Recent Posts
9 STEPS TO HANDLING COMMERCIAL WATER DAMAGE
3/27/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO equipment warehouse, ready for any size disaster.
MY BUSINESS IS FLOODING! WHAT DO I DO?
A storm has swept the region, or perhaps your property suffered a plumbing failure. Water soaks inventory, covers floors, puddles around equipment, and ruins furnishings. Taking in the damage can be overwhelming.
9-STEP GUIDE for HOW TO DEAL WITH A FLOODED BUSINESS
With the building flooded, it’s hard to serve customers or do any kind of business. Dangerous mold growth, sewage backup, and structural damage are just some of the problems you may face.
Our guide helps you overcome flooding caused by fractured frozen pipes, faulty fire sprinkler systems, storm flooding and more.
Recover from a flood with these 9 steps:
1. TURN Off WATER AND UTILITIES
Immediately turn off gas and electricity to your building. If your commercial property is flooding due to plumbing or leaky pipes, shut off the water main. If you’re not sure of the location of shut-off valves, contact your property manager. If you have an Emergency Ready Plan from SERVPRO, this information will be available already for any employee on property.
2. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE AGENT
Second, call your agent to outline the extent of damage and schedule an inspection for the adjuster. Keep communication records of all emails and calls with your insurer. Include dates, times, and names.
3. CALL A LOCAL RESTORATION COMPANY
Rather than cleaning up yourself, certified technicians should take care of water removal, structural drying, and if necessary, mold remediation. Contact a water damage restoration company, such as SERVPRO, with experience handling all types of commercial business flooding. Licensed technicians minimize business disruption, so that you can reopen as soon as possible.
4. DOCUMENT ANY DAMAGE
Next, make detailed documentation of damage. Take photos and video of all water damage inside and outside of your property. Share the information with your adjuster and insurance company.
8. GET FRESH AIR MOVING
Open interior doors, cabinets and drawers in affected areas. If it’s not humid outside, open windows and exterior doors. From there, the SERVPRO restoration team will set up heavy-duty equipment that expedites and completes the process.
6. SORT FOR SALVAGE
As you sort, don’t assume all water-damaged items are a complete loss. Our technicians can often restore inventory, furnishings, electronics and paper records.
7. SAVE FOR THE ADJUSTER
Items which cannot be recovered must be examined by your adjuster. Don’t throw anything away until your adjuster completes a full inspection. From waterlogged furniture to flood-soaked inventory, you want the adjuster to note all damage and every loss you’re aware of.
5. SECURE YOUR PROPERTY
It might be days or weeks before you can reopen for business, so secure the property. Limited access keeps it safe and keeps your insurance carrier happy. If you need to board up windows, SERVPRO can help.
9. SPREAD THE WORD
Keep employees, customers, and suppliers posted on the restoration status. Use social media to let everyone know about your temporary closing and prospective reopening, updating information as progress is made. When the flood cleanup, restoration, and repairs are finished, celebrate the milestone with a grand reopening.
REMEMBER:
-KNOW YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE
-GET AN EMERGENCY READINESS PLAN
-BE CAREFUL WITH CLEANUP
If you decide to tackle cleanup on your own, be careful. Flooding in a business setting can leave behind contaminated water, unhealthy debris and raw sewage.
It’s best to leave flood cleanup to certified technicians.
If you don’t have coverage for natural disasters, look into your options through FEMA’s flood insurance program for businesses. The agent who handles your business insurance can help with the details.
KNOW WHO TO CALL
Even a small amount of water can shut business down indefinitely. Bringing in a restoration company saves valuable time. These are just a few of the services that get you back in business.
- Help navigating insurance claims
- Pumping systems for fast water removal
- Structural drying that speeds up recovery
- Mold remediation to protect health
- Air duct cleaning which restores fresh interiors
We provide expert commercial water damage cleanup and restoration services in Northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe regions.
Our teams are always ready to respond to your flood emergency 24/7, helping you to minimize losses and maximize recovery efforts.
When you’re prepared in advance, it’s easier to prevent further damage and manage the aftereffects of a flooded business. You can get a free Emergency Ready Plan for your business’s property today. Call 775-588-2355 to get a response plan, showing your property’s shut-off valves and other details allowing employees in your facility to respond quickly to any water-related incident and prevent further damage.
