SERVPRO Equipment and Technology

1/15/2022 (Permalink)

Advanced Technology and Techniques

The past few decades has seen a rapid advancement in the technology and techniques used in the restoration industry. These advancements allow SERVPRO Franchise Professionals to restore a property back to preloss condition quickly, reliably, and more effectively.

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) sets practical standards for restoration and cleaning. The IICRC S500 Water Damage Guide is a specific set of practical standards that incorporate the field of psychometry, which involves the manipulation of temperature and relative humidity to remove moisture and dry a property quickly and effectively.

Moisture Detection and Measurement Equipment

Scientific drying principles rely upon specialized equipment to detect, measure, and monitor a property’s moisture levels. Recent advances, like infrared cameras, can help us detect water through a wall, ceiling, or floor.

• An infrared camera may be used to identify water location for thorough water removal.
• Sensitive moisture detectors, hygrometers, and other meters measure the extent of moisture saturation.

Water Extraction Equipment

Powerful extraction equipment speeds the drying process by removing the bulk of the water from your home or business.

• Submersible and gas-powered pumps for continuous pumping of high-level water. 
• Truck-mounted and portable extraction units perform efficient water removal.

Drying Equipment

Industrial strength air movers and dehumidifiers are needed to remove the remaining moisture from ceiling, walls, and floors of your home or business. Proper drying helps to prevent swelling and warping of floors, walls, and furniture.

• High-speed air movers causes moisture to evaporate at a faster pace.
• Industrial grade dehumidifiers pull the water vapor from the air.

Odor Removal and Deodorization

Water and fire damage often causes powerful odors. The machines we use remove airborne contaminants and control the air quality during the restoration and cleanup process.

• Air scrubbers remove airborne particles and contaminants.
• Thermal foggers and deodorization agents control odors.

Sanitizing Agents, Germicides, and Anti-Microbial Treatments

The use of OSHA-approved cleaning agents may be needed to clean and remove odors and/or contaminants on your property.

• Cleaning agents help to stop the growth of bacteria, fungi, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms.

Employee Certification and Training

1/15/2022 (Permalink)

Since the year 1967, SERVPRO Industries, Inc., has been redefining the mitigation and restoration industries. In addition to training at the regional level, SERVPRO developed the National Training Center in 1992 to teach restoration and mitigation skills to Franchise Owners and insurance industry employees.

Employee Certification Training

The Employee Certification Training is a self paced program which is designed for the franchise employee. The certification is awarded after the successful completion of course materials as well as an examination. Newly implemented training consists of the HeroReady Training Program which separates training for Production Technicians and Crew Chiefs. SERVPRO allows for continuing education in the mitigation and restoration industry by continually reworking their training in order to benefit the technicians and the clients best.

The Employee Certification Training Modules include the following:

• Crew Training
• Fire Restoration
• Water Restoration
• Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

Emergency Ready Program

1/14/2022 (Permalink)

Can we determine when disaster strikes?

Unfortunately, we can never really know when a disaster will strike. Anything could happen at any moment, so as a business, it is essential to prepare for an emergency. 

Why should you prepare for an emergency?

There are a few reasons:

1.Safety! Being prepared means keeping everyone involved safe during an emergency.

1. To minimize damage done to the building. If you understand where the water shut off is for instance, then you can turn off the water during a pipe burst, therefore stopping the source. 
2. Save money!! Less damage=less expensive.

SERVPRO® provides an Emergency Ready Profile to help you prepare for disaster.

This FREE Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) is designed to organize all of the critical information necessary during a disaster. For example, locations of shut offs for utilities and Emergency Contact information. 

Oh, and it is FREE

Anyone can download our free app, businesses please give us a call to set a free ERP consultation.

1-4-8 Response

1/7/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is committed to a fast response for any size disaster.

We talk a lot about how SERVPRO is faster to any size disaster but, what exactly does that mean? Well when we get a call in for an emergency loss we work based off of a 148 Response. Within 1 hour of receiving notification we will have a call out to the customer to discuss the situation. Then within 4 hours of the initial call we will have at least a three man crew on site. There may be a need for extra Technicians depending on the severity and size of the loss. At times we will recall Techs from the field to come assist wherever necessary. This initial team includes a Crew Chief and at least two Techs who can begin to remedy the situation as soon as they arrive onsite. By 8 hours we will have provided a verbal briefing to the adjuster including all the information we have attained so far along with photo documentation. While all this is being done we are communicating with the customer every step of the way, we do our best to ease any concerns as we understand how stressful an emergency loss situation can be.

