Get Prepared

5/25/2021 (Permalink)

Join the community in planning for all forms of emergencies and disasters, as well as leading campaigns to inspire others to be more prepared. "Disasters" strike, wreaking havoc not just on individuals and towns, but also on whole communities. Discover how to be well-prepared.

Create a strategy and practice it. Do you have a plan for evacuating and sheltering in place? Do you have a strategy in place to stay in touch with your family before, after, and after an incident? Do you have a preparedness kit? Make sure the entire family is aware of your emergency plan and has followed it. To stay updated, sign up for local updates and warnings, as well as download other appropriate applications.

Learn how to save a life. Do you or a member of your family know how to perform CPR? Is it possible for you to shut off your natural gas if necessary? Do you know how to get to safety in the event of a disaster? Knowing these life-saving skills could mean the difference between life and death for you, your family, or your neighbors in an emergency.

Types of Storm Damage

5/24/2021 (Permalink)

During storm season, there are several different storm types. We see heavy rainfall, floods, tornadoes, and then all of that rolled into one storm! Either of these storm forms has the potential to cause serious damage to your home or business. These damages can make us feel unsatisfied with our home or prevent us from running a business that supports our livelihood. Whatever your situation, it's critical to understand the various types of damage that a storm can cause.

Wind Damage

Extreme wind damage is often a result of storm damage. Roof damage in this situation may range from a missing roof to lose flashing caused by strong winds. This can cause your roof shingles to fall off, causing leaks in your home or company. Even a minor roof leak may result in damp and moldy conditions.

Flooding Damage

Harm Caused by Flooding Heavy rains in the Chicagoland area have the ability to cause river flooding.  Flooding can interrupt municipal water supplies, necessitating the assessment of groundwater and the quality of pipes following flood damage by experts.

Lighting Damage

When a storm hits, the loud sounds of thunder also accompany it, signaling that lightning is about to strike. There may be items attached to your home or company that may attract a lightning strike and cause a fire. The temperature of a bolt of lightning may exceed 30,000 kelvins (53,540 degrees Fahrenheit). Lightning strikes, or large discharges of static electricity, are responsible for around 2% of all fires.

What is in your water?

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know that the water that comes into or leaves your home as a result of busted pipes or leaks is classified? When it comes to mitigation in your home, it's best to leave it to the experts at SERVPRO of Naperville to handle the situation because the water must be treated properly in order to be safe. You never know what's in your water or what it's been exposed to that has contaminated it.

 The following information describes the most common forms of water damage and can assist you in quickly identifying the problem if it occurs to you.

Category One: Clear Water

This is the safest and least toxic form of water damage. It's portable water, probably straight from the sink. And if you are exposed for a long time, it is unlikely to hurt you. Also, clean flooding can cause electrical and structural problems, so it's best to leave the repairs to the professionals. A broken water supply pipe, a tub or sink overflowing with no pollutants, and refrigerator malfunctions involving water-supply lines, to name a few, are all sources of clean water. Clean water, on the other hand, cannot stay clean after touching other surfaces or materials until it leaves the exit point. Although it is considered the "safest" of the categories, it can degrade to category 2 or 3 if left untreated.

Category two: Grey Water

Gray water damage is a little more severe and necessitates a faster cleanup. This is due to the possibility of hazardous amounts of chemicals, microorganisms, or soil. Overflows from dishwashers or washing machines; overflows from toilet bowls containing urine; seepage due to hydrostatic pressure; and damaged aquariums are all examples of Cat 2 water. f left untreated; it can quickly degrade into category 3.

Category three: Black Water

Water classified as Cat 3 is highly polluted and can contain pathogenic, toxigenic, or other harmful organisms. Sewage; toilet backflows from outside the trap; flooding from seawater, rivers or streams, ground surface water, or other polluted water entering the indoor atmosphere are all examples of Cat 3 water.

SERVPRO of Naperville's team is trained in the proper handling of the various categories and wears protective gear to reduce the risk of illness.

Steps to Water Mitigation

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

When your property sustains water damage, it's important to act quickly.

When you have water damage, SERVPRO of Naperville's six-step reconstruction process will help you get your home back to its pre-damage state.

