Recent Posts
Would you know what to do?
9/20/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO® is always prepared, even when life catches you off guard
Late at night, you may be the last one in the office…it’s quiet, it dark outside, and you begin to tidy up your desk to head home. Only when you turn off the faint noise of your 80’s music playing on your laptop do you hear it, you hear something…It sounds like a water fountain. Only you know that your office doesn’t’ have one of those…hmmm…you make the decision that each doomed horror movie expendable character makes, and you start to look and see what the noise is.
As you get closer to the source of the noise, your shoes begin squishing on the carpet below…you look down and realize you’ve walked into puddles of water. You round the corner in the hall and find the culprit - a single solitary sprinkler head spraying water in an awkward fashion onto the floor and surrounding walls. You don’t know what to do?? You worked late, and it’s now after business hours. You try to reach out to your boss, no response. You think of what to do next, and you remember the facilities man that was in to fix the overhead lights last month. You rush to the company call list and find his name and title. You try calling the manager of facilities. He picks up right away.
When you tell the facilities manager what is happening, he instructs you to turn off the water. As he walks you through how to find the shutoff switch and how to turn it off, he says he will reach out to a contact he has within the community. Someone who deals with water damages like this all the time.
You let out a sigh of relief as the water stops flowing from the sprinkler head. A moment later, your phone rings and a SERVPRO® technician gives you their ETA.
Shortly after you notice a bright green van pull up outside and several team members pile out and enter the building. They greet you, their hands full of what appear to be large green machines, with hoses and vacuum heads. Some of the other team members are carrying what appears to be large green fans.
After going over the process with you and confirming they have received the facilities managers signature to move forward, they get to work.
Like a well oiled machine they move throughout the soaked space, assessing damage, and extracting water where needed. A little while passes and the facilities manager shows up, he informs you that you can leave and head home now. He also said you did a great job calling him right away.
As you leave you feel relieved and yet a bit of adrenaline still courses through your body…it has been an exciting evening. SERVPRO® is prepared for when life catches you off guard!
When the storm hits, we are here to help!
9/18/2023 (Permalink)
Storms can cause major damage to your home and property. SERVPRO® is ready to receive your call!
Storms can cause severe damage to your property, whether it's from high winds, flooding, or lightning strikes. At SERVPRO®, we understand the devastating effects that storms can have on your home or business, and we are equipped to handle any storm-related disaster.
Our team of highly trained professionals is available 24/7 to provide emergency storm response services. We use state-of-the-art equipment to extract water, dry out affected areas, and restore your property to preloss condition quickly and efficiently.
One of the most common storm-related disasters is flooding. Flooding can occur due to heavy rains or rising water levels, and it can cause significant damage to your property. Our team has experience working with flood-damaged properties and uses advanced techniques to extract water, dry out affected areas, and prevent further damage from occurring.
Storms can also cause damage from fallen trees and debris. Our team can quickly remove debris and assess the damage to your property. We will work with you every step of the way to develop a customized plan tailored to your specific needs and budget.
In addition to our restoration and cleanup services, we also offer storm preparedness services. We can help you develop a plan to protect your property from future storms, including preparing your roof and gutters, securing loose items, and creating a disaster kit.
At SERVPRO®, we believe that communication is key to a successful storm restoration and cleanup process. We will keep you informed every step of the way and work closely with you to ensure that your property is restored to preloss condition as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Contact us today for more information on our storm restoration and cleanup services, and let us help you get your property back to preloss condition. 541-745-2097
Electrical Fire Safety
9/1/2023 (Permalink)
Faulty wiring or overloaded electrical panels have caused many structural fires!
Electrical fires can not only catch us off guard, but can also be tricky to deal with. There are warning signs that you may be at risk for an electrical fire. Knowing the signs to look for can help protect you from an electrical fire disaster.
The warning signs include:
- Circuit breakers that repeatedly trip
- Shocks or tingling feelings as you touch an electrical appliance
- Flickering lights
- Discolored electrical wall outlets
- A burning smell of smoke or “hot plastic” coming from wiring, a plug or an appliance
If you happen to experience an electrical fire, there are steps to take to help lessen the damage, as well as help keep you and your family safe.
- Take action with an appliance by unplugging it immediately and cutting the power at the electrical panel.
- Pay attention to the voltage of the appliance you are plugging in.
- Use a Fire Extinguisher, or smother with baking soda if no Fire Extinguisher handy on a smaller fire
NEVER try to extinguish an electrical fire with water. Water conducts electricity and you could be badly shocked.