SERVPRO Emergency Preparedness

11/8/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Emergency Ready Planning

The SERVPRO^®Emergency Ready Plan Advantage

When disaster strikes your business, having a plan in place ahead of time for what you will do can make all the difference in whether your business survives the event. The majority of businesses that come out stronger on the other side of an emergency are the ones that pre-planned for one. That’s where SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Plan (ERP) can help give you, your employees and customers peace of mind. You can trust that whatever might happen to disrupt daily business will only be temporary. With our 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 is important to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business. 

Contact Us Today 570-759-0966

We are ready to help you plan for the unexpected

24 Hour Emergency Services

11/4/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is available 24/7/365

The cleanup and restoration begins with a phone call. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of damage.

A water damage event can be traumatic and when you call, we understand you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. Our specialist will lead you through a series of questions to better understand your needs.

SERVPRO^® specializes in water damage—in fact, SERVPRO is the premier water damage restoration company in the U.S. and Canada.

What to Expect

When you call, a customer care specialist will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. Armed with the details of your water event, we’ll dispatch a team to respond immediately.

Our SERVPRO Specialist will ask several questions:

• 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)?

After Hours Response

10/23/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties responds to late night water loss!

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties had received a call at 12:15 AM on a July Sunday morning! A local apartment housing building had sustained significant amount of water damage due to a broken pipe. Our crew was on-site by 2:00 AM to start mitigation of the first floor. Upon review the initial loss, they crew found minimal damage, puddles of water in several areas. They extracted the standing water and set up drying equipment. 

Our crew returned later in the day to set additional drying equipment to find that the customer had a second water loss. This second loss was much more substantial, the whole first floor now contained water damage. Our crew went to work with a second mitigation and placement of drying equipment.

Call SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties for all your water mitigation needs!

(570)759-0966

We are Cleaning Experts

4/29/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to help!

SERVPRO is Here to Help during this time of need

During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus, this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.

Specialized Training

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis.

The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces include:

• Kitchen/Food Areas
• Bathrooms
• Schools/Classrooms
• Offices
• Retail Spaces
• Water Fountains
• Shelving/Racks
• Sales Counters
• Carpets and Rugs
• Stair Handrails
• Elevator Cars
• Playground Equipment
• Fitness Equipment

Specialized Products

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities.

Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today – SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties, 570-759-0966

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fguidance-prevent-spread.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html

Fire Loss

1/27/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties responding to a board up.

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties received a call on a Sunday morning from a local homeowner who had a fire at his home. Unfortunately, he and his wife were in Massachusetts at the time of the fire. He indicated the firemen were still on-site putting out hot spots. We scheduled for afternoon arrival so as not to be in the firemen’s way. We loaded a generator, board up tools, ladders, and sheets of plywood and headed to the loss. The home is 4 stories, most of the windows on front half of the home were gone as were the double front doors, plus several holes cut in the 4^th story roof. By shortly after dark, all ground floor windows and doors were secured, and several second story windows as well. We also secured rear door with hasp and padlock due to the firemen forcing their way in.

Chimney Fire

1/27/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO arrived onsite to perform emergency clean up and drying.

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Co was contacted by a neighboring SERVPRO franchise on a recent Saturday morning to ask if we could take a residential chimney fire in their territory. They didn’t have much info on the job and unfortunately, a winter storm was due to move in in a few hours. Our SERVPRO owner loaded a few pieces of equipment and headed to the loss after calling crew members to follow later. While on-site and waiting for the property owner, the snow started falling heavily.  We scheduled to return Sunday after roads were plowed. We were able to get more crew there on Sunday and initiate a rough cleanup of the heavier affected room and devise our plan to continue drying and cleaning during the week.

We Specialize in Flooded Basement Cleanup and Restoration!

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

This basement was flooded due to a pipe break to the bathroom.

A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall. Basements are inherently prone to flooding because they are the lowest level of a building and are normally built partly or entirely below ground level. There are a number of reasons why your Berwick basement could flood, including: 

• A blocked or failed sewer lateral pipe
• Heavy rain causes surface water to pool around your home
• Storm sewer backup
• Sanitary sewer backup
• Foundation drainage failure
• Water supply-line break or hot-water tank failure
• And many more

Have Questions about Basement Flooding?

Call Today - 570-759-0966

If flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your health and safety, and cause severe damage to your home’s structure. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse the problem will get.

The bottom line: a flooded basement can jeopardize your health, safety, and your home’s integrity. It’s worth making a call to SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties and let our trained, professional crews handle the situation safely and correctly. We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals.

