Infrastructure

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

The infrastructure and plumbing is not entirely ready for large scale storm flooding In places like California where storms don't occur often. There have been scenarios such ass the example that is about to be written, where the infrastructure failed and cased massive damage. This example is a case when there was a storm in Southern California and the flood waters that came from the storm filled he storm drains to a point where they went beyond capacity and cracked, this caused the flood water to flood into an apartment building nearby the affected area. This type of damage is sometimes a freak accident such as this is unavoidable, but the best thing to do is  always keep in mind that such scenarios can occur, so when disaster strikes you can act quickly. SERVPRO is always ready to help!

Fire Spreads Quick

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

Fire is one of the most dangerous type of disasters for many reasons but mainly how fires start and spread. The reasons fire starts is not always human error but more often than not is the case with a reported majority of fires being caused by human error and negligence outside of arson. The essential ingredients of a house fire is an ignition source and flammable/combustible material. The ignition source in a fire is usually something like a spark or lit cigarette which must be hot enough to ignite a material. Other than that the materials that are ignited have different ignition temperatures such as paper which has an ignition temp of paper is very low at about 140 degrees F. Depending on what materials are near an ignition source fires can start more easily but once a fire is started, most materials will burn so always be cautious with potentially flammable things.

SERVPRO is #1

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is the #1 largest restoration company in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. SERVPRO has managed to grow this big due to our impeccable reliability. The people you deal with at SERVPRO aren’t just trained employees, we’re experts due to the countless hours spent training and working on the job. Regardless of the time of day we answer the call and get you to the project manger that can deal with all your needs. Our quality of service shows just how much we care for our clients. Our goal here at SERVPRO is too ensure your home or businesses safety by providing the absolute best service possible. Don’t risk added damage due to careless, money hungry restoration services. Call SERVPRO.

Storm Aftermath

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

There's no telling what kind of property damage a storm can bring. Even if it appears your property survived the wicked winds, taking a walk around your home could reveal a hidden problem you might not have seen otherwise.

Here's a quick checklist of what you should look for, courtesy of the National Storm Damage Center:

1) Window Damage
Get up close and personal with your windows, checking for shattered glass, broken panes, or damaged frames. Look carefully for small holes or cracks in unsuspecting areas.

2) Roof Damage
Check for loose or cracked shingles. If you have an asphalt roof, unidentified dark spots could be storm damage. Determine if any debris is lodged under shingles, too.

3) Clogged Gutters
Heavy rains can down limbs, bringing with it leaves and small branches that can clutter your gutter. Check for fragments jammed along the gutter and in the downspout.

4) Exterior Damage
Siding can tear loose, paint can peel, and stucco can break free. Even brick can suffer the wrath of a bad storm. Take a walk around your home and check for any potential damage. Holes, breaks, and splitting are common side effects of a storm. Discoloration of siding or brick is another symptom.

Identifying any immediate damage can save you time and money, especially if the damage is excessive and requires a call to your insurance company. 

Avoiding Data Loss

3/8/2022 (Permalink)

If a business you’re responsible for relies on backing up large amounts of electronic information, you’ll probably want to make sure there’s a way to preserve it in the case of an accident. To be more specific, you’ll want to have a contingency plan set up to deal with the possibility of fire damage. A fire in the server room can do more than simply damage infrastructure. It can also set a business back months while you replace ruined equipment, and—perhaps worst of all—it can obliterate large quantities of data that the company needs on a daily basis. Data could include everything from financial records to client databases, so you should only ignore the risk of fir eat the peril of losing some very important assets. If you’re a contractor working on behalf of one of these businesses, it also represents a significant challenge.

That said, there are a few things you can do to help avoid irreparable data loss in the event of a fire. From preventative measures to restorative treatments, here are a few ideas to help you soldier on when the sparks literally start flying:

Protect your data using cloud based backups

If you’re worried about losing data when physical servers and computers are threatened, there’s one simple solution: house it somewhere else (or at least house a copy there). Using a cloud based backup lets you store an extra version of your most important information using servers that you won’t be responsible for. Since many of the largest cloud based backup solutions (like Backblaze and Crashplan) take special care to preserve their users’ info, it’s a pretty safe bet that nothing will happen to your stash once you entrust it to them for safekeeping. Of course, this won’t save your equipment or facilities themselves, but it’s better than nothing.

