Thunderstorm Damages

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

Thunderstorms can cause damage to our homes and commercial buildings. High winds, lightning strikes and flash flooding and heavy snowfalls are always a possibility here in New England. 

Did you know that it's the water that usually causes the most damage to your home or commercial building? While high winds can cause trees to knock over power lines or even just the tree into the home or building, it's the water that does the serious damage. 

Water when left untreated can lead to mold growth, which can lead to health effects. Properly cleaning and drying your home or commercial building is key in preventing mold growth. 

We here at SERVPRO^® have the professional equipment to thoroughly dry out your home or Commercial building and make sure that mold growth is not an issue. Rely on the professionals to do it right the first time. 

Cleaning for COVID-19

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

COVID-19 cleaning of your office will ensure your staff stays safe. Or would you like a cleaning to just be sure that your space has been properly decontaminated? 

SERVPRO^® of Westfield, Southwick offers the following cleaning levels. 

High touch cleanup. This level of cleaning is when you have either a suspected case or a person being quarantined from your office. 

Enhanced Cleanup. This level of cleaning is required when you have a confirmed case of COVID-19

It may be possible that both methods of cleanup may be needed depending on where an infected individual may have traveled. 

We are the trusted brand of professionals that are experts in remediation and disinfection procedures. Talk to a SERVPRO^® professional to figure out what method would be best for your business. We can be reached at 413-305-1160.

Laundry Room Mold

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

Mold Can Grow in Many Parts of the Home

Many homeowners realize that there is more than one way to protect their home. Often, a home is the largest investment a person will make in their life, and protecting it should be a priority. However, one culprit that many homeowners neglect to keep under control lives in both the outdoors and inside almost every home in the United States. That culprit is mold. Mold Can Live Anywhere There Is Moisture.

In Hampden County, mold damage can result rather quickly if mold colonies are present. Mold often hides where it is not easily detected. This is because sunlight is a natural enemy of mold. Mold thrives best in damp or moist environments that receive little or no sunlight, and where natural substances it can consume are present.

Common Area for Mold Growth One area that is often found to harbor mold is the laundry area. Damp clothing, either still soiled and waiting to be washed, or clothing that has been removed from the dryer too soon, or left wet in the washing machine can cause mold to grow. These small amounts of mold can rapidly spread to other areas of the home as well. If there is a ventilation intake in the laundry area, mold can quickly enter when the ventilation system is turned on, and be whisked to all different areas of your home. One area that should be looked at when searching for mold growth in the laundry area of any home is the washer and dryer. Dryer ducts need to be vented outdoors. Lots of moisture is released into the air during the drying process. If there is a humidity problem in the laundry area, a dehumidifier might be an excellent option to help control how much humidity is present on an ongoing basis. Families who have front loading washing machines should note that many of these have been found to harbor large colonies of mold. These should be inspected, particularly if a musty odor is present, especially in freshly washed clothing.

Call Our Professional and Certified Team. If you feel mold is a problem in your home, you should call our professional and certified teams to help you have mold damage checked. Repairs are less costly when found earlier, and can help protect your investment in your home, as well as your family's health. We can perform remediation services any mold damage. Call us at SERVPRO of Westfield, Southwick, 24/7, at (413) 305-1160. We will schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to inspect and detect mold growths that may cause mold damage in your home.

Do you need a new roof?

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

Not sure if your roof needs to be repaired or replaced? Here are 3 items you should look at when deciding to call someone for your roofing needs. 

Leaks: Are you noticing that there is water coming into your home? If you see water coming into your home during a rain storm it is possible that your roof may need to be repaired or replaced. 

Shingles: Are your shingles loose, cracked or curled? Maybe you notice some are missing. Or some have dark streaks or bald spots. These are further indications that you may need to have your roof repaired or replaced. 

Algae: If you see algae growing on a roof this could be an indication that there is a moisture issue. Which could mean that you need to have it repaired or replaced. 

If you have had water damage due to a roof needing repair or replacement, SERVPRO will be here to clean up the water in your home. 

Have you checked your hot water heater?

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

Maintaining your hot water heater may increase the efficiency and possibly the life span. Here are a few things you can do to help. 

There is a valve located near the top of the water heater called a TPR valve. This valve will have a pipe leading away from it. Be sure to place a bucket under the pipe and shut of the power and the cold water supply, Then lift the valve to let a little of the water out and let go. If the water does not stop flowing then the valve will need to be replaced. 

Wrap the tank and the pipes. Don't forget to wrap the cold water pipes as well as this will prevent the pipes from condensation in the summer. 

Draining the tank and washing out the sediment until clear water comes out will increase the lifespan of the heater. This should be done yearly. 

Check to see if the anode rod needs to be replaced every year. 