We are Flooded Basement Specialists:

• We are Available 24 hours/7 days per week
• We’re a Preferred Vendor to many National Insurance Companies
• We Bill The Insurance Directly – One Less Thing For You To Worry About
• Our Technicians are Highly-Trained  in Water Restoration Techniques
• We use s500 IICRC Restoration Standards
• Advanced Inspection and Extraction Equipment

Basement Flooded? Call Us Today – We’re Ready To Help 570-759-0966

We provide immediate service day or night!

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO packed up and ready to go!

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster in Berwick. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
• Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment 

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – 570-759-0966

Residential Services

Whether your Berwick home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us.  Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

When Down Pours Roll Through....

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties 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.

24/7 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 Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of more than 1,650 Franchises across the country.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today

570-759-0966

Assessment of Water Damage

4/1/2019 (Permalink)

HEALTH & SAFETY

Every situation is different and requires careful assessment and constant monitoring to ensure proper removal of water and any contamination.  When handling a water loss, we will be exposed to many hazards.  The water may contain sewage, pesticides and other waterborne organisms that can cause disease.  There may even be sharp objects and other debris in the water.  Therefore, we take caution when entering any water damaged structure.  We are not only concerned about the health and safety of our technicians, but also the health and safety of you, our customers.

INSPECTION & INITIAL STEPS

We will schedule to scope the damages of the water loss, using thermo hygrometer and moisture content meters, take pictures and measure the affected areas.  We will determine what areas need to be dried out and areas that need to be removed.  In order to dry these areas, we will use industrial size LGR dehumidifiers, desiccant dehumidifiers, air movers, and axial air movers.

MITIGATION

It is important to note that Water Damage Mitigation is unlike most other types of contractor work.  An upfront estimate is typically not provided due to the progressive conditions inherent to water damage.  Most of the time when a contractor is hired they will provide a general scope of work in their contract and begin work immediately.  Unlike other contractors who have time to price out different materials and know exactly what work needs to be done during a remodeling of a home for example, emergency restoration contractors are working against the clock and taking the necessary time required to estimate a job would cause the spread of water unaffected areas as well a potential for mold.

When the Freeze Hits Home

1/24/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties is here for all your water damage needs!

Are you prepared for freezing temperatures? 

Protect Your Pipes

We all know that water expands when it freezes. If water inside your pipes freezes, it also expands and can cause your pipes to crack or burst. Follow these easy steps to prevent this catastrophic damage:

• -Leave water dripping from your faucets. Running water through your pipes overnight will help prevent pipes from freezing.
• -Cover all outdoor faucets with foam insulators that you can get from a local hardware store.
• -Know where your water shutoff value is in the case of emergency. In most homes it can be found in the basement or buried near the road.
• -Leave your cabinet doors open under a sink faucet to help heat circulate. This is important for homes that do not have excellent heat circulation  throughout the house.

  Check Your Heat

The time to ensure you’re staying warm in your home is not during a winter storm. Now is a good time to check your furnace or heat source by turning it on and doing a test run. If you did not change your air filter at the start of the winter season you will want to consider replacing with a new one. A clogged filter is less efficient and means your home may not be warming properly.

We are here for you: 

If your property has been a victim of frozen pipes, call SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour and Sullivan Counties! SERVPRO is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist with all your water damage needs. 

Call our office at (570)759-0966!

Faster to your Water Damage

1/23/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties provides 24 hour fire and water damage restoration service.

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we. SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more.  SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs.

Need Emergency Service? Call Us 24/7 – (570)759-0966

Water Damage Timeline

Within Minutes

• Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
• Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
• Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
• Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

Hours 1 - 24:

• Drywall begins to swell and break down.
• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
• Furniture begins to swell and crack.
• Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
• A musty odor appears.

48 Hours to 1 Week:

• Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
• Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and corrode.
• Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
• Paint begins to blister.
• Wood flooring swells and warps.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week:

• Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
• Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.

About SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property 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.

Prepared to Handle Your Water Damage

1/22/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties is prepared to handle all of you water damage needs. Did your dishwasher malfunction? Did your washer overflow? Frozen/Ruptured pipes? We have the knowledge and experience to service all your needs. 

SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage. If your water damage is not addressed, it can lead to bigger issues, including mold!

We are Water Mitigation Specialists:

• We are Available 24 hours/7 days per week
• We’re a Preferred Vendor to many National Insurance Companies
• We Bill The Insurance Directly – One Less Thing For You To Worry About
• Our Technicians are Highly-Trained  in Water Restoration Techniques
• We use s500 IICRC Restoration Standards
• Advanced Inspection and Extraction Equipment

Flooded Home? Call Us Today – We’re Ready To Help (570)759-0966

Helpful Hints for Freezing Temperatures

1/11/2019 (Permalink)

Helpful Hints for Freezing Temperature:

• Keep your home heated to a minimum of 65 degrees to keep the inside walls from freezing.

