Tips on contaminated water, vandalism, & harmful waste

2/15/2019 (Permalink)

Emergency tips

Water Damage From Contaminated Water:

DO:

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

DON’T:

• Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.
• Turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility spreading contaminated air.
• Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants.
• Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

Vandalism Damage:

DO:

• Hose or wash egg damage from building exterior as soon as possible.
• Vacuum glass particles from carpets and upholstery.
• Save containers which reveal the ingredients of spilled inks, cosmetics and paints.

DON’T:

• Attempt to remove ink, paint or cosmetic stains
• Operate damaged lamps or appliances.
• Discard furniture wood chips, broken pieces from porcelain, furniture or art objects.

Harmful Waste (Sewage, Bloodborne Pathogens, etc.)

DO:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Call emergency service personnel if the situation is life-threatening.
• Treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated.

DON’T:

• Attempt cleanup of any kind
• Touch or handle items that might be contaminated with bodily fluids.

Tips For Traveling

3/2/2018 (Permalink)

Whether you are traveling alone or with your friends or family, it is always good to ensure that you are taking full caution before leaving for a safe trip. SERVPRO of South Kenosha County is here to give you a few tips before you travel on your next trip.

TIPS:

• Leave an itinerary and emergency contact
• Scan a copy of your passport
• Don’t flash cash or valuables
• Save emergency numbers
• Stay connected with someone back home
• Stash money, credit cards and passports in separate places
  • Good to keep some money on you and your carry on in case your baggage gets lost
• Study up on your destination
• Ensure the lodging is safe
• Stay healthy, don’t drink the water if not safe.
• Bring a hat
• Bring reusable water bottle
• Tip your housekeeping staff!
• Never carry your wallet in your back pocket
• TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS
• Bring snacks
• Call your credit card company so it doesn’t get declined
• If you can’t afford to lose it… don’t pack it
• Never check these items: tooth brush, prescription medications, & deodorant
  • In case your bag gets lost or stolen, it’s good to keep these close by

Tips for New Homeowners

1/15/2018 (Permalink)

Looking at buying a new home? If you’re a new homeowner, SERVPRO of South Kenosha County has some tips for you:

Scout the neighborhood:

• Check out the neighborhood on different days of the week and even at different times of the day.
• Consider schools and other nearby places you can indulge in
• Check the crime status
• See if there is a neighborhood watch program
• Ask neighbors about the Pro’s they can trust

Negotiate buyer’s terms:

• Don’t always take what the give you the first time around. Work in the little things.
• Insist on a full written disclosure from the seller documenting everything about remodeling, old damage, repairs, leaks, mold, etc.
• If the previous owners are downsizing, ask to buy tools off them

Packing:

• Make it easy for yourself when you are trying to unpack. Color coordinate by room to make unpacking a breeze.
• Pack backwards- Leave the important things until the end so when you unpack they are the first things you take out.

Start small and finish projects:

• Don’t take on too many projects at on time. Before you know it, your whole house will be torn up with additional stress put on you. Plan these things out and remember to double check your budget.
• Don’t learn to live with unfinished projects

Budget:

• Things happen unexpectedly all the time and there is nothing you can do, but fix it. Make sure you are saving a little extra something in case this were to happen to you. Especially if you are living in an older home and the appliances haven’t been updated in a while.

General:

• Clean everything
• Change the locks
• Check fire alarms and take other safety measures

Holiday Lights Safety Tips

12/18/2017 (Permalink)

There is something about Christmas lights at night that can light up your day. SERVPRO® of South Kenosha County wants to make sure you’re worry free when using indoor/outdoor Christmas lights this year. Here are a few tips to follow:

• Read manual of your products to ensure you’re using them correctly
• Examine Light Strings
  • Double check to make sure there are no burnt out lights or frayed electrical cords
• Replace burnt out bulbs
• Make sure outdoor lights and extension cords are weather-resistant and made for outdoor use
• Elevate plugs and connectors so snow, water, or debris does not get into the connectors.
• Keep ladders and decorations away from power lines
• Don’t hang with nails or staples
  • Don’t want to cut through the wiring in the cords, instead try safety clips
• Keep lights up for a limited time.
  • Preferable 90 days
• Lights should be approved by Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
  • Double check that the approval is shown on the tag of the lights
• Use a timer system when you’re going to be away from your home.

To ensure a safer Christmas, double check that you’re being safe in all areas this season. Your friends at SERVPRO® of South Kenosha County is here to help inform everyone.

If you see signs of trouble, give us a call – (262) 332 7044.

Our Highly Trained Restoration Specialists can restore your South Kenosha Home

12/4/2017 (Permalink)

We are an IICRC Certified Firm

SERVPRO of South Kenosha County is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.
• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.
• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.
• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of South Kenosha County

SERVPRO of South Kenosha County 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 and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: 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.

Frozen Pipes?

12/20/2016 (Permalink)

It’s that time of year again and we want YOU to be ready this time around.

Reasoning for pipes bursting or leaking is related to the pipes location and how they are insulated. Water pipes burst because the water inside them expands as it gets close to freezing, and this causes an increase in pressure inside the pipe. When the pressure gets too high for the metal or plastic pipe to contain, it ruptures. Leaving you with an unpleasant mess to handle.

The three most common ways for pipes to freeze are quick drop in temperature, poor insulation, and or thermostats set too low. When the temperatures drop low, here is what to do for your home:

• Make sure all outside house faucets are shut off.
• Make sure you are keeping your home at a temperature no lower than 55° F
• Make sure that all attic and crawl spaces are well insulated
• Make sure you plumbing is insulated properly.

If you have a pipe that burst this winter season, SERVPRO of South Kenosha is available to help assist you at any time, 24/7. Please call us at (262) 332-7044.