Archived Why SERVPRO Blog Posts
Relationships Matter!
6/8/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO has relationships with the nation's leading insurance companies!
Business magnate Henry Ford once said, "Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." As fellow entrepreneurs we share in the sentiment! Which is why SERVPRO has many long-standing relationships with the nation’s leading insurance companies including State Farm, The Hartford, Farmer’s, Traveler’s, and many more, all to the advantage of our customers! These relationships have allowed us to understand the insurance companies’ policies, procedures, and expectations! Allowing for a more seamless claim experience! Adjusters are generally assigned claims by territory, which means often times we have worked with the adjuster handling local claims. What that means for customers is that we are able communicate with adjusters more quickly and efficiently, reducing delays and frustrations while helping to make the claim process more manageable. If you have suffered from water damage and would like some assistance navigating the claims process call us any time!
Award Winner
3/22/2021 (Permalink)
Make helping others your legacy.
And the award goes to… SERVPRO! We are delighted to share SERVPRO has once again earned Entrepreneur Magazine’s recognition as the #1 Cleaning and Restoration Company and #10 overall in the Franchise 500! The title of #1 franchise in the cleaning and restoration industry is a title we have earned for the past consecutive twenty-one years! We are working hard to make it twenty-two!
A big shoutout to our sister franchisees across the country for their contribution as this recognition was collectively earned and a big thank you to the property owners, businesses, and municipalities that have entrusted us with keeping their homes, businesses, and family’s well-being.
We are pleased our efforts to help our communities were successful and thank everyone for the acknowledgment. We look forward to earning the honor again next year.
Here to Help.
2/19/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO! Responding to all your property needs!
There is a lot going on in the country right now! We have the ongoing pandemic, civil unrest, and catastrophic, unparalleled weather events. SERVPRO of The Windsors understands these are unfamiliar and challenging times and we want to help! We are standing by and ready to respond to all emergencies. Keep reading for a quick recap of the issues SERVPRO is responding to both locally and nationally.
Water Damage Cleanup/Restoration – We are prepared with the equipment and staff to remove water quickly and efficiently from your property and mitigate subsequent damages.
Fire/Smoke Restoration – We can perform any necessary board up's, packing, or any other fire related service needs.
Mold Removal – Water damaged homes will be susceptible to mold, we can help.
Virus & Biohazard Cleanup – We provide COVID19 disinfection cleaning services to both residential and commercial properties.
We are available 24/7. Do not hesitate to call. We hope everyone stays safe.
Seasonal Vehicle Maintenance
12/16/2020 (Permalink)
Here's an example of mold growth in a vehicle! Eek!
Most people are mindful of their home maintenance, especially here in New England as we embrace the changing seasons and weather elements. But what about seasonal car maintenance? In our line of work, we handle all remediation. So our resume includes water, fire, and mold damage in vehicles too! That may be surprising to some people but when you think about it maybe it shouldn’t be. If your anything like me you live part-time in your car. Many of the things we do in our home we do in our car though perhaps more infrequently! We spend hours a week in our vehicles, eat, sleep, and sometimes even change clothes in them! A vehicle is a tiny home after all!
When there’s so much activity in our vehicles and exposure to the elements there’s similar threats to our vehicles as to our home. Here’s some tips to seasonal car maintenance!
- Flush the cooling system and replace coolant
- Inspect and replace wiper blades as needed
- Replenish windshield fluid
- Keep car free of bio debris (food, leaves, etc.)
- Check and maintain proper tire pressure
- Install winter tires
- Apply a wax layer to your vehicle
SERVPRO's Third Annual First Responders Bowl!
12/13/2020 (Permalink)
The game must go on!
We are excited to announce the third annual SERVPRO First Responder’s Bowl will be played Saturday, December 26th. Kickoff goes down at 3:30pm (ET). Maintaining tradition, the game will be played at the famed Gerald J. Ford Stadium at SMU in Dallas, Texas.
So, following the excitement of Christmas Day, spend your Saturday enjoying a celebratory game of football. This year has been a reminder to appreciate those who put others before themselves, our local everyday heroes who are too often taken for granted. Thank you to all our first responders! So, join us for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl as we recognize our family, friends, and neighbors who work every day protecting and serving our communities. Also, is it really the holiday season without America's favorite pastime?
So Much More!
12/1/2020 (Permalink)
Choose the industry leader SERVPRO for all your service needs! #1
When people hear SERVPRO they think of water and fire, understandable as we are the industry leader. While these services are our primary services, we have much more on our menu. We would like to take a moment to remind everyone of a few of the additional services we provide!
