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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Why SERVPRO Blog Posts

Steps to Take If a Pipe Bursts in Your Home | SERVPRO® of Anaheim Central/Garden Grove East

8/11/2021 (Permalink)

Photo is showing a plumbing pipe that is broken and water is gushing out of it Use these Helpful Tips to Protect your Home in the Event of a Pipe Burst.

Burst pipes follow no schedule, so they are something that can happen when you least expect it and take you by surprise. Not only can burst pipes cause quite a bit of damage, but because they are so unexpected, it can be difficult to know how to react when you do discover that a pipe has burst in your home.

Though we all hope that we will never be unlucky enough to experience this, many people are surprised by how common it actually is. About one in 50 households will have water damage issues in any given year, which is why it is important to have a plan in place in case it happens to you. In the event of water damage, taking action quickly is the best thing you can do.

Taking Action Quickly If a Pipe Bursts in Your Home

Shut off your water main. Depending on the pipe that bursts, there will often be water gushing from it continually as it drains, so knowing how to find and shut off your water main is important. Only shut off your water if it is safe to do so.

Shut off your electricity. If it is safe to get to your circuit breaker, shut off the electricity in the home. This will ensure that the water cannot interact with any outlets or electrical supplies and cause secondary issues in the home.

Contact your restoration company. Setting your restoration in motion quickly is one of the best things you can do for water damage, so it is wise to get in touch with your restoration company right away. We recommend always choosing a company that is available 247 so you never have to wait for a call back when you report your damages.

Take a record of the damages. Keeping track of what is damaged is not only helpful for you as you can determine what items were impacted, but it can also be helpful if you are able to file an insurance claim. Document the damage with photos, videos and lists so you can keep track of what the water impacted.

Contact your insurance company. Every insurance policy is different, so getting in touch with your provider is the best way to determine if you will be eligible to file a claim and have some of the damages covered.

Open windows and doors if possible. If it is safe to do so and the weather permits, opening windows and doors around the impacted area can increase airflow, thus speeding evaporation and decreasing overall drying time.

If you have water damage in your home due to a burst pipe or another cause, you can count on us for restoration assistance. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services.

The SERVPRO Difference | SERVPRO® of Anaheim Central/Garden Grove East

8/8/2021 (Permalink)

Photo is showing contents outside a home that are damaged or destroyed by water and/or fire. Learn the difference it makes to use SERVPRO to assist you with your Water Damage Cleanup Needs.

Home and business owners: We know it’s your responsibility to make sure things run smoothly, manage the limited resources you have control over and keep morale high!

When something out of the ordinary happens, like a natural disaster, all those day to day duties go out the door. Now the task at hand is to restore your home or business to its original state and get life back to normal.

Let us reduce your stress level! Because handling disasters is what we do for a living.

Let us partner with you when life throws you a curve.

Equipped and Ready

We are immediately ready to help as soon as our phone rings. We understand you don’t have time to wait when water is leaking or the smoke smell is still lingering from the recently doused fire.

When a crisis happens, we’re quicker to any size disaster!

Fast Should Be Our Middle Name

Every second counts in a disaster situation.

Each minute that goes by allows for mold growth, smoke smell to permeate the building or more water damage to occur. We understand an immediate response, is crucial and with a local office right here, you’ll receive the benefit of a local response with national resources at our disposal.

We’re Qualified to Handle Residential or Commercial Disasters

Disasters don’t care if you’re a business or a home owner—they strike indiscriminately. Homes and industry settings alike are victims of accidental or natural damage.

Your Home or Business Restored "Like it never even happened."

We take pride in restoring your belongings to their previous state. We’re the experts in the recovery and restoration industry.

Our customers rank us highly because of our steadfast commitment to getting every trace of damage removed and your property restored.

We Stay on the Leading Edge

We stay up-to-date on changing requirements in our industry. Think about the pandemic.

Two years ago, disease prevention was not on the radar for businesses to consider. Today, it is highly valued.. With that in the forefront, we provide sanitization and disinfection services that aren’t covered by your day to day janitorial staff.

