6 Steps to Starting Water Damage Remediation

9/13/2022 (Permalink)

Property damage doesn’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Langhorne & Bensalem provides emergency cleanup and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays. No damage is too big or small for our team! 

Why is immediate response time crucial?

The short answer: to keep a bad situation from getting worse. In many cases an immediate response will help contain and minimize damage, thus reducing cleaning and restoration costs. The sooner the cleanup process starts, the better.

Here are a few immediate steps you can take to help speed up the process:

1. Call your insurance company as soon as possible. Once you have filed a claim with your insurance company, SERVPRO of Langhorne/Bensalem can take it from there to determine next steps. 
2. Call SERVPRO of Fox Chase/Torresdale, who provides 24 hour, 7 days a week emergency service by having a network of strategically positioned storm teams on standby should a disaster strike at 215-545-5300.
3. Document the damage by taking pictures or videos for the insurance claim. 
4. Shut off the water source so no further damage is created.
5. Turn off circuit breakers. 
6. Don’t enter affected areas! 

Use technology such as alarms and/or smart home monitoring systems that can be managed and monitored even when you aren’t home! 

Electrical Fire at Jim's Steaks in Philadelphia, PA

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Department responds to multi-alarm fire at Jim's Steaks on South St.

If you are a true Philadelphian, you know cheesesteaks are a staple in our city and they need to be protected at all times! So when the famously known Jim’s Steaks on South St. went up in flames last Friday morning - the city was in a panic. Our team was quickly on the scene to assess the situation along with 125 first responders.

According to Action News, the fire is believed to have started in the electrical system. Employee Christina Lawlor knew something was up when she opened for the day and realized how hot it was inside.

When the owner, Ken Silver, entered the building two days later, he feared the damage was a lot worse than it actually was. According to the fire department, the blaze was difficult to put out because the flames were moving rapidly through the HVAC system.

Silver credited the fire department, who remained on the scene for 10 hours. After city officials searched the century old building, it was determined that the building is structurally sound, bumping up the timeline of rebuilding.

The cheesesteak staff is determined to start rebuilding as soon as they are allowed to by city officials. He is anticipating reopening by Memorial Day 2023.

Jim’s Steaks celebrated their 46th year anniversary in the beginning of July and while this will set them back a year, the city is rallying behind the famous cheesesteak joint.

Faster To Any Disaster

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fox Chase/Torresdale takes pride in building rapport, trust and strong relationships with property owners in their communities. This is why we are known for being, “faster to any disaster.” When disaster strikes, you better believe SERVPRO is there first to clean up the mess!

With SERVPRO's Emergency Ready Plan, your business will be able to minimize interruption because you’ll know what to do and what to expect if any-sized disaster strikes. This program includes, a free assessment of your facility, customized property profile, guides on how-to return to the office after a disaster, easier insurance claims process, and more.

Our crew is available 24/7 to respond to any type of emergency, small or big and we take our work very seriously. Last week, we received a call late on a Friday about a water heater leak in a vacant office space. Our crew was out there in about 20 minutes to begin soaking and drying the water. They worked throughout the weekend to make sure majority of the work was done by Monday.

If you are looking to improve your company emergency response plan or procedures, SERVPRO's Emergency Ready Plan is your answer!

Overheating Laptop

7/11/2022 (Permalink)

Now that everyone is living the ‘working from home’ life, our devices are constantly running.

Here are some reasons why your laptop overheats:

1. The laptop is placed in a place where temperatures are high
2. The laptops’ air exhaust vents are blocked, preventing air flow & resulting in overheating
3. Software or a service could be consuming a lot of processing power
4. Dust could be clogged in the internal components, preventing clean airflow

Recently a couch became the victim of an overheated laptop. SERVPRO ofFox Chase/Torresdaleresponded to the aftermath of the couch blaze plus the fire being extinguished from the fire department.

According to our project manager, Eric, the fire itself was more or less contained to the couch. The vast majority of the damage to the unit is from the result of smoke and water from the fire department. The structure and contents within the unit were found to be non-salvageable.

Our team cleaned out all contents and removed all structural materials down to the framing. The next phase will be for our reconstruction team to step in to see if there needs to be any rebuild for the apartment unit.

We Service Commercial Buildings

6/8/2022 (Permalink)

113,000 sqft of flooded warehouse

A property can be damaged by fire, water or sewage at any given time. The important thing to remember when something like this happens is who to call to help. 

When a 113,000 square foot warehouse was damaged by water, SERVPRO was quick to the scene to assess the situation. The roofs were being repaired but mother nature had other plans when she decided to open the flood gates on the tri-state area.