Construction Services- from minor pain jobs to entire home remodels-we offer all construction services
Biohazard Clean up-Blood, death, covid, our teams are trained and equipped to handle it all.
Vandalism/Crime Scene Clean-up-It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.
Board-up and Tarping- 24/7 we will respond to your emergency and protect your home, any day, any time.
Carpet Cleaning-We carpet clean using a truck-mounted system which gives an aggressive cleaning superior to standard carpet cleaning
Document Restoration- If you have documents damaged by water or fire-they may be salvageable-time is of the essence!
Packout Services- Moving out? Moving your parents in? We offer full pack-out services!
Small Business Saturday!
11/25/2020 (Permalink)
Shop small and support local businesses!
This week, November 28th is Small Business Saturday. Following a rush on major retailers on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday highlights the opportunity to support small businesses! Small businesses are an important part of both our state’s and nation’s income. This year is extra important as the need to support the businesses that have been most heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is greater than ever. Small businesses have been hit harder than most. Supporting a small business means preserving jobs, keep businesses open, and supporting entrepreneurship! So join us as we do our part in supporting small businesses! Support the little guy! Consider purchasing gift cards to local restaurants to enjoy later, buy gift cards for beauty services, support local artists, and if you have any needs for your home or business from cleaning or remediation, please consider our small business! Happy shopping! #SupportCTBusinesses
Local SERVPRO disaster mitigation specialist says the COVID-19 pandemic is a tough reminder that “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.”
9/6/2020 (Permalink)
Prepare for the unexpected!
East Windsor, CT (Grassroots Newswire) September 2, 2020 - Each year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designates September as National Preparedness Month to promote the importance of family and community disaster planning. This year’s theme, “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today,” resonates strongly as local communities and communities around the world battle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For disaster mitigation specialists like Antonio Senese of SERVPRO® of The Windsors, the scope and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of everyday life, health, and well-being have magnified the importance of SERVPRO’s ongoing message to the communities it serves: When disaster strikes, preparedness is the best defense.
“Before COVID-19 exploded into a global crisis, ‘disaster preparedness’ for the everyday home or business owner was largely dictated by the hazards unique to their location or their business,” said Senese. “For some, that meant preparing for hurricanes and water damage; for others, tornadoes, flooding, wind damage, or even wildfires. But COVID-19 taught us that everyone – individuals and business owners alike – needs to be prepared for a national emergency that may disrupt food and medical supplies, transportation systems, schools, businesses, and every single aspect of everyday life that we take for granted. We’ve learned that, no matter where you live or work, in addition to your ‘disaster’ preparations, making certain that you have a stock of some basic items on hand can make a huge difference if a national or global event suddenly disrupts – or even stops – everyday life.”
Senese emphasizes that everyone still needs to have a disaster preparedness plan in place. FEMA provides easy-to-use disaster planning guidelines at https://www.ready.gov, and home and business owners both can take advantage of free tools like the SERVPRO READY app at https://ready.SERVPRO.com/home/mobileapp. The app stores essential contact and property information electronically where it can be accessed with a mobile device in seconds if disaster strikes. Local business owners can take an additional preparedness step by designating SERVPRO of The Windsors as their disaster mitigation and restoration provider. SERVPRO professionals will conduct a no-cost assessment of the facility and assist the owner in completing a comprehensive Emergency READY Profile® (ERP) to be stored in the READY app.
But, Senese says, COVID-19 has taught us we need to rethink and add to our disaster-preparedness toolkits. “We are all still struggling with a ‘disaster’ that has disrupted not only our lives and our jobs, but our entire community, our society, and the supply chain that we depend on.” While in retrospect, the shortages of some of these items have become the stuff of urban legend, Senese says it’s a good idea to stockpile a supply of items for which there are no easy substitutes. “Toilet paper; yeast and flour for breadmaking; detergents; canned foods, fruits, and vegetables; pet foods and cat litter; fresh dairy items; diapers; and a host of other items were in short supply for weeks at the beginning of the crisis,” said Senese. “Think back on those weeks and keep a supply of the things that you just don’t want to do without – along with some shelf-stable dairy items, dried beans, and frozen meals. Use them before they expire but be sure to replace them.”
