Beware of Frozen Pipes

1/27/2024 (Permalink)

Frozen pipe leak in garage ceiling.

Winters in the Midwest are no joke. Within the past month we've seen some of the coldest temperatures we'll see all year, meaning it is prime time for frozen pipes. 

With the recent below-freezing temperatures in the Chicagoland area, it is important to take precautionary measures to help prevent frozen pipes and pipe breaks in your home. Make sure to consistently check your kitchen, bathrooms, and maintenance rooms for leaks. You can keep faucets at a small drip overnight to allow water to move through the system and prevent pipes from freezing due to lack of use during the coldest hours of the day.

Another practice is to open up any cabinet doors located under the sink to allow warm air to circulate closer to the pipes. Additionally, keeping your garage door closed during the winter can help to prevent frozen pipes both in the garage area as well as throughout the entire house.

Staying Warm & Safe in the Cold Months

1/8/2024 (Permalink)

Weather reports are calling for colder temperatures in the Chicagoland area within the upcoming weeks, which will also affect the temperatures inside our homes. One way to help compensate for the lower temperatures and bitter drafts is by using a portable space heater. If you plan to use a space heater in your home this winter, it is important that you know how to properly operate it. Please follow these recommendations posted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

Space Heater Checklist:

• Purchase a heater that displays the seal of a qualified testing laboratory. 
• Choose a heater that has a thermostat and overheat protection.
• Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from children, pets, people, furniture, or anything that can burn.
• Place the heater on a stable, flat surface.
• Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet instead of using an extension cord.
• Make sure the space heater is turned off before you leave the room or go to bed.

Our fire restoration technicians here at SERVPRO of Evanston respond to winter fire emergencies and have the advanced training, equipment, and experience to restore damage caused by fires, small or large. Call us at 847-763-7010. 

Meet the Fleet

1/3/2024 (Permalink)

Whether an adjuster on their way to give a job estimate, or our crew members in transit to extract water from a flooded home, our bright green trucks and vans donned with the orange SERVPRO logo are hard to miss amidst daily traffic. These easily-identifiable vehicles help us get to you as quickly and safely as possible, whenever and wherever you need our assistance. 

Our sizable box trucks are essential in transporting drying and dehumidification equipment to-and-from jobsites by our helpful crew members. These spacious vehicles not only allow us to remove and dispose of damaged materials or waste, but also aide in transferring furniture or other belongings from the site and back to our warehouse, where they will be cleaned and stored. The interior of our vehicles are cleaned and organized regularly to ensure that your possessions are safely transported and well-taken care of.

Tools Of The Trade

11/13/2023 (Permalink)

Our large supply of air movers allows use to take on multiple jobs at once.

Here at SERVPRO, we use a variety of tools and equipment to help us do our jobs in the best way possible. From demolition to disinfecting to drying out structures, we always have what we need. When it comes to equipment, the two most important pieces are dehumidifiers and air movers. These are used on every single water job we do. It is imperative that the structure is properly dried out by the dehumidifiers and air movers before any reconstruction can take place. On category 3 jobs, we may use an air scrubber in addition to the dehumidifiers and air movers. The air scrubber will help filter the air and eliminate airborne microorganisms. Some other pieces of equipment we might use are hydroxyls, ozone machines, ULV foggers, floor drying mats, or HEPA Vacuums. The equipment that is used on a given job varies by the details and scope of the work to be performed.

Thanksgiving Safety

11/13/2023 (Permalink)

Avoid this scenario by choosing an alternative turkey cooking method.

We are a little over a week away from Thanksgiving, which means football, family, and most importantly, food. However, with Thanksgiving comes the unfortunate rise in house fires. According to the NFPA, Thanksgiving Day is the peak day for home cooking fires, more than three times the daily average. In 2021, an estimated 1,160 home cooking fires were reported, a 297% increase over the daily average. The NFPA strongly advises against using a turkey fryer, as the large amount of oil at such high temperatures can cause very serious burns. They suggest getting a turkey from a restaurant or local grocery store if you want a fried turkey. While cooking, it is important that you do not leave the food unattended, as that has been the leading cause of the fires in years past. 

Going The Extra Mile

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

Setting the containment barrier allows for the contents to be shielded from the work zone.

