What is the SERVPRO® Ready Plan Tool

4/8/2021 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO^® Ready Plan is a tool for property managers and owners, both residential and commercial. It allows for the creation of an Emergency READY Profile. By developing a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your Austin area business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your home or business.

SERVPRO^® of North Austin / SW Williamson CO has restoration experts available 24 hours a day to get your business back up and running. Our expertise includes restoration services for fire and water damage, including electronics restoration and document drying. We are also your business’s best resource for mold mitigation and removal. Our Large Loss Division has the expertise to manage the cost and operations of large commercial disaster recovery projects.

SERVPRO® of North Austin/SW Williamson CO will Deep Clean your Restaurant

4/8/2021 (Permalink)

Now more than ever, it's important for restaurants to be clean and sanitary. Obviously, a restaurant's preparation areas should be kept clean. But, besides the everyday cleaning of kitchen equipment and appliances, it is necessary to perform a deep cleaning of kitchens at least once to twice a year.

Appearance

A restaurant's: atmosphere, attention to detail, and well-kept facilities are important for a customer's good first impression. The appearance of a restaurant's kitchen can bring in clients as well as scare them away.

Safety

A messy and unorganized look will affect guests' appetites as well as employee productivity. Daily mopping sustains a clean floor, but will not scrub deeply enough to remove certain bacteria. Sticky floors and unwanted objects can cause personnel or guests to slip. For a truly clean floor, it is important to remove: grease, oil, gum and even mold.

For a deep cleaning of your restaurant, please call SERVPRO® of North Austin/SW Williamson CO today!

Source: Yahoo Finance Online. 

How to Properly Use Your Fire Extinguisher

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Once you've purchased the fire extinguisher with the class type (A, B, C, D, or K) that is right for your home or business, familiarize yourself with the fire extinguisher directions so you’ll be prepared in case you need to put out a fire. Typically, fire extinguishers are fairly easy to use in the case of a fire. Most of the types operate using the P.A.S.S. technique:

• Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher in order to break the tamper seal.
• Aim the fire extinguisher low, with the nozzle pointed at the base of the fire. 
• Squeeze the handle of the fire extinguisher to release the extinguishing agent. 
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side while pointed at the base of the fire until it is extinguished. 
• If the fire re-ignites, repeat the last 3 steps.

 If your home or business has suffered fire damage, please give us a call today. To learn more about SERVPRO of North Austin / SW Williamson CO fire damage restoration, click HERE. 

Source: Nationwide Insurance Online

Soot and Smoke Restoration after Fire Damage

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of North Austin / SW Williamson CO will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call SERVPRO of North Austin / SW Williamson CO Today:  (512) 335-7247

Why SERVPRO?  SERVPRO Uses Industrial Grade Equipment and Cleaning Products on your Home or Business

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

If your home or business has suffered a water damage event, simply cleaning up the water and opening up the windows will not completely dry the space, leaving your home or business vulnerable to future mold growth (known as secondary damage).  SERVPRO of North Austin/SW Williamson County uses industrial grade dehumidifiers and fans to completely dry your home or business.  SERVPRO of North Austin/SW Williamson County uses moisture testing devices to make sure your walls, closets, and floors are dry before we leave your home and close out the job.  In addition to drying, commercial grade anti-fungal treatments are applied in order to prevent mold from forming.

If your home or business has suffered a fire damage event, air scrubbers are brought in to the area to "scrub" the air clean and remove the chemical and smoke odor. In addition to air scrubbers, special cleaning agents are used to save as many smoke-affected items as possible in your home or business.

If your home or business has suffered a water damage, fire damage, or mold growth event, please do not hesitate to call us today.

Why SERVPRO? SERVPRO is "Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certified"

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

If you or your business has suffered a water damage, fire damage, mold damage, or bio hazard damage, odds are it has affected some sort of fabric or textile in your home.  The IICRC is a certification and Standards Developing Organization (SDO) non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. In partnership with regional and international trade associates, the IICRC serves more than 25 countries.

When you see a IICRC logo, you can be confident that an IICRC-certified experienced, qualified professional is caring for your valuable property.

Do you need upholstery cleaning or carpet cleaning for your home or business performed by a company that is IICRC certified?  SERVPRO  of North Austin / SW Williamson County cleans upholstery for general cleaning, pet dander, smoke damage, office carpet tile, and more. 

Source: IICRC Online

Why is My Refrigerator Leaking Water?

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

If your refrigerator is leaking water and causing water damage to your flooring it’s usually because of one of two reasons.

Reason #1 your fridge is leaking

A blocked defrost drain is one of the most common causes of water leakage. This happens when food particles or other debris clogs up the drain hose, which can lead to ice buildup and, eventually, water leaking out of the freezer and refrigerator.

Fix: First, try flushing the drain from inside the freezer with warm water, using a turkey baster or a small funnel. You can also try using a pipe cleaner or a straightened coat hanger to forcibly remove the clog. If this doesn't fix the problem you may need to manually remove the debris that is clogging the check valve at the end of the drain hose.

Reason #2 your fridge is leaking

From time to time, a clogged or frozen water supply line will cause water to puddle beneath the refrigerator. It will also affect ice production from the ice maker and slow or stop water flow from the dispenser.

Fix: First, unplug the refrigerator and locate the shut-off valve, typically underneath the sink, behind the refrigerator, or below the refrigerator in the basement. Make sure this valve is closed, and look for any leaks, kinks, or clogs in the plastic supply line.

Source: CNET online

Contaminated Water after a Storm

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Should you experience a flood in your home after a storm, our team of technicians will inspect your home or business to determine the appropriate plan of action for the type of water encountered.

Category 3: "Black Water"

Category 3 water is grossly contaminated and could cause severe illness or death if ingested and any contact should be avoided. Examples include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

• May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
• Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

24 Hour Emergency Service

Water contaminated with sewage backup should be considered an emergency situation and dealt with as quickly as possible. Our technicians at SERVPRO® of North Austin and SW Williamson CO are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for any emergency situations that arise. We have been a trusted name in safety and properly restoring homes and businesses for almost 15 years! We are here to help!

Austin Area - Are you Storm Aware?

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

As we continue to see storms throughout our Austin area cities, we at SERVPRO® of North Austin / SW Williamson CO want you to be aware of what the different threat levels mean so that you can be prepared for whatever happens. 

Flash Flood Watch

A Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding. It does not mean that flash flooding will occur, but it is possible.

Flash Flood Warning

A Flash Flood Warning is issued when flash flooding is imminent or occurring.

Flood Watch

A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

Flood Warning

A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

If your home or commercial building ever suffers flood damage, call the SERVPRO® of North Austin / SW Williamson Co experts.

When Your Kitchen Pipes or Bathroom Pipes Clog

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

If your kitchen or bathroom pipes clog, it is a better idea to use a drain snake instead of chemical products.

No matter how perfectly clean you are, from your shower to your kitchen sink, clogs are going to happen. Chances are at some point in your life you have used one of those powerful chemical drain cleaners to get things moving again. But as convenient as they may be, most people don’t realize those caustic chemicals are also eating away at their kitchen or bathroom pipes. When used very often, pipe leaks will become inevitable. That’s why owning a drain snake is a good solution to clear away clogs. Drain snakes are pretty inexpensive, you can get them at your local hardware store, and they can cut through most any clog you’ll have without damaging pipes.

Source: Farmers Insurance Online