What to do after appliance water failure

5/12/2023 (Permalink)

What would you do if you come home to a flooded house because of an appliance failure.  These failures can come from leaky dishwashers, burst ice maker lines, ruptured washing machine hoses, and failure in toilet supply lines.  Most water damages in the homes are the result of a failed appliance or broken pipe, rather than water from a rising creek or rain event. 

Appliance water damage sounds simple, but the truth is very different. A failure from an appliance can drop several gallons of water on the floor every hour. SERVPRO of Forest and Magee knows that if this happens  when a homeowner leaves for the day, by the time you return an entire structure could be affected.

 An advantage to dealing with flooding from such a source is that the water is usually clean, unless it has been there for an extended time or traveled through a contaminated source.  This usually allows for a faster restoration time because it is less invasive than having to remove affected building materials due to contaminated water.  

The first step we take is to stop the flow of water. If the property owner has not stopped the flow of water,  we do it immediately upon arriving on the property.

Next, we get to work by extracting the standing water. We use both truck mounted and portable units to accomplish this task.  By removing as much water as possible through extraction, it allows our drying equipment to be most effective.

With the standing water removed, we now lower the moisture levels in the surrounding air and building materials.  To do so, we use dehumidifiers and air movers to create a balanced drying system.  The equipment is placed based on calculations from SERVPROS drying software.  This determines the number of air movers and dehumidifiers required to efficiently dry the structure.  During the process the drying data is tracked to ensure a properly dried structure.

Drying out your home is no easy process, but the right restoration company can do it quickly and safely. SERVPRO of Forest and Magee has years of experience helping our neighbors put their homes back together after a flood. If you need our help, call today at 662-779-1070

Areas SERVPRO can help during Fire Restoration

5/12/2023 (Permalink)

It's happened! Fire has affected your life and now you are wondering how to move on! How much can be done? What can be salvaged? Is there a way to restore my valuables or my damaged structure?

Fire, Smoke, and Soot restoration is an area that SERVPRO of FOREST AND MAGEE definitely has both experience and great successes. There are usually three main areas of concern: Structural cleaning, contents cleaning, and deodorization.

STRUCTURAL CLEANING-After a fire or smoke damage the ceilings, walls, rugs, carpeting, and all the floors will often need to be thoroughly cleaned. SERVPRO will begin by testing to see the extent of the damage and then use specific equipment and products required to both clean and protect the surfaces in your home.

CONTENTS CLEANING-All of the contents in your home that can be restored will be professionally cleaned and deodorized. Rugs, furniture, draperies, and upholstery will be carefully inspected and tested to determine what cleaning process and products will be required and effective. SERVPRO provides both wet and dry cleaning services. Other items that may be restored are art, electronics, wood furniture, kitchen items, clothing, bedding, bric-a-brac, and much much more.

DEODORIZATION- SERVPRO professionals provide specialized services to totally rid your home of the offensive odors that fire and smoke leave behind. The source of the odors is sought out and removed and not just the lingering fragrances. SERVPRO will be happy to explain the processes and methods available.

SERVPRO OF FOREST AND MAGEE 662-779-1070

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

5/12/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (662) 779-1070

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 Forest and Magee has the 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
• 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)?

About SERVPRO of Forest and Magee

SERVPRO of Forest/Magee 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.

What do you know about Bio Hazards?

4/19/2023 (Permalink)

Exposure to biological and chemical contaminants can pose serious health consequences for building occupants, employees, customers and owners. A failure to properly handle and safely remove such hazardous substances can contribute to unhealthy and even dangerous environments.

SERVPRO of Laurel professionals are trained to safely and effectively remove bio hazardous substances and prepare waste for proper disposal according to OSHA, EPA and State and Local health regulations. Along with these requirements comes compassion to get through these tough situations that impact our customers.  Each and every trained technician shows compassion toward our customers.

SERVPRO of Laurel professionals can help with the following issues:

Blood borne Pathogens

Crime Scene Residue

Arson

Vandalism

Sewage Backups

Black Water Intrusions

Please contact us at SERVPRO of Forest and Magee for any questions concerning Biohazard Cleanups (662) 779-1070

House Fire Season

1/31/2023 (Permalink)

We often hear about a particular time of the year as being the “season for house fires,” meaning house fire disasters are on the rise from that month forward.  It is usually associated with colder weather when we start to use more home heating.  When it comes to your home, however, there is no “season” for a fire.  It can strike at any time.  The sad fact is that 2,500 people will be killed in fires over the next year.  13,000 people will suffer serious injuries related to fires and the loss of property – in terms of real dollars – will be more than $7 Billion!

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee provides expert restoration services if you have experienced a house fire.  If that is your situation now, please call (662) 779-1070 so we can begin restoring your home.  The residue left from a fire, known as soot, presents hidden dangers if not properly removed from your home and your possessions.  Soot is acidic in nature and within hours to days, it will begin to decay or even destroy whatever surface it comes in contact with.

Our homes are a collection of different types of materials, all of which represent unique risks once they have been exposed to the heat from a fire.  The structure itself is composed of wood and sheetrock.  Electrical wiring is wrapped with plastics and rubber.  Insulation is found in attics and behind walls.  Floors are made of wooden materials that have been coated with chemicals to preserve their beauty, or covered with synthetic materials found in carpets.  Each presents its own set of risks.  The water used to extinguish the fire also presents a different set of problems for furniture that comes in contact with it and personal belongings left on floors. 

