Commercial Storm Damage Tips

2/21/2023 (Permalink)

Commercial storm damage resulting from a tornado in Dresden, TN

As a business owner, storm damage can cause significant disruption to your operations and result in significant financial losses. Therefore, it's essential to have a plan in place to minimize the risk of storm damage and reduce its impact on your business. In this blog post, we'll share some storm damage tips for commercial and business properties to help you protect your business and minimize the impact of storm damage. 

Reduce the Risk of Commercial Storm Damage

1. Conduct a risk assessment: Identify potential hazards in and around your commercial property, such as loose roof tiles, trees close to the building, or clogged gutters. Take steps to mitigate these risks, such as trimming trees or reinforcing the roof.
2. Maintain your property: Regular maintenance of your commercial property can help prevent storm damage. For instance, keep your roof and gutters clean and in good condition to prevent water damage. Repair any leaks or structural damage promptly to prevent further damage during a storm.
3. Create an emergency plan: Develop a plan to protect your staff and customers in the event of a storm. Ensure that everyone knows the evacuation procedures and how to get to safety. Also, designate a specific area where everyone can meet in case of an emergency. FEMA's Preparedness Planning for Businesses page has hazard-specific step-by-step guides for your business to help you make a plan for any disaster you may encounter.
4. Invest in storm-resistant features: Consider installing storm-resistant features such as impact-resistant windows, reinforced doors, and storm shutters. These features can significantly reduce the risk of damage during a storm.

What to Do During and After a Storm

1. Stay informed: Keep an eye on weather forecasts and stay informed about any alerts or warnings from the National Weather Service or local authorities. Using an app, like the ReadyTN app from TMEA, is a great way to have vital information in one spot. This information can help you make timely decisions about whether to evacuate or take other safety measures.
2. Secure your property: If a storm is approaching, secure loose items around your commercial property, such as signs, outdoor furniture, and trash cans. Move valuable items to higher ground to prevent water damage.
3. Document the damage: Take pictures and videos of any storm damage to your commercial property. This documentation can help speed up the insurance claims process and the commercial storm restoration process.
4. Contact a professional storm restoration company: If your commercial property has suffered storm damage, contact a professional storm restoration company like SERVPRO Team Caldwell immediately. They have the expertise, tools, and equipment to handle any commercial storm damage and get your property back to its pre-storm condition as quickly as possible.

How to Make the Commercial Storm Restoration Process Quicker

1. Contact your insurance company: Notify your insurance company of the storm damage as soon as possible. Provide them with all the necessary information, including photos and videos of the damage.
2. Call a professional storm restoration company: Contact a professional storm restoration company like SERVPRO Team Caldwell to assess the damage and begin the restoration process. They will work with you and your insurance company to ensure that the restoration process is quick and efficient.
3. Follow the restoration company's recommendations: The restoration company will provide recommendations on what needs to be done to restore your commercial property. Follow these recommendations promptly to ensure that the restoration process is as quick as possible.
4. Stay in communication: Stay in communication with the restoration company and your insurance company throughout the restoration process. This can help you stay informed about the progress and any delays in the restoration process.

Tornado Safety

2/16/2023 (Permalink)

Tornado damage from December 2021 storms in West TN

Tornadoes are powerful natural disasters that can cause severe damage and endanger lives. It is important to know what to do during a tornado to stay safe.

TORNADO SAFETY TIPS

1. Have a Plan - Before a tornado strikes, it is important to have a plan in place. Identify a safe place in your home where you can take shelter. This could be a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest level of your home. Make sure everyone in your household knows the plan and where to go.

2. Stay Informed - Keep an eye on the weather forecast and listen for tornado watches and warnings. (our friends at WBBJ have a great staff of meteorologists that stay on top of storms in West TN) If a tornado warning is issued, take immediate action and move to your safe place.

3. Stay Away from Windows - During a tornado, windows can shatter and send shards of glass flying. It is important to stay away from windows and seek shelter in a more secure location.

