Steps Bay County Locals Should Take When Coming into Storm Season

3/13/2023 (Permalink)

Home in Bay County endures major storm damage and calls in SERVPRO experts for aide.

As anyone who lives here knows, springtime in Bay County brings beautiful sunshine as well as strong rain and wind storms. With weather that can switch so quickly between the two, it’s important to make sure your home is storm-ready, prepared to handle and withstand unpredictable conditions.

It’s always a good idea to conduct a home and ground inspection before weather conditions take a turn for the worst. Things like leaky roofs or windows can be very problematic in the midst of heavy rainfall and strong winds, so checking them and making sure they are all fitted correctly is a critical step to take.

Checking for loose shutters and trimming back any trees or shrubbery that may be surrounding your home is another good way to get it storm-ready. Shutters, tree limbs, and other loose debris can get picked up by wind and thrown in any direction, including towards your house. Also inspect any drainage areas near or around your home, clearing them of any debris that may be creating blockage. This will help reduce chances of flooding your property during a storm.

Another thing to consider when preparing your home for a storm is what kind of system to have in place that will allow you to communicate with your loved ones and receive weather updates. In some cases, storms can become strong enough to put your cell phone’s service signal at risk, so it’s good to be prepared and have an alternative form of communication in place.

And as always, in the event of storm damage SERVPRO of Bay County is here to help. We’re available 24/7 and ready when you need us. Give us a call at (850) 785-1077.

SERVPRO Crews Have Vast Experience that Helps Us Anticipate Issues that a Bay County Homeowner Might Not Expect

3/2/2023 (Permalink)

Fire and water damage is serviced by Bay County SERVPRO technicians after emergency call was received.

SERVPRO Crews Have Vast Experience that Helps Us Anticipate Issues that a Bay County Homeowner Might Not Expect

In the aftermath of a fire damage incident in Bay County, you expect to deal with some issues like the accumulation of soot on surfaces, charring, or other forms of material deterioration from the combustion processes. Apart from varying types of damages, you are also bound to anticipate some restoration procedures such as demolition of sections of the house to remove damaged materials. However, during the restoration, other issues that you did not anticipate might develop. SERVPRO helps homeowners handle both the regular and unexpected aspects when restoring fire damage in their Bay County properties.
 
What processes of fire damage restoration commonly confuse Brandon property owners?
    •    The need to prepare for water damage in the aftermath of fire incidents
    •    The use of heat for restoration or preservation purposes when mitigating fire damage
    •    Damages extending beyond the main areas affected by the fire

Whenever properties are engulfed in flames, the first thought is to douse the flames in water. Even professional firefighters rely mostly on water to put out flames. Therefore, even though the fire is the root of damages at your property, you have to prepare for material deterioration caused by moisture action. Water worsens fire damage or even creates additional damages by:
    •    Causing deep soiling of fabrics and upholstery
    •    Compromising the structural integrity of porous and semi-porous materials
    •    Sparking microbial growth, which can lead to mold formation
    •    Staining materials

The SERVPRO team that responds to your fire incident is made up of different professionals, including IICRC certified water restoration technicians whose expertise can go a long way in managing the effects of moisture in the interior sections of your property. For instance, we understand the need to dry or remove wet materials within the first 24 hours. However, regular drying procedures such as boosting evaporation rates with air movers can spread loose debris all over the premises. Our technicians find better alternatives, such as setting up dehumidifiers in an appropriate location in the house to extract moisture from the air.

How else can we manage water damage at a fire damaged property?

Fast moisture removal is an excellent way to stop or prevent damages at a fire loss site. However, it cannot work against all kinds of moisture damage. For issues like deep, soiling, and staining might even worsen when you dry the affected material. Our SERVPRO technicians identify areas where such problems are likely to develop and take countermeasures. For instance, we lay protective sheets of paper or rugs over carpets in highly trafficked areas to avoid deep soiling as we prepare for other restorative processes.

Why would heat be necessary when restoring fire damage?

It might sound counterintuitive that heat might be used to resolve problems that develop because of a fire. However, heat has many positive aspects that help alleviate damage or fast-track the renovation processes. When cleaning surfaces where smoke residues or other soils accumulate, our technicians use heat to ease the process, minimizing the time or effort needed. Warmth helps speed up chemical reactions or break bonds, thus making cleaning products more effective. Different cleaning products require different temperatures for optimal performance. Our technicians rely on their experience or the instructions provided on product labels to determine the best temperatures for cleaning solutions.

