Let the pro's handle it!



Any water damage in your home is bad. Especially when the water contains potentially harmful bacteria that can affect the health of your family and the value of your home. Toilet overflows, sewage backups and other black water intrusions are more than nasty, smelly messes, these bio hazardous damages, also introduce harmful microorganisms into your home, as well as the moisture necessary to support their growth.

So before you risk your health by attempting to clean up the mess yourself, call your local water damage cleanup and restoration experts! Call us 803-755-9774!

Do's and Dont's: Water Disaster

How many of you know how to respond during a water damage disaster? Your first and most important step should be to call your emergency mitigation specialists at SERVPRO. The sooner we arrive on site, the more you and your insurance company save in restoration and construction services.

These emergency tips will assist you in taking the proper actions and precautions until WE arrive!

Do:

• Shut off the source of water if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.
• When access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock, turn off circuit breakers in wet areas of the building.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.  
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture should be relocated to a safe, dry place.
• Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors.
• Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors.
• Hang furs and leather good to dry separately at room temperature.

Dont:

• Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.
• Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.
• Leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floors to cause staining.
• Leave oriental rugs or other colored rugs on wet wall-to-wall carpets to cause staining.
• Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water, possibly causing electrical shock or damage to the vacuum cleaner.
• Use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet.
• Enter rooms where ceiling are sagging from retained water.

Contact us for 24 Hour Restoration Service:
SERVPRO of Cayce/West Columbia/ Lexington
803-755-9774



-Denea Duran

Photo Credit:  Google Image

Flood Tips

If a flood were to strike your home or business, would you be prepared? Below are some helpful tips to help minimize your loss  before the professionals at SERVPRO of Cayce/West Columbia & Lexington come to the rescue!

 

WHAT TO DO AFTER A CONTAMINATED WATER DAMAGE:

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.


• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

WHAT NOT TO DO AFTER A CONTAMINATED WATER DAMAGE:

• Don’t spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas.


• Don’t turn on the HVAC system if there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air.


• Don’t use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants.


• Don’t use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.

What to do after A CLEAN water damage:

• Shut off the source of water if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.


• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building, when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electrical shock.


• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.


• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items.


• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying.


• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.


• Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.


• Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors.


• Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors.


• Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

What NOT to do after A CLEAN water damage:

• Don’t enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.


• Don’t enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock       hazards.


• Don’t leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors to cause staining.


• Don’t leave Oriental rugs or other colored rugs on wet wall-to-wall carpets to cause staining.


• Don’t use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water, possibly causing electrical shock or damage to the vacuum cleaner.


• Don’t use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.


• Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Water Damage

It’s the water you don’t see that can cause the most damage. Professional restoration is just a phone call or click away.

SERVPRO of Cayce/West Columbia & Lexington  (803)-755-9774

EMERGENCY TIPS

visit our main site www.servprolexingtonsc.com

We also have a mobile app. Available for iphone, Droid and BlackBerry!

The SERVPRO Ready Plan is a tool for property managers and owners, both residential and commercial. It allows for the creation of an Emergency READY Profile containing critical facility information to help speed up response time after fire or water damage.

Learn more about the SERVPRO Ready Plan Mobile App

Photo Credit: www.prlog.org

-Denea Duran

Caution: Contaminated Water

Any water damage in your facility is bad, especially when the water contains potentially harmful bacteria that can affect the health of occupants and the value of your prperty. Toilet overflows, sewage backups and other black water intrusions are more than nasty, smelly messes; these biohazardous damages also introduce harmful microorganisms into your building, as well as the moisture necessary to ensure their continued growth.



Sewage damage poses serious health risks to anyone exposed to the contaminated water. The danger arises from various harmful substances, including parasites, that can cause intestinal disease. Some common risks are hepatitis A, E-coli and Salmonella. This grossly unsanitary water is often referred to as "black water." Building occupants should practice precautionary and safety measures at all times when dealing with the threat of black water.

A mop and common cleaning products may not be enough for black water intrusions. Your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional is trained to safely clean and restore your buliding utilizing the following procedures:

• Identify the source/type of water


• Measure temperature and humidity for drying analysis


• Survey the extent of damage and inspect the premises


• Perform emergency water extraction


• Move and block furniture


• Provide floor service


• Inspect carpet and padding


• Apply necessary treatments including disinfectants and deodorizers


• Utilize and monitor drying equipment


• Dispose of refuse

We understand how disruptive and dangerous contaminated water can be and offer 24-horu emergency response. Under normal circumstances, a trained, uniformed restoration technician arrives onsite within four hours of loss notification to begin emergency mitigation services.



By responding quickly with a full line of water cleanup and restoration services, your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional can help you regain control quickly through proper drying, deodorization and protection of your facility and contents. Abiding by OSHA guidelines and all applicable health regulations, we remove moisture, sewage and contaminants by disinfecting and deodorizing as we safely clean and dry your building and restore contents. Please remember to practice extreme caution when dealing with contaminated water.

*Photo credit to: http://peakwater.org/?p=5860

Sandy Hayden