Your Possesions Could Be At Risk

An accurate record of your possesions is worth more than you think. A videotape recording is not enough to protect your contents.



Reasons to Inventory Your Home Contents:
Before damage or disaster strikes
-Better information to settle claims quicker
-Add legitimacy to loss
-Assist with burden of proof for claims

For estate planning and will preparation:
-Less stress for your family and heirs
-Efficient estate closing can lessen expenses
-Ensure your heirs recieve possessions
-Factual records to fight bureaucracy
-Better information to reduce taxes

Servpro Contents Inventory Means:
-Complete preloss list and value of contents
-Detailes and accurate report filed with insurance agent or court
-Peace of mind

Prepare for tomorrrow and call today!
803-755-9774

Servpro of Cayce/West Columbia /Lexington

SERVPRO NATIONAL AFFLIATIONS

IICRC- Institue of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

RIA- Restoration Industry Association

BSCA- Building Service Contractors Association International

CSI- Community Assocation International

BOMA- Building Owners and Managers Association


SERVPRO of CAYCE/WEST COLUMBIA/ LEXINGTON SYSTEM SERVICES

Restoration

• Fire, Smoke and Soot
• Water Removal and Dehumidification
• Mold Mitigation and Remediation
• Catastrophic Storm Response
• Move Outs and Contents Restoration
• Electronics and Equipment
• Document Drying
• Contents Claim Inventory Service

Cleaning:

• Air Ducts and HVAC
• Biohazzard, Crime Scene and Vandalism
• Carpet, Upholstery, Drapes and Blinds
• Ceilings, Walls and Hard Floors
• Deodorization

Call us for all of your needs 803-75-9774

Myth-busting: Lightning

After seeing my dog Charlie shove her face (the only part of her body that would fit) under my bed during the storm last night, I found myself with inspiration for today's blog. You see, I wish I could have told my terrified pup that we were completely safe and that she was not facing her final hours. As silly as she seemed, though, I couldn't help but think that we act similarly. We often approach storms with too much or too little fear because we don't know the facts. So please take a moment to test your knowledge and enjoy some lightning myth-busting.

Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place twice, especially if it’s a tall, pointy object. The Empire State building is struck nearly 25 times per year!
Myth: If clouds aren’t over my head and it isn’t raining, lightning poses no threat to me.
Fact: Lightning often strikes more than three miles outside of the thunderstorm and has been known to travel as far as 10-15 miles before striking the ground.
Myth: “Heat lightning” occurs after a very hot summer day and poses no threat.
Fact: “Heat lightning” is just a term used to describe lightning from a thunderstorm too far away to be heard.

*Don't forget to fill out the poll on our home page about how you heard about SERVPRO. We'd love to hear from you!

Sandy Hayden

From all of us at SERVPRO: Have a Safe and Wonderful Holiday Season!

The year is winding down. That means food, shopping, food, parties, food and lots of cheer! Our office has been very busy with parades, networking events and the always expected pre-holiday cleaning.

[caption id="attachment_1098" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Our very own Trey Whitmire at the West Columbia Parade of Lights"][/caption]

(Because there is nothing a busy party planner wants more than a house that smells good and sparkles prior to a house full of friends and family!)

[caption id="attachment_1100" align="alignleft" width="179" caption="Jeannie (SERVPRO of The  Dutch Fork) and our very own Luna!"][/caption]

In addition to all the parties and work duties, SERVPRO has partnered with Lexington Interfaith Community Services and our local insurance agents to provide warm clothing and canned goods for those who could use our help this winter season. We are very excited to report that our generous West Columbia and Lexington residents have donated 87.5 lbs of food and 4 totes full of coats!

[caption id="attachment_1097" align="alignright" width="584" caption="Food and Clothing Donated to Lexington Interfaith Community Service"][/caption]

 

 

 

We are very blessed to have great employees, customers and steady work to get us through another year in a hard economy. We're very much looking forward to next year and plan to be even more involved in community activities and contributions. Stay tuned!

Please remember to be safe this holiday season! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our SERVPRO family to yours!!

-Tia Williams

The Last Year

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/31869641]

It's been a pretty good year, I'd say.

Sandy Hayden

Small Maintenance Can Prevent Big Problems

Don't be fooled. Many innocent-looking home appliances can cause damage to your home if left unattended or go too long between regular maintenance checks. One such culprit capable of causing extensive damage... your hot water heater.