Heat might also be useful in preventing secondary damages. For instance, exposure to moisture or high levels of humidity can cause internal components in electronics to rust, necessitating expensive restoration processes. Our technicians can protect your appliances in the affected areas by ensuring there is enough heat to prevent cooling to the dew point. Since the HVAC system is not likely to be operational, we find other ways to supply heat, including using portable heaters.

Isn't speed mandatory when mitigating the effects of fire loss?

A speedy response helps in many ways when restoring fire damage. For instance, you can stop the effects of corrosive residues like soot from staining stone or metallic surfaces permanently through quick action such as applying an oil film over the surfaces or pre-cleaning them. However, there are times when slowing down is a better approach. A specific example is when cleaning materials using chemical agents. After applying the products, you need to stop other actions giving the products sufficient dwell time to react with the soils or penetrate through the material. The dwell time depends on:
    •    The type of material involved
    •    The level of soiling
    •    The chemical agent used

Giving sufficient time simplifies the cleaning process, thus improving the overall turnaround time. It can also help eliminate the use of aggressive agitation, which can damage the underlying material.

Restoration of fire damage is rarely a straightforward process. Call SERVPRO of Bay County to make your emergency "Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Finds Ways to Help Your Family After a Fire With a Customized Remediation Plan

10/4/2022 (Permalink)

Technicians carry out the contents restoration component of a custom plan for local client.

Many homeowners, who experience a fire in their Bay County residence, lose almost everything, while other people fare much better. A smaller, more localized fire which never spreads can still create a considerable amount of havoc in your life and even cause you to doubt the safety of your home.
 
If your residence recently suffered fire damage, SERVPRO professionals can help you and your family. We work with both homeowners and insurance adjusters, so your experience involving your home's restoration becomes less stressful. In the case of smaller fires, many families find they can remain in their own home while we work on just the areas damaged directly by the fire. This requires some preparation that eliminates the smoke damage and its odors in the area intended to become your primary living area during the restoration work. However, staying in your home while restoration helps keep children calm, schedules on track, and medicines, necessary documents, and other vital belongings within your reach.
 
One of the things we do first includes cleaning excess soot from the most easily damaged surfaces in your home. These include chrome and other finishes on your bath and kitchen fixtures, as well as any other belongings that include a metallic component. Works of art and pieces of American history often contain metal that can quickly corrode when covered by abrasive soot and ashes from the fire.
 
Even though the soot may seem minor, the effects can become permanent over time, as well as cling to anyone unfortunate enough to wash their hands at the sink before we clean the faucet handles. As sticky as soot seems, it easily transfers to anything touched, making a messy trail rapidly.
 
We wash the linens and clothing your family needs immediately, and then return these to you as soon as possible. We want to help you as much as possible during this challenging time, so your family can recover faster and with less stress. As soon as we complete the initial cleaning of your undamaged-by-fire living area in your home, our Odor Control Technician (OCT) can eliminate the odors that your family can do without smelling.
 
Using thermal fogging, our IICRC-certified technician chemically bonds leftover and hidden soot particles to the neutralizing agents in the fog. With spot treatments, fresh scents can soon fill your rooms with odors that your family enjoys. We use safe and effective chemicals that do not cause problems for your home, family or the environment.
 

Protect Yourself From Assignment of Benefits Misconduct in Florida

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

Residents who have property damages are susceptible to AOB misconduct.

Homeowners who face the chaos and confusion commonplace after storm, fire, and water damage in Bay County look for a restoration company that offers a wide range of services. Many companies, like ours, highlight their ability to help with insurance claims and submissions during this stressful time as a critical service, streamlining the financial aspects of a restoration job.

Working with the customer's insurance company can be a great benefit to a property owner when done ethically. Unfortunately, there is a long history of disaster recovery companies in Florida mishandling the job- an injustice that can result in adverse consequences unintended by a trusting client.

These unscrupulous businesses prey upon the anxiety and fear victims of severe weather, and other emergencies feel as they try to sort out the overwhelming crush of concerns and tasks following major catastrophes. Within the hours and days after a storm or flood, some vendors deliberately arose panic among victims. They follow up exaggerated statements about the devastation with promises to take care of all aspects of damage restoration if only the customer assigns his or her homeowner's insurance payout directly to the company pledging to fix the damage.

