Dealing With Smoke Damage in Commercial Buildings in Delaware and Union Counties

12/22/2022 (Permalink)

When a fire occurs, SERVPRO of Delaware, OH works to assist business owners and proprietors to move forward and put their lives and businesses back together. It can be overwhelming. The restoration process after a commercial fire is laborious if not time-consuming. It includes:

• damage assessment
• debris removal
• odor, soot, and residual water mitigation

Fire and smoke damage restoration professionals are there to advise and direct business owners to sift through the damage and greatly aid in rebuilding their businesses and commercial properties.

Once undertaken, the goal of commercial fire damage restoration is to thoroughly clean every nook and cranny of a business or commercial property after a fire. In a fire’s aftermath, much of the damage restoration focuses on eliminating the persistent smoke odors and the accompanying soot and residual water. Every trace of the contaminants responsible for odors must be scrubbed clean and deodorized. High-powered equipment such as air scrubbers can help clear the air of particulates and odors. Industrial air movers and dehumidifiers mitigate residual water and moisture from putting out the fire.

It all hinges on taking action quickly. In doing so it’s possible for smoke and fire restoration professionals to minimize damage and loss. Here are several steps to anticipate how your restoration professional deals with smoke damage after a fire occurs on your commercial property.

Smoke Odors

As with most fires, commercial fires leave a pungent odor that permeates the building, furnishings, fixtures, and air throughout the property. Those odors are in large part a result of the fire source itself—the debris from the fire, the soot and residual water and chemicals that were used to extinguish the fire. The debris must be dealt with first.

Once the fire and insurance company have determined an origin and cause of the fire, restoration crews move to quickly remove the debris and soot from the premises. Materials such as charred furnishings, rugs, and ceiling tiles are carried out until the property is emptied of any burned remnants of the fire. Debris removal also mitigates odors by removing microscopic dust particles, airborne and settled, that derives from soot deposits and burned debris. Debris removal reduces the intensity of odors, but will not completely eliminate them. Soot and residual water also combine to contribute to smoke odors, and they must be dealt with.

Soot Removal

Thick layers of soot mixed with moisture cover a good portion of commercial fire sites. Soot is the black, powdered carbon and chemical byproduct of the burned material after a fire. Depending on the material burned in commercial fires, the chemical or acidic composition of soot can cause further damage on its own to just about any surface it is in contact with. Soot can stain porous and textured surfaces, permanently discolor granite, plastics, grout and the un-burned fixtures made of wood or textiles.

Removal of soot can reduce the likelihood of permanent soot staining discoloration and may reduce the costs of replacement. As an important step in fire damage restoration, industrial vacuums are very helpful in removing the layers and bulk of powdery soot after fires.

Residual Water

Not only is mold a problem after flooding but after fires as well. Residual water from extinguishing the fire can lead to mold spreading throughout the property if it is not properly mitigated. The increased moisture in the air interacts with mold spores. In a confined space this allows mold to grow rapidly, covering and staining porous surfaces. The smoky odor after a fire rapidly combines with mold to further contaminate the air and interact with surfaces. The longer such odors interact with surfaces the more difficult it will be to completely eliminate the odor.

Commercial fire damage restoration entails industrial-grade air movers and dehumidifiers to remove water and moisture that can lead to airborne mold spores. All interior walls must be checked for water damage. All surfaces must be cleaned thoroughly and wiped down with anti-bacterial agents throughout the process.

If you have a commercial building with fire damage, give us a call to help get you back and running. Our number is 740-369-5020.

Be Prepared For Winter In Delaware and Union Counties!

12/6/2022 (Permalink)

Hi Friends, 

We received these great tips from the CDC on how to stay safe this winter and wanted to share them with you.

Prepare Your Home

Staying inside is no guarantee of safety. Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months.

