Douglas County 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

7/30/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Douglas County is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help

Call Today - (541)- 530- 7044

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Douglas County has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Douglas County

SERVPRO of Douglas County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Does Your Home in Douglas County have a Mold Problem?

7/30/2024 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. 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 health effects.
• 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 your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (541)- 530- 7044

Wildfires in Douglas County- Keep your smelling right

7/30/2024 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allow us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage 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.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

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 [[Franchise Name]] 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, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

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

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, 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 fire and smoke damage. We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (541)- 530- 7044

What to do about water stains on a ceiling.

4/14/2023 (Permalink)

Water stains on a ceiling

What to do if Ceiling has Wet Stains?

There are a variety of reasons your home has wet ceilings. Sometimes there might be water damage from a leaky roof, other times it could be condensation buildup caused by poor insulation or air circulation. It may look like nothing at first glance, but if left unchecked it can lead to serious problems over time. We want to help you better understand how to identify wet stains on ceilings and what action is appropriate depending on their cause.

Determine the source of the leak.

Water stains on your ceiling could indicate that there's a leak somewhere in your home. Leaks can be caused by a variety of things, including plumbing issues, roof problems, and leaks in the walls.

When faced with this situation, first determine the source of the leak. If there is water dripping from above, check for cracks or holes in your roof where rain could be entering; if there are no holes in your roof but water is still leaking through onto your ceiling, look for leaks in plumbing pipes that run through your attic and into your house below. After determining whether or not there are any obvious sources of water coming from above, clean up what has already spilled and make sure to dry out as much moisture as possible before moving on to step two: stopping further leaks and preventing future ones from happening again!

Fix the leak.

If you have a leak in your ceiling, this is the next step to take. If you don't fix the leak, more water will get into your home and damage your ceiling. You may need to call in a professional if you aren't sure how to fix it or if it requires expensive materials. 

Dry out water from the ceiling.

If you've got a wet spot on your ceiling that's not mold, you'll want to do everything in your power to get rid of it as fast as possible. First, use fans and other ventilation methods to dry out the ceiling. If the stain is large and there's plenty of water damage, hire a professional restoration company like SERVPRO of Douglas County.

Water stains on ceiling can be caused by a variety of things.

The best thing you can do if you discover water stains on your ceiling is to locate the source of the leak as soon as possible, and then stop it. The source of the leak may be a fairly straightforward issue to fix, or it may be more complicated, such as replacing an old roof or repairing a broken pipe.

Whatever you decide to do about your water stains on the ceiling in order to prevent further damage, it’s important that you act quickly before too much damage has been done and before any mold starts growing in your home.

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the problem of wet stains on the ceiling and what to do about it. If you have any additional questions or concerns please feel free to contact SERVPRO of Douglas County and we will be happy to assist you with whatever questions you may have.

Easy ways to prevent a fire

4/13/2023 (Permalink)

House fire

Making your home safer from fire hazards isn’t as difficult as you may think. You can add simple steps to your daily routine and simple home maintenance items to your checklist to lower your risk for common causes of structure fires. With summer heat blazing, it is essential to know what can spark a fire and how you can prevent it.

Know how to fight a grease fire? 

Grease fires are well known. Part of their danger is because water cannot extinguish grease fires; it makes these events worse! When grilling, keep a fire extinguisher handy. Metal pan lids and baking soda can also work for smaller grease fires.

Pro tip: When using a charcoal grill, let your ashes cool before discarding them. 

Keep Your Burn Areas Free of Debris

One of the popular activities to do in the summertime is to host bonfires or burn yard debris. Ensure all fire areas are at least 15-20 feet clear of flammable objects. Keeping a water hose nearby is also a good idea to prevent rogue flames from spreading. 

Fully Extinguish Cigarettes in Safe Containers

Such a small thing as flicking a cigarette on the ground can cost thousands of dollars in damage. With this heat, it takes seconds for flames to spread throughout a building. Encourage others to fully extinguish their cigarettes and place them inside a cigarette receptacle.

Use a Mosquito Stand or Candle Properly

Everyone hates mosquitoes and summer bugs. They seem to be everywhere! While many of us see mosquito candles or stands as necessary, be sure to extinguish their flames when away from the lit area.  

Keep your smoke detectors working. 

Everyone should test smoke detectors year-round to ensure they are operating correctly. Fires can start within seconds, and you need a way to be alerted to danger. Testing your smoke detectors, changing their batteries twice each year, and replacing them every ten years will ensure they continue to help protect your family. 

Consider switching to battery-operated candles

Scented candles are trendy but also pose a significant fire hazard. Switching to battery-operated candles lowers your threat of a house fire for obvious reasons.

Like most other disasters, fires can be powerful and challenging to contain, especially when the conditions are hot and dry. SERVPRO® of Douglas County encourages you to be fire safe and heed caution during these summer months. 

If your home is damaged due to a fire or any other cause, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available 24/7 in the event of an emergency. Contact us to learn more about our fire restoration services and how we can help your family. 

Severe weather preparation

4/13/2023 (Permalink)

Thunderstorm Potential

There are plenty of things to be concerned with daily, and for many people, planning for severe weather ends up pushed to the sidelines. Though harsh weather conditions can feel like a more abstract concern than a literal one, it is still extremely dangerous.

Responsible for many injuries and fatalities each year, severe weather can cause serious issues—especially for those who have not taken the time to prepare.

Why Should I Be Concerned With Severe Weather?

Severe weather is certainly unpredictable, but it is also unavoidable. Chances are, you will be impacted by a thunderstorm, high winds, or heavy rains at some point, and not acting with safety in mind can put you or your family in harm’s way.

Severe weather causes many issues, from lightning strikes to wind damage and bodily harm. Trees down, power outages, and flooding can all be significant threats to your home or safety. Though we may never be able to know precisely when and where severe weather will strike, preparing for it is the best thing we can do.

How Can You Be Safer in the Event of Severe Weather?

Get a Reliable Weather Update System

If severe weather is possible, local officials will issue watches and warnings accordingly, and being able to tune into these alerts can potentially save a life. Instead of relying on a cell phone, get a battery or hand-powered weather radio so you can tune in even if cell reception becomes spotty due to storms.

Pack a Household Emergency Kit

An emergency kit in the home is a must, as storms can knock out power and floods can knock out utility services. Your kit should have everything your family might need for a few days, including light sources, food, water, and first-aid supplies.

Create an Evacuation Plan

In most instances, you will want to stay put in the event of severe weather—but if you are in the path of a flash flood, you will want to move to higher ground. Make sure you have an evacuation plan if this happens, and practice it as a family beforehand so you can execute it smoothly if you are in danger. Ask SERVPRO® how our Emergency Readiness Plans (ERP) can assist your home or business in a time of weather crisis.