Commercial Water Damage

10/1/2024 (Permalink)

Commercial water damage can be devastating for a business.  SERVPRO® is Here to Help® you get your business back up and running as soon as possible.  We have professional crew and top of the line equipment to make the restoration as seamless as possible.

Our Large Loss Disaster Recovery Team is on call 24/7 to assist in getting your business up and running as fast as possible and make it "Like it never even happened."

The SERVPRO Commercial Large Loss Division is composed of our best of the best in restoration. Our elite large-loss specialists are pre-qualified and strategically positioned throughout the United States to handle any size disaster. Every large loss is supervised by a commercial operations manager to help ensure seamless communication and timely mitigation. 

Call us today!!!

708-672-0077

Be Prepared for Winter Storms!

9/25/2024 (Permalink)

Winter Storm Preparedness: Prevent Frozen Water Pipes

Winter storms are here and it won't be the last.

The National Severe Storms Laboratory categories a winter storm as having snow, sleet, or freezing rain.  In Glenwood, we can see any of this type of precipitation throughout the winter months. When the temperature is below the freezing point and precipitation is in the forecast, that’s when our office knows what types of calls we’ll be getting: water damages.

How Water Pipes Freeze and Break

A water damage during a winter storm happens when your pipes freeze.  When water freezes, it expands and creates pressure inside the pipe, which can cause it to break.  The pipes that are most likely to freeze are those outside the home that are exposed.  Other vulnerable pipes are those indoors that don’t have access to heat, like those under your kitchen cabinets or in the garage.

Indoor Frozen Pipe Prevention

• Before temperatures reach freezing, insulate exposed and vulnerable pipes.  You can do this by installing pipe sleeves or even wrapping the pipes with newspaper.
• Close the garage door to prevent cold air from coming in.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
• Keep your home heated above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

What To Do Until Help Arrives

If your pipes still freeze and you have a water damage, give us a call immediately and follow the following steps:

1. Don’t delay.  Call us as soon as you notice your water damage.  The longer water stands in a structure, the more damage it will cause.  As soon as you call, we will schedule a crew of technicians to travel to your home and begin remediation.  
2. Cut off the water source, if possible.
3. Get textiles off the floor.  Many homeowners rush to put down towels to stop the water flow, and that’s okay.  Towels can easily be cleaned at our textile cleaning facility if need be.  What you want to look out for are small fragile textiles or objects on the floor that can be damaged by water.
4. Begin documentation.  Start with the point of origin and all affected areas.  While our technicians will also take the document, it's important to start documenting as soon as possible to prove your loss to your insurance company.

Be Aware of the Weather

Keep your eye on the weather forecast.  Not only will you be prepared to travel safely, it’ll also give you to valuable time to prepare your home and keep it, and everyone living inside it, safe.  

SERVPRO of Chicago Heights / Crete / Beecher

We can be reached 24/7/365 at (708) 672-0077

“Like it never even happened.”

Snow Storm damage in Beecher

12/11/2023 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO® of Chicago Heights/ Crete/ Beecher service area has been hit. The question we get is can snow storms be a possible hazard to my home? The answer is yes, it can!

Typically, we don’t get enough snow that hangs around long enough top worry much about this in our area. Folks in the north are a little more concerned about this than we are because of the greater amount of snowfall and generally colder sustained temperatures. But with snow covering roofs in our area and record low temperatures forecasted the conditions are right for a problem commonly referred to as ice damming.

An ice dam forms when ice builds up on the eaves of the roof and any water behind it has nowhere to go and may end up in your home. This happens because heat gathers in your attic and slightly warms the roof above. The eaves however do not warm like the rest of the roof because they do not have the warm air of your attic under them, they have the cold outside air underneath. As the snow melts from the warmer portion of the roof and runs down it can freeze over the eaves forming an ice dam. As thawing continues above the water running down is trapped behind the dam.

Water will always follow the path of least resistance. In this case it can back up under shingles. Once under the shingle it will makes its way down under the roof inside your attic. From there it can settle on the ceiling or make its way down wall cavities. If snow melts makes its way into your home don’t panic. Stay calm and call SERVPRO.

What is a Master Service Agreement (MSA)?

10/11/2023 (Permalink)

A Master Service Agreement (MSA) stands as a crucial contract binding two parties and outlining their relationship's terms and conditions. In the realm of facility vendors, an MSA typically covers a wide array of services like cleaning, maintenance, and repairs.

But let's get down to it – why should you even bother with an MSA? Well, around here, it's all about efficiency. Having just one contract in place means no more dealing with each vendor separately. That's a win-win that saves you both time and money.

Plus, it's all about communication and teamwork. An MSA spells out who's doing what, so there's no room for misunderstandings and delays. In this neck of the woods, we appreciate clear-cut agreements.

