What Can SERVPRO Offer Me?

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

Residential Services

Whether your Tuscaloosa or Northport apartment or home needs emergency flood damage cleaned or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us. We are always Here to Help! Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best! 

SERVPRO® Residential Services include:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services
• Residential COVID-19 Disinfecting

Commercial Services

There is never a convenient time for water or fire damage to strike your Tuscaloosa or Northport commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. When the need for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services arises, we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business.

SERVPRO® Commercial Services include:

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
• Commercial COVID-19 Disinfecting

Your Safety = Our Focus

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

Blood, bodily fluids and other biohazards in Tuscaloosa and Northport can endanger anyone who comes in contact with them. Even trace amounts so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye can pose serious health risks. When your business or home has been contaminated, how do you make it safe again? It's simple: Just rely on the professionals at SERVPRO® of Natchez for top-notch biohazard cleanup and restoration services. 

Avoiding Health Risks 
Is it necessary to seek professional assistance in cleaning up a location impacted by crime, trauma or death? With the risks posed by blood-borne pathogens and dangerous communicable diseases, cleaning a scene contaminated with biohazards like blood is a perilous undertaking for anyone who lacks the proper training and equipment. It is unpleasant to imagine, but blood and bodily fluids are prone to splattering so that minute amounts can affect a wide area. The air at these scenes can be hazardous since small particles can become airborne if dried material is disturbed. Anything removed from the scene must also be disposed of properly to avoid spreading the contamination. Ultimately, the best way to make sure that a place is once again safe is to use a professional organization like SERVPRO® that is experienced and highly-trained in biohazard restoration.

Preventing Legal Repercussions 
As if the health risks created by biohazards are not dire enough, failure to have a contaminated space properly cleaned can also have serious legal consequences. There are regulations and laws regarding how biohazards are handled that must be followed. These rules are designed to safeguard everyone, and ignorance is not considered an acceptable excuse for disregarding them. Individuals and businesses that do not follow these rules may find themselves facing hefty fines. They might even be held liable if someone else is injured by their actions. Using a professional team that understands what is required to comply with the various rules and regulations governing biohazards in your area can shield you from both health risks and legal issues.

Focusing on Your Safety
At SERVPRO® of Natchez, we are committed to the well-being of our customers. Offering emergency services 24 hours a day, we rapidly respond whenever you request our assistance. Our technicians follow the protocols established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, so you can have confidence in knowing they have the expertise and training to remove all biohazards and dispose of them properly. We use specialized equipment that allows us to detect the smallest trace of a biohazard, and we do not stop until your scene is thoroughly sanitized. As biohazard restoration professionals, we can often salvage items that others might have to discard, and we ensure that any material that does need to be removed from your location is disposed of appropriately.

Dealing with a crime, trauma or death is undoubtedly difficult, but you can depend on us for courtesy, empathy, and the quality biohazard cleanup and restoration services that you deserve. Safety-minded, we are ready to do our part in restoring your space and your peace of mind. 

Extreme Heat

9/5/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know? On average, heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States (www.noaa.gov).

As summer approaches, it is time to consider safety precautions for extreme heat in the coming months. Heat affects all people, but especially, the young, the elderly, sick, and overweight. Urban area residents also have a greater chance of being affected than those who live in rural areas due to the heat island effect.

According to the EPA, "the sun can heat dry, exposed urban surfaces such as roofs and pavement, to temperatures 50-90 degrees hotter than the air, while shaded or moist surfaces - often in more rural surroundings - remain close to air temperatures." These surface heat islands are strongest during the day when the sun is shining, while the atmospheric heat islands are more likely after sunset "due to the slow release of heat from urban infrastructure." 

Safety Tips for You and your Family

• Stay indoors in air conditioning

• Be sure to check on your pets who may outdoors and bring them inside

• Stay hydrated and limit alcohol and caffeine intake

• If you must go outside, wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, and be sure to apply sunscreen often.

• Pay attention to signs of heat exhaustion, which are heavy sweating; weakness; cold, pale, and clammy skin; nausea or vomiting; and fainting, according to the CDC.

The Dangers of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is life-threatening. Signs of heat stroke are a high body temperature, rapid or strong pulse, and possible unconsciousness. If you think someone has heat stroke, call 911 immediately and move the person somewhere cool. Reduce body temperature with cool, wet cloths or a bath. Do not give person with heat stroke fluids, and treat the situation as a serious medical emergency (CDC). 

Adams County Residents:

Living in a humid environment means paying attention to the heat index. The heat index factors in the humidity which can make the temperature feel 15 degrees hotter.

Safety Tips for your Home

• Install window air conditioners snugly and insulate if necessary

• Check air-conditioning ducts for proper installation

• Install temporary window reflectors

• Weather-strip doors and sills to keep the cool air in

• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun

• Keep storm windows up all year

Safety Tips for your Community

• Check on elderly at risk neighbors twice a day

• Encourage elderly to increase their fluid intake based on their doctor's recommendations

• Take elderly to air-conditioned areas if they have transportation problems 

Extreme Heat is a serious danger. For more information on preparation and prevention, visit ready.gov or cdc.gov

Air Quality

9/5/2018 (Permalink)

Many of us are exposed to toxins everyday and we do not realize it. Toxins can cause short term allergies, illnesses, and they even cause us to age. Over time, exposure to toxins can have even more disastrous consequences. If you answer yes to any of the following, consider making a change to improve your home's air quality and lessen your exposure to toxins.

