Has Your Business Utilized Professional Cleaning Lately?

9/7/2023 (Permalink)

Savvy business owners have been reaching out to SERVPRO to help with their disinfecting and sanitation needs during this ongoing challenging time where it’s difficult to schedule services in a timely fashion due to labor shortages. While we’ve been on-site, they’ve also discovered all the other commercial cleaning services that SERVPRO® of East Phoenix can provide to help them attract customers to their business once again.

A clean business makes a good first impression

When operating a business of any size, first impressions are everything, especially with everyone’s heightened cleanliness expectations. What does a customer see when they first walk into your business? What do they see or smell when they enter the location for the first time? It is especially important to make sure your business facility is clean and looks absolutely best to customers and other visitors who walk onto the property. By having a facility that is thoroughly cleaned, you are well on your way to developing a customer that will come back time after time, and possibly refer their friends and family to frequent your business. Business owners and managers know the value of repeat customers and how important it is to nurture those relationships. While customer service and quality of services most certainly impact whether a customer will become a dedicated return customer or not, impressions of cleanliness also make a big difference. With many businesses closed or at reduced capacity for so long, attracting and maintaining foot traffic is critical. Commercial cleaning can help make it possible by making the business more attractive and welcoming.

Commercial cleaning services available to businesses

There are a wide variety of materials and surfaces in your business that SERVPRO® of East Phoenix can clean and deodorize as part of our commercial cleaning services. SERVPRO®  offers cleaning services ranging from cleaning hoods in restaurants to removing biohazard contaminants to duct cleaning. We have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business if it has been closed for an extended period of time or simply elevate the level of cleanliness with a thorough cleaning. Here’s a list of a few items we can clean:

• Carpets
• Upholstery
• Area Rugs
• Drapes
• Tile
• HVAC and Duct Cleaning

Use SERVPRO® for your commercial cleaning needs

If your business needs some freshening up or a thorough cleaning, SERVPRO® of East Phoenix has the training and tools to get your business looking and smelling its absolute best! Whether you need a one-time deep clean or ongoing commercial cleaning, contact us at 602-507-6163 to get the job done right.

Flood Water Contamination After Damage

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

In the past few years, Arizona has seen extreme weather drop remarkable amounts of water in a short period of time, while other times, little or no water happens. When storms are severe. such storms can overwhelm sewer and drain systems and overflow reservoirs created to hold rainwater. Besides the damage caused by substantial flooding, there is the challenge of contaminated water. Working with a water remediation specialist like SERVPRO can help alleviate any concerns regarding water issues.

Flood damage in the Valley

Flood damage in Phoenix from storms brings the potential threat of contaminated water to homes and businesses. Soil is the most common contaminant, but other sources include something as simple as the water a flood pushes back through a washing machine, dishwasher, or garbage disposal. Of course, an overwhelmed sewage system can lead to more substantial water removal challenges, and may even require biohazard remediation. The additional risk to a home increases the cost of cleanup and makes the remediation and restoration services SERVPRO provides more critical than if the water was clean. Our professionals will come out and assess the water threat so they know how best to approach the remediation process.

Dealing with questionable water

The first step our water remediation specialists take is to lift any off the floor to get it out of the water. When contaminated water is in the carpets, sofas and other furniture have to be placed on blocks or taken out of the home. It helps water to drain from the property items, increase airflow around the items and also prevents furniture from leaving stains on floors and carpets from wood stain or fabric dye. We start to clean Items with surface contamination immediately, and then we inspect all property again to determine the right method. We prefer to use brushes to remove as much of the contaminants as possible if it does not spread it or damage the surface. It is effective on hard surfaces but less effective on upholstered furniture or delicate fabrics like heavy drapes or curtains. To remove stains, SERVPRO technicians have a very broad inventory of commercial-grade detergents and anti-microbial agents that can clean heavy soils and neutralize the health threat of any contaminants. If the amount of soil is too thick or the item has been under water for an extended amount of time, we use an immersion tank that generates sonic waves to force cleaning agents through the property item.

Addressing the effects of a flood

Remediating the effects of a flood is challenging, but SERVPRO of East Phoenix has the equipment, training, and experience to help you through the procedures, even if the water is contaminated. If you need our help or simply have a question, call us at (480) 507-6163.

Handling Smoke Odors After a House Fire

8/29/2023 (Permalink)

Home fires leave behind destruction that has to be dealt with, often on various levels. One of the most challenging results of fire damage is the odor that stays stubbornly behind, which few people plan to deal with after a house fire. Eliminating these odors requires knowledge and specific deodorization equipment. That’s where SERVPRO of East Phoenix can help! Learn how we can assist with odor removal after you experience a house fire.

