Don’t Come Back From Vacation to Find Your San Antonio Home Flooded

10/8/2023 (Permalink)

The last thing that should be on your mind when you’re on a vacation away from San Antonio, TX is whether a broken pipe has caused an area of your home to flood. This can cause damage to your belongings and your home, so the best thing to do is to prevent the need for water pipe repair.

Prevent Burst Pipes

Broken pipes can be difficult to fix, and the damage can be costly. It’s best to keep this issue from ever happening. If you’re traveling out of town for an extended period of time, specifically during the winter, there are several steps you can take to prevent your home from being flooded:

• Don’t turn down the heat too far. If you keep the heat on, even if you turn it lower than if you were home, it can keep your pipes warm enough to prevent them from freezing.
• Keep the water running. You don’t have to run the water on full. If you allow the faucet to drip, this helps relieve the pressure in your water system, possibly eliminating water pipe repair.
• Wrap the pipes. If you wrap pipes, especially those that are exposed, with towels or blankets, it provides extra insulation against the elements.

Keep an Eye on Your Home From a Distance

If you’re going to be gone for several days, especially during the coldest parts of winter, it’s not a bad idea to have a neighbor, family member or friend stop by the house once in a while. This can be just a quick peek inside to verify there is no flooding or a broken pipe, or checking the thermostat to make sure plenty of warm air is circulating in your empty home.

You can also use video cameras that you can view from your phone or computer to check on your home. This won’t prevent a pipe from bursting, but it can allow you to at least get a professional there to do a water pipe repair sooner and prevent further damage.

For more information or to set an appointment fell free to contact us at 210-757-0275 or at https://www.SERVPROeastsanantonio.com/

Commercial Water Loss

10/8/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East San Antonio is able to respond to any size disaster. We remediate damage to both residential and commercial properties.

In the event that your business experiences a water loss, call SERVPRO of East San Antonio. Ask the technician if there are any steps you can take while waiting for them to arrive.

It's best to get a professional's guidance since every situation varies, but here are some tips to potentially help minimize damage to your property:

• Find where the water shut off valve is. Shut off the water, or contact the person in charge of shutting off the water.
• Turn off circuit breakers in any areas of the building that are wet.
• Do not enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers, or electrical equipment are exposed to water. 
• Don’t turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.
• If it's safe to do so, place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.
• If it is safe to move any paintings, art objects, computers, documents, or other sensitive valuables to a dry place, do that to prevent further damage.

Ultimately, SERVPRO of East San Antonio has highly trained technicians who are able to properly mitigate your water loss. Call us and let us help make it "Like it never even happened."

Getting Started: Steps Toward Severe Weather Protection | SERVPRO® of East San Antonio Storm Damage

10/8/2023 (Permalink)

Whenever an area is susceptible to storms, there is no telling when one will cause damage to an area and when one will pass by without incident. Though they can be unpredictable, a little preparedness goes a long way when it comes to storm safety. By being certain that you are doing all that you can to protect your home and household, you can make sure that you have peace of mind and are being as safe as possible.

<h3your-home-and-family-for-storms">Preparing Your Home and Family for Storms

Prepare your home as much as possible. There are many damages that storms can cause, and while some may be unavoidable, there are some you can prepare for through household maintenance. Simply securing projectiles such as patio furniture and ensuring trees are trimmed can go a long way. Many homeowners also choose to have a household generator installed in case of a power outage that lasts for a long time.

Create a family communications plan. In the event that everyone is not home when a storm starts, it is important that you are able to communicate and make sure everyone is safe. If everyone is home, be sure they know where your designated shelter area is in the house so you can all migrate there. Designate someone to bring the animals to this safe area too so they are not forgotten in the chaos.

Make sure your emergency kit is stocked. Keeping an emergency kit handy is recommended for any type of preparedness, including severe weather. Having a kit that is well-stocked with nonperishables and supplies is a great way to keep everyone safe and comfortable both while the storm is raging and in the aftermath in case of a power outage. Store your kit in your designated shelter area for best results.

Consider getting a weather radio. Though our phones are the primary source of weather information, power outages and dead batteries can render them useless—hence the need for a backup. Getting a weather radio is a great solution, as you will be able to keep up with emergency alerts and weather updates directly, regardless of what state your cellphone is in.

