Recent Posts

Fire Pit Safety

10/3/2023 (Permalink)

These cooler evenings seem to be starting sooner and lasting longer here in the Columbus area. While they provide a cozy and inviting setting, they can also be dangerous. As with any open flame, safety should always be the top priority. Let’s explore essential tips and precautions to ensure you can enjoy your outdoor fire pit safely.

  • Location and Placement: Choosing the right location for your fire pit is crucial. Ensure it's placed on a non-flammable surface and keep it at a safe distance from any flammable materials. Clear an area around the fire pit to prevent accidental sparks from igniting nearby objects.
  • Keep a Fire Extinguisher and Water Source Nearby: Always have a fire extinguisher and a bucket of water or a hose nearby. These tools can be essential in quickly extinguishing small flames or sparks that may escape the fire pit. You can pick up a fire extinguisher from Home Depot, Kroger’s, Meijer or other local grocery stores near you.
  • Mind the Wind: Be mindful of wind direction when using the fire pit. Wind can blow sparks and embers, potentially causing fires elsewhere in your yard. It is vital in the Downtown areas including Grandview, Franklinton, and German Village that there is No burning when an air pollution alert, warning, or emergency is in effect. Its also important for areas like Blacklick, Pickerington, or other rural areas that the smoke doesn’t obscure visibility on roadways.
  • Properly Extinguish the Fire: Before leaving the fire pit unattended or going to bed, ensure the fire is entirely extinguished. Use water or sand to douse the flames and stir the ashes to cool them down.
  • Be Mindful of Fire Regulations: Check with your local authorities for any specific fire regulations or bans in your area. During dry seasons or high-risk fire periods, there may be restrictions on open fires. Some local regulations in Bexley include keeping the fire pit at least 15 feet from a structure. In other areas like Westerville, Worthington, and Dublin it’s a law to keep fires more than 1,000 feet from neighbors.

An outdoor fire pit can be a source of warmth, comfort, and joy for your home. By following these safety tips and using common sense, you can enjoy your fire pit with peace of mind. Remember, safety should always be the priority.

Professional Cleaning Services Beyond Disaster Recovery

10/3/2023 (Permalink)

When you hear the name SERVPRO®, you likely think of a trusted partner in disaster recovery and restoration. While it's true that we excel in helping you recover from the unexpected, our services extend far beyond that. Professional cleaning services offered by SERVPRO® can not only restore your property after a disaster but also provide numerous benefits in regular, day-to-day situations.

  1. A Healtheir Environment

One of the most immediate and noticeable benefits of professional cleaning is the creation of a healthier indoor environment. Regular cleaning removes dust, allergens, and harmful pathogens from surfaces, improving indoor air quality. In today's health-conscious world, a clean and healthy workspace is vital for the well-being of your employees and customers.

  1. Enhanced Productivity

A clean and organized workspace can have a significant impact on productivity. Clutter-free and sanitized environments promote focus and efficiency. Your employees are more likely to be productive when they work in a clean and orderly space.

  1. Impress Clients and Customers

First impressions matter. A clean and well-maintained business space conveys professionalism and attention to detail. When clients or customers walk into your establishment, a clean environment can leave a positive and lasting impression.

  1. Prolonged Asset Life

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your business property can extend the life of assets like carpets, upholstery, and furniture. This not only saves money in the long run but also reduces the need for frequent replacements, benefiting the environment.

Professional cleaning services from SERVPRO® offer immediate benefits by creating a healthier, more productive, and impressive business environment. Additionally, taking proactive steps to disaster-proof your business is essential for its long-term success. By developing an emergency plan, safeguarding your property, and partnering with experts, you can protect your business from unforeseen events and ensure a smoother path to recovery if disaster does strike. Remember, at SERVPRO®, we're not just here for the unexpected; we're here to help you thrive every day.

SERVPRO: Your Trusted Partner for Water and Fire Mitigation

10/3/2023 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes your home or business, quick and effective restoration services are essential to minimize damage and get back on your feet. SERVPRO has earned a reputation as a leading water and fire mitigation company in the Columbus and surrounding areas, known for its professionalism, expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction.

  1. 24/7 Emergency Response:

Disasters don't wait for convenient hours, and neither does SERVPRO. They offer 24/7 emergency response services, ready to spring into action when you need them the most. Whether it's water damage from a burst pipe or fire damage from a sudden blaze, SERVPRO's rapid response ensures your property gets the immediate attention it deserves.

