OK, so it's been a while! I am sorry for not paying better attention to my postings and getting all of you something you can sink your teeth into in a little more timely fashion. It has been a busy year, and it is winding up quicker than I am sure most of us would like it to. If you look back to my very first post on here, you will find a bunch of "stuff" that I could once again post as we roll forward.
We had a pretty tame Summer and Autumn for all intents and purposes. Yes, it rained weekend after weekend after weekend, but it was really never anything too major, that would cause any big problems for the home or business owner. Ida just wreaked havoc on the Carolina's and Virginia but didn't pack much of a wallop when it got to us. Nuisance stuff in general, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be thinking that it couldn't happen to us.
Disasters can happen at anytime, and vary in type. Man-made, mechanical and natural disasters can (and will) put an unexpected crimp in your life at anytime. You have to plan ahead while the waters are calm so that when they become turbulent, you can wade your way through as painlessly as you can. Whether it's spilled juice on a carpet, a broken pipe or the remnants of a tropical storm, you will be ready if you PLAN AHEAD.
SERVPRO of Hampshire County can provide you with assistance in Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP), all YOU have to do is ASK!!! We can provide a detailed worksheet for home and business owners that simply requires filling in the blanks and storing your plan off site so that you have a "play-book" when the time comes.
Call our office today and ask for Kelly, Ed or Me, and we will be more than happy to supply you with the proper worksheet(s). Our number is on the CONTACT US page of this website. In the meantime, feel free to go back now, read what was posted a year ago, and begin to plan for a safe and relaxing Holiday Season.
I will catch up to all of you again very soon. I promise!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Indoor Air Quality - Spring's Fresh Air
Hello again everyone, it's been a while since I blogged and quite frankly, there hasn't been much to write about. We have finally had some consistently warm outside, not much rain, life has been good on that front.
I hope that everyone has opened the windows and doors in their buildings and PURGED the stale old air out and let new fresh air in. There are a few things that you should be looking to have done at this time as well though and that is where we come into play. Duct cleaning removes the "junk" from your duct work before you switch from HEAT to A/C for the summer. This gets rid of the majority of pollutants before you button up for the summer cooling season.
Secondly, a good thorough carpet cleaning will remove pollutants from your carpets and leave you with a cleaner "air filter" than you had before. As the air moves through your building, impurities get caught up in the fibers of the carpet and linger there until removed. Basic cleaning will take care of this buildup and again, help cut down on indoor pollution levels.
It's really all about comfort and health when it comes to IAQ, the less "crud" in the environment, the better you will feel in the long run AND the better things will look as well.
We are looking for any of you out there that want to make sure that your summer IAQ is at it's best possible.
Call us today to schedule a carpet or duct cleaning. Mention this blog and receive a santizer application to your duct work or carpet protectant application to your carpet cleaning at no additional charge. How can you beat that?
I will catch up to you all again real soon!
I hope that everyone has opened the windows and doors in their buildings and PURGED the stale old air out and let new fresh air in. There are a few things that you should be looking to have done at this time as well though and that is where we come into play. Duct cleaning removes the "junk" from your duct work before you switch from HEAT to A/C for the summer. This gets rid of the majority of pollutants before you button up for the summer cooling season.
Secondly, a good thorough carpet cleaning will remove pollutants from your carpets and leave you with a cleaner "air filter" than you had before. As the air moves through your building, impurities get caught up in the fibers of the carpet and linger there until removed. Basic cleaning will take care of this buildup and again, help cut down on indoor pollution levels.
It's really all about comfort and health when it comes to IAQ, the less "crud" in the environment, the better you will feel in the long run AND the better things will look as well.
We are looking for any of you out there that want to make sure that your summer IAQ is at it's best possible.
Call us today to schedule a carpet or duct cleaning. Mention this blog and receive a santizer application to your duct work or carpet protectant application to your carpet cleaning at no additional charge. How can you beat that?
I will catch up to you all again real soon!
Monday, March 9, 2009
What next?
So, here we are, on the brink of Spring, warmer weather, practically no more snow shoveling or snow blowing, what a life! We have all persevered! So the question is posed.....WHAT NEXT?