Insurance claims for leaking or ruptured water heaters run into the hundreds of millions of dollars every year. When water heaters are located in remote areas of a home, such as a basement, a leak could go undetected for days or weeks. In addition to the many gallons of water that may need to be cleaned up, damage to the flooring, walls and other surroundings can be severe and costly.

We're not surprised here at SERVPRO of West Columbia and Lexington by the number of calls we receive regarding hot water heaters. That type of appliance is usually installed and left alone. A homeowner often won't even notice a problem until the day the hot water goes out.

We are a national fire and water cleanup and restoration company trained in the cleanup and care of events such as a water leak in your home. An episode like this can be a huge burden on one person, but companies like ours have experience with these types of problems. We can get in there, cleanup the water and leave the homeowner with a sense of security they may not have had since before the leak happened.

Water heaters have a lifespan of 10-15 years, so the appearance of rust or wet spots on the floor around the unit may be a sign a replacement s in the near future. Some preventative measures? At least once a year, the tank on the hot water heater should be drained to remove sediment at the bottom of the tank. Water can be drained out by attaching a garden hose to the drain valve or by purchasing a small electric pump to send the water from your tank to an outside drain.

The pressure relief valve and the dip tube should be checked annually. Also, a faulty electric heating element is another part of a hot water heater that can result in inefficient output. This also involves draining the tank to replace the necessary heating parts. A reputable plumber should be able to handle all of these regular checks to help ensure that a home's hot water heater is in continual good working order.

At our office, we have working relationships with a variety of plumbers in the Great Columbia Area. While a homeowner would rather not have to be in a position to deal with issues surrounding a hot water heater leak, SERVPRO of West Columbia and Lexington is a franchise with the experience to get to the root of the problem and complete the job.

Photo Credit: http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TFH/Projects/FH08MAY_WATDAM_01.JPG

Sandy Hayden

Check Us Out!

Our additions are just about finished! Check us out!

Sandy Hayden

Fun Friday!

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/30565360]

Luna catches.

Sandy Hayden

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

"Like it never even happened" is more than our slogan for our commitment to restore your home or business, it is also our hope for the future of breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which we take seriously as with more awareness comes more individuals taking their health seriously, more people donating and becoming activists toward the cause, and more people searching for a cure.

What can you expect from us this month? Every morning at 9:05 we will be tweeting about breast cancer, providing you with more information on the cancer, recent articles, and opportunities for you to help. The last week of October we will feature articles on our blog about breast cancer every day, including an interview with a local who became part of a group of women to be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 30. So keep your eyes on the blog and follow us on twitter. Here's to hope.

Photo Credit: http://www-cancer.us/breast-cancer-walk/

Sandy Hayden

We like celebrating birthdays because we're family here.

[caption id="attachment_234" align="aligncenter" width="584" caption="Luna is 1 today!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_232" align="aligncenter" width="584" caption="We had to celebrate."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_233" align="aligncenter" width="584" caption="Not a huge fan."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_231" align="aligncenter" width="584" caption="At least Rylin was a good sport."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_229" align="aligncenter" width="584" caption="They were expecting cake."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_230" align="aligncenter" width="584" caption="Very disappointed at the lack of cake."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_228" align="aligncenter" width="584" caption="Happy Birthday Luna!"][/caption]

The Science of Drying

I know, the s-word makes me want to close the browser too... "science." Maybe I should have entitled this "The Art of Drying" instead for those who struggled their way through grade school biology and chemistry. Fear not, readers! Label this article under the tiny mental filing cabinet labelled "Fun Science" and insert it in between Bill Nye and Mythbusters.

The knowledge of psychrometrics ("the field of engineering concerned with the determination of physical and thermodynamic properties of gas-vapor mixtures" -- thanks Wikipedia) is essential to restoring a structure to its preloss condition. Where the average Do-It-Yourself homeowner (guilty) or business owner might be tempted to grab a few beach towels to mop up the mess and place a box fan or two around the damaged area, your local SERVPRO Franchise Professionals follow strict, industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages.

Just for starters, a trained restorer will:

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet, preventing damage from happening because wet components were overlooked.


• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.


• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

So what exactly does "speed up Mother Nature" mean? A wet building can often dry naturally because our environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material -- but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is nature takes a long time, and secondary damages occur while the building is drying out.

For this reason, your local SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have been trained to use top-of-the-line equipment to help the drying process, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls (pictured botom-left) and much more. We also use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment (pictured bottom-center) and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business.

The bottom line? Your local SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have the training and equipment to help make it "Like it never even happened."

There, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Sandy Hayden

How SERVPRO Is Different from Other Restoration Vendors

• SERVPRO is the national leader in Fire & Water Cleanup & Restoration.


• SERVPRO uses only state-of-the-art equipment.


• Training of SERVPRO professionals at the national, regional, and local levels is constantly reinforcing the highest standards.


• SERVPRO presents professionally uniformed field personnel.


• SERVPRO employs experienced and certified technicians.


• SERVPRO provides a professional service fleet.


• SERVPRO offers Full Service mitigation and construction services.


• SERVPRO has the resources of a national company in times of large disasters.


• SERVPRO franchises are held to a higher standard by the National Headquarters.

The Facts on Wildfires and What You Can Do

From coast to coast, wildfires across the country have been making national news. Thousands of acres, homes and businesses have suffered and even faced destruction in lights of these flames.

Southern California isn’t the only area of the country that faces this threat. In 2008, 29 states had more than 10,000 acres scorched by wildfires, as a total of 5.2 million acres burned across the country. In fact, South Carolina ranked number 8 in the nation for number of wildfires in 2008. Though thousands of wildfires are started every year by natural causes—lightning strikes for example—many more are man-made disasters. Returning to the 2008 statistics, 8.856 fires were attributed to lightning strikes, while humans caused 70,093 fires.* Man-made wildfires can be more dangerous than natural fires, because they tend to occur in more populated areas.

Through we may never be able to eliminate wildfires, there are steps we can take to help lessen the danger of damage to our homes and businesses. As a National Preparedness Coalition member, your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional encourages you to follow these safety tips, courtesy of FEMA.

• Always build fires away from nearby trees or shrubs.


• Create a 30-foot safety zone around the house or business, clearing all flammable and combustible objects.


• Remove debris from under decks and inside gutters.


• Prune branches and shrubs within 15 feet of chimneys and stove pipes.


• Replace highly flammable vegetation such as pine, eucalyptus, junipers and fir trees with lower growing, less flammable species. Check with your local garden store or fire department for suggestions.


• Use fire-resistant siding.

*Statistics provided by the National Interagency Fire Center.

Sandy Hayden

Ten of the Most Dangerous Household Items

Day after day I tell you safety tips, what to do in emergency situations, ways SERVPRO can help, etc. It's not that I want to be a downer by bringing up worst case scenarios and I certainly don't want you to view your home as a danger zone; rather, my intention is to get you to consider small preparations you can make to avoid infinitely more regret.

That being said, today take a brief moment to look at some items in your house that could be extremely dangerous if misused. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 93% of possible poisonings take place at home. It’s unavoidable having poisonous household products, but buying them only in small quantities, discarding unused extras, and keeping them out of the reach of children are helpful ways to make your home safer.

Knowing what is dangerous is half of the battle, so that you can be extra cautious with such products. Ten of the most dangerous household items are as follows:

1. Antifreeze


2. Bleach


3. Drain cleaner


4. Furniture polish


5. Gasoline


6. Insecticide


7. Iron-containing vitamins


8. Medicine


9. Nail polish remover


10. Windshield wiper fluid

Again, be sure to keep these items in small quantities and to dispose of unneeded products. And always keep them out of the reach of children!

Sandy Hayden

Keep It Clean: Laundry 101

The washing machine and clothes dryer can be helpful amenities to any household, but when used incorrectly, they are often found to be the cause of many fire and water damages, as well as shocks and electrocution. So how do you make your house a home with so many household items presenting dangerous risks?

The Dryer

The greatest problem with dryers is their inevitable collection of lint, which is highly combustible. It is crucial to empty the lint screen frequently, but many dryer users do not consider that lint does not just collect on the filter. At least once a year, check where the exhaust hose connects to the dryer (after unplugging the machine). After disconnecting the hose, clean lint from the opening of the dryer and from inside the hose. A shop vacuum is helpful for this. Don’t forget to clean out the exterior vent as well. When using your dryer, be sure to avoid drying clothing that may have flammable materials on it (i.e. gasoline). If the clothing must be dried, wash it more than once before running it through the dryer.

