Commercial Drying Equipment

7/21/2023 (Permalink)

What Is An Air Mover?

A major piece of drying equipment which is used by restoration professionals during water damage restoration and drying projects. Despite it's prevalence, many people don’t know how this unit works, or how to select the best one for their project. Air movers have a few alternative names, such as blower fans, commercial air blowers or air mover fans. They’re used to increase air circulation, which speeds up water evaporation and reduces drying time, compressed air is used to maximize airflow.

Advantages Of Air Movers 

Their low power draw means that they’re safe to use in a wide variety of settings, and it makes ideal for water damage restoration projects. Compared to other types of fans, these units also have high velocity, which makes them ideal for cooling and ventilation purposes.

Air Movers Usage 

With these advantages, it’s no surprise that air movers are used in so many industries.

Some of their many applications include:

• Reducing water damage to carpets and floors
• Drying carpets for carpet technicians
• Flood and disaster restoration projects
• Drying concrete and paint
• Improving ventilation in large areas
• Removing fumes or gases from a work space

There are some truly creative uses for air movers, but most of them fall into a few basic categories:

• Drying: Drying is one of the most common usages.

By rapidly increasing air circulation, commercial air movers promote evaporation. Rapid air circulation is critical for shortening drying times. An air mover can reduce carpet drying time to a more than 20 minutes. Industrial models also make it feasible to dry large areas quickly.

• Curing Concrete and Paint: Industrial air movers are also widely used in the construction industry.

They speed up the concrete setting and cut down on how long it takes paint to cure. Air movers are an odorless, fast alternative to chemical admixtures and they are particularly useful in humid areas where concrete and paint tend to sweat as it dries.

• Removing Fumes: Because of their high-powered blowers, air movers are used to remove fumes or gases from an area.
• Blowing: These units can also be used to ventilate large work spaces or cool engines and other equipment.

Duct Cleaning Services

7/21/2023 (Permalink)

Annual Duct Cleaning 

Over the course of a year, dust, mold, and various toxins can grow rampant within your air ducts. This causes the air quality in the structure to drop significantly. Our SERVPRO of Springfield/Mt Vernon professionals are professionally trained and equipped to perform this necessary service for residential and commercial properties.

Additional Benefits of Annual Duct Cleaning

It is SERVPRO of Springfield/Mt Vernon mission to prevent mold, fire, and water damage wherever possible. Duct cleaning services give our technicians the ability to inspect the ducts for signs of damage or even microbial growth. If damage is discovered, it can be fixed quickly. 

Biggest Reason for Air Duct Cleaning?

Everyone who comes through your door deserves clean air to breathe in. Case closed. Whether it is a customer, your family, or your co-workers. Once cleaned and inspected, you can guarantee that the air you breathe is clean and pure. Call our office at (703)644-0620 to book your air duct cleaning today! 

Watch Out - Commercial Water Damage

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

There are a lot of things to consider when maintaining a commercial property. Of course, safety is managed by laws and requirements that every commercial property must maintain, however unexpected damage is still possible. One case of unexpected commercial property damage is water damage. Commercial water damage can not only be a safety threat but be incredibly costly to repair.

So here are some possible causes of commercial water damage to watch out for. Windows with cracks or weak construction can allow leaks from weather to invade the interior of the building. Make sure windows are strong and up to date. The foundation of the building is an easy place for water damage to occur since it’s low to the ground where water runoff or storm build-up can accumulate. Ensure regular checkups of the integrity of the foundation, including cracks and leaky pipes. Sprinkler systems are required in buildings for safety reasons, but nonfunctional sprinkler systems can pose a threat by unexpectedly turning on and soaking rooms. Like the other causes, make sure someone is constantly assuring the quality of the sprinkler system. The answer to all of these possible causes is to invest in a person or team who can ensure the maintenance of the commercial property.

If you own or maintain a commercial property that has experienced water damage, no matter how much, call your local SERVPRO of Springfield/Mt Vernon we have dealt with commercial water damage before and knows exactly how to fix and restore your commercial property to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Commercial Water Loss

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

Do you know what the process looks like to get your business back to normal after a water loss?

Although it is not something most people ever consider, water damage can happen, and it can cause considerable damage if not treated promptly. If you find a pool of water in your building, you will need to take immediate action to minimize damage to your property. As a business owner Springfield/Mt Vernon, you may want to hire a professional remediation company to clean up the mess. Here are several things that must happen to get your business back to normal.

1. Stop the Flow of Water The most important thing you can do to minimize the damage is to stop the flow of water. You can do this by shutting off the main water valve.

2. Extract the Water Now that you have stopped the water flow, you can see how much water there is left to clean up. If it is only a little, you may be able to use a towel or mop to clean up the moisture. However, if it is more than a little, you may need to hire a professional remediation company to extract the water using specialized equipment.

3. Determine the Extent of the Water Damage Water can easily seep between cracks and into porous surfaces. This can lead to problems in drywall, subfloors, and other materials. A moisture meter can be used to identify water inside these areas.

