Advantage to Quick Mitigation for Water Damaged Flowery Branch Homes

10/1/2022 (Permalink)

Water loss incidents can quickly spread throughout your Flowery Branch, GA home and threaten areas even far removed from the source of the emergency. As much as many homeowners might want to handle many of these disasters on their own, water losses can affect areas beyond what is easily seen, requiring sophisticated equipment and mitigation tools to overcome. Without a fast turnaround on the effects on your house, construction materials risk deterioration, and the property also becomes susceptible to hazardous conditions like mold growth.

Professional restoration technicians like our SERVPRO team can offer real-time solutions for water damage to Gainesville homes. We have a broad inventory of equipment, and with the connection to a larger national network, we can continually upgrade and improve our equipment and tools to be the most competitive in the restoration industry.

We know how quickly water loss incidents can get out of control, so we have a 24/7 response to these emergencies to begin mitigation work as soon as our professionals first arrive. Mitigation serves to reduce your overall loss when disasters strike your residence. 

Trust in our SERVPRO of Gainesville team to work quickly to make these situations “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (770)536-1010.

Steps for Water Damage

9/27/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage happens to a home somewhere across the United States an average of 14,000 times a day. It happens multiple times a minute, whether, from flooding, pipes breaking, or some other cause. If your home has a basement, your odds of needing water remediation someday are extremely high, and of course, hoses and water heaters are known to cause trouble. Should you need your local SERVPRO team, here’s how things will go.

Emergency Contact. When you reach out by phone or web, we’ll get started with a few questions to help us determine the nature and scope of the issue. Then we’ll settle on a time when we can check things out in person.

Inspection and Water Damage Assessment. When we’re on-site, we’ll be able to more accurately survey the situation and finalize a plan. We’ll warn you of any hazards your water damage has created, and review any items or areas with you that we estimate will need to be replaced or rebuilt.

Water Removal. Put away the bucket—we’ve got big, strong pumps to clear out all that water. Hundreds and hundreds of gallons may be removed by the time we’re finished, and of course, we won't stop until it’s all gone.

Damaged Material Removal. Now those damaged items can be safely hauled away, and we’ll take care of it for you quickly, in order to expedite the process of drying the restorable materials that remain.

Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Deodorization. All that water rudely rushed in and made a mess of your basement, bathroom, or other areas, and we’ll be hard at work making sure the stains, smells and contaminants it left behind are only temporary nuisances.

Drying. Now that the area is clear, we’ve got mold to prevent. The moisture left behind by the intrusive water spill will allow mold growth in only a couple of days, but we’ll finely go through all surfaces with specialized equipment to extract the moisture mold needs to grow and restore the humidity balance in your home.

Monitoring. These processes are highly efficient, but they don’t run on auto-pilot, so we’ll be on-site and in contact constantly to ensure a smooth, thorough recovery.

Repairs and Construction. Once the drying process is done, we’ll turn into a team of handymen, expertly restoring and recrafting damaged materials in your home, from small to great

Need help cleaning up a water damage call SERVPRO of Gainesville 770-536-1010

SERVPRO has No Limits

9/26/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know that we’re not limited to working in residential properties?

We have the team, and equipment to handle large facilities like:

• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• SmallRetail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military

There’s never a convenient time for fire, mold, or water damage to strike your business. Every hours spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. When an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need. Here at SERVPRO of Gainesville, GA we always want to help you put your best foot forward to avoid any fire, water, or mold damage. In the event that you do experience water damage, we’re here to help! Give us a call for your quote today at770-536-1010

Document Restoration

9/24/2022 (Permalink)

In the aftermath of a disaster, some of your most valued contents (documents, photographs, and books), could be lost forever. As a leader in the restoration industry, SERVPRO knows that timely mitigation is the key to recovering damaged possessions. With years of experience and state-of-the-art technology, SERVPRO’s restoration professionals will help you recover your paper goods before it is too late.

