Tips for Stopping Rain Water Leaks | SERVPRO of Hyde Park/East Bridgeport/Bronzeville

11/21/2023 (Permalink)

Is your home experiencing the damaging effects of water damage? Call SERVPRO of Hyde Park/East Bridgeport/Bronzeville today! We are Here to Help®.

We can experience some serious rainstorms in our community during the majority of the year, which makes water damage one of the most common forms of home damage that we see in the Hyde Park area. While some gentle rainstorms may be calming and relaxing, strong storms that bring heavy rain and high wind can leave behind serious damage in their wake. 

Preventing water damage from even occurring is always the best plan, so preparing ahead of storms is a reliable way to do so. Check out our tips below on how to avoid water damage when the next rainstorm comes to town.

Safeguarding Your Home
Storms can be unpredictable, so you should always start preparing your home as soon as a storm is forecasted. They can take different travel paths or dump heavier rain on unsuspecting communities, so plan ahead and prepare for the worst. 

Go outside and ensure your gutter system is functioning smoothly. Clogged gutters can easily lead to water backups on your roof or rain that pours over the sides of your home and down into your foundation. Clear out any clogs, and point your downspouts away from your home. 

If your home has a sump pump, have it inspected professionally every year to ensure it is working properly and there are no issues that could cause a failure when you need it most. You don’t want to find out that it is not working when the rain has already started falling!

Check on Your Roof

One common place that should be inspected regularly is your roof. Our roofs have the tough job of protecting us from rain, wind and other storm elements, which means that they are the first line of defense and can experience damage faster and more often.

A single gap or missing shingle can easily invite water into your home that will leak down your walls. Grab a ladder and get up on your roof routinely, especially after a strong storm, to check for damage. 

You should also be doing this inspection around your windows and doors. Even the tiniest of leaks can cause serious damage.

How We Can Help Dry Your Home 

Even if you are prepared as much as possible, Mother Nature is unpredictable and you can still wind up with a varying level of water damage. Acting quickly is key to avoiding long-term issues like structural damage and mold growth, so give us a call!

Our team will come out to your home right away to get started on your water extraction. We will remove the visible standing water, but we will also use our thermal cameras to detect hidden moisture behind your walls and under your floors. 

Once your space is completely dry, we will get started on your reconstruction. We will replace your soggy walls, soaked carpet and ruined floors with ease. 

A fast recovery after suffering water damage is essential. Contact SERVPRO of Hyde Park/East Bridgeport/Bronzeville today. 

The Power of Summer Thunderstorms | SERVPRO of Hyde Park/East Bridgeport/Bronzeville

11/21/2023 (Permalink)

When your home is taken by storm (damage), SERVPRO of Hyde Park/East Bridgeport/Bronzeville is Here to Help® fix it. Contact us now!

We may all think we are immune to suffering home damage during a storm, until it actually happens to us. Storms are unpredictable in our community and can cause widespread destruction when a strong storm with heavy rain, high wind and large hail comes to town. 

While not all home damage can be prevented when a serious storm is predicted, knowing what to do in the aftermath can help you stay safer while taking control of your situation. Read on to learn more.

Once the Storm Passes

Once the thunder begins fading away and it gets lighter outside, you may want to immediately jump up and head outside to check out the damage. However, don’t be too quick to leave your safe shelter location. 

Some storms come in waves and another intense cell may be on the horizon. Keep your weather radio turned on, and bring your phone with you so you can be alerted to any changing conditions. 

If any family members were not home when the storm arrived, now is the time to reach out to them to ensure their safety. Do this with your neighbors as well, especially for anyone that lives alone. 

Once everyone has been deemed safe, now is the time to survey your house. Move slowly about your property and understand that serious structural damage can make your home dangerous to be in, so assess the situation and get out quickly if you need to. Get us on the phone right away so we can help!

Tips for While You Wait 

Our team is locally owned and operated, which means we will jump right into action to help you recover as soon as you call us. We watch the same forecasts and witness the same weather as you, so we will be ready for your call. 

Once we make our initial contact and create our plan, we will be on our way to you. However, there are some things you can do in the meantime to mitigate further damage. Lay tarps over your possessions if your home has been exposed to the elements, and consider moving any important keepsakes to another room entirely. 

We will take over as soon as we arrive. We will remove standing water, damaged debris and hidden moisture, and we will also tackle repairs. We can handle anything from a minor water leak to serious roof damage if a tree fell on your home. No matter the situation, our team will help you recover as quickly as possible.