5. Protect Your Head - If you are unable to get to a safe place, protect your head with your arms and hands. If possible, cover your head with a pillow or blanket to shield yourself from flying debris.
6. Wait for the All-Clear - After the tornado has passed, wait for the all-clear from local authorities before leaving your safe place. Be aware of any hazards, such as downed power lines, and avoid them.

In the event of damage to your home or property, contact SERVPRO Team Caldwell for professional cleanup and restoration services. Our experienced technicians can help restore your home to its pre-damage condition quickly and efficiently.

Residential Fire Damage Tips

2/8/2023 (Permalink)

Devastating aftermath of a residential kitchen fire with burned microwave and stove in the kitchen

Fire damage is a traumatic and stressful experience for homeowners. At SERVPRO, we understand the importance of quickly and effectively restoring your home to its preloss condition after a fire. Here are some fire damage tips from our experts to help you through this difficult time. 

• Safety First: Before entering your home, make sure it is safe to do so. Do not enter if the structure is unstable or if there is any visible damage.
• Contact Your Insurance Company: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the fire and begin the claims process.
• Secure the Property: Secure your property by boarding up any damaged windows or doors to prevent further damage or theft.
• Salvage What You Can: If it is safe to do so, try to salvage any personal belongings that have not been damaged by the fire.
• Call a Professional: Contact a professional fire damage restoration company like SERVPRO to assess the damage and develop a plan for restoration.
• Document the Damage: Take photos of the damage for your insurance company and for your records.
• Follow the Restoration Plan: Follow the restoration plan provided by your professional restoration company to ensure a timely and effective restoration process.

Are Your Pipes Wrapped?

12/16/2022 (Permalink)

Wrapping your pipes is the top way to reduce the risk of frozen or burst pipes during sub-freezing temperatures

With sub-freezing temperatures on the forecast for later this week, and the slight chance of snow or ice, homeowners are faced with a costly and dreadful situation… FROZEN PIPES! This can occur in homes with copper or plastic pipes and is the cause of about 1 in every 60 home insurance claims.

What Temperature Do Pipes Freeze and How Long Does It Take?

While the freezing temperature of water is 32°F, the pipes in your home are protected from exterior freezing temperatures by your home’s insulation. This does not become an issue until the outside temperature gets below 32°F.  As a rule of thumb, the outside temperature needs to be 20°F or lower for six consecutive hours or more for your home’s pipes to start freezing. The amount of time it takes for your pipes to freeze is also dependent upon your home’s insulation, how far your water pipes are located inside your home, and if you have any exposed pipes.

Precautions to Prevent Pipes from Freezing and Bursting

The good news is that there are steps you can take to ensure this doesn’t happen to your home when these frigid temperatures arrive. By taking the preventative measures below, you can help protect your pipes from freezing and the resulting property damage that follows.

1. Cover and insulate exposed pipes
   • When your water supply pipes are exposed, or in an unheated space, they are more susceptible to freezing and bursting. Insulating your pipes is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to prevent frozen or busting pipes. Using fiberglass insulation wrap, self-sealing polyethylene wrap, or even pipe heat tape is a quick and easy way to insulate your pipes and a project you can knock out in an afternoon, giving you peace of mind during the winter months.
2. Secure Outdoor Hoses, Valves, and Faucets
   
   • Be sure to disconnect your garden hose from the outside faucet and, if applicable, use an indoor valve to shut off the water supply to the faucet and allow it to drain. As an extra measure of protection, install an insulated faucet sock or cover to the faucet to help reduce the chance of the faucet freezing and bursting inside your home.
3. Keep a Consistent Temperature Inside
   
   • Keeping your thermostat set at the same consistent temperature day and night can help reduce your risk of frozen pipes, and even reduce the strain on your HVAC unit. And, if you plan on being away for some time during the cold weather, leave the heat on and set your thermostat to no lower than 55° F.
4. Open Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinet Doors
   
