20 Tips to Prevent Water Damage in Your Home

7/5/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damage can Occurs Due to:

• A water heater
• A broken line under your sink
• A clog in a toilet
• A split hose connected to an appliance

Preventing leaks before they start is the best way to prevent water damage. Here are 20 tips you can follow to lessen the likelihood of water damage to your home.

1. Inspect Sinks and Drains
2. Check Your Appliances Regularly
3. Shut off Your Water Main While Away
4. Know Where Your Water Shut-off Valves Are 
5. Install Leak Detectors
6. Install a Water Flow Monitoring System 
7. Check Water Pressure with a Pressure Gauge
8. Buy or Replace a Pressure Release Valve
9. Fix the Caulking Around Your Home
10. Monitor Your Water Bill
11. Clean Gutters and Downspouts
12. Install Gutter Guards
13. Clean Downspouts and Decline Your Soil
14. Maintain Trees and Shrubs
15. Deline Your Soil
16. Monitor Your Sump Pump
17. Fix Water Leaks
18. Repair Your Chimney
19. Replace Copper Pipes 
20. Install Floor and Drain Pans

If you have any questions on these tips feel free to give SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties a call (541)808-2600.

10 Things You Should do to Keep Rain Water Out of Your Home

7/5/2022 (Permalink)

Here are 10 things you should do to keep rain water out of your home.

• Increase Grade: The ground around your home should be sloped away from your property to divert water. It's a very simple process, borrow dirt from three feet away from the structure, and toss it against the side of the structure creating a slope.
• Clean Rain Gutters: You should clean your gutters annualy. A clogged gutter can send rain water running down the exterior wall, which can result in water entering interior walls. 
• Divert Down Spouts: At the local hardware store you can purchase a black plastic corrugated hose that fits around the base of the dowspout. This hose carries water away from the structure, preventing water from seeping into the foundation.
• Roof Maintenance: You should have your roof inspected every 5 years. Your roof is the first line of defense, with one tear in a rubber membrane or crack in a tin roof, or a compromise in the plywood struture of the roof can be disastrous for the interior of your structure.
• Window Repairs: Proper window istallation and maintenance is very important. Modern windows are fitted with well and drains to help guide water outside of the house. Improper caulking can be disasterous by sending water into the structure insteade of draining it away.
• Sweep Away Debris: During spring and fall especially, you should sweep outdoor sufaces weekly. Sweep patios and door well to prevent debris from clogging exterior drains. 
• Expand Exterior Drains: By expanding the surface area of exterior drains decreases the likelyhood of clogging the drain.
• Constuct a Swale Ditch: Constructing a ditch and filling it with landscaping rock can help divert water away from the structure, esapecially for yards that are extreemly flat.
• Exterior French Drain: For structures on a slope, an exterior French drain, including a subterranean ditch with a black perforated corrugated hose, can be used to divert surface water away from the srtucture.
• Install a Sump Pump: When all else fails, installing a sump pump may be the solution. You will need to dig a well through the basement or slab of structure. The well may be up to 7 or 10 feet deep. As the water table increases, a sump pump activates and transports water away from the structure. 

If you have water damage concerns due to rain water please feel free to give SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties a call we're always here to help. (541)808-2600 

Preventing Fire Damage

7/5/2022 (Permalink)

Here are some helpful tips on preventing fire from damaging your home or business.

Within 30 feet from your home or business

• Clear combustible materials such as dried leaves and pine needles.
• Cut down tree limbs that are 15 feet or closer to the ground. This will help prevent the fire from spreading onto your properties tree line.
• Remove any vines or vegetation that is on the side of your house or business.
• Place any flammable lawn furniture in storage when not in use.
• Opt for non-flammable decor, such as gravel opposed to wood chips.

Within 100 to 30 Feet From Your Home or Business

• Create "fuel breaks" in your property. Hopefully these areas will help stop the spread of a fire. These can be gravel pathways or driveways.
• Cut any tree branches that are 8 feet or closer to the ground.
• Clear combustible vegetation.

Within 200 to 100 Feet From Your Home or Business

• Place any stacked firewood or scrap wood.
• Continue to clear combustible vegetation.
• Plant trees far enough apart so their branches don't touch.

Smoke and Soot Cleanup

7/5/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damages and odors. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damages to develop a comprehensive plan of action. 

Smoke and Soot Facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.

There are two different types of smoke-wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke-Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, or smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke-Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, also heat rises, therefore, smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue-Produced by Evaporation of Material Rather Than from Fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, and extreme pungent odor.

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions. We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your smoke and fire damage property. 

If you have any questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage give SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties a Call (541)808-2600.