Electronic restoration

In the unfortunate event that damage occurs to your servers and you haven’t stored backups of your information elsewhere, electronic restoration might be the only effective route to take. Many highly sensitive technologies can be restored—at least to some extent—including computers, telecommunications technology, manufacturing machinery and medical instruments. By removing corrosion and deposits, it’s often very possible to get these units working like new again for as little as 10-30% of the cost of replacing them entirely. Once a skilled technician removes contaminants such as soot, dust, and deposits from chemical vapors, he should be able to take the equipment apart, clean the individual pieces, reassemble them, adjust the machinery and return it to service.

Proactive planning for fire (and water) disasters

Of course, one of the best ways to deal with damage is to avoid it completely. You can save yourself from the inconvenience of having to restore your equipment by making sure it’s not an easy place for a fire to start or a flood to break out. Avoid storing flammable materials near sensitive equipment, and make sure electronics aren’t stored under your sprinkler system or near water pipes. It’s also a good idea to have maintenance briefed on the nature of the technology in the area so that they use safe and appropriate methods when cleaning or tidying up around it.

Have insurance

Finally, you want to make you have cover if a disaster does happen to strike. Restoring your electronics can save them, but it can also be time-consuming—and you want to make sure you can afford the downtime. That’s why having comprehensive fire and accident insurance is key to keeping you in business when the unexpected occurs. Make sure you understand your policy and keep an up to date copy with you always, just in case.

Water Damages From Storms

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

Businesses can suffer much less damage from a severe storm than a residence and still have to close their doors permanently. Each hour and day of clean-up are more important to saving not just a building, but an income and a contributor to the community as well.

A  building can lose its functionality and close its doors permanently after a few days of water damage has ruined equipment beyond repair. SERVPRO has the training not just to respond quickly, but to properly clean and restore a facility to bring it back in line with city health codes, if at all possible. Storm-induced flooding does not have to have a lasting effect on your business.

The first step is getting rid of the water. For standing water, even in a large kitchen and customer service area, our technicians use commercial grade pumps to remove inches and even a foot of water in a matter of hours. With the visible water gone, our response team can tackle the next two items: drying out property and hidden water extraction.

Expensive industrial items such as commercial ovens are usually above most high water points but can suffer damage in a massive plumbing failure. Technicians must completely dry the electronics and heating elements before allowing the owner to use them again. Since it is not possible to disassemble these industrial appliances without violating warranties or possibly damaging them further, our technicians use commercial space heaters and dehumidifiers. 

Both equipment items draw out moisture from the surrounding air and off of nearby surfaces. These techniques leave a dry surface without the chance of threads from towels or pieces of sponge accidentally being left behind to contaminate the next batch of cupcakes. 

As this happens, other technicians dry out the building itself. Water extraction tools draw out moisture from floors, walls, and property items such as display cases. We accomplish this using commercial grade extraction wands that combine heat and vacuum to pull water droplets from between and underneath floor tiles and sections of concrete. Response team members also use the same heaters and dehumidifiers in corners to speed up drying walls, cabinets, and underneath counters. 
SERVPRO understands that every hour your business is closed means income lost and customers go un-served. Count on a strong effort from a component of the SERVPRO large-loss storm team. Despite an improving economy, small business owners are still operating on narrow margins and even a weekend lost can mean not making payroll or loan payments. To prevent this from happening, call us at (213) 263-2292 to restore your business and your livelihood.

Water Catagory

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

There are 3 different types of water damage designated by the IICRC (the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). There’s clean water damage, grey water damage, and black water damage. 

• Category 1: The least severe of the three which includes water damage from broken pipes, water supply lines, sinks, bathtubs and other appliance related issues. This is less severe because the water is clean and doesn’t have sewage. Most Category 1 incidents can be dried very easily.
• Category 2: This water damage includes grey water. This can come from toilets, washing machines, and sump pump backups. This grey water may or may not be harmful to humans so it is very important to clean and disinfect the area.
• Category 3: This is the worst type of water damage and is also called black water. Black water includes sewage and sea water and requires swift action.

You need the best results

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

We know that your main concern is getting your business operations back to normal as soon as possible after any catastrophe, but commercial water damage is much more complex than most problems experienced by businesses today. Categories of water can quickly change from non-hazardous to very dangerous quickly. Water can spread in almost any direction, including up if conditions are right, and remaining flood waters can instantaneously ruin some certain products with even minute amounts.