Our highly-trained professionals understand your need to keep business going, even after an emergency. We were able to soak up the water and repair any damage in under five days. 

SERVPRO understands the importance of keeping your business running while we do our job. We’re Faster to any size disaster™ providing 24/7 emergency service. With 2,000 locations, you can be sure there’s a SERVPRO near you and is ready to respond to your emergency call.

Keeping Mold From Being an Unwelcome Guest at Your Restaurant

7/23/2021 (Permalink)

Store food properly.

If you work in the food service industry, you may be quite familiar with how uncomfortable working in a too-hot kitchen in Philadelphia, PA, can be. But while your physical discomfort may be bothersome, the food that you’re preparing can potentially suffer far worse. Kitchens play host to an abundance of warm, moist air as it is, and when that hot air merges with an occasional blast of cool air coming into the kitchen from an air-conditioned dining area or a back door, the condensation that ultimately forms can quickly lead to mold growth on your food.

Keeping Food Mold-Free

Mold growth can occur quickly under the right conditions. Taking these steps can help prevent mold from contaminating the food in your work kitchen:

1. Properly launder all kitchen towels, sponges, and dishcloths on a regular basis. Keeping these items dry and well ventilated prior to laundering will help prevent mold and mildew from forming.

2. Take special care to clean wood cooking tools. Wooden kitchen tools in particular are at high risk for developing mold. Make sure that these tools are properly washed and thoroughly dried, preferably in a spot where there is plenty of air circulation (and light, if possible).

3. Keep your refrigerator clean. Cleaning the place where the food will be stored will help cut down on the risk of mold. A solution of one to two tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in a quart of warm water is an effective cleaner for the fridge.

4. Carefully inspect any food you buy. Fresh produce should be examined closely for any bruising, pits, or dents, which will indicate damage during shipping and/or potential rotting on the inside. Choose firm, evenly colored produce with a relatively smooth surface and a fresh smell. Similarly, check fresh meats, poultry and jarred food items for any signs of mold.

5. Store food properly. Protect your food from any airborne mold spores by keeping it tightly covered with plastic wrap. Cover and refrigerate perishable foods and ensure that they do not sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Consume leftovers within 3-4 days.

Utilizing a Proper Ventilation System for Mold Prevention

When managing an area with high humidity such as a restaurant kitchen or bakery, it is imperative to have an adequate ventilation system to keep air cool and circulating. Since experts recommend keeping the relative humidity level to below 40 percent, more than one HVAC unit in a commercial kitchen – one in the front and one in the back – is a wise choice. Also, be sure to maintain all gaskets and vents, keeping them clean and free of any dust or debris. Taking this approach, in addition to employing efficient exhaust hoods and fans, help prevent food spoilage as well as overheated conditions for kitchen workers. If water damage has already occurred in the walls or ceiling, you may want to enlist the help of a specialist to remove any resulting mold.

Keeping your kitchen in Philadelphia, PA, free of mold growth is a continual process, but following these tips will help ensure that your workspace remains as clean and effective as possible.

Exterior Inspection Tips for Your Commercial Property

7/13/2021 (Permalink)

Perform regular inspections of your building to avoid any damage to your property.

What To Look For During Your Inspection

Owning a commercial property is a big responsibility. You must be vigilant to make sure that your building in Pennypack, PA, is a safe place for occupants to enter. Making a building inspection a regular part of your exterior maintenance plan is a good way to ensure that this happens. Here are some tips on what to look for during your inspection.

Walls

To keep your building maintained properly, you must pay attention to the exterior walls. Look for signs of damage. Even regular wear and tear can become a problem over time, making it necessary to hire restoration specialists to repair your building. Pay particular attention to the following issues:

• Water and air infiltration points
• Paint inconsistencies
• Holes or weak spots, particularly where different parts of the wall connect
  
  

All problems with your walls can't easily be seen with the naked eye, so it's important to test the wall for issues, especially when it comes to areas where air or water could enter.

Cladding

Cladding is the coating on the structure that provides insulation and resistance to outdoor elements. It also makes the building look nicer. Your exterior maintenance plan should include an inspection of the cladding to make sure there are no chips, dents or holes in it. If left unchecked, these problems that may seem minor at first can lead to bigger issues, because they leave your building unprotected.

Windows

Inspecting your windows and initiating necessary repairs is a great way to save on energy costs. It is also important, however, for protecting the building from water that might seep into weak weather stripping or a broken seal. Make sure your windows have proper insulation so that air and water stay out of your building.

When a storm rages and your building is not able to withstand it, the breakdown can often be traced back to something missed because exterior maintenance was neglected. Regular building inspections can help you identify and resolve problems before extreme weather strikes.