If you’re looking to provide a safe working or shopping environment for your employees and customers, we can provide that ultra-clean space and inspire piece of mind.

Disasters happen quickly. Pipes are under pressure and can burst, fire destroys whatever is in its path, and weather-related disasters can cause all types of damage. When it does, your local SERVPRO is ready and waiting to attack the mess and get you back to your daily life.

Regardless of why you need cleanup or disaster recovery, SERVPRO has the tools, the technicians and the training to get your situation under control. When you’re ready to get help from the best, get in touch with SERVPRO of Anaheim Central/Garden Grove East.

Why We Focus on Restoring the Objects You Love | SERVPRO® of Anaheim Central/Garden Grove East

5/18/2021 (Permalink)

Photo is showing a red street sign that says Natural Disaster We will always try to restore your property and/or contents that you love before deeming them unsalvageable.

It can be extremely difficult to discover you have damage to your home after a storm, fire or water damage incident. Not only are your belongings important, but the emotional impact can be significant, as well.

The recovery process is often a long journey, and it is normal to feel as though it is difficult to get back on track.

Though the recovery process is always going to be a tough one, working with a restoration company that provides you with peace of mind can make all the difference in the process. We can handle every aspect of restoration, even handling insurance on your behalf—and when you choose us, you can be certain that we will do everything we can to salvage your items when possible.

Reasons Behind Our Commitment to Salvaging Your Belongings

We can help you save money on your insurance. Through your homeowners insurance, you can often file a claim for damage from water, fires or storms that impact your home. While this can help offset the restoration cost, claims from these types of incidents are typically expensive, which will then be reflected in your premiums. By restoring your objects, we can lower the cost you have to claim and save you money in the long run.

We can protect your sentimental items. Not everything in your home can simply be repurchased in a store, and some objects could never be replaced. That is why we make sure to keep the technology we use completely up to date, so we always have the latest in restoration capabilities. Because of our equipment, we have restored heirlooms, family photos and art that could never be replaced if lost to the damages.

We make sure your home feels like home again. With our experience with helping the community recover from damages, we understand the complex emotions and difficulties involved. The feeling of walking back into your house and having it feel like home is priceless—and we do our best to provide that feeling to every one of our clients by saving the objects we are able to whenever possible.

If you have damages and are feeling overwhelmed, we are here to help. You can call us as soon as you need to in order to begin the restoration process. Contact us today to learn more.

Choose a Restoration Team With the Best Training | SERVPRO® of Anaheim Central/Garden Grove East

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

Fires, flooding, wind, severe storms and accidents damage about one in 20 American homes every year. So if you find yourself filing a damage claim to cover something that happened to your home, you’ll be in good company.

Homeowners don’t always need the type of help provided by restoration professionals. But on occasion, homeowners will need the help of expert technicians to ensure that their homes can be restored to their original state.

When that happens, it’s important to understand the home restoration process, how it works and what makes a restoration team the right choice for you and your home.

More Frequent Than You Think

The statistic about how many homeowners will file an insurance claim comes from the Insurance Information Institute The statistic includes all causes of damage.

We also have some statistics about individual types of disasters and issues, though. For example, about one out of every 350 American homeowners will deal with a fire damage claim each year. Those claims include fires caused by everything from appliance malfunctions to lightning strikes. Water damage claims will be filed by about one in 50 homeowners.

That translates to millions of American homeowners, and some of these homeowners will need to seek help from restoration professionals to restore their homes. That’s where choosing a quality restoration company will make all the difference for you.

Choose the Experts With the Best Training

Our team members pride themselves on offering an excellent level of restoration services. It matters on several levels, including response time, availability and training. We take special pride in the level of training our technicians to receive.

Beyond the training offered by SERVPRO at a national level, our technicians earn valuable certifications through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification. This non-profit group provides various certifications to ensure restoration and cleaning technicians can use the latest proven techniques when restoring your home.