If you have electrical fire damage we can help you at SERVPRO®. We will come out and assess the damage for you. Then we can get to work to make it like it never even happened.
Did you know?
9/1/2023 (Permalink)
Whatever your Commercial Cleaning needs, the Professionals at SERVPRO® are always here to help!
SERVPRO® offers cleaning services for both big and small buildings. Whether you need a quick clean on a messy office, or just simply don’t have the tools to clean your commercial building, your local SERVPRO® has all the tools to get the job done. Most people are surprised by the fact that we offer a wide variety of cleaning services, and thought we were just a restoration company.
- Carpet and Upholstery
- Drapes and Blinds
- Ceilings, Walls and Hard Floors
- HVAC Cleaning
- Biohazard & Crime Scene Cleanup
- Document Restoration
- Odor Removal and Deodorization
- Interior & Exterior Power Washing
- Emergency Services
- Virus & Pathogen Cleaning
- Graffiti & Vandalism cleaning
Those are just a few of the services we can offer in order to get your space looking as good as new! Call your local SERVPRO® today to find out more about how our trained professionals can help you! (541)-745-2097.
Let us worry about your Commercial Cleaning needs!
8/7/2023 (Permalink)
Let the Cleaning Professionals at SERVPRO® handle all your Commercial Cleaning needs
You don’t have time to worry about the common wear and tear that gradually soils your office. When grime, odor, and moisture challenges go beyond the scope of your regular janitorial staff, call in your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional. Whether it’s removing an odor problem or deep cleaning flooring or carpets, you can rely on local SERVPRO® Professionals to make your workspace look its very best.
Specialty Cleaning Services
We offer cleaning services ranging from cleaning restaurant hoods to removing biohazard contaminants. They have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business. Their cleaning services include the following:
Your local SERVPRO® Professionals will get the job done right and get it done quickly.
Have Questions? Call Us Today! 541/745-2097
Storm approaching? Have a plan READY!
8/7/2023 (Permalink)
We cannot control the weather, but we can be better prepared to weather the storm. And SERVPRO® is here to help you after the storm
Storms can be frightening, and cause a lot of damage to our personal property. Thankfully with today's technology, we generally do get some warning, which can give us a chance to prepare.
What to do as the storm approaches:
-- Download an application to your smartphone that can notify people where you are, and if you need help or are safe. The Red Cross has a Hurricane App available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store as well as a shelter finder app. A first aid app is also available.
- Bring outside items in if they could be picked up by the wind.
-- Clear gutters of debris.
-- Reinforce the garage door.
-- Turn the refrigerator to its coldest setting in case power goes off. Use a cooler to keep from opening the doors on the freezer or refrigerator.
-- Fill a bathtub with water.
-- Get a full tank of gas in one car.
-- Go over the evacuation plan with the family, and learn alternate routes to safety.
-- Learn the location of the nearest shelter or nearest pet-friendly shelter.
-- Evacuate if ordered and stick to marked evacuation routes if possible.
-- Store important documents -- passports, Social Security cards, birth certificates, deeds -- in a watertight container.
-- Have a current inventory of household property.
-- Leave a note to say where you are going.
-- Unplug small appliances and electronics before you leave.
-- If possible, turn off the electricity, gas and water for the residence.
We can only do so much to prepare for an incoming storm, and our primary concern is to keep our loved ones safe. If you experience property damage during any kind of storm, do not hesitate to call upon our Team here at SERVPRO® at 541/745-2097. Our Cleaning and Restoration Specialists will help make it "Like it never even happened.”
Leaky Plumbing in the Kitchen Can Cause BIG Trouble
8/7/2023 (Permalink)
Routinely checking for leaks under your kitchen sink can help avoid big disasters
No matter what time of year, it seems like kitchen sink pipes like to leak. We, here at SERVPRO® get many calls about leaks from kitchen sink pipes. One recent call we received was abouta kitchen sink pipe leaking. Unfortunately, the home owner was not aware of the small, slow leak until it had soaked through the bottom of the cabinet, through the flooring and on into their daylight basement! This ruined the bottom of the sink cabinet, the subflooring, insulation, and ceiling dry wall. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind to help you avoid this situation.
1. Make sure you check once month under you sink for leaks.
2. Don't keep a lot of stuff under the sink, it becomes hard to notice if a leak is happening.
3. Line your cupboard with cupboard liner, so that it can protect from moisture.
4. When the weather is below freezing leave you cupboard open it bit to allow heat under the sink, to prevent frozen pipes.
5. Do simple moisture checks once a month to make sure the wood/plywood is not wet, not any visible water drops coming off your pipes.
