Recent Posts
The Importance of ERPs
8/9/2023 (Permalink)
An ERP is an extremely useful 'just in case' tool your local SERVPRO® Representative can prepare, to help you be better prepare for the unexpected
Being a business owner can have many responsibilities, and you may have to take on multiple roles.
In most cases, disaster is the last thing you are thinking about. But every business owner, regardless of how new or old your business is, should have a plan and guide for what to do in the event of a disaster.
SERVPRO® offers a free community service called the "Emergency Ready Plan", or an ERP.
ERPs are handy little guides that we make at SERVPRO® that contain basic information regarding your property, who owns the property, and where your emergency shut off locations are.
We document and photograph where your electrical, water, and gas shut offs are, as well as your sprinkler system and security system. We also have the contacts for those utilities companies in the event that you must make contact.
Key contacts are also listed in the ERP, such as the owner, the insurance agent for the property, your SERVPRO representative, and the managers of the building.
The emergency contacts and services page has the fire department and police department's emergency and non-emergency numbers as well, that way, if contact is needed, you know where to find all those phone numbers and contact points.
It's very beneficial to have an ERP because although the business owner might know where everything is and who to contact, your employees might not know. Having a guide like this can help so much if the business owner is not present.
ERPs are very convenient as well, we are able to provide a paper copy, and we can provide a digital version on the Ready Plan app! Which makes ERPs very easy to access in times of need.
When you run a business, it's good to prepare for not just the next day's shift, but for the things that happen unexpectedly.
You can always count on SERVPRO® being here to help!
Faster to Any Size Disaster
8/9/2023 (Permalink)
Water damage in your home can get worse the longer you delay calling for help
Faster To Any Size Disaster
Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more. SERVPRO® arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.
Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 –541-745-2097
Water Damage Timeline
Within Minutes
- Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
- Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
- Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
- Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.
Hours 1 - 24:
- Drywall begins to swell and break down.
- Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
- Furniture begins to swell and crack.
- Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
- A musty odor appears.
48 Hours to 1 Week:
- Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
- Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
- Metal begins to rust and corrode.
- Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
- Paint begins to blister.
- Wood flooring swells and warps.
- Serious biohazard contamination is possible.
More Than 1 Week:
- Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
- Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.
About SERVPRO®
SERVPRO® specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at our SERVPRO® Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
After the Fire
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
Fires cause tremendous damage throughout your home. Contact SERVPRO® for all your Fire Restoration needs.
When returning to a home after a fire, there’s a lot to consider. Many homeowners will begin by assessing the damage caused by heat and soot. However, water damage comes hand in hand with fire damage. Before determining if it’s safe to return to your home, make sure you know how the water used to put out the fire may have affected your house. SERVPRO® of Benton County can help you determine the extent of the damage and repair fire and water damage. Here are some things to watch out for when you return to your home for the first time after a fire.
Structural damage
If water has collected in your ceilings or walls, it could create a dangerous situation. Many homes have plywood subflooring, which will separate when exposed to extreme moisture. This could result in unsightly floor buckling or a dangerous weakening of your floor’s structural integrity.
Mold
As your house dries out from the water used to put out the fire, mold can begin growing. In fact, it happens fairly quickly: Mold spores can start developing in as little as 24 to 48 hours after the fire occurs. You can remove saturated carpets and furniture, but mold will grow in any areas of excess moisture – including places you can’t see, such as inside walls, ceilings or air ducts.
Poor roof drainage
If firefighters needed to direct water to the roof of your house, make sure it drained off properly. If that water poured into the yard too close to the house it could cause shifting, cracks and eventual leaks in the foundation. Inadequate roof drainage can also send water spilling into the ceilings and crawl spaces of the home.
Before returning to your home, call the experts at SERVPRO® for an inspection. We can deal with all the different kinds of damage that is associated with fire and water. We look forward to working with you to restore your home and make sure it is safe for your whole family.
Candle Safety
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
Candles are beautiful, but can easily lead to house fires
Candles may be pretty to look at, but they are a common cause of home fires. Remember – a candle is an open flame. This means that it can easily ignite anything that can burn. Here are a few simple tips to help you safely enjoy burning candles in your home:
- Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom, or other areas where people are likely to fall asleep. Roughly one-third of home candle fires started in the bedroom.