The disaster remediation specialists at SERVPRO of The Windsors extend their sincere sympathy to those who have lost loved ones or have been otherwise affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For East Windsor-area commercial and residential customers, SERVPRO of The Windsors continues to specialize in disaster restoration, cleanup, and repair services, helping to remediate damage, making it “Like it never even happened.” For more information on SERVPRO of The Windsors, please contact Antonio Senese at (860) 627-0763 or antonios@SERVPROthewindsors.com. For more information on SERVPRO® and the SERVPRO Emergency READY Program, please visit https://ready.SERVPRO.com.
SERVPRO of The Windsors: No Job Too Tough!
3/26/2020 (Permalink)
A Look at a crawlspace SERVPRO recently remediated after a sewage loss.
In our profession we see a great many things…somethings we wish we hadn’t! As part of our remediation services, we find ourselves working in tough conditions. Some days we work in homes without power in the cold of a northeastern winter. Other days we are working in extreme heat in attics during the peak of summer. Some days we work in huge warehouses where the walk from one end to another feels like a voyage. Other days we work in crawlspaces without enough height to stand. Then there are of course the jobs involving sewage, blood, or other biohazardous waste. Oh, the joy!
The thing about our team is despite all that I have mentioned, we never turn down or walk away from a job. There is no job too difficult or too gross for our team of experts! We do it all, whether it be squeezing into small spaces, to diving into the filthiest of jobs. There is nothing we are not prepared to handle! If you find yourself dealing with a mess, give us a call. We have a team ready to take on the challenge, so you don’t have to.
SERVPRO's Second Annual First Responder Bowl
12/27/2019 (Permalink)
Join SERVPRO in special recognition of Brent Manley & First Responders countrywide
SERVPRO’s First Responder Bowl is an annual college football game that SERVPRO hosts to honor the sacrifices and support the men and women who keep our communities safe by playing our first line of defense every day give. This year's First Responder Bowl is only days away! Kick-off goes down on December 30th, at 12 pm.
The crowds will gather at The Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the Southern Methodist Campus at University Park in Dallas, Texas. Join SERVPRO of The Windsors in enjoying America's favorite past time! This year, for the first time ever, we will see the Kentucky Wild Cats go head to head against the Western Michigan Broncos!
During the game, this year we will celebrate firefighter Brent Manley. Brent is the First Responder who will receive special recognition this year. We will celebrate Brent for his selflessness, bravery, and service during a presentation on the field. Brent helped save multiple lives from rough waters during a beach trip. Sadly, there were 7 lives lost during the rough tides, the number would have been greater without Brent.
SERVPRO has provided Brent Manley with airfare, accommodations, and tickets to attend the game so we can celebrate his heroic actions. Be sure to tune in to applaud Brent with us.
If you are living or visiting in Texas or will be visiting tickets can be purchased at https://www.firstresponderbowl.com/first-responders-1If you are unable to attend, but want to offer your support and gratitude to our everyday heroes all across the USA you can purchase a “Sponsor a Responder” ticket for only $15.00 at the same website provided above!
1-4-8
11/13/2019 (Permalink)
Our 1-4-8 Response Guideline is How SERVPRO of The Windsors Insures Customer Satisfaction!
SERVPRO of The Windsors responds to emergencies daily. To ensure our customers are receiving prompt services we have a set of criteria over 1700 franchises follow to ensure best practices.
When you work with SERVPRO of The Windsors, you can take comfort knowing we will complete our initial inspection an assessment and emergency response all within a few hours!
Here’s our response breakdown!
Within 1 hour our crew is going to make the first contact.
Within 4 hours our crew will have work underway to mitigate the emergency and prevent secondary damage.
Within 8 hours, our crew is going to communicate with your insurance professional.
After our initial services are complete, we will continue to work closely with property owners to provide a thorough mitigation service! Once mitigation services are complete SERVPRO of The Windsors can offer you for rebuild services.
We're Here, Anytime and All Times.
11/8/2019 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of The Windsors is always ready to help!
It's currently 4:30pm on Friyay and we just received a commercial loss. After a long, cold, productive day, our team is more than ready to start their weekend, but they will hold off. Our crew is readying their truck, tools, and equipment. It would have been easy to ignore the call but that is not who we are, what we do, and what our community expects of us. So when you call know we answer! We are here to help at 2pm or 8pm, Tuesday or Saturday, Christmas, or Hanukkah. Property damage does not wait until business hours, so are business hours are 24/7/365. We hope you find comfort knowing when you reach out to SERVPRO of The Windsors you are going to reach a live local emergency responder anytime, all times, and every time!
In the News Part 14! 'Tis the Season-for Flu!
