Call SERVPRO for rapid water removal to mitigate the damage. For our Mount Vernon neighbors, We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
Your Floors Need Timely Water Restoration Services
SERVPRO works with families in Mount Vernon by using time-tested water restoration techniques. No matter where a water leak happens inside your residence, the floor in the immediate area can get completely soaked.
Slow leaks and sudden gushers are both bad news for your property, but the ability of a slow leak to sneak up on you can mean increased water damage to your home in Mount Vernon. Our targeted water restoration methods help save our customers money, time, and aggravation while eliminating the damaged areas inside their dwellings.
We must work quickly to restore the floors inside your house after being saturated with water. Here are some types of damage you might discover and how our restoration technicians handle such situations:
Rippling of carpeting,
Deteriorating underlay, and
Warping of wood floors.
Ripples in your carpeted floors can lead to trip and fall injuries and other unwanted situations. Waviness and unevenness in the carpet's surface occur because damp carpeting stretches more easily than dry carpeting.
Deterioration because water is soaking into the underlay can cause soft spots to develop. Normal shifting within your home's framework can tear open this now-weakened area. Small holes provide vermin new access points to your home's interior from crawlspaces. Insulation and wiring can also become exposed. Softened areas in front of cabinets can slowly let the weight of the unit collapse further, increasing restoration costs.
When water invades an area with wood flooring, some types are more fragile than others. Traditional wooden planks fare the best, while the glue within wooden parquet flooring rapidly disintegrates and leaves a puzzle-like mess. This second type of damage is rarely restorable and instead requires new flooring. Traditional wood flooring needs little restoration work beyond minor sanding and refinishing.
You can reach SERVPRO of Skagit and Island Counties at (360) 873-8744 when you need restoration services that protect your home.
SERVPRO Is Mount Vernon’s Expert Fire Damage Restoration Firm
When fire damage affects your home, it’s time to bring in certified technicians who have the training and access to equipment to get the job done.
Excellent Fire Damage Restoration in Mount Vernon
Knowing what to do is half the battle when completing fire damage remediation projects in Mount Vernon. Understanding what factors determine the speed and effectiveness of cleanup efforts is crucial. Of course, employing the best restoration procedures is also essential to doing quality work. Fortunately, SERVPRO has the requisite knowledge to get your job done right.
With several years of experience performing fire damage restoration work in Mount Vernon, SERVPRO can often help you recover from a fire-related event more quickly than other local firms. Our professional fire damage restoration crews routinely complete extensive house fire clean up projects, remediate even the worst smoke damage, and deal with every aspect of the fire restoration process. One of the key parts of this process is fire residue cleanup. In order to do this step most effectively, SERVPRO technicians:
Determine which chemical reactions, like bleaching or dissolution, are best for each situation
Use heat to speed up the necessary reactions involved in residue removal efforts
Dislodge residue particles quickly with various kinds of agitation
Take the requisite time to clean and deodorize impacted materials and spaces
The specific ways we perform these actions are:
Examining your home, beginning where the fire started and moving toward the furthest reaches of the damage, to determine what has been impacted and the severity of impact
Classifying fire-related deposits and affected surfaces to determine the best cleaning methods to employ
Removing fire residues from materials with innovative, abrasive, wet, or dry methods
Thoroughly treating and deodorizing surfaces with foggers and injection devices for the necessary amount of time
Professionally disposing of residential blaze-related debris in government and industry-approved ways
With this in mind, remember that SERVPRO of Skagit and Island Counties is always here whenever you need fire damage restoration work done on your residence. Call us anytime at (360) 873-8744 for fast and effective assistance.
SERVPRO Offers Premier Mold Removal in Mount Vernon
Dealing with mold by yourself can be quite overwhelming. Contact SERVPRO to help you during this difficult time. Our technicians are standing by 24/7.
Mold Removal Is Safe and Effective in Mount Vernon Homes with SERVPRO
Spotting mold growing in a damp, dark part of your home is a sign that you need professionals to get things under control. If mold removal from your Mount Vernon home does not happen fast, the contamination can spread extensively, making it harder to contain and restore.
SERVPRO techs use IICRC S520 guidelines during mold removal from your Vernon home to ensure that the process is safe, effective, and quick. We use scientific and proven methods during restorative cleaning to get the mold levels back to preloss condition.
Cleaning Methods Used by Mold Specialists
Rather than relying on a single cleaning method, SERVPRO techs use the best methods for a given situation. Techs analyze the material involved, extent, and location of mold before deciding on any cleaning method. In many cases, SERVPRO restorers often use a combination of these methods to improve the efficiency of the process.
The most commonly used mold cleaning methods include the following-
Air-based methods:HEPA-vacuuming and air-washing are air-based methods to clean mold damage. As there is a high potential for aerosolization of the contamination, SERVPRO techs use strict engineering controls when using this method.
Liquid-based methods: Rely on the cleansing property of water containing a detergent cleaner with a physical or mechanical cleaning process to dislodge the fungal contamination.
Abrasive methods: Sanding, scraping, and abrasive media blasting fall under this category. SERVPRO techs are extremely cautious when using this method, as it can aerosolize the contamination.
