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Professional Fire Damage Restoration When You Need It
7/25/2024 (Permalink)
If You Have Fire Damage contact the Fired Damage Restoration Experts at SERVPRO of North West Montgomery County
Preparing Your Fire Escape Plan in Reading
A fire escape plan can very simply be the difference between safely getting out of a burning house and tragedy for your family. Every home and family situation is different and will have different needs, but there are a few universal steps for creating an effective emergency escape plan.
1. Make Sure the Whole Family is Involved
Your plan will impact everyone, so it’s important to include your family during all planning stages. Walk your household members through each room and strategize escape routes as a team.
2. Identify Potential Barriers and Problems
A blocked exit is an inconvenience in day-to-day life, but it can be deadly during a fire. Identify potential barriers with your family, taking care to ensure each member can identify problem areas so they’re better prepared to select the best route during disaster.
3. Take the Time for Maintenance Checks
Regularly monitor the state of your fire safety equipment. Sprinklers and alarm systems should be tested at least once a year. You can also turn your maintenance checks into opportunities to review your fire escape plan with your family.
4. Make Your Plan Official
Display a copy of your emergency escape plan somewhere safe and highly visible. The kitchen may be an ideal location for a laminated version of your plan.
The National Fire Protection Association has additional tips if you are interested.
If you do experience a fire in your home or business call the professionals at SERVPRO of Reading, Their teams of expert technicians are ready to respond when the fire is out. They will assess your damage and formulate a plan to take care of damage and odor. SERVPRO is the industry leader in fire damage restoration. Remember SERVPRO is also able to take care of cleaning, restoration and your construction needs.
Local Storm Damage Resources With National Backing
7/25/2024 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Reading specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Our technicians are certified and trained, we use advanced technology to restore your home or business.
We are water damage restoration experts with a name that people have trusted for more than five decades. SERVPRO technicians are ready to respond when you need water damage restoration or fire damage restoration, In fact, not only does SERVPRO have cleaning and restoration services, but we also offer construction services. From small residential damage to large loss commercial work, SERVPRO responds quickly and takes care of your property.
Resources in Reading to Handle Floods and Storms
When storms hit our area, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of franchises across the country. SERVPRO also has Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.
IICRC Certified Firm
1/4/2024 (Permalink)
We are an IICRC Certified Firm
SERVPRO of Reading is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.
IICRC Certified Firms must:
• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.
• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.
• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.
• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.
The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry
The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.
Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.
About SERVPRO of Reading
SERVPRO of Reading 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, and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: 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.
Salvageable Items During Mold Removal in Reading
5/21/2023 (Permalink)
Dealing with mold can often be overwhelming. Contact SERVPRO to be your partner during this difficult time. Our technicians are standing by 24/7.
Saving Mementos Damaged by Mold Infestations in Reading
Mold infestations can damage personal belongings, contents, family mementos, and structures in many Reading homes. Clients naturally want to save everything they can, especially family heirlooms with sentimental value. Porous items such as clothing keepsakes, paper products, and photos are among the many things clients strongly desire to save. Non-porous items are much easier to clean and remove all traces of mold.
SERVPRO provides mold removal services to residents living in Reading and the surrounding area. We urge clients to throw away items exposed to mold. Included in this list are things such as:
- Porous items such as linens, drywall, and carpet
- Papers that do not hold any value to the client
- Clothing, drapes, and blinds
- Food items in contact with mold, including canned goods and kitchen appliances
- Mold can contaminate items in 24 to 48 hours
Many items can be salvageable with varying degrees of success depending on the porosity of the article:
- We can clean nonporous items, e.g., glass, plastic, tile, metal, and sealed wood products.
- Mold-contaminated clothing can be laundered if the clothing is not discolored.
- Once clothing is discolored, laundering will not be successful.
- Electronics can be recovered; however, professional servicing is usually needed even after removing mold and water.
- Valuable papers such as birth certificates, wedding papers, and photographs can be saved if immediately placed in the freezer, freeze-dried, and cleaned.