Who is SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties?

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is a franchise company with over 45 years of leadership in cleanup and restoration. Our track record of results has earned us the trust of the insurance industry, countless homeowners, and in one unforgettable instance the Pentagon. 

You may be aware that your local SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties is part of a franchise system that has been helping make fire and water damage "Like it never even happened," since 1969, but did you know that the system has grown to include more that 1,700 franchises nationwide in 48 states? Now in Canada too! 

Wherever there is a house full of water, mold, soot, or just need a good general clean, there is a van full of clean ready to help.

WE ARE FASTER TO ANY SIZE DISASTER!

SERVPRO is quietly taking to the street, every hour of everyday, proving that you can count on our highly trained professionals to respond quickly to your disaster needs.

SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties is a locally owned and operated business, but we are equipped with many troops we can call in anywhere, anytime to help! 

For any disaster needs give SERVPRO a call. (541)808-2600.

20 Tips to Prevent Water Damage in Your Home

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

Water Damage can Occure Due to:

• A water heater
• A broken line under your sink
• A clog in a toilet
• A split hose connected to an appliance

Preventing leaks before they start is the best way to prevent water damage. Here are 20 tips you can follow to lessen the likelihood of water damage to your home.

1. Inspect Sinks and Drains

2. Check Your Appliances Regularly

3. Shut off Your Water Main While Away

4. Know Where Your Water Shut-off Valves Are 

5. Install Leak Detectors

6. Install a Water Flow Monitoring System 

7. Check Water Pressure with a Pressure Gauge

8. Buy or Replace a Pressure Release Valve

9. Fix the Caulking Around Your Home

10. Monitor Your Water Bill

11. Clean Gutters and Downspouts

12. Install Gutter Guards

13. Clean Downspouts and Decline Your Soil

14. Maintain Trees and Shrubs

15. Deline Your Soil

16. Monitor Your Sump Pump

17. Fix Water Leaks

18. Repair Your Chimney

19. Replace Copper Pipes 

20. Install Floor and Drain Pans

If you have any questions on these tips feel free to give SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties a call (541)808-2600.

10 Tips to Prevent House Fires

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

House fires take lives and homes of too many people! In a five year period house fires have caused 2,620 dealths and 6.9 billion in prperty damage. The top three causes of fires in a home are cooking, heating equipment, and electrical malfunction. Here are some tips to help prevent a fire from occurring.

1. Test your smoke alarms regularly

2. Inspect all your heating sources

3. Keep your stove and oven clean

4. DO NOT leave your kitchen while cooking

5. Always check your dryer

6. Maintain all cords

7. Properly store flammable products

8. Practice caution with candles

9. Be careful with your fireplace 

10. Keep fire extinguishers around

If you you have questions or would like more information on fire prevention give SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties a call (541)808-2600.

Statistics and Facts You Should Know about House Fires

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

Key insights + statistics

• In a five-year period, house fires caused 2,620 deaths and 6.9 billion in prperty damage (NFPA).
• In 2018, the national average was 2.5 civilian fire dealths and 9.8 injuries per 1,000 fires (NFDR).
• The top three cases of fires in homes are cooking, heating equipment, and electrical malfunction (FEMA).
• It can take just 30 seconds for a small flame to turn into a major blaze (Department of Homeland Security).
• An average of 358,500 homes experience a structural fire each year (NFPA).
• More than 3,000 Americans die in fires each year (FEMA).
• Everyday, at least one child dies from a fire inside the home (Stanford Children's Hospital). 

Take extra care when making dinner; cooking is the leading cause of house fires in the nation. Additionally caused by faulty heating equipment and electrical malfunction, each year ther's an average of 358,000 house fires according to the National Fire Protection Association. These fires result in 7 dealths everyday. 

What causes house fires? -The facts

The following data comes from the U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), FEMA, and Ready.gov:

• The top three causes of residential fries are cooking (50% of all fires), heating equipment (12.5%), and electrical malfunction (6.3%).
• A house fire happens every 87 seconds.
• Over 22% of non-residential fires are electrical fires, caused by short circuits or wiring problems. 
• Thanksgiving is the peak day for cooking fires.
• NFPA reports that close to 30% of fires start in homes.
• Each year over 18,000 fires are started due to fireworks.
• In less than 5 minutes, the heat from a house fire can reach over 1100 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 45% of home fires in the fall months when most Americans use their fireplaces to keep warm.
• 96% of all homes in the United States have had some form of fire or somke-related damage.
• According to Stanford Children's Hospital, of the children hospitalized for burns, 20% of children under age 4 are treated for contact burns. 

If you have fire damage to your home or would like more information on fire prevention give SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties a call (541)808-2600.

