Protecting your home from water damages.

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

Prevent home water damage.

Water damage is one of the most common and costly disasters that can befall your home, costing billions of dollars each year. Protect your most important property from water damage with the right insurance coverage and the following practical advice. Water damage and insurance Different types of water damage are covered under different types of policies. Homeowners and renters insurance offers coverage for clogged pipes, wind-driven rain, and damage caused by ice dams on your roof. Generally, water that comes in from the top down—like rain and sprinklers—is covered under a standard homeowner's policy. Some policies cover sewer and drain backups, but many do not; however, you can purchase sewer backup to cover homeowners or renters. Water that flows from the bottom up—for example, an overflowing river—is usually covered by separate flood insurance, which can be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and some private insurers. If you live in a flood zone, learn more about suitable coverage. Proper home maintenance is one of the best ways to prevent damage from water disasters. Prevent basement water leaks Close your cellar. Basement water is usually caused by cracks in building foundations or floor slabs. If you notice water seeping after a heavy rain when you have no problems, it could mean that your previously waterproof concrete floors and basements are damaged. Coating weak spots with waterproofing will prevent leaks. Make sure the water drains away from the building. The drain is reinforced because the ground settles so that the water flows towards the building. After a storm, and especially if the soil is saturated, rainwater that flows into the building can pass through any cracks outside the foundation wall. Install the check valve. Although less common than other causes of basement water, sewer backups are messy. Learn more about your sewer responsibilities and install and maintain a check valve that allows sewage to flow but not back up. Maintain and understand your indoor plumbing systems Check equipment hoses and faucets. Get into the habit of checking the hoses that lead to water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines and refrigerators every year. You can also invest in a water leak monitoring and shut-off system that will alert you to potential leakage problems. Replace any hoses with cracks or leaks immediately and replace them all every five to seven years. Control showers and baths. Check the seals and gaskets around showers and tubs to make sure they are watertight and seal if necessary. When you are away on holiday, turn off the water supply to the washing machine and do not leave the house when the washing machine or dishwasher is running. Know the location of the main water shut-off valve in your home. A burst hose or burst pipe can send water into your home. Finding and closing a water line quickly can save stress, money and time. Install an emergency drain valve in your water system. This will protect against increased pressure due to frozen pipes and help prevent pipe bursts. Check water and heating pipes. Look carefully for cracks and leaks and make the necessary repairs immediately. Repair and protect the exterior of your home Close and seal windows to prevent water from escaping. Check your roof for missing, damaged or outdated shingles and make any necessary repairs. Check your drain. Remove debris that may have accumulated in downspouts and rain gutters. Place downspouts to direct water away from the house. Check sprinklers and irrigation systems to make sure they are not causing water damage to the walls and foundation of the house. Turn off and drain outdoor faucets to protect them from frozen pipes. Install gutter guards to prevent gutters from clogging and prevent water from draining away from the house instead of collecting on the roof. Protect your property Store off-season and other large items in waterproof containers, especially in areas with plumbing or moisture-prone areas such as basements and attics. Do not store valuables or memorabilia where there is a risk of water damage. Water and moisture also carry the threat of fungal damage. Store items on floorboards in basements. In case of water seepage or sewer backup, they're less likely to get damaged. Keep an up-to-date home inventory. Having a comprehensive list of your possessions will save time, trouble, and stress in case of loss from water damage. 

Pros of Outdoor Faucet Covers

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

Faucet with running water.

Why use outdoor battery covers? Styrofoam covers for your outdoor batteries may not look pretty, but they can be very useful. When freezing temperatures arrive and a long, cold winter comes with them, Styrofoam battery covers can mean the difference between a smooth spring and frozen pipes flooding your home. Your pipe needs protection You don't have to be in an area with the worst winters. The need may only be a dip below the freezing point. A night with single digit temperatures can quickly freeze your pipes inside, causing them to expand and burst. While replacing a pipe in itself isn't a big deal, water damage caused by a burst pipe can spell disaster. Putting on the polystyrene battery covers only takes a few minutes of your time. 

Why Choose SERVPRO of Norristown?

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

Trusted damage mitigation experts.

At SERVPRO of Norristown, we care about our customers. We're an emergency restoration company, so we know we need to get to work fast. Minutes can turn small damage into very dangerous structural damage. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and in the event of an emergency we provide the customer with someone to call at any time of the day. This is a huge advantage as many other restoration companies are not open 24/7. We are a trusted franchise with a 4.6 star rating online, and we strive to live up to that rating on even the smallest jobs. After work, we want reviews on Google, Facebook or Yelp. We appreciate that very much! SERVPRO of Norristown is here to help. 

Importance of Prepping for Winter Storms

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

Extreme winter storm.

