Recent Posts
Why SERVPRO? SERVPRO® Will Work with Your Insurance
7/4/2024 (Permalink)
Homeowners Insurance and Water Damage
In the unfortunate event your home or business suffers: water damage, fire damage, mold damage, or bio-hazard clean up needs, SERVPRO® of Lake Charles will work seamlessly with your insurance company. This means less hassle and less worry for you. Our employees talk with insurance adjusters every day to make sure things are billed correctly with your insurance and the job is properly documented to ensure things are going according to plan. Being in business for years and years, whatever property and casualty insurance you or your company uses, odds are we have worked with them in the past. If you need the job done right and less hassle for you, please do not hesitate to call SERVPRO® of Lake Charles.
Why SERVPRO? SERVPRO is "Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certified"
7/4/2024 (Permalink)
If you or your business has suffered a water damage, fire damage, mold damage, or bio hazard damage, odds are it has affected some sort of fabric or textile in your home. The IICRC is a certification and Standards Developing Organization (SDO) non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. In partnership with regional and international trade associates, the IICRC serves more than 25 countries.
When you see a IICRC logo, you can be confident that an IICRC-certified experienced, qualified professional is caring for your valuable property.
Do you need upholstery cleaning or carpet cleaning for your home or business performed by a company that is llrc certified? SERVPRO of Lake Charles cleans upholstery for general cleaning, pet dander, smoke damage, office carpet tile, and more.
Source: http://www.IICRC.org
Why SERVPRO? SERVPRO of Lake Charles Employees are Well-Trained
7/4/2024 (Permalink)
Damage Restoration Trainings and Certifications - SERVPRO Trained Professionals at SERVPRO of Lake Charles
Back in 1992, SERVPRO Corporate developed a National Training Center to teach restoration and mitigation skills to Franchise Owners, employees, and insurance industry professionals.
The National Training Center offers employee training as a self paced program designed specifically for the franchise employee. Certification is awarded after successful completion of course materials and an examination. Modules include:
- Crew Training
- Fire Restoration
- Water Restoration
- Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
SERVPRO of Lake Charles is an approved IICRC (Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning) Training School that offers year-around classes in the following categories:
- Fire Restoration
- Water Restoration
- Carpet Cleaning
- Upholstery Cleaning
- Applied Structural Drying
In addition, SERVPRO of Lake Charles is bio hazard and mold remediation certified as well.
Contaminated Water After a Storm
3/8/2024 (Permalink)
Cleaning Up Flood Water
Should you experience a flood in your home after a bad storm or hurricane, our team of technicians will inspect your home or business to determine the appropriate plan of action for the type of water encountered.
Category 3: "Black Water"
Category 3 water is grossly contaminated and any contact should be avoided. Examples include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.
- May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
- Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup
24 Hour Emergency Service
Water contaminated with sewage backup should be considered an emergency situation and dealt with as quickly as possible. Our technicians at SERVPRO® of Lake Charles are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for any emergency situations that arise. We have been a trusted name in safety and properly restoring homes and businesses for almost 15 years! We are here to help!
Water Damage and Wood Flooring
3/8/2024 (Permalink)
Water Damage to My Wood Floors
It doesn’t require a disaster of the scope of a spring flood or hurricane to damage a wood floor. Even small plumbing leaks, fire hoses or the upstairs neighbor’s overflowing tub might pose problems for porous wood floors and substructures. Whatever the cause, water causes wood flooring to warp, and can trigger mold and mildew growth that can ruin wood. Major flooding creates problems in foundations and walls that must be addressed, but the first step in mitigating the damage done by water to a building -- including its wood floors -- is to gently but quickly ventilate and dry materials.
SERVPRO® of Lake Charles uses commercial-grade machines that extract the water from the wood flooring with a powerful force. If we are called immediately following a water damage event, there is a good possibility we can save your wood floors from buckling using the high-powered water extractors. Don't hesitate to call right away.
Source: Homeguides
Getting Rid of Cigarette Smoke Odor
3/8/2024 (Permalink)
How Do I Get Rid of Cigarette Smell?
It's obvious to a non-smoker when a home smells like cigarettes. The smell of tobacco and/or cigarette smoke and tar is stubborn because it "sticks" to all surfaces in your Lake Charles area home as it spreads through the air. So, how do you get rid of the cigarette odor? The short answer is that it's very difficult. ALL surfaces in the home need to be scrubbed and deodorized, including the: flooring, walls, furniture, appliances, knick-knacks, and clothing. Even the air in the home needs to be deodorized during the process. It's not an easy task, but the experts at SERVPRO® of Lake Charles have done it many times and are more than willing to help you. Give us a call today and start breathing fresh smelling air!
Three Probable Causes of a Leaky Refrigerator
8/30/2022 (Permalink)
Why is my refrigerator leaking water?
WATER FILTER
If your filter is not installed properly, or the filter is old or doesn't fit correctly with your refrigerator model, chances are there is a poor connection between the filter and the water supply. To prevent your refrigerator from leaking, check to see if water is escaping due to holes in the filter. Also, check the size and model of both the fridge and filter to ensure it's the correct part for your refrigerator.
DRAIN PAN
Examine the drain pan for any cracks, which is located at the bottom of the refrigerator. If you notice a significant amount of pooling underneath, chances are the pan has a crack and that's what is causing the leak. Replace the pan immediately if you notice any damage.
DEFROST DRAIN
One of the most common causes of a leaky refrigerator is a faulty defrost drain. When the defrost drain is blocked by food particles or ice, it prevents the water accumulated during the defrost cycle to properly drain into the pan. Eventually, water will start to build up. Without anywhere to drain, water will begin to flow right onto your floor. Remove any blockage caused by food particles or ice by flushing the drain with hot water and removing debris carefully with a wire hanger.
