Heavy Rainfall Brings Water Damage

7/15/2024 (Permalink)

7/15/2024

Water damage in a home can result from various issues such as plumbing malfunctions, roof leaks, and even human error, like leaving a faucet running. Additionally, heavy rainfall can cause significant problems, particularly around the foundation and in crawl spaces. Rainfall rates exceeding 0.3 inches per hour can exploit even the smallest vulnerabilities in your home. There are several ways rapid rainfall rates can cause issues and lead to household water damage, including:

• Backup of clogged gutters: Debris-clogged gutters can prevent water from draining away, causing water to stand against the roofline and potentially lead to damage.
• Leaks around windows and doors: Improperly sealed windows and doors can allow rainwater to seep into tiny cracks, causing damage.
• Poor drainage around the foundation: In homes located at the bottom of a hill or lacking adequate foundation drainage, heavy rain can lead to water buildup against the base of the home, resulting in leaks in the basement or crawl spaces.
• Leaks in and around the roof: Even a loose shingle or weak spot in the roof can allow rainwater to seep in, leading to roof leaks.
• Malfunctioning sump pump systems: Regular maintenance and checks are essential for homes with sump pumps to prevent overwhelming the system, which could lead to ineffective water movement away from the home.
• Leaks around chimneys and skylights: Homes with chimneys and skylights are particularly vulnerable to heavy rains due to aging or improper installation.

After a heavy torrential rainstorm, it's crucial to have excess water professionally extracted to minimize further structure damage and the potential for mold growth. If you encounter water emergencies, the Restoration Team at SERVPRO of Baldwin and Monroe is available to assist promptly. Reach us at (478)452-8000 or (770)267-0023.

What is Fire Damage and How Fire Restoration Works

7/15/2024 (Permalink)

Residential fires are devastating, causing significant damage to your property and personal belongings. It can be overwhelming to evaluate the extent of the damage, including the effects of smoke and soot, and know SERVPRO Monroe, Madison & Monticello is here to help! At SERVPRO we provide the skills, expertise, and equipment needed to handle the aftermath of a fire disaster.

Our team of SERVPRO Restoration Technicians will arrive on-site ready to assist and work closely with the homeowner to begin the mitigation process. We develop a comprehensive plan to restore your home to its pre-damaged condition. Our top priority is to remove any smoke and soot damage immediately to prevent further damage from the aftermath of the fire. We will remove any damaged contents and personal items and determine which items can be cleaned and restored. We will also dispose of items that are beyond repair. Then, any structural damage can be removed or properly cleaned so the reconstruction process can begin.

In addition to the damage to contents and the destruction of the residential structure, the insurance process can be overwhelming. Once the homeowner has communicated and filed a claim with their agent, SERVPRO will be available to help in that process. Our team of caring job file coordinators will assist you by communicating directly with insurance adjusters. During the entire process, our team will communicate and keep you informed, which will help give you peace of mind.

Fire damage restoration can be upsetting and time-consuming, depending on the type of fire and the extent of damage. But, in the end, SERVPRO Monroe, Madison & Monticello is available and always here to help! 

Six Helpful Tips to Prevent Mold from Forming in Your Home

7/15/2024 (Permalink)

Your home is your refuge & mold can throw a monkey wrench into the peace and relaxation your home brings.

Mold can grow and thrive in places where you least expect it. Some signs of mold are visible, but others are not. Not only is it an eyesore, but also a health hazard.  As a result, it's crucial to prevent mold from your home at all costs.

In this article, we list down easy ways to prevent the formation of mold in your home. Read on below to get started.

#1 - Identify Mold Hotspots

It's difficult to prevent mold from your home if you don't know where it's coming from. Before you start taking proactive measures to prevent mold, you need to know where it hides out.

Here are some areas in your home where mold can thrive:

• Behind your walls
• Behind your dishwasher
• Under the sink
• The corners of your bathroom
• Pots and pans in low cabinets
• Ceilings
• Basements

If you want to prevent mold from your home, you should regularly check these spots.

#2 - Dry Any Wet Area in Your Home

Even if you're not seeing any signs of mold in your home, you should always keep it dry. Moisture is a breeding ground for mold. For this reason, you should regularly dry up wet areas in your home.

The best way to dry up wet areas is by using a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will absorb excess moisture in the air. In addition, this device also cleans the air in your home and purifies it. 

