Fire Damage contact SERVPRO®

7/17/2024 (Permalink)

Damage from a fire can be extremely devastating

Damage from a fire can be extremely devastating for your family and your home. By being prepared and taking essential precautions, such as regular safety checks, you can drastically reduce your chances of suffering the losses that come with fire damage.

• Smoke alarm maintenance: Testing them regularly and replacing batteries ensures they'll function properly in a fire.
• Heating source safety: Keeping heating devices well-maintained and inspected reduces the risk of fire.
• Kitchen safety: Avoiding flammable materials near the stove and never leaving cooking unattended prevents common fire hazards.
• Dryer maintenance: Cleaning the lint trap and checking for stray lint or objects minimizes fire risk from dryers, especially gas dryers that require annual inspections.
• Electrical cord safety: Using them properly, avoiding overloading outlets, and repairing damaged cords prevents electrical fires.

For more information, please contact SERVPRO® Davenport/Bettendorf at 563-386-3540.

Water Remediation

7/17/2024 (Permalink)

Big jobs are no problem for SERVPRO

Cleaning up after a major storm can be a substantial undertaking, whether the damage was caused by a tornado, hurricane, flooding, snow or ice. The primary focus during the cleanup process should be on safety. Ensure the area is structurally sound and free of any electrical, hazardous materials, or other dangers before proceeding.

It's crucial to wear the appropriate safety gear when tackling post-disaster cleanup. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the following:

• Hard hats
• Protective goggles
• N95 masks or a respirator
• Waterproof steel-toed boots with insoles
• Earplugs or protective headphones
• Having two fire extinguishers on site

If possible, work with others to help lift heavy items. Prioritize the most important tasks and tackle those first. Remember to take breaks when you're feeling fatigued.

If the job seems overwhelming, especially if water, mold or sewage is involved, don't hesitate to call SERVPRO®. During major storm events, their Disaster Recovery Team assembles locally with the necessary crews and equipment to handle these complex cleanup situations that require additional resources.

Biohazard/Bio Recovery

7/17/2024 (Permalink)

Sterilization of Bio material

WHAT'S INVOLVED IN CLEANUP?

• SUICIDE
  The emotional toll on friends and family can be devastating when someone dies by suicide. Suicide attempts that are successful can also cause significant damage to a home, such as with gun suicides that affect a large area. SERVPRO® will remediate all organic material and properly dispose of affected items in accordance with biohazard regulations.
• UNATTENDED DEATH
  An unattended death occurs when a body goes undiscovered for an extended period. After death, the body begins to decompose, which can be a very distressing and gruesome process for a family to witness. Decomposition leads to odors, insects, bacteria, and mold. SERVPRO's goal is to fully sanitize the affected area and remove any contaminated personal property.
• HOMICIDE/TRAUMA
  Once the crime scene investigation is complete, SERVPRO® steps in to help restore the area to normal. We specialize in cleaning up not just bodily fluids and biohazards, but also remnants of the criminal investigation, such as tear gas, fingerprint dust, and chemicals. We work efficiently and carefully to remove all traces of the trauma, and we have experience collaborating with law enforcement. 
• INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
  All biohazardous materials must be properly disposed of and handled by certified technicians who comply with OSHA and EPA regulations. This is crucial for the safety of everyone involved. Business owners, landlords, and commercial/industrial property managers risk legal issues and lawsuits if the area is not decontaminated and sanitized correctly. SERVPRO of Davenport/Bettendorf is trained to address the unique challenges of workplace biohazard remediation, including dealing with machinery and transportation.

Storm Damage

7/11/2024 (Permalink)

Storm destruction

How is storm damage reduced? Mother Nature can have a mind of her own, but there are some things you can do to limit the amount of damage your property receives from a storm.

• Secure outdoor items: Taking a few minutes to secure outdoor belongings can go a long way in preventing them from causing damage to your property.
• Make sure to secure trampolines, grills, trash cans, canopies/awnings, play equipment
• consider storing vehicles inside a garage or under a covered space if possible. 
• Maintain your home and yard
• Roof damage is common after storms due to wind, hail, and snow/ice.
• To decrease the likelihood of damage, ensure your roof is in good condition before the next storm.
• Additionally, regular trimming of trees and bushes can prevent weakened limbs and branches from falling during a storm.

If a storm does impact you, SERVPRO of Davenport/Bettendorf can help you with these services:

• fire and water damage
• cleaning and restoration
• water removal and dehumidification
• reconstruction
• mold mitigation
• carpet cleaning
• bio-hazard decontamination
• vandalism damage cleanup
• odor removal
• document drying, contents/furniture
• cleaning and contents storage if needed.