And then there's the protection an MSA provides. Your MSA usually includes provisions for stuff like insurance, liability, and resolving disputes. It's peace of mind, plain and simple.

Now, let's talk SERVPRO Team Nichols. We're a local standout near Chicago, and we're the ones you want for your MSA needs. Here's what we bring to the table:

1. **Local Expertise**: We're your neighbors, serving the Chicagoland area. We know the local scene and the unique needs of our community.

2. **Comprehensive Services**: Our team is well-versed in a variety of services that can be covered by an MSA, including water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, mold remediation, biohazard cleanup, storm damage restoration, and construction and remodeling. We're your one-stop shop for all things restoration.

3. **Round-the-Clock Service**: Emergencies don't wait for convenient hours. We're available 24/7 to tackle any disaster head-on.

4. **Customer-Centric Approach**: Your satisfaction is our top priority. We work closely with you to understand your specific needs and tailor a plan to meet them. Plus, we keep you in the loop throughout the restoration process.

So, if you're in the Chicagoland area and need a trusted partner for your MSA, SERVPRO Team Nichols is the way to go. We've got the local knowledge, expertise, and commitment to make sure you're taken care of.

To dive deeper into our MSA offerings or get your questions answered, just give us a call. We're here to help, 24/7/365.

Damage from water in Steger

2/19/2023 (Permalink)

Water extraction is an evolved science that encompasses a professional assessment of the water damage and the creation of a plan of action for recovery. The professionals in this industry are Certified Water Damage Restoration Technicians (WRT) or Certified Mold Technicians (CMT). They utilize established equations and properties of materials, psychrometry (the study of gas-vapor mixtures), an understanding of mold and microbial activity, and water restoration equipment technology to determine the set of industry accepted mitigation protocols to use.

The use of equations, properties of materials, and psychometrics is needed because water behaves differently depending on its state (liquid, gas, or solid), temperature, the type of material it has penetrated (wood, dry wall, ceramic, concrete, cloth, etc.), and the environmental conditions (relative humidity & temperature). Once all of these parameters are known, calculations are made to determine the most efficient extraction rate possible without causing additional damage.

Mold and microbial growth is possible in the presence of water so it’s vital that the offending water be extracted as soon as possible. Although everyone has seen mold in the past, in many cases mold is not visible. Determining the presence of non-visible mold requires a Certified Mold Technician to take swab samples of the affected material and send the samples to a certified lab for analysis.

There is a wide range of water restoration equipment available to perform water extraction. Suffice to say that it is important to have the right equipment selected for the particular water restoration job at hand.

Why you want SERVPRO as your vendor for Medical Facilities

2/19/2023 (Permalink)

Working in Hospitals or other Medical Grade facilities is not a service you want to leave to just any vendor. A job completed incorrectly can open the door to a whole list of legal liabilities, this is WHY you need SERVPRO of Chicago Heights-Crete-Beecher.

Certified and accredited by the Linders Health Institute in Infection Control, we will help manage and control the risks that can be associated with this type of work. Protecting your patients, staff, other vendors, and helping your Risk Management Team limit your liability and enhance the Healthcare experience. 

               Don't wait, call us today!!!!

                      708-676-0077

  www.SERVPROchicagoheightscretebeecher.com

#Hospital #MedicalFacility #FireDamage #FireRestoration #WaterDamage #WaterMitigation #IICRC #ICRA #Mold #BioCleanUp #SERVPRO #PlanetSERVPRO #SERVPROOfChicagoHeightsCreteBeecher.com  

Fire Damage in Crete Monee

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

Responding to fire damage scenes quickly is the key to mitigating losses to personal property in a home or business. SERVPRO technicians are ready to respond around the clock when disaster strikes. 

Once the fire is extinguished by the fire department, our crews will quick access the situation and decide how best to move forward. Smoke damaged and Water damaged laundry is usually a priority for our clients. Our Crete Monee crew will identify, inventory and remove all laundry from the structure and get it back to our facility for processing. In many cases, a move out or pack out is required. As quickly as possible, packing materials are brought to the scene and inventory and packing begins. Those items are also brought back to our facility for cleaning and deodorization. 

The cleaning and deodorization process can be very complex. SERVPRO uses the latest equipment and products to restore contents to pre loss condition. Ozone and hydroxyl machines assist in removing odors and specialized cleaning detergents are used to cleaning everything from laundry to hard wood furniture.

After items have been cleaned and inspected the client and insurance company representative. The are carefully packed always and stored in storage vaults until structure repairs are completed. SERVPRO of Chicago Heights-Crete-Beecher has a state of the art storage facility that is climate controlled and protected by security cameras. Our customer's possessions are our top priority at SERVPRO. 