11/5/2019 (Permalink)
Local SERVPRO cleaning specialist shares commonsense precautions to help control the spread of the flu virus
East Windsor, CT (Grassroots Newswire) November 5, 2019— Flu season is here, and it’s often marked by the offers of free flu shots in neighborhood pharmacies and stores across the country. The cleaning pros at SERVPRO of The Windsors—experts in cleaning and sanitizing building materials, surfaces, and contents after a fire, water, or natural disasters—remind East Windsors home and business owners how important it is to step-up routine cleaning efforts during this time of year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the flu virus can remain viable on surfaces for up to 48 hours. Cleaning surfaces and objects that are frequently touched minimizes the likelihood of contacting the flu virus when you touch an infected surface.
According to the CDC, nearly 15% of the U.S. population suffered from the flu in 2018. More than 950,000 people were hospitalized and almost 80,000 people died from flu complications, making 2018 the most severe flu season since 2009.
“As an emergency response company, we understand the hidden danger of contaminated surfaces in a workplace or home,” said Antonio Senese, owner of SERVPRO of The Windsors. “This time of year, the flu virus can be a ‘hidden danger’ at home, at work, and in the community. It is a serious illness, and we want our Connecticut friends and neighbors to take it seriously.”
The CDC recommends the following to help protect yourself or your loved ones from contracting the flu.
- Get vaccinated. The CDC recommends yearly flu vaccination as the first and most important protection against this serious virus.
- Thoroughly wash your hands (20 seconds or more with soap and water) or sanitize them frequently throughout the day, even if you are not infected, to help protect yourself and others.
- Beware of frequently touched surfaces, like handrails and doorknobs. Keep them clean at home using a bleach and water solution and clean your hands as soon as possible if you must touch them in public.
If you or a family member comes down with the flu despite these precautions, keep in mind the flu spreads primarily through droplets from a sick person when they cough, sneeze or talk. With that in mind, the CDC offers the following guidelines to help control the spread of the disease:
- Stay home and keep your distance. Infected droplets from a sick person’s nose or mouth can travel up to six feet and land in the noses and mouths of people nearby, exposing them to the illness.
- Wait until you are fever-free – without medications – for at least 24 hours before returning to school, work, or normal activities.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue, your sleeve, or your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the tissue and clean your hands with soap or a sanitizer with 60 percent alcohol.
There is no such thing as a foolproof flu protection plan, says Senese, but frequent hand-washing and conscientious cleaning practices at home, work, and in the community are precautions everyone can practice to help keep them and their loved ones healthy.
SERVPRO of The Windsors specializes in disaster restoration, residential, and commercial deep cleaning, and repair services, helping to remediate damage, making it “Like it never even happened.” For more information on SERVPRO of The Windsors, please contact Antonio Senese at (860)-627-0763 or ASenese@SERVPROthewindsors.com
SERVPRO Partners with GreenSky to Offer Payment Options
10/27/2019 (Permalink)
SERVPRO is proud to partner with GreenSky!
There is no convenient time for property damage or the unexpected expense stemming from it. The cost of remediation surprises most people. While we predominantly work with insurance carriers there are times where insurance coverage is denied or insufficient. When our customers face high deductibles, non-covered repairs, or unexpected costs, SERVPRO of The Windsors works with GreenSky to help make recovery affordable.
The GreenSky® Loan Program offers payment options for water and fire damage restoration, mold remediation, and storm damage restoration. Your home cannot wait and with he SERVPRO/GreenSky payment options it doesn’t have. When property damage is not immediately addressed secondary damage is guaranteed with additional expense. If you have suffered property damage and would like to discuss remediation and pricing options call us today.
SERVPRO of The Windsors Responds to Unique Situations!
10/17/2019 (Permalink)
Our crew worked through the evening to make this structure safe for our homeowner!
No two days alike…it’s something we say here all the time. We see water, fire, and mold daily. We see so many surprising things! Our unique encounters extend even beyond the trinity of remediation.
This week we have responded to a couple of unique scenes! Last night after everyone left for the day we received a call for an emergency board-up. That is not so unusual. The reason for it, however, was unexpected. A homeowner was in her vehicle when it accelerated and rammed into her garage!
Fortunately, outside of a reasonable fright, no one is hurt and our homeowner is in good spirits planning to make this one of those things you look back on and laugh at, but that is down the road, in the immediate future we have to deal with the property damage.
Unfortunately, this will not be an overnight repair so while we evaluate and strategize to determine the master plan, we must first make the structure safe for the time being.
