How To Prepare for a Winter Storm - Part 1

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

Protecting your family

• Talk with your family about what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued. Discussing winter storms ahead of time helps reduce fear, particularly for young children.

• Have your vehicle winterized before the winter storm season to decrease your chance of being stranded in cold weather.

• Have a mechanic check your battery, antifreeze, wipers and windshield washer fluid, ignition system, thermostat, lights, flashing hazard lights, exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster, and oil.

• Install good winter tires with adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate but some jurisdictions require vehicles to be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.

• Keep in your vehicle: - A windshield scraper and small broom - A small sack of sand for generating traction under wheels and a set of tire chains or traction mats - Matches in a waterproof container - A brightly colored (preferably red) cloth to tie to the antenna - An emergency supply kit, including warm clothing.

• Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full so you can leave right away in an emergency and keep the fuel line from freezing.

• Keep a supply of non-clumping kitty litter to make walkways and steps less slippery.

• Service snow removal equipment before the winter storm season and maintain it in good working order.

• Keep handy a warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat, water-resistant boots, and extra blankets and warm clothing for each member of the household.

Why Use Outdoor Faucet Covers?

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

Why Use Outdoor Faucet Covers?

Styrofoam covers for your outdoor faucets may be unsightly, but they can be very useful. When freezing temperature comes and with them a long, cold winter, Styrofoam faucet covers can mean the difference between reaching springtime without a problem, and a frozen pipe flooding your home.

Your Pipes Need Protection

You don't need to be in an area with the harshest of winters.  One dip below freezing can be all it takes. A night of single-digit temperatures can easily freeze your interior pipes, causing them to expand and crack. While replacing the pipe is not a huge deal in and of itself, the water damage a broken pipe can cause can be catastrophic. It's definitely worth a few minutes of your time to put on Styrofoam faucet covers.

Why SERVPRO?

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of King of Prussia, we care about our customers. We are an emergency restoration company so we know we need to get to our jobs fast. Minutes could turn minimal damage into very dangerous damages to structures. We are open 24/7 which gives the customer someone to call at any hour of the day for emergencies. This is a huge advantage because many other restoration companies are not open 24/7. We are a well-trusted franchise with a 4.6-star rating online and we strive to live up to this rating even at the smallest jobs. After we are finished a job we would love a rating on Google, Facebook or Yelp. This would be greatly appreciated! SERVPRO of King of Prussia is here to help. Give us a call at 610-337-3330 for more details. 

Cooking with Caution

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

“Cooking with Caution”

• Be on Alert. Do not cook if you are sleepy or have consumed any alcohol. This can potentially create dangerous situations. Do not use the stovetop or stove if you are under the influence.
• Be sure to stay in the kitchen while frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Always turn off the stove if you have to leave the kitchen, no matter how quick you may be.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in your home while it is cooking, or use a timer so you do not forget about it.
• Be sure your kitchen is free of clutter and no loose items are near the stove. This reduces the chance of anything catching on fire.

If you have a small grease/ cooking fire and decide to fight the fire…

• On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• If the fire is inside the oven, shut the oven off and keep the door closed.

If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire…

• Just leave the house! When leaving be sure to close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the house.

5 Steps to Minimize Mold Risk During Prolonged Shutdown

3/7/2022 (Permalink)

5 Steps to Minimize Mold Risk During and After a Prolonged Shutdown

1. Maintain indoor humidity as low as possible, not exceeding 50%, as measured with a humidity meter. Building managers may consider continuous monitoring of indoor humidity using a digital hygrometer, ideally more than once daily, to minimize the need to access the building.
2. After a prolonged shutdown and before occupants return, buildings should be assessed for mold and excess moisture.
3. After an assessment has confirmed that mold and moisture are not detected, OR after remediation has been completed, a building HVAC system that has not been active during a prolonged shutdown should be operated for at least 48 to 72 hours (known as a “flush out” period) before occupants return.
4. After a building is reopened and occupied, routine (e.g., weekly) checks of the HVAC system are recommended to ensure operating efficiency.
5. If no routine HVAC operation and maintenance program are in place for the building, one should be developed and implemented.

Source: CDC

SERVPRO's Veteran Initiative

2/10/2022 (Permalink)

In early 2021 SERVPRO announced a new initiative called “driven to serve”. This initiative is designed to provide returning veterans with employment. This was a renewed effort on SERVPRO’s behalf to help the more than 225,000 veterans who are discharged from the United States military annually. SERVPRO set a goal of hiring 1,000 returning veterans by 2022.

SERVPRO has always valued employing service members. In fact, on November 10, 2020, the U.S. Secretary of Labor, Eugene Scalia, recognized SERVPRO Industries, LLC as one of the 675 recipients of the “2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Award’’ during an award ceremony at the U.S. Department of Labor. SERVPRO earned the Gold Award after applying earlier this year. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program that recognizes job creators who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

I am proud to work for a nationally recognized franchise that values those who served our country and sacrificed so much for us. SERVPRO of King of Prussia recognizes the importance of this “driven to serve’’ initiative. We understand how challenging it can be for some veterans to integrate back into the workforce. That is why we have decided to help in this effort. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly if you or someone you know has served and is looking for employment.

