, and that makes it an automatic danger. Make sure the grill is sturdy and in good working order, and that it has no breaks, leaks or rusted-out spots. Never use liquid accelerants once the fire is going, and make sure the grill is safely away from anything flammable, including the side of the house. And don’t forget about cleanup! Almost 20% of grill fires are due to poor cleaning.

The fire pit. A favorite gathering place for many, the fire pit is a wonderful place for having conversation and roasting marshmallows in the evening. But make sure you are doing it safely. Never leave any fire unattended, and never leave children unattended beside any fire. Make sure you have a bucket of water with which to douse any errant flames, and use that same bucket to slowly, safely put out the fire when you’re finished. And avoid adding anything like leaves or pine needles to your fire, because those can easily create flying embers that put your yard and neighborhood at risk of wildfire.

The chimney and dryer vent. These aren’t technically backyard-related, but you should do them anyway while you’re thinking about fire safety in the spring or summer. Make sure your chimney gets clean and clear of built-up ash or soot, and check your dryer’s vent pipe to make sure that lint hasn’t gathered inside.

Your local SERVPRO technicians are on hand ²⁴⁄₇ for emergencies. If you encounter fire damage at your home or business, no matter the cause, we will be there faster and have it cleaned up sooner. Call or click today and experience the SERVPRO difference.

How Much Do You Know About Floods? | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

4/24/2023 (Permalink)

Did You Know? 

Floods are one of the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States. Whether you home or business is near a coastline, along a city street, in the mountains, near a river or even in a desert--there is always a potential for flood  damage. 

Floodsmart.gov reports, in the last 5 years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods. 

The 4 Most Common Causes of Natural Flooding

Heavy rainfall. Storms with excessive rainfall, or storms that sit and rest over an area for an extended period can cause flash floods or river flooding. Urban areas are more at risk for rain floods, because the higher percentage of concrete and asphalt means there’s a lack of soil to soak up all that water.

Oceanic activity. Storm surges, hurricanes and rising tides can cause water levels to rise in waves, which can invade coastal communities and wreak havoc. In September 2021, remnants of Hurricane Ida tore through New York and New Jersey. In Rockland, 85 people were rescued from submerged cars during the storm. Several roads had to be closed, and Orange and Rockland Utilities Inc. reported nearly 1,500 power outages during that time.

Dams and levees failing. The most notable example of this in recent history would be the disastrous levee breaks during 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. Levees and dams fail when cracks occur or excess pressure overtakes the dam’s ability to contain the surge of water behind it.

Snow-melts and ice dams. In areas of the country where heavy snow and prolonged freezing temperatures are common, snow and ice can build up over a winter’s time, and when they start to melt, they cause rivers of water to flow through area communities. Ice dams or ice dams happen when rivers become blocked by built-up ice being carried downstream, causing the banks to overflow.

If a flood does strike your home or business, contact the Professionals at SERVPRO, even minor floods can lead to major damage when not treated quickly and properly. Cleaning up after a disaster yourself is often an overwhelming task.

SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County Technicians have the training and specialized equipment to dry hard to reach places such as between walls and hardwood floors.  It's not only the equipment but the technology too. SERVPRO has developed DryBook, a proprietary tool that provides real-time documentation and updates on the drying process and helps ensure industry drying standards are being met.

Regardless of the cause of the flooding, SERVPRO has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover from its disastrous effects. Contact us anytime when flooding or water damage makes a mess in your life.

Commercial Services to Make Your Business Shine | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

3/28/2023 (Permalink)

Are you ready to have the cleanest business in town? Contact SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County for all your cleaning needs

SERVPRO is the industry leader when it comes to home restoration and recovery. We make sure homeowners struck by flooding, water damage or physical disasters of any type receive the attention and recovery they need, and that their restoration process is total.

But did you know we also offer the same services and more for businesses? You better believe we do.