Ernie, one of our construction project managers took the reins. Working in the evening, our crew set up emergency lighting and got straight to make the emergency temporary repairs. We installed support beams and boarded up the garage door.
While the temporary repairs will allow the family to safely stay in their home, there is much work to be done. The scope will include packing out the garage, reframing the property, installing new drywall, and re-siding the property. The work will take a couple of weeks and we will be with our homeowner’s throughout the process. Keep an eye out to see the project unfold.
And remember, if you need us SERVPRO of The Windsors is ready for whatever happens!
Choosing A Contractor
9/16/2019 (Permalink)
Kitchen Upon Completion of Rebuild Project & Remediation Completed By SERVPRO of The Windsors
After remediation of your home from a water or fire loss, the real fun begins with the rebuild project! I say that half-heartedly; rebuilds can be tough. Of course, choosing finishes, new appliances, wall colors, flooring, is all fun but there are frustrations as well. There are always setbacks! Waiting on the insurance settlement, finding quality subcontractors, and coordinating the project can all be frustrating.
That is why a property owner can significantly benefit from using a remediation company as your contractor for your rebuild services. Here’s why:
- Remediators understand the insurance process: from negotiating to receiving payment it can be difficult dealing with insurance companies –we “talk the talk”
- Remediators act as your outside adjuster, we will work to get your home back to “like it never even happened”
- Remediators understand there is likely hidden damage that can be in your property as they encounter similar situations daily
- Remediators such as SERVPRO of The Windsors have the national brand standards and resources behind them!
- Remediators are thoroughly licensed and insured!
- Remediators offer unique insight due to the vast amount of losses we respond to, giving us a unique perspective.
In The News Part 12! SERVPRO of The Windsor's Honored!
8/23/2019 (Permalink)
Fresh off the press!
Local SERVPRO Franchise Receives Outstanding Performance Award
Industry leader in clean-up and restoration services recognizes top-performing franchises at 50th Annual Convention
East Windsor, CT (Grassroots Newswire) <7/12/19> - SERVPRO of The Windsor’s received the Chairman’s Gold Award at SERVPRO’s recent 50th Annual Convention! The event, themed “Making History,” was held from June 24-28 at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, California, where the company was founded.
“It is always gratifying to earn a distinction for our business,” said Antonio Senese, SERVPRO of The Windsors’ Owner, “but it feels especially good this year. We are proud to be a member of the SERVPRO franchise family as the company celebrates 50 years of franchising success. SERVPRO’s ongoing commitment to providing innovative tools, ongoing training, and an ever-evolving business framework gives entrepreneurs like us a roadmap for success. We are proud to be part of SERVPRO’s team of dedicated disaster remediation professionals, and to know that we have both the tools and the knowledge to serve home and business owners in our community should the need arise.”
The company’s 50th Annual Convention was a celebration of the company’s history and a showcase of small business best practices and cutting-edge restoration and remediation technology. The event featured a variety of workshops and group sessions ranging across 37 different topics. Attendees gained knowledge and hands-on experience to help them build and grow their businesses and strengthen ties with both residents and businesses in their local communities. Highlights of the convention included a keynote address by motivational speaker Jon Gordon and an awards ceremony recognizing the achievements of top-performing franchisees.
“SERVPRO has come a long way since Ted and Doris Isaacson started the company as a painting business in Sacramento in 1967,” said Rick Isaacson, chief executive officer of SERVPRO. “In 1969, they used their cleanup and restoration background to take their new company in a different direction and never looked back. SERVPRO’s professional services network now includes more than 1,700 individually owned and operated franchises across the U.S. and Canada. Our annual convention brings this diverse group of entrepreneurs together to learn from industry experts and gives us an opportunity to recognize our top-performing franchisees. We are proud of each of these dedicated professionals and the world-class service they provide to their customers and their communities.”
For more information about SERVPRO of The Windsors please contact Antonio Senese at 860-627-0763 or ASenese@SERVPROthewindsors.com or visit https://www.SERVPROthewindsors.com/
Xactware and SERVPRO® launch job management joint venture!
4/9/2019 (Permalink)
Industry leaders combine efforts in new partnership!
Xactware’s Restoration Manager partners with SERVPRO’s WorkCenter tools to deliver best in class job management solution!
[GALLATIN, TN & LEHI, UT, April 10, 2019—SERVPRO® has announced a sweeping, company-wide adoption of Xactware’s Restoration Manager. Xactware is a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business. This announcement marks another chapter in SERVPRO’s long history of providing innovative, best-in-class job oversight and project management capabilities to more than 1,700 Franchisees nationwide.
