Keep Your Business Safe After A Fire With These Tips!

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

In the event of a business fire, fire damage is only one of several concerns you may have for protecting your business from further losses. Cleanup and restoration take time after a fire occurs. Keep your business safe during that process with the following three tips.

1. Avoid a Repeat Fire

When you discover a fire in your business you should turn to the local fire department to help you put it out. While your efforts may be good in stopping the fire from spreading, a fire crew can help you find the cause of the fire. Determining the cause is the best way to prevent further fire damage from occurring or reoccurring. If a small fire occurs, you may need to look for the cause yourself. Start by doing the following:

• Unplug or turn off any electrical devices in the area
• Turn off surrounding heat sources
• Shut off gas supply to prevent the fire from spreading

2. Defend From the Elements

Once the fire has been completely put out and fire cleanup has begun, protecting your building from the outside elements is a critical step to avoiding further losses. In the fall and winter months, roof damage should be secured with a tarp to keep rain, hail and snow from permeating the structure. In warm months, tarping or boarding up openings can keep rodents and birds from nesting inside of the facility.

3. Secure the Facility

After a commercial fire in your business may be left susceptible to looting. Looters are individuals who take advantage of emergency situations, such as commercial fires, and find weaknesses in the building's structure in order to get inside and steal valuable goods. If a business fire leaves your building with unsecured openings, you may need to hire a disaster response company to keep vandals and thieves from entering the premises.

As you face the fire damage restoration process, be sure to follow these tips to keep your business safe. Further damage and losses can be avoided if these basic procedures are observed.

So give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to help get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Did You Know There Are Colors You Do Not Want Your Water To Be?

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

Category 1: Clean Water

This type of water damage comes from a sanitary water source, such as kitchen sinks. This water looks and smells like it came from the tap. However, once the water floods your property, it becomes contaminated by materials in the environment. It's probably okay to begin cleanup efforts with this type of flooding, but it's best not to start until water damage professionals have a chance to correctly identify the water.

Category 2: Gray Water

The precaution of waiting for accurate identification is important because of the potential risks involved with gray or black water. Gray flood water could result from a toilet overflow and may contain urine, soapy water, and other chemicals. It could have bits of human skin or oil from cooking. Category 2 water is generally unpleasant to clean up and could lead to illnesses.

Category 3: Black Water

Black water or category 3 damage is highly contaminated by bacteria, chemicals, and toxic pathogens. This type of damage might introduce sewage to hard-to-reach corners of the property and may result in the absorption of contaminants by flooring and furnishings. A minor toilet overflow could lead to category 3 damage that quickly spreads throughout the property.

The more you know about the categories of water damage, the better prepared you'll be to handle flood water damage on your property. Remember that professionals are best qualified to accurately determine the type of water in your building.

So give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are ready and waiting to help you make things "Like it never even happened."

Read This If You're Not A Fan of Wet Feet At Work

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

Don’t like getting your feet wet? Proper irrigation maintenance practices and performing regular inspections of your system can help you avoid sprinkler flooding and the problems that come along with it, but this is particularly important when turning on your system after a long period of inactivity. Failing to properly inspect your system before reactivating it can result in wasted water, poor plant health, and contamination caused by over-irrigation and run-off.

5 Places You Should Check 

One of the best ways to prevent problems is to check areas of your system that have common problems. Follow these guidelines for each area:

1. Clogged nozzles: Performing regular irrigation maintenance can help you avoid this problem, but it’s a good idea to check nozzles for debris such as dirt and leaves before attempting to reactivate the system.

2. Missing or broken heads: To help avoid sprinkler flooding, be sure to check for any damage to the sprinkler heads. Damage can be caused by lawnmowers, normal wear and tear, improper installation, or even vandalism.

3. Tilted, sunken, or misaligned heads: Look for settling of the heads or build-up that has occurred around them over time. Be sure everything is still aligned properly before attempting to turn on the system.

4. Seal leaks: If you notice a leak in your spray head, you should either replace the whole single unit or the seal under the screw-off top (depending on your device). Leaks can appear in these mechanisms from dirt and debris.

5. Leaking valves or pipes: If leaks are discovered in valves or pipes, they should be promptly replaced. Damage to valves and pipes can be caused by weather, lawn equipment such as shovels or sharp tools, tree roots, or vandalism.

Regular Maintenance and Inspection Goes a Long Way

Regular irrigation maintenance and inspection can go a long way in helping you avoid sprinkler flooding and other associated issues, but how often should you inspect your system? At minimum, the system should be checked twice seasonally; right before it is turned on and halfway through the season. Ideally, the system should be checked on a monthly basis. This will likely optimize your chances of discovering a potential problem before it occurs or before it is able to cost you a lot of time, money, or both.

So give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to help get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Keep Your HVAC System in Good Shape With SERVPRO"s Help

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

HVAC Spring Cleaning Tips

Springtime is the perfect time for HVAC maintenance. By putting a bit of maintenance into this system now, you may be able to avoid complications during the hot summer months. When you invest in this type of maintenance, it can extend the life of the equipment, saving you money on emergency repairs and replacement. And your home’s air will be cleaner as well.

How to Ensure Your HVAC System Is Ready

When it comes to preparing your HVAC system for rising seasonal temperatures, follow these simple tips:

1. Get filters cleaned
   Clean or change the HVAC filters on your system. It’s best to replace them at least once every two to three months or more often when pollen and dust levels are higher.
2. Remove dust from your home
   Minimize the amount of work your HVAC system must do by keeping your home dust-free. Don’t overlook the importance of cleaning your bathroom fans and exhaust fans in your kitchen. These can build up with debris over the colder months, too.
3. Have the ducts cleaned
   The ducts in your home are the metal pathways that cooled and heated air travel from the HVAC system to the various areas of your home. Dust can build up in these areas, creating a problem for your system. Have a professional clean the ducts now.
4. Inspect your windows and doors
   Small areas where air can get into the home through window and door leaks can cause problems for energy efficiency. They also let the dirt and debris in. Look around them to spot areas of potential concern –if you can see light or feel air, you know there’s a leak that needs attention.
5. Get professional HVAC cleaning
   It’s always best to have a professional handle your HVAC cleaning. A service check in the springtime is the best way to ensure all the electrical and mechanical components are working. This is also a good time for your team to ensure the Freon is filled and the outdoor condensers are properly cleaned.