6 Steps to Water Damage Restoration

1.) First Point of Contact in an Emergency

You can reach us 24 hours a day to start the water restoration process because it's critical to act quickly after water damage. When you call, we'll ask you a series of questions to get a sense of the extent of the damage and to help us decide which resources to send to you.

2.) Inspection and Damage Evaluation

When we arrive on the scene to work with water damage, we'll conduct a thorough property assessment to determine the extent of the damage and devise a comprehensive plan of action. We'll figure out where the water comes from, what kind of water it is, and if there are any safety issues.

3.) Extraction of Moisture

Our vacuum and pump units can remove the majority of the moisture during the water extraction process. We'll get started as soon as possible to minimize the risk of more damage and speed up the drying process. In the event that your belongings are destroyed, we may also assist you in moving them out.

4.) Drying and Dehumidifying

We may begin completely drying all porous materials that have accumulated water after the excess water has been extracted. Our industrial-grade equipment moves air quickly and aids moisture evaporation, allowing floors, walls, and carpets to dry quickly and prevent mold growth.

5.) Cleaning and Maintenance

Surfaces that have been affected by water damage will almost always need skilled cleaning. We can clean your belongings that can be restored in addition to the structural cleaning. We'll also do odor removal to avoid the musty odor that sometimes comes with water-damaged products.

6.) Restoration

The final step is to make sure your home is back to its pre-water state. Repairs to drywall and flooring, as well as reconstruction, might be necessary. Working with us means working with a company who can manage any aspect of the renovation, including the complicated reconstruction pieces that return items to their pre-damaged state.

Process of Fire Restoration

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

When it comes to fire damage, being prepared is crucial.

After a fire, the first 48 hours will mean the difference between "restoring" and "replacing" your property and/or personal belongings. SERVPRO of Naperville responds quickly and offers a wide range of restoration services, including fire, smoke, and soot removal, as well as content claims inventory and record restoration.

Here's what to expect from us if your home or company has been damaged by fire:

A priority responder will contact you within one hour of receiving notification of the failure.

Within four hours of receiving notification of a loss, our qualified technicians will arrive on site to assess the damage.

Within eight hours of being on site, trained technicians will be cleaning, restoring, and deodorizing in a tidy and effective manner. Pre-cleaning for restoration to avoid additional soot and smoke damage.

Detailed Explanation: A uniformed technician will take you through the job process step by step, describing what to expect and what to expect. We then use cutting-edge restoration methods to get your home or company back to normal in a timely manner.

Last Walk-through: Once the work is finished, we will do a final walk-through with you to ensure your satisfaction.

Prepare Your Business

4/9/2021 (Permalink)

-Check for broken tree limbs and branches on your business grounds. Weather conditions such as wind, heavy rain, ice, and snow may cause branches to fall, causing property damage and possibly personal injuries.

-Inspect property for proper drainage, especially walkways and parking lots, to reduce the risk of flooding.

-Inspect all handrails, stairwells, and entryways for possible slippery or dangerous areas and address them. Install mats or non-slip surfaces where water can be present, and post warning signs.

Inquire with your SERVPRO Professional about building an Emergency Ready Profile for your business.

What exactly is an Emergency Preparedness Profile?

It's a "snapshot" of each building a company owns or manages that provides crucial details for emergency planning.

Spring Showers

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

Although water damage is usually associated with events such as floods or plumbing malfunctions, heavy rain may also result in water damage around the property.

While any amount of moisture can cause harm, heavy rain is described as rainfall that falls at a rate of more than 0.3 inches per hour and can seep through much smaller cracks in your house. We've put together a rundown of how these high rainfall rates can cause problems to help you better plan and prevent water damage.

How Heavy Rainfall Can Cause Household Water Damage

Backup of clogged gutters

After heavy rains, clogged gutters can cause serious damage to your house. If there is debris in the gutters, water will have a tough time draining out, resulting in leakage from puddles as the water sits against the roofline.

Leaks along the edges of windows and doors

Windows and doors are meant to be weatherproof, but as they age, their weatherproofing will deteriorate as well. When heavy rains fall, water can seep into even the tiniest cracks and cause damage.