Storms can be intense at this time of year. Call SERVPRO of Hyde Park/East Bridgeport/Bronzeville day or night.

Avoid Cooking Up Flames in your Chicago Kitchen | SERVPRO of Hyde Park/E. Bridgeport/Bronzeville

6/22/2023 (Permalink)

Has your kitchen been impacted by a fire? Call SERVPRO of Hyde Park/E. Bridgeport/Bronzeville to help restore your space!

Whether you own or rent your home, the hazard of fire is just the same. Flames can spark in any room in the home, but the kitchen is an area you should be extra mindful of.

No matter where flames spark, being aware of hazards and taking precautions to prevent disaster is the key to keeping your Chicago home safe. The kitchen has many obvious dangers you can be mindful of to ensure calamity doesn’t occur when you are cooking up a storm.

Avoid igniting flames as you cook by keeping these tips in mind as you work to fireproof your Chicago kitchen:

Cleaning Up Flood Damage in Chicago Homes and Businesses

5/24/2023 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes SERVPRO of Chicago is here to help. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Water Mitigation and Flood Cleanup Services 

With the Windy City sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan, the municipality is no stranger to the destructive hand of nature. Rising waters from the Chicago and Calumet Rivers impact homes and businesses throughout the city, especially when the area exceeds expected rainfall totals of nearly 40 inches. SERVPRO moves fast during a disaster to protect the properties that make Chicago one of the most highly visited places in the country, with more than 58 million visitors to the metropolis annually.

Flood damage in Chicago is among the more common threats that homes and businesses might face, making the fast response of our restoration professionals critical. Massive structures get overwhelmed by intruding water, and the time-sensitive nature of recovery makes our prompt arrival an essential factor in the successful cleanup. Locations like Soldier Field, where the Bears play, and Wrigley Field, the venue of the Chicago Cubs, require prompt cleanup to maintain their tight availability windows.

Managing Water Removal Needs 

Water removal is the first step in flood recovery, which can also be vitally essential to lessen the impact of these disasters. While mitigation begins, learn about Chicago’s unique history with the mafia on the Gangsters, Ghosts, and Chicago Pizza tour. Northwestern University, the United Center, and even the historic Chicago Theatre will all require similar recovery tools to clear any standing surface water and potential contaminants, such as:

• Pumps
• Vacuums
• Weighted Extractors

Chicago homes and businesses face many threats in a city of nearly three million people. Whether it is the lake effect snow coming in from Lake Michigan or unexpected disasters threatening Sears Tower and the Art Institute, our team is ready to help. When flooding impacts homes or businesses, call SERVPRO of Hyde Park / Bridgeport / Bronzeville to help at (312) 509-5000.

Immediate Response Counts When You Need Water Damage Mitigation Services in Chicago

5/15/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO offers plenty of air movers to mitigate your water damaged Chicago property. "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Offers Reliable Water Damage Cleanup Solutions in Chicago

Professional water damage mitigation services can make a property owner feel better amid the panic of such incidents. Since emergencies are unpredictable, you must call restoration experts immediately if things get out of hand. If you delay, more damage will likely occur since the water might keep moving to drier areas and cause additional damage that might have been prevented by seeking immediate help.

When our SERVPRO technicians attend to water removal incidents in Chicago, we inspect the property and share the results with the customer. With the help of the findings, we can formulate steps to dry your property safely. Determining the sources of the water and whether it has been stopped is among the first things we perform.

Other important steps you should expect us to perform at the site include the following:

• Take photographs of the damaged areas
• Document restorable and unsalvageable contents
• Use moisture detection tools to find out whether areas are dry
• Find a way of preventing possible hazards such as electrocution and falls.

Our SERVPRO team determines whether the occupants can continue their normal operations as the water damage remediation continues. We can also ventilate the area or put containment measures in place if necessary. If the cost of restoring items is higher than what can be spent on replacing them, we advise our clients accordingly.

Based on the results we got from our assessment, we can recommend in-house drying. The procedure is usually suitable when the damage is not extreme, and the structure has enough space to set up specialized equipment like air movers and dehumidifiers. When we opt for in-house drying, we must let the owner know the restoration work duration.

At SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville, We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. Call (312) 509-5000 when you need to work with a reliable water damage company that offers urgent restoration services anytime.

