Fire Damage and Water Damage

10/13/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can quickly respond to any fire.

Fire and Water Damage Go Together

In the wake of a fire, your home or business may need both fire and water restoration services. These are two different types of damage that can occur during a fire. You should make sure that you know what fire and water damage are before calling a restoration company to help clean up after your fire.

Water Damage after a Fire

You may not think about it until it’s too late, but frequently fire in a home or business often leads to water damage in the building. Water damage after a fire is a serious problem. As you may have seen in the news, water and smoke can cause serious structural damage to buildings. Water also damages furniture, appliances, and other items in your home.

Water contains minerals that are harmful to building materials and electronics. This can lead to corrosion of metal components in your home as well as electrical damage due to corrosion of wires or circuit boards inside electronic devices like televisions, computers, and phones.

Mold spores need moisture to grow so if there is an excess amount of moisture present they will begin growing on any available surface within 24 hours of exposure - even if it's just dampness!

Fire and Water Restoration After a Fire

If you've experienced a fire, your home or business may need fire restoration and water restoration services. Fire damage is caused by flames, smoke, heat and soot that linger after the flames are extinguished. Water damage can occur when firefighting efforts involve heavy use of water to extinguish the blaze.

SERVPRO of East Naples provides 24-hour emergency service and is available 365 days a year to respond to your fire or water damage emergencies in your Naples, FL home or business. Our team of highly qualified technicians will respond immediately and work with you to develop an effective plan for restoring your property back to pre-disaster condition. We also provide mold remediation services as needed.

Damage from a fire hose can be extensive as firefighters often use large amounts of water during their response efforts in order to extinguish fires quickly and safely. There are several types of commercial buildings at risk for this type of damage including restaurants, grocery stores, and banks because they often contain large quantities of flammable materials. These items (like food products or electronics) can ignite easily if exposed directly to too much heat. This helps the fire spread rapidly through these types of buildings.

A fire can cause a lot of damage. If you’re experiencing water damage after a fire, it’s important to know what to do next. The first step should be to call the professionals at SERVPRO of East Naples. We will be there quickly to help restore your home or business after both fire and water damage. 

3 Preventative Plumbing Maintenance Tips for Business Owners

7/27/2022 (Permalink)

Schedule a plumbing inspection before they grow into even more significant problems

Preventative Plumbing Maintenance Tips

As a business owner in Olde Cypress, FL, you know that plumbing issues can cause many headaches. They are inconvenient, and the damage can be severe enough to require water damage restoration services. Fortunately, you can take preventative measures to avoid plumbing problems altogether.

1. Find a Good Plumber Before Issues Arise
Do you wait to call a plumber until you face an issue such as a broken pipe or a clogged water main that leads to flooding? In an emergency, time is of the essence. Waiting to call professionals until an emergency needs immediate attention doesn't give you time to find a plumber who you know will do a good job.
Before problems arise, do some research by reading online reviews and asking other business owners for referrals. Hiring commercial plumbers and seeing how they work can give you an idea of whether or not they're someone you can rely on. Taking the time to do your due diligence ensures that you'll find a reliable plumber you can trust when problems arise.

2. Avoid Plumbing Problems by Scheduling Maintenance Appointments
Just like getting regular checkups with your doctor is good for your physical health, scheduling routine maintenance appointments with your plumber can detect plumbing issues before they grow into even more significant problems that are costly to resolve.
How often you should maintain your plumbing system depends on the number of people visiting your business daily. A building with hundreds of visitors per day will require more frequent upkeep than a small office. Consult with your plumber to determine how often you should schedule maintenance appointments.

3. Pay Attention to Small Plumbing Issues
Doing your own checks for plumbing problems can go a long way toward preventing issues from escalating. A leaky faucet can indicate damaged or eroded fixtures or issues with water pressure. Slow drains can signify clogs, and fluctuating hot water temperatures (too hot or not hot enough) can indicate problems with your water heater.
By following these preventative measures, you can avoid plumbing issues and keep your business in Olde Cypress, FL, running smoothly.

3 Tips To Save Wood Floors From Water Damage

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

Standing water on hardwood floor

Three Ways to Prevent Water Damage to Wood Floors

Wood flooring can be susceptible to water damage whether it be a minor spill of liquid or a serious pipe burst. In a commercial business space with wooden floors, it's vital to protect them from potential water damage. The following tips can help keep floors in good condition.

