How to Minimize Water, Fire and Smoke Damage

12/20/2024 (Permalink)

What can homeowners do?

Homeowners can take proactive steps to minimize potential damage before they experience a flood or fire. For water damage prevention, regularly inspect plumbing for leaks, ensure proper drainage around the foundation, and install leak detectors. During freezing temperatures, insulate exposed pipes.  

To reduce fire risk, maintain smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, regularly clean lint from dryer vents, and avoid overloading electrical outlets. Keep flammable materials away from heat sources and inspect wiring for damage. For smoke damage reduction, ensure proper ventilation and regularly clean air ducts. These preventative measures can significantly reduce the severity of water, fire, and smoke damage should a disaster occur.

Call SERVPRO of Northridge or SERVPRO of Granada Hills to help keep your home safe and dry!

Happy Holidays From SERVPRO

12/11/2023 (Permalink)

To our valued SERVPRO customers,

As the holiday season fills the air with the warmth of love, laughter, and togetherness, we at SERVPRO of Northridge and SERVPRO of Granada Hills want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support throughout the year. Your trust in our services has been the driving force behind our success, and we are truly honored to have played a part in protecting your homes and businesses from the unexpected, like water damage and fire damage.

As we gather with loved ones, sharing stories, exchanging gifts, and enjoying the festive spirit, we hope you find moments of peace, joy, and reflection. May your homes be filled with the aroma of freshly baked goods, the twinkling lights of Christmas trees and flickering flames of Menorahs, and the cheerful melodies of the holiday songs we all love. And as the new year dawns, may it bring with it renewed hope, fresh beginnings, and countless blessings.

On behalf of the entire SERVPRO family, we wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for being a part of our SERVPRO community!

Sincerely,

Your SERVPRO Northridge and SERVPRO Granada Hills Team

A Word From Our Satisfied Customers

12/1/2023 (Permalink)

In the face of unexpected property damage, SERVPRO of Northridge and SERVPRO of Granada Hills stand as beacons of hope and expertise, consistently earning rave reviews from our grateful customers. Our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional service has garnered us a reputation as a trusted resource for homeowners and businesses alike.

Customers consistently praise SERVPRO's promptness, professionalism, and genuine care for our clients' well-being. Yelp reviewer Sarah M. eloquently captures the essence of SERVPRO's approach: "They were incredibly responsive, understanding, and patient throughout the entire process. They made a stressful situation much more manageable."

Google reviewer David C. echoes this sentiment, highlighting SERVPRO's expertise and dedication to restoring properties to their pre-damaged state: "Their team was incredibly knowledgeable and thorough in their assessment and work. They kept me informed every step of the way and went above and beyond to ensure my satisfaction."

SERVPRO's commitment to excellence extends beyond our technical skills; we prioritize building genuine connections with our clients, fostering a sense of trust and reassurance during challenging times. Yelp reviewer John L. commends our empathetic approach: "They treated me like family and truly cared about my situation. They made me feel like I was not alone in this."

SERVPRO of Northridge and SERVPRO of Granada Hills embody the true spirit of service, consistently exceeding expectations and earning the admiration and gratitude of our customers. We strongly believe our dedication to restoring properties and comforting our clients during times of distress will have an everlasting positive impact on our communities.

San Fernando Valley: A Community Shaped by Fire

11/22/2023 (Permalink)

Living in the San Fernando Valley, you get used to the ebb and flow of fire seasons. Over the years, our community has seen its fair share of challenges, and fire incidents have become part of our local history. Back in '61 when the Bel Air–Brentwood Fire crept into the Valley, it caused widespread fire damage and left a lasting impact on our neighborhoods. It was a wake-up call for many of us, realizing how vulnerable we are to the unpredictable nature of wildfires.

In recent times, we've faced the Creek Fire in 2017 and the Saddleridge Fire in 2019. Both brought moments of uncertainty, with mandatory evacuations and our skies filled with smoke. The smoke damage was evident, and the aftermath required significant fire damage restoration and also smoke damage restoration as a result. Our resilience as a community shone through during these times, emphasizing the importance of quick responses from emergency services and the need for robust fire prevention measures.

As a local, you learn to appreciate the beauty of the Valley but also respect the challenges that come with it. As we enter fire season in our local area, it's about staying prepared, looking out for each other, and supporting one another through the trials that history has etched into our hills and canyons.