SERVPRO IICRC-certified mold removal technicians can provide guidance and suggestions regarding recovering and restoring your cherished family heirlooms after they have been contaminated by mold. As soon as clients observe mold in their homes, call SERVPRO to take immediate action before there is long-term permanent damage to your home and its contents.
Call SERVPRO of Reading for mold removal services. We provide service to Reading and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (610) 779-8189.
Different Approaches During Water Damage Restoration in Reading
4/19/2023 (Permalink)
Disaster may strike at any time. Call SERVPRO for the storm damage restoration.
SERVPRO Ensures Effective Water Cleanup in Reading Homes
Thunderstorms, rainstorms, and hurricanes can cause substantial water accumulation in Reading homes. In such cases, water damage may be widespread, affecting multiple rooms. It is normal to want to jump right into cleaning up; however, failure to take the time to assess the damage may pose dangers to the restorer or occupants.
When planning for water damage restoration in Reading homes, it is vital to consider several things. Water damages structural components and household equipment, creating physical and electrical safety hazards. Also, flood water might contain chemical or biological contaminants that pose health hazards.
Moisture promotes the growth of molds and other microorganisms. SERVPRO crews help remove all hazardous items to create a safe working space before restoration begins. We also sanitize all affected areas, further limiting microbial growth.
Important considerations before restoration include:
- Water sources
- The degree of contamination
- Amount of water involved
- Affected contents and materials
These factors are crucial in determining the appropriate action to remediate the water damage loss. The source of water and level of contamination qualify the loss as either category 1, 2, or 3. Highly contaminated floodwater is considered category three loss and hence hazardous. Cleaning up category three water damage necessitates using personal protective equipment. Our teams come equipped with appropriate PPE ensuring safety.
Restoring Flood-Damaged Materials and Surfaces
Several areas of your home, like the roof, floors, and walls, may be damaged depending on how the flooding incident happens. Our crews may suggest specific actions to facilitate decontamination during the restoration procedure.
- Removal of porous materials through controlled demolition
- Using different chemical agents to neutralize hazardous materials
- Proper drying to minimize moisture-related microbial growth
Items that have sustained heavy water damage might not benefit from cleaning and drying. Examples include mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpeting, and plasterboard. We perform controlled demolition to remove damaged porous materials. Demolition also helps us access all areas that could hold water and debris, like kickers beneath cabinets and internal wall linings. Every part of your home requires drying out, including wall linings, sub-floor spaces, and flooring. We accomplish this by strategically setting up dehumidifiers and air-moving equipment in all affected areas.
SERVPRO of Reading helps improve water damage restoration processes. Call us at (610) 779-8189. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.
Fire Damage Debris and Soot Removal in Reading
3/22/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO technicians are available 24/7 to clean up fire damage in Reading; call us today.
SERVPRO Fire Restoration for Reading Homes Removes Debris and Rebuilds Structures
According to 2020 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) data, home fires caused $8.7 billion in property damage to residential structures and contents. Regardless of how much they prepare for a disaster, Reading homeowners may not have the equipment necessary to remediate fire damage odors, residues, or suppression strategies. However, professional restoration technicians can help.
Reading fire damage cleanup professionals at SERVPRO can return affected properties to a pre-disaster state. SERVPRO cleanup includes water mitigation post-fire suppression, sanitation with EPA-registered antimicrobials, and demolition of unsalvageable material where needed to prepare spaces for rebuilding services.
Why Does Smoke Damage Cleanup Matter?
Regardless of the source, flames often do more than leave behind smoke stains on drywall. Burnt materials leave lingering odors and residues with no "one-size-fits-all" cleanup solution. These materials differ significantly enough that various classes of fire extinguishers exist.
- Class A extinguishers handle dry goods that burn quickly at high heat, like wood and paper
- Class B extinguishers are designed for grease fires in kitchens and other low-burning oils and petroleum products
- Class C remediates electrical fires
- Class K is explicitly designed with commercial kitchen fires in mind
While various alternatives are available, homeowners may be overwhelmed by the diversity of flame suppression options. This variety also indicates how diverse and adaptable cleanup solutions must be for burnt items and structures. On top of that, smoke particles can become acidic and damage metals and finishes in the home, which creates even more repair and replacement costs for homeowners.
