24 Hour Response is Very Important

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

As an insurance adjuster in Cullman/Blount Counties, you are part of the front line for residential and commercial disasters. Some events, like those involving water, require an immediate response to slow or stop the course of damage. SERVPRO has a 24-hour response because they understand that every hour of exposure has a crucial impact on the extent of damage, and cost, since the chance of restoration goes down as the clock ticks away. Here is the typical progression of water damage:

First 24 Hours

• Porous items such as drywall, upholstery, carpets and floors begin to absorb the water immediately.
• Stains from finishes and pigments may occur from contact between items.
• Documents and photos absorb water and warp.
• Materials become saturated with water and begin to break down or crack from swelling.
• Metal begins to tarnish.
• Molds begin to grow.
  
  

After 24 Hours

• Wood studs, flooring, windows and doors warp.
• Paint bubbles and peels.
• Metal corrodes.
• Mold and mildew multiply.
• Sitting water becomes “black water” due to exposure.
  
  

To minimize costs and damage, a 24-hour response is critical. As an insurance adjuster, you know that damage increases dramatically in a matter of hours and the costs increase exponentially during that time.

How a 24 Hour Response Is Possible

With the power of a national company, SERVPRO is always open. The national call center at our corporate office operates every day of the year, 24 hours a day. With this first contact being important, your customer will talk to a professional on the phone within the first hour and, thanks to the power of local reach, on-site work will be able to begin within four hours of that initial call. As an adjuster, you will receive your first verbal briefing within eight hours.

Selecting a national vendor with more than 1,700 locations ensures a 24-hour response for your customers. You also know you can count on consistent standards and procedures, and big company quality. The fast response is why they are the preferred vendor for many national insurance companies.

Cigarette Odors Can Linger

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

Has your home in Cullman or Blount counties suffered a cigarette fire? Besides the actual damages, trying to get rid of the smell of smoke out is a nightmare. There are some tips that aid in this process.

1. Charcoal and White Vinegar
This method is by far the cheapest of many options as both charcoal and white vinegar are easy to come by from any local store. By keeping open containers of either charcoal or white vinegar in your home, the cigarette smell is slowly absorbed out of the air. Keep in mind that this method only works for milder pockets of odor, so you might need something more heavy-duty if you've suffered a large ashtray fire.

2. Air Filters
If the solution above isn't as fast or as effective as you would want, you might try a different air filter. Since you're dealing with a very complex pollutant composed of many particles and gases of varying sizes, the best option is a HEPA filter. There are different ratings of filters based on what size particle you want to filter. Each filter is rated on a scale of 1 to 20 called a MERV rating. This tells you what size particle a filter effectively removes from the air. The higher the rating, the smaller particles it is capable of filtering. With a cigarette fire or odor, you should use a filter with a MERV rating of 18 or higher.

3. Contact a Professional
If these DIY tips aren't solving your issue, it's time to contact a fire and odor removal specialist. These experts come with equipment that's designed exactly for this job, and they know how to use it with efficiency. One piece of tech many pros use is a hydroxyl generator. This device produces a harmless charged variant of water particles to break up odor molecules. This helps deal with the smell, and more advanced filters are used to deal with the pollutants.

Safety Plans are a Necessity!

2/24/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial buildings, which include offices, restaurants, shops, and anything retail related or a place that brings in income, have a large number of employees of customers in them every day.  The importance of Safety Plans in case of emergencies in these types of facilities can save lives. 

Safety Plans are put in place in case of emergencies and natural disasters. Without a safety plan, many things can and will go wrong.  With a safety plan, you and your entire company will know what to do, who to call, and how to handle anything thrown at them.  A company becomes a much safer company when a safety plan is put in measure.

For instance, worker safety is crucial when operating a business.  With a Safety Plan and by executing such plan, employees are in much safer working conditions and less likely to have an injuring or fatal accident.  If an incident does happen however, the Safety Plan will have an exact protocol to follow to insure everything is handled in the most proper and efficient way possible. 

A Safety Plan will also contain protocols to follow in case of natural disasters.  A solid Safety Plan will have an evacuation route map, all of the available exits listed, and a step by step what-to-do under certain events.  These events may include a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood or other such disaster.

Here at SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties, we have a detailed Safety Plan that is followed and protocols executed daily when using equipment. We value safety of not only our employees but our clients also.

Customers in Cullman and Blount Counties Professional Water Restoration Services!

2/3/2022 (Permalink)

If you are handy around your property, you may feel as though you are able to handle a water emergency like a small spill or burst pipes. However, you could be leaving moisture behind within your home or business that could lead to secondary damage or mold growth. Why call SERVPRO for water removal services? Because we use industrial-grade equipment and proven methods for successful water extraction, drying, and moisture detection. All of our efforts make it, so your home is “Like it never even happened.”

