Recent General Posts
Things to look for when buying a house.
8/7/2018 (Permalink)
Mold on Beam
If you would like to sort of a “pre-inspection” before calling in the professionals, here’s a list of things to look at to know if you’re possibly buying a house with mold:
- Does the house have wet carpet or water stains.
Carpeting and carpet padding are great mold foods and mold growth can easily hide inside carpeting and padding. - Does the home have indoor bodies of water?
An indoor pool, jacuzzi spa or large fish aquarium continuously generates high indoor humidity to drive mold growth. - Is there a built in humidifier?
As humidifier pushes moisture and humidity throughout the house, this increases the chances of indoor mold growth. This is true for humidifiers that are built into the home’s heating/cooling equipment and free-standing, portable units. - Does the refrigerator have an automatic ice maker?
Water supply line that brings water to an automatic ice maker often goes bad. A bad water supply line causes leaking water and could promote mold growth into kitchen floors, walls, and cabinets. - Does bathroom and laundry vents lead outdoors?
Such vents often exhaust high humidity air into attics, crawl spaces, walls, ceilings, or floors, rather than directly outdoors. Be sure that these vents are leading outdoors to prevent moisture build-up. - Does the air conditioning condensation pan have a leak?
Air conditioning systems include a drip pan to catch water than condenses and drips from the air conditioning coils. Such drip pans are sometimes poorly installed or the pan drain pipe becomes blocked, thus allowing water flooding and mold growth into adjacent walls and ceilings. - Does the building lot slope towards the house?
If the house building lot slopes downward toward the house, rather than away from the house, there is going to be significant water intrusion into the basement, crawl space, concrete slab, and/or building foundation, and thus enabling the growth of mold resulting from such water intrusion. - Does the house on the side or bottom of a hill?
A residence that is located on the side of a hill or at the bottom of a hill will be a moldy house because rain fall will cause significant ground water intrusion into the same areas mentioned above. - Is the roof overhang too short?
If the roof overhang extends less than two feet beyond the walls beneath the overhang, rainfall will fall upon and run down the exterior walls to soak into the wood and masonry surfaces of such walls. - Has the house ever had a leaky roof?
If the roof surface or flashings around a chimney or furnace and plumbing vent pipes are degraded or poorly-maintained, water will enter into the home’s attic and run downward into the insides of the ceilings, floors, and walls beneath the attic to cause huge, hidden toxic mold growth therein. - Has the house ever had a crawl space water intrusion?
Most crawl space dirt floors suffer from water wicking upward from the ground water in the soil. In addition, rainfall frequently runs into crawl spaces. Crawl space water intrusion results in big toxic mold growth that can grow upward into the insides of the floors and walls above. - Does the house have leaking water supply or sewage drain pipes?
Plumbing line leaks can cause massive toxic mold growth inside and on walls, ceilings, and floors.
Tips for the home after a fire.
8/7/2018 (Permalink)
burnt bedroom
A fire in your home is a devastating experience, both for your family and all your personal belongings. You may be wondering what you can do to further protect your home, or if you should only let a professional take care of the area. Smoke and fire damage is a tricky thing to deal with, so it is very important to have a professional restoration company handle that aspect of fire damage restoration.
Before the professionals at SERVPRO of Bowling Green and West Lucas County start your fire damage restoration project, here are some things to do after a fire:
- Limit activity and foot traffic in your home. Staying off of carpet, furniture, and upholstery is key to preventing soot, dirt, and other particles from getting trapped all around your home.
- If you do need to get around your home quite a bit, put down clean towels or sheets on the floor and furniture.
- If possible, change filters in your home to keep dirt and soot from circulating.
- Don’t try to wash the walls or carpet — leave that for the professionals to avoid permanent damage. Try not to touch the walls without gloves.
- Don’t try to clean kitchen appliances yourself. After a fire, electrical connections and wiring may be damaged and could cause further problems if not cleaned carefully and correctly.
- Don’t eat any food that may have been exposed to the fire and smoke. It is better to throw all contaminated food away.
With these tips and with a professional fire damage restoration services, you can minimize fire damage to your home and make the restoration process easier. At SERVPRO of Bowling Green and West Lucas County, we are the ones you can trust to take care of your home after any disaster. Contact us today, we are here to help!
Electrical Safety Tips
8/7/2018 (Permalink)
A recent report from the U.S. Fire Administration shows home electrical fires claim the lives of 280 Americans each year and injure over 1,000 more. Overloaded circuits and extension cords cause many electrical fires in the home or workplace.
Electrical fires occur most during the winter months due to the increased time spent indoors, which also increases the use of lighting, heating and appliances.
Many electrical fires can be avoided if basic safety precautions are taken. Review the following safety tips to reduce your risk of an electrical fire:
- Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
- Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
- Replace any electrical tool or appliance if it overheats, shorts out, causes even small electric shocks, or gives off smoke or sparks.
- If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
- Use electrical extension cords wisely; never overload extension cords or wall sockets.
Remember if you ever have any questions SERVPRO of Bowling Green and West Lucas County is here to help.