Smoke odor removal

After a fire in your home, SERVPRO specialists can help you throughout the fire restoration process, including assistance with odor removal. With many years of experience in fire remediation, we understand how trying it can be when this type of tragedy occurs and how difficult it can be to recover and get back to normal. Our technicians can restore your home to pre-fire condition quickly and efficiently to make it livable again after a house fire, especially when dealing with unexpected smoky odor aftermath. Effective fire damage deodorization requires using different techniques. SERVPRO fire remediation specialists can usually get rid of unpleasant smells without needing additional steps.

When it comes to deodorization, the first step is removing the source causing the odor. The second step is getting rid of any residues in the area. After cleaning, SERVPRO technicians follow up by air “scrubbing” or ventilating to get rid of odor molecules from the house to get rid of the odors.

Containing odors from a fire

Chemical containment is important in fire damage deodorization to prevent odor molecules from remaining in the air after a house fire. This requires decontaminating materials with a chemical deodorizer, which forms a barrier that keeps the odor molecules from escaping from the source material, thus reducing the smell. Our experienced technicians then neutralize any odor particles that may have dissipated into the air by applying deodorant products into the surrounding air of the affected area. These products neutralize the overpowering smells. This process is a part of SERVPRO’s tried and true fire remediation process, so we’re confident we can successfully address odor issues in your home after a blaze and make your home enjoyable to live in once again.

Get rid of odors quickly

House fires are traumatizing. Knowing who to reach out to for fire remediation efforts, including unplanned odor removal, can make the experience less painful, and recovery faster. We can help you eliminate odors that are a result of a fire in your home. SERVPRO of East Phoenix can come in and begin the fire restoration process immediately so don’t hesitate to call; we’re available 24/7 to help. To get help after a house fire, call us at (602) 507-6163.

Opening a New Business? Have an Emergency Readiness Plan in Place

10/11/2022 (Permalink)

There is a lot to consider when opening a new business. One aspect that most owners do not want to think about but should is being ready for disaster. Whether it is fire, flood, mold damage or biohazard issues, having a plan in place can save time and money, and may make the difference between whether your business stays open or not. Work with your local SERVPRO to design a plan to anticipate your issues and put in place a plan of practical solutions ahead of any troubles.

When damage happens at your place of business
 

Whether you own a restaurant, a retail enterprise, or manage an event center, your responsibility is to keep the doors open and provide the services or products you promise your clientele. Unfortunately, a broken pipe or appliance malfunction sends water surging through your business, possibly closing you down until the experts to arrive to get the situation managed. Fire, mold, or a crime scene situation can present similar operational challenges. Without a plan, which can waste precious time. SERVPRO suggests working on a proactive blueprint to streamline the assistance we can offer to get you back in business fast.

What does a disaster response plan include?
 

SERVPRO creates a comprehensive disaster response action strategy for damage with significant input from the business owner. Our Emergency Ready Plan and Profile (ERP) is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We take the time to visit your company location and to talk with you to assess your needs and understand how you deliver your goods or services. The assessment is free of charge and allows us to make a range of suggestions to limit your risk if your commercial space does experience a damage event such as fire, flood, or mold damage. Our experienced project manager walks through your business and sketches out your layout, including vital information like utility shutoff locations. We gather information, take pictures, and determine how we best meet your needs if your site is damaged. Having as much information documented before disaster strikes will help businesses react quickly, smartly, and effectively to keep damage to a minimum and operations less impacted should disaster strike.

How SERVPRO’s ERP works
 

Business owners take an additional step to increase our knowledge by completing your business’s profile on the SERVPRO ERP mobile app. On the app, indicate that SERVPRO of East Phoenix is your preferred provider. List any vendors and contractors who have essential information about your equipment and systems. Designate employees or others whom you allow to act on your behalf if you are unavailable during the water crisis. Gathering all this information is critical to a fast and effective response if a water emergency occurs.
 
Planning for an emergency should be a part of any new business opening. The professionals at SERVPRO of East Phoenix are by your side during an emergency. Be prepared by developing an Emergency Ready Plan and Profile we can use if the worst happens so we can react quickly to protect your business. Call us at (602) 507-6163 to get started.

Humidity Can Cause Damage in Your Home

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

One of the telltale characteristics of monsoon season is high humidity. In addition to flooding, water condensation from humidity as a result of a monsoon storm can lead to secondary damage and cause more damage. Here’s how water condensation can cause big problems in your home.