   • Another small and useful strategy is to open the cabinet doors under your sinks. This allows the warm air from your home to circulate around your plumbing and keep your pipes warm. This is particularly important if your sink is located on an exterior wall as pipes in these areas are more prone to freezing from being closer to the cold outdoors.
5. Let your Faucets Drip
   
   • Though it seems counterintuitive, letting your faucets run can make a huge difference. You don’t have to leave your faucet running on full blast, but a trickle of hot and cold water keeps water moving through your pipes and helps prevent the lines from freezing.
6. Seal Leaks and Drafty Areas of your Home
   
   • When you have a gap or leak between the interior and exterior of your home, cold air is allowed to come in and lower the temperature around your pipes. With severely cold weather, even a tiny opening can let in enough air to cause a pipe to freeze. The most common areas for air to leak in are around window and door frames, electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes. Use calking or insulation to keep the cold out.

What To Do If Your Pipes Do Freeze or Burst

If it is below freezing and you notice that you are not getting water from one or more faucets, you likely have frozen pipes. Swift action is essential to thaw the pipe before it can burst.

• Shut off your water
• Try to find the frozen pipe
• Check for leaks
• Attempt to thaw

If you do find yourself in a situation with a burst pipe, be sure to give SERVPRO® Team Caldwell a call. We are available 24/7 with emergency restoration crews, a preferred vendor to many national insurance agencies, highly trained in water restoration techniques, and use s500 IICRC restoration standards to make your water damage “Like it never even happened! ®”

The Water Restoration Process

3/30/2022 (Permalink)

When experiencing the first few moments of a water disaster, you are typically flooded with emotions while also trying to quickly figure out what to do next. Knowing what to do in the event of a water disaster will allow for a faster restoration process, and will save you time and money. 

If water damage is left unaddressed for a while, secondary damage can occur. SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City is your 24-hour emergency water and fire restoration company. We are “Faster to any size disaster” with our six-step water damage restoration plan.  

6 Steps Water Damage Restoration Plan 

1. Initial Emergency Contact

Water disasters are typically unexpected and hardly ever occur at an ideal time for home or business owners. This is why SERVPRO is available and prepared 24/7 to help you when disaster strikes. Once you have made the initial phone call, a SERVPRO professional will ask you important questions regarding the situation. Our goal is to gather as much information about the disaster and draft a response plan specific to your situation. This response plan gives us an idea of how many technicians and equipment are needed to start the restoration process at your home or business. 

2. Inspection & Damage Assessment

Once SERVPRO technicians are on-site, we will immediately verify that the property is safe and take the necessary measures to prevent any further damage to the affected area if it is within our capabilities. Once your property is safe and secure, we will then conduct a thorough inspection of the affected areas to determine the next best course of action. We will then report our findings to the home or business owner.

3. Moisture Extraction

To prevent the development of mold or other secondary damage, SERVPRO technicians begin to quickly extract standing water that can seep into belongings surrounding it. Our high-performance grade vacuums and water pumps accomplish this task rapidly and can remove hundreds of gallons at a time.

4. Dehumidifying & Drying

After all of the standing water has been extracted, the moisture removal process can begin. SERVPRO dehumidifiers and high-grade dryers are used to pull moisture out of the air and out of porous surfaces in your home or business such as wood or fabrics. This process is what deters mold from growing and can help prevent further damage.

5. Cleaning Belongings

All items that have come into contact with the water are prone to becoming a contamination hazard. The water may have come from a clean source, but the water passes through other unknown materials. This is why we take the sanitization process so seriously. To prevent hazards, SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City will thoroughly remove unwanted microbes from your belongings. SERVPRO also provides a deodorization service that removes musty, water-damage smells. 

6. Restoration & Repair

Once on the scene, SERVPRO will see your home or business restoration through to the end. You can count on us to never leave you with a partially completed job. SERVPRO not only handles the cosmetic aspects of the restoration process, but we tackle the construction details too. SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City can repair structural damage, apply paint and complete the finishing touches on your home or business “Like it never even happened.”

Faced With Sewage Damage To Your Business?