Controlled Demolition
In some situations, SERVPRO techs might need controlled demolition to expose hidden contamination, especially behind walls. Whenever deemed necessary, we always brief the customer about the benefits and risks of the process so they can make an informed decision.
SERVPRO provides top-quality storm damage restoration services. We are ready at a moment's notice.
Water Damage Restoration After Flooding
Basements can be a typical place to see storm and flood damage. Water restoration services focus on mitigative strategies to remove standing water and protect contents.
Clearing Deep Floodwater
Basements can be one of the most heavily impacted areas of a house for flood damage, so water damage restoration for Mount Vernon properties must begin fast when these disasters occur. Before many other mitigative strategies can begin, SERVPRO must remove surface water with the largest extractors in our inventory, like truck-mount pumps and trash pump units capable of handling water with debris.
Removing Water with Light Extraction Tools
Deep extraction might be the priority, but that can only be successful in taking water damage to roughly two inches of pooling. Beyond this point, less powerful and continually primed units like wet vacuums and light wands must take over the process. This extraction phase is decisively slower but offers restoration professionals more control over where this extraction occurs and areas requiring more attention.
Moisture Damage Discovery and Drying
Standing water is not the full measure of the threat to your basement after floodwater infiltrates this house level. We must also determine what materials have become impacted by migrating moisture. If contamination is a concern, porous elements in contact with the moving water must be removed and replaced. Damp features can also be tracked and dried using a combination of tools like:
While it can be enough of a process to remove standing surface water and dry or remove impacted materials, we must also focus on water removal for the environment. Lingering moisture is sure to facilitate mold growth after flooding, so we must work to limit excessive moisture damage by using dehumidifiers, heaters, and hygrometers.
Water damage restoration is critical after flooding. There is an urgency to clear floodwater before greater harm results from exposures and contaminants. We utilize multiple tools and approaches to regulating this threat. Give SERVPRO of Skagit and Island Counties team a call today at (360) 873-8744.
Water Removal by Our Large Loss Team in Mount Vernon
Don’t let your property be a victim of water damage, SERVPRO of Skagit and Island Counties is only a call away.
Providing Various Water Removal in Offices
Water can impact a business like office space in several ways, requiring several types of removal and moisture management needs. When the Large Loss SERVPRO team responds to emergencies, we work quickly to tackle these extraction and water removal expectations like:
Pooling surface water
Trapped moisture
Humidity
Mounted Extractor Units
When many consider the direct means of water removal for Mount Vernon offices and shops, the elimination of surface pooling is one of the earliest obstacles. Little can be done to restore or recover a structure until the responding professionals have addressed its standing water concerns. Whether flooding or burst pipes, one of the most effective means of removing pooling water in the building is with a truck-mount extractor. These are ideal for water damage over several inches, and the units supply the most powerful production of any extractor in our inventory.
Trailered Generators
Generators are an important part of the water removal process as well. Nearly all of the equipment needed for moisture management in a structure runs on electricity, which might not be readily available after a significant disaster. Our trailered generator provides portable power supplied through several spider boxes in convenient locations for ample temporary power solutions.
Large-Scale Humidity Management
Humidity is another concern for the office, especially considering the likelihood of mold and microbial development without moisture regulation. Because of the magnitude of the humid area to be addressed and manipulated, large-scale dehumidification is necessary. We have trailered desiccant dehumidifiers to manage humidity in multiple spaces in the office simultaneously and to exhaust dry, warm air back into the structure through quick-connect hosing.
Understanding the necessary equipment used by our Large Loss team for water removal in Mount Vernon office buildings can help you appreciate our trusted team when disasters strike. Give our SERVPRO of Skagit and Island Counties team a call today at (360) 873-8744.
I Just Discovered Water Damage in My Burlington Property. Which Water Restoration Company Can Help?
After a water loss, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 to restore your property to its preloss state.
Contact SERVPRO Restorers in Burlington to Handle the Water Damage in Your Residence
When you notice a broken pipe in the kitchen, fixing it yourself or ignoring it can be tempting. However, the water can slowly sip into various surfaces causing mold growth and severe damage to the structure. Therefore, acting fast by engaging with certified restoration experts in Burlington, like SERVPRO technicians, is essential to save your property.
Are You Experienced in Water Damage Repair?
Our team can use approved and the most advanced equipment to handle the water damage in your Burlington residence. We are among the water restoration companies that have been in business for decades. We have seen and fixed every kind of water damage imaginable during this period. The common causes of water damage we come across in homes include:
Faulty water heaters
Sump pump failure
Leaking appliances
Plumbing problems
What Does Your Water Damage Restoration Process Involve?
Our team can take several steps to restore your home, depending on the severity of the water damage. Some of the things we do when restoring water damaged homes include:
Mold Cleanup and Prevention
We begin the mold cleanup procedure by locating any leaking pipes, which could encourage more mold growth. Our technicians also check areas with poor ventilation to avoid condensation, which can lead to mold growth. We can examine the areas close to your windows and doors to ensure efficient ventilation.