When you need to get the doors open once again, call SERVPRO: 775-588-2355
Maintaining a Sump Pump
3/16/2023 (Permalink)
A sump pump will be ready to protect your property from water damage
How To Maintain a Sump Pump
Regardless of whether you live in an area that is susceptible to floods, it is beneficial to consider having a sump pump in your home in Douglas County, NV. An exceptionally heavy rainstorm, rapidly melting snow, or a broken pipe could all be the cause of a flood in your basement that can more easily be managed with the proper equipment. Once you have your pump, there are several tasks that you should undertake regularly in order to keep it properly maintained.
Clear Obstructions
The discharge pipe and vent hole, pit, and intake screen are all points that are vulnerable to obstructions. Proper pump maintenance means checking for dirt and debris that could be preventing proper drainage, eliminating anything that is blocking the screen, and clearing things that prevent the float component from functioning. You can conduct periodic tests by pouring water into the basin. The pump should activate and drain the water. Regular maintenance of your sump pump ensures that it is ready for an emergency.
Maintain a Safe Connection
Pumps are usually run off of an electrical source, so make sure that yours is plugged into the correct type of outlet (ground fault circuit interrupter or GFCI). You should also check the cord once in a while, especially if you have any history of rodents in your basement that could damage the cord.
Replace Backup Power
Your pump probably has a backup power source. Test the battery at least annually and replace it every couple of years. The backup power source is your last line of defense in the face of a flood, so if it's been sitting unused for a lot of years, there's a good chance it won't work when you need it to. If that happens and your basement does flood, call an emergency mitigation company to evaluate for safety before you start to clean up.
A sump pump will always be at the ready to protect your home from water damage if it is maintained properly.
Three Factors for Successful Water Extraction
3/8/2023 (Permalink)
If water is allowed to stand for too long, you run the risk of losing your furnishings and possessions to moisture-based rot and deterioration.
There are many reasons why a home might sustain water damage, requiring repairs and restoration by a team of experts. Whether your property is the victim of natural floods or you are dealing with the aftermath of a broken appliance, water must be removed quickly.
If water is allowed to stand for too long, you run the risk of losing your furnishings and possessions to moisture-based rot and deterioration. This is why the restoration experts at SERVPRO do not waste any time starting water removal in Lyon and Storey County homes and commercial buildings. The success of the process, however, depends on the careful consideration of three key factors: Temperature, Amount of Standing Water, and Relative Humidity
Temperature
Water removal requires a lot more precision than you might think. For instance, the optimal drying conditions are at a temperature between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit. However, during the first few days, it is better for the air in the room to be below 80 degrees. So, water damage restoration experts have to monitor conditions very carefully for the affected area to dry fast.
Amount of Standing Water
This is the amount of water which can be physically removed (pumped or vacuumed), as opposed to being dehumidified. It is much easier to pump liquid water than it is to interact with gas, so the SERVPRO team will remove as much liquid as possible. The amount of standing water has a great impact on how long the process lasts.
Relative Humidity
The term “relative humidity” refers to the amount of moisture that the air is holding. SERVPRO technicians formulate your drying plan with an accurate measurement of relative humidity. Anywhere between 30-50% is considered to be a comfortable level of humidity for most homeowners. Once levels pass 60%, the air is heavily saturated, causing a clammy and unpleasant atmosphere. Dehumidifiers are used to eliminate unwanted moisture from the air and bring the conditions back to a comfortable and healthy level for the home or business owner.
SERVPRO of Carson City/Douglas County/South Lake Tahoe/Reno East/Lyon & Storey Counties has the equipment, knowledge, and expertise that you need to bring your home or business back to life after a flood. We are locally owned, responding quickly to all property owners. Call us 24/7.
Does Your Business Have a Plan?
3/1/2023 (Permalink)
Will your business recover after a disaster?
How quickly your company can get back to business after a hurricane, fire, or flood often depends on the emergency planning done beforehand. The global pandemic is another emergency situation that has affected almost every business in the United States this year. The regular occurrence of natural disaster demonstrates the importance of being prepared for any emergency. Only 50% of businesses are able to reopen following a disaster. While each situation is unique, your organization can be better prepared if you plan carefully, put emergency procedures in place and practice for all kinds of emergencies. This year, a big focus is on implementing social distancing measures and letting your customers know that you have a new, higher standard of clean to protect their health. Learn about our program providing professional cleaning services: Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.