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
Avoid Secondary Damage
8/3/2018 (Permalink)
The threat of floods leaves many homeowners with the fear of property destruction and water damage to personal belongings. But after the water recedes, can risk remain? Unfortunately, if the home is not thoroughly treated soon after the initial flooding, high humidity may leave breeding grounds for toxic black mold.
Understanding Secondary Damage
Anything damaged by initial contact with the floodwater is considered primary damage, including wet carpet and drywall. If this is not dried thoroughly and surrounding areas dehumidified properly, the primary damage can be a platform for secondary damage to move in. Defined as the effects from remaining dampness, this can lead to multiple issues:
• Warped flooring or staircases
• Cracked plaster
• Black mold
The structural damage could lead to safety hazards within the home, and the growth of toxic mold is a serious risk that should be immediately confronted by trained professionals. Typically the best way to avert this threatening second round of damage is to prevent it with initial cleanup.
Utilizing Preventative Measures
Thriving in dark places with high humidity, floods are a great way for mold to make a place for itself in your home. Once the waters have receded, wood flooring, carpet and drywall absorb the remaining moisture, allowing the toxic spores to thrive. Often the best defense against black mold is prevention. Know the number for a professional water damage repair and restoration company in Bowling Green & West Lucas County. With the appropriate training and supplies, a professional crew may ensure your home is dry and free of threatening fungus:
• Quick service minimizes the opportunity for mold to grow.
• Powerful machinery allows for complete water extraction and removal.
• Industrial strength dehumidifiers and fans ensure moisture is removed from the air.
• Cleaning and sanitizing services allow restoration to begin quickly.
Water damage is a hassle with immediate effects that can turn long-term if left untreated. When water infiltrates your home, call SERVPRO of Bowling Green and West Lucas County's cleanup team to ensure no damage is left to grow.
Does your family know what to do? 30/30 rule
6/27/2018 (Permalink)
30/30 RULE
Does your family know what to do before, during, and after a lightning storm? Learn the facts and practice your plan. It is good to practice what a safe location would be with younger children in case an adult is not around. Teaching them to not be around anything metal is also a good plan. The 30/30 rule is if there is less than 30 seconds between a flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, seek shelter. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before leaving shelter. We here at SERVPRO of Bowling Green/West Lucas County would like to wish you and your family a fun and safe summer!
Range of Services
8/31/2017 (Permalink)
Instead of bringing on several companies to remediate one job, trust the full-service damage restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Bowling Green and W. Lucas County. Our complete menu of damage, disaster, and restoration services will completely resurrect your home or office. The best part is SERVPRO of Bowling Green and W. Lucas County will do it all for a fraction of what it would cost to hire several companies for a single job.
In Addition to Water Damage Restoration, What Type of Services Can I Expect?
When it comes to damage restoration we move beyond water damage repair and apply cleaning and re-building methods to your job:
- Full-line of construction and restoration services including cleaning, demolition, removal, drywall, and more.
- Mold remediation and control.
- 24 hour emergency restoration on call service.
- Pack out and storage services
Fire Safety Tips
8/31/2017 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Bowling Green and W. Lucas County is here for you no matter what time of day. This includes guiding you in prevention tips to help keep you from an avoidable disaster.
The best way to avoid a disaster is knowing what practices to engage in order to best prepare yourself as a homeowner.
The first thing we recommend is installing and maintaining smoke detectors. We recommend they go into every room and hallway. Check them monthly to insure that they are working properly.
A small fire will always start off as smoke, so this will help you evacuate the home if you have to, or put the fire out yourself.
The next thing to go through is reaction. This is a two-part plan. The first thing is evacuation. Practice an escape route with your family on a quarterly basis. The more you practice the better you can execute it. Always have a place set as your meeting spot once out of the house. This way young children know where to wait if they get separated from their family.
The second thing is a fire extinguisher. Any fire bigger than yourself, mandates an evacuation. Smaller ones can be put out by a homeowner. Knowing the difference will help keep you and your family safe.
The smallest fires can cause a lot of smoke, so if you need us just pick up the phone. SERVPRO of Bowling Green and W. Lucas County is here for you in any matters involving home restoration If you need fire damage remediation, we are here for you day or night. Call, today.
IICRC Certified Firm
8/31/2017 (Permalink)
We are an IICRC Certified Firm
SERVPRO of Bowling Green and W. Lucas 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 Bowling Green and W. Lucas County
SERVPRO of Bowling Green and W. Lucas 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.
IICRC Certified Firm here for Whitehouse
8/11/2017 (Permalink)
IICRC Certified Firm
Our Highly Trained Restoration Specialists can restore your WhitehouseHome
SERVPRO of Bowling Greenis 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
TheIICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. TheseIICRC 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 Bowling Green
SERVPRO of Bowling Green 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.
IICRC Certified Firm
8/19/2016 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Bowling Green/West Lucas 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 Bowling Green/West Lucas County
SERVPRO of Bowling Green/West Lucas 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
For Immediate Service in Northwood, Call SERVPRO of Bowling Green/West Lucas County
8/12/2016 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Bowling Green/West Lucas County provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster in Northwood. 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 – 419.867.8678
Residential Services
Whether your Northwood 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
Commercial Services
There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to strike your Northwood commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business.
- Commercial Water Damage Restoration
- Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
24/7 Emergency Service