Dehumidification
This is where we dry mold-causing moisture in the affected property. Our technicians can identify the source of water damage by using sophisticated equipment. For instance, we can use a thermal imagining camera to create a moisture map. This can help us to determine the best tailor-made drying strategy to ensure efficiency. We can use conventional refrigerants alongside fans to increase the airflow in the affected property. The equipment increases the evaporation rate in the affected items and the structure, enhancing the drying process.
Deodorization
Odors can persist even after cleaning and drying your property effectively. However, we can use odor removal products to combat the odors and get fresh air into your property. Our SERVPRO technicians can use a photocatalytic oxidizer to do away with the smells. The equipment shines ultraviolet rays on surfaces and produces hydroxyl radicals. It oxidizes and breaks down odors into carbon dioxide, leaving your property with fresh air.
After a water loss, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 to restore your property to its preloss state. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.
Our Experts Will Restore Your Fire and Smoke Odor Damaged Home in Mount Vernon
Reclaiming Your Home from Fire and Smoke Odor Damage in Mount Vernon
Cooking brings many in Mount Vernon great pleasure – seeing family and friends enjoy a home-cooked meal and time together. Our hectic lives can leave us less able to multi-task in our home's more relaxed atmosphere, leading to accidents in the kitchen. Grease fires only take a few seconds to get out of hand, so quick thinking and a handy lid can make a huge difference in how badly your home suffers.
Your home's entire interior in Mount Vernon can smell of fire and smoke odors no matter how many candles you burn, cans of air freshener you use, or hours spent airing out the house. Calling SERVPRO gets things placed in the right direction. We can perform mitigation that corrects fire damage and the odors continually overpowering your nose.
Odors do not appear out of anything. The scents you smell come from airborne molecules that break away from larger particles. This is why fire generally produces the same type of odor, although different things have slightly different smells when they burn. While we clean items up using various methods, these all accomplish the same: ridding your home of these smoke and soot particles.
Cleaning with soap and water might seem correct when the soot feels greasy like it does with cooking or grease fires. However, special cleaning agents immediately provide a much better result, including a fresh scent. Some surfaces hold more soot than others. These places often remain cooler than other areas, and smoke fills such areas more densely.
Getting things cleaned up and soot-free must happen before our Odor Control Technician (OCT) can start fogging and neutralizing the odors. Afterward, the particles that caused odors and possible health effects remain where they may have hidden during the fire. This happens at the microscopic level because the fogging binds these particles and makes them much heavier.
SERVPRO of Skagit County is always near homes in Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, and La Conner. Smokey odors and the physical damage caused by fire need mitigation as soon as possible to protect your property. Call us at (360) 873-8744, 24/7, 365 days a year.
We Are the Right Choice For Your Mount Vernon Water Damage Restoration
We are available 24/7 and understand that being able to get equipment on-site to begin the drying or cleaning process is crucial.
Water Damage Left a Funky Smell in My Home
Sometimes we forget just how beautiful Mount Vernon is. Our lush landscape and proximity to nature make the air feel crisp and clean. As homeowners, we are lucky to invite that sense of purity and cleanliness into our homes and lives. However, every so often, accidents happen in our homes and leave behind consequences that tarnish the wholesomeness of the environment around us. For example, when plumbing issues cause water to seep into carpets or upholstery, you may find an odd smell lingering in your home well after water extraction.
Our professional SERVPRO crew mitigates water damage to your Mount Vernon home. Our technicians prepare to tackle jobs of all sizes, including water restoration and deodorization. As much as store-bought air fresheners promise to eliminate any unwanted scents, it takes a professional team to neutralize the odor instead of merely masking it. By calling our 24/7 hotline, you can access a wide array of deodorizing methods suitable for eliminating the smell.
At SERVPRO, we pay close attention to the chemical composition of the smell in your home.
We may use water-based solutions for some smells, while others might opt for a solvent-based deodorizer. It depends on the smell we are trying to counteract and its severity. Aside from the solutions we apply to the surfaces of your home, you might see us employ industry-grade filtration devices and air movers. These tools encourage air circulation to complete our deodorizing efforts. In some instances, we may choose to deodorize your home by vaporizing deodorizing agents and applying them with a thermal fogger. One of the advantages of using a fogger is the penetration of the agent into crevices within your home.
Handling the smell left in your home after water damage does not need to be overwhelming. Our SERVPRO of Skagit County team is ready to guide you through the pros and cons of each deodorizing option. Call (360) 873-8744 and let our team work to leave your home “Like it never even happened.”
Proper Management of Water Removal Process in Mount Vernon
Water loss incidents can happen anytime, whether caused by extreme weather or human error. When such incidents happen in Mount Vernon, you have to find a way to remove the surface water and dry any wet contents or building materials. Professional restoration by SERVPRO helps deal with the problems that arise in many ways.
Instant Response
Water removal processes in Mount Vernon should start immediately after the spill is discovered. Every minute that passes increases the damages to the property. SERVPRO ensures quick response by having customer service on call 24/7. Apart from dispatching the restoration crew immediately, the support staff also gives valuable tips that you can use to stop or minimize damages. For example, you can use towels to mop vulnerable surfaces such as wooden floors to lessen the chances of permanent damage such as cupping or buckling.
