Recent Posts
How To Identify Sprinkler System Problems
11/14/2024 (Permalink)
Irrigation problems can lead to flooding that only a water restoration specialist can combat.
How to Spot Sprinkler System Issues
The landscaping on your commercial property is one of the first things that clients and visitors see, so it's important for your irrigation system to function properly so that it looks nice. A faulty system not only ruins the look of your landscaping but also can flood and cause damage to your building. It's necessary, therefore, to pinpoint the issue at the first sign of irrigation problems to get it fixed quickly. When you call irrigation specialists in Serenada, TX, about a problem, here are some ways you can help them identify issues with your sprinkler system.
Electrical
It is possible that your problem is electrical. If your system or even part of it isn't getting power, it's obviously not going to work well. There are several electrical problems to troubleshoot:
- Timer not sending full 24 volts to valves
- Solenoid detached from wire and not getting power
- Valve not getting power
- Wires cut or corroded
The whole electrical system has to be connected and working to power your irrigation system. Check first to see if the source of the power is hot. Then spot check every step of the way.
Hydraulic
Often, the system will lose pressure in one or more zones. This could be caused by something as simple as debris that clogs the solenoid, valve or even a pipe. Pipes could get broken by a wayward tree root, which could result in both a leak and possible clogging of the rest of the pipe. If the mechanics of any individual sprinkler are malfunctioning, it could create problems for the whole system.
Irrigation problems can lead to flooding that only a water restoration specialist can combat. Early detection of the issue can help you avoid damage to your landscaping and to your building. If you notice that your irrigation system is not performing correctly, try to troubleshoot as well as you can, and don't hesitate to call for repairs.
3 Common Causes of Mold Growth in a Restaurant
10/16/2024 (Permalink)
Cover any perishable foods in a clean plastic container to prevent mold growth in the refrigerator
3 Common Attractions for Mold in a Restaurant
Mold spores are microscopic airborne particles that develop into colonies if they are given the proper conditions. It is impossible to keep mold spores out of a building in Florence, TX. Their role in nature is to decompose rotting objects, and they can cause major damage to the natural construction materials of buildings. Fungus thrives when given the conditions of:
In a restaurant, mold growth can lead to an unnecessary amount of waste, making foods inedible. Here are three attractions for mold in a restaurant:
1. Dishwashing Stations
The dishwashing station can be a major contributor to mold, especially if the pipes or water supply lines leak. Should a leak occur and cause water damage to a wooden cabinet, mold spores will attach themselves and develop into colonies. Areas with constant water usage will also create high humidity levels. To prevent any fungus from thriving in these areas, install a central ventilation system.
2. The Refrigerator
Though the refrigerator has lower levels of humidity, it will not stop mold from growing. Cover any perishable foods in a clean plastic container to prevent mold growth in the refrigerator. If you have found mold, clean it thoroughly with a mixture of water and vinegar. Inspect any foods that were close to the area of growth for additional fungus.
3. Fruits and Vegetables
Perishable foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are a common source of nutrients for fungus. Inspect any fruits and vegetables for mold before you purchase them to prevent it from spreading to your restaurant. You can salvage some of these if they have sprouted mold colonies by cutting off the parts that have begun to rot. To prevent food waste, purchase only the amount of fresh foods that you will use throughout the week.
If you have found mold growth in your restaurant, contact a mold remediation service to thoroughly clean the area. Though airborne microbial particles cannot be avoided, you can keep their growth under control with routine cleaning and maintenance.
How to Get Ready for a Storm
7/26/2024 (Permalink)
Collect an emergency kit.
Use The Following Tips To Get Started
As a business owner in Georgetown, TX, you know you can't prepare for every eventuality. There are too many problems that can crop up with your commercial building. However, you can prepare for some worst-case scenarios. With the help of a commercial storm damage repair crew, you can create a storm preparedness plan to help you be ready for the aftermath of bad weather.
1. Collect an Emergency Kit
Having a first-aid kit on hand during bad weather can give you and your employees peace of mind. Your kit should be full of bandages, blankets and nonperishable foods. Make this kit available even when you're not there to help keep everyone who uses your building safe.
2. Institute an Evacuation Plan
How should people leave the building during a storm? Create an evacuation plan for every situation that may affect your area. During flooding, for example, you may want people to go to higher ground. During a tornado, however, your employees may be better served by finding a structurally sound place inside of the building to hunker down.