Proactive & Preventative Water Damage Tips

11/22/2023 (Permalink)

Hey there, homeowners! Let's talk about keeping your castle dry and disaster-free. Nothing's worse than dealing with water damage, am I right? But fear not, because there are some savvy steps you can take to dodge that dreaded bullet.

First up, keep an eagle eye on those pipes. Regularly inspect for any signs of wear, corrosion, or potential pipe bursts. A tiny leak can snowball into a major water damage situation. If you spot issues, fix them pronto or call in a pro.

Next on the hit list: your roof. A sneaky roof leak can wreak havoc if left unchecked. Inspect your roof for missing shingles, cracks, or any spots that seem off. Taking care of these issues pronto can save you from the headache of water damage restoration down the road.

Investing in proper insulation is another superhero move. It not only keeps your home cozy but also prevents pesky problems like frozen pipes, which can lead to—you guessed it—disasters.

Lastly, don't underestimate the power of routine maintenance. Regularly clean those gutters and downspouts to ensure water flows away from your home. Proper drainage is key to avoiding potential pitfalls.

Remember, folks, a stitch in time saves nine. Take these proactive steps, and you'll be the superhero of your household. Cheers to a dry and happy home!

Tips and Techniques for Mold

6/11/2022 (Permalink)

The tips and techniques listed below will help you clean and understand your mold problem. Before reading note that it could be possible that you may not be able to restore something with mold on it back to its normal appearance. Also note that it is probably best if you have a professional come out and take a look at the specific mold you're dealing with and check if there is any other hidden mold around the area

• To start off you will want to check and fix any plumbing or other water related problems you might have that is causing the mold growth
• Scrub any surfaces that contain mold with detergent and water, then dry thoroughly.
• Most likely absorbent material such as drywall, ceiling, tile, and carpet will have to be thrown away if they end up having mold. Mold can grow in the porous of these absorbent materials meaning it's almost impossible to remove it completely. 
• If you see mold on the walls ceilings or floors its best to stay away from the affected area and call a professional to take a look
• You don't want to paint over a moldy surface, clean up the mold and dry the area, applying paint over a moldy surface will cause peeling in the future. 

At the end of they day if you are unsure about how to clean an item and you don't want to risk messing up and damaging anything, consulting a specialist would be the best option. Have any questions Call SERVPRO of Northridge and SERVPRO of Granada Hills (818) 993-9339. 

Northridge and Granada Hills Commercial Water Damage Cleanup

5/28/2022 (Permalink)

Having your commercial building endure any kind of water damage can be stressful and put a lot on your mind whether it’s a professional building or small retail store having a professional restoration company restore and cleanup the loss right away can reduce the cost significantly.

At SERVPRO of Northridge & SERVPRO of Granada Hills we use advanced inspection and extraction equipment to find the water and remove it as quickly as possible. There are so many ways an owner of a commercial building can be affected from mentally to financially we want you to get back on track as soon as possible.

Whether it’s a pipe break or strong weather knowing who to call when water damage occurs can make the whole difference for the recovery process

SERVPRO of Northridge & SERVPRO of Granada Hills is here to help and get your building back “Like it never even happened.”

Have questions? Give us a call today (818) 993-9339

Mold In Your Commercial Building Air Ducts? Heres What To Know

5/7/2022 (Permalink)

Mold In the HVAC System

Noticing the Mold 

Usually when it comes to mold in your HVAC system, you'll be able to notice the smell before anything else. If there is an odor that only occurs while using your air conditioning or heating, that could narrow it down to mold in your HVAC system.

People may also experience symptoms every time the AC is running, again leading to mold growth in the air ducts. If there is a good amount of mold around the vents, it can spread in the air causing plenty of symptoms such as itchy eyes, irritated nose and throat, and most commonly headaches. 

How'd It Start?

Mold grows in the vents when these two things are existing in the particular area, warm temperature and moisture. A humid environment is the perfect condition for mold to start forming. Ultimately having weak ventilation and a humid environment can trap moisture in your walls and cause condensation that can lead to the rapid spread of the mold spores.