Commercial water damage presents unique challenges because of the environment involved. From warehouses storing agricultural products to leather processing plants, inventory protection, and worker safety is both important to any business. Different types of water can cause damage, and even the cleanest water, category 1, can turn into the worst, category 3 when contaminants are present. These can happen when clean water is mixed or combined with another source of category 3 water, even if it is not causing any damage by itself (such as sewer water) or when bags of previously dry substances such as fertilizers or pesticides become saturated, and their contents leach into the water.

The damage to your inventory can also rapidly multiply. When products at the bottom of a stack can be a conduit for water by wicking it upwards toward other product that has not been damaged, it’s common sense to get those products on top removed to a safer location. We have team members who can provide this service while our technicians work in other areas, protecting your business from increased inventory loss.

Stacked bags of concrete and other dry products that are designed to be mixed with water, oil, or other liquid just prior to use may seem to be in saleable condition until they are examined on their undersides where water has accumulated. These ruined items need to be removed and accounted for on inventory loss sheets. For insurance purposes, all products need to be re-inventoried and noted as to their condition before the conclusion of our restoration work.

After you've made the initial call to us, we can begin the restoration process. Returning your business to normal operations is important, and we understand the complexities involved in keeping your employees safe while protecting your business's bottom line.

Content Packout

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

If your business suffers water, fire, smoke or mold damage, the cleanup and restoration experts at SERVPRO are the premier choice for content restoration and pack-out.

Content Pack-Out

There are scenarios that require business content removal and relocation for prompt and thorough cleaning and restoration. If a business suffers fire and smoke damage, for example, it is often easier, more secure and cost-efficient to take certain contents to another location for restoration work.

SERVPRO of Hollywood Hills/Los Feliz provides complete pack-out services. We will carefully and respectfully take the contents of your home or business to be restored, packed, and delivered to an off-site facility. The pack-out process involves meticulous documentation to ensure your items receive the best possible care, including photo documentation, identification numbers and detailed lists.

• Artwork
• Documents
• Books
• Photographs
• VHS and DVD media
• Clothing
• Electronics (televisions, computers, stereos, etc.)
• Furniture
• Rugs
• Retail Inventory

Storage

Meanwhile at a SERVPRO restoration location, your items are stored in a secure, climate-controlled environment. They remain there until the cleaning and restoration process is complete.

Content Pack Back

After content cleaning and restoration, items are returned to your business using the same inventory procedures and documentation employed in the pack-out process. Your items are loaded, transported and delivered with great care and then reconciled with original pack-out inventories.

Content cleaning and restoration is offered at SERVPRO locations and on select jobs and services performed. The availability and scope of content cleaning and restoration varies by location, job, insurance provider (if applicable) and other factors.

Fireplace Safety Tips

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know that the leading cause of accidental fires in American homes comes from fuel burning appliances? According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, solid fuel burning appliances account for 5 to 10 percent of all household fires, and cause major damage for homeowners. The main causes of fire include: inadequate clearance between the wood burner and walls, floors and furniture; creosote buildup in the chimney; poorly or improperly installed chimneys and improper installation of the wood burner itself. These wood burning and fireplace safety tips can help keep you and your family safe this winter.

Fireplace Safety Tips

• Read the instructions for your wood burning stove and follow them carefully
• Do not use flammable or combustible liquid (gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, etc.) to start a fire
• Do not burn plastics, wood or garbage that has been painted or treated with chemicals. These materials can create toxic gases and can cause corrosion in the vent, chimney and heater
• Burn wood recommended by the manufacturer only
• Put ashes in a metal container with a metal lid. Then place this container onto a concrete surface away from combustible materials outside. These embers may still be hot for several days, so always dispose of them with caution
• Place both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home, and test these units regularly.
• Place a multi-purpose fire extinguisher near your wood burner. The extinguisher should be UL listed or Factory Manual (FM) approved and have a rating of 2A-10B: C at minimum
• Inspect the firebrick liner in your stove, if you have one. Should the liner show signs of wear, replace it immediately and do not use the unit until the liner is replaced
• Never close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will allow the fire to heat up which will, in turn, force toxic carbon monoxide into your house.
• Solid fuel units tend to require a lot more maintenance than other heating systems. Therefore, regular inspections and care are needed to protect your home and family against fire and carbon monoxide poisoning