3. Write Up a Contact List
You may not always be there when a storm strikes. Your employees need to know who to call if a storm damages your building. Part of good property management is creating a contact list. This can include emergency service numbers, and you may also want to include phone numbers for plumbers, storm damage remediation teams and the like.
4. Make a Backup Plan
Think about what you would do if your building can no longer be occupied. In this part of a storm preparedness plan, you may want to come up with a business continuity plan. This can include having interruption insurance or setting up a temporary office space.
You may never know how a storm is going to affect your building until it is over. You can create a storm preparedness plan to help yourself get ready for the worst-case scenario.
5 Factors for Carpet Restoration
7/19/2024 (Permalink)
Water damage in Andice, TX.
5 Criteria for Carpet Restoration
A flooded house in Andice, TX, is a hassle. A major worry you might have when water strikes is if your carpet will need to be replaced. If the flood is clean water from a pipe break or supply line to a household appliance, the damage can be undone. In addition to a clean source, successful recovery depends on these five criteria.
1. Water Remains Clean
Contaminants that change the water lurk around every home. Water is categorized in increasing severity depending on how contaminated it is. With time, a Category 1 flood can become Category 2 or 3. As it increases in classification, recovery of the flooring become less likely.
2. Timely Intervention
Time is not an ally in treating water damage. Even if it’s clean water from a pipe break, mold and deteriorating water are inevitable if the problem remains untreated. On top of the microbial threat, the flooring’s structure worsens and can split into unrepairable layers.
3. Age and Condition
Cheap or tattered carpet is typically not worth the cost of restoration. It’s sometimes more economical to replace the flooring. If you do not know the value, an insurance adjuster or other professional can assist in determining which is the better option.
4. Usage After Becoming Wet
Heavy foot traffic risks breaking apart the flooring in its wet and vulnerable state. Delamination, the process of layers coming apart, is more likely if the floor is used when not dry. The affected area should remain undisturbed or, at worst, lightly used if no alternate routes exist.
5. Proper Procedure
An incomplete job can leave carpet irreparably damaged or still in danger of growing microorganisms. Any company specializing in flooring restoration has access to industry-grade machines and established procedures to ensure water is adequately removed.
If you experience a water leak or pipe break, examine these five criteria so you can make informed decisions on which actions to take. After fixing it, the floor will be new or like new.
5 Strategies to Prepare Your Business for Any Disaster
7/9/2024 (Permalink)
Disaster preparedness is an essential part of your long-term success plan.
Disaster Preparedness
When you're planning all of the logistics for getting your business up and running, it's important to add "prepare for disasters" to your to-do list. Disaster preparedness is an essential part of your long-term success plan. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 25% of businesses don't open again after a disaster. Here are five things you can do to be prepared to face anything that comes your way.
1. Prepare to Prevent
Some disasters can be avoided. Conduct regular maintenance and inspections of your property and address any issues quickly. Other disasters, such as natural floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, can't be avoided despite your best plans. Know the risks in Florence, TX, and prepare for those as best you can.
2. Protect Records
Don't leave records in a pile on your desk to deal with "someday." Use a physical safe that is water- and fire-proof or an online storage system that allows you to easily retrieve data from anywhere.
3. Keep Current Coverage
Check-in with your insurance company annually to ensure that your business preparedness plan is covered by the proper insurance policies. As your company grows, re-evaluate your needs and adjust coverage as appropriate.
4. Communicate Evacuation Plan
A disaster preparedness plan is only effective if it is widely known by your staff. Share your plan, practice it, and review it regularly. Ensure that it is a part of new staff orientation. Keep a current list of emergency contact numbers for each staff member in a safe place, as well as a second copy off-site or digitally.
5. Stay Up to Date
If it's been a few years since you last assessed your business preparedness plan, it's time for a refresher. Ensure that your plans are still relevant and up to date with the latest guidance. It's also a good idea to have the number of an emergency restoration company handy to get help as soon as possible in the event of a disaster.
Anything can happen to your business, but you can take measures to avoid lasting consequences. Disaster preparedness can help to solidify long-term success.
Tips for Ridding Your Home of Mold Odors
6/25/2024 (Permalink)
Mold damage in Florence, TX.