Basic measures business owners and managers can take to begin preparing for any kind of disaster.
Develop a Business Continuity Plan
Begin by identifying operations that are critical to survival and recovery. Then carefully assess your internal and external functions to determine which staff, material, procedures, and equipment are absolutely essential to keep the business operating.
Review Insurance Coverage
Understand what your policy does and does not cover. Check with your provider about things such as, physical losses, flood coverage, and business interruption. Inadequate coverage can lead to major financial loss.
Prepare Your Emergency Plan
Communication with your employees is central before, during, and after a disaster. Be sure to share emergency information with your staff.
Practice the Emergency Plan
The ability to evacuate workers and customers effectively can save lives. Establish evacuation producers and ensure your staff knows the route.
Secure Your Facility and Equipment
Install exit signs, fire extinguishers, and smoke alarms and detectors in appropriate areas.
Improve Cyber Security
By using anti-virus software, firewalls, and secure passwords, this will better protect your business’s data and information.
Locally Owned, with National Resources
SERVPRO of Douglas County, Carson City, South Lake Tahoe, Reno East, and Lyon & Storey Counties is locally owned and operated so we are part of your community too. When you have a fire, flooding, water emergency, or need professional cleaning and disinfecting, we’re already nearby and ready to help.
As cleaning and property damage specialists, we have the experience, the expertise, and the advanced training that enables us to get your property restored thoroughly and your business ready to reopen quickly. Call (775) 588-2355
Ways You Can Prepare for Winter Storms
2/26/2023 (Permalink)
Planning and preparing ahead of time can prevent unwanted winter storm disasters.
Unfortunately, property owners don’t get to choose when a storm moves into the area — but we can be ready for when it does. SERVPRO specializes in fast, affordable, and efficient storm damage restoration services. Below, we've compiled a few tips to help reduce and prevent severe storm damage from impacting your property.
3 Ways to Minimize the Need for Storm Damage Restoration Services
1. Regularly Inspect Your Roof
Checking whether any shingles have blown off of your roof or if there are any minor leaks and repairing such problems immediately will help you avoid serious structural damages when extreme weather sets in. If you find your home has suffered extensive storm damage, it may be necessary to invest in the services of a water damage restoration professional like the experts from SERVPRO due to rain leaking through the roof.
2. Trim Dead Wood
No matter what time of the year, hard winds or heavy rain and snowfall can easily snap dead limbs, branches, or trees surrounding your home and cause storm damages. The professional technicians from SERVPRO recommend regularly trimming dead wood and branches on your property. Doing so will help keep you safe and minimize storm damage to your home should a storm set in.
3. Consider Storm Windows
One way to help minimize the need for storm damage restoration is by investing in high-quality storm windows or hurricane shutters. These investments will help prevent leaks and other storm damage by protecting the glass of your windows and adding an extra layer to protect against wind and rain.
For more tips on how to avoid the need for costly storm damage restoration services, contact the professionals from SERVPRO of Carson City, Douglas County, South Lake Tahoe, East Reno, and Lyon & Storey Counties.
SERVPRO Has The Knowledge and Experience Needed to Perform Water Removal Services for Local Casinos
2/16/2023 (Permalink)
Casinos require special cleanup after water damage; SERVPRO has the expertise and experience to properly mitigate the damage.
When a casino requires water removal, there are often a set of unique factors that SERVPRO technicians have to contend with. Casinos have different layouts, construction materials, amenities, and furniture than other businesses, so the planning is more specific to get this type of business back up and running.
SERVPRO successfully handles water damage restoration and mold remediation services for the largest casinos around. We’ve helped The Hard Rock, Montbleu, and others restore multi-story buildings. We pride ourselves on being ready, flexible, and competent in our water removal work.
These are some of the components to restoring a casino after water damage:
Commercial Carpets
Carpeting in the average casino may require special water removal techniques to dry out properly. Casinos tend to use large, comfortable yet durable carpets across broad areas and floor spaces, which, while resistant to some types of damage, can be especially tricky to restore when they are damaged with water. We have extensive experience dealing with commercial carpeting that’s prevalent in casinos and can often save rather than replace your flooring materials.