“With this integration, SERVPRO continues to deliver their franchisees important solutions that help them efficiently and effectively manage their businesses,” said Xactware president, Mike Fulton. “Most importantly, it helps SERVPRO Franchise Professionals continue to provide exceptional service and value to homeowners that have suffered the effects of disaster.”
This new alliance ensures that SERVPRO and its franchisees can leverage Restoration Manager’s job costing, budgeting, scheduling, communication and reporting capabilities.
“We believe the deep commitment we feel toward our customers and clients is best served by using leading-edge technology to deliver highly customized and professional restoration experiences,” said Jeff Fields, SERVPRO’s Chief Information Officer. “Our alliance with Xactware has been longstanding, and this new level of engagement will translate into additional time and resource savings for all parties involved in cleanup and restoration.”
Moving forward, SERVPRO and its franchisees will have the ability to better control paperwork, schedules, and project plans by utilizing the checks and balances, task features, and notifications inherent to Restoration Manager.
“We’re excited about the expanded relationship with SERVPRO” said Dan Long, President of Xactware’s Service Software division. “Restoration Manager is aligned to enable the most efficient transfer of information from claims ecosystem staples like Xactimate and XactAnalysis to reduce duplicate entry, streamline operations, and expedite inspections and repairs.”
Document Restoration Services
11/23/2018 (Permalink)
The Document Freeze Drying Chamber at SERVPRO Corporate in Gallatin, TN.
Think about all the important documents at your home, or hospital, law office, government building, home or any other job where a water loss has occurred. There are countless documents that can be affected by a loss. Jobs could be as small as precious family keepsakes such as a bible or photo albums, to an entire hospital's medical documents.
Who is going to take care of those documents?
Document Restoration Services are now available to all customers through the facilities and a drying chamber housed at SERVPRO Corporate.
How does it work?
Our team, along with the help of the Document Restoration team, will inventory the documents at the site of the loss, pack them up, then ship them to our corporate office. In some cases, cold storage or refrigerated trucks may be used. Once documents arrive, the boxes will be inventoried, placed in cold storage if necessary and the drying process will begin.
The Document Restoration Team uses sublimation—turning a solid directly into a vapor, skipping the liquid stage to avoid causing more damage to the documents. This process can recover even the most delicate items—from documents to photographs and x-rays, to entire business archives. Depending on the type of job, documents can also be decontaminated, cleaned, deodorized, and even digitized.
Services
Cleaning
The Document Restoration Team will go through each box page by page to wipe down and remove dirt, soot, or other contaminants.
There are 3 levels of cleaning based on the type of soiling, and how heavy it is.
Deodorizing
Many times documents that have been affected will hold residual smells of contaminants, or mildew, and should be deodorized before being returned to your client.
Digitizing
With the new age of technology, digitizing records and documents has become a standard practice in most industries. This eliminates the need to have massive file storage rooms and allows us to access records at the click of a button. If your customer's file room was damaged by water or smoke and needs to be cleaned, dried or decontaminated, digitizing might be a good choice to eliminate the need to have hundreds or even thousands of documents and records in their storage.
Gamma Irradiation
Gamma irradiation is a process used for cleaning/disinfecting and decontaminating documents or other consumer goods.
In a CAT 3 situation (sewage or flood water), documents are not only deteriorating but are also infected with all types of bacteria. In most storm situations, you are dealing with CAT 3 water; therefore, most of the affected documents you encounter will be contaminated.
If this is the case, decontamination is always a must. In living cells, these disruptions result in damage to the DNA and other cellular structures. These photon-induced changes at the molecular level cause the death of the organism or render the organism incapable of reproduction. The gamma process does not create residuals or impart radioactivity in processed products.
Certified Destruction
Unfortunately, many businesses and government agencies have to dispose of counterfeit, faulty, expired or contaminated materials. All entities need to be certified that their products and materials are destroyed. The guarantee of certified destruction is to protect one's liabilities, brand image or proprietary information.
Conclusion:
- Vacuum freeze drying is the most efficient and effective way to salvage water-damaged documents.
- SERVPRO's technicians are trained to use the most advanced technology available for document recovery and drying; in fact, the Document Restoration Team uses the same technique the Library of Congress uses to dry water-damaged books.
- All employees of the Document Restoration Team are HIPAA Master certified and once your items arrive at the SERVPRO facility, 24/7 video surveillance is guaranteed.
24/7 Emergency Service