Water Restoration in Cullman & Blount Counties- Water Mitigation Means Following Water Migration

Many homeowners may forget that saving some money by doing it yourself might seem like a good idea, but you more likely miss areas where water migrated through your home or business. Professionals mitigate damage during water clean by looking at all locations where water may have traveled and moisture gets trapped. Some areas SERVPRO looks at will include:

• Signs of soaked carpet and pd
• Deterioration of structural elements
• Swelling, soft, or crumbling drywall
• Ceilings with stains or drips
• Mold colonization

In some cases, there will be tight spaces or hidden areas where it seems impossible to reach. However, we may perform controlled demolition like flood cuts or use boreholes to access these points. Our Injectidry system or positive/negative pressure systems are highly efficient for drying complex spaces, including small spaces behind walls.

Why Would Pack Out Services Be Required?

If you have a lot of contents in the damaged zone, it might be best to pack them up and move them off-site for storage. Our team logs all items and packs them, so there is a detailed inventory of everything coming and going. Once the water restoration is complete, everything gets moved back into its original places.

Heating Costs Are On The Rise

12/13/2021 (Permalink)

Heating and energy costs can quickly add up and affect (sometimes even ruin) your monthly budget. To save a few dollars and to not waste any energy, you can set thermostats at 68° when you are home and at nighttime. If you are not going to be home for most of the day you can turn it down farther to 65-66° for additional savings.

Energy costs and monthly bills can be an annoying part of our lives, but by making small changes you will start to see that you will be able to save money.

When customers experience water losses, one of the first things we do is set up equipment to start the drying process. This is great news, because its the quickest way to get your home or business back to preloss conditions, but not so great for your power bill. We encourage and tell our customers to look at their past years' bill for the same time period and submit those to their insurance carrier for potential reimbursement. If water or fire damage should affect your home or business make sure to call the team with 21+ years of experience in the community!

Winter Can Bring Good and Bad Times

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

Hot chocolate. Warm blankets. Snow angels. Holiday decorations. Christmas movies. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … and winter. Which means the cooler weather is starting to move in. All of those things are reasons why a large part of the population loves the winter season. However, there are some things that can happen during the winter that you may not love so much.  

Fire and water damage are two things that can happen and are never any fun. It can be a result of a number of things, so we encourage you to be on the lookout for things that can cause fire damage and/or water damage during the winter at your residential or commercial property. In the event it does happen. We can make it “Like it never even happened.”   

Things that can cause fire damage during the winter:

1. Candles
2. Cooking
3. Christmas trees
4. Holiday decorations
5. Heating units 

Things that can cause water damage during the winter:

1. Frozen pipes
2. Leaking water heater
3. Snow melting on the roof
4. Overflowing gutters
5. Poorly or non-insulated pipes 

If any of those things cause fire damage or water damage at your home or business this winter, don't hesitate to call us!

SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties Gives You Service With A Smile!

11/23/2021 (Permalink)

Having someone come into your home to do work because of a water or fire damage can cause a little anxiety because it can seem like unfamiliar territory.  Here at SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties, we always want to help our customers have the best experience possible. Not only, do we want you to be happy with the job that we do, we want you to be happy with our production team members!

Our production team members are always there to make the homeowner and business owners feel more at ease when it comes to taking care of their home or business, and belongings. 

You can feel confident when you choose SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties, knowing that you’re not only going to get great service, but service with a smile! You can call us anytime, day or night, at 256-736-2036. We have crews on call 24/7/365- yes that includes nights, weekends, and holidays!

Turkey Day Preparation

11/15/2021 (Permalink)

We are fast approaching Thanksgiving. It's that time of the year again where family and friends come together for a delicious meal.. There are several ways to cook a turkey, but a favorite among some is deep fried. Unfortunately, we have all seen the videos that end in a fiery ball of poultry. If you plan on deep frying a turkey this year, follow these tips to keep you and your family safe! 

• Thaw and dry turkey completely before cooking
• Thaw the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every 5 pounds, according to The National Turkey Federation 
• Ice or water that mixes can cause flare-ups
• Fryer Setup
• Use fryer OUTDOORS and away from decks, garages, homes, and other structures.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer. 
• Use on a flat surface to avoid accidental tipping. Make sure the tank and burner are at least 2+ feet apart.
• Measure the Oil
• Avoid overfilling by reading the manufacturer’s instructions. 
• Be Prepared 
• Use oven mitts to protect hands and/or arms.
• Safety goggles to protect eyes
• Have a grease-rated fire extinguisher nearby and ready.
• Finishing Act
• Remove pot from the burner and place on a level surface.
• Allow oil to cool overnight before disposing of oil in a sealed container.

Most importantly, NEVER LEAVE FRYERS UNATTENDED!! Please be careful this holiday season! Call SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties if you suffer a fire damage on Turkey Day!

The Holidays Are Here: Kitchen Fires Are Preventable!

11/9/2021 (Permalink)

While fire remediation companies are available to help you rebuild your home, the preferable option is likely to avoid a fire. While wishful thinking will not always prevent a disaster from happening, when it comes to kitchen fires, you can follow four tips to limit the possibility of a grease fire.