This practice is termed Assignment of Benefits or AOB, and has become of great concern in Florida when pursued dishonestly by disaster recovery companies. The problem stems from the unprincipled actions of dishonest and immoral individuals who inflate the cost of restorations and recommend unnecessary repairs to increase the flow of money into their coffers from unsuspecting customers' insurance carriers. Not infrequently, the vendors that demand a customer sign an AOB also perform low-quality work that does not stand the test of time.

Homeowners trade control over the restoration process and direct communication with their insurance agent and company for a potentially false sense of security. The company assigned the benefits makes all the decisions if an insurance company resists paying. Also, the property owner typically agrees in the AOB documents to cooperate if the restoration company files suit against the insurance company. Because of details in Florida's current AOB statute, insurance companies risk paying significant attorneys fees if claims presented are refused or paid at a lower rate, so they sometimes pay to evade the perceived penalty.

The overreaching effect of the AOB practices of some immoral restoration companies is steep increases in premiums and the unavailability of homeowner insurance coverage in areas where weather damage is predictable. High-pressure tactics to sign AOBs, little history of quality restoration in an area, and fear-mongering are signals that a restoration company is part of the problem, and not the solution you seek.

With decades of top-notch restoration experience and a desire to set your mind at ease, our experts at SERVPRO commit to use a clear communication style and transparent dealings with you and your insurance company as we restore the damage.

Lower Levels can be a Spot Most Likely to Collect Flooding That Affects Your Home.

9/13/2022 (Permalink)

Bay county resident receives help from technicians of Bay County after flooding.

Flood damage? We have the equipment and expertise always available.

When flooding occurs in coastal areas, lower levels in a residence are most likely to experience the most significant volume of pooling water and potential contaminants. As damaging as these circumstances can become, our prompt response can reduce the spread and saturation of this standing water in your Bay County home to other places.  

The damage occurs quickly, causing the need for floor removal in your; choosing the right professionals makes a difference in these steps' efficiency.  As you might expect, our inventory of industry-leading tools plays a role in how we aim to protect area homes and save customers money.  

Some of the Efficient Tools We Use in Flood Recovery Include:  

Submersible Pumps: Extraction, where water exceeds two inches in depth, requires submersible pumps to remove. High-pressure pumps are ideal for water removal, though self-priming trash pumps are often necessary to manage debris in the water. 

Wet Vacuums: When water gets to a more manageable two inches or less in-depth, we can use versatile and portable options like wet vacuums to manage the remaining standing water.  

Containment Barriers: Establishing containment barriers creates drying zones that reduce the spread of floodwater to other areas of the lower level.  

Portable Heaters: The use of portable heaters in the established drying zones can promote a higher temperature on specific surfaces to promote evaporative drying.  

Air Movers: Airflow is vital to eliminating trapped moisture in structural elements and contents. Combined with dehumidifiers, these tools can almost single-handedly manage evaporation.  

Flooding can be challenging for any homeowner. Our team can help with efficient tools and strategies to make it "Like it never even happened." 

Rely on SERVPRO for Expert Flood Damage Remediation After a Storm

9/13/2022 (Permalink)

Bay County SERVPRO team begins drying of kitchen after severe water damage is endured after storm.

The sooner you contact the highly trained professionals at SERVPRO the quicker we can get to work restoring your home and preventing further damage.

Florida residents are no stranger to severe weather events, even as far inland as your Bay County home. With so many large storm systems that rage in from the coastlines, it can often be a difficult thing to predict the severity of a storm that comes and how much damage it can do in its wake. The unfortunate aspect of this unpredictability is the damage that this weather can do to your house, leaving it vulnerable to flooding on top of the structural weaknesses. 

The primary concern with flood damage in your Tallahassee residence is the kind of impact it can have on the structural integrity and far-reaching effects it can have on surfaces like flooring and ceilings. Fighting this kind of situation requires you to move quickly and reach out to certified restoration specialists that can get to work quickly to get rid of the present water and protect your home from further damage as they restore the current concerns. 

While extraction is a priority when our IICRC certified SERVPRO technicians arrive at your home, a greater concern for our restoration specialists is to prevent further external damage. Our team conducts a thorough inspection of all vulnerable points affected by the storm damage and sealing up these areas of penetration with tarps, plywood, and boards to keep further water damage from occurring while the restoration process is underway. 

Extraction is a key component of the restoration plan for our SERVPRO professionals. Using a combination of equipment, water gets quickly pulled from the flooring to thwart penetration through levels of your home and prevent further expenditures for remodeling and reconstruction. For significant volumes of water, truck mounted pumps get used in conjunction with wet-vacs for spot extractions in tighter areas. 