If do you run in to a kitchen sink leak that has cause damage, first call a Plumber to stop/fix the leak. Then contact your Water Restoration Specialists at SERVPRO®, we are here to help. All you need to do is call us at 541/745-2097.
Professionals at work
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
The Professionals here at SERVPRO® are here to provide excellent Customer Service during your time of need
Where has customer service gone? SERVPRO® has never lost it.
Do you ever feel like customer service is a dying art? I’m not just talking about waiting on the phone for 45 minutes trying to get through the “automated system” and talk to an actual human being, I’m talking about human interactions with businesses that make you want to return to that business, and recommend that business to friends and family who inquire.
In the restoration industry, word of mouth and return customers mean the world to us. It’s not only the confidence in knowing that we cared for them the right way the first time, but it’s a customer entrusting us to care for them again…that is what really reassures us that we are doing a good job.
So when did customer service start to be less important? When did people stop caring so much about the entire experience the customer is having, and look at them as someone who they are obligated to “Take care of” or “Help” I think many customer service skills have become less important due to more and more interaction via the internet and remotely working.
At SERVPRO®, we cannot do Fire Restoration, Water Restoration, Mold Remediation, and Bio-Hazard Clean-up from a remote location. We have had to stay front and center in people’s lives, always, even through a pandemic. We are very much a hands on company, both literally and figuratively.
What we hope to hear, as a small business serving the Willamette Valley, is that our customers had a good experience with our services. Because when we come into a home or business that has experienced a loss, we want to leave our customers in a better mood than we found them in…at every single visit.
Here at SERVPRO® we are in the business of caring for people’s homes and businesses, and in a way we are very much in the business of caring for and helping people. There aren’t many jobs that see what we do, and we consider it a privilege to serve our customers day in and day out for the past 20+ years.
Creating a Defensible Space
8/4/2023 (Permalink)
Here are suggestions to help protect your home against a Forest Fire
Unfortunately during Summer and into Fall, Forest Fires ravage the West Coast. Thousands of acres of timber are lost. And, sadly, so arere many homes. While a wildfire is beyond our control, as a homeowner there are certain steps you can take to help reduce your property risk in case of a Forest Fire.
- Install a fire-proof roof. A metal roof is ideal here in the PNW due to the heavy rain and also provides excellent fire protection. Contact your local Roofing Professional for all your options,
- Create a ‘defensible space’ around your home – in some areas, it is required by law. Think ‘Lean, Clean and Green’ – remove all flammable vegetation within 30 feet of your home.
- Clear debris from the yard – this includes dead branches, twigs, any old building material, etc.
- Stack wood piles at least 30 feet from your home, and remove vegetation from within 10 feet of the woodpile.
- Remove lower branches, at least 6 feet from the ground.
- Trim any unhealthy looking trees. Remove dead branches, and clean out dead leaves/dried debris from under the trees.
- Consider removing any trees that are too close to your house – many fires jump tree top to tree top, as well as Emergency Vehicles need to be able to work all the way around your home in the event of a fire.
- Store any fuel tanks, propane or butane, at least 30 feet from the house.
For more information on Fire Safety & Prevention, you can visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/FirePrevention.aspx
If your home is damaged by a Wildfire, or sustains any kind of fire damage, please contact your Fire Restoration Specialists at SERVPRO®!
Water Heater Causes Flooding in McMinnville Home?
5/30/2023 (Permalink)
We are trusted leaders in water damage restoration services in Yamhill County.
Water damage claims continue to be the top insurance claim in the United States. Our local Yamhill and Tillamook Counties team has been restoring water damage in McMinnville for many years. We use powerful, industrial-grade water extraction and drying equipment to quickly restore the damage, saving our customers time and money in many cases. According to industry estimates:
- 75 percent of water heaters will fail before they are 12 years old
- 98 percent of basements in the United States will experience some type of water damage during their lifespans
- 37 percent of homeowners in the United States claim to have suffered losses from water damage
- 5 billion is the annual cost to insurance companies from water damage and mold in the United States
- $6,975 is the average cost of a home water damage insurance claim
- The average age of failed washing machine supply line hoses is 8.7 years
The most common causes of water damage are:
- Leaking water heaters
- Severe weather
- Clogged gutters
- Leaking pipes
- Washing machine water supply line leaks
- Condensation from air conditioners
- Blocked drains
- Malfunctioning sprinkler systems
Call Us Today!
When you have a water damage emergency in your McMinnville home or commercial business, you can rely on our local Yamhill and Tillamook Counties teams to restore the damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 503-472-9824.
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