The Washing Machine

Washing machines are the culprit for many homes’ water damage. Check your supply hoses regularly for cracked or frayed material. These hoses can bust if left unchecked. In addition to replacing the hoses, flood stopping units are also available. Lastly, like all major appliances, make sure your washer and dryer are both properly grounded. Make sure your fuse or breaker switch is the right size.

Sandy Hayden

The Home You Can't Replace

Here at SERVPRO we talk about protecting your home frequently. Our hope is that we can help you prevent most disasters and recover quickly from those that you can't anticipate. We want where you live to be safe and healthy, but what about the home you can't replace? Taking care of your body is even more important than homeowner tips, and that starts with your skin.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over 2 million people are diagnosed annually.

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.

Over the past 31 years, more people have had skin cancer than all other cancers combined.

Skin cancer isn't reserved for the tanning bed regulars or the fair skinned. That being said, I just wanted to pass along some information from the Skin Cancer Foundation on how you can protect your skin in the midst of all these summer activities (and even in the off-season).

Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher whenever you spend time outdoors.

• This applies to all outdoor activities: athletics, shopping, picnicking, walking or jogging, gardening, even waiting for a bus.


• Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.


• Apply liberally and evenly to all exposed skin. The average adult in a bathing suit should use approximately one ounce of sunscreen per application. Not using enough will effectively reduce the product's SPF and the protection you get.


• Be sure to cover often-missed spots: lips, ears, around eyes, neck, scalp if hair is thinning, hands, and feet.


• Reapply at least every 2 hours, more often if some of the product may have been removed while swimming, sweating, or towel-drying.


• Choose a product that suits your skin and your activity. Sunscreens are available in lotion, gel, spray, cream, and stick forms. Some are labeled as water resistant, sweatproof, or especially for sports; as fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, or especially for sensitive skin or children.

Cover up.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tightly woven fabrics and dark colors, such as deep blue and black, or bright colors, such as orange and red, offer more protection. If you can see light through a fabric, UV rays can get through too. Water makes fabrics more translucent, so do not rely on a wet T-shirt.


• A broad-brimmed hat goes a long way toward preventing skin cancer in often-exposed areas like the neck, ears, scalp, and face. Opt for a 3-4 inch brim that extends all around the hat. Baseball caps and visors shade the face but leave neck, lower face, and ears exposed.


• UV-blocking sunglasses with wraparound or large frames protect your eyelids and the sensitive skin around your eyes, common sites for skin cancer and sun-induced aging. Sunglasses also help reduce the risk of cataracts later in life.

Seek the shade.

• Be aware, however, that sunlight bouncing off reflective surfaces can reach you even beneath an umbrella or a tree. Never seek a tan.


• There is no such thing as a healthy tan. A tan is the skin's response to the sun's damaging rays.

Stay away from tanning parlors and artificial tanning devices.

• The UV radiation emitted by indoor tanning lamps is many times more intense than natural sunlight. Dangers include burns, premature aging of the skin, and the increased risk of skin cancer.

Protect your children and teach them sun safety at an early age.

• Healthy habits are best learned young. Because skin damage occurs with each unprotected exposure and accumulates over the course of a lifetime, sun safety for children should be a priority.

*Don’t forget to fill out the poll on our home page about how you heard about SERVPRO. We’d love to hear from you!

Sandy Hayden

Why SERVPRO?

Ah yes, the age-old question. Parents of young children are particularly familiar with the word, as it is a basic and imperative human need: to know why.

So why SERVPRO? Why not some other restoration company? Why not do it yourself? Why call us? I'll tell you.

• SERVPRO is the national leader in Fire & Water Cleanup & Restoration.


• SERVPRO uses only state-of-the-art equipment.


• Training of SERVPROprofessionals at the national, regional, and local levels is constantly reinforcing the highest standards.


• SERVPRO presents professionally uniformed field personnel.


• SERVPRO employs experienced and certified technicians.


• SERVPRO provides a professional service fleet.


• SERVPRO offers Full Service mitigation and construction services.


• SERVPRO has the resources of a national company in times of large disasters.


• SERVPRO franchises are held to a higher standard by the National Headquarters.