  1. Highly Trained Professionals:

SERVPRO's technicians undergo rigorous training in water and fire mitigation, mold remediation, and restoration techniques. Their certified professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle a wide range of restoration challenges, ensuring that your property is in capable hands.

  1. State-of-the-Art Equipment:

SERVPRO utilizes advanced equipment and cutting-edge technology to tackle water and fire damage effectively. From powerful extraction machines to industrial-grade drying equipment, they have the tools to efficiently restore your property to pre-disaster conditions.

  1. Comprehensive Services:

SERVPRO offers a full spectrum of restoration services, from water extraction and drying to smoke and soot removal. Their comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of the mitigation and restoration process is handled professionally and thoroughly.

  1. Insurance Coordination:

Dealing with insurance claims can be daunting after experiencing a disaster. SERVPRO assists in navigating the insurance process, providing documentation and direct communication with insurance companies to streamline the claims process for you.

  1. Compassionate Customer Service:

Facing water or fire damage can be a distressing experience, and SERVPRO understands the emotional toll it takes on property owners. Their compassionate and caring approach ensures that you receive support and reassurance throughout the restoration journey.

  1. IICRC Certification:

SERVPRO holds Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), showcasing their dedication to maintaining the highest industry standards and best practices in restoration and mitigation.

  1. Proven Track Record:

With over 50 years of experience in the restoration industry, SERVPRO has built a solid reputation for excellence. Countless satisfied customers testify to their reliability, professionalism, and exceptional results.

When it comes to water and fire mitigation services, SERVPRO stands out as a trusted and reliable partner. Their commitment to rapid response, highly trained technicians, advanced equipment, and compassionate customer service makes them the best choice for restoring your property after a disaster. If you're ever faced with water or fire damage, don't hesitate to call on SERVPRO for expert assistance and peace of mind during the restoration process.

Always Be Looking For Water Damage At Your Home or Business

12/7/2022 (Permalink)

brown water stains on ceiling Water rings and stains on your ceilings and walls are signs of water damage!

Water damage can be very detrimental to your home or business! Most people don’t know that the longer you wait after having water damage the more damage you are actually causing to your home or business. When you have water damage the best thing to do is shut off the water source that is causing the damage. If the damage is coming from something you are unable to cut off, you may need to contact a plumber in your area. Once this is completed then you want to call the professional experts here at SERVPRO® of The North Coast to come out immediately and assess the problem. It doesn’t matter the size of the damage we will be able to help get it under control. Water damage can be difficult to spot but here are some signs you can look for in your home and business:

  • Water rings on your ceiling or walls
  • Soft or sagging on your ceiling or walls
  • Wet or soggy carpets
  • Warping in your wood flooring

The best thing to do is call an expert right away before the problem gets worse. Our highly trained technicians are waiting for your call. We have our specialized equipment ready to use to get your disaster mitigated as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the problem gets worse, call our highly trained team at SERVPRO® of The North Coast today!

The Aftermath Of A Commercial Fire

8/18/2022 (Permalink)

building burned after fire Once the fire department has doused all of the flames, be sure to call SERVPRO, the fire remediation experts.

When a fire strikes on your commercial property, it's quite likely that you feel yourself start to panic. This immediate reaction makes sense given all of the economic turmoil and property destruction that a fire can cause. However, knowing which steps to take in the face of a Cleveland commercial fire can help prevent you from becoming anxious, losing money, and undergoing extensive property damages. To handle a commercial fire successfully, follow the tips below:


1. Contact A Fire Remediation Expert.
Once the fire department has put out all of the flames, be sure to call a fire remediation expert. This individual will be able to equip you with a thorough assessment indicating the extent of the damages. Don't ever attempt to handle any of the cleanups, drying, or restoration processes on your own. Doing so could put you in peril of injury and illness.


2. Assemble Your Records.
In addition to contacting a fire remediation expert, make sure that you assemble your business' essential records. You'll want to have this information with you when you start working with your insurance company. To guarantee that you can have all of your files ready in a safe place, make a point to buy a fireproof safe where they can be stored.


3. Call The Insurance Company Immediately.
Be sure that you call your insurance company once the fire is put out. This step is important because your insurance agent will work with you to file a claim and determine how much coverage you'll attain for the commercial damages.