We offer everything for business owners we provide for homeowners, and then some! What’s the “then some,” you ask? How about ultra-grade commercial cleaning, so you can present your best look to employees, customers and potential clients.

Commercial Services for Businesses of Any Size

Your business service is what you do best, and we make it our mission to help you keep your focus there, while we focus on cleaning and sanitizing your facilities. We do this everywhere, including:

Stores, supermarkets and retail spots. Give your customers the clean feeling that makes them feel good about coming in and spending some time.

Scholastic facilities and athletic venues. Regular cleaning by teachers and students, though certainly well-intended, is only getting rid of half the bacteria that resides on desks and chairs, and the numbers are even worse when we start talking about things like printers and computers. We can make it safer at schools by providing the kind of cleaning you only get from SERVPRO.

Healthcare facilities. Hospitals, nursing facilities and outpatient treatment centers require a high level of sanitation care, and we can provide it.

Resorts, hotels and casinos. When people are mingling and hospitality is key, we can help you make sure everything is clean and safe.

Restaurants and foodservice facilities. Whether you’re serving, preparing or manufacturing food products, you need a spotless, germ-free space, and we can make it happen.

Commercial complexes and managed properties. Anywhere people live, play or do business, we can improve the experience by providing a next-level cleaning.

When you’re ready to have the cleanest business in town, we’re ready to help. Contact your local SERVPRO to get the pros working on the cleaning so you can work on the work.

Choose SERVPRO for Odor Removal | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

3/15/2023 (Permalink)

If you experience an odor or any other damage inside your home, call SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County day or night.

With experts all around the nation, SERVPRO is the well-known restoration and cleaning provider that can handle your mold-, water- or fire-damaged home or business. What you may not know, though, is that we also handle odor removal services.

We all hope to never deal with the stress that comes along with a disaster on our property. In the midst of recovering, worrying about how things smell is probably the last thing on your mind.

Every kind of disaster, whether it is from a storm, flood or fire, can create odors that may linger long-term when remediation doesn’t happen quickly. Even when your home looks sparkly and new, smells might be hiding out in places you never thought possible.

The good news is: Our professionals can kick odors out of your house completely and quickly.

Winter Storms Are on Their Way Again: Here’s How to Prepare | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

3/2/2023 (Permalink)

If winter weather should bring damage to your home or business, contact SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County for fast, restorative solutions.

Not to steal a phrase or anything, but winter is coming. Whether you love it or dread it, cold weather is on its way back to New York again, alongside holiday parties, religious festivals, family gatherings and the prospect of a new year.

Living in Rockland County means dealing with winter’s potentially harsh and dangerous weather, so let’s run down the list of things you need to prepare as it heads your way.

Protect Your Family

Does your family know what to do in the event of an emergency? You need an emergency action plan to help everyone know what to do, where to meet and how to stay in contact during a crisis.

Take time to winterize your vehicle, whether by yourself or with the help of a mechanic. Check all major systems, as well as your battery, fluids and tires. Replace or repair anything that needs attention before you find yourself on the side of the road during a freeze, or on a slick road with bald tires.

And finally, keep your family’s emergency kits stocked up, both at home and in the car, including fresh clothes and sturdy shoes.

Protect Your Home

Frozen pipes are a serious issue in the cold clutches of winter. Avoid this source of intense water damage by letting your faucets leak during deep freezes, and insulating pipes where needed.

Check your home’s heat systems and perform any necessary repairs to avoid being left in the cold. It’s better to do a little maintenance while weather is still relatively mild than to be suddenly left without heat during an intense cold snap.

If you use any wood-burning appliances for heat or recreation, make sure furnaces and flumes are clean, and that you have proper ventilation to avoid smoke damage or inhalation.

If you notice cold air leaking indoors, check to see whether you may need to reseal your windows or add some insulation in the attic.

Protect Your Pets

Your dogs and cats aren’t made to handle cold weather, so bring them in where they can be comfortable.

Any outdoor livestock should have adequate shelter and access to non-frozen water.