SERVPRO's Fire Restoration Process Includes Residue Cleanup and Odor Control
Smoke and soot cleanup from SERVPRO addresses residues, debris, charring, and hard-to-remove stains and odors. Technicians can perform the following tasks:
- Remediate any present water damage or microbial growth from moisture exposure after fire suppression. Mold can grow as quickly as 24 hours after exposure, so sanitation is essential for protecting indoor air quality
- Use dry cleaning, alkaline cleaners, OSHA-approved detergents, and abrasion blasting, among other solutions, to eliminate soot, creosote, and char from surfaces
- Deploy dry foggers to dispense solvent-based smoke that chemically binds with soot particles to eliminate the odors associated with them
- Specialized enzyme digesters clean challenging protein residues after cooking fires, which account for approximately half of all home fires in the United States
After cleaning damage and eliminating unsalvageable debris and structural materials per homeowners' wishes, SERVPRO professionals can focus on restoring the property to a comfortable condition. Build-back services can entail installing new carpet and drywall, repainting walls, ceilings, and baseboards, and repairing subfloors and wall joists. SERVPRO techs can also implement boards-ups and tarps for damaged roofing, windows, and doorways.
This crew's restoration-focused approach also extends to homeowners' belongings. SERVPRO professionals can extract stains and odors from upholstery, dinnerware, and decor, among other items. Even electronics can often be restored after soot exposure.
Throughout the process, SERVPRO maintains a detailed inventory of belongs and their conditions to aid homeowners and insurance adjusters with claims filing and documentation. A restoration-based approach can ultimately minimize disturbances to the home and allow property occupants to return to their lives more quickly and smoothly.
SERVPRO of Reading can be reached at (610) 779-8189. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster and ready to work with homeowners to restore their properties.
SERVPRO Addresses Water Damage to Reading Home Structural Materials
3/22/2023 (Permalink)
No matter the size of water damage in your Reading home, we have the equipment to handle the situation.
Water Cleanup Services and Water Damage Prevention for Your Reading Home
Clean water damage is one of the most common categories of disaster in United States homes. It can be distressing to suddenly find water pouring into a Reading home from a leaky pipe, a sink overflow, or a malfunctioning washing machine. Fast, effective drying strategies are necessary to prevent moisture from impacting property and create a welcoming mold environment.
SERVPRO water damage cleanup professionals in Reading remediate moisture exposure 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Restoration technicians use commercial-grade tools to quickly return affected residences to a clean and safe pre-damage condition with minimal disruption to homeowners' schedules when possible.
Why Leave Water Cleanup Tasks to Professionals?
While water remediation seems easy enough on the surface, the truth is that it often entails more restoration activities than homeowners might realize. Mopping up water from a pipe leak and calling a plumber to address the source might alleviate most of the issue. Still, moisture can linger in walls, ceilings, floors, or baseboards, creating mold growth or potential structural damage. Over time, this excess humidity can lead to more costly repairs because it has had more time to affect the property.
Homeowners can do the following to reduce the risk and effects of water damage:
- Take photos of the damage as soon as it is detected, and have pictures of the property before damage occurs, if possible
- Check vulnerable areas regularly, especially appliance supply lines and plumbing in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas
- Call a restoration crew as soon as possible to mitigate damage
- Avoid touching water that may have contacted electrical systems
- Contact utility providers when needed for assistance shutting off utilities like water and electricity safely
SERVPRO can remedy moisture that reduces home comfort and functionality while minimizing the time necessary to restore structural materials and belongings.
Eliminating Water Damage from Reading Properties with SERVPRO Solutions
Technicians can inspect the property with such tools as thermal imaging cameras and moisture sensors to formulate an effective drying plan. They can then deploy portable, back-mounted, or truck-mounted extraction equipment depending on the water volume. Specialized carpet wands can also remove water from carpeting, drapes, and upholstery.