So if your weekend happens to be less than beautiful due to the unplannable (say, fire or water damage?), then I think you know who to call.

Here and ready to help when you need it most: (803) 755-9774.

Oil Fires: From Unattended Bacon to Explosive Fireballs

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQQtswe-a7s?hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=349]

Water, being heavier than oil, sinks to the bottom of a pan of grease where it heats to dangerous temperatures instantly. The explosive force of the steam blows the burning oil out of the pan. This can result in fireballs launching even thirty feet up in the air. Sugar and flour are other dangers to oil fires, as one cup of either creates the explosive force of two sticks of dynamite.

Myth-busting: Lightning

After seeing my dog Charlie shove her face (the only part of her body that would fit) under my bed during the storm last night, I found myself with inspiration for today's blog. You see, I wish I could have told my terrified pup that we were completely safe and that she was not facing her final hours. As silly as she seemed, though, I couldn't help but think that we act similarly. We often approach storms with too much or too little fear because we don't know the facts. So please take a moment to test your knowledge and enjoy some lightning myth-busting.

Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.

Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place twice, especially if it’s a tall, pointy object. The Empire State building is struck nearly 25 times per year!

Myth: If clouds aren’t over my head and it isn’t raining, lightning poses no threat to me.

Fact: Lightning often strikes more than three miles outside of the thunderstorm and has been known to travel as far as 10-15 miles before striking the ground.

Myth: “Heat lightning” occurs after a very hot summer day and poses no threat.

Fact: “Heat lightning” is just a term used to describe lightning from a thunderstorm too far away to be heard.

*Don't forget to fill out the poll on our home page about how you heard about SERVPRO. We'd love to hear from you!

Sandy Hayden

It's Never Too Late for Spring Cleaning

I know what you’re thinking: “The heat index has averaged 115ºF for the last two weeks... it’s not spring anymore.” But hear me out, it’s never too late for spring cleaning. What happens every year when the pollen count spikes and allergies launch into full swing, if you’re like me, is that you end up seeking shelter in the great indoors despite the gorgeous weather. Those flowers are great and all, but my nose is running and I think I have a migraine. If that sounds like you, you might have also noticed that despite the air-conditioned refuge you seek, the sniffles don’t leave. How is this possible?

Sounds like your refuge needs some spring cleaning. Modern homes are so well built and insulated that they are nearly air-tight. While they keep the warmth and air-conditioning inside, they also allow contaminants—such as dust and mold particles—to build up to potentially irritating, even unhealthy, levels.

So why bring this up now? Believe it or not, fall is actually on its way. Although the allergy triggers are slightly different than those in spring, the symptoms can be equally miserable. If you tackle the big cleaning projects now, then by the time allergies are back, it’s just a matter of maintenance cleaning. Check out the following tips on “spring” cleaning and consider giving your home a good scrub-down in the coming weeks.

1. Always start at the top. As you clean higher-up items, like ceiling fan blades and top shelves on bookcases, you’ll knock dust down to a lower level. You don’t want to resoil an area you have already cleaned!


2. Stay focused on the task at hand. When cleaning out a closet or drawer, it’s easy to get drawn in by old photo albums and keepsakes. Set aside time for the fond memories later—you’re on a mission!


3. Don’t be a pack rat. You don’t want to throw away precious keepsakes, but try to limit the junk laying around the house. If you haven’t used it in a year or two, throw it out, or better yet, sell it in a garage sale!


4. Hit the hidden areas. We all avoid the hated, hidden areas in our homes, but now is the time to face the monster dust bunny under the bed. Be ruthless!


5. Tackle the big projects first. It happens every year: We start with the best intentions to scrub down our homes from top to bottom, but somewhere in the middle, we run out of steam. Tackle the biggest projects first, or you may never get to them.


6. Yard sale time! Don’t just chuck your unwanted items. Put them up for sale! You may be surprised to see what could bring in a couple of bucks.

Of course, if spring cleaning isn’t your cup of tea, just give us a call. Here at SERVPRO we have a professional tools and a knack for nooks and crannies. We’ll have your home sparkling in no time!

Don't forget to fill out the poll to the right (if you can't see it, please go to the home page: servprolexingtonsc.wordpress.com)! We'd love to know how you heard about us!

Sandy Hayden