Poor drainage around the foundation

Heavy rains can build up against the base of your home and cause leaks in your basement or crawl spaces if your home is at the bottom of a hill or does not have sufficient drainage around the foundation.

Leaks in and around the roof

Roof leaks are one of the most common side effects of heavy rains, and they may come out of nowhere. Rainwater will seep in when it falls if a shingle is scraped away or a weak spot emerges.

A sump pump machine that isn't operating properly

Daily servicing and inspection of sump pumps is critical; otherwise, the pump system will become overloaded and will be unable to efficiently transfer water away from the house.

Leaks around chimneys and skylights

Homes with chimneys and skylights are more prone to heavy rains than those without. Although they are attractive features, the seals where they touch the roof will deteriorate over time and become overloaded when heavy rain falls.

Remember to stay safe and get excess water cleaned up professionally to minimize the chance of mold growth. Our Team at SERVPRO of Naperville is ready to assist at a moment's notice with any of your water mitigation emergencies. Give our team a call at 630-428-3700. Call us, Naperville!

Ready When You Need Us Most

3/31/2021 (Permalink)

We are available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small, SERVPRO can handle it. When dealing with water damage, time is crucial. Even a slight delay could further the damage.

If you have experienced water damage give us a call at (630) 428-37000

We understand that dealing with water in your home or business can be extremely stressful and confusing. That is why you should have an expert to guide you through the process. At SERVPRO of Naperville we have technicians who are specifically water damage trained. We specialize in water damage restoration.

What to expect

When you give us a call, our team will ask you several questions regarding the water damage you have received. The questions we ask are to determine what equipment may be needed and what resources we need to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Some questions you may receive:

• 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 Naperville:

SERVPRO of Naperville specializes in cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial properties 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 to Do Until SERVPRO Arrives

3/31/2021 (Permalink)

A fire can be extremely dangerous. It leaves soot, smoke damage, and a slew of other issues in its wake. Ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting, and floors can all be affected by fire damage, requiring professional cleaning. The following pointers can assist in minimizing damage and increasing the likelihood of a successful restoration:

• To avoid soot particles being trapped in upholstery and carpet, limit movement in the house.
• Keep your hands clean at all times. Soot on the hands will soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork even more. Place old linens or dry, colorfast towels on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas.
• If the power is out, fully empty the freezer/refrigerator and prop the doors open to help avoid odors.
• Wipe soot from chrome kitchen/bathroom faucets, trim, and appliances, then apply a thin coat of lubricant to these surfaces.
• Pour RV antifreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, storage tanks, and tubs if the heat is switched off during the winter to prevent pipes and fixtures from freezing.
• To prevent soot particles from entering or exiting the HVAC machine, tape double layers of cheesecloth over the air registers.

If you've had a fire or would like to hear more about how SERVPRO of Naperville will assist you in the event that you do, call (630) 428-3700.

Preventing Spring Storms Water Damage

3/31/2021 (Permalink)

Spring has arrived!

With that being said, as we plan for the spring season, it's important to be aware of what to look for in order to reduce the possibility of water damage to our homes. As the seasons change, such as in the spring and fall, we can expect erratic weather patterns, and this year will be no exception. Storms and lightning are popular in the Chicagoland area in the spring. Wind and water damage are common during these storms. We can't control the weather, but we can do our best to make sure our homes are ready for whatever comes our way. Before the storms strike, check the following items:

• Basement pumps- Having a functioning sump pump is important for preventing water from accumulating in your basement. Consider getting one with an alarm that will sound if there is any water accumulation, allowing you to respond quickly and avoid secondary water damage.
• Debris removal- Ensure the debris is collected from your gutters, downspouts, and window wells. This helps water to freely flow away from your home rather than back in due to debris accumulation.
• Landscaping- This is a crucial step that is often ignored. When strong winds and rain occur, protruding branches and rotten trees frequently do the most damage to homes and buildings. Trimming leaves and removing trees that are too close to your house are the easiest ways to avoid this.

These are only a few things to keep in mind as we plan for the upcoming spring storms. If the spring storms do happen to cause water damage, contact SERVPRO of Naperville to help with the restoration and to prevent secondary water damage such as mold growth.