• Know where your main water shutoff is located within your home in case a pipe would burst due to freezing.

• Turn on Hot AND Cold faucets to a "slow drip" AND open cabinet doors below sink if there are any ... this will help to prevent freezing pipes.

• Make sure all hoses are disconnected from outside spigots.

• If you should happen to discover that pipes ARE frozen ... don't wait for them to burst. Take measures to safely thaw them immediately, or call a plumber for assistance.

• After all precautions ... if your pipes should still burst from freezing, first thing to do is turn off the main water line. Then mop up water as quickly as possible to prevent any further damage.

For all your water damage needs, call SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties at (570)759-0966

Why Use SERVPRO for your Mitigation Needs

11/14/2018 (Permalink)

Flooded Kitchen in Columbia County, PA

When you have flooding from a broken pipe, pipe burst cleanup is the first thought that pops into your head. You are a smart person, a homeowner and a handy one at that! So you can easily fix a pipe and clean some water, right? Unfortunately, you may be wrong. Water damage causes serious issues that may not be visible to the untrained eye. Restoration specialists have the skills necessary for any type of water damage, whether you require a clean water removal or sewer cleanup company. Remember the three Ts when considering if a restoration company is right for you:

1. Training

Our water restoration specialists are trained in the specific needs of both residential and commercial properties. Certification by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) ensures that the technicians of SERVPRO are knowledgeable and current in their field of expertise. This includes health and safety concerns, drying methods, pipe burst cleanup procedures and restoration of both structural elements and contents.

2. Tools

Restoration specialists have tools that you do not have at your disposal. Professional grade pumps and vacuums are used to remove excess water. Moisture levels are monitored with hygrometers and other specialized detectors. Industrial strength dryers and dehumidifiers remove any remaining moisture to prevent secondary problems such as mold. Hidden moisture is detected using infrared cameras.

3. Techniques

Restoration companies employ specialists in many areas, including water damage, storm damage and mold remediation. Different techniques are employed depending on your specific situation. For water restoration, a variety of cleaning methods are used including immersion, foam, wet, dry and others specific to the needs of the material. Restoration processes are tailored as well.

Pipe burst cleanup is not the same as wiping up a glass of spilled water. When you have significant water damage in your home, SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties has the training, tools and techniques to restore your residence to preloss condition.

Why SERVPRO when it comes to storm damage!

11/14/2018 (Permalink)

Although no one can stop the rains, there are ways to limit flooding in your home. Overland flooding or backups due to overwhelmed storm sewage systems are but two of the sources of floodwaters in the lower levels of your home. Regardless of the source of the water, we have the technicians and the equipment to help you recover.
 
Even though the water causing flood damage to your home may be drawing your eyes down as it seeps into the foundation or lower levels, the problem often is at the roofline. Clogged gutters and damaged downspouts cause water to pound down near the perimeter of your home, saturating the soil and ultimately invading through the slab, poured, or cinder block foundation. We can respond to and restore the damage but expect suggestions from our managers or production crew to minimize or even eliminate future flooding.
 
The grading and landscaping around your home can also contribute to the seepage of floodwaters into the foundation. Over time even correctly graded ground can erode and shift, encouraging rainwater to drain into your home rather than away from it. SERVPRO crews also see scenarios where plantings surrounding your home contribute to excess water moving into the porous materials making up the base and protecting the lower levels of your house. Irrigation systems or merely an overdone watering of foundation gardens have the unhappy result of a wet home.
 
SERVPRO evaluates the characteristics of the water flooding into your home to determine whether it needs to be contained and disposed of according to local regulations. The sooner you get our team to your home the more likely that the water checks out as Category 1. If the soil around your home is loose, dirt particles can flow in with the water. Lawn chemicals, fertilizers, and even pet wastes can taint the water, requiring careful handling. Gutter overflow can also contain bird and animal waste and mold, threatening the flooded area with microbial growth if not disinfected and dried out after the flood water evacuates.
 
Submersible pumps and water extractors pull most of the flood water out of your home. If Category 1 we can drain it outside, but take care to deposit far from the house to prevent it from flooding again. We use moisture meters and infrared scanners to locate hidden pockets of moisture and to set a baseline for drying goals. SERVPRO crews position air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers to dry out the affected space. The moisture numbers are monitored to ensure we achieve standard levels.
 
The team at SERVPRO of Columbia, Montour & Sullivan Counties has the necessary training and experience to remediate seepage-based flooding. Do not hesitate to call us if we can help!