Machines and Games
Slot machines and digital games are staples of most casinos. When these electronic devices get damaged by water, the effects can be disastrous if not handled appropriately. First, we work to remove cash from the machines, which is typically a natural process due to most machines' water-resistant cash storage. If any cash has been soaked, we use specialty drying solutions to prevent it from being lost. Once the machines have been dried out, we evaluate them on a case-by-case basis and conduct repairs as necessary.
Hotel Rooms
If your casino has an attached hotel, these rooms often have their own, unique problems related to water damage. We get more calls from apartments and hotel rooms than any other type of business and know how to take care of damages in these types of structures.
SERVPRO of Carson City / Douglas County / South Lake Tahoe / Reno East / Lyon & Storey Counties / Reno East is available around the clock to help your business in a time of need. Call us.
SERVPRO Provides Emergency Services, Build Backs, and Communication
2/7/2023 (Permalink)
Call us as soon as trouble strikes at (775) 588-2355.
When severe damage strikes a business, it can be difficult for owners to cover the costs of repairs.
In addition to material losses, expenses of new materials, safety and preventative fixtures, labor, and many other factors must be considered, quickly adding up before the business ever gets a chance to reopen. Insurance companies are critical in these scenarios, as their prompt delivery of payment and quick processing may mean life or death for a business trying to overcome its damages. SERVPRO works in close cooperation with insurance companies, providing them with regular updates on the situation by any means necessary, and in many cases acting as a go-between with the agency and the claimant.
Commercial build back in Douglas County can vary widely on time and resources spent before the business can reopen, depending on what reconstruction efforts are needed. Removal or rebuilding of walls, pillars, and other structural elements can take lots of time, as can full replacement of aesthetic elements such as flooring materials and wallpaper. These types of repairs not only add days or weeks to restoration times but rack up thousands in material costs. SERVPRO works to make sure that the insurer understands both forms of financial loss, helping to keep your business open during the crisis, if at all possible.
If your business has been recently hit by damages, by far the most important step in reducing costs and headaches related to your insurance is in calling us early for a fast response. By contacting us immediately, we can respond to the damages and begin mitigation within hours, reducing any co-payments or demands the insurer might make. This fast-initial action is contingent upon the signing of our SERVPRO Service Authorization Form. You must also contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. We do emphasize that we are not an insurance company and will always follow the suggestions or demands of the client and the insurer.
We have staff, project managers, and an established protocol to rebuild many damaged facilities. We can also partner with other companies with whom we have a working relationship or other companies of your choosing.
SERVPRO of Carson City / Douglas County / South Lake Tahoe / Reno East / Lyon & Storey Counties has a strong reputation and relationship with all local insurance companies, helping businesses to build back as quickly and with as little cost as possible.
We work with your Insurance
If you are unsure if you will be filing a claim to cover damages, contact us. We can work with any insurance company to make sure your insurance is utilized to the fullest while directly billing them for you. You may not be aware of what rights you have based on your policy. We know how to work with commercial and small business insurance, giving you peace of mind.
SERVPRO of Carson City / Douglas County / SERVPRO of Reno East / South Lake Tahoe and SERVPRO of Lyon & Storey Counties is committed to helping you overcome build back obstacles and many other property issues.
Call us as soon as trouble strikes at (775) 588-2355.
Preparing Your Business for a Potential Fire Disaster
2/2/2023 (Permalink)
Back up important data and documents.
How Can I Prepare for a Fire Disaster?
Although there is only a slight chance, you never know when your Reno, NV, commercial property could catch fire. Whether it's a result of a faulty electrical system, a toaster fire in the breakroom, or a wildfire intrusion, it's essential to think about fire preparation before the worst occurs. Being proactive can potentially save lives, your building, and your business.
1. Back Up Your Important Data and Documents
The survival of your business could depend on having backups of your essential data and files. As an extra precaution, you can store this data in a separate physical location, such as on a hard drive kept in your own home. However, your best option is to keep backups of everything in the cloud. You can also scan essential paper files and upload them to your cloud storage.
2. Prepare Your Employees
Familiarize all of your employees with the building evacuation plan, the location of fire extinguishers and first aid kits, as well as other critical information. Part of your fire preparation should include routinely practicing fire drills and presenting fire safety rules with all personnel.