Talk to your family about what to do if a winter storm watch or warning is issued. Talking about winter storms in advance can help reduce anxiety, especially for children. Get your car cooled down before the winter storm season to reduce the chances of getting stuck in cold weather. Have a mechanic check the battery, antifreeze, windshield wipers and washers, ignition system, thermostat, lights, flashing hazard lights, exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster, and oil. Fit good winter tires with enough tread. All-weather radials are usually sufficient, but some jurisdictions require vehicles with chains or studded winter tires. Keep in your car: - A windshield scraper and a small broom - A small bag of sand to create traction under the tires and a set of snow chains as a traction pad - Fits a container that won't get wet - Bright colored (preferably red) fabric to tie around the antenna - Kit emergency power, including warm clothing. Keep your car's tank full so you can escape quickly in an emergency and your fuel lines don't freeze. Keep a supply of non-biodegradable cat litter to keep sidewalks and steps from slipping. Service snow removal equipment for the winter storm season and keep it in good condition. Have a warm coat, gloves or mittens, a hat, waterproof boots and other blankets and warm clothing for each household member. 

How to cook with caution this summer.

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

How to cook safely with fire.

Be alerted. Do not cook if you are drowsy or have consumed alcohol. This can create dangerous situations. Do not use the stove or heater if you are under the influence. Stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling, grilling or cooking food. Always turn off the stove when you have to leave the kitchen, no matter how quickly. If you cook, boil or grill food, check it regularly, stay home while it's cooking, or use a timer so you don't forget. Make sure your kitchen is free of clutter and that there are no loose objects near the stove. This reduces the possibility of something catching fire. If you have a small oil/cooking fire and decide to fight the fire… On the stove, turn off the flame by removing the lid from the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until completely cool. When the fire is in the oven, turn off the oven and close the door. If you have doubts about putting out a small fire... Get out of the house! Remember to close the door behind you when you leave to help with the fire. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number away from home. 

How to identify different types of fires.

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

Awareness of different types of fires.

Synthetic: A synthetic fire is caused by burning petroleum substances. These materials are plastics and fabrics. Some examples of these materials include furniture, curtains, electronics, and carpet fibers. Thick black smoke is often seen when these products are burned. If a synthetic fire breaks out in your home, the best way to clean it up is to vacuum the surface. Finish the cleaning process with a dry chemical sponge. Protein: Protein fires can burn meat products. These fires usually leave a yellowish-brown residue. Cleaning these fires can be very difficult due to their greasy nature. It is best to use the correct cleaning chemicals when removing smoke residue. Natural: A natural fire is caused by the burning of wood or paper dust. These fires produce gray-black smoke and are among the easiest to clean. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush and then use a dry chemical sponge to clean these fires. Now that you know the different types of fires you may encounter and how to recognize them. You can use the good cleaning methods mentioned above. 

How To Manage Flood & Storm Threats - SERVPRO of Norristown

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

Hurricane in route to make landfall.

Floods are a coastal threat to the coasts of the United States and its territories each month of the year. Floods usually occur when it rains for several days over a long period of time, when heavy rains occur for a short time, or when ice or debris causes a river or stream to flood a local area. water structures such as a dam or dam. The most common cause of floods is water caused by rain and / or melting snow, which accumulates faster than it is absorbed by the soil or carried away by rivers. About 25 percent of all presidential disaster statements are flood-related. The following are the most common flood hazards that affect the United States:

Flash flood
River flood
Storm waves and coastal floods of tropical and non-tropical systems
Burning wounds / debris flow
Iis / pun Jams
The snow had calmed down
Dry wash
Dam rupture / Dam failure
Our process of water damage recovery
Each condition for water damage is different and requires a unique solution, but the overall process remains the same. The steps listed below illustrate our process for the “typical” water damage emergency.

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment

Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction

Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification

Step 5: Cleaning and Repair

Step 6: Restoration

Have Storm or Flood Damage?
Call Us Today 215-482-0800. 

Warehouse Fire Protection - SERVPRO of Norristown

5/15/2022 (Permalink)

Protect your warehouse from fire and sprinkler damage.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 1,210 warehouse fires were reported annually in 2009-2013. These fires cause an average of $ 155 million in direct property damage, 19 civilian injuries and 3 civilians die each year.

If you have a warehouse, you will probably want to protect it from fire. If your warehouse is destroyed by fire, it can cause costly damage to your business or even loss of business. Installing fire extinguishing systems in your warehouse will help prevent loss of ownership due to fire. Many irrigation systems are available in the warehouses.