1. Stay alert
2. Remain present
3. Use a timer
4. Remove flammable items

Stay Alert

Kitchen fires and damage often occur because someone lets their guard down while cooking. It is easy to become distracted, especially when dealing with complicated recipes that involve long periods of cooking. However, it is vital that you stay alert. Therefore, if you are drowsy or have had a few drinks, then it might be a good idea to hold off making that fancy meal.

Remain Present

When it comes to kitchen fire prevention tips, the best one is to remain present. Do not leave the kitchen when you have things frying/cooking on the stove. If you must leave, then find someone willing and able to watch it for you while you are away. Kitchen fires can happen in an instant, and they require quick responses to limit any damage.

Use a Timer

If no one is home and you have to leave the kitchen, set a timer. It is easy to become distracted with other things. A timer will bring your attention back to the kitchen.

Remove Flammable Items

Before cooking anything on the stovetop, make sure that you remove any potentially flammable items. For example, move cloth oven mitts and any boxed or plastic objects. You need the workspace to be clear of any fire risks.
The four tips above will help to reduce your risks of a kitchen fire. However, keep in mind that fire is dangerous, and if something your cooking does ignite and you can't extinguish it, get to safety and call 911.

Heat Your Space...But Be Safe!

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

Cooler temperatures are making there way into our area. Space heaters are a practical and affordable solution to adding to your home heat supply during the cold weather months provided all the necessary safety precautions are observed. Space heaters are responsible for approximately 40% of home fires.

• Look for a space heater with a protective guard around the heating element to help prevent accidental harm to small children and pets.
• Don’t consider purchasing a space heater unless it bears the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or similar symbol on the package. That’s your assurance that the product conforms to established safety standards.
• Choose a space heater that is right-sized for the room or area where you intend to use it. If the heater is too small for the job, it will work harder than it should have to.  That, in turn, can lead to premature failure, overheating, and potentially even a fire.
• Only those who understand all aspects of your space heater functions should be allowed to operate it.
• While we don’t recommend purchasing a fuel-burning space heater, if that’s your model of choice, just be sure the area around it is properly vented to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Since most space heaters heat people and objects, and not space, never leave it on when going to bed or leaving the room for more than a minute or two.

If your home or business has been affected by smoke or fire damage please give us a call, we are here to help. SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties is trained in smoke and fire remediation.

Roof Damages Can Be Costly

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

The roofs that we take shelter under signify a protective layer from the environment and outside forces as well as an indicator of our personal safe place.

Even though a roof represents one of the largest investments in our home, most homeowners do not maintain it as attentively as they would other belongings or parts of the home. When keeping up the necessary work your roof needs is laid to the sidelines, it can create damage inside the home, not just the exterior.

Roof maintenance needs to be recognized as a priority. On an annual basis for every homeowner and especially for those of us that live in climate with very clear definitions of all of the seasons.

• In winter, your roof is exposed to the cold not only for the temperature, but the winds, rain and potentially snow. Which creates a situation of it to contract.
• Humidity and higher temperatures during the summer can have the opposite effect making the roof components swell, creating further strain on its integrity.
• When there is a constant back and forth of dry spells to alternating rainy spurts, this can speed up and shorten the lifespan of the roof. 

When a roof begins to fail there can be very obvious leaks from the ceiling or in the attic space. What can be scarier, is the leak that is undiscovered. Which usually is a result of a piercing; possibly from a tree branch, a weakness in a seam, or parts of the shingles that have been worn down because of the elements. Causing moisture or even straight water itself to find its way into the spaces between the ceiling and walls and start affecting the structure of your building.

By the time the issue is found, extensive damage may have already occurred. This can also create an environment for mold to grow and spread, which can now affect anyone’s health who inhabits the building.

We hope that every home owner realizes not only the investment that a roof is, but that it also comes with needed maintenance to protect themselves, their belongings and entire home as a whole.

Why Choose Us?

9/23/2021 (Permalink)

Why choose SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties?  Here at SERVPRO we are here to help!  We're faster to any size disaster whether it is a fire, water, mold, bio-hazard, or storm damage. There is no job that is too big or too small for our team of heroes!

Flooding, fire, storm or water emergencies don't wait for regular business hours, and neither do we. SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties provides 24 hour a day, 7 day a week service for our customers including all holidays.

Combining rapid response time, professionalism, with open and effective line of communication, exemplary customer service and many more are reasons why you should choose SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties for your next fire or water damage. Come back and check out more blogs informing all as to why you should choose our wonderful team of fully trained technicians that will be hard at work for you anytime of day or night.

Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

256-736-2036  We are here to help!

September is National Preparedness Month

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

September is National Preparedness Month. This is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. The 2021 theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

The first week of September is all about “Making a Plan”. Make sure to talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during and after a disaster situation. 

The second week of September is all about “Building a Kit”. Buy supplies that will last several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Don’t forget to consider the unique needs of each person or pet may have in the event that you have to evacuate quickly.

The third week of September focuses on “Low-Cost, No-Cost Preparedness”. It is important to know the risk of disasters in your area and check over your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home or business stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards and act fast if you receive a local warning or alert.

The last week of September is about “Teaching Youth About Preparedness”. Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved.

Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.