Drying is another critical element to the restoration process, and upon completion, allows for a thorough assessment of structural concerns that require your attention.   

When severe weather leaves you with flooding damage, acting quickly can save the contents of your home from irreparable damage and save your out of pocket expenses as well. Give SERVPRO of Bay County a call whenever you need us at (850) 785-1077

Restore or Replace?

8/25/2022 (Permalink)

There are many things that can be restored after a property fire!

Fires can result in a variety of damages:  damage to structure and contents from the flames, soot staining throughout the property, smoke odor, and even water damages incurred during the extinguishing of the blaze.  Understanding the types of materials that can be remediated and restored, versus those that should be discarded and replaced after a fire has occurred at your home or business, can help you to make better decisions moving forward after this type of disaster strikes.

Restore

Items that are more likely to be able to be restored after a fire include:

• Items made of glass, ceramic, or porcelain
• Hardwood items, such as dressers or bureaus
• Metal, including flatware
• Certain fabrics, when cleaned appropriately to reduce the possibility of smoke odor setting in
• If done with specialized techniques and by professionals, such as SERVPRO of Bay County, electronics and paper documents can be restored if not directly affected by flame

Replace

Items that should be discarded after a fire include:

• Food, including fresh, frozen, and canned items that have been exposed to heat or smoke
• Medications
• Fabrics, electronics, or paper goods that are directly affected by flame
• Cosmetics

Here to help you restore your property, and your life, after fire damage strikes, SERVPRO of Bay County offers 24/7/365 emergency service throughout Panama City, Panama City Beach, and surrounding communities.  To learn more about our service lines, request assistance, or for any other questions, please give us a call: 850-785-1077.  SERVPRO of Bay County: “We’re faster to any size disaster!”

Commercial Water Damage in Panama City Beach?

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damages Don't Wait, and Neither Does Our Team!

For Your Panama City Beach Commercial Property, SERVPRO of Bay County Streamlines Water Restoration with Fast Action and Industrial-Grade Equipment

Many water events could occur within your commercial space that leads to water damage of some sort. It may be a leaky roof, storm damage to windows, faulty appliances, or a burst pipe. However, how you act makes a difference in the overall time and costs involved with the cleanup. Your Panama City Beach business is always in good hands when you contact our friendly team at SERVPRO of Bay County. Rather than leaving the cleanup to your in-house crew, we have the powerful cleaning agents, extractors, and drying equipment to speed up the process for you, AND our team is "Faster to any size disaster."

What is Involved in Water Cleanup and Restoration?

Removing standing water from the equation is imperative with any water incident at your place of business. When called for water damage restoration in Panama City Beach and surrounding areas, our crew arrives quickly to cut back on the severity of the loss. We assess the damage that has occurred within your building, which allows us to formulate a plan with the best next steps. Our equipment allows us to quickly and efficiently pull up standing water, but we suggest having the water supply turned off to lessen the impact until we arrive.

It Seems as Though Water Moved into Other Rooms, Now What?

During a water incident, it is not all that uncommon for the water to migrate. If you had a pipe burst near the kitchen or employee lounge, it might follow the path of least resistance. In some cases, this means traveling along baseboards and into other rooms. This is another reason why professional intervention is critical to ensure you restore your commercial space's interior to preloss condition. We utilize industry leading moisture detection tools track down hidden pockets of water that can bring secondary damage or microbial growth. 

If a substantial amount of water made it behind walls and within cavities, we may need to perform flood cuts or place holes so that water removal and drying can take place. Of course, our staff follows best practices as set forth by the IICRC, and we have skilled technicians ready to handle any controlled demolition or major reconstruction required.

What Can Lingering Moisture Do to The Office Space?

Several problems can arise if you fail to address moisture throughout your commercial building, including:

• Staining of ceilings, walls, and carpeting
• Strong, musty odors
• Warping, cracking, or buckling of flooring
• Physical deterioration of structural building materials and/or contents
• Microbial growth, which can cause potential health effects

After water saturates various surfaces and materials, deterioration begins. There may be immediate damages, while others take some time to present themselves. By removing any standing water and going through the motions of moisture detection within the first 48 hours of the water incident, you have a better chance of long-term results and salvaging the majority of your materials and contents. 

Several crucial steps are always part of our water restoration efforts, including:

• Addressing and controlling relative humidity levels throughout the space
• Total extraction of all standing water
• Preventing moisture transfer from the loss zone to unaffected areas
• Ensuring the condensation does not develop to exacerbate the situation further

What Should I Do Until You Arrive at My Office?