Keep Your HVAC System in Good Shape with Our Help

Don't Forget To Plan For the Unexpected With An Emergency Ready Profile

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbus offers a no-cost Emergency Ready Profile for your business. This will help minimize business interruption by having a plan of action. Being prepared is key for getting through any type of disaster, big or small. Having a plan in effect prior to a disaster saves time and money.

The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile is designed to provide a quick reference of important building and contact information. This plan is available to you anywhere, anytime with an easy to operate mobile application. Identifying the line of command for authorizing work allows the mitigation process to begin helping you to get your business operating as quickly as possible.  

With many years of experience, SERVPRO is here for you! We can handle any size disaster...from big to small! We are faster to any disaster and we will make things "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Can Help When Pipes Break In Your Business

3/30/2022 (Permalink)

What Causes Broken Pipes?

There are a variety of reasons that a pipe can break or burst. However, some of the most common reasons for a pipe break include:

• Water freezing in the pipes
• Tree roots growing through pipes
• Outdated or worn out pipes
  
  

How Are Broken Pipes Fixed?

After the cause of your broken pipe has been identified, one of the first steps in having your pipes fixed is making a small business claim. If a pipe is made of polybutylene, a material that is no longer used in the construction of pipes, then replacement is generally the best option. However, if frozen water or tree roots cause a pipe to burst, then it may be possible to only replace a small portion of the pipes. During this process, it's also often useful to contact water damage restoration specialists who can mitigate any flood damage that occurs as a result of the broken pipe.

Can You Prevent Your Pipes From Breaking?

Preventing an issue with your property's pipes be valuable and can save you a great deal of time and money. Having regular maintenance on your building's pipes is one of the most effective ways to prevent a broken pipe. Regular maintenance will allow a plumber to notice minor signs of a problem before a major issue occurs. Throughout the year, taking the time to check for any signs of water trouble can also be helpful.

Knowing a common cause of a small business claim can be useful to you as a business owner. To avoid making an insurance claim for a broken pipe, it can be wise to understand the causes of broken pipes, how pipes are fixed and what steps you can take to prevent a pipe break.

Water Saving Tips For Your Business

5/25/2021 (Permalink)

Luckily, there are steps you can take to limit the amount of water you use in your commercial facility. These tips will also come in handy if droughts or water issues limit your supply of H2O.

1. Adjust Your Faucets

Automatic faucets are expensive, but they can be a worthwhile investment. They turn on by themselves and only stay on for a set amount of time. You thus don’t have to worry about your employees leaving the water running.
These faucets don’t just save money, either. Since workers won't have to touch faucet handles, their germs won’t spread as easily.
If this water upgrade costs too much money, you can also just adjust the faucet aerator. A typical aerator uses 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), which is almost the same amount of water utilized by a shower. Simply switching to a 0.5 gpm aerator can reduce your bathroom water usage by 80 percent.

2. Maintain Your Irrigation System

If your commercial building has an irrigation system, you should check it regularly for leaks or other water issues. Make sure the sprinklers are pointed at your actual grass and not the sidewalks or parking lot. You may also want to consider utilizing drip irrigation, which is more efficient than the spray type.

3. Remove Water-Intensive Plants

Annual plants may be pretty additions to your office, but they also use a lot of water. Consider swapping them out for colorful plants that require less water and last for a longer period of time. This will reduce your landscaping costs, as well.
These strategies should allow you to keep your building functioning properly even if there are water issues in your area. They will also save you money on your water bill.

SERVPRO Tips: How to Prevent Potential Water Damage

5/25/2021 (Permalink)

Owning and running a building means that you have a lot on your plate. You probably want to avoid reacting to problems, but instead nip them in the bud.

When it comes to water damage though, how do you do that? 

Bathrooms and kitchens in a place of business get a lot of traffic. This means that your drains and toilets are doing a lot of work, so you should do what you can to keep them flowing and avoid flooding. Have maintenance check on them regularly and consider conducting a camera-scope inspection every so often. Some tips to avoid a clogged toilet:

• Buy thin toilet paper.
• Post signage about what can go in the toilet.
• Provide plenty of labelled waste receptacles.
  
  

Pipes

First, you should look into what type of pipes you have. If they are older, they might be polybutylene, copper or galvanized iron. These materials are prone to damage and don't usually last long. Please consider replacing if this is the case. Regardless of material, it is important to check them for corrosion or leaks as often as possible, because even the smallest drip can accumulate. Winters can also be hard on pipes, so be sure to keep your building warm enough to avoid freezing and broken pipes.

Fire Sprinklers

Sometimes your sprinklers can be triggered to go off without a fire- a warm light nearby or burnt food in the microwave can do the trick. This can cause water damage, especially if not taken care of right away. You should have a water damage restoration company picked out so you can move forward right away with water repair should something like this happen. Especially if the incident was above a carpet, this may eventually turn into a mold problem.
There's a lot to keep track of in a large building. If you know what to add to a regular maintenance routine and some simple preventative measures, your life could be made a lot simpler.

If you do have a water damage event at your commercial building, give SERVPRO of Columbus a call! We are faster to any disaster and are ready to put our expertise, equipment and experience to work for you!