How humidity damages homes

One issue most homeowners in the Valley rarely think about is humidity, as the Valley tends to be a very dry place with little moisture in the air. However, when the relative humidity rises significantly, as it does after major storms, so does the potential for damage from condensation. How can humidity damage homes? High humidity can cause problems in your home if relative humidity regularly exceeds 60%. When the air contains water vapor above that level, mold and mildew start to grow, while excess moisture can cause rot, damaging your belongings.

Undetected mold can be damaging

Mold spores thrive on moisture, so with high humidity and resulting condensation, you can see how mold quickly becomes a problem. Mold spores can grow into colonies when exposed to water.  Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or get indoors from your clothing or a pet. Higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Most homeowners may not even know they have a mold problem until they smell that musty odor in their homes. Mold can hide under carpets, in attics, and behind walls and can be tough to battle. Because of high humidity during monsoons, homeowners see an increase in mold issues.

How SERVPRO helps with mold from humidity

SERVPRO of East Phoenix has a proven process for dealing with mold issues in a home. First, we inspect and assess mold damage, looking for those areas that are out of sight such as attics and behind walls to ensure we get a full picture of the issue. We then focus on mold containment to stop the mold from spreading any further. Next is air filtration. Our specialized filtration equipment allows our Professionals 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. Depending on the situation, we then turn to removing mold and mold-infested materials such as carpeting, drywall, etc. Finally, we clean and restore all possessions impacted by mold to get your home back to normal.

If you have mold other damage in your home from humidity, contact SERVPRO

If water condensation from high humidity has caused mold or other issues in your home, call us today at (602) 507-6163. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all your damage restoration needs.

Dealing With Mold at Your Phoenix Business

8/31/2022 (Permalink)

Savvy business owners understand that they need to plan for unexpected disasters of all kinds at their place of business and be prepared. However, few probably consider mold as one of those threats, but the risk is real. Owners need to ensure that the spaces they rent to their tenants or ones they occupy themselves are continually maintained in a suitable condition. Allowing damage to accumulate can lead to problems related to such damage. If the damage is significant and impacts business, the result can be costly from several sources. Here is what business owners need to know about dealing with mold at your Phoenix business.

Protecting your property from mold

Business owners must protect their properties from mold infestation, and certified mold cleanup professionals can help. We can provide you with an experienced technician that is trained to know what allows such problems to exist in the first place on your property, what makes the problem worse, and how to prevent it after we finish with remediation and mold cleanup. Prevention is key to protecting your property as much as possible!

How mold grows in commercial buildings

When people think of mold growth, they typically envision showers in homes with constant moisture and other elements that can encourage surface mold. Microorganisms like mold and mildew do require moisture's presence. They naturally cannot grow without some form of humidity, water vapor, or water. Oftentimes, these problems are not readily noticed by the owner or tenants until visible mold appears or a musty odor starts to permeate the building. By then, mold growth and damage are well on their way, and it is time to call in mold remediation specialists.

How SERVPRO helps with mold damage

We use thermal imaging cameras that quickly reveal any moisture existing in walls and ceilings. Once located, we check each area with a moisture meter that shows the amount of moisture as a percentage. We document these findings for later use during cleanup procedures. Reasonable amounts for such materials are often located on a universal sheet or dry materials, giving us a range to work toward with our desiccant machines. When such materials exist in your building but not on the sheet, we note the moisture content of similar materials elsewhere in your property that do not hold any excess moisture.

Once the problem has been addressed, our experts can provide you with guidance on how to discuss mold cleanup with your tenants and what they can do to help make sure the problem does not return in the future or how to notice it more quickly to keep future damage at a minimum. When necessary, we can work within your tenants' office spaces as discretely as possible. We understand that their business operations do best with as little interruption as possible. This also protects the business owner from additional hardship.

SERVPRO of East Phoenix can help reduce your liability and address tenant concerns about mold infestations. Our IICRC-certified employees have experience in performing mold cleanup in different settings and can get this completed for you quickly and efficiently. Contact us at (602) 507-6163 any day of the year, 24 hours a day.

Bathrooms Are Common Source of Water Damage in Homes

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Much of the flooding and other water damage experienced in homes start in the bathroom. Bathrooms are a common source of water damage which can be created by overflowing toilets, burst under sink pipes, overflowing bathtubs or water pipe leaks underneath the flooring. Luckily, SERVPRO of East Phoenix has the water restoration specialists to help recover from the water damage.