4. Get Permission To Re-enter The Building.
Always ask the fire department or another local authority whether you can re-enter your building. In some cases, a fire can weaken the structural integrity of the commercial property and make it subject to collapse. This is why you need to assure that re-entry is safe for you and your tenants.

If you experience a fire at your commercial property, call our experts at SERVPRO of The North Coast today at (216) 221-3333!

The Water You Don't See

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

moisture meter on ground If you find water hiding in your home, call our SERVPRO Team today! Don't wait!

Even the smallest  water damaged areas have the potential to cause serious structural and indoor air quality issues over time. The key to avoiding costly restoration in the future  is to handle every water problem as a real threat to your residential home or commercial property. SERVPRO of The North Coast has the professional equipment, highly-trained staff and proven experience to detect and dry hidden water before secondary damages occur. The 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. Our SERVPRO Team will answer your call with fast action and a full arsenal of drying equipment. Here are a few of the tools used by SERVPRO to detect and find hidden moisture:

  • 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 us to monitor the drying process.
  • Thermohygrometers measure temperature and relative humidity. When presented with this information, our technicians 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 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 to deodorize structures, garments, automobiles and other places where cleaning cannot reach.

The bottom line? SERVPRO of The North Coast has the training and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us today!

Eliminating Smoke And Odors In Your Home After A Fire

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

fire flames We can examine the extent of the destruction and take the right steps to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Fires can happen at any time, and the most common culprits are cooking and heating equipment. Residual damage such as fire odor, smoke, soot, and ash always happens after a fire. Some water damage also commonly occurs while extinguishing fires. All homes contain different materials that burn and create unique cleaning and restoration challenges.

To restore your Cleveland home after fire damage, you need to take care of smoke, fire, and water damage. Our SERVPRO Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technicians (FSRTs) have experience in addressing these issues. Smoke and odors can emanate from burned wood or paper and melted plastics. Smoke damage typically falls into 4 categories:

    •    Dry smoke – Usually results from fast-burning and high-temperature fires.
    •    Wet smoke – Results from smoldering or low heat fires. The smoke from a wet fire has a smeary, sticky texture, and a pungent odor.
    •    Fuel oil soot smoke – It results from furnace smoke returns, which cause oily soot.
    •    Protein smoke – Fires that burn plants, food, or other organic matter emit this smoke. It discolors varnishes and paints and has a pungent scent.

Smoke can penetrate walls and other surfaces quickly and drift through air ducts. Smoke odor can remain in furniture and clothing if it not deodorized properly. Smoke also penetrates cabinets and drawers, meaning that if you do not clean up your house properly, the odor can continue to re-occur for long periods.

Smoke can also ruin delicate works of art such as sculptures and paintings. The same acid that damages wood and metals can discolor the paint on canvas and the stone that makes up sculptures. When this occurs, the beauty of an art piece diminishes, and its monetary value reduces. We can work with a curator to restore ruined artwork.

Our fire damage restoration process is proven and thorough. It includes finding the source of the fire to determine the type of smoke and odors present in a home. Our technicians also determine if any areas of a house are wet because of firefighting efforts. We extract the water using shop vacs and dry the affected areas using air moving and dehumidifying equipment. We also remove any charred contents that could seal in smoke and smells like burned wood and insulation.

We can clean affected surfaces to eradicate the soils or soot particles. We perform several cleaning actions based on the affected surface and type of smoke particles present. Our technicians often perform mechanical action before other cleaning actions. Mechanical action is useful for pre-cleaning excess, non-greasy residues from surfaces before applying solvent-based or water-based cleaning products. Our SERVPRO technicians also treat affected surfaces for smoke scents using dry solvent deodorizers and thermal fogging equipment.

To deal with the aftermath of a fire in your home, call SERVPRO of The North Coast at (216) 221-3333 to assist you. We can examine the extent of the destruction and take the right steps to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Reducing The Level Of Flood Damage In Your Home

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

water damaged basement carpet The furniture had to be removed from the affected area to be cleaned separately.

For many residents, any storm-related flooding can be a traumatic event. While there are methods to prepare for flooding like reinforcing your roof or removing expensive furniture, there is little help in an emergency's immediate aftermath. Our SERVPRO technicians can help you overcome flooding by performing vital mitigation acts quickly after a storm event.

Flood mitigation in Cleveland may include actions like removing standing water from the home, drying inner rooms, or temporarily storing possessions at our warehouse. Contacting a highly qualified restoration company immediately after discussing your coverages with your insurance carrier can go a long way to reducing the losses caused by a flood after the fact.