When disaster hits your home, it is important to us at SERVPRO to ensure that nothing else gets damaged in your home when we are performing mitigation services. There are a few steps we may take to protect your contents as well as unaffected areas of the home. At SERVPRO we pride ourselves on going the extra mile to ensure your home and your belongings are safe.

One thing we may do is set up a containment barrier to separate the affected area from the unaffected area. This can be done by using poles that keep the containment up or by just taping the plastic barrier to the ceiling. By doing this we are eliminating the possibility of any dust or debris being blown into the unaffected area while our equipment is running. This can help eliminate cross contamination. 

In addition to setting up the containment barrier, we will also use plastic sheeting to cover any items that are still in the affected area such as couches, beds, clothes, etc. Keeping these things covered stops them from being affected by any dust or debris. By keeping them covered, it eliminates the need to have the items cleaned at the end.

One last thing we may do is use boxes to put any content from the room that may have not been affected but will be in the way of the work that needs to be performed. Smaller items such as toys, pictures, games. These are small enough to fit in a box and be placed in another room, providing more space for the SERVPRO techs to complete the job.

Lightning Strikes

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

A lightning strike hit this house and set it ablaze.

House fires caused by lightning strikes are probably more common than you would think. Insurance companies estimate home and commercial losses caused by lightning that are worth billions of dollars every year. 

If you are in your home when the lightning strikes, you will hear a loud explosive sound. In older homes, it is likely that your house and everything in it will shake. In newer homes, most of them have been built to withstand and absorb a lightning strike, reducing the shake. However, the exterior damage and shaking is usually minor compared to the aftermath, which is the main concern.

The tough part about lightning striking your home is that if a fire is started, you may not notice until it is too late. The fire could start in an attic or in the walls for instance. You should contact your local fire department right away, even if you don't see any smoke or fire. If the fire department clears your home, the next thing you should do is follow up with an electrician to inspect your home and make sure no fire hazards were created by the strike. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict if or when a lightning strike will hit your house, but being prepared and knowing what to do in the aftermath will go a long way

Kentucky Floods

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

Flash floods have torn through Kentucky

Recent flooding in Kentucky has left the state in shambles, as the rain continues to come down and people are left scrambling. There have been a number of deaths and the water is not showing any signs of receding yet. The National Weather Service warned of the possibility of slow moving showers that could trigger even more flash flooding throughout the area. Hundreds of people have been displaced after losing their homes, leaving them without shelter, electricity or cell phone service. Over 1,300 people have been rescued already, with crews still searching the area for more people. There are still many people that are unaccounted for, but the hope is that once cell phone service is restored that they will be able to make contact and confirm their safety. Another obstacle being added to this already difficult time is the heat wave that is expected to hit Kentucky. Officials have set up cooling stations in buildings that were not affected by the flood and have been bringing in water by the truckloads.

Evanston Roof Leak

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

The bedroom was taken down to the studs to remove all wet materials.

Sometimes roof leaks are small and contained, other times, they can wreak havoc on the whole home. Unfortunately for one home owner in Evanston, the latter was their fate. A significant roof leak caused damage in this home throughout the entire upstairs and main level. As you can see in the image, this home had to be taken down to the studs. The walls and ceilings needed to be removed in order to remove any wet insulation behind the walls. Luckily the homeowner acted quick enough and got her roof repaired. As soon as that was done SERVPRO was called so this homeowner was able to avoid any microbial growth, thus limiting any other possible damages. SERVPRO was able to get the entire home dried out in just a matter of days, making way for the next step which is reconstruction. SERVPRO handled the reconstruction as well and the home owner was extremely happy with the entire process.

FranCenter

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

The water leaked into the office area affecting the carpeting.

FranCenter is a tutoring service for children that recently suffered a loss due to a sink overflow. Luckily for them, it happened on a Friday afternoon while there were still people in the building. If it would have happened over the weekend things could have gotten much worse for them. SERVPRO responded as soon as possible to get in there and begin cleaning things up. After extracting the water, they turned their attention to any affected materials that needed to be removed. It is essential to check around and make sure you are not leaving any affected materials behind as this can lead to a number of issues down the road for the business. FranCenter really wanted to be up and operational by the following Monday and SERVPRO delivered. Taking care of the mitigation and getting it dried out in no time. SERVPRO handled the job with professionalism and efficiency leaving the customer beyond happy.