National Preparedness Month

9/5/2023 (Permalink)

Contact your local SERVPRO about their free emergency plan

When September arrives most people think about the weather cooling off and the return of football. At SERVPRO September is a big month because its officially the national preparedness month. Its a simple reminder to be prepared for any emergency or disaster.

Most people assume hurricanes are the only disaster and rarely are prepared if they don't live by the ocean. However flooding, fires, and tornadoes can happen anywhere in the world so its important to have a plan in place.

We recommend using some of these tips to make sure you and your family are prepared for any type of emergency.

- Have an emergency meeting location

- Keep emergency contacts saved in your phone 

- Keep copies of important documents in multiple locations 

If you own a business please reach out to your local franchise and ask them about the free emergency ready plan. We are happy to come take a look at your business and customize an emergency plan. This includes documenting main shut offs and organizing emergency contacts.    

Indoor Air Quality

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

Maintaining good indoor air quality

One of the most commons calls we get during the summer is for mold inspections. Mold can cause a lot of different issues within a house or building. It can affect the structure as well as cause health problems for those living inside. This blog will focus on some tips to have good indoor air quality and help prevent mold growth.

1. Vent bathrooms, kitchens, toilets and laundry rooms directly outdoors. Use energy efficient and quiet fans.
2. Avoid locating furnaces, air conditioners and ductwork in garages or other spaces where they can inadvertently draw contaminants into the house.
3. Properly vent fireplaces, wood stoves and other hearth products; use tight doors and outdoor air intakes when possible.
4. Vent clothes dryers and central vacuum cleaners directly outdoors.
5. Store toxic or volatile compounds such as paints, solvents, cleaners and pesticides out of the occupiable space.
6. Minimize or avoid unvented combustion sources such as candles, cigarettes, indoor barbecues, decorative combustion appliances or vent-free heaters.
7. Provide operable windows to accommodate unusual sources or high-polluting events, such as the use of home cleaning products, hobby activities, etc.
8. Use sealed-combustion, power-vented or condensing water heaters and furnaces. When natural-draft applications must be used they should be tested for proper venting and should be located outside the occupiable space when possible.
9. Put a good particle filter or air cleaner in your air handling system to keep dirt out of the air and off of your ductwork and heating and cooling components.
10. Distribute a minimum level of outdoor air throughout the home, using whole-house mechanical ventilation.

For other information or to schedule a HVAC or ductwork cleaning call us today!

What To Do When You Have a Water Damage

7/25/2023 (Permalink)

Removal of water from a customers home

If your home or business just experienced a water damage this blog is for you. I'm sure a lot of questions are running through your head about who to call or what to do next. The first step is to call your local SERVPRO so they can inspect the damage to see if a claim needs to be filed. Why SERVPRO is on the way here are some tips to help minimize the water damage.

Water Damage from Clean Water:

• Shut off the water source if possible or contact a plumber if you cant find the source.
• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping or using towels.
• Put furniture on blocks to prevent the bottom from getting wet.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture and wet carpeting.
• Do not enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment are exposed to water. 
• Don't use a household vacuum to remove water. This could cause electrical shock or damage to the vacuum.

Water Damage from Contaminated Water (i.e. Sewage, Outside Water, etc.)

• Avoid all contact with sewage and any items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.
• Do not walk through damaged or wet areas. This could increase the possibility of spreading contamination.
• Do not use the HVAC system or fans to dry the structure, as this could spread contaminated air.
• Do not use any products for personal hygiene or cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated area.

Fire Prevention

7/25/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO preparing to clean a house fire

Fires are one of the worst events that can happen to a home or business. Often they are unpredictable and sudden. However, there a few things you can do to help prevent a fire. While this doesn't guarantee you will never have one, it drastically lowers your percentage.

 -Inspect Smoke Detectors

When a fire starts a working smoke detector can not only save you money, but it could also save your life. It is recommended to test them monthly and frequently exchange the batteries. It only takes a few minutes to test them and its recommended to completely replace the detectors once every ten years. If your house has more then one floor its best to have detectors on each level and especially one close to each sleeping area.