SERVPRO is a professional restoration company that will always be here in your time of need. 

Create a Fire Escape plan.

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

One of the most important things you can have for your family is an escape plan in case of a fire. You may only have a few minutes to react and get everyone out of your home safely. Having an emergency evacuation plan will allow your family members to know what to do if this disaster should occur. After all, this is a life and death situation! Here are a few tips to think about when creating a plan of action.

* Make sure everyone in the home is accounted for. If there are children or elderly be sure to have another adult assigned to them to help them out of the building.

* Each room should have two ways to escape, either a door or a window.

* Identify a safe location to meet. This location should be far enough away from the home where you can wait for the fire dept. DO NOT for any reason re-enter the home.

* Make a diagram of your home. Be sure to include the locations of all of the smoke detectors, exits from every room and the house, as well as the meeting place.

* Share it. Be sure to share the plan with everyone in your home. Be sure to include any overnight guests or visitors.

* Practice, practice, practice. Practice runs of the escape plan should be done to ensure that all family members are comfortable.

If a family member cannot escape from the room in which they are in due to the fire being in their way, they should close all doors to the room they are in and put a towel under the door. Then wait near an exterior window for help to arrive.

SERVPRO® of Westfield, Southwick is highly qualified and have experience in fire restoration services.

Basements and Mold

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

Everyone knows mold is bad but everyone does not know the health risks of mold in your basement and what the effects can be.

Whether it’s your home, a commercial building or any other property, mold needs to be controlled. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.

Protect your family, your property and your investment by removing mold from your home and taking preventative steps to make sure mold doesn’t have an environment to grow. Waterproofing your basement is one way to make sure mold has a very unlikely chance to grow.

Here are some things you should know about mold:

• There is no practical way to eliminate 100% of the mold and mold spores in your home or properties basement. The only way to control basement mold growth is to control moisture.
• If mold is a problem in your home or properties basement, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture, typically by basement waterproofing.
• Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
• Reducing the indoor humidity of your home will decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside, using air conditioners and de-humidifiers, increasing ventilation and using a sump pump to pump out excess water from your basement.
• Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours of them getting wet to prevent mold growth.
• Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
• Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, foundation walls, or basement floors) by basement waterproofing.
• In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting, remodel or refinish a basement. You must be sure the mold problem is taken care of before investing a large amount of money into a basement remodeling project.
• Molds can be found almost anywhere in your basement. Mold can be under the carpet, in the drywall, on furniture, etc. Mold can also grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present.

Storms and Flood Damage in new England

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Westfield, Southwick 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.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Hampden County, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today (413) 305-1160

Commercial Kitchen Fires

11/17/2023 (Permalink)

Owning a restaurant can be very stressful. From dealing with deliveries, making sure the cooks make everything correctly to dealing with the customers. Having to close your business due to a fire can be very detrimental to your bottom line. Here are some ways in which you can reduce your likelihood of a fire breaking out in your kitchen. 

*Grease: Clean up grease daily, as it is very combustible. 

*Maintain your cooking equipment, and make sure you have the proper fire suppression system installed. The fire suppression system should be professionally inspected.

*Making sure your sprinkler system is in working order. 

*Having your fire extinguishers inspected yearly and making sure you have enough of them can help your crew put the fire out, hopefully, with minimum damage. 

*Training your staff to properly deal with different types of fires could also help minimize the damage. 

*Keeping all flammables away from flames. 

*Electrical fires can start due to frayed cables or damaged outlets. Periodic inspections by a licensed electrician should be conducted to look for other electrical issues that may not be obvious. 

*Buildup can easily cause a fire in the ventilation system. Have your ductwork, hood and the fan inspected and cleaned regularly. 

*Instruct your employees to NEVER throw water on a grease fire. Doing this will only cause the fire to become enraged. 

*NEVER allow employees to dispose of their cigarette buts inside the facility. There may still be embers which can cause a fire to start. 

And last but not least have an escape plan, just in case of a fire. And practice to ensure all staff gets out safely. 

SERVPRO of Westfield, Southwick cares about their community. 

Property Damage in Westfield

11/8/2023 (Permalink)

New England temperatures are often unpredictable. The weather can be absolutely beautiful one day and the next could be a whirlwind of chaos! Hurricanes, micro bursts, hail storms, flash floods and the occasional tornado are just a few of the different weather situations that may come across our city. These natural disasters often result in the need for water damage remediation. While these are not the only issues that may cause a resident to need water damage remediation, our expert team of remediators are always only one call away. 

House fires are commonly caused by candles, Christmas trees, space heaters. These fires may have minimal damage if out quickly, or extensive damage to our residents homes. When this happens its important to have professional experts to remediate your home or commercial building.

SERVPRO^® of Westfield, Southwick has a fully trained staff that will clean your home. 

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