If you don't have a binder with this information available to employees, contact SERVPRO to come to your building and create a free Emergency Readiness Plan for your office.
3. Review Your Commercial Insurance
A critical part of your plan is reviewing your commercial insurance policy to ensure you have the correct type and amount of coverage. Having the proper insurance could mean the difference between saving your business or losing everything.
4. Create a List of Emergency Contacts
Another vital component of disaster preparation is creating a list of emergency contacts. The list should include employees and their emergency contacts, suppliers, local emergency services, your insurance company, and fire damage restoration professionals. Keep a copy of this list off-site in case the original gets destroyed in the fire.
Any type of disaster at your business can be traumatic for everyone involved. However, having a fire preparation strategy in place can provide you with some much-needed peace of mind. SERVPRO is here to help you prepare for the worst, and restore your assets if anything happens.
Stay Safe in Your Community With The Citizen App
1/26/2023 (Permalink)
Make sure you know what is happening on the streets nearby!
In times of economic uncertainty, crime rates rise. Know what is happening around you and stay safe with the Citizen App. Whether a crime is taking place or there's a fire is spreading in your building or a building nearby, the app alerts you when something is happening in your area that you should know about. You can also report anything you see by taking a live video.
This free app is one of the most powerful ways to stay safe. It gives you access to verified 911 information and lets you know what is happening in real time. The app covers events from missing pets to natural disasters and everything in between. This community transparency empowers everyone to create a safer world.
The app is connected to your phone’s GPS tracker so it will let you know what is happening around you according to your current location, not only your home address. Next time you see a road shut down and police sirens inside the closure, you have a way to understand exactly what is going on.
In some areas, the company that runs the citizen app has installed antennas that allow them to listen to police and fire scanners. Artificial intelligence along with humans then decipher what is being communicated and translate that into reports that are coded with neighborhood data inside the app. Reports are a step above what you will find on neighborhood apps like Nextdoor because the data comes not only from your neighbors but also directly from police reports.
Though live streaming from the scene of a crime can be very dangerous, getting real-time alerts to situations unfolding nearby can be life-saving by preventing people from walking into a sticky situation, or allowing them to keep an eye on a nearby fire to make sure it does not have potential to spread to their residence.
The Citizen App blog tells a story of a Philadelphia resident who was alerted to a fire near his dwelling:
Before hearing sirens, smelling smoke, or seeing flames, Citizen user ‘petz215’ received a notification.
Citizen user ‘petz215’ was getting ready to leave his South Philadelphia home for a dentist appointment on November 18th when he received the Citizen notification above.
“If there were a house fire that close to me, I would definitely already know about it,” he thought. “Sure enough, I stepped outside to see a raging fire.”
He canceled his appointment to monitor the fire and make sure it didn’t spread closer to his house.
The fire destroyed the house where it sparked and affected two neighboring homes.
“I was astonished. Not only did I find out about this nearby fire with a push notification, but there was already a live video of something that started minutes ago. I couldn’t believe how fast it happened.”
From Blog: https://medium.com/citizen/south-philly-resident-alerted-to-fire-on-his-own-block-b9dbcdca8e35
----------------------------------------------------
In the few weeks I've had the app installed, I've been alerted to various incidents happening nearby including building fires, car accidents, and gunshots fired. The app tells me exactly how far away a situation is from my location, down to several hundred feet. I’m able to add friends and family to my "inner circle" to get alerts about potential situations unfolding near their real-time location as well.
If there is a dangerous situation occurring near you, it's better to be an informed citizen than not.
Download the app here:
https://citizen.com
What to Expect When You Call SERVPRO
1/17/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO technicians are highly trained in property damage restoration.
We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call SERVPRO Today
We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Carson City, South Lake Tahoe, Douglas County, Reno East, Lyon & Storey Counties has specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.
What to Expect
When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.
Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:
- Your name and contact information including your phone number and email address
- Your insurance information (if applicable)
- The street address of the water-damaged home or business
- When did the flooding or water damage occur?
- What caused the water damage (if known)?
- Is there electricity available (on-site)?
- Is there standing water (if applicable)?
- What year was the home or business built?
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 SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
24/7 Emergency Service