If your home is damaged due to a fire or any other cause, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have teams who are available 247 in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services and how we can help your family.

Precautionary Steps to Help Reduce COVID-19 Exposure

7/21/2020 (Permalink)

Photo is showing technicians wearing PPE Gear, wiping down office desks. Our highly trained SERVPRO Technicians wiping down and disinfecting all high touch surface areas.

It is important to us that our customers know the steps SERVPRO of Anaheim Central / Garden Grove East is taking to reduce the risk of team member exposure to the virus.  These precautionary steps we have taken as a company include:

  • All tools and equipment coming into your property have been cleaned and disinfected.
  • All workers wear personal protective equipment to protect themselves while performing work.
  • We’ve all been provided with training to safely work in contaminated environments.
  • We’ve all been provided with training to identify coronavirus symptoms and carefully monitor ourselves and our co-workers.
  • We have stringent safety and health policies and procedures; and we continually strive to follow and improve our safe work practices.

Overall, we are taking the appropriate measures to ensure we don’t cross contaminate our customers, our co-workers, or our families.  We cannot make any guarantees that the virus could not enter your property, but we can tell you that we have taken every possible measure to protect customers and team members alike.

Whether it is a water loss, fire damage, or a cleaning service, please know that SERVPRO is still here for the entire Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and surrounding communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Please call us with any questions that you may have. We're always here to help!

The Experts In Water Damage

12/5/2019 (Permalink)

Water is necessary for life, this we know, but one way it is not needed is when it causes damage to your property. Are you familiar with the many sources of water damage that could impact your home?

How It Happens

The Travelers Companies Inc. reported that between 2009 and 2015, five of the main reasons for homeowner claims were exterior wind damage, non-weather-related water damage, hail, weather-related water damage and theft.

Water damage pops up on this list two times, proving that it should be not be ignored. The list indicates that water damage can be a result of weather situations or non-weather situations.

Non-weather-related water damage is a common occurrence in the home and is a direct result of plumbing and appliance malfunction situations. Water damage from weather situations can be just as trying but does is not often a common occurrence. Weather-related water damage is damage from rain, snow or melting ice.

In your home, the top five causes of water damage are:

  • Issues caused by malfunctioning plumbing
  • Leaks from washing machines
  • Damaged water pipes
  • Water heaters that are beyond their age
  • Weather situations

The major reasons for water damage in the home are plumbing issues, appliance leaks, water pipe breakdowns, old water heaters and weather.

Preventing Water Damage

While water damage costs can be expensive, they could be even more pricey if they are not covered by homeowners insurance. Familiarize yourself with your homeowner policy coverages. Most of the time covered damages in a standard policy are:

  • Winter weather damage
  • Overflowing water issues, including accidental
  • A leaking hot water heating system
  • Frozen/bursting pipes

There are ways to keep water damage from occurring, thereby saving yourself some headaches in the future. Here are some ideas for preventive maintenance to aid in the protection of your home from the damage caused by water:

  • Hire a plumber to install back flow valves and standpipes in basement drains.
  • Raise your appliances and personal items up off the basement floor.
  • Clean all gutters and downspouts.
  • Never place grease down the kitchen drain.

When you follow these suggested tips, you just might reduce the possibility for any water damage incidents in your home.

Water damage can be a nightmare to deal with, but fortunately, you will always have SERVPRO of Anaheim Central/ Garden Grove East on your side to help with the cleanup and restoration process.

Picking a Restoration Company to Work With

12/5/2019 (Permalink)

Photo is showing a green SERVPRO Van driving on the road with the SERVPRO House logo on the front of the hood. SERVPRO of Garden Grove East/Anaheim Central, always ready for any disaster.

Any homeowner knows that there are many natural disasters and other occurrences that can cause damage to the house. However, few of these instances are more damaging and deadly than home fires.

While everyone hopes they will never have to experience a house fire, it is important to be proactive about prevention to lessen the likelihood.

A Look at House Fire Statistics

Reported at the rate of nearly three times per minute, home fires are one of the most common disasters that occur.