Long-Term Mold Remediation for Chicago Homes

4/15/2023 (Permalink)

What! You found mold under your bathroom sink!! SERVPRO provides rapid mold remediation for our Chicago neighbors.

Helpful Mold Remediation Solutions

The discovery of mold in your home might prompt you to contact remediation professionals and get the cleanup started quickly. Our comprehensive service ensures this remediation is thorough, including long-term solutions for preventing recurrences and protecting the structure.

Where Is Mold Likely to Be?

Despite the effective mold remediation for Chicago properties we provide, the first obstacle in restoring your home is locating the full scope of microbial growth. What you see on the surface is rarely the full extent of the damage, making a thorough assessment and inspection Vital in learning the measure of removal and remediation services required. Areas likely to be impacted by mold growth include:

• Bathroom – The bathroom has many plumbing lines and drains for direct water damage, while this room might also be a victim of poor ventilation.
• Basement – Many area homes already deal with consistently wet basements from bad drainage or groundwater infiltration. Damp basements can make many surfaces favorable for mold growth.
  
• Kitchen – With steam and many water lines converging in the kitchen, moisture is a consistent threat. Surface mold can easily indicate growth beyond what you can see with so much plumbing hidden in the walls.

Post-Mold Repair Solutions

Removing the active mold is rarely enough to resolve its impact on your home. Our general contractor license allows us to complete needed build-back services to overcome controlled demolition and required repairs following mold deterioration. We can assess impacted materials for their salvage ability early in the remediation process to know where these remodeling needs might exist.

The possibility of mold growth in your home should not be ignored. We offer effective remediation solutions that can address active mold organisms compromising rooms in your home. SERVPRO of Hyde Park / Bridgeport / Bronzeville can help wherever mold forms. Call us at (312) 509-5000.

Mold Damage Cleanup by Skilled Technicians in Chicago

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

When mold damage occurs in your Chicago home, contact SERVPRO for fast results.

Learn Why SERVPRO Is Best in Chicago for All Mold Damage Restorations

There are a lot of common myths, misunderstandings, and confusion regarding black mold development and best practices for cleaning. You should never trust any company claiming they can complete mold removal at your Chicago property because mold ‘removal’ is impossible. There is a lot about mold that calls for specialized care and cleanup to ensure you and your family are safe throughout – this is where SERVPRO comes in.

With proven methods and a highly-trained team ready to address mold damage in Chicago, we can freshen your interior and allow you to enjoy your home again. But why call professionals? We can explain!

What Everyone Should Know About Mold Damage and Remediation

There are not only hundreds of kinds of mold, but microscopic mold spores are all around us, indoors and outdoors. These tiny mold spores travel through the air and come into our homes and businesses through the HVAC system, windows, and on people or pets. These are some helpful things to remember when you are curious about mold:

• Mold thrives on moisture and begins colonizing fast when given the right environment. If you have a moisture problem or poor ventilation, you could have mold festering under cabinets, behind furnishings, and cracks around your tubs and showers.
• Are you noticing a strong, musty odor but not sure where it is coming from? This is usually a telltale sign that mold is present, and you should have someone come in for a full inspection.
• Before starting any mold remediation, our SERVPRO crew will address any known water or moisture problem to fix it. Failing to do so before mold cleanup begins leaves the possibility that the mold issue will come back.

Can SERVPRO Handle a Large-scale Commercial Mold Restoration Project?

SERVPRO is locally-owned and operated with extensive warehouse facilities that house an immense inventory of tools and equipment. Once you make initial contact with our customer care team, we gather information on your project to help determine the scope. From there, we mobilize our team to load up our Green Fleet with all the best equipment for the job and head to your door so that we can begin the assessment.

• Infrared cameras allow us to identify areas where moisture is hidden from the naked eye.
• Professional moisture detectors, meters, sensors, and hygrometers allow us to measure moisture saturation.
• Industrial-grade dehumidifiers help us to pull water vapors from the air
• Air scrubbers with onboard HEPA filtration allow us to pull out particulates from the air.
• Specialized vacuums help pull up and trap mold spores while keeping them from dispersing into the air.