All winter long I have been going on and going on about ice dams, frozen pipes, furnace malfunctions and fire hazards, now that things seem to be on the upturn what could possibly be next? Well, there is plenty when it comes to your homes. The recent economic downturn and tightening of the wallets certainly doesn't spell good news in general, but as I see it, more people will be spending more time at home or around the home. Home improvements versus selling and upgrading are still big. However, if you are thinking of selling, STAGING YOUR HOME FOR SALE is very important. You need to get every dollar you can for your house when selling. Having PRE-SALE inspections for problems like mold growth, moisture intrusion, pest issues and structural problems will be very important BEFORE listing your house. "An ounce of prevention" is the line that comes to mind.
Calling SERVPRO of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY for moisture and visual microbial growth inspections. Our contact info is on our webpage.
Secondly, pest inspections are the other major recommendation. Calling BUDGET PEST SOLUTIONS will get you an honest and thorough inspection at a reasonable price. Should there be any issues, JOHN BOUDREAU has the ability to not only treat the problem, but fix the damage done by those pests. Call John at (413) 385-0065 for a preventative inspection, Real Estate Inspection, or solutions to what's "buggin" you.
Finally, if you are thinking of selling, and don't have a realtor yet, you need to contact JOHN PEDRO, PEDRO REAL ESTATE, for a home analysis and to list your property. JOHN has been a realtor for over 20 years I believe (or MORE), and knows his stuff. He is a straight shooter and will get your property moved for the right price. John can be reached at (413)547-8781.
Either of the two JOHN's can help you should the spring thing be to sell or buy or just plain old tune up the home, oh yeah, along with SERVPRO OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, YOUR cleaning solution.
Until next time, this is Kevin signing off.
All winter long I have been going on and going on about ice dams, frozen pipes, furnace malfunctions and fire hazards, now that things seem to be on the upturn what could possibly be next? Well, there is plenty when it comes to your homes. The recent economic downturn and tightening of the wallets certainly doesn't spell good news in general, but as I see it, more people will be spending more time at home or around the home. Home improvements versus selling and upgrading are still big. However, if you are thinking of selling, STAGING YOUR HOME FOR SALE is very important. You need to get every dollar you can for your house when selling. Having PRE-SALE inspections for problems like mold growth, moisture intrusion, pest issues and structural problems will be very important BEFORE listing your house. "An ounce of prevention" is the line that comes to mind.
Calling SERVPRO of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY for moisture and visual microbial growth inspections. Our contact info is on our webpage.
Secondly, pest inspections are the other major recommendation. Calling BUDGET PEST SOLUTIONS will get you an honest and thorough inspection at a reasonable price. Should there be any issues, JOHN BOUDREAU has the ability to not only treat the problem, but fix the damage done by those pests. Call John at (413) 385-0065 for a preventative inspection, Real Estate Inspection, or solutions to what's "buggin" you.
Finally, if you are thinking of selling, and don't have a realtor yet, you need to contact JOHN PEDRO, PEDRO REAL ESTATE, for a home analysis and to list your property. JOHN has been a realtor for over 20 years I believe (or MORE), and knows his stuff. He is a straight shooter and will get your property moved for the right price. John can be reached at (413)547-8781.
Either of the two JOHN's can help you should the spring thing be to sell or buy or just plain old tune up the home, oh yeah, along with SERVPRO OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, YOUR cleaning solution.
Until next time, this is Kevin signing off.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Relief and Hope
Ahhhhhhhhhh. 56 degrees yesterday and it felt WONDERFUL. I hope that everyone had the opportunity to open a door or window and allow that stale, stagnant air that has been bottled up inside out, and allow some crisp, fresh air in. Turning over the air in your house or office is a great way to improve the health of the people that have been bottled up inside since waaaaaaaaay back before the holidays. The freshness gives a renewed sense that Spring may be not be too far behind and the piles of snow and ice and salt will soon be a distant memory.
Of course with all of the positives of the warmth, the higher sun and the diminishing piles of winter "crud" comes yet another opportunity for water intrusion. The snow should have all but melted off of the roof tops, ice dams shrunken or gone away as well, but where did all that "melt" go? Hopefully it ran off or evaporated, but did you check your basement to ensure that none of that water has penetrated that area? With the snow pack around the house, the water that has run off the roof may have gotten absorbed or trapped against the foundation, allowing it to seep into the house that way. I don't mean to keep harping upon water intrusion, but it is the season, and we do still need to keep our eyes open in our attic and basement areas. Ignoring moisture in these areas will only cause further issues that you may not be aware of until it's too late. Read some of my other posts to learn more about extended high levels of moisture in your home or work place and take a few minutes to inspect particularly CORNERS in the basement or attic to make sure you haven't been intruded upon.