Assorted Equipment
Water removal is rarely a smooth process. The spilled water might reach hidden sections of the property or affect a wide range of materials making the removal process challenging. One way to deal with all these challenges is having a variety of equipment to handle specific tasks. Our SERVPRO crews have access to various equipment, including portable and truck-mounted water extractors, different types of pumps, including submersible ones, and specialized equipment such as the injectidry system, which remove water from cavities.
Understanding of What Happens After a Water Spill
Water spills may happen at once, but the resulting damage occurs in stages. A clear understanding of these processes helps ensure the response is appropriately structured to address any issue. For instance, microbial growth, which results in mold, can happen after a water spill. However, there is a window of 48 hours before the processes start. This period of time differs from an issue like staining, which happens almost immediately after the water spill occurs. Our technicians rely on their training to schedule the removal properly, preventing these problems.
When correctly done, water removal should help prevent severe outcomes after a water spill. Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 to help address any issue sparked by the incident, “Like it never even happened."
Dealing with excess moisture for too long can turn your home into a mold infestation scene. Call SERVPRO to assess and remediate the damage.
Mold Spreads can Spread Quickly Through a Mount Vernon Home When Left Unattended
Humidity creates a friendly environment for mold to grow and spread throughout a home, which is why homeowners must be vigilant of any shifts in humidity levels. Aside from the potential threat mold poses to human health, it also spreads quickly when left unresolved. For a safe and efficient mold removal process, call a professional to take care of it.
In Mount Vernon, professional mold removal is available by calling SERVPRO at our 24/7 hotline or mobile app. Our staff is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to handle mold and the humidity that allows it to grow. As experts in our field, we understand that controlling the source of the issue is crucial to addressing mold damage. Some steps we take in the course of our work include:
Detecting mold colonies by inspecting your whole home
Applying EPA-approved cleaning and anti-microbial solutions to prevent accelerated growth
Discarding moldy items as appropriate
Coordinating repairs necessary to control the source of excess moisture
SERVPRO of Skagit County provides the best restoration services. Call us at (360) 873-8744 and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”
How Can Trapped Water Get Lifted from Carpets in Mount Vernon Homes?
Wet carpet can be saved if you act fast. Call SERVPRO to assess the situation and start the drying process. We have the certifications for the job.
SERVPRO Technicians Have Multiple Tools for Carpet Water Removal in Mount Vernon Residences
Carpeting can be difficult for restorers to dry and clean after water damages like burst pipes or ceiling leaks. Water removal tools and extraction devices can help to lift trapped moisture in these surfaces before irreparable harm occurs and causes a greater expense to the customer.
Thorough Inspections of the Flooring
Before water removal in Mount Vernon homes can begin, the condition of the flooring materials affected must be established through thorough inspections. Our production manager can uninstall carpets from their tack strip at the baseboards to inspect that delamination and degradation have not set in for the material. These conditions would require the removal and replacement of the moist carpets.
Tools for Extraction of Trapped Water
Carpeting is notorious for holding water and being a difficult flooring material for extraction and restoration. Because of its fibers and porous composition, water can become easily trapped through every layer of a carpeted floor, requiring multiple extraction devices to remove. As leading water restoration technicians, our SERVPRO team arrive with tools to help like:
Because carpeting can be such a magnet for water and flooding damage, it is one of the initial target points for our mitigation strategies. Our SERVPRO of Skagit County team is ready to help 24/7 at (360) 873-8744.
Flood Damage in Mount Vernon Necessitates Professional Help
Flooded basements can cause structural damage to your home. Call SERVPRO for effective water removal and drying efforts. Our technicians are here.
How SERVPRO Handles Storm Flooding in Mount Vernon
The flood damage a storm leaves behind can be rapid and long-lasting, mainly for the basement and other low-lying areas. It is wise to contact professionals who can complete the restoration job perfectly and efficiently.
SERVPRO is a good choice when you need to handle storm flood damage in your Mount Vernon home. We have the latest water restoration equipment and products to complete the job well. We can restore your residence after storm flood damage of any magnitude. Our flood damage repair services include:
Inspection – We can visually inspect your home to assess the damage. Our team can also use non-penetrative moisture meters to determine the areas in your house that have elevated moisture levels, even the hidden spots.
Water removal – We can use industrial-grade pumps to remove the water. Suppose the stagnant water in your home is two or more inches deep and does not contain solid materials. In that case, our SERVPRO team can use submersible pumps with adequate volume capacity and lift capability to remove it.
Thorough drying and dehumidification – We can dry your house using air moving and dehumidifying equipment.
Hardwood floor repair – Our SERVPRO technicians can act quickly to remove water from your hardwood floor to prevent staining and warping. We can fully repair the flooring.
Drywall water damage repair – We can repair or remove soaked drywall to leave your home with a structurally sound new wall.
Sewage cleanup – A sewage leak spreads bacteria. SERVPRO’s well-trained personnel can clean it up quickly and safely. We can dispose of the sewage in compliance with the highest safety standards and decontaminate the affected areas thoroughly.
Deodorization techniques that can fit your specific case. We can use different products and equipment like thermal foggers to eliminate the bad smells.