10 Things You Should do to Keep Rain Water Out of Your Home

6/8/2021 (Permalink)

Here are 10 things you should do to keep rain water out of your home.

• Increase Grade: The ground around your home should be sloped away from your property to divert water. It's a very simple process, borrow dirt from three feet away from the structure, and toss it against the side of the structure creating a slope.
• Clean Rain Gutters: You should clean your gutters annualy. A clogged gutter can send rain water running down the exterior wall, which can result in water entering interior walls. 
• Divert Down Spouts: At the local hardware store you can purchase a black plastic corrugated hose that fits around the base of the dowspout. This hose carries water away from the structure, preventing water from seeping into the foundation.
• Roof Maintenance: You should have your roof inspected every 5 years. Your roof is the first line of defense, with one tear in a rubber membrane or crack in a tin roof, or a compromise in the plywood struture of the roof can be disastrous for the interior of your structure.
• Window Repairs: Proper window istallation and maintenance is very important. Modern windows are fitted with well and drains to help guide water outside of the house. Improper caulking can be disasterous by sending water into the structure insteade of draining it away.
• Sweep Away Debris: During spring and fall especially, you should sweep outdoor sufaces weekly. Sweep patios and door well to prevent debris from clogging exterior drains. 
• Expand Exterior Drains: By expanding the surface area of exterior drains decreases the likelyhood of clogging the drain.
• Constuct a Swale Ditch: Constructing a ditch and filling it with landscaping rock can help divert water away from the structure, esapecially for yards that are extreemly flat.
• Exterior French Drain: For structures on a slope, an exterior French drain, including a subterranean ditch with a black perforated corrugated hose, can be used to divert surface water away from the srtucture.
• Install a Sump Pump: When all else fails, installing a sump pump may be the solution. You will need to dig a well through the basement or slab of structure. The well may be up to 7 or 10 feet deep. As the water table increases, a sump pump activates and transports water away from the structure. 

If you have water damage concerns due to rain water please feel free to give SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties a call we're always here to help. (541)808-2600 

5 Ways to Protect Your Emloyees from a Workplace Fire

6/8/2021 (Permalink)

No matter the type or size of your business a potential for a workplace fire can occur. In industrial operations it is more likey, such as welding but a small paper fire or electrical short can ignite a devastating fire inside an office building. 

The best way to avoid damage and injuries from workplace fires is to prevent them from happening. Your workplace should have a written Fire Prevention Plan. This will identifie the risks and control measures. It also covers maintenance of fire extinguishers and other suppression equipment and the collection and disposal of flammable or combustable materials. 

Here are 5 steps that can help you with your plan, protect your business, and protect your employees.

Good Housekeeping

Make a point to regularly check for fire hazards:

• Inspect cords for breaks, frays, and ensure they're firmly into the outlets.
• Don't overload power strips, surge protectors, or "daisy chain" these items together.
• Avoid storing materials in front of emergency exits or fire extinguishers.
• Keep paper products, arosols, chemicals, and other flammable materials away from heat sources.
• Keep appliances clean and free of spilled fats, sugar, sauces, etc.
• Turn off tools or appliances if they produce a burning smell, smoke, sparks, or flickering lights.

Fire Extinguishers

All businesses must have fire extinguishers and they must be the right type for your workplace.

• Class A fires include wood, paper, and textiles.
• Class B fires include flammable liquids.
• Class C fires include electrical equipment.
• Class D fires include metal powders and shavings.
• Class K fire extinguishers are required for commercial and resturant kitchens.

Your employees need to know how to use a fire extinguisher properly. You should train your employees to use a fire extinguisher properly.

Fire Detection Systems

A smoke alarm, heat detector, and/or flame detector provides an instant alert when fire or smoke is present. Employees can react quickly when they hear the sound weather they need to use a fire extinguisher or need to exit the workplace quickly. You should regularly test these devices and maintain your fire detection system. These devices should be protected from corrosion or other potential damages and provide enough warning time for employees to evacuate the workplace.

Hazardous Chemical Storage

Many workplaces have hazardous chemicals present. These could be as simple as cleaning solutions you store at the office or large containers of hazardous materials stored in warehouses. In all cases they pose a risk for potential workplace fires. When storing chemicals, make sure to keep incompatible groups apart. 

Emergency Planning, Evacuation

All employers must have an emergency action plan and communicate it their employees. This will cover a number of things like potential emergencies, including fire, and it spells out the responsibilities each employee has when the plan has to activated. 

If a fire occurs in your commercial building or small business give SERVPRO of Coos, Curry, & Del Norte Counties a call we're always here to help. (541)808-2600