#3 - Ensure Your Home Has Proper Ventilation

Proper ventilation ensures that the air in your home is well-circulated. It helps to promote the flow of fresh air. This is important because mold thrives in stagnant areas.

Make sure you don't put anything blocking the airflow of your vents. If you want to prevent mold from your home, you should also ensure that your doors and windows are open at least once a week. Additionally, you should also replace your furnace filters regularly. This will help your furnace and air conditioner to circulate air in your home.

#4 - Install Mold-Resistant Products

Your home has a lot of products that are prone to mold. To prevent mold from your home, you should buy products made of mold-resistant material. For example, you can replace your shower curtain after a month of use. Additionally, you should replace these products regularly to ensure that they‘re in good condition.

#5 - Clean or Repair Your Roof Gutters

If your roof gutters are leaking, water will collect in them. Water accumulation in your gutters can then become a breeding ground for mold.

The best way to prevent mold from your gutters is by using a gutter guard. This tool will prevent water from building up in your gutter. It also ensures a proper flow of water in your gutter.

#6 - Keep Your Carpets Clean

Carpets are one of the most common sources of mold in the home. To prevent mold from your carpets, you should regularly clean and vacuum them at least once a week. After vacuuming, you should use a carpet shampooer to clean your carpets.

Conclusion

Mold is a natural phenomenon. However, it can cause so many health problems. Many people don't realize that it's essential to prevent mold from your home until they experience it. With the tips above, you can prevent mold growth in your home.

SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison & Monticello provides top-quality mold remediation services in Georgia. We offer safe and eco-friendly solutions to ensure your home will be safe, all for affordable prices. Contact us today to request a quote!

What to Expect from the Water Damage Clean Up Process

2/11/2019 (Permalink)

If you’ve recently experienced a flood or pipe burst and have water damage in your home, you’re probably wondering “what happens now?” The first, and most important, step when dealing with water or flood damage is to stop any active leaks in the home. This can be done by shutting off the home’s main water supply. If you don’t know how to shut off your home’s water supply, call a professional plumber or your local water supply company for assistance. Once any active leaks have been addressed and all water has been turned off, it’s imperative you call a professionals at SERVPRO to start the water damage cleanup process as quickly as possible to minimize damage.

Steps SERVPRO uses during the Mitigation Process

2/11/2019 (Permalink)

Once help arrives, the first thing SERVPRO will do is inspect the home and evaluate the damage. In order to properly evaluate the damage, we use special tools and instruments to measure the moisture content of the home. To do this, we either poke or rest the instruments on top of surfaces like floors, baseboards and ceilings in the damaged rooms to get an accurate reading. Depending on the moisture content readings and Institution of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) dry standards for the state you live in, SERVPRO will assess if drying equipment is needed.

PREVENTION OF FURTHER DAMAGE

The longer water damage sits untreated, the more likely it is that additional damage can occur. If it’s determined that drying equipment is needed, dehumidifiers will often be placed in the home to prevent against further damage like mold growth while SERVPRO is waiting for approval from the insurance company, if one is involved. Dehumidifiers can be present for one or multiple nights depending on factors such as the length of time the water has been present and the source of the leak. 

REMOVAL OF STANDING WATER

It’s time for one of the most important steps: removing any standing water from the home. The removal process is actually much less complicated than you may think. SERVPRO uses extraction equipment, sucking up all the water that’s present in the area. The amount of time this phase takes varies depending on the type of substrate that’s being dried, the size of the room and the total amount of water that’s present.

DRYING

Once any standing water has been removed, it’s time to start drying out the home. SERVPRO will bring in different types of air movers (think of these like glorified fans) to help circulate air flow throughout the room. Don’t be surprised if they need to lift up a section of the carpet or position one of the air movers at certain sections of the walls to ensure air is getting to the most saturated parts of the room. If you have hardwood floors, they may use floor mats which help draw the water out of the floor. If needed, they might even remove the baseboards and drill holes into the drywall to help the walls dry faster. While some of these methods may sound extreme, they’re making every effort to dry the home without having to demolish and rebuild, which could add multiple weeks to the project timeline and become very costly.

CONTAINMENT

The containment and drying phases happen simultaneously. While drying out the home, wet areas are taped off in order to concentrate the heat and suction to the rooms that need to be dried out. Containment is critical as it enables the work crew to maintain the environment of the room and dry the home as quickly and efficiently as possible.