- Keep candles at least 1ft away from anything that may burn
- Use candle holders that are sturdy, and less likely to tip over.
- Place candles on a sturdy, uncluttered surface. More than half of all candle fires start when things that burn are too close to the candle.
- Never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle.
- Keep matches and lighters up high and out of reach of children
- Never use a candle is oxygen is used in the home.
- Consider using flameless candles in your home. Newer ones look and even smell like the real thing.
Candles are appealing because they can create a warm, relaxing atmosphere. Following the above tips can help you and your family safely enjoys candles in your home. And, if the unexpected happens, know that you can count on your Fire Restoration Specialists at SERVPRO® to help make it “like it never even happened”.
Taking Care of Your Commercial Cleaning Needs!
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
You run your business, let SERVPRO® worry about keeping your facilities clean
You don’t have time to worry about the common wear and tear that gradually soils your office. When grime, odor, and moisture challenges go beyond the scope of your regular janitorial staff, call in your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional. Whether it’s removing an odor problem or deep cleaning flooring or carpets, you can rely on local SERVPRO® Team to make your workspace look its very best.
Specialty Cleaning Services
We offer cleaning services ranging from cleaning restaurant hoods to removing biohazard contaminants. They have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business. Their cleaning services include the following:
Your local SERVPRO® Professional will get the job done right and get it done quickly.
Have Questions? Call Us Today! 541/745-2097
Even small leaks can spell BIG disaster
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
Leaking pipes under a sink can spell big trouble
No matter what time of year it seems like kitchen sink pipes like to leek. We, here at SERVPRO® get many calls about leaks from kitchen sink pipes. One recent call we received was a kitchen sink pipe leaking. Unfortunately, the home owner was not aware of the small, slow leak until it had soaked through the bottom of the cabinet, through the flooring and on into their daylight basement! This ruined the bottom of the sink cabinet, the subflooring, insulation, and ceiling dry wall.. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind to avoid this situation.
1. Make sure you check once month under you sink for leaks.
2. Don't keep a lot of stuff under the sink, so it hard to notice if a leak is happening.
3. Line your cupboard with cupboard liner, so that it can protect from moisture.
4. When the weather is below freezing leave you cupboard open it bit to allow heat under the sink, to prevent frozen pipes.
5. Do simple moisture checks once a month to make sure the wood/plywood is not wet, not any visible water drops coming off your pipes.
If you run in to a kitchen sink leak that has cause damage SERVPRO® can help. All you need to do is call!
Design tips to help minimize flood damage in basements
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
An Epoxy Coated basement floor not only looks beautiful, but it can help protect your home in the event of basement flooding
Finding a home with a basement here in Oregon is almost as rare as seeing Sasquatch. When we do find a basement, our excitement is hard to contain as the possibilities are endless! This extra square footage could be ideal for storage, a guest bedroom, a playroom for the kids/grandkids, a den, a room for entertaining...the list goes on and on. But before we make any final decisions on what to do with this extra space, we must keep one thing in mind: basements are rare here because our ground gets very wet. Wet ground can lead to water leaking into you home. While there are steps you can take to help prevent water from gaining access to your basement, there are also a few simple flooring ideas that can help minimize damage IF water ever did get into your home.
AVOID CARPETING It may seem appealing to have a softer floor covering if you plan to turn this space into a cozy room for relaxing, or a playroom for children. But, unfortunately, carpeting and its padding soak up any moisture that may come into your home, and can become a breeding ground for mold.
Epoxy Coating a concrete basement subfloor with epoxy will make it waterproof and durable. Available in a variety of colors, epoxies can easily be applied over a weekend.
Concrete Stain Stains can dress up concrete floors with very little cost an effort. Unlike some other types of concrete coatings, stain is resistant to chipping or flaking. Stains also come in a wide variety of colors, making it easy to match your décor.
Ceramic Tile Affordable and timeless, ceramic tile can easily be applied directly over a concrete slab. Tile is also resistant to water and humidity, making it a good choice for basement flooring.