Healthy Home Checklist

• Do you smoke in your home?
• Do your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room have adequate ventilation and exhaust fans?
• Do you change your air filters once a month?
• When cleaning or doing laundry, do you use bleach, ammonia or aerosol spray cans?
• Is your gas fireplace and/or gas stove checked yearly for emissions?
• Was your home built before 1978? If so, has it been checked for lead-based paint?
• Do your bathrooms have carpet?

Causes of Indoor Air Pollution

• Asbestos building products when dislodged (no longer intact)
• Biological contaminants such as mold, dust, mites, viruses, and pet dander
• Carbon Monoxide
• Formaldehyde found in pressure treated wood
• Lead (pre-1978 house paint)
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Particulates found in dust, pollen, cleaning sprays and poorly ventilated areas
• Tobacco smoke
• Volatile organic compounds including household cleaning products, pesticides, and aerosol propellants

Vacation Safety Trips

9/5/2018 (Permalink)

SAFETY TIPS

There is nothing more frightening than the thought of going on a vacation, returning home, and finding that your home has been robbed, vandalized. Whether it’s a flooded basement, or even a faulty water heater, there is nothing more devastating than the thought of this unexpected property damage.

There are some ways to minimize the risk. A few Safety Tips to make sure everyone is doing whatever is possible to stay safe!

TIPS

Don’t make it obvious you are out of town or on vacation

• Try to arrange for a trusted neighbor to bring in your trash, mail and newspaper.
• Suspend your mail and newspaper until you return home.

Automatic timers

• Your lights can help lend the impression that someone is home
• Leave a car parked in the driveway.

Of course, an A/C Leak - leading to a flooded attic - ceiling collapse - is another big threat.            

• Avoid it by simply turning off your water before you leave.
• You may also drain your hot water heater to ensure no damage done from it.
• Leave an extra key with your neighbor—which will come in handy if, in the worst case scenario, there is a fire, flood, or some other issue that needs to be attended to before you return home. 

Simply follow these safety precautions and you’ll be doing all you can do to avert a crisis!

IICRC Certified Firm

9/26/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Natchez is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.

• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of Natchez

SERVPRO of Natchez specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

5 Tools Used By SERVPRO of Natchez

9/26/2017 (Permalink)

Proper equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing the damage expense during a fire or water loss. When time matters, technology and equipment must be counted on to perform. Your SERVPRO of Natchez professionals will answer your call with rapid action and a full arsenal of drying equipment. 

Here are a few tools used by SERVPRO of Natchez professionals:

• Moisture Sensors are used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards, and walls.
• Moisture Meters are used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture tester provides accurate readings, allowing SERVPRO of Natchez professionals to monitor drying process.
• Thermohygrometers measure temperature and relative humidity. When armed with this information, SERVPRO of Natchez professionals can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized. 
• Ultra Low-Volume (ULV) Foggers will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas.
• Thermal Foggers dispense solvent-based products by creating a dense fog. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attach to and neutralize odor-causing particles. 

About SERVPRO of Natchez

SERVPRO of Natchez specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Have a Question?
Call Us Today – 601.304.5554

Seasonal Watering Tips!

9/22/2017 (Permalink)

INDOOR WATERING TIPS:

Don’t forget to check your faucets for leaks ?! Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Everyday Water Use

• Do not let the faucet run while brushing your teeth. Just wet your toothbrush and fill a small glass with water for rinsing out your mouth.

• Limit showers to no longer than 5-minutes.

• Select the appropriate water level for the size of your load of laundry or dishes.

Watering Plants

• Rotate plants toward the light whenever you water them to keep them growing straight.

• Water hanging plants with ice cubes to keep water from spilling out of the bottom.

• Use pots made from non-porous material such as plastic to help plants retain moisture longer

OUTDOOR WATERING TIPS:

Lawn care When the weather is hot, outdoor water usage increases significantly. The good news is that most lawns can thrive with less water than you think.

When to Water

• To determine if your grass needs watering, step on it. If it springs back up, it doesn’t need watering. If the blades of the grass lie flat, it’s time to water.

• Turn the sprinklers on at a low speed to avoid wasteful run-off. Remember, over-watering promotes shallow root growth, making your lawn less hardy.

• Water early in the morning or in the evening after the sun has set to help prevent losing water to evaporation. As much as 30% of water can be lost to evaporation.

• If using automatic sprinklers, install a rain sensor to avoid watering on rainy days.

How to Water

• Water slowly and thoroughly during cool, windless hours, and as infrequently as possible. Never water to the point of run-off.

• If necessary, water in several short sessions rather than one long one. Three ten-minute sessions spaced 30 minutes apart will allow your lawn to better absorb moisture.

• Let grass grow taller in hot weather. Most southern lawns will thrive if they receive one inch of water per week during the summer.

For more information check out www.bwwb.org

What To Do Until SERVPRO Arrives!

9/21/2017 (Permalink)

If you have a water damage from a clean source such as water supply lines, sink overflows, tub overflows, or appliance malfunctions, here are some things to do before SERVPRO arrives.

• Shut off the source of the water.

• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building if the access panel is safe from electrical shock.

• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting

• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items

• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying

• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting

• Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art objects, computers, documents and other materials that are valuable or sensitive to moisture.

• Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors

• Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpeting or floors