MONITORING

Throughout the drying process, crews will stop by periodically to monitor how the drying is progressing. Specifically, they monitor the dehumidifiers’ intake and output temperatures and humidity levels to make sure the dehumidifiers aren’t putting wet air out into the room. They’ll also go back and take readings of the same surfaces they did during the inspection phase. As rooms are declared dry, crews will often move equipment around to other areas of the home that are still wet.

COMPLETION

Once the home has been returned to its previous dry state, the water damage cleanup process is considered complete. At this point the drying equipment will be removed from the home and your contractor will confirm you’re satisfied with the work.

REPAIR OF ADDITIONAL DAMAGE

After the water damage cleanup process is complete, if additional structural repairs are needed, SERVPRO will repair any damage in the home that drying wasn’t able to fully address.

When Storms or Floods hit Monroe, Madison, & Monticello, SERVPRO is ready!

6/6/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison & Monticello 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 Monroe, Madison & Monticello, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 770-267-0023

SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison & Monticello Hiring Experienced Production Technician

5/24/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison & Monticello- Fire & Water Cleanup has immediate openings in our Emergency Services & Restoration departments.

40 hours/week on average, flexible to work overtime when required.
Hours vary between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
On-Call rotation for 24-hour emergency service
Some night and weekend work is required
Starting wage is based on relevant experience
Do you love helping people through difficult situations?

We're seeking someone who is comfortable working hard in challenging situations, meeting new people, with excellent communication skills, and who is self-motivated.

Our idea of the ultimate candidate is one who is proactive, trustworthy, truly enjoys providing superior service, and loves taking ownership of their responsibilities.

Some of the Responsibilities include:

Provide excellent customer service.
Perform on-site cleaning and restoration services in structures damaged by water and fire.
Leave jobsite with a clean and orderly appearance.
Develop production expertise: services, cleaning products, and equipment.
Follow the SERVPRO uniform policy.
Complete documentation, as appropriate.
Minimum Requirements

Must have a professional appearance and great attitude.
A valid driver license with a reasonable driving record.
Ability to pass a criminal background check with no felony convictions or misdemeanors involving violence or theft.
Must be able to pass a drug test.
Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.
Must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate.
Job Type: Full-time

Experience:
Supervisor 2 years (Required)

Education:
High school or equivalent (Required)

License or certification:
Driver's License (Required)

Job Type: Full-time

Call SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison & Monticello 706-549-3366
Email Resume to: admin@SERVPROofathens.com

Burn Ban Still in Effect

5/24/2018 (Permalink)

According to Athens-Clarke County Unified Government it is unlawful for any person within the county to cause, suffer, allow, or permit “opening burning”.  This includes yard trash and even burn barrels.  In order to burn within the county you must notify the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department prior to burning and provide a copy of any required state burn permit. 

These prohibitions create a safe community not only for those involved with burning of materials but for the community members.  SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison & Monticello takes pride in being involved with a county that has regulations such as these to keep community members safe. 

If you are involved in a fire related situation IMMEDIATELY call 911! 

Call SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison & Monticello to help restore your property today.  770-267-0023

Conditions In Monroe, Madison, & Monticello Might Be Right For Mold

5/21/2018 (Permalink)

It’s estimated that more than 1 million types of mold exist, yet less than 10 percent have actually been named. This means mold is very common in both indoor and outdoor environments. While mold and humans can sometimes co-exist without issue, there are certain species of mold that can cause health effects for some people.

If the right conditions exist, mold will grow. Those conditions include:

• Water - Different mold types require varying amounts of liquid before growth begins.   
• Temperature - Normal indoor temperatures will promote mold growth.
• Time - Initial mold colonizers can take hold within one day after being exposed to an adequate water supply.

Mold growth can occur in any home, so it’s important to keep an eye out for situations that might promote mold activity. Roof/chimney leaks, wet basements, or condensation from ducts that dampen surrounding insulation are just a few examples of issues that make a house a prime target for mold growth.

If you suspect mold in your home, call SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison, & Monticello to assess the situation. We have the knowledge, tools and track record to effectively remediate mold in your home or business.

If you suspect mold, call us today at (770) 267-0023.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison, & Monticello for mold remediation services

Winterville Marigold Parade

5/16/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO staff and their families enjoying the parade!

SERVPRO of Monroe, Madison, and Monticello had a blast last week participating in the Winterville Marigold Parade. 

We look forward to participating in this parade next year!