Painted Concrete Paint is easy and the least expensive solution. Do your research, and be sure to get a latex based paint that is resistant to humidity and cooler temperatures. Use a roller to apply at least 2 coats directly to the floor. You may have to touch up the floor every few years.
You can always accessorize for comfort by using area rugs. These not only look nice, but can easily be replaced if any water damage does occur. If you ever do find yourself with water damage in your basement, do not hesitate to call your Water Restoration Specialists at SERVPRO®. We are on-call 24/7 and ready to help you get back to enjoying your basement.
Why YES! We can even clean your VEHICLE!
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
We can deep clean your vehicle, too!
SERVPRO® is well known for our Fire and Water restoration, but we do plenty of cleanup jobs all throughout the communities we serve.
Primarily, when someone thinks of the cleaning services we provide, they envision home cleaning, commercial cleaning services, vandalism…we even get called in for various clean-up jobs for Cities & Municipalities. But every once in a while, we get the opportunity to clean vehicles!
Here in Oregon, we receive so much rain, mold and mildew is a constant battle and concern. Vehicles can develop condensation along vinyl and plastic surfaces, which then seeps into the fabric surfaces throughout the entire vehicle. This creates a very welcoming environment for mold and mildew to grow. We can treat your car or truck with the same thoroughness and professionalism we treat mold/mildew growth found in homes
The wet weather also cause rodents and other smaller animals to seek shelter. Rodent infestation is surprisingly a common occurrence for vehicles parked out-of-doors. They can nest in between your outer and inner door panels! In addition to animal waste, sometimes they parish – both of which lead to nasty lingering odors. SERVPRO® Professional are well trained in removing the odors for good!
We are also ready and available to help in the event there is a biohazard, like blood from an accident or someone gets car sick, excessive amounts of dirt, or smoke damage from smoking in the vehicle, or a garage fire. We’re here to help when the job needs to be done!
SERVPRO® has all the equipment necessary to clean pretty much anything, including vehicles!
Know your flood risk
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
The flooded Willamette River. Know your flood risks
We love living the numerous beautiful rivers in the Willamette Valley. However, for current and soon to be homeowners, it's important to know if you are in a flood zone and if your home is at risk from damaging flood waters.
Flood maps show us where flood risk zones are and their boundaries.
In case of a flood, it's important to move your electronics up high, shut off all power in your home and have an emergency escape plan with exit routes.
In the event your home IS impacted by rising waters, SERVPRO® has top of the line equipment and trained employees who have the necessary skills to repair your home, business, and belongings making things look "Like it never even happened."
The best part about SERVPRO® is we are 24/7/365 because we know disasters don't wait for normal business hours.
For a flood estimate or water damage inspection call SERVPRO® today at 541/745-2097
Know your flood risk :
https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps
Preparing for the Storm
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
Know what to do during an impending storm can help reduce harm to your family and your property.
Storms can be frightening, and cause a lot of damage to our personal property. Thankfully with today's technology, we generally do get some warning, which can give us a chance to prepare.
What to do as storm approaches:
-- Download an application to your smartphone that can notify people where you are, and if you need help or are safe. The Red Cross has a Hurricane App available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store as well as a shelter finder app. A first aid app is also available.
- Bring outside items in if they could be picked up by the wind.
-- Clear gutters of debris.
-- Reinforce the garage door.
-- Turn the refrigerator to its coldest setting in case power goes off. Use a cooler to keep from opening the doors on the freezer or refrigerator.
-- Fill a bathtub with water.
-- Get a full tank of gas in one car.
-- Go over the evacuation plan with the family, and learn alternate routes to safety.
-- Learn the location of the nearest shelter or nearest pet-friendly shelter.
-- Evacuate if ordered and stick to marked evacuation routes if possible.
-- Store important documents -- passports, Social Security cards, birth certificates, deeds -- in a watertight container.
-- Have a current inventory of household property.
-- Leave a note to say where you are going.
-- Unplug small appliances and electronics before you leave.
-- If possible, turn off the electricity, gas and water for the residence.
We can only do so much to prepare for an incoming storm, and our primary concern is to keep our loved ones safe. If you experience property damage during any kind of storm, do not hesitate to call upon our Team here at SERVPRO®. Our Cleaning and Restoration Specialists will help make it "Like it never even happened.”
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