Mold Removal
You walk into your house in Florence, TX, and immediately a musty smell hits you. You may not know exactly where the mold growth is, but that telltale mycotoxin odor means you know it's lurking somewhere in your home. There are several steps you must take to get rid of the fungus and the stench it leaves behind.
Locate Source
The first step in eliminating musty odor is finding the mold that's causing it. If you can't see it on any exposed surfaces, there are other places you can look:
- Inside cabinets
- Under sinks
- Behind toilets
- In bathroom grout
- On food
Even after a detailed search, you may still not be able to find the mold growth in your home. If you cannot see where the odor is coming from, a mold test conducted by a certified environmental hygienist can reveal not only the affected area but the type of mold and extent of the concentration.
Clean Thoroughly
Throwing out moldy items can alleviate some of the mycotoxin smell. If you want to salvage the things that have mold or mildew on them, though, you must have them cleaned well. Thorough mold cleanup involves more than just wiping down the surfaces where you see the growth. Mold remediation experts ensure that they not only take care of the mold you can see but also mitigate the damage underneath. If there is a lingering smell, an air purifier with a HEPA filter can remove the remaining odor from the air.
Prevent Future Growth
After you have gotten rid of the mold, you don't want it to return. Use a dehumidifier to lower the amount of moisture in the air. Ceiling fans or other air circulation methods can also help maintain a drier home that is less conducive to mold growth. Once you solve the problem, you can prevent it from recurring.
If you notice a mycotoxin odor in your home, you must get rid of the mold growth that's causing it before it will dispel. Through proper cleanup and air filtration, your home can go back to smelling like it's supposed to smell.
4 Reasons To Board Up Your Home After a Disaster
6/25/2024 (Permalink)
Board up your house after a fire or other catastrophe.
Four Reasons To Board Up Your Home
After a fire, storm or other disaster strikes your Georgetown, TX home, your instinct may be to flee to a hotel or a friend's house immediately. Before you go, consider protecting your ailing home. It may seem like yet another thing to add to your already-crowded "to-do" list, but it could save you from further drama. Here are four reasons to board up your home until your fire and storm damage restoration company finishes undoing the damage.
1. To Stop Secondary Storm or Fire Damage
The potential for damage doesn't stop once the flames are extinguished or the wind subsides. Gaps, cracks and holes in your home can create more problems by letting in wind, water, debris and pests. These unwanted guests are problematic enough on their own, but they can also worsen damage originating from the initial event.
2. To Prevent Theft and Vandalism
Insects and animals aren't the only home invaders you need to worry about if you leave your home vulnerable. Missing windows and broken doors allow would-be criminals of all shapes and sizes access to your home.
There's likely more inside to steal than you realize, too. More and more, thieves are less interested in your big-screen TV than they are in nabbing personal information, appliances and even building materials.
3. To Keep Your Insurance Coverage
Your insurer may require that you board up your home after a fire or weather event in order to maintain your coverage. This is rooted in the same reasons listed above: the sooner you board things up, the smaller the window for additional damage or theft.
4. To Protect Yourself From Lawsuits
Did you know that if somebody enters your fire-ravaged kitchen and injures himself or herself, you could be forced to pay damages? Stop that possibility in its tracks when you halt unwanted visitors with an emergency board-up.
Board up your house after a fire or other catastrophe, and you can remove a variety of stressors from your family's agenda. That's time better spent looking forward to your restored home and taking a well-deserved break.
5 Steps To Solve a Bathtub Sewage Backup Problem
6/25/2024 (Permalink)
Bathtub backup in Andice, TX
Take These Five Steps as Sewage Starts Backing up Into a Bathtub
When contaminated water or solid waste backs up into a bathtub, homeowners need to resolve underlying plumbing problems before cleaning and restoring damage caused by a sewer backup.
1. Plug the Bathtub Drain
A drain plug can be helpful for keeping backups under control. Plugging the drain limits the amount of contaminated water that can flow back into a bathtub or overflows into a bathroom.
2. Clear the Sewer Line Blockage
Water will follow the path of least resistance and most tub fixtures are lower than bathroom sinks and toilets. Clearing blocked primary or secondary drains may resolve an issue. Depending on the severity of a clog and the availability of plumbing tools, a homeowner may need to call a professional.
3. Limit the Scope of Damage
Any measures a homeowner can take to contain contaminated water and solid waste can minimize sewer backup damage. Bathtubs are easy to disinfect, but porous materials and contents may need to be torn out, disposed of, and replaced.