In-Rack Sprinkler System
When a fire starts in a warehouse, it can spread quickly if it is not prevented. A shelving shower system helps stop the spread of fire in a particular shelving storage area. This prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the building. Rack sprayers have a network of tubes that surround the rack structure and point to a specific area. ESFR sprayers
ESFR (Early Suppression, Fast Response) sprayers for ceiling systems used in warehouses. These systems are designed to suppress a fire by discharging large amounts of water directly into the fire. Rapid response early suppression systems are faster than traditional sprinkler systems and use larger drops of water.

ESFR systems can often be used instead of on-shelf sprinkler systems. The ESFR system usually provides better protection than the rack system. However, there are some restrictions on the use of ESFR systems. ESFR systems do not apply to certain storage configurations or building types.

Source irrigation system
The Quell fire sprinkler system can be used in cold stores and unheated warehouses. It can be used to protect areas with high storability. This system surrounds the protected area and receives a lot of water. The Quell system eliminates the need for rack-mounted fire sprinkler components, giving you more flexibility in storage configurations.

Creating a business catastrophe plan in Norristown | SERVPRO of Norristown

9/1/2021 (Permalink)

Office suite after fire damage.

Have you made a business catastrophe plan?

In case you're another entrepreneur, you probably won't see that have an arrangement set up to manage calamities like flames or floods. Beginning before you need a calamity plan is essential, so this present time is a decent opportunity to assemble the means you'll take if a fire or flood impacts your business.

However, the shock of a calamity really affecting your business can make it hard to explore even the most careful plans. That is the place where working with a calamity reclamation master can have an effect.

Prodding Your Business Forward After a Disaster

Since our SERVPRO area is a privately possessed business, we need to guarantee organizations locally have what they need to succeed. Here's probably the best guidance we can give entrepreneurs attempting to reestablish after a fiasco:

Return to your calamity plan. The shock of going through a catastrophic event can make it hard to center. This is the reason your fiasco plan is so significant. Follow the means you've effectively spread out. That can even incorporate moving to a reinforcement area.

Record all that occurred. Before you start tidying up your business, you'll need to take photos of the harm and stock any harmed things. Your insurance agency will require this data.

Keep in touch with your local area. Innovation makes it simple to connect with your providers, your representatives, your clients and your local area. You can settle on telephone decisions and utilize your promoting email rundown and online media records to arrive at everybody.

Try not to disregard your necessities. It's not difficult to fall into the snare of stressing continually, however you will not settle on the best choices in case you're worn out or pushed. That is the reason entrepreneurs going through a fiasco need to focus on getting a lot of rest, eating quality food varieties and conversing with individuals you trust.

Collaborate with a solid emotionally supportive network. Since there are such countless parts of the cycle to deal with, it's ideal to work with believed local area accomplices who cultivate solid correspondence.

On the off chance that a fire, flood or some other reason harms your business, you can generally rely on us for rebuilding help. We have teams who are accessible 24⁄7 in case of a crisis. Reach us whenever to become familiar with our reclamation administrations and how we can help you.

Learn more about how water can damage your storage facility. | SERVPRO of Norristown

9/1/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can help you restore damage to your storage facility.

Substantial downpours can make water gather inside structures in circumstances where there is ill-advised waste. A storage space with an assortment of items put away on the floor to roof racking may just have an inch or somewhere in the vicinity of water on the concrete floors. Notwithstanding, if the not rapidly clearing the water and bringing down the moistness, the bundling and the items can be harmed despite the fact that water didn't contact the bundling.

SERVPRO gives business water harm recuperation administrations to Norristown and encompassing regions. Quick activity in circumstances where water is covering the floor can essentially restrict the harm to the construction just as items. Our groups are accessible on a 24/7 premise and can as a rule be nearby in under four hours. Eliminating standing water and bringing down the mugginess is a high need for our groups to secure your items and cutoff the vacation for your organization.

Storerooms Present Unique Challenges

We eliminate standing water with water extractors. It is fundamental for check for outstanding dampness pockets under racking, work areas, and cupboards. Dispensing with these dampness pockets and lessening the general moistness in the structure is fundamental. We convey enormous air movers to circle air inside the structure to retain dampness. We use truck-mounted dehumidification machines. Outer truck-mounted air movers are utilized to remove damp air from the structure and supplant it with dry external air.

Paper items or bundling inundated in the water might have assimilated dampness. Normally, these are items on the base racks of floor to roof racking. SERVPRO checks and eliminates all possibly harmed bundling. We stock every thing while at the same time eliminating it to give a record to protection claims and stock control.

Since floor to roof racking is trying to eliminate, SERVPRO conveys particular air movers to coordinate air under the base racks. We adjust our answers for fit your current circumstance with the goal that you can get back to ordinary tasks as fast as could really be expected.

Call SERVPRO of Norristown at (610) 272-8520 for every minute of every day administration. We gladly serve Lower Providence Township, Wetherills Corner, and encompassing regions. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.