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

Be sure to unplug all electronic devices after a sewage disaster.

Coming into work Monday morning to find sewage damage in your business or commercial property can be frightening and disgusting. You may be tempted to throw in the towel, but you'll need to be alert throughout the entire sewer cleanup process! Specific steps need to be followed if your sewage disaster is more than a simple floor leak. While SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City professionals can do the cleaning for you, there are three procedures you execute if you encounter sewage damage in your business.

1. Address The Electronics

The first step you should take is eliminating any safety hazards near the sewer backup, specifically electronic devices. Without coming in contact with the sewage, all items or devices that run on electricity need to be turned off or unplugged as soon as possible! Surrounding areas could become hazardous if the water touches one of these items. Below is a brief list of devices to be mindful of in a business or commercial property setting:

• Computers/Laptops
• Chargers
• Video Equipment
• Office Printers
• Lobby/Breakroom Televisions

2. Create Ventilation: Open Windows

After a sewage disaster, it does not take long before mold begins to grow and is discovered. To avoid additional damage to your business or commercial property, airing out your space is essential! Additionally, the fresh air reduces some of the unruly smell from sewage backflow and moisture in the air. 

3. Remove Endangered Items

All items that have come into contact with sewage should be left to the professionals to clean and disinfect. For all restorable items, SERVPRO professionals can properly sanitize and return them to your business. If the sewage water is continually leaking, it is wise to remove non-contaminated items from the affected area so no additional property is lost. 

The sewer cleanup process at your business or commercial property will go smoother if you remember and execute these three steps! Knowing what you can do to help immediately following a sewage backflow could help save your business money and restoration time. When SERVPRO restoration experts arrive, relay everything you know about the situation. Our goal is to help you get back on your feet as soon as possible! Sewage damage is never pretty, but with SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City, it does not have to be debilitating for your business! 

3 Ways To Identify A Tub or Shower Leak

3/25/2022 (Permalink)

Water appliances in your home such as sinks, tubs, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines are often the cause of many water disasters. Depending on the location of the appliances, water leaks can cause quite a bit of damage on both levels of your home. For example, if a bathtub leaks on the second floor, water will travel down into the first floor of your home. As the water travels, it will weaken the ceiling on the first floor and drywall on both levels. If the water is not properly extracted and dried, moisture will build and hidden mold will begin to grow. Due to the location of the leak, the mold may be difficult to remove as time goes on. If you are having issues with your tub or shower, there are a few ways to identify potential leaks.

1. How Old Is Your Shower Pan?

There can be many causes of shower leaks, but age is one of the most common. Shower pans are supposed to last for a long time, but after three or more decades, they begin to expire. If your home has a crawl space and you start to notice discoloration in your tiles around the base of the shower, it may be time to inspect your crawl space for leaks. This may be an indicator that your shower pan has seen better days. 

2. Are There Old Water Stains On The Ceiling? 

If a bathtub leak or failed shower pan, especially on the second floor, is left unattended for a length of time, it can cause a dangerous situation. The water weakens the floor and causes the ceiling to sag. If the cause of the leak is never identified or fixed, repeated leaks could cause mold growth inside your ceiling. If you notice stains on the first floor of your home, directly below a second-floor bathroom, you may have a leak. 

3. Check Out You Shower Tiles 

You can learn a lot about your unit by looking at your shower tiles. Tiles on the bottom half of the shower fall off or become loose if a shower pan leak occurs. You can assume there is a leak somewhere behind the tile if the wall feels damp or looks moldy. 

If you are experiencing leaks from your tub or shower and need water clean-up, restoration, and construction services, call SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City at 731-627-6251. We’ll handle all of it and make your water disaster “Like it never even happened.”

Do's & Don'ts After Trauma

3/24/2022 (Permalink)

After a traumatic event, mustering the strength needed to take the first steps toward recovery can be challenging. If your property requires trauma or crime scene cleanup, SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City can help restore your home. Traumatic situations require experience, training, and respect for all involved. SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City tries to make the restoration process as stress-free as possible. Once police investigations are complete, cleanup can begin. While you are waiting for help to arrive, it is important to remember what you can do and what you can’t.