Large Loss Commercial Services

2/9/2022 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO Commercial Large Loss Division is composed of our best of the best in restoration. Our elite large-loss specialists are prequalified and strategically positioned throughout the United States to handle any size disaster.

Every large loss is supervised by a commercial operations manager to help ensure seamless communication and timely mitigation.

When attending many conferences we found that many people only associate us with residential services but we handle many large loss jobs as well. Our crew is trained both on how to handle small apartment losses up to huge commercial business losses.

At SERVPRO, the difference is our ability to dispatch trained production professionals and cut costs through the strategic placement and oversight of temporary labor. Get the professionals, call SERVPRO.

Clients for the Commercial Large Loss program include the following:

• The Hospitality Industry
• Property Managers
• Universities
• Municipalities
• The Pentagon
• Manufacturing
• Multifamily housing 
• Logistics 
• Student housing

Commercial Warehouse Fire Sprinkler Systems

2/8/2022 (Permalink)

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 1,210 warehouse structure fires were reported each year during 2009-2013. These fires caused $155 million in direct property damage, 19 civilian injuries, and 3 civilian deaths on average per year.

If you have a warehouse, you probably want to protect it from a fire. If your warehouse is destroyed by a fire, it can cause costly damage to your business or even put you out of business entirely. Installing fire sprinkler systems in your warehouse can help prevent property loss due to fire. There are several sprinkler systems that can be used in warehouses.

In-Rack Sprinkler System

When a fire starts inside of a warehouse it can spread very quickly unless contained. In-rack sprinkler systems help to stop the spread of a fire within a specific rack storage area. This prevents the fire from spreading to other parts of the building. In-rack sprinklers have a network of pipes that surround the racked structure and target a specific area.

ESFR Sprinklers

ESFR (Early Suppression, Fast Response) sprinklers are ceiling-mounted systems that are used in warehouses. These systems are designed to suppress a fire by releasing a large volume of water directly on the fire. Early Suppression Fast Response systems react faster than traditional sprinkler systems and use larger water droplets.

ESFR systems often can be used in place of in-rack sprinkler systems. Typically, the ESFR system will provide better protection than an in-rack system. However, there are some limitations to the use of ESFR systems. ESFR systems cannot be used with certain storage configurations or building types.

Quell Sprinkler System

The Quell fire sprinkler system can be used in cold storage spaces or unheated warehouses. It can be used to protect high piled storage areas. This system surrounds the protected area and douses it with large volumes of water. The Quell system eliminates the need for in-rack sprinkler components which gives you more flexibility with storage configurations.

How SERVPRO Cleans and Disinfects Your Home or Business

2/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO always follows the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting your home or business:

• Wear reusable or disposable gloves for all cleaning and disinfection.
• Clean surfaces using soap and water, then use disinfectant.
• Cleaning with soap and water reduces the number of germs, dirt, and impurities on the surface. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces.
• Focus cleaning on frequently touched surfaces. High touch surfaces include:
  • Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.

SERVPRO always uses EPA-approved disinfectants and follows the EPA guidelines for safe and effective usage.

To schedule a cleaning and disinfection of your home or business, call us today at (610) 337-3330

Fire Damage Awareness

2/7/2022 (Permalink)

Fire can cause more damage than meets the eye. Of course, the fire itself causes much of the damage to a home or business. Did you know that smoke can cause just as much damage too? Smoke and soot can permeate through walls, ceilings, upholstery, and air conditioning vents. Many of these spots are very hard to clean when not properly educated on the issues associated with fire damage.

Not only is there visible damage to the structure, but also damage that can be unnoticed. Structural damage can occur to support beams, weight-bearing walls, studs, etc. and these are places that you would not check unless you know how to properly restore a structure after this type of loss.

SERVPRO uses our advanced cleanup methods and detection tools to check from closet to closet, room to room, and floor to ceiling, to detect all fire and post-fire damages. We know where to check to make sure your HVAC system will not spread smoke and toxins after a fire. We will make sure that your insulation is intact and that the structure of your home is safe. If we detect any need for replacement and restoration, we provide a range of services, including building services, that can take care of any fire and water damage and debris.

Because secondary fire damage, such as water use from firefighting efforts can also be an issue, our specialists pay much attention to a full, detailed analysis of your home’s damage before making a plan of action and beginning cleanup and restoration.
 
Contamination is not always seen by the untrained eye. It can be hidden in places such as your HVAC (air conditioning and heating) systems. SERVPRO inspects the home from attic to basement, to ensure that all vents and air circulating systems are completely clean. If you were to neglect this part of fire damage cleanup, there is always the possibility of blowing toxic dust, ash, and soot, even on the microscopic level, into your cleaned home, effectively re-contaminating it and exposing residents to its dangers.

Our 24/7 Emergency Service line is at your disposal. Contact SERVPRO of King of Prussia anytime at (610) 337-3330 for a quick response to your fire emergency, or to ask questions.