As usual, my final word about this topic is; while the weather is nice, take a few moments to clear some of the snow away from your house and double check the gutters and downspouts to make sure that the water coming off of your roof is draining AWAY from your building. Keeping your interior dry is vital for the health of it and the people occupying it.
Pitchers and Catchers.......they are reporting!!! Snow will melt, trees will bud, grass will reappear, only a matter of days away, stay positive!
Of course with all of the positives of the warmth, the higher sun and the diminishing piles of winter "crud" comes yet another opportunity for water intrusion. The snow should have all but melted off of the roof tops, ice dams shrunken or gone away as well, but where did all that "melt" go? Hopefully it ran off or evaporated, but did you check your basement to ensure that none of that water has penetrated that area? With the snow pack around the house, the water that has run off the roof may have gotten absorbed or trapped against the foundation, allowing it to seep into the house that way. I don't mean to keep harping upon water intrusion, but it is the season, and we do still need to keep our eyes open in our attic and basement areas. Ignoring moisture in these areas will only cause further issues that you may not be aware of until it's too late. Read some of my other posts to learn more about extended high levels of moisture in your home or work place and take a few minutes to inspect particularly CORNERS in the basement or attic to make sure you haven't been intruded upon.
As usual, my final word about this topic is; while the weather is nice, take a few moments to clear some of the snow away from your house and double check the gutters and downspouts to make sure that the water coming off of your roof is draining AWAY from your building. Keeping your interior dry is vital for the health of it and the people occupying it.
Pitchers and Catchers.......they are reporting!!! Snow will melt, trees will bud, grass will reappear, only a matter of days away, stay positive!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Frozen Pipes - Avoiding a nightmare
Water Intrusion into your home or business can be a nightmare no matter how it gets in there. By practicing the following safety tips, you can avoid water intrusion and the resulting water removal and drying process as a result of frozen pipes:
1) Keep your cabinet doors open during cold spells. This allows warm air to circulate around pipes that are in them.
2) Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets, especially if the pipes for those faucets run through unheated or uninsulated (under-heated or under-insulated) portions of your home or business.
3) Consider shutting off outdoor faucets (written about in a previous blog). Find the shut-off in the basement or crawlspace where the pipe feeding the faucet leads outside and turn it "off". Once you do that, open the outdoor faucet and to ensure that it drains completely and the inner valve is shut off.
Much of this is common sense, but every once in a while it's nice to have a reminder of what you can do to AVOID issues with water intrusion due to frozen pipes.
Keep your chin up, there is only a few more days until Pitchers and Catchers report to Spring Training. The thaw is so near!!!
1) Keep your cabinet doors open during cold spells. This allows warm air to circulate around pipes that are in them.
2) Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets, especially if the pipes for those faucets run through unheated or uninsulated (under-heated or under-insulated) portions of your home or business.
3) Consider shutting off outdoor faucets (written about in a previous blog). Find the shut-off in the basement or crawlspace where the pipe feeding the faucet leads outside and turn it "off". Once you do that, open the outdoor faucet and to ensure that it drains completely and the inner valve is shut off.
Much of this is common sense, but every once in a while it's nice to have a reminder of what you can do to AVOID issues with water intrusion due to frozen pipes.
Keep your chin up, there is only a few more days until Pitchers and Catchers report to Spring Training. The thaw is so near!!!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Winter Weather Advisory
So here we are, almost half way through "WINTER 2008-09" and we have had one doozie of a season already. We have experienced one of the coldest December's on record, which averaged approximately 6 degrees colder than last year (according to my gas bill anyway), snow and ice have blanketed the area keeping us all wondering if we will ever see the green grass again or even the blacktop in some cases.
Along with the cold weather and the snow and ice comes a plethera of issues where our buildings are concerned. Ice dams are a common issue right now with water backing up behind them and into the wall cavities and attic spaces causing unseen infiltration until it is too late. It is important to head to the hardware store and grab a roof rake (an easy $30 investment typically), then USE IT after each snow storm.