4. Dispose of Contaminated Materials
It is important to get rid of absorbent materials that cannot be disinfected. Any materials contaminated by flooding that remain intact raise risks of mold damage and exposure.
5. Disinfect Nonporous Surfaces
A bathtub and most nonporous surfaces in a bathroom can safely be disinfected. Depending on the extent of sewer damage, a homeowner may clean up a backup into a bathtub or need to call professionals for a more comprehensive cleanup and restoration.
It is important to limit the spread of contaminated water and waste during a bathtub backup at a residence in Andice, TX. While most tubs are made of hard, non-porous materials, absorbent grout or drywall surrounding a bath may be difficult to completely clean and continue to pose re-contamination risks after a sewer backup.
Mold in your Florence Restaurant
4/9/2024 (Permalink)
Dishwasher station leak in Florence Texas restaurant caused this mold damage. SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City cleaned up the mold
Mold has a role in nature. It is to decompose organic materials. Mold in your Florence Texas restaurant does not have a role. Mold can cause major damage to the construction materials in commercial buildings. While mold spores are everywhere in our environment, they need moisture, warmth, and a food source to thrive. In a restaurant, mold growth can lead to an unnecessary amount of waste, making foods inedible. Call SERVPRO® of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City to clean up the mold.
Three common places mold can grow in a restaurant are the dishwashing station, the refrigerator, and under sinks.
- Dishwashing Stations
The dishwashing station can be a major contributor to mold. Pipes or water supply line leaks are common causes. This area has all the factors mold needs to grow, warmth, moisture, and organic material. To help prevent any fungus from thriving in these areas, install a central ventilation system. - The Refrigerator
Behind freezers and refrigerators is a location mold can be found. Mold found behind appliances is a by-product of the cooling system. The motor produces the warmth. Moisture is produced by the condensing unit. The food source is items that end up underneath and behind the appliance. - Under sinks
Both the kitchen and bathrooms have sinks that are prime locations for mold to grow. High volume of people going in and out of these areas make them even more prone to mold. People track debris into these rooms providing a food source for mold. Running faucets and flushing toilets contribute to standing water in these areas.
If you find mold growth in your restaurant, contact SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City to thoroughly clean the area. Though airborne microbial particles cannot be avoided, you can keep their growth under control with routine cleaning and maintenance.
SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City should be your first choice for any residential or commercial water damage. Our team of professionals is trained to assess the damage, identify potential threats, and respond quickly to restore your property to preloss condition. SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City is available 24/7 by calling 512-843-5943
Torrential Rain Damages Georgetown Businesses
4/9/2024 (Permalink)
Torrential rains caused this commercial building to in Georgetown to flood
Storms like hurricanes and torrential rains can cause water damage to your commercial building in Georgetown Texas. It is important to be prepared for water damage to your building. Knowing what steps to take to keep your employees, building, and yourself safe is critical. Let SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City help you with these critical steps.
The first thing to do if you have water damage from a storm is to understand what category the water is. Depending on whether it is category 1, category 2 or category 3, mitigation and restoration processes will be different. Most storm water that enters your building is Category 3. If you have category 3 or black water, here are some tips to mitigate damages as quickly as possible.
Category 3, also known as black water, has the highest level of contamination. The water may be contaminated with bacteria and microorganisms, pesticides, fertilizers, or animal feces. Category 3 water requires the highest level of care when dealing with it.
What To Do If Your Building Has Category 3 Water
No matter which type of water damage you have, it's important to call in a professional water restoration company to perform the mitigation process. It is especially important if you have category 3 water damage. Only professionals, like SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City should deal with removing contaminated water and mitigating damages from Category 3 water damage. A restoration company will use the proper personal protective equipment and thorough safety procedures to ensure that everyone is safe while mitigating damages.
How To Restore Your Building
After the damages have been mitigated, the reconstruction process can begin. The reconstruction process includes replacing the building materials damaged or removed because of the storm. SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City is a full-service restoration company. SERVPRO® makes it “Like it never even happened” . So you can resume normal business operations.
SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City should be your first choice for any residential or commercial water damage. Our team of professionals is trained to assess the damage, identify potential threats, and respond quickly to restore your property to preloss condition. SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City is available 24/7 by calling 512-843-5943
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