Watch for Melts and Flooding

When heavy snow and thick ice melt, they can cause dangerous floods. From ice dams on your roof exploiting leaks in your roof to creeks and ponds flooding, always be careful during a seasonal thaw.

As always, stay tuned into local news outlets, and let weather apps and national agencies send you alert notifications by phone or text.

If winter weather should bring damage or flooding to your home or business, contact SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County for fast, restorative solutions.

How will I know if my Basement Has Water Damage | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

3/2/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County is a full restoration company. Our restoration experts are on call and ready to help you determine the best course

The basement of your Rockland County home can be a great utility area in a home. It can serve as bonus living space if it’s fully furnished, but it can also serve as a storm shelter for the family if needed or just some extra storage.

But because true basements are mostly or fully underground, they are prone to taking on some of the water and moisture from the surrounding area, creating potential for some unwanted situations.

It’s almost a statistical certainty that at some point a homeowner with a basement will have to deal with some degree of water intake. Below, we will look at some of the signs that water damage is present in your basement. If you need mitigation or if you just need someone to take a closer look, our well-trained teams are always here to take your call.

Signs of Basement Water Damage

Unpleasant, musky odors. The groundwater that enters basement spaces may not be dirty like water that comes up from a sewer backup, but over time, it stagnates and evaporates, creating that signature basement aroma. Many people believe basements inherently smell a little musty, but that’s not the case. The odor arises when mold and mildew are present in the environment, and while they may be hard to see initially, they are easy to smell.

Flaking paint on masonry or walls. Even seasoned homeowners sometimes believe that a layer of waterproof paint will do the job when it comes to preventing water leakage from the outside. Unfortunately, even the best paint will only hold back groundwater leakage for so long. Water that seeps in will inevitably bubble under and flake the paint, creating cracks and gaps and laying the groundwork for mold and mildew.

Foundational cracks. Cracks in the foundation should be taken very seriously, even though many houses do shift over time. Cracks can show up in the floor, the ceiling or in your walls and often signify that dangerous pressure is being applied to your structure due to water leaks. If hairline cracks appear, don’t panic, but keep an eye on them. If they begin to expand, call us right away.

If you notice any of these signs in your basement, let us take a look. Our expert water restoration technicians can help you determine what is causing these issues and how to treat it properly. Contact us today to learn more

The Science of Drying: Commercial Property in Rockland County

3/2/2023 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County for any commercial water damage loss.

Did you know? There is actually a science behind the process of drying? Having the knowledge of psychrometrics is essential to restoring a water-damaged structure to its preloss condition. Our SERVPRO technicians are trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry approved standards. This helps lower the chances of any secondary damages like mold growth. 

Here are the steps we will take to ensure your water damage restoration is handled correctly and efficiently to get your company back up and running.

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.
• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

What exactly does it mean to help "speed up mother nature"? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material-but only if the air-is drier.  The only issue is that nature often takes too long and secondary damage such as mold may occur.

SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County has special equipment and tools to help dry hard wood floors, and hard to reach spaces inside walls. We use modern moisture monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process called DryBook to help speed the drying of your business. DryBook is a proprietary tool that provides real-time documentation and updates on the drying process. It helps ensure industry drying requirements are met. With DryBook Mobile, you have the ability to know exactly where your property is in the drying process. SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County has the training, equipment and technology to help make your water damage disaster "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO When the Smoke of a Fire Disaster Has Cleared | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

2/9/2023 (Permalink)

For quick repairs following a fire, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County.

Disasters are one of those things that we all hope never happens, but when they do, they can leave a wide variety of damages behind. While there are lots of ways we can be affected by disasters, a fire is one that will almost always leave a path of destruction.

Cleaning up after a fire emergency can feel daunting and scary, but when you have neighbors like SERVPRO in your community, you can rest assured that you are far from alone. We will walk with you through the entire process and get you back on your feet in no time.

Our Initial Move

When you are affected by a fire, your first priority has to be securing the safety of yourself and your family. After that, call our experts to start down the road of recovery.