Whether the damage is located in just one room or an entire building, we can do any size or type of cleaning or reconstruction project.

Our goal is to make any type of damage "Like it never happened."

Why SERVPRO?

7/10/2024 (Permalink)

Why SERVPRO?

SERVPRO is a leading emergency restoration and mitigation company with over 2,000 locations across North America. Here are some key benefits We offer:

• Trust and Expertise: Founded in 1967, SERVPRO has a long history and trusted relationships with most major insurance companies.
• Streamlined Insurance Handling: We work directly with your insurance company to handle communication, approvals, and paperwork, minimizing your burden.
• Professionalism: Another benefit of SERVPRO® is the presentation of crews when they are at your property.  You know it is SERVPRO by our easily recognizable green on our trucks, equipment and uniforms.  Our trucks, equipment and team members are presented in a clean and standardized manner.  
• Communication and Respect: We keep you informed about the progress and treat your property with care.
• Diverse Services: Beyond fire and water damage, they offer restoration services for sewage, biohazards, post-construction cleanup, and more. 

If you have a problem that needs solving, give us a call at 563-386-3540.  At SERVPRO of Davenport/Bettendorf we are always here to help.

SERVPRO Mold Remediation

7/10/2024 (Permalink)

Mold near ceiling

Mold Remediation

• Any home or commercial property can quickly be overcome with mold if a source of water is present.
• Mold can spread throughout a property in as little as 48 hours. Since mold can produce allergens and irritants, you should call us to inspect your home if you suspect you have a mold problem.
• If mold is found, we have the training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.
• Learn more about mold and what to do until help arrives by reviewing these mold damage tips.
• Understanding Mold
  Microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, outdoors and indoors, making it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy.
• Consider the following mold facts: Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
  Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
  Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If You See or smell Signs of Mold,

Call Us Today – (563) 386-3540

2024 SERVPRO CE Classes

3/1/2024 (Permalink)

3/1/2024

SERVPRO of the Quad Cities every year offers CE classes for Insurance Agents. All of the classes throughout the year will allow the agents to fulfill all of the credits needed for continuing education. Contact the marketing email or call us to sign up. We can also add you to our email list to see our newsletters to stay up to date on the classes.

Importance of Cleaning your HVAC System

9/8/2023 (Permalink)

How many homes get their HVAC system cleaned regularly? The answer is not very many. Many homeowners do not make cleaning their HVAC system a priority, but the reality is that it should be cleaned by a professional like SERVPRO® every 3 to 5 years. Why is this necessary? In an HVAC system, it draws the air from within your house and circulates it while heating or cooling it. This means that is picks up several different things in the air and pulls them into the vents. These things include dust and pet hair. The dust and pet hair build up in the vents over time. Some other things that can be found in the HVAC system are critters, like insects, mice, and cockroaches. Additionally, if there is condensation, mold can grow. Some risks with of these unwanted things in your vents circulating throughout your home is risk of health problems, usually this is seen in respiratory issues. Some other problems that can arise from an uncleaned HVAC system is an increased energy cost, reduced efficiency of the heating and cooling system, a smelly home, and circulating dirty air throughout your house. This introduces harmful micro-organisms into your body.

Emergency Ready Profile (ERP)

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

With a SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan (ERP) a business will always be prepared if a tragedy in the building occurs. An ERP provides specific details about the functionality of the building that a business is housed in. Starting from the important contact information of maintenance, building owner, insurance, and management, all the way to where the water and electrical shut offs are located. There is tons of information stored in the folder given to the property management after a SERVPRO staff member assesses the building and logs in all of the information. This information is important because hypothetically, if the building were to have a water loss, whomever is on site, this could be maintenance or even the front desk attendant, they would know exactly who to call and know exactly where to turn off any electrical systems or water systems without anyone there to assist them. This is also important because with losses of any kind, time is of the essence, the faster the damage can be handled the better. The more damage that is the done, the more expensive the loss will be and the longer a business will suffer from not being able to be in a functioning business. If a loss ever occurs, SERVPRO is open 24/7/365. We are a call away to have a Project Manager come assess the loss, and after get a crew on site to start mitigation and reconstruction if needed to get the business up and running again!

Biohazards

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

After a hazmat, trauma, or crime scene there is cleanup that needs to be done. SERVPRO has the experience, tools, and chemicals to clean up biological and chemical contaminants. These types of incidences require compliance with all environmental, governmental, and health regulations. We make sure to remember to treat the property with respect and to whomever may be involved with empathy and professionalism. Before we can begin the cleanup process there usually needs to be an investigation by police, after they are done, we assess the property to determine what cleaning products and equipment needs to be used. These types of incidences are handled very much with care, considering out technician’s bodily health and mental health as well.