1. Dry Any Wet Floor Immediately
Once water makes contact with a wood floor, it is only a matter of time before the material faces damage. Be sure to remove the water and dry the area as soon as possible to minimize damage. This effort will vary depending on the amount of water to clean up and the amount of flooring area that needs to dry.

2. Determine Water Source
Water damage has three distinct categories depending on the level of contaminants present. Clean water is contaminant-free and may come from a sink or hose. Gray water is contaminated with chemicals or biological hazards, possibly coming from a pipe burst or a faulty sump pump. Storm and groundwater flooding are sources of black water, the most serious and unsanitary type of water. Identifying the source of the water will determine which category of damage is at play and how to proceed.

3. Issue Necessary Repairs
Repairs may be necessary after water damage occurs. This can include plumbing repairs that caused the water damage, such as a pipe burst, or structural repairs to the flooring. Your wood floors may exhibit visible damage such as stains, buckling or crowning of the boards. Depending on the extent of damage, the flooring may need to be replaced. A water damage restoration company servicing Island Walk, FL, can help to repair the property after experiencing any type of flooding.
Keeping wood floors safe and pristine from water damage requires swift action to dry the area, determine the water source and carry out the necessary repairs at the property.

3 Tips To Prepare Your Business in Case of a Fire

5/14/2022 (Permalink)

Install a fire sprinkler system in your business.

How To Practice Fire Safety

If you own a Quail West, FL, business, then you may have concerns about how to practice fire safety. From ensuring your employees and customers can evacuate your building safely to ensuring fire equipment is up to date, there are several ways you can prepare for a business fire and minimize the possible damage.

1. Make Fire Preparation a Priority
Creating a safety plan for your business means including steps employees can take in case of a fire. Elect a safety officer who inspects and maintains a section or floor and ensures all safety exits are clearly marked and clear of any obstructions. These officers can also maintain fire extinguishers for their floor and check the inspection dates at least once a year.

2. Maintain Storage
Depending on your city's laws and fire codes, you may have to properly maintain your company's storage and keep clutter to a minimum. Keep ceiling clearances clear and allow at least two feet of space between any items and the ceiling, especially in areas where you have sprinkler systems installed. A business fire may spread more quickly if the sprinklers do not work as they should because they are blocked.

3. Make Time for Safety Meetings
While you may have safety ideas for keeping the risk of fire damage to a minimum, they may not be as helpful unless you inform your employees about them. Hold safety meetings at least once a month and invite a business fire cleanup and mitigation service representative to your company to discuss the importance of fire safety. You can also encourage your employees to point out any possible fire risks they notice to your company's safety officer.
Preparing your Quail West, FL, business for a fire can help you feel more confident about how to handle such an emergency and keep everyone inside the building safe. From annual inspections to maintaining equipment, you can make your company's fire safety procedures a priority.

Prevent Flooding Caused by Frozen Pipes

2/28/2022 (Permalink)

Let water drip.

Frigid winter months can bring significant problems to commercial buildings in East Naples, FL, from ice dams that cause roof leaks to burst pipes. As water freezes, it expands, putting pressure on its container. This container, whether plastic or metal, may not be able to hold it. When the container is a pipe, it may burst, causing standing water and damage to the surrounding area. However, there are steps that can be taken to minimize the risk of a burst pipe.

Why Pipes Burst

Although the most basic explanation for pipes freezing is cold weather, it’s not quite that simple. There are other contributing factors, which can include:

• They have inadequate or no insulation.
• They are in cold or exposed areas in or around the building.
• There is water sitting in the pipes instead of circulating through them.
  
  

When Pipes Freeze

Depending on the building and usage, frozen pipes may be a minor inconvenience or a catastrophic event. The consequences of a burst pipe can include:

• No access to water or use of drainage pipes
• Irrevocable pipe damage, which requires that the pipes are repaired before they can be used
• Water damage that may be limited to drips or result in flooding areas of the building

How To Prevent Pipe Bursts

Taking some time during the warmer months can help prevent a frozen pipe during the winter season.

• Insulate exterior pipes and those located in unheated areas, such as basements or crawl spaces.
• Let water drip, allowing it to run and prevent pressure from building, which can cause a burst pipe.
• Check shutoff valves and levers, ensuring they are in good working condition.
• Keep heat and water on in areas of the building that are not in use.
  

If a water event does occur, water restoration professionals in East Naples, FL, restore your premises to their former condition, “Like it never even happened,” allowing you to get on with business as usual.