Cooking still retains the No. 1 spot for causing house fires, but of course it is not the only thing that can cause a fire in the home.

A Look at House Fire Prevention Tips

Part of what makes house fires so dangerous is that once a flame starts, it can so easily spread. That is why being a proactive fire preventer is the most effective way to prevent your home from getting caught in a blaze. Here are some house fire prevention methods:

Regularly perform smoke alarm checks. Most smoke alarms are equipped with a test button that allows you to check the batteries once a month. In 10-year intervals, it is recommended to replace the entire smoke alarm.

Make cleaning dryer lint a habit. As the heat of the dryer dries out lint in the collection tray, a perfect situation for combustion is created. After each load, clean out the tray to prevent it from catching fire.

Keep watch when flames are around. It is not uncommon to interact with open flames every day, whether through cooking, candles or heating. However, it is advised to never leave the room while a flame is burning.

Replace frayed wires regularly. Wires that are bent, twisted or squashed can quickly become a fire hazard as they grown worn and frayed. If continuing to route electricity, this can lead to a fire.

Protect aerosol cans. Aerosol cans are highly pressurized and highly flammable. Keep them away from heat sources or direct sunlight to avoid combustion.

If your home has suffered damage from a house fire, give us a call. We are certified in fire and soot remediation, and here to help 247.

When Response Time Matters, Choose Us

11/19/2019 (Permalink)

Wood Floor Water Damaged. Warped and Lifting This floor is damaged by water but SERVPRO of Garden Grove East/Anaheim Central was able to cleanup the damage.

When disaster strikes your home or business, and it is your home or livelihood on the line, time becomes an especially precious commodity. You don’t have the benefit of waiting for help—you need it right away.

Since we understand that a fast response is crucial, responding faster to any size disaster is more than just a slogan for us.

Getting There Fast Matters

It’s your belongings or business on the line, which means time is not a luxury you have regarding disaster cleanup. This is especially true when water damage has come into play, which can be through various means such as flooding, appliance and/or plumbing failures, storm damage and fire damage, as water is used to put out the fires.

In only a matter of minutes, water can spread throughout your property, where it will saturate everything in its path. The walls, the floors, upholstery and your belongings are fast casualties of water.

The effects of water damage within the first 24 hours include:

  • Drywall beginning to swell and break down
  • Metal surfaces beginning to tarnish
  • Furniture beginning to swell and crack
  • Dyes and inks from cloth and paper items spreading and staining
  • The beginning of a musty odor

This damage will continue to worsen as time goes on. Between 48 hours and a week later, you could begin to see:

  • The growth and spreading of mold and mildew
  • Swelling and warping of doors, windows and studs
  • Metal beginning to rust and corrode
  • Paint beginning to blister
  • Wood flooring swelling and warping
  • The possibilities of serious biohazard contamination

When water damage is left untreated for over a week, it will lead to a longer restoration time and higher costs and could also impact the structural safety.

Always Here to Help

Our trained cleanup ad restoration specialists can be dispatched to your property or business at any time, no matter what day or time it is.

This allows us to provide an immediate response to any size disaster, which can help minimize the damage and help keep the cleaning and restoration costs manageable.

We are close by and ready to respond whenever the call comes in since we are a locally owned and operated franchise. A major perk of being part of a national network of over 1,700 franchises is that we have access to more resources for the cleanup and restoration projects that may be larger or stem from major storm situations.

Remember, if you need us, we’ll be there—no matter the time or day. The team of highly trained restoration experts at SERVPRO® of Garden Grove East/Anaheim Central is available for emergency cleanup and restoration services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our "Restore First" Mentality Was Designed With You in Mind

11/4/2019 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes, we can get there faster, it’s a fact! However, that is just one of the reasons why you should give us a call when a fire occurs.

Need another reason? Let’s talk about our “restore first” mentality, which informs every step of our fire restoration process.

How We “Restore First” Following a Fire

When a fire has damaged your property, there is so much to think about and consider. Give us a call at our 247 Emergency Line, and we’ll take some of the heavy lifting off your plate.