-Watch Your Appliances

Stoves, washing machines, and microwaves all make our lives easier. However, when not used properly they can easily start a fire. Its recommended to clean these appliances regularly and not to use them when nobody is present.

-Be Extra Safe in The Kitchen

Recent studies have show that over half of house fires start in the kitchen. It’s important make sure you keep a fire extinguisher in close reach of the kitchen. Grease fires are most common in this area. It’s important to know that you must treat a grease fire differently than a regular fire. Never use water to put out a grease fire. Instead try to cover the fire with a heavy metal lid or dump baking soda directly on it.

-Don’t Smoke Inside

We don’t recommend smoking period. However, if you do please step outside and dispose your cigarette butts in a safe place.

-Have A Plan

Even if you follow all these tips there is still a chance your home could experience a fire. It’s smart to have an emergency plan in place. If you don’t already one the best time to make one is now. Choose a safe meeting place outside your house. Establish escape routes from every room of your house. Finally make sure everyone in your home knows where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them properly.  

What Causes Mold?

7/25/2023 (Permalink)

Serpvro specializes in mold removal

If you have ever spent any amount of time in a crawlspace odds are you have been in a moldy environment. Crawlspaces are not the only spot in a home where mold can be present, but it is the most common. This is because the conditions in a crawlspace is perfect for mold growth. This blog will focus on those conditions and what you can do to help prevent mold growth.

- Water Intrusion

This is the number one cause of mold. This can come in many different forms. The most common are roof leaks, frozen water pipes, wet foundations, and outside water. Water is the key ingredient for mold growth. its important to make sure all leaks are stopped immediately and the structure is dried out properly.

- High Humidity

Leaks aren't the only cause of mold. High humidity is also a main contributor to mold growth. You really wan to keep your indoor humidity below 60%. If you are having trouble with high humidity you might want look into purchasing a dehumidifier.        

Social Media Links

9/1/2022 (Permalink)

Follow us on social media

Have you visited our social media and web platforms? Here at SERVPRO® of Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson Counties we pride ourselves in the hard work that our TEAM puts in every day. We would love to have you visit our social media and web pages so that you can partake in the fun that we have here! Listed below are the different platforms that we have for SERVPRO® of Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson Counties and the content that you might see on those platforms. See something that interest you? Make sure to like that page so that you can follow us for more awesomeness!

Website- www.cheathamrobertsondicksoncounties

You can find all of our blog articles, customer photos and testimonials as well as a wealth of other information about our TEAM and company that you might not know!

Facebook- @SERVPROCRD

Well……it’s FACEBOOK! You can find a little bit of everything on our Facebook page. We share local information regarding our communities, try to provide severe weather updates when necessary and try to post fun interactive material.

Instagram- @SERVPROcrd

Only the coolest photos and stories that you have EVER seen! Like really. We are pretty awesome, but our Instagram account is WAY cooler than even us!

Twitter- @SERVPROCRD

We share updates of sporting events that we are affiliated with and much more! Come and follow us so that you can find out what all of the chirp is about!

Google- SERVPRO of Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson Counties

Reviews! This is a great place to follow the reviews that are coming in for SERVPRO® of Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson Counties. This also has our street address, phone number and hours (24/7).

BBB- SERVPRO of Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson Counties

Check out our A+ rating on the BBB website for SERVPRO® of Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson Counties!

Emergency Ready Plan

8/23/2022 (Permalink)

Get your free Emergency Ready Plan

Its important to have your business READY. No one ever plans on a disaster, but now, you can prepare for it. The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you are "Ready for whatever happens."

In the event of an emergency, the ERP can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including emergency contacts, shut-off valve locations and priority areas. The ERP also establishes SERVPRO of Cheatham, Robertson & Dickson Counties as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. The ERP is a no-cost assessment; all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save you time and money in the future. By downloading the free SERVPRO Ready App, this information is stored electronically and can be accessed using your mobile device, making help just a few clicks away.