Restoring certain items after flood damage is next to impossible. Porous materials such as pillows and mattresses may almost certainly be full of microbes multiplying by the minute. In that case, they must be discarded.
For your safety after flood damage, contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 for a fast and effective restoration. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.
Removing mold from your home is a complicated process. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for professional remediation and mitigation services in your home.
Mountain Vernon Homes with Mold Problems Need to Understand How Mold Remediation Works
Mold can be found in any Mount Vernon Home. Anywhere there is excess moisture, mold can grow. High humidity alone can cause mold to develop from the damp air. When that happens, you need a mold remediation company.
Can SERVPRO Remove all Mold?
Any company that tells you all the mold in your home can be removed entirely is one to question. Although the term 'mold removal' is often used, it cannot be removed entirely. The reason is simple. Mold spores are everywhere and cannot be eradicated. But what can be removed is the condition in which they thrive. Our technicians do a mold inspection in Mount Vernon homes that routes out visible and hidden mold.
Dealing with Mold
Mold remediation is mitigating the mold growth present, repairing the damage, and preventing the return. SERVPRO IICRC trained technicians are trained in mold remediation. We follow EPA protocols when doing mold cleanup. We employ the following steps:
Discovery – If you see it or smell it mold is present. Expensive testing is rarely needed. Multiplying colonies, staining, and a strong, musty odor are all evidence of mold.
Containment – Physical barriers and negative air pressure scrubbers seal the area. HEPA filters get used to trap mold particles. The goal is to stop the spores from spreading while cleaning.
Removal – We employ various mechanical methods to remove mold from impacted surfaces. Scraping, dry brushing, and soda blasting are standard removal methods. The dust and debris that settle get vacuumed and everything is treated with an antimicrobial.
The moisture that caused the problem is also addressed. If not, the mold can simply return. If it results from water intrusion, that is mitigated as well. High humidity can be handled with a dehumidifier.
When you hire SERVPRO, you hire mold remediation experts who adhere to EPA protocols. Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 for professional mold inspection and remediation services. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
Water lines leading to ice makers are common sources of water damage. Inspect the area around your appliances often for signs of moisture.
SERVPRO Assists with Water Damage in Mount Vernon
If you ask any expert in the water restoration industry, they know that refrigerators with ice-making capabilities can quickly become trouble makers. For some reason, the water lines leading to your refrigerator's ice maker seem prone to problems. One day everything could be going fine, and your ice maker is working perfectly when suddenly it malfunctions. If your ice maker breaks, it could leak into your freezer or cause water to spray out from the back.
When our SERVPRO team conducts water removal in Mount Vernon, the first thing we do is find the source of the problem. If the leak came from the water line running into your freezer, we could shut off the water running into the line if possible. Next, we look for any potential safety hazards such as exposed electrical lines and mitigate any issues we find so that the work area is safe for all occupants.
Things we can do to help after your ice machine breaks and leaks:
If carpets get saturated after a water leak, your carpets and pad may have to be removed. We can then set up a combination of air movers and dehumidifiers to remove the moisture that evaporated into the air and soaked into your building materials. We can take measurements and calculations to figure out the correct number of dehumidifiers to air movers. If there are too many air movers, the relative humidity level in your house can rise and possibly cause more damage.
If you ever suffer from a mishap with your refrigerator's ice maker, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
For help with any moisture-related problem, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 any day of the week.
Flood Damage Mitigation in Anacortes Involves the Use Of Various Types Of Equipment
Anyone who has lived in the Anacortes region for a decent amount of time knows that severe storms can occur. Excessive rains and high-speed winds can create conditions that could cause your property extensive flood damage. Any time water from the outside enters your home from incidents like a leaking roof or broken window, your building materials, and contents could be at risk. Problems not treated promptly can become worse as time goes on.
Whenever our SERVPRO technicians work on a flood damage situation in Anacortes, we attempt to remove all standing water and dry out any wet materials as quickly as possible. To achieve this goal, our team utilizes a wide variety of techniques and tools of the trade. Most professional restoration companies use a combination of five different types of equipment when removing moisture from a structure after a storm devastates your property.
Detection Devices
Before any restoration or mitigation procedures begin, our SERVPRO crew first uses instruments to detect moisture levels. We use detection devices to determine where the water that entered your residence traveled. We can also use detection instruments to figure out how wet items got by testing unaffected and affected areas.
Extraction Equipment
To help speed up the restoration process, our SERVPRO technicians can use heavy-duty extractors to pull out water while it is still in its liquid form.
Air Moving Equipment
Air movers and large box fans sometimes get used to create air circulation within an affected room. Circulating the air pushes moist air next to wet surfaces away so that more water can evaporate from the affected items.
Dehumidification Equipment
Dehumidifiers get used to pull water vapor from the air and control your house's indoor relative humidity levels. These machines pull in wet air, dispense the moisture in liquid form, and then exhaust warm, dry air.
Deodorization Equipment
When foul odors exist after your structure gets dried out, we can use equipment to apply chemicals to help deodorize your structure.
If you ever notice that your contents or building materials inside your home got wet after a storm, it is best to call in the professionals. For help with any moisture-related problem, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 any day of the week.