Using our “restore first” mentality and years of experience in fire restoration, we’ve established a solid process for how restoration should take place. We use that process in every case and enhance it as needed to meet your home’s specific needs.

1. Emergency contact. First things first, when you give us a call, we’ll ask a bunch of questions designed to get an accurate handle on your situation. From there, we’ll dispatch a team to your property.

2. Inspection and fire damage assessment. This team will use the visit to your home to inspect and assess not only the space damaged by the fire but also any surrounding rooms. This allows us to gain an accurate picture of damage incurred.

3. Immediate board-up and roof-tarp service. Because fire damage can compromise windows, walls and roofs, our next step is to ensure further damage doesn’t occur due to unprotected spaces. So we board up your windows and put a tarp over your roof as necessary to keep water and debris out as we complete the restoration process.

4. Water removal and drying (if water damage is present). In most all circumstances, when a fire is put out in your home, water damage occurs due to the water being used in that process. We will remove any lingering water and then use dehumidifiers and air movers to finish up the drying process.

5. Removal of smoke and soot from all surfaces. Smoke and soot tend to cling to all surfaces, including your home’s structures, like walls and ceilings. This step involves removal of smoke and soot.

6. Cleaning and sanitizing. If it is possible, we clean restorable items and structures. Beyond cleaning and sanitizing, we also use specialized processes and equipment to remove the lingering odors common after a fire.

7. Restoration. This is our final step, and it’s highly dependent on the extent of damage to your home. This step may involve minor repair work, including the painting of walls, or it may require more extensive restoration services.

Remember, if you need us, we’ll be there—no matter the time or day. The team of highly trained restoration experts at SERVPRO® of Garden Grove East/Anaheim Central is available for emergency cleanup and restoration services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Basics of Mold Remediation | SERVPRO® of Garden Grove East/Anaheim Central

3/1/2019 (Permalink)

When there has been water damage in a home or commercial property, there is a strong likelihood that mold growth will follow. It is a fact that mold can begin to grow within 48 hours of exposure to moisture.

If you are faced with a mold issue, knowing your next steps is vital, which is why we are using this blog to discuss the process of mold remediation.

An Introduction to Mold Remediation

Have you seen the ads for mold remediation and also the ads that promise mold removal? The latter of these two is a fallacy because removing all mold from a home or business is simply impossible. A qualified restoration company will focus on mold remediation, with the goal of getting mold levels back to a normal and natural range.

Yes, mold spores are naturally occurring everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. It is when they are left untreated that a minor problem turns into a major problem and a major headache.

Technicians will isolate the contaminated areas during mold remediation. Depending on the amount of remediation that needs to be done, this can be accomplished by either closing all doors and windows or effectively sealing off all doorways and openings with a polyethylene sheeting. Dust in the contaminated areas is then suppressed through misting.

Wet and mold-damaged materials will be removed and discarded in plastic bags. All exposed and mold-affected areas are then thoroughly cleaned and completely dried. A HEPA vacuum may be brought in during some cases to aid in the removal of contamination and debris.

The mold area will then be treated with a biocide and left overnight to destroy and kill the mold spores. On the following day, the mold remediation crew will return to encapsulate all of the affected areas.

What to Do If You Suspect Mold

If you are seeing evidence that your home or business may have a mold problem, you’ll want to act quickly. Evaluate the size of the problem, and if the affected area covers an area larger than 10 square feet, it is time to call in the professionals.

These professionals you contact should be highly trained and certified in the areas listed below:

  • Applied microbial remediation
  • Water damage restoration
  • Applied structural drying

While some minor mold issues can be successfully resolved by home and business owners on their own, the safest way to handle mold remediation is always to call the professionals for the quickest resolution to the problem.

At SERVPRO® of Garden Grove East/Anaheim Central, our mold damage specialists are trained and certified experts in mold remediation. If your home or business is experiencing a mold issue, contact us to begin the mold remediation process.