Water damage not easy to detect

While an overflowing toilet or bathtub is maddening, a homeowner is usually instantly aware when the damage happens, assuming they are home at the time to witness the event. Unfortunately, there are leaks that can happen behind the walls, going on for days, weeks or even months that don’t get found until the damage is significant, including the presence of mold and resulting odors. That’s why water damage in bathrooms can cause little to considerable damage. Even the more “obvious” issues can go undetected if the homeowner is out of town for any significant amount of time, such as “snowbirds” who only frequent the state part-time. A telltale sign of a whooshing sound may be detected in other rooms, but water sounds are common in a bathroom and therefore may be ignored. Water damage needs immediate attention to help restore the bathroom quickly once it’s been detected.

When water damage occurs

When the SERVPRO water damage team arrives at the home, they immediately get to work to assess the extent of the damage and determine the source of the damage if it wasn’t previously identified. First, they’ll inspect the damage and make an appraisal in order to be address the issue. Next, they’ll use their expertise with advanced equipment to extract the water using powerful pumps and vacuum units to quickly remove water from your property, which helps prevent secondary water damage and mold growth. After that is the drying and dehumidification to help prevent odors and mold from growing. Next, they’ll clean all the restorable items and structures damaged by the water using several proven techniques as well as sanitizing treatments to remove odors and deodorize your property.

Restoration and rebuilding may be necessary

The last step is restoration, restoring your home to its pre-water damage condition. This might include minor repairs such as replacing drywall, tile floor repair, painting, or installing new carpeting. Depending on the extent of the damage, the repairs may be more substantial which can include tarping, boarding up, packing and moving, etc. SERVPRO of East Phoenix can simplify the restoration process by handling both the initial water damage mitigation and rebuilding the affected areas that will bring a building back to full functionality…like it never happened!

Bathrooms are a common area when it comes to residential water damage but choosing the best water damage restoration company can make the recovery process easier. Contact us at (602) 507-6163 to get your water damage handled quickly and professionally. We’re available 24/7 to help!

Eliminating Odors After a Water Disaster in Your Office Building

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

One of the biggest and most unexpected challenges after an occurrence of water damage to your commercial property is getting rid of the damp and musty odor long after the water is gone. Regardless of the kind of business you have, your building is at risk during monsoons of experiencing water damage and the aftermath of odors. Here’s how to address the lingering odors after the water is gone.

What causes odors once the water is gone?

When your business experiences water damage from severe monsoon rains, the immediate need is to address the source of water and then remove the water as quickly and thoroughly as possible. SERVPRO water remediation specialists know how to assess the situation quickly, moving into action to get all the water out of a business and address any damage such as wet carpet, drywall, or furniture. However, once this work is completed, SERVPRO techs still have work to do, as lingering dampness may have caused odors from mildew that need to be tackled.

We are odor removal specialists

Why do odors remain after the water is gone? Depending on how long the water sat, mold and mildew may have grown, causing a damp and musty smell throughout the impacted areas of your office building. SERVPRO professional restoration experts can eliminate such odors from your building after an occurrence of commercial water damage. We use a multi-approach method to combat odors after any water damage and understand that each situation is approached differently. A variety of deodorants and odor combating techniques can eliminate the odors in no time.

Using a multiple method approach

Odors often come from various sources after a water damage incident. It can be challenging to find all the sources and determine a specific method to combat them individually. However, it can be easy to use multiple methods that use various deodorants to get a better result. We use a combination of several types of deodorants that can combat the most common smells after a commercial water damage event. Our trained professionals know how to assess the situation and determine the best approach for an ideal outcome.

Various deodorants focus on odors

More often than not, one type of deodorizing agent is not enough to combat smells from various sources. Different odors, both real and imaginary, need different deodorants. Masking agents in time-release beads are often used to cover up unpleasant odors with a pleasant-smelling chemical. Our professionals use these agents to combat both real and imaginary odors as well. Masking is necessary as people often feel they can still smell something even after the odor is removed completely, so these agents create a different, more appealing smell. Pairing agents, on the other hand, combined with the odor-causing particles in the air and neutralize them. Once these agents combine with the particles in the air, they cause them to fall to the ground, which can be cleaned later on. These agents are often used in Ultra Low Volume foggers and wet foggers. A perfect combination of all these techniques and agents is essential to eliminate the odors from your commercial property after water damage.

Work with SERVPRO for all your odor removal needs

If your office building experiences water damage that results in lingering unpleasant odors, call SERVPRO of East Phoenix today at (602) 507-6163 to discuss your restoration needs with one of our professionals. We’re here 24/7 to help you get your business back to normal as quickly as possible.