4. Remove Unsalvageable Items There may be some objects that have sustained enough water damage that they will need to be replaced. These items can be identified and removed before the drying process begins.

5. Dry the Area It is important to dry out the area as quickly as possible so that mold does not have a chance to form. Professional drying equipment can be used to speed up this process.

If something like this ever does happen and you do need professional help, don't wait to give SERVPRO of Springfield/Mt Vernon a call. We will make it "Like it never even happened."

5 Steps To Take When Your Tenant Finds Mold in Their Apartment

6/2/2023 (Permalink)

Mold Cleanup 

Mold begins as a minuscule spore, so it is difficult to believe something so small can wreak so much destruction and havoc in a large apartment building. But mold is a clever opponent that loves to hide until the problem is so big it appears to be out of control. That is why it is important to take the following steps in mold cleanup as soon as your tenant notifies you that he or she found mold contamination in the apartment. 

1. Telephone your insurance company. Find out what your insurance policy covers regarding mold issues. Sometimes the fungus is a minor problem, but other times it can require extensive cleanup efforts and a big expenditure of money. Also, request an adjuster's visit.
2. Take photos of the mold and surrounding area. Establish a record of the situation in pictures. The photographs can also help you if you need to file an insurance claim. 
3. Contact a mold cleanup and restoration team. Ask the team to locate and address the water problem feeding the mold growth. This process can include removing wet walls, floors, and cabinets; therefore, cleanup can take several days. 
4. Request the restoration team's assistance in removing the mold and restoring the area. After removing the mold spores and colonies, the restoration team can sanitize the area to prevent the mold from returning. 
5. Move the tenant to a hotel if cleanup and restoration turn out to be extensive. When your tenant's belongings must be displaced during the repair process, offer to relocate him or her to a hotel for the duration of the restoration. 

If mold is a recurring problem in your Springfield/Mt Vernon apartment, there is a probably a hidden water leak. The sooner you can remove the water, the less possibility there is that mold can cause damage to the building's structure or spread to another tenant's apartment. Additionally, by removing the underlying moisture allowing mold to grow, you can save yourself a great deal of money by preventing mold from returning and requiring further mold cleanup.

Cleaning Personal Belongings After a Broken Pipe

6/2/2023 (Permalink)

If you have the misfortune of dealing with a broken pipe in Springfield/Mt Vernon, VA your first instinct may be to get rid of any items the water came in contact with. Water in your home can cause incredible damage to your floor and sheetrock, and having to discard any personal belongings may devastate you. Fortunately, with the help of dry cleaning and ultrasonic cleaning, many of the contents of your home can be saved after broken pipes flood your home.

Non-Porous Items

Depending on how much flooding was caused by broken pipes in your home, you may have many items to clean. Anything that came in contact with the water should be scrubbed thoroughly, including non-porous items like the ones listed below:

• Toys
• Appliances
• Kitchen utensils
• Furniture
• Storage containers

Scrubbing these items thoroughly may reduce the number of bacteria on them, but ultrasonic cleaning may be required to completely remove all germs. This type of cleaning involves spraying water infused with microscopic bubbles onto the item. As the bubbles pop, they effectively clean each item and remove all traces of bacteria quickly and easily.

Porous Items

When you begin to clean up after you have standing water in your home, you may have the urge to discard any item that could have absorbed water. Even porous items like the ones listed below can be saved with the right care.

• Upholstered furniture
• Bedding
• Curtains
• Stuffed animals
• Clothes

The key is to have any kind of fabric that may have absorbed floodwater dry cleaned. The special process and solution that dry cleaners use can usually remove every trace of floodwater from fabric, allowing them to be fully restored.

No one wants to throw away personal belongings just because they came in contact with water from a broken pipe. Abundant moisture in your home can cause enough damage, so resist the urge to discard your sentimental belongings. With the proper care and dry cleaning, nearly anything in your home can be saved. 

Potential Causes Of Fire/Water Damage: Leaving Appliances Running When No One Is Home

6/1/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Springfield/Mt Vernon highlights how you can avoid fire damage and water damage disasters by turning off appliances before leaving the house or going to bed. Springfield/Mt Vernon specializes in fire damage and water damage restoration services, urges homeowners to turn off major appliances when leaving home. Otherwise, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Home appliances make life around the house more comfortable, save time, conserve energy, and use much less water than in the past. While older dishwashers use as many as ten to fifteen gallons of water per load, more modern units use between one and four gallons of water. A new washing machine needs only about seven gallons of water, but the older versions need up to 19 gallons of water. Technology has revolutionized the functionality of both the dishwasher and the washing machine. An ENERGY STAR Certified clothes dryer cuts energy consumption by 20%, saving the homeowner more than $200 over the appliance's lifetime. ENERGY STAR certification is not currently available for space heaters, but electric infrared space heaters are nearly 100% efficient in converting electricity to heat. 