• Winterize your home.
  • Install weather stripping, insulation, and storm windows.
  • Insulate water lines that run along exterior walls.
  • Clean out gutters and repair roof leaks.
• Check your heating systems.
  • Have your heating system serviced professionally to make sure that it is clean, working properly, and ventilated to the outside.
  • Inspect and clean fireplaces and chimneys.
  • Have a safe alternate heating source and alternate fuels available.
• If you do not have a working smoke detector, install one. Test batteries monthly and replace them twice a year.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning emergencies.
  • Install a CO detector to alert you of the presence of the deadly, odorless, colorless gas. Check or change the battery when you change your clocks in the fall and spring.
  • Learn the symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

Prepare Your Vehicle

Get your vehicle ready for cold weather use before winter arrives.

• Service the radiator and maintain antifreeze level.
• Check your tires’ tread or, if necessary, replace tires with all-weather or snow tires.
• Keep the gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
• Use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer.
• Prepare a winter emergency kit to keep in your car in case you become stranded. The kit should include:
  • Cell phone, portable charger, and extra batteries;
  • Items to stay warm, such as extra hats, coats, mittens, blankets, or sleeping bags;
  • Food and water;
  • Booster cables, flares, tire pump, and a bag of sand or cat litter (for traction);
  • Compass and maps;
  • Flashlight, battery-powered radio, and extra batteries;
  • First-aid kit; and
  • Plastic bags (for sanitation).

Take Precautions Outdoors

Outdoor activities can expose you to several safety hazards, but you can take these steps to prepare for them:

• Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: wear a tightly woven, preferably wind-resistant coat or jacket; inner layers of light, warm clothing; mittens; hats; scarves; and waterproof boots.
• Sprinkle cat litter or sand on icy patches.
• Learn safety precautions to follow when outdoors.
  • Work slowly when doing outside chores.
  • Take a buddy and an emergency kit when you are participating in outdoor recreation.
  • Carry a cell phone.

We hope these tips have helped you and we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! If you ever have any more questions or needs, please call us at 740-369-5020. 

We Are Available 24 hours, 7 Days a week for Commercial Services In Delaware and Union Counties

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Delaware, Ohio provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster in Delaware County. 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 – 740-369-5020

Residential Services

Whether your Delaware 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 Delaware 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. Learn more about our commercial services: http://www.SERVPROdelawareoh.com/commercial-restoration-cleaning

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

Keeping your business dry during the humid spring

5/5/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know that mold can be a problem in the winter too for both residential and commercial buildings? When you deprive mold of moisture, warmth, and food, you will stop it from growing, but you won’t kill the mold that is already there. The mold spores will stay dormant and start growing again if they get moisture, warmth, and food. Airborne spores that spawn mold may infiltrate the house at any time of year. What’s more, active mold growth can survive at temperatures far lower than typically maintained inside an occupied building during winter.

Freezing water expands causing cracks in your home in which water can get in between the walls of your home. This moisture can spur hidden mold growth that you might not notice until it is too late. There are ways to prevent mold from growing inside your homes and businesses during the winter.

Turning on the heat makes the air in your home very dry. Many people combat the dryness by using a humidifier. If you do use a humidifier make sure that your indoor humidity level is below 40 percent. If you use a humidifier, as many of us do in the winter, make sure it does not produce an excessive amount of humidity.

Remove possible sources of mold growth by regularly vacuuming and cleaning. Pay close attention to bathrooms and other areas of your home that are likely to generate a lot of moisture. 

Use area rugs or washable floor surfaces rather than wall-to-wall carpeting in areas or rooms that have a moisture issue. It’s not usually a great idea to have carpeting in your entryway. Snowy, wet boots can soak into carpeting creating a perfect breeding ground for mold.

Paper, books, and clothing are sources of food for mold; so don’t store them in humid parts of your home, such as your basement—especially close to the floor or walls.

Make sure your windows are properly sealed; moisture from the warm air condenses on cool glass, if there are cracks or spaces around your windows mold can form in those cracks.

Make sure that your gutters and downspouts are clean and that the area under your downspouts is graded so that water from the roof flows away from your foundation.

Consider getting a dehumidifier for your basement. If you have a crawl space under your house cover the soil in the crawl space with waterproof polyethylene plastic. 