The Appeal of a Reputable Fire Damage Remediation Company in Mount Vernon
When the smoke dissipates after a fire, the odors often remain. Bring in our certified technicians to help rid the premises of the offending odors.
Most Effective Fire Odor Removal Practices for Mount Vernon Homes
Smoke odors are a common concern after fire loss incidents in Mount Vernon homes. Though the fire itself can sometimes remain contained to specific areas of the residence, this is not always the case for the effects that can accompany it. Odors and airborne contaminants require cutting-edge equipment and potent products to address successfully.
While many solutions can reduce and remove odors and other fire damage from Mount Vernon homes, choosing the best approach is the responsibility of our project management and crew chief. During the scoping of the job, we can determine the concentrations of these destructive effects and the best places for containment barriers to limit the spread and migration of smoke damages.
Removing odors from your residence relies on the equipment our SERVPRO team uses and the physical practices we can implement as well. When our team first arrives at your damaged house, we can take note of the charred remnants of where the structure fire burned through specific materials and contents of the house. Ash and debris are significant odor catalysts and must get removed. Our technicians can shovel out this rubbish and begin projects like controlled demolition with our licensed general contractors. Eliminating sources of smoke damage odors can limit the work that deodorizing agents and tools must perform.
We have several potential options when choosing deodorization equipment. Depending on the location and the traffic, options like our ozone machines can be powerful tools for neutralizing odors over large areas like a high vault ceiling living room. Thermal and UV foggers are another reliable choice, and these get selected on their ability to penetrate porous construction materials with their generated vapor and their lightweight portability. Thermal foggers can reach more challenging areas because they are not stationary units.
No matter how challenging and harsh smoke odors can be after a fire, our SERVPRO of Skagit County team can help. We have sophisticated tools and powerful products to make harsh odors “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (360) 873-8744.
Use SERVPRO’s Expertise When Facing a Flood Damage Scenario in Mount Vernon
Don’t let flood damage destroy your home. SERVPRO can hope with drying both contents and structure.
The Most Cost-Effective Drying for Mount Vernon Homes
With every flood and water loss situation that threatens Mount Vernon homes and businesses, our project management and crew chiefs must thoroughly assess the damaged properties for the best restorative approach. While formulating a plan tailored to the needs of your residence, hundreds of drying decisions must get made to ensure that every affected surface and belonging in your structure gets the specific attention necessary to restore the house to its preloss condition.
Cost efficiency is one of the main focuses of our SERVPRO team when addressing flood damage in Mount Vernon homes. In some situations, we have the technology and capability of fully restoring damaged items or construction materials after flooding. Still, it is most cost-effective and fastest to remove it and reinstall it at a later point when drying completes. With a full-service team of general contractors in-house, we have the versatility to make a broader range of choices from one item to the next.
Through our years of experience in the restoration industry, we have learned that preserving and drying affected and saturated materials are often more cost-effective than replacement. With natural flooding, cost efficiency takes a backseat to reducing hazards and potential contamination in the house. In these scenarios, our SERVPRO team leans on the side of replacement to eliminate threats to your family and continued risk to the unaffected areas of the structure.
For structural elements and framing that can remain after material removal, the disinfection of this framework can allow it to remain despite the controlled demolition of neighboring construction materials, flooring, and ceiling tile. Biocides, disinfectants, and antimicrobial agents can eliminate spores and microorganisms present in the structural skeleton of your household. By making the surface uninhabitable to microbes and colonization, proper drying can allow a strong and reliable base for reconstruction by our licensed general contractors.
Many factors play into the possibility of drying materials and contents after flood damage. No matter how we can help, give our qualified SERVPRO of Skagit County professionals a call today at (360) 873-8744.
Mount Vernon Water Loss? Attention DIY-Selfers--Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Restoration
Removing Moisture is a Key Factor in Water Loss Mitigation in Mount Vernon Homes--So Call SERVPRO!
How Dehumidifiers Assist in Turning Around Water Damage in Mount Vernon Homes
If you have water damage in your home, you might be tempted to handle it independently. In some cases, this works out okay, and in other circumstances, it can make the damage even worse.
DIY cleanup of water damage in your Mount Vernon home may involve mops, towels, wet/dry vacuums, and fans. These are fine for drying surfaces, but blowing a fan on a damp carpet, for example, may only manage to dry the tops of the fibers. That means the padding and lower part of the carpet remain damp, leaving the residence open for further damage from damaged subflooring, mold, and musty odors.
Professional Detection and Extraction Equipment
The technicians use many kinds of moisture detection devices to determine all areas of water migration. When SERVPRO technicians work on a water spill in a home, they use portable pumps and different types of removal equipment dependent on the types of surfaces they are working on.
Dehumidification Makes the Difference
The dehumidification equipment used with the air movers starts a cycle that thoroughly dries carpets and surfaces. As the air movers send high-velocity airflow over the wet areas, it causes moisture to rise. The dehumidifiers capture that moisture and remove it from the room. As the cycle continues, progressively drier air circulates. SERVPRO technicians often "float" carpets where they loosen one side and direct air movers to blow above and below, resulting in a completely dry carpet and padding.