Even with the rapid response that the SERVPRO of Bay County crew is known for, every minute is of the essence and should be utilized as much as possible when addressing water damages. Until the time that we arrive and begin our mitigation process, we suggest you take the following steps:

• Turn off the water to your unit or the area where the incident is taking place. 
• Try to open up any nearby doors or windows to the outdoors. This helps to get some of the moisture out with a boost in airflow that improves the evaporation rate.

What Happens with Saturated Paperwork?

Offices are known for having vast filing systems housing essential documents. In some cases, water damage is final when it causes matting or smudging of the ink. SERVPRO does have a variety of specialized techniques that help us to prevent further deterioration from taking place. Some actions that we can try will include:

• Specialized drying techniques
• Separating and removing saturated papers from dry paperwork
• Freezing wet documents to stop the dissolution of ink and disintegration of papers

We take each project we are called to for water damage restoration and tailor a specific plan to your needs. When you have a water incident at your commercial space, you can trust SERVPRO of Bay County to quickly and efficiently get the job done. When disaster strikes, give us a call: 850-785-1077. Our professionally trained team is standing by, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies.

Commercial Property Fire Safety

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

Planning and Preparation are KEY to reduce your risk of fire damage!

One of the most devastating things that can happen to a business owner is to have their commercial property suffer damages.  Especially in the case of fire, there are a variety of measures that can be put in place to limit the amount of damage sustained and/or reduce the risk of a fire even taking place in the workplace.  So, what can you do to not only help ensure the safety of your employees and customers, but also protect your building when it comes to fire?

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are one of the most common, and widely recognized, means of protecting property in case of fire.  It is important to make sure your fire extinguishers are in date, located in easily accessible areas of the building, and are the proper type of extinguisher for the possible materials that could catch fire at your business.  The National Fire Protection Association offers resources defining the different types of fire extinguishers.

Fire Suppression

Depending on the size and type of commercial building you own, a fire suppression system may be required, or recommended, for use.  This system includes strategically located overhead sprinklers that are triggered by high heat.  Additional suppression type systems, including chemical suppression, are available for properties like restaurants and catering halls where a great deal of cooking takes place.

Evacuation Plan

Knowledge is the key to success when it comes to preparation and planning.  Make sure all employees are knowledgeable about the protocols for building evacuation in case of fire, have evacuation routes mapped and displayed, and make sure all emergency exits are labeled.  Consider practicing fire drills on a regular basis, including instruction on where to meet once evacuation has taken place.  Taking a head count after evacuation ensures that all personnel are accounted for: this information can be critical to relay to first responders in the case of a fire emergency.

Even with the best preparation, fire damages can still happen.  When fire disaster strikes your commercial property, know that SERVPRO of Bay County is Here to Help.  Serving the communities of Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Mexico Beach, and surrounding areas, our team offers 24 hour a day emergency response to help make your damage "Like it never even happened.  Interested in learning more?  Call Us!  850-785-1077.

Drenched by Your Dishwasher?

8/5/2022 (Permalink)

Dishwasher, or other appliance, water damages? SERVPRO of Bay County is here to help!

One of the most common water damage emergencies that SERVPRO of Bay County responds to in homes throughout the community is “drenching by dishwasher.”  Many people start their dishwasher cycle before heading to work, going to bed, or heading out for a day of shopping, and unfortunately, this can allow extreme amounts of water to flow where it shouldn’t before being discovered.  So, what are some of the ways that your dishwasher can lead to disaster?

• Worn Gaskets – these gaskets can allow small amounts of water to escape at first, and as the wear and tear becomes more severe, a large amount of water can be expelled.
• Unlevel Dishwasher – an unlevel dishwasher can allow water to pool on one side or the other and leak out below.
• Broken Door – if the door does not seal properly, water can quickly seep out, or even worse, the door can be complete pushed open during the wash cycle.
• Supply and/or Line Damage – whether the lines come loose, have cracks or breaks, or begin to dry rot, a damaged supply line can lead to a large amount of water escaping into your property in a very short amount of time.

If your dishwasher, or any other appliance, causes water damage to your home, know that the SERVPRO of Bay County team is Here to Help.  We provide 24 hour a day emergency service and take great pride in providing the highest possible level of customer service when disaster strikes.  To learn more about our offerings, or schedule an appointment, please give our team a call at 850-785-1077.