If you think you may have a mold issue, give SERVPRO of Delaware, OH a call at 740-369-5020.

Our Best Commercial Reviews!

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

Our team over here at SERVPRO of Delaware, Ohio has been getting a lot of amazing reviews. We would love to share some of our reviews from actual customers.

“No matter what time of day, what day of the week, or what weather, SERVPRO of Delaware has been able to respond to emergencies in a timely manner. Thorough inquiry and conversation of the crisis at hand creates an efficiency that allows their technicians to quickly arrive on site with the appropriate equipment to handle the situation.  SERVPRO of Delaware’s mindfulness of cost containment is directly aligned with our goals of providing quality housing at reasonable rents. Technicians will communicate every opportunity possible to head off damage to the home as well as to make effective repairs to the home once the crisis has been contained and remedied. We are thankful for the professionalism and partnership we a lucky to have with SERVPRO of Delaware.” –Eric

“We have worked with Rich and his team a few times over the years. The first time we worked with SERVPRO we were building a house and had an issue with the lumber and potential mold on it. Rich came out promptly to inspect and put me in touch with an environmentalist to test the lumber for mold. While Rich could have had his team take care of it, he put us first and had a third party get involved so that the lumber company wouldn’t balk at the findings and eventual cleaning that needed done. I was so impressed by the fact that they looked out for us as a customer and the end goal of our safety in having a mold free home, rather than their bottom dollar. Once the testing was done and we knew what needed cleaned, we were given an estimate for the work and it was done equally as promptly and true to the estimate. His crew was professional and did a high quality job. Due to the character, integrity and professionalism that was displayed to us during this time and the help as we went back and forth with the lumber company, they made lifetime customers out of us. They have since done more work for water in the basement and things of that nature and each interaction has been just as great as the first! If you’re in need of a reputable company that will treat you right, these are your people!” –Heather

We love when our customers review us and we sincerely appreciate all the kind words. At SERVPRO of Delaware, Ohio we are here for our community 24/7 for any Fire, Water, Sewer, and Mold cleaning need for both Residential and Commercial properties.

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – 740-369-5020

Commercial Buildings: We are available to help 24/7!

12/21/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Delaware, Oh provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster in or near Delaware. 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 Technicians
• A Trusted Leader in the Remediation Industry
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment 

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – 740-369-5020

Residential Services

Whether your Delaware, Ohio 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 Delaware, Ohio 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. Learn more about our commercial services: http://www.SERVPROdelawareoh.com/commercial-restoration-cleaning

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

Restoring Your Delaware County Commercial Property After A Water Damage Event

5/17/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding and water damage events at Delaware, Ohio commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO of Delaware, Ohio

SERVPRO of Delaware, Ohio specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a 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.

Meet Our Crew: http://www.SERVPROdelawareoh.com/employee-photos

Certifications: http://www.SERVPROdelawareoh.com/company-profile

Shout out to some amazing businesses after completing ERP's

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

A special thanks to our friends at Orange Self Storage for allowing us to do an Emergency Readiness Plan for their location. Our ERP's are completely FREE and prepare any business for unexpected disasters.

If you are ever in need of a great storage facility, please contact them at (740) 200-4870. They take safety just as serious as us with having cameras, great lighting, and fencing. They even give a military discount!!

Thanks again to Orange Self Storage!

Another great ERP (Emergency Readiness Plan) in the books. Thank-you to Emergency Plumbing Service for allowing us to come into your business and help create a safety plan for disasters. As it states in their name, we are all ready for any emergency.

Emergency Plumbing Service is a family owned and operated company in Delaware, Ohio. They have been in business since 1977 and are available 24/7 to attend to all of your emergency plumbing issues. If you need any plumbing help, give them a call at (740) 548-5453.

IICRC Certified

6/2/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Delaware, Oh 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 Delaware, OH

SERVPRO of Delaware, Oh 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.

Meet Our Crew: http://www.SERVPROdelawareoh.com/employee-photos

Certifications: http://www.SERVPROdelawareoh.com/company-profile