Monitoring the Process
As a water loss area dries, technicians take moisture readings during and afterward to ensure drying goals are reached. This attention to detail assists in inhibiting both mold and foul odors happening in the home. The average indoor humidity goal is 50% or less, so naturally occurring mold spores do not germinate.
Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 when your home has water damage. The technicians show up quickly, dry, and clean the property to make it "Like it never even happened."
Correlated Effects of Flood Damage in Mount Vernon Offices
Flooding can introduce contaminants to the building when rising waters penetrate the main level of the structure.
Flood Damage Can Impact Mount Vernon Offices in Several Ways
Flooding can be uniquely challenging from one property to the next as different materials are affected, multiple floors of a structure, and sensitive equipment of an office building. Regardless of how flood damages occur, it is essential to note the kind of related impact it could have on the entire building. Appreciating the scope of damage shows how relying on experienced restoration professionals is wise.
Structural Deterioration
Flood damage in Mount Vernon office buildings spreads rapidly. One of the first things that responding technicians recognize is migrating surface water's impact on exposed elements. Prolonged moisture absorption and saturation weaken building materials like flooring, wall systems, and ceiling tiles. Sagging or damaged construction materials pose a safety risk to employees if you continue to operate partially during restoration.
Contaminants and Pathogenic Threats
Flooding can introduce contaminants to the building when rising waters penetrate the main level of the structure. Biohazardous conditions must be met urgently, as exposed porous materials must be demolished and removed to prevent continually worsening pathogenic and bacterial threats.
Debris and Muck
Natural flooding can also bring in types of debris and waste. Muck-out cleaning is an essential part of post-flood damage mitigation. There are several substances, chemicals, and matter that can mix with intruding water, but the muck-out cleaning process typically focuses on:
Organic matter
Mud
Silt
Mold and Microbial Development
The moist conditions and amplified presence of microbes after a flood increase the probabilities of mold development. Organic materials like drywall and flooring are often targets for colonization, and the growth of these organisms poses a threat to exposed staff, customers, and structural elements.
Flooding is one of the more threatening situations for a commercial property like an open floorplan of an office building. Standing water spreads fast and deliberate mitigation is needed to help. Our SERVPRO of Skagit County team is available 24/7 when you call (360) 873-8744.
Fixing Unique Problems after Fire Damage Affects Your Mount Vernon Home
SERVPRO will help with everything from soot damage, to feather dusting when you have fire damage in your Mount Vernon home.
What Does SERVPRO Do to Complete Fire Restoration in Mount Vernon Homes Conveniently
Fire is one of the highly destructive forces which consumes materials or causes physical deterioration. Fires in Mount Vernon homes differ in many ways, including the intensity and ignition sources. Like the intensity, the sources affect the outcomes by influencing the types of deposits, odors or stains created.
Fire damage in Mount Vernon homes can develop in many ways, including spontaneous combustion, proximity to hot materials, or during household activities like cooking. SERVPRO has a wealth of experience resolving all types of fire events.
Typical sources of house fires include:
Candles or smoking
Chemicals
Home heaters
Cooking equipment
A fire caused by smoking or candles mostly ignites fabrics when someone falls asleep while smoking in bed or leaves unattended candles. If the fire is localized, it might not cause significant structural damage. However, multiple residues remain in the structure, including hard plastic-like beads that develop when fibers melt and drip. Cleaning such residue requires a unique approach, unlike dealing with ordinary powdery soot.
You may wonder what chemicals you have in your home, which might ignite spontaneously. However, cleaning agents or products like motor oil easily combust when exposed to the right conditions. Fuel oils produce a special type of soot that can bond with surfaces making it difficult to clean.
Proximity damage after a fire
While in most cases, fire moves from one item to another once it ignites, spreading over vast sections of a property, in some cases, the spreading is limited. Fire damage from space heaters or cooking equipment is likely to cause such damage as the heat radiates from the source without igniting materials. Stove flare-ups might also result in the same type of damage.
Fire restoration requires
Cleanup
Surface refinishing
Deodorization
SERVPRO of Skagit County has developed elaborate fire damage management practices over the years. You can reach us at (360) 873-8744. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
We Understand That Quick Action Is Crucial In Mount Vernon After A Flood
Our technicians mitigate water as soon as possible after a flood. We have drying techniques to prevent further damage, so call us right away.
My Watering Hole is Flooded
Your bar should belong in a TV show. Your loyal clientele feels comfortable sharing their lives with you and with each other over a drink or two. For many, it is a necessary stop on the way home from a busy day at work, and they cannot imagine Mount Vernon without your friendly ear and refreshing drinks in it. As much as people love you, they cannot protect you from overflowing bodies of water that may result in floodings in your neighborhood, your bar included. While your patrons have their problems to deal with, you are left with damage and need professional services to get you up and running again for the sake of your business and your client's mental health.
If you want to minimize the impact of commercial water damage in your Mount Vernon bar, SERVPRO is here to help. Quick action is crucial to avoid potential damage from becoming real. You want to protect the structure and foundation of your locale by removing water as soon as possible. Our crew can help you by using our truck-mounted pumps, as well as submersible ones and handheld extraction devices. The extraction prevents your walls and structural features from weakening due to water saturation.