What To Do:

In the event of a crime or accident, the top concern is preventing any more accidents or loss of life. The second concern is preventing any more damages to your home or property.

1. Call Emergency Personnel
   • Call emergency service personnel if the situation is life-threatening.
2. Stay Out of The Area
   • Stay out of the areas that have been affected by the event as there may be potentially dangerous hazardous materials left behind.
3. Treat Fluids As If Contaminated
   • Treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated.

What Not To Do:

1. Don’t Attempt to Clean

   • Don’t attempt cleanup of any kind.

2. Don’t Touch or Handle Items

   • Don't touch or handle items that may be contaminated with bodily fluids.

Beware of Blackberry Winters

3/24/2022 (Permalink)

Around this time of year, from late April to mid-May, we begin to enjoy the increasingly warmer temperatures, but then, occasionally, a cold snap occurs. Here in the South, we call this brief period of frost and cold weather “blackberry winters.” This time of year, blackberries are in full bloom, and the sudden drop in temperatures during a blackberry winter kills the berry bushes as well as other plants. Blackberry winters are a threat to most farmers growing new plants and homeowners that just bought new plants. However, a sudden frost can cause more problems than covering plants.

In the past, forecasts show temperatures dropping into the low 30s during blackberry winters. As tired as we are worrying about frozen pipes, blackberry winters that occur overnight can lead to water damage in your home. The cooler temperatures can also have you reaching for your space heaters, electric blankets, and your fireplace for one last use before spring hits and temperatures rise. Practice proper fire safety and watch the weather for predicted frosts. Plan accordingly for these sudden declines in temperature, and remember to leave cabinet doors open so warm air can surround your pipes.

Being mindful of blackberry winters, not only saves you from potentially losing those beautiful new plants you just put out on the porch, but also saves you a lot of money in damages to your property. If you find yourself facing a water or fire disaster after a blackberry winter, call SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City at 731-627-6251 We are “Faster to any size disaster” and are “Here to help.”

How To Prevent Secondary Damages To Your Commercial Property

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

When commercial owners don't notice a water intrusion immediately or fail to fix minor initial water issues, properties can develop secondary complications. Structural deterioration or black mold affects the water and can cause severe and costly damage. Property owners in West Tennessee should understand why secondary damage is so concerning and how to avoid these complications.

1. Lack of Attention Leads to Mold

Fungal spores, or decomposers, are all around us. However, they become a problem for property owners when they come into contact with water. Liquid feeds the microbes, encouraging them to reproduce and triggers growth. The following conditions create the perfect environment for microbes to spread and demand attention… 

• Lingering Puddles
• Plumbing Leaks or Drips
• Damp, Dark Cabinets or Closets
• Flooding
• High Humidity Levels

Address these issues as soon as possible to help prevent secondary damages from starting.

2. Secondary Issues May Appear First

Signs of hidden moisture are typically only revealed after it penetrates through materials. Peeling paint, warped flooring, discoloration, spots, and musty odors are all early indicators of black mold.

In many situations, leaks occur out of sight in crawl spaces. Certified SERVPRO Mold Remediation Specialists can investigate the situation, and tackle the cleanup and remediation process.

3. Focus on Drying and Gutting

Dealing with secondary damage can be a time-consuming process and requires patience. To prevent future property complications, the remediation and restoration process should be thorough. SERVPRO Professionals…

• Extract as much moisture as possible.
• Monitor dampness using a moisture reader.
• Place SERVPRO dehumidifiers to pull out the humidity from walls, floors, the air, and objects around the clock. 
• Remove drenched items.
• Perform flood cuts on the drywall below the water lines.
• Toss contaminated carpeting and non-salvageable items.

SERVPRO of Dyersburg/Union City can help protect your commercial property from these secondary harms. The longer you wait to call, the greater the chance is to experience additional property loss.