Having a huge ac unit that doesn't match the space you have, for example larger ac units can cool smaller spaces super quickly and turn off before dehumidifying the air leading to extra unwanted moisture. If you notice mold shortly after a new ac installation it would be wise to make sure you've gotten the proper sized equipment for the space you're in. 

Another cause for mold growth would be setting your ac to a very low temperature. This could sometimes lead to mold growth when the cool air from the ac hits the warm air from the room, the difference of the temperature can form moisture in the air to condense all around the vent. With that being said if that moisture builds up over time and never gets a chance to dry out, mold will start to form. This is something called temperature differential which takes about a difference in 20 degrees when the ac air and room air hit for moisture to form.

What To Do?

When dealing with mold especially in areas like the HVAC system calling a professional to come in and get the job done would be the best option. It may seem like an unnecessary expense, but a professional will take care of the mold and will help stop it from coming back in the future, they will also do it more effectively and safely than doing it by yourself.

Along with that trying to scrub off any mold with ordinary cleaning supplies won't get rid of it. It will remove what seems like most of it but in reality there will still be mold spores, they're ready to grow back as soon as they can. Leaving you with the same problem again and again. Professionals have the proper equipment to keep your commercial building from being a victim of mold ever again.

If you ever notice or see mold arising in your commercial building please give SERVPRO of Northridge & SERVPRO of Granada Hills a call right away. We will have our highly trained technicians respond right away and turn your building back to pre mold conditions "Like it never even happened."

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339

Storm Flooding? Heres What To Do!

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Floods are one of the most common natural disasters in the United States. Although we don't really have trouble over here in California, especially in Los Angeles, you can never be too sure what might happen in the future. Here are the steps to take to protect your family, protect your home, and keep the cost to repair the damages to a minimal.

Turn the Electricity Off 

As soon as you notice flooding in your home its best to quickly turn off all the electricity in the house.

Evacuate 

Having to evacuate out of your own home can be super stressful leaving everything you have behind, but at the same time you and your families lives are far more important. In times like these you won't always need to evacuate in a flooding situation, you can simply head out to the back or front yard but its pretty easy to tell when its time to get out of the area and wait until things settle down.

Call for Help 

If anything serious has happened to anyone its best to call 911. At this time you can't focus on the house, the damage has already been done so it's best to call up the proper people to start the recovery process right away. If you are renting your house you will want to call your landlord and tell them what's going on. If you are homeowner calling your insurance and letting them know would be the best place to start.

Document Everything

After an incident happens the first thing that comes to mind is cleaning it up, but before you do you're going to want to document all the damages for your insurer. Use your cellphone camera to take pictures and film the damages your home has encountered due to the flooding. 

Cleanup Process

For the cleanup process you'll need to remove the water, salvage as many items as you can, dry the area out, and disinfect the entire area the flooded water has affected. With all things said the cleanup process is a long and stressful process for any homeowner. Thankfully for you SERVPRO of Northridge & SERVPRO of Granada Hills is here to help and take on the whole cleanup process for you. Were here to resotre your home back to normal "Like it never even happened."

What to Check After a Storm Hits Your Home

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

Debris On the Roof 

No matter how big or small the debris is it's important to make sure to check the roof for any larger problems that could have occurred during the storm.

A damaged roof can cause major problems even if the spot or spots are tiny, water may have leaked in during the storm without you knowing and if left unattended it will only cause more water damage in the future.

If you are able to access the roof safely it's important to clean any debris and inspect any damages.

Inspect Your Gutters

After a heavy storm, your gutters may have come loose. Having a loose or blocked gutter is a sign that your roof might not have dried correctly leaving water pools that weaken the structure of the roof and cause water damage issues. It's necessary to check your gutters immediately after a storm to prevent any more problems in the future.

Assess Water Patches on Walls 

Heavy rain can cause water damage as water goes into the small cracks in the walls leading to the exterior and interior walls being affected.

Make sure to check your walls about every day for a week to ensure that the damp patches aren't still hanging out on your walls after the storm has passed completely.

Check the Windows 

When there is shattered glass and dents from hail and wind damage we can easily identify what happened. On the other hand, the effects of water damage can be easily missed by the untrained eye. Untouched water and leaks can lead to mold and will affect your home's foundation and structure. Although it won't seem as bad as dents and cracks it's just as important to look for moisture buildup and fog in the glass to prevent any problems you might have to face in the future.

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339