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee technicians are trained to determine what can be salvaged and what needs to be discarded.  Each home contains items of sentimental value like pictures and heirlooms.  Until help arrives, pictures need to be removed from glass frames as quickly as possible so they can dry unless they have become stuck to the glass.  Valuable items like jewelry, weapons, ammunition, financial papers and other personal items should be removed from the home for safe keeping. 

Our restoration specialists treat the damaged contents of your home with the utmost respect and care.  Once cleaned and restored, we will safely store your property until your home is ready for your return.  Our job is to make your loss “Like it never even happened.” 

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

1/31/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (662) 779-1070

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 Forest and Magee has the 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
• 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)?

About SERVPRO of Forest and Magee

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee 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.

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee

1/30/2023 (Permalink)

What you want is access to a quality restoration company when recovering from storm damage in your Forest and Magee, MS area business. We have strategically located restoration teams with several years of experience helping businesses just like yours recover from storm damage throughout the area and all of the resources needed to assist you and your neighbors when an emergency situation strikes.

SERVPRO of Forest and Magee has a special DRT division  (Disaster Ready Team), who expertly trained teams composed of quality water, fire, mold, storm, and major event technicians, designed to assist you with cutting costs and saving time associated with the restoration of your business after a disaster. All of these teams are lead by an operations manager that assists with seamless communication and timely mitigation involving the recovery of your business. Services that SERVPRO of Forest and Magee provides to every business owner involves the mitigation of the wind, rain, and flood damage that causes substantial damage in a matter of minutes, requiring an immediate response and quick, efficient implementation to prevent excessive loss of revenue and productivity. It does not matter how small or large your property is; SERVPRO of Forest and Magee has the services, equipment, and personnel available to address the emergency affecting your business. We provide you with access to expertly trained storm and water damage restoration specialists, as well as cleaning and building preparation services to manage your restoration project from start to finish. Any storm can cause severe damage to your property when you are ill-prepared. Give us a call to help fortify your property against the wind, flood, storm, and tornado damage that this type of phenomenon generates. We can help protect your business and get things under control when everything is said and done. Contact SERVPRO of Forest and Magee at (601) 425-0119 for the professional restoration and cleaning services your company requires.

What is storm water

1/22/2022 (Permalink)

What is Storm Water?

Storm water is precipitation that does not soak into the ground, but instead runs off its surface. Natural processes, storm water runoff, and erosion typically accelerate because of human activity. Impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, and streets block precipitation from soaking naturally into the ground. Disturbed surfaces, such as construction sites, agricultural tillage, and forestry activities, also expose the soil’s surface, allowing sediment and pollutants to be transported more rapidly from a site. Storm water can carry and deposit untreated pollutants, such as sediment, nutrients, and pesticides, into surface-water bodies.

Concerns about storm water

If storm water is not managed properly, it can harm the environment:

Increased Surface Runoff

Increased surface runoff means that large volumes of water enter streams more quickly and at higher velocities, which can cause streambank erosion. Streambank erosion occurs as part of a stream’s natural efforts to regain stability by absorbing the energy of flowing water. When materials impervious to water, such as pavement and concrete, cover the ground or when soils are compacted, runoff increases.

Increased Soil Erosion

Raindrops hitting a soil’s surface and the movement of water (runoff) across it cause soil erosion. Disturbed soil, lack of vegetation, or both amplify such impacts, increasing erosion.

Water Quality Impairments

After picking up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants, storm water flows into storm sewer systems or directly into lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, or coastal waters. In many cases, whatever enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the water bodies

Storm Water Pollution Solutions

• Remember to turn off your sprinklers when it rains, to avoid water runoff; during winter, runoff can freeze causing slippery conditions.
• Bag your pet's waste, don't just leave it there. Leaving pet waste on the ground increases public health risks by allowing harmful bacteria and nutrients to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local waterways.
• Don't apply pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides before it rains. Contrary to popular belief, the rain won't help to soak these chemicals into the ground; it will only help create polluted runoff into our local creeks.
• Select native and adapted plants and grasses that are drought and pest resistant. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides.
• Reduce the amount of paved area and increase the amount of vegetated area in your yard. Vegetation can help act as a natural filter for polluted storm water runoff.
• If you change your car's oil. Don't dump it on the ground or in the storm drain; dispose of it properly at an oil recycling center.
• Check your car, boat, or motorcycle for leaks. Clean up spilled fuels with an absorbent material, don't rinse the spills into the storm drain.
• Compost your yard waste. 
• Don't get rid of old or unused paint by throwing it down the storm drain; dispose of paint and other hazardous household waste at recycling facilities.
• Don't pump your pool water into the storm drain - pool chemicals can be hazardous to our creek habitats. Whenever possible, drain your pool into the sanitary sewer system where it can be treated.

Smoke and Soot Cleanup

1/22/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke and Soot Cleanup

Smoke and soot are 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 Forest and Magee 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 Us Today (662)-779-1070

The difference in flood warnings.

1/22/2022 (Permalink)

Lately there has been flooding all over the United States: if you are unfamiliar with the difference between a flash flood warning, flood warning, and flood advisory; then read below! 

What is the difference between a Flood Watch and a Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service?

• Flash Flood Warning: Take Action! A Flash Flood Warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood prone area move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.

• Flood Warning: Take Action! A Flood Warning is issued when the hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

• Flood Watch: Be Prepared:A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur. A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

• Flood Advisory: Be Aware: An Flood Advisory is issued when a specific weather event that is forecast to occur may become a nuisance. A Flood Advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.

Information from http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/

For all of your water damage, cleanup needs call (662)-779-1070