What preventative measures are useful for storm areas?
- Taking out a flood insurance policy
- Maintaining water disposal in the home such as basement sump pumps, gutters, and drainage
- Turning off water mains access ahead of time to avoid backups

Do floodwaters permanently damage furnishings?
Furnishings are frequently victims of flood damage for residents. We understand how many items may be difficult to replace in a home, so our dedicated SERVPRO technicians are expertly trained in contents restoration. Larger items like sofas may benefit from temporary removal to a dry area where they can be thoroughly dehumidified to remove any excess moisture. Our technicians can also apply an extensive range of cleaning products and techniques to return upholstery to its preloss condition. By pre-testing on discrete areas of the fabric, we can avoid lasting damages of color fade or spot.

What restoration is available for furnishings?
- Thorough drying of the affected furniture
- Special services for leather, satin, or other unique upholstery
- Buffering and mechanical cleaning of furniture fibers

An unexpected summer storm can lead to extensive damage to both your home and its contents. Contact our SERVPRO of The North Coast Team at (216) 221-3333 for assistance.

What You Should Know About Water Damage Restoration Planning

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

technician spraying anti-microbial after water damage Call the trusted leaders in the restoration industry!

When homeowners find themselves faced with water from a flood or bursting pipes, they often want to know how long the restoration efforts will take. The answer depends on the extent of the damage, the type of water to invade the home and materials used throughout the affected area. Homeowners can expect the process to take anywhere from two to three days, but to not be surprised if it takes as many as seven. Some factors that affect the time it takes to dry out a home include:

  • The type of water to flood the home
  • The size of the area affected
  • The building materials affected

Type of Water

Clean water is easier to clean up than black water, as the former doesn’t require special Hazmat materials or equipment. If your problems stem from bursting pipes, the solution may be as simple as fixing the pipes and drying out the area. If you do so within 24 to 48 hours, you can prevent mold and bacteria growth as well.

Size of Affected Area

The type of water isn’t the only factor to affect restoration times. The size of area plays a huge part as well. If the size of the affected area is relatively small, less than ten square feet, restoration efforts can take as little as two days, and you may even be able to perform them yourself. However, if your entire ground floor is flooded, it could take several days of professional efforts.

Materials Impacted

If it is just your carpet that is affected, restoration efforts shouldn’t require much of your time at all. However, if your drywall, insulation and/or framing are impacted, you may need to do more than fix a broken pipe. Restoration efforts in the latter instance could take as long as 10 days or more.

Every situation is different, and the water damage caused by bursting pipes could be far more severe than damage from, say, a leaking pipe. Talk to your local SERVPRO of The North Coast water damage restoration team to learn more about what to expect.

Drying Goals During Water Removal

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

moisture meter with brown water stain Our SERVPRO of The North Coast Team uses state of the art equipment during the water restoration process.

Water damage technicians create a drying goal during your home’s initial assessment. The drying goal should indicate the condition of materials and contents once restored to their natural preloss dryness. Qualified technicians should always monitor the drying process to determine if current procedures remain in-line with any established goals.

A drying goal for water removal at your Cleveland property is the intended result in affected areas after completing restoration services. Our dedicated technicians use years of experience, training, and advanced equipment to provide moisture content readings from dry, unaffected contents, and structure — readings in percentage for wood materials, and readings in points for non-wood materials.

Our SERVPRO technicians use drier air to increase the rate of evaporation while performing water removal services on your property – drier air means air with low humidity. A relative humidity (RH) of less than 40% is within the normal range for performing an effective drying solution. RH under 40% typically tells us that the air is dry and thirsty, allowing it to pull more water from wet materials within the affected area.

While measurements for RH does not guarantee that your structure is dry, reaching a low RH ensures that humidity within the affected area is decreasing. To determine whether the area is dry, SERVPRO technicians take specific humidity readings of the affected areas; these readings should match those taken in unaffected areas. We use moisture meters to measure the moisture content of wet materials found in your home.

SERVPRO water removal technicians set moisture content goals on a per-item basis – after establishing a drying standard and recording typical equilibrium moisture content (EMC). The dry standard is a moisture content reading taken from dry materials of the same type found in unaffected areas. We establish a dry standard or use a typical EMC of a material as a goal.  Once the readings match, the drying process is complete.

Call our SERVPRO of The North Coast Team for water removal, cleanup, and restoration services, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.