Structural drying is greatly accelerated after extraction and is accomplished with the help of air movement and dehumidification units. SERVPRO techs can implement sealed polyethylene drying chambers in open spaces with small areas of moisture exposure for maximum efficiency. Sanitation is achieved with the help of EPA-registered biocide solutions, which can aid in microbial remediation. Drying also ensures that conditions become unsustainable for mold growth.
After cleaning and drying moisture, SERVPRO professionals can focus on rebuilding properties to a pre-damage condition. This process includes:
- Installing and re-seaming carpeting
- Implementing new drywall and baseboards where needed if the original materials are not restorable
- Repainting walls
- Making necessary repairs to compromised structures like waterlogged, irreparable subfloors
Odor control, which includes dozens of air cycles with high-powered ventilation box fans, keeps the air fresh and clean before and after deodorization and restoration. SERVPRO can also inspect and make necessary repairs to plumbing and electrical components, depending on the situation.
Homeowners that need a crew that can remediate water damage can contact SERVPRO of Reading at (610) 779-8189.
SERVPRO Mitigates Reading Mold Damage 24/7
3/22/2023 (Permalink)
Finding a patch of mold in your home can cause some alarm. Luckily, our SERVPRO team in Reading is certified in remediating mold damage.
Sophisticated Mold Remediation Technologies Restore Reading Properties
Mold impacts approximately 70% of homes all over the United States, including in Reading. Microbes cannot be entirely removed because mold spores exist in all properties on some level. However, professional cleanup can restore comfort and safety after mold damage and return the property to a pre-damage state.
Reading SERVPRO mold restoration professionals provide 24/7 cleanup for homeowners. This process includes inspection, careful demolition of unsalvageable materials, and documentation of affected structures and belongings to aid homeowners and claims adjusters.
What exactly is mold?
While homeowners may know what mold is generally, the term is quite broad in scope. It refers to organisms that digest organic materials and reproduce by releasing spores that cling to other organic surfaces to repeat the cycle. Mildew, fungi, and even rust can fit into this broad category of microorganisms.
Some forms of mold are much more common than others in residences. These common species can include Aspergillus and Alternaria. Conditions like limited ventilation, excess condensation buildup and relative humidity levels above 40% can exacerbate mold growth, leading to stains and odors on walls and ceilings.
Some of the most vulnerable residential surfaces include:
- Rugs and carpets
- Insulation, particularly those made of cotton or cellulose
- Wood furniture, flooring, wall studs, and ceiling joists
- Drywall
- Tile grout and caulk, especially in bathrooms
HVAC systems can also be impacted by mold growth. Vents can enable spores to spread when fans, air conditioning, or heating are on and allow spores to multiply inside the ductwork. Professional mold mitigation technicians can prevent the impact caused by this with a combination of thorough remediation training and commercial-grade tools and biocides.
SERVPRO's mold remediation loadout for residential disasters
Mold requires specialized care to safely return the property affected to a clean, pre-disaster state after disaster strikes. SERVPRO technicians are certified to meet Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards for mold cleanup and rebuilding services.
Equipment used during microbial remediation can include:
- Multiple inspection tools, including penetrating and non-penetrating sensors and meters calibrated to measure surfaces like wood and drywall. Some sensors focus on shallow depth readings or surface-level measurements, while others need to be more in-depth to formulate an accurate drying plan
- SERVPRO's personal protective equipment (PPE) and containment tools help create a safe, contained space for remediation that prevents mold from spreading to other properties. These processes also include such practices as
- Erecting polyethylene sheeting to seal doorways and ventilation intakes
- Temporary sealing of contaminated or damaged ductwork
- Establishing a decontamination area for equipment and PPE used during restoration
- Moisture extraction, typically implemented with portable hot-water extractors, helps eliminate excess moisture from many types of household surfaces, including upholstery, drapes, rugs, carpet, and wood furniture
- Drying equipment, which includes powerful air movers and dehumidifiers, removes excess moisture to dry spaces to humidity levels consistent with the rest of the home. SERVPRO professionals inspect unaffected materials when possible to determine an ideal moisture content for contents during the inspection and planning process.