What You Can Do Before We Arrive

We get ready and get to your door within a few hours of your call so we can get started. Until then, we suggest you:

• Stay clear of any areas with suspected mold growth
• Shut off any fans and your HVAC system
• Never spray or wipe any visible mold on any surfaces
• Do not attempt drying the area yourself

With any mold remediation, odor control is paramount. SERVPRO’s Odor Control Technicians (OCT) work to eliminate odors using the best products for deodorizing and sanitizing. This includes EPA-registered antimicrobials, odor counteractant beads, thermal fogging equipment, etc. We never mask odors with sprays, and everything is left clean with surfaces sanitized – Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned!

Mold damage is not a do-it-yourself project. Contacting SERVPRO of Hyde Park/E. Bridgeport/Bronzeville gets you the detailed restoration you deserve. Call us at (312) 509-5000!

Water Damage Mitigation and Restoration 24/7 in Chicago

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

If you experience water damage in your Chicago home, call on the professionals at SERVPRO to help.

SERVPRO Acts Fast in Chicago to Address Your Water Damage Needs

Whether you own a home or run a business, you need to know that the faster you act to have a water emergency cleaned up, the better your chances are of total recovery. SERVPRO is available 24-hours a day, including nights and weekends, to address the water cleanup needs for Chicago area residences and businesses. Whether you are dealing with burst pipes connected to your second-floor bathroom or storm flooding is coming into your main living area, we have the scalability to address your needs. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster!

Did you know that water mitigation is imperative for any call we receive to address water damage in Chicago? With proper mitigation, our IICRC-certified water restoration technicians (WRT) can limit property loss after you have a water-related emergency. We can be there within hours of your initial contact with our customer care center to begin:

• Assessment/inspection
• Water removal services
• Drying and dehumidification
• Cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing
• Controlled demolition/restoration (as needed)

Water damage from hidden leaks can also bring several issues within any structure. Depending on the cause, water stains could develop on walls and ceilings. Another tell-tale sign of a slow leak within your home or business could be foul, musty odors. If you notice any water issues, it is best to contact our team to begin inspection and cleanup!

We Take a Customized Approach to All Water Damage Restoration Calls

Each water emergency is unique, from the cause and location to other factors like interior layout, materials impacted, relative humidity, and more. Our IICRC certified technicians have been through ample training. We take the time to note the cause of the problem, the extent of water infiltration, and overall severity before we even begin. In most water clean-up calls, we will use extraction and drying techniques in tandem to help us reach our goals. 

Many different variables are involved that determine the drying rate for all contents and materials. We consider some of the factors will be the type of material, interior temperatures, and any existing air currents. Should there be damp air within your building, it could also slow down the water removal process. These important areas can be addressed with simple tweaking to the equipment we used to create optimal drying conditions. Some of our most-used equipment on water restoration projects includes:

• Powerful gas-powered or submersible pumps
• Truck-mounted extractors
• Carpet wands
• Rovers (weighted extractors
• Axial fans
• Centrifugal air movers
• Desiccant dehumidifiers

Hidden Moisture is No Match for SERVPRO

Water is known to travel to dry spaces while following the path of least resistance. With any significant spill or flooding, following the migration is key to ensuring no hidden moisture lingers. Any hidden moisture pockets could lead to mold and mildew growth, but there is also the possibility of costly secondary damage. We can locate moisture that might have gotten trapped behind walls, under flooring, and other enclosed areas with the help of moisture sensors, thermal imaging technology, and moisture meters. 

Should there be substantial water behind walls, our technicians may use boreholes to create drains. The next step would be forcing warm, dry air inside to help facilitate the venting and dehumidifying process. For any materials that seem to have excess moisture, a drying chamber may be used to create a better environment conducive to our drying goals. 

SERVPRO of Hyde Park/E. Bridgeport/Bronzeville is there to help whenever you require reliable water damage assistance. You can reach us for emergency service by dialing (312) 509-5000.

Fire Damage Assistance When You Need It in Chicago

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

We want to help you erase some of the memories of fire damage in your Chicago home. Call us today.

SERVPRO Helps Chicago Properties Owners 24/7 with Fire Damage Restoration

If you have a small blaze in your Chicago home or business, it might be tempting to go the DIY route yourself or utilize your janitorial staff. However, many pitfalls come with handling fire cleanup on your own. The last thing you need is an increased interruption, enhanced secondary damage, and the potential for immense costs to fix what goes wrong. SERVPRO wants all area customers, commercial and residential, to know that working with skilled technicians ensures high-quality, long-lasting results for any fire-related emergency. 