Our Document Restoration Facility:

• Innovative: we use the latest vacuum freeze-drying method, as well as gamma irradiation technology for sterilizing
• Secure: managed by HIPPA Master-certified technicians, under 24/7 surveillance
• Digital: we use a computerized inventory system for digitizing your documents
• Flexible capacity-we can accommodate large commercial losses or small residential jobs
• Full Service: we offer a range of services including drying, cleaning/disinfecting, re-jacketing, digitizing, and deodorization

Types of content:

• paper documents
• books and magazines
• manuscripts and files
• photographs, films, negatives, and microfiche
• x-rays
• blueprints and maps
• parchment

Need your valuable documents restored? Call SERVPRO of Gainesville, GA770-536-1010

Toilet Overflow

9/23/2022 (Permalink)

A flooded toilet can cause damage on one or more floors of a home in Gainesville, GA. You should immediately contact a plumber upon noticing signs of a blocked drain line and take measures to limit sewer damage. Here are some of the types of damage a toilet overflow can cause. Contaminated WaterWater from a toilet overflow is almost always contaminated. Restoration professionals categorize water damage into three categories:

• Category One clean water, originating from supply lines
• Category Two contaminated water, from showers or appliances
• Category Three contaminated water containing solid wasteWater from a flooded toilet is likely either Category Two gray water or Category Three black water. Either category of sewer damage calls for disinfection in addition to cleaning and drying

Now you are capable to prevent future water damage from a leaking toilet. "Black water" damage definitely requires some special procedures for cleaning; fortunately, SERVPRO of Gainesville, professionals are available to restore the damaged area 770-536-1010

Flooding at Your Commercial Property - How to Prepare

9/22/2022 (Permalink)

As a business owner, you must protect your property. You likely have insurance that will cover you in case of theft, fire, or other serious property damage, but not all policies cover flood damage. Here are some helpful tools when expecting heavy rain and/or flood event.

Create Sandbags to Protect Your Building

Placing sandbags at the doors and windows can protect your property from up to two feet of stormwater. After filling each bag with sand, fold the top over and place the bag with the folded top down. Create one layer at a time, and limit their placement to three layers, unless you intend to create a pyramid or are leaning the bags against doors and windows. Remember, sandbags are a temporary solution and aren't likely to protect the building from larger floods.

Move What You Can

Consider your furniture and whether you have higher ground in your building. If you have a second story, move as much furniture and equipment to the higher floor as possible. If you have enough notice and a second property that is on higher ground, consider moving furniture and equipment to a new building entirely.

If you have water damage and need help call SERVPRO of Gainesville, GA at 770-536-1010.

Noises of Concern for your Water Heater

9/21/2022 (Permalink)

You may not give much thought to your Gainesville, GA home’s water heater until it starts to malfunction. One major giveaway is certain sounds it might start to make where it ran quietly in the past. While not all of these sounds are cause for alarm, there are a few that may be pointing to trouble or the need for maintenance.

1. Hammering Sounds

If your water heater makes hammering or banging sounds, this may be startling but is usually not a cause for alarm. This means that someone in the family has turned the water off suddenly, which may cause the pipes to vibrate. When this happens, the pipes may knock against the wall. Wrapping them in heat-resistant soft insulation can fix this problem and prevent long-term damage to the wall.

2. Screaming

This sound can also be startling because it sounds like the entire unit may burst at any moment. However, this usually means a valve somewhere in the unit, the lines, or at another connected source may not be closed all the way. If you cannot chase it down, you may want to call a water damage and restoration company to help you find the source of the faulty valve and inspect any lines for damage.

3. Crackling and Popping

If your water heating unit sounds like it is boiling rocks every time it turns on, this may not be too far from the truth. Over time, sediment can build up at the bottom of the tank and cause crackling or popping as the water forces its way through the buildup during the heating process. A water heater flush can rectify this issue.

Some noises your Gainesville, GA, home’s water heater might make can be alarming. However, when you understand their sources, you can take the steps necessary to resolve or repair the problem before it becomes too serious.

Five Ways to Avoid Kitchen Hazards

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

Many people in Gainesville and Hall County love to cook. But even seasoned chefs sometimes make costly mistakes. Here are five helpful ways to avoid kitchen hazards such as a drain clog or grease fire.