Preparation is the key to making it through any size disaster, whether it is a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. Having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in the building following a disaster. Don't wait until disaster strikes. Call SERVPRO of Cheatham, Robertson & Dickson Counties to establish your Emergency READY Profile, and be "Ready for whatever happens"

Advantages of the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile

• A no-cost assessment of your facility
• A concise profile document containing only the critical information needed in the eveny of an emergency
• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster
• Establishes SERVPRO of Cheatham, Robertson & Dickson Counties as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider
• Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin
• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information

Water Damage In Greenbrier

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

If your home has water damage call the professionals at SERVPRO

Water damage is traumatic, often to homeowners as much as their house. The first time you see the water damage  is a shock; you may not know where to start in repairing it. However, there are steps you can take in the immediate time after a flood, burst pipe, or other damage that will make it easier to repair your home and move on with your life. 

1. Stop the influx of water. You cannot repair water damage while water is still entering your home. If there is a pipe leak or other repair issue, turn off the water supply and have the problem repaired. If the damage is from a storm or flood, use sand bags or other ways of reducing the water. In some cases, people have to wait out the deluge when water damage is caused by a natural disaster. 

2. Call your insurance company. It is important to know from the beginning what types of water damage your insurance company covers, as well as whether they will cover water removal and other services. Even if this is not an incident covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy, your insurance agent can still offer you advice. 

3. Dry out your home. Standing water and wet upholstery can breed dangerous microbes in just 24 hours, so fast water removal is crucial to your future health. Mop or use a wet vac, bag up clothing and textiles, and throw away things like mattresses that hold moisture and cannot easily be cleaned. Open all windows and turn on fans. This will limit the growth of mold and bacteria while also limiting your exposure to whatever microbes are already present. 

4. Call in the experts. Call professional mold inspectors who can look for remaining water in areas where it hides and immediately dry it out.

Water damage can be successfully dealt with if you immediately remove water where you can see it and have an expert deal with it where you can’t. Soon you will be once again enjoying a safe and dry home.

Water Damage Restoration

Basement flooding or storm damage doesn't wait for regular business hours and neither do we. We respond to your residential or commercial water removal and cleanup needs. Our fast response time and advanced drying methods help prevent secondary damage and mold. Common causes of water damage are: 

• Flooding caused by severe weather
• Plumbing leaks
• Sink, bathtub or toilet overflow
• Sewage backup

Storm Damage in Dickson

7/13/2022 (Permalink)

If you have any damage from a storm give SERVPRO a call

Not only are you faced with a frightening event most times, but as soon as the storm fades you are faced with unpleasant and unwanted damage. At SERVPRO of Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson Counties our goal is to make the restoration process as seamless and straightforward as possible. Our teams are equipped with the knowledge and certifications to complete the necessary restoration with as little disruption as possible.

From the moment that we receive the first call regarding storm damage to your home or business to the moment that we arrive on site to meet with the home or business owner and begin the restoration process our focus is on the customer. Our onsite professionals will explain the process and ensure that you are informed throughout the duration.

If you find yourself in need of restoration call the professionals at SERVPRO of Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson Counties. We are always here to help and ensure that your home or business is brought back to its previous condition.

Estimate First

7/8/2022 (Permalink)

Make sure to get an estimate first if your house has a small damage

If your home or business ever experiences a water or fire damage its extremely important to get an estimate before you do anything else. The reason for this is to make sure a claim needs to be filed or not. One of the biggest mistakes you can make after a damage is to immediately file an insurance claim without having a restoration professional give you an estimate.

For example, Mrs. Smith had a small water damage in her bathroom. She immediately filed a claim with her insurance company then began the restoration process. The problem with this is that the job was so small the estimate was less then what she paid for her deductible. Had she called a restoration company first and gotten an estimate she would have never had to file a claim. Not only would she have saved money but she would have no record of filing a claim, which will be in her advantage when its time for renewals.

Obviously, there is a time when an estimate isn't necessary on the front end. If you come home from vacation and you entire house is flooded that would be a situation in which you would want to get the work started as soon as possible. The estimate would definitely for exceed the deductible in that situation. Next time you have a minor damage at your home or business make sure you get an estimate before directly filing a claim!