SERVPRO is here around-the-clock with proven fire damage techniques in Chicago. We can handle all restorations, including any water and moisture left from first responders dousing the flames. Our efforts come together to ensure we can bring your property back to life “Like it never even happened.”

Not only does DIY take longer if you are unsure of where to begin and how to address every issue, but you will also see that the results will be lacking. IICRC-certified cleaning and restoration cuts back on your fire damage claim costs and drastically cuts down on time to get your life back to normal. Additionally, our restore versus replace mindset helps you recover items that you may otherwise deem a loss when approaching house fire cleanup with DIY methods alone. 

What Happens After the Fire has Been Extinguished?

We are here at SERVPRO 24-hours a day, seven days a week, for all fire and water restorations to give you added peace of mind after an emergency. Our crew arrives to handle all debris, and airborne threats throughout your property are too tricky to address with DIY methods alone. The crew chief assigned to our team inspects and assesses all damage to determine the right processes and equipment to use and identify any unique challenges.

Do not enter your property unless first responders deem it safe until we arrive. Keep in mind that any foot traffic leads to tracking of soot and soiling throughout the property, including areas unaffected by the fire. 

It is never good to clean anything before our fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT). Letting our skilled and experienced team handle everything is better because:

• We wear all the proper personal protection equipment (PPE) due to any toxic residues and debris left after a fire.
• Our crew thoroughly assesses your structure to ensure safety and stability, including flooring, walls, and ceilings.
• All cleaning measures and products used depends on materials burned or saturated. We consider composition and fire/heat impact on everything before we begin.
• Any moisture inside the building gets addressed with the help of our extraction tools and drying equipment. 

All Fire Restorations Involve a Multi-faceted Approach

No two fire cleanup projects are the same, which is where our perfected techniques come in extremely handy. We combine each method to create a tailored plan to restore your home or business to pre-fire condition, including contents and inventory. Some of the techniques may include:

• Agitation uses movement, cleaning solutions, or both to loosen soils and wash them away. Options include rotating brushes, air or water pressure, scrubbing, sandblasting, and wiping.
• Chemical action with cleaning solutions using the ‘like dissolves like’ mentality. Water-based soils get water-based solutions, and so on.
• Suspension and dispersion to loosen soils on items deemed safe to get submerged in water/cleaning solutions. 

SERVPRO of Hyde Park/E. Bridgeport/Bronzeville is here whenever you require professional fire damage cleanup and restoration. Call our customer care team and dispatch a crew to your door by dialing (312) 509-5000.

Chicago Fire Damage Restoration Cleans Interior Surfaces and Air

3/26/2023 (Permalink)

Has your home suffered from a recent fire? Contact SERVPRO for the certified technicians and tools and equipment to handle the cleanup.

Cutting-Edge Fire Damage Restoration in Chicago

Cleaning up and restoring fire-damaged properties in Chicago involves removing both residues from household surfaces and smoke particles from interior air. Of course, these essential efforts require the proper training and equipment to do the job right the first time. Fortunately, for local residents, there is an extensively-trained team of experts in our city that have everything it takes to deal with even the worst fire-related damage.

For over a decade, SERVPRO has been doing fire damage restoration work for Chicago homeowners. We have provided them with complete fire restoration services, including skilled house fire clean up, smoke remediation, and fire and smoke damage repairs. In performing their work, company technicians have successfully: 

• Disposed of unsalvageable contents and materials that have been irreparably fouled by residual, fire-related substances
• Removed harmful acidic residues from household furnishings and surfaces using innovative, wet, dry, and abrasive methods
• Used high-velocity box fans and air movers to remove smoke particles from indoor air 
• Cleansed the air further by employing state-of-the-art ozone machines and air scrubbers
• Minimized the spread of smoke particles from contaminated areas to unaffected spaces by sanitizing air ductwork with HVAC cleaning systems
• Eliminated persistent unpleasant, fire damage-related smells by thoroughly fogging impacted homes and treating affected materials with powerful, industrial-grade deodorants 

These measures help limit additional damage to your household interiors and contents, restore your home’s air quality, and ultimately return your property to its pre-fire state. In fact, our efforts are often so effective that it might even be difficult to imagine that your residence ever experienced a fire event.

As your dedicated neighbors, SERVPRO of Hyde Park/E. Bridgeport/Bronzeville wants you to know that we are always ready to serve you. So, if you ever need any fire damage restoration work done on your home, remember us. Contact us at (312) 509-5000 whenever you need our help.