- Deodorizers are implemented with fogging equipment to eliminate residual mold and moisture odors that can affect the comfort of a space. Deodorizers work on porous surfaces and can also be used on sheet metal and duct board HVAC.
SERVPRO of Reading is ready to return homes to a preloss condition when property owners call (610) 779-8189.
Water Cleanup in Reading Homes Happens Fast with SERVPRO
3/21/2023 (Permalink)
Don't let water damage go unchecked in your home. Call SERVPRO for help to avoid further damage.
Reading Homeowners Trust SERVPRO with Water Cleanup
Water damage incidents due to ceiling leaks, burst pipes, or plumbing issues can cause extensive damage to your property. If water cleanup of your reading home does not happen fast, the residual water can continue compromising the structural integrity of building materials. Professional restorers like SERVPRO use a multifaceted approach to ensure that water is removed from your property as quickly as possible and that the damage is minimal.
When SERVPRO techs arrive for water cleanup at your Reading property, the immediate goal is to identify the extent of damage and chalk out a restoration plan. We use state-of-the-art moisture sensing equipment to detect moisture in structural components of your home and create a drying plan that can effectively restore the moisture level to the pre-damaged conditions.
Role of Inspection Devices in Water Restoration
The first step of restoring your water-damaged home is scoping, which involves locating the areas of the structure into which water has intruded and defining the extent to which the structure and contents have absorbed moisture beyond normal moisture levels.
SERVPRO techs use several devices to track moisture within a structure. Some of the instruments we use include:
While moisture sensors can detect moisture trapped in carpets and pads, thermal imaging cameras can monitor the moisture in building materials. These cameras can also help the SERVPRO restorers understand how water travels through the structure.
The thermal imaging cameras detect evaporative cooling and thermal capacitance of wet materials. As water from wet surfaces evaporates, it produces a cooling effect causing temperature changes between damp and dry areas.
Thermal Imaging Cameras Offer Several Advantages
Thermography used by SERVPRO techs offers several advantages over other methods of moisture detection, including:
- No destruction to the building
- Ability to inspect difficult-to-reach areas
- Inspect more areas in less time
Call SERVPRO of Reading at (610) 779-8189 for a trustworthy water restoration service.
Tracking Moisture Levels and Water Cleanup in Reading Commercial Buildings
2/14/2023 (Permalink)
No matter the size and destruction to your building, SERVPRO handles all commercial damage restoration projects. Call now!
SERVPRO Utilizes Moisture Sensors and High Capacity Water Cleanup Equipment in Reading
Water leaks in Reading commercial buildings can cause a great deal of havoc to the business, employees, and customers. The company must shut down until water cleanup is completed, the area is dried, and moisture levels have returned to normal. Hidden water or high moisture pockets can lead to mold infestations if not removed.
That’s why SERVPRO utilizes moisture sensors during water cleanup in Reading commercial buildings to ensure no pockets of moisture remaining that could lead to further damage to the structure and/or mold infestations. Mold infestations can begin growing in 24 to 48 hours.
SERVPRO Water cleanup at commercial sites follows a proven step-by-step process to ensure the safety of our employees and clients and return to normal operations as quickly as possible.
- Safety check and water damage assessment
- Deployment of high-capacity extractors, including pumps, wet vacs with special wands for carpet and hardwood surfaces
- Deployment of air movers to blow dry air into the affected area and dehumidifiers to lower the humidity and dry the space
- Moisture sensors to detect moisture in soft materials and inside cavities
- Moisture meters to confirm materials have returned to their normal moisture content levels
Fast action by SERVPRO teams removing water and moisture and reducing humidity to normal levels reduces the opportunity for secondary damage to porous materials. These materials can absorb moisture, swell and lose structural integrity. In many cases, they need to be replaced. Our fast response and action also reduce the opportunity for mold growth and cause further damage.
Avoid delays by calling the experts at SERVPRO. We can be on-site in less than four hours to deploy equipment and technicians to minimize downtime for your commercial business.
Call SERVPRO of Reading for water cleanup services. We provide service to Reading and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (610) 779-8189.