How frequently are these appliances used in the average home?

• Dishwasher: 5 loads per week
• Washing machine: 6 loads per week
• Clothes dryer: 6 loads per week

The growth of the virtual workforce has contributed to an already expanding demand for space heaters to heat single rooms or enclosed workspaces. Space heaters can be found in almost every home or apartment.

Though these four appliances — the dishwasher, the washing machine, the clothes dryer, and the space heater — are more efficient and safer than ever, leaving them unattended while in operation increases the risk of fire damage, water damage, or both.

What Is A Puffback?

6/1/2023 (Permalink)

As the weather gets colder, more and more homeowners are turning on their heating systems for the first time in months. Unfortunately for many, this means the possibility of puffbacks.

What are puffbacks, and what causes them?

Puffbacks usually take place due to lack of maintenance or age-related issues. A puffback occurs when a boiler or furnace misfires, causing an explosion of unburned fuel in the combustion chamber. This causes a release of smoke and soot that can be both incredibly messy and dangerous. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to prevent a puffback from occurring in your home.

First and foremost, ensure that your heater is inspected annually by a qualified technician. This is crucial, as this annual inspection will ensure that all parts of the heater are functioning properly. Regular inspections are also very important as manufacturers have the ability to ask for records of these should you ever have a warranty claim.

Warning Signs 

Listen for strange sounds and pay attention to any strange odors. Most heating systems will usually give plenty of warning prior to a puffback occurring through soot and gas odors throughout the building. If you hear any unusual noises when your heater starts up, unburned oil is probably being ignited. Keep an eye out for any oil leaks and soot on and around your heater and keep the area around the heater clean and free of any dust, debris, or content (storage items, paper, boxes etc.). If you notice any of these warning signs, call a qualified service technician immediately to diagnose the issues and make repairs.After a puffback, the soot can cover everything in your home. This means walls, furniture, curtains, and even inside drawers! Soot is not just powdery; it is black, sticky, and includes a mixture of oil. This makes it especially difficult to clean. If you experience a puffback in your home, call a trained HVAC technician to repair your heating system.

Call us at 703-644-0620 or email at Office@SERVPRO10476.com to help clean the chemicals and soot left behind to make it "Like it never even happened."

Process of Mold Remediation

5/9/2023 (Permalink)

Every mold damage scenario is different and requires a unique solution, but the general mold remediation process stays the same. The steps listed below illustrate the “typical” process:

Step 1: Emergency Contact

The mold cleanup and restoration process begins when you call us. Our specialist will ask a series of questions to help us determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel.

Step 2: Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

SERVPRO will carefully inspect your property for visible signs of mold. Mold feeds on cellulose and water and can be hidden from plain view. We use various technologies to detect mold and hidden water sources.

Step 3: Mold Containment

We'll use various containment procedures to prevent the spread of mold. We may use an advanced containment procedure, like a negative air chamber, to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep the mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process. All fans and heating and cooling systems may be turned off to prevent the spread of mold.

Step 4: Air Filtration

Specialized filtration equipment allows us to capture microscopic mold spores out of the air. We utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in process.

Step 5: Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on the amount of mold growth and the types of surfaces on which the mold appears. SERVPRO uses antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. Removing and disposing of mold-infested porous materials, like drywall and carpeting, may be necessary to remediate heavy mold growth.

Step 6: Cleaning Contents and Belongings

We also may clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, clothing, and other restorable items affected by mold. We'll use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings. We're also trained to remove odors and deodorize using fogging equipment and other methods.

Step 7: Restoration

Depending on the level of mold damage, drywall, subfloors, and other building materials may be removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.

Summer Weather - Natural Disasters

5/8/2023 (Permalink)

Every summer, the U.S. goes through an "active weather" season. The middle of spring through summer is a prime time for hurricanes, tornadoes, flooders, thunder storms, and fires. Here at SERVPRO, we've already begun to see the impact of severe weather. Luckily, our SERVPRO team is here for any natural disaster. We respond to water, wind and fire damage! Here are some events to look out for during the spring and summer months.

• Hurricanes–Hurricanes, with the accompanying wind, water, and flood, cause a lot of destruction in areas where they hit. When hurricanes gather strength, buildings, trees, and water infrastructures are commonly destroyed. The storms can also knock down power lines, posing a risk of electrocution.
• Tornadoes– Tornadoes are characterized by whirling winds and debris and can endanger life and property. They are common from spring until the middle of summer but can occur any time of the year.
• Floods– Floods are becoming more common in the U.S., with flash floods as the top weather-related killer. A few inches of water could bring extensive damage to homes and buildings. Heavy rains, levee breaches, and tsunamis cause floods. Many floods occur in areas that cannot absorb rainwater.
• Fires– The heat of the summer and the years of drought experienced in many parts of the country can precipitate massive forest fires that, in many instances, affect dwellings. Spontaneous combustion, volcanic eruption, and faulty electrical wires are other common causes of fires.