We can take your call at any time of night or day, and we will start creating a plan immediately by gathering as much information from you over the phone. Our team will be headed your direction in no time with the proper equipment and resources to get things started.

On site, we will first assess the damage as we continue to create a plan that will meet the unique needs of your situation. No two disasters are the same, and we want to ensure that every part of your restoration is covered.

Time to Get to Work

Removing smoke and soot damage from everything it has penetrated will start once the area is secured. Smoke and soot can reach rooms that never even saw flames, so we will clean walls, floors and ceilings anywhere there is sign of damage. Surfaces will also be sanitized to remove and stop additional odors.

The Most Crucial Step

Once the cleaning process has been completed, our team can get down to the real restoration of your home. This means we will start to put everything back together, including hanging drywall, laying floors or painting a room.

If part of your property could not be salvaged and demolition took place, our team is experienced in construction. We can rebuild an entire room if necessary. It is our goal to put your home back together exactly as you want it. At SERVPRO, we have years of experience, and we are always ready to help.

For rapid repairs following a fire, get in touch with our team at SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County! We will work as quickly as possible to return you to a safe and fully restored property.

Warm Up and Stay Fire-Safe | SERVPRO® of Eastern Rockland County

1/26/2023 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County if you experience any smoke, soot or fire damage.

It might seem like winter has already been here forever, but it didn’t officially start until Dec. 21. While you may have flipped the heating on in your home long ago, without the proper preparations, you could have a fire hazard.

Love them or hate them, the cold months are here and you should be able to stay warm all season. Take steps now to stay fire-safe.

<h3basics">Furnace Basics

Homes in our area likely have one of three kinds of heating systems: a boiler, a furnace or baseboard heaters. Boilers run on water or gas and use radiant heat to warm your home, while baseboard heaters warm a single room at a time. Furnace systems are highly efficient and cost-effective systems that can outlast a lot of heating equipment.

No matter what kind of system you have, regular maintenance is the best way to keep them running long-term. Clean your furnace and baseboard heaters for dust, and have your boiler inspected regularly to ensure the heating elements are in working order.

Replace any filters in your systems often. For a furnace system, 90 days is the recommended timeframe, although you may want to do it more often if you have pets or someone in the home has allergies. Use the changing season as a good reminder to change your filter.

The air filter not only helps to lengthen the lifespan of your system, but much like a boiler heats without increasing the dust in your home, furnace filters can also eliminate dust and allergens.

<h3safety">Fireplace Safety

Fireplaces make for a cozy centerpiece in your home and can provide additional heating during one of the many snowstorms we experience. Without proper inspections and maintenance, though, a chimney or fireplace can pose quite the fire hazard for your home. Both artificial and wood-burning fireplaces should be inspected and cleaned regularly.

To care for a wood-burning fireplace, clean out ash and soot and ensure that nothing has blocked the chimney. Artificial fireplaces should be dusted regularly, including any removable logs and the cover you use on the front of the fireplace.

<h3heaters">Portable Heaters

Another source of heat commonly used in home is space heaters These portable heaters are great for warming a room quickly, much like the baseboard heaters commonly found in a lot of homes in this county. Running a space heater does require safety measures in order to prevent fires though.

Don’t run your space heater overnight, and always keep it three feet away from any combustible materials. Make sure your space heater is on a flat surface where it won’t get knocked over, and if your heater doesn’t have an automatic shut-off feature when it is tipped, consider upgrading to a new one. Always plug space heaters directly into the wall to avoid electrical surges.

Keep a close eye on the little ones and the furry ones in your home when you are running your heating equipment. Make sure they understand how to stay safe, since it only takes a single accident to cause complete chaos and destruction in your home. Stay cozy this season without the fear of fire.

If you experience fire damage this season, give us a call at SERVPRO of Eastern Rockland County for immediate assistance. We’re here ²⁴⁄₇ when you need us!