Ice damming is a phenomenon that occurs when built up snow on the cold eaves (soffits) of the house has water from the melting snow higher up the roof run through it and freeze into a solid block of ice. As more and more water runs down the roof, the ice dam grows in height. Eventually the height of the ice causes the water to back up far enough on your roof to permeate under the shingles and into your structure. Attacking the snow from the start is crucial as once the ice forms, it's a task (no it's more than that) to get rid of the ice. Typically some sort of chisseling or chopping will need to be done to relieve the backed up water. NIGHTMARE!!! Take into account taking a ladder out on a slippery driveway (or other surface) and/or working in frigid conditions, nothing good will come of this! Call a roofer, see if they will take care of this for you, call US to deal with your water intrusion or for tips on how to deal with it on your own.
Water inside your structure for an extended amount of time is NOT GOOD at all. It must be dried and should be done by a professional. The effects of extended moisture infiltration only get worse over time with insulation R-value loss, wood rot or mold taking hold after days of wetness. Typically your Homeowner's Insurance will cover this event, check with your agent as far as to what extent it is covered. Failure to dry your structure thoroughly will cause as many problems as not raking that original snow off the roof in the first place. It all flows downhill (no pun intended).
Another big problem right now is damage from frozen and burst pipes. Once this happens, get hold of us IMMEDIATELY. I cannot stress the importance of dealing with water issues in the house in a timely manner. The longer the water sits, the more damage occurs and worse. Health and safety issues can be tied to the "mingling" of water and your structural components and the daily "stuff" tied to it. It only takes 72 hours to turn what was clean water to the equivelant of laundry discharge water and another 72 - 96 hours to turn to the equivelant of sewer water. Sounds delicious doesn't it? Most molds will begin to multiply within 48 to 72 hours where the visible signs will begin to rear their ugly heads.
Finally, it's February......have you checked and changed your furnace filter?
Again act swiftly when it comes to water intrusion in your house or business, there is a lot riding on a dry environment!
Coming next - Generator Safety
Along with the cold weather and the snow and ice comes a plethera of issues where our buildings are concerned. Ice dams are a common issue right now with water backing up behind them and into the wall cavities and attic spaces causing unseen infiltration until it is too late. It is important to head to the hardware store and grab a roof rake (an easy $30 investment typically), then USE IT after each snow storm.
Ice damming is a phenomenon that occurs when built up snow on the cold eaves (soffits) of the house has water from the melting snow higher up the roof run through it and freeze into a solid block of ice. As more and more water runs down the roof, the ice dam grows in height. Eventually the height of the ice causes the water to back up far enough on your roof to permeate under the shingles and into your structure. Attacking the snow from the start is crucial as once the ice forms, it's a task (no it's more than that) to get rid of the ice. Typically some sort of chisseling or chopping will need to be done to relieve the backed up water. NIGHTMARE!!! Take into account taking a ladder out on a slippery driveway (or other surface) and/or working in frigid conditions, nothing good will come of this! Call a roofer, see if they will take care of this for you, call US to deal with your water intrusion or for tips on how to deal with it on your own.
Water inside your structure for an extended amount of time is NOT GOOD at all. It must be dried and should be done by a professional. The effects of extended moisture infiltration only get worse over time with insulation R-value loss, wood rot or mold taking hold after days of wetness. Typically your Homeowner's Insurance will cover this event, check with your agent as far as to what extent it is covered. Failure to dry your structure thoroughly will cause as many problems as not raking that original snow off the roof in the first place. It all flows downhill (no pun intended).
Another big problem right now is damage from frozen and burst pipes. Once this happens, get hold of us IMMEDIATELY. I cannot stress the importance of dealing with water issues in the house in a timely manner. The longer the water sits, the more damage occurs and worse. Health and safety issues can be tied to the "mingling" of water and your structural components and the daily "stuff" tied to it. It only takes 72 hours to turn what was clean water to the equivelant of laundry discharge water and another 72 - 96 hours to turn to the equivelant of sewer water. Sounds delicious doesn't it? Most molds will begin to multiply within 48 to 72 hours where the visible signs will begin to rear their ugly heads.
Finally, it's February......have you checked and changed your furnace filter?
Again act swiftly when it comes to water intrusion in your house or business, there is a lot riding on a dry environment!
Coming next - Generator Safety
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