If your home is damaged by a storm, you can depend on us to take care of any damages. Contact us at any hour to report damage and receive a rapid response.

Getting ready to a storm kit

10/8/2023 (Permalink)

Cold weather, snow, and ice storms may wreak havoc on your house or company. When tragedies like these hit, you must act quickly to prevent more damage to your property. SERVPRO is always willing to assist, and we'd like to offer some advice on how to put together a basic emergency kit in case the unexpected occurs.

One thing that 2021 has taught us is to always be prepared in a year full of surprises. Here are a few essentials to include in your Emergency Storm Kit.

The following items should be included in a basic emergency supplies kit:

-Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food  (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
-A battery-operated or hand-crank radio, as well as a NOAA weather radio - Weather Tone alarm on the radio
-Flashlight
-Kit for first aid
-Extra batteries are available.
-A whistle (to signal for help)
-Mask to protect against dust (to help filter contaminated air)
-Duct tape and plastic sheeting (to shelter in place)
-Garbage bags, moist towelettes, and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
-pliers or a wrench (to turn off utilities)
-Can opener (manual) (for food)
-Maps of the area
-Chargers and a backup battery are included with the phone.

What to do in case of flooding after a strong storm?

9/13/2023 (Permalink)

Do not wait to call SERVPRO as soon as you see water in your house! The most important component in limiting the extent of the damage and in stopping the spread of water into areas like your floors and walls is time. We can make a significant difference if we respond to the problem quickly enough. Nevertheless, we can still assist if you discover damage days after a storm. We can identify the root of your problem and provide a resolution thanks to a team of specialists that are knowledgeable in storm damage. We repair what was damaged in addition to cleaning and treating the area. It will be "Like it never even happened" when we depart. 

Please contact SERVPRO in case of facing any disaster.

SERVPRO Can help facing Mold damages

9/13/2023 (Permalink)

What took place?

The plastic water line behind the refrigerator frequently cracks, starting a sluggish trickle that accumulates water behind the refrigerator unseen. Excessive condensation buildup is another typical cause that has the same result. Numerous issues can arise in your house as a result of water damage from your refrigerator, especially given how long the issue may go unnoticed before it is discovered and how much damage has already been done to your floors and the surrounding surroundings. Mould can grow and your floors can deteriorate in the ideal conditions of moisture, heat, and darkness. These mould spores can be problematic in places like apartments or enclosed spaces, and a condition like this should not be disregarded. Since SERVPRO specialises in mould remediation, we would gladly get rid of the problem and stop any future aggravation for you.

Next, what?

Any visible water must first be cleaned up to prevent further damage and the possibility of mould growth. After doing this, check your refrigerator to see if there are any obvious leaks or places where excessive condensation may be accumulating. If feasible, it's critical to replace any damaged connections in order to immediately halt the leak. Examine the damage to the area under and around the refrigerator if you are able to. The majority of the time, damage to the floors will be obvious, but the underlying issues may be hidden beneath. We recommend to contact SERVPRO Immediately to help with any mold problems in your house. 

Why SERVPRO in case of fire damages?

9/13/2023 (Permalink)

For a company or commercial facility, fire damage is especially disastrous. Significant water damage from firefighting efforts and fire suppression systems may happen in addition to the fire and smoke damage.

Restoration of commercial fire damage has special difficulties. Every hour it takes to get your business back to normal after a fire is lost income and production. The SERVPRO® team is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to handle major commercial fire damage crises. We will act immediately to reduce damage and oversee the restoration project until it is finished, whether your fire emergency takes place in a restaurant, motel, or office building.

If your company suffers a fire loss, call SERVPRO®, the experts in fire and water damage repair, and we'll arrive right away to help you get back to work.

Some advices to get prepared for a hurricane

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

A blowing Hurricane

Is your commercial enterprise hurricane-ready?  