1. Keep Your Vents Clean

It’s important to keep the vent screens above your stove clean. Otherwise, grease can build up on the screen and inhibit the ventilation becoming a contributing factor in a kitchen fire. The grease build-up could even make a fire worse. 

2. Don’t Leave Pans Unattended

Most cooks know never to leave a pan unattended on the stove. The pan could be knocked over, grease can splatter, or the food can be allowed to cook too long. Each of these things can be a fire hazard.

3. Don’t Put Grease Down the Drain

When you're done cooking it may be tempting to pour the hot grease down the drain. Built-up grease in the drain can lead to a drain clog and sink overflow. Instead, the grease can be poured into a container, allowed to cool, and then placed in the trash.

4. Wipe Out Greasy Pans Before Washing

Wipe out any remaining grease and food particles before washing your pans. This can help prevent buildup that may lead to a sink clog.

5. Call a Professional to Service Appliances

If you’re having problems with your stove or drain it may be time to call a professional. They will know how to fix the problem without causing a potential electrical fire. These can come from attempting to fix a broken stove or clogged dish disposal without the correct tools. 

SERVPRO of Gainesville is here to help if you experience fire damage. 770-536-1010

Georgia Storms

9/9/2022 (Permalink)

Storms can become a problem with little to no warning. Watching the news can keep us informed beforehand, but bad weather is still unpredictable, so we need to take steps to keep our homes safe from the damage that storms can cause.

All thunderstorms are dangerous because they can produce strong winds, lightning, tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding. But because they are so common, people often become complacent and fail to take safety precautions.

Georgia’s greatest threats from severe thunderstorms are damaging straight-line winds and large hail. Straight-line winds can reach speeds in excess of 58 mph and produce damage similar to a tornado.

These winds occur about 75 days per year in Georgia and are most common in the spring and summer months, peaking in July. According to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. Conducting an inspection of your home’s premises is vital to complete before inclement weather hits.

A leaky roof or windows can be big problem during extreme conditions such as heavy rains and high winds. Do all your exterior doors and windows fit correctly, and is the weather stripping in these areas in good condition? When is the last time you took a look at your roof to see if it is storm ready?

Loose shutters and rain gutters can present a real problem in high winds, as can unstable large trees. It’s a good idea to trim back trees and bushes with large heavy branches that are not in good condition so that windows and vehicles are not in danger of storm damage in high winds.

Many homes in older cities have drainage ditches at the front of the property. Take time to inspect this area and remove debris or dirt that might obstruct the flow of water from heavy rain. A clogged drainage ditch can cause a lot of damage by backing up and flooding your property both during or after a storm.

In the event of impending bad weather, do you have a system in place that will help you to get information to everyone? Most of us use our cell phones to communicate these days, but your cell phone service could be at risk when rough conditions hit.

You might consider installing a good old-fashioned landline, just in case. If you or a family member gets stuck or injured at work or out doing errands, they may need help, so it’s vital that lines of communication stay open.

SERVPRO of Gainesville, GA 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. Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important.

The SERVPRO of Gainesville, GA team is experienced and equipped to assist you in the event of storm damage, fire damage, or mold issues. You can give us a call today at 770-536-1010.

Backup Files to Prepare for Storm Damage

9/8/2022 (Permalink)

In the event your files are not backed up - SERVPRO also offers document restoration. Find out more by calling (770)536-1010

Are you prepared if your commercial property experiences a flood?

As a business owner, you must protect your property. You likely have insurance that will cover you in case of theft, fire, or other serious property damage, but not all policies cover flood damage.

Even if you don't live in an area prone to flooding, one burst pipe is all it takes to create a big problem.

Have digital backups of all paper files.

No matter how well you prepare, your paper files are at risk if storm damage is a possibility. If you don’t already have digital copies of your important paperwork, now is the time to create these backups. Doing so can save you days' worth of headaches during the restoration process.

-Property deeds

-Insurance policies

-Inventory lists

-Employee information

-Company handbooks and policies

-Client or customer information

While you aren't likely to get away from flooding with no damage at all, following these steps will help you protect much of your property. Less time spent cleaning up means more time getting back into the swing of doing business. If you have water damage and need help call SERVPRO of Gainesville, GA at 770-536-1010.