Proper Drainage Will Protect Your Home During Storms

8/2/2022 (Permalink)

The time to be thinking about proper drainage is before the monsoons hit. Our monsoons can deliver a significant amount of water in a very short period of time, burdening rain gutters on homes to keep water away and drain correctly. Be sure to maintain rain gutters and overall proper drainage to keep your home from flooding during storms.

How proper drainage can protect your home

The rain gutters surrounding the eaves of your home are there to help prevent instances of flood damage from occurring. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not even know about a problem with their gutters until it is malfunctioning and causing a backflow or overflow situation to arise, flooding your home. These spouts can get clogged up from debris such as leaves, bird nests, or other material, or may fall into disrepair over time and not adequately drain water away from your home. It’s a good idea to inspect your rain gutters at least once a year to ensure they’re capable of properly channeling storm waters away from your home. It’s also a good idea to review how the drainage of your surrounding yard is overall. Is water draining away from your home, or towards it? If you find that the majority of the rain is pooling around your foundation, work with a professional to rectify your draining situation before the next storm hits to prevent water damage

When rain gutters fail

Unfortunately, many homeowners fail to inspect their rain gutters and drains and only discover there’s an issue when water starts to seep in through the ceiling or roof. When that happens, it’s imperative to call a water remediation specialist like SERVPRO of East Phoenix as quickly as possible. From the moment that our SERVPRO team arrives at your home, we work to assess what needs to happen to seal up water entry points of your home. Depending on the severity of the flooding inside of your house, our SERVPRO professionals might only need to use portable pumps to remove the water. Larger quantities might require the use of pump trucks from our fleet of vehicles.

Our water remediation process

SERVPRO follows a tried and true water repair process for homes. We inspect and assess water damage. We then remove as much water as we possibly can using whatever equipment necessary to get the job done. We then tackle drying and dehumidification. Drying is one of the most essential components to flood damage restoration. Lack of proper drying can lead to further weakening of construction materials in your home, can allow for more water penetration in the immediate future, and can also allow for unfortunate damages like mold growth to occur in this affected area. After drying and dehumidification, we deal with cleaning, sanitizing, and restoration if needed. It’s a process that can help your home return to the preflood condition as quickly as possible.

A clogged or damaged gutter system cannot divert the water away from your home, and it eventually allows water to find a way inside your home. Improper drainage surrounding your home will do damage as well if not addressed. When you struggle with situations like this, reach out to our experienced SERVPRO of East Phoenix team of restoration specialists. We can help you remove the water and bring your home back to the way that it should be. Give us a call anytime at (602) 507-6163.

Dealing with Smoke Odors After a House Fire

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Home fires leave behind destruction that has to be dealt with, often on various levels. One of the most challenging results of fire damage is the odor that stays stubbornly behind, which few people plan to deal with after a house fire. Eliminating these odors requires knowledge and specific deodorization equipment. That’s where SERVPRO of Central Phoenix can help! Learn how we can assist with odor removal after you experienced a house fire.

Smoke odor removal

After a fire in your home, SERVPRO specialists can help you throughout the fire restoration process, including assistance with odor removal. With many years of experience in fire remediation, we understand how trying it can be when this type of tragedy occurs and how difficult it can be to recover and get back to normal. Our technicians can restore your home to pre-fire condition quickly and efficiently to make it livable again after a house fire, especially when dealing with unexpected smoky odor aftermath. Effective fire damage deodorization requires using different techniques. SERVPRO fire remediation specialists can usually get rid of the unpleasant smells without needing additional steps.

When it comes to deodorization, the first step is removing the source causing the odor. The second step is getting rid of any residues in the area. After cleaning, SERVPRO technicians follow up by air “scrubbing” or ventilating to get rid of odor molecules from the house to get rid of the odors.

Containing odors from a fire

Chemical containment is important in fire damage deodorization to prevent odor molecules from remaining in the air after a house fire. This requires decontaminating materials with a chemical deodorizer, which forms a barrier that keeps the odor molecules from escaping from the source material, thus reducing the smell. Our experienced technicians then neutralize any odor particles that may have dissipated into the air by applying deodorant products into the surrounding air of the affected area. These products neutralize the overpowering smells. This process is a part of SERVPRO’s tried and true fire remediation process, so we’re confident we can successfully address odor issues in your home after a blaze and make your home enjoyable to live in once again.

Get rid of odors fast

House fires are traumatizing. Knowing who to reach out to for fire remediation efforts, including unplanned odor removal, can make the experience less painful, and recovery faster. We can help you eliminate odors that are a result of a fire in your home. SERVPRO of Central Phoenix can come in and begin the fire restoration process immediately so don’t hesitate to call; we’re available 24/7 to help. To get help after a house fire, call us at (602) 386-4268.