We work towards drying your bar within appropriate health department parameters applicable to your establishment after flood damage hits. Our SERVPRO technicians are well-versed in the intricacies of a thorough restoration job. To complete the job most efficiently, they can intersect that process with your own regulatory needs. As we work, we identify the disinfecting needs of your place and ready relevant spots for any contractors that need to come in for repairs. Our staff is there to work and guide you towards a prompt reopening through it all.
Flood damage can be overwhelming for you as a business owner and to all the patrons who frequent your place, especially if their own homes are also in distress. Commit to opening your doors as soon as possible by calling SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 and let us leave your business "Like it never even happened."
Effects of Different Fire Damage Sources in Mount Vernon Homes
What Does SERVPRO Do to Complete Fire Restoration in Mount Vernon Homes Conveniently
Fire is one of the highly destructive forces which consumes materials or causes physical deterioration. Fires in Mount Vernon homes differ in many ways, including the intensity and ignition sources. Like the intensity, the sources affect the outcomes by influencing the types of deposits, odors or stains created.
Fire damage in Mount Vernon homes can develop in many ways, including spontaneous combustion, proximity to hot materials, or during household activities like cooking. SERVPRO has a wealth of experience resolving all types of fire events.
A fire caused by smoking or candles mostly ignites fabrics when someone falls asleep while smoking in bed or leaves unattended candles. If the fire is localized, it might not cause significant structural damage. However, multiple residues remain in the structure, including hard plastic-like beads that develop when fibers melt and drip. Cleaning such residue requires a unique approach, unlike dealing with ordinary powdery soot.
You may wonder what chemicals you have in your home, which might ignite spontaneously. However, cleaning agents or products like motor oil easily combust when exposed to the right conditions. Fuel oils produce a special type of soot that can bond with surfaces making it difficult to clean.
Proximity damage after a fire
While in most cases, fire moves from one item to another once it ignites, spreading over vast sections of a property, in some cases, the spreading is limited. Fire damage from space heaters or cooking equipment is likely to cause such damage as the heat radiates from the source without igniting materials. Stove flare-ups might also result in the same type of damage.
Fire restoration requires
Cleanup
Surface refinishing
Deodorization
SERVPRO of Skagit County has developed elaborate fire damage management practices over the years. You can reach us at (360) 873-8744. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
Who Does Commercial Water Damage Restoration in Mount Vernon?
We aim to restore your property as quickly as possible, “Like it never even happened."
Mount Vernon Business Owners Can Rely on SERVPRO of Water Damage Mitigation
A water leak inside your business' office building can quickly become a devastating ordeal. Once water leaks from a supply line, it can build up on your office floors. Then the moisture can start to soak into your walls and raise the humidity levels in your building.
Our SERVPRO technicians know that keeping your business functioning is essential when conducting commercial water damage restoration in Mount Vernon. However, it is vital to remove it whenever moisture gets inside your structure within 48 hours. After two days, mold can start to form on any of your organic building materials. And since mold can cause health effects, we take all the measures possible to promptly remove moisture from your structure.
Steps to Mitigate Water Damage:
Workplace Hazard Mitigation
Water Extraction Services
Applied Structural Drying (ASD)
Water Damage Repairs
Water Damage Debris Removal
Clean Up After a Sewer Backs Up
Once our SERVPRO technicians deem the work area safe, we can begin inspecting your office to find out where the moisture went. We can use moisture sensors to tell if your carpets are wet or not. We can also use penetrating and non-penetrating meters to determine if your walls got wet.
Once we know where the moisture traveled inside your office, we can formulate a plan to extract and dry out your structure. If possible, we can schedule our work procedures so as not to hinder your company's day-to-day operations. For example, we can conduct work procedures in sections so that your employees can remain working in your office. Or, in some cases, we can complete our restoration procedures during your business' off hours.
If you ever notice an excessive amount of water on your office floors when you go into work in the morning, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Are There Commercial Mold Removal Companies in Anacortes?
Our SERVPRO of Skagit County's rapid response team is available 24/7! Let our team eliminate further mold growth on your property.
Business Owners in Anacortes Can Depend on SERVPRO for Mold Remediation
Anytime your place of business suffers from any water leak, mold growth is always a possibility. If organic materials such as wooden floors or the paper backing on your drywall stay wet for more than two days, they can start to develop contamination. And once a fungus grows, it can begin releasing spores into the air that can contaminate previously unaffected places.
Whenever commercial mold removal companies in Anacortes like SERVPRO work on removing contamination, we always take special measures to reduce the spread of spores. For example, before we conduct procedures to remove contamination, we can contain the affected regions in your company's warehouse by setting up a plastic containment chamber. We can then attach an air scrubber to the section that creates negative air pressure inside it. The air scrubbers work towards containing any spores or other harmful particles so they cannot spread throughout your structure.
Once the affected area of your warehouse gets contained, we can begin removing the contamination. If your drywall has visible mold, we can remove it and dispose of it in sealed plastic bags. If there are fungi on your hardwood floors, we can use methods like sanding or soda blasting to remove the contamination.
Procedures to Remediate Fungal Contamination