Here are some resources to assist businesses with hurricane preparation:

• Make a backup of your important computer data and save it elsewhere.
• Make a thorough inventory of your company and take lots of photos.
• A communication plan for employees should be in place, and it should include a specific out-of-town phone line where employees can check in and get corporate information. Make sure employee emergency contact information is up to current.
  Establish storm procedures so that staff members are aware of what to do and post them beforehand.
  Defend electrical devices from potential water damage.
• In case additional funds are required after the storm, have extra cash and blank checks on hand.
• If your facility is damaged, establish a temporary location for business operations.
• Choose a safe space for workers who must stay in the building.
• Give employees enough time to safeguard their homes and families. Protect the structure and any goods you can't bring into construction sites.
  Licensed contractors must protect their job locations in the case of a tropical storm warning or hurricane watch. Objects that could be dangerous must be secured or removed.

Dial Us Now! If you need any help!

SERVPRO is always here to help with storm water damage

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Hurricane

Many people believe that the hurricane and storm season has little bearing on their life, but those who have really experienced them can speak to the enormous devastation a tropical cyclone causes. If you don't use qualified service providers to repair your property for you, it could be stressful and expensive.

Call SERVPRO to protect your home from the stresses of tropical stormwater damage. We have a group of experts on staff that are skilled at repairing homes after a storm. We have cutting-edge tools on hand and are prepared to renovate your home.

We are equipped to address any damage caused by tropical storms, including wind and flood damage. The phases of our restoration process are as follows:

- The job site is inspected and assessed as part of emergency response.

- Demolition, water removal, and drying are followed by daily inspections to assess the job's progress.

- Cleaning and sanitising

- Deodorisation

- Replacing damaged materials

Non-penetrative moisture metres can be used by our SERVPRO professionals to find moisture. We have self-priming trash pumps that we can utilise to remove water from your home. These pumps are frequently used when only a small lift is needed or when horizontal water transfer is necessary. For instance, self-priming trash pumps can be used to remove water from one-story buildings in the wake of a cyclone.

In order to prevent a mould infestation, our SERVPRO staff can also employ air-moving and dehumidifying equipment to eliminate all moisture from your house. 

We can choose options that are advantageous for our customers because of our understanding of construction and drying. Additionally, we may clean your home and remove any damaged insulation, flooring, or drywall.

SERVPRO conducts confirmatory tests to make sure the home and any impacted things are restored to their original state before enabling clients to move back in.

We may ask you to sign a Certificate of Satisfaction once we conduct a walkthrough.

SERVPRO Can help facing Mold damages

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Mold in Houses

Mold removal in a house or apartment

Even without storm damage, a broken appliance, or a leak, mould damage can be an issue in a house.

The humid circumstances that are frequently prevalent in our town, whether or not there is severe weather, can promote the growth of this family of fungi within your home. Mold needs moisture and organic materials to flourish.

If you find mould development in your house, call SERVPRO for a professional assessment and effective remediation strategy to get rid of the musty smells and the damage these organisms can do to the building materials, furnishings, and personal items in your home.

As water is nearly always present and needs to be evacuated from surfaces and the air itself to prevent spores from blossoming into full-blown outbreaks, improperly ventilated bathrooms, laundry rooms, or kitchens can foster mould growth. Mold damage is frequently brought on by interior humidity levels that are over 60%. Many fungal strains can develop without standing water or saturated substrates. Often, the culprits are your air conditioners or dehumidifiers, which combine standing water concentrations and moist air in a double dose to create an ideal habitat for microbial feeding frenzy. Underperforming HVAC systems or merely transferring the contaminated air might have a substantial negative impact on the issue. Mold colonies that are continually recycled throughout your home cause contaminations to grow.

SERVPRO specialists may do a comprehensive inspection of your house or condo and systems to determine the causes when mould damage destroys your quality of life. To address the issue, a strategy that considers all probable causes is required. Based on their expertise, our team of professionals can address and eliminate the factors in your house that promote development. We are able to isolate, reduce, eradicate, and contain the mould development issues in your house using the most recent industry technologies and regulations created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You can rely on us to be upfront about any work that may require a third party, typically before or after a mould inspection in areas with significant mould growths. If the mould has a firm grip inside the ductwork, our expert specialists can limit spore circulation by safely and effectively cleaning the system.

We will suggest a multi-tiered approach to your mould damage problems, utilising all of the techniques and resources at our disposal to lower the humidity levels and remove water sources to stop mould from proliferating once more.