Source: Roto-Rooter Online
How to Flush your Hot Water Heater
8/30/2022 (Permalink)
How do I flush a hot water heater?
Ready to get started? You won’t need much. The key essentials are:
This list assumes that you can run the hose somewhere to allow the water from your hot water heater can drain safely. If not, get a couple of five-gallon buckets ready to capture what you drain. You might also want to consider the bucket method if you’re water conscious. If you let the water cool first, you can use the water in your garden. Just avoid giving it to delicate plants that might not appreciate the sediment the water likely contains.
In addition to gathering your materials, there’s another key step you really can’t skip. Check the warranty for your hot water heater. Performing maintenance yourself, even simple maintenance like this, could void your warranty. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Assuming your warranty gives you the go-ahead, you’re ready to get to it.
Step one: Cut off power and water
Safety first! Make sure your water heater is disconnected from its power source before you get started. If it’s electric, that means turning off the circuit breaker at your main breaker panel, then unplugging it. If it’s gas, note the temp it’s at for later, then turn the gas control knob to “Pilot.” Make sure your water heater is completely turned off before you move forward because draining water away from the heating element when it’s working can damage it.
Then, turn off your water heater’s water supply by shutting off the cold water valve. It will be located at the top of or above your water heater along a pipe that supplies it with cold water. A 90-degree turn will usually shut off the water.
If you can, wait overnight before you proceed to step two. This will allow your hot water heater to cool off so you’re not dealing with scalding water in next steps. If you can’t, use extra care.
Step two: Prevent a vacuum
You don’t want anything funky happening with your water lines while you flush your hot water heater, so go turn on the hot water somewhere in your house. Having this water source open will prevent a vacuum from forming as the tank drains.
Step three: Get ready to drain
You’re about to empty out your hot water heater and all that water needs to go somewhere. Control it by connecting a hose to the drain valve. It will be located at the bottom of your water heater and will probably look a lot like a standard garden faucet. Tighten the hose with a wrench and drape a towel over the connection so you don’t have to deal with any spray issues.
Feed the hose somewhere the water can safely drain or put it in a bucket. Next, open the pressure relief valve towards the top of your water heater. It’s usually a lever you simply flip.
Step four: Drain it
If you didn’t let your water cool, be ready for hot water to flow quickly out of your tank. Consider gloves or towels to protect your skin. If you’re using the bucket method, have a second bucket ready to take its place when it gets full. Alternately, you can turn off the drain valve when the water nears the top of your bucket, drain it, then reopen the valve and refill your bucket, emptying as needed until your water heater is empty.
Ready? Open the drain valve and watch all that water and sediment pour out. Keep going until the tank is empty.
Step five: Flush it
Reopen the cold water valve at the top of your tank for a few seconds, then shut it off again and let the water drain. This will stir up any leftover sediment so you can fully flush your hot water heater. Repeat this process until you don’t see any more sediment coming out of your tank.
Step six: Refill it
Close the drain valve and close the pressure relief valve. Disconnect your hose. Next comes a sort of annoying step. Turn on all the hot water faucets in your house (sinks, bathtubs, showers, etc.). Having these freely flowing as you refill your tank prevents any pressure issues from arising within your water lines.
Then, turn the cold water supply back on and let your tank fill. Once it’s full, slowly reopen the pressure relief valve again to let any excess air get released. Then, close it again.
Now, head back to your faucets. Once water flow returns to steady (keep an eye out for hiccups and spurts that are indicative of air bubbles), turn them all off.
Step seven: Restore power
If your water heater is electric, plug it back into the wall before you restore power to it at your main circuit breaker. Then, turn it back on at the breaker box.
If it’s gas, relight the pilot and turn the knob back to the temperature at which it was previously set.
Listen to your water heater. You’ll be able to hear it start working again. In about 30 minutes, test that you have hot water again.
Source: Freshome
Why SERVPRO? SERVPRO is Hazmat and Bio Hazard Removal Trained
8/30/2022 (Permalink)
Who do I call to remove bio-hazard?
Bio hazard clean up is considered: blood clean up, urine clean up, human feces clean up, animal feces clean up, vomit clean up, and other human fluids. General maid and janitorial services will not remove these items due to their potentially hazardous nature. SERVPRO of Lake Charles technicians are trained and properly uniformed to safely remove bio hazardous materials. This is why you can rely on SERVPRO of Lake Charles to get the job done quickly, safely, and to sanitation standards. Many homes and buildings that have been left unattended and/or improperly cared for will generally require this type of service. SERVPRO of Lake Charles will remove all hazardous items and properly dispose of them. If you or your business is in need of bio hazard removal, please do not hesitate to call today.
Why SERVPRO? SERVPRO Uses Industrial Grade Equipment and Cleaning Products on your Home or Business
8/30/2022 (Permalink)
If your home or business has suffered a water damage event, simply cleaning up the water and opening up the windows will not completely dry the space, leaving your home or business vulnerable to future mold growth (known as secondary damage). SERVPRO of Lake Charles uses industrial grade dehumidifiers and fans to completely dry your home or business. SERVPRO of Lake Charles uses moisture testing devices to make sure your walls, closets, and floors are dry before we leave your home and close out the job. In addition to drying, commercial grade anti-fungal treatments are applied in order to prevent mold from forming.
If your home or business has suffered a fire damage event, air scrubbers are brought into the area to "scrub" the air clean and remove the chemical and smoke odor. In addition to air scrubbers, special cleaning agents are used to save as many smoke-affected items as possible in your home or business.
If your home or business has suffered a water damage, fire damage, or mold growth event, please do not hesitate to call us today.
24/7 Emergency Service