Fire Damage Factors Involved in Cleaning

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

Cleanup Post Fire May Included Many Specifics for Success

Many homeowners think about a house fire, and the picture that comes to mind is flames exploding out of their windows and up through their roofs. What many of them don't realize is that the actual flames are usually located in just one room (frequently the kitchen) and quickly put out by a home sprinkler system, foam fire extinguisher, or members of the fire department.

Fire damage to Lynwood homes is primarily from the accompanying smoke rather than the heat itself. SERVPRO inspectors and technicians have seven factors that our inspectors and technicians consider to determine how difficult it will be to clean items of smoke residue and restore them to their original state.

1) Type of Surface - A porous surface (flat latex paint or paper wall covering) lets smoke and odor penetrate more easily and is difficult to clean. A non-porous surface (enamel paint or vinyl wall covering) resists smoke and odors and is much easier to clean. For fabrics, synthetic fibers are easier to clean than natural fabrics, but they attract more smoke residue.

2) Age of Surface - The older an item is, the more difficult it is to clean. This applies to carpets and fabrics as well as paint. Even enamel paint becomes more porous as it ages.

3) The amount of Heat - High temperatures cause surfaces to expand, which makes them more porous. This expansion allows smoke residue and odor to more easily penetrate them. If the heat melts or bubbles a finish, then no amount of cleaning will restore them.

4) Amount of Moisture - If sprinklers were activated or firefighters had to soak down a room, the water left standing can combine with smoke damage to permanently yellow surfaces

5) Type of Material Burned - Synthetic materials like plastic and rubber leave a wet, 'greasy' type of soot residue. This is harder to clean than natural materials such as wood that leave a dry, powder-like residue that is easier to clean even if it becomes wet.

6) Air Pressure and Impingement - Heated air expands and circulates faster through a structure. This forces smoke residue farther into cracks and crevices, making cleaning more difficult. It also drives smoke into surfaces with greater speed, pitting and damaging them.

7) Temperature Change - Depending on the material burned, some smoke residues may contain hot oils. If they are cooled very quickly, the residue may form a film that adheres to a surface which is very difficult to clean.

Regardless of the extent of the damage, we do our best to serve our community. SERVPRO of Chicago Heights / Crete / Beecher understands that these are our neighbors and we do everything we can to help them restore their homes and property to their original state if we can. If you need our services or even just have a question about our training and equipment, call us today at (708) 672-0077.

Mother Nature Doesn't Care If Water Comes In Your Home

7/23/2022 (Permalink)

Have you ever forgotten to close the window before a storm comes in?  Or left for vacation with a window open?  As you may have learned, Mother Nature doesn’t care if water comes in your home.    Water damage to wood window frames or floors can start off small but then quickly turn into a larger problem.  It is important to properly handle a water damage as quickly as possible.

Calling the experts at SERVPRO of Chicago Heights / Crete / Beecher has years of experience in water mitigation and home restoration.

 Repairs and replacing is what we are great at.  Life throws curve balls at us all, the question is how will you handle the situation?  Property dealing with a home issue can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. 

SERVPRO Stands Ready To Assist Homeowners With Fire Damage To Their Properties

6/8/2022 (Permalink)

Factors That Affect The Outcome Of Fire Damage Restoration Services In Steger Properties

After fire damage in a property, there are many cleaning challenges left behind. Due to the unpredictable nature of fire, a home blaze has the potential to contain different types of smoke residues in a single room due to various kinds of materials burned and varying temperatures.

SERVPRO technicians test the smoke residues to determine the best technicians and methods to address fire damage in a Steger home. Using correct applications and tools to clean up fire loss is vital to avoid further damage to the structure and contents. For example, wetting dry smoke acts to drive it further into porous surfaces rather than cleaning it.

Keep Traffic Out of the Fire Loss Area
When a fire happens in a home, it is more common to find a portion of the house affected rather than the entire home gutted. However, discourage entrance into the areas with fire damage, as it can spread odor-causing soot around the house. When SERVPRO technicians arrive, they contain the area to inhibit any cross-contamination.

Do Not Clean Smoke Residue
Wait for SERVPRO to arrive as using consumer-based cleaning products have the potential to make the smoke and soot damage on surfaces and objects worse. Self-cleaning may make stains permanent.

Time Between the Event and Cleanup
The time that elapsed between the fire in the home and the cleanup plays a significant role in the restorability factor of both the building structure and contents.

Carpet and Flooring is Often Restorable
Each job site is unique, and SERVPRO technicians have the training to identify whether or not the carpet or hardwood flooring may benefit from their restoration services. Specialized equipment used for water extraction and drying increases the chances of a successful outcome for the flooring.

SERVPRO of Chicago Heights / Crete / Beecher stands ready to assist homeowners with fire damage to their properties. Call us at (708) 672-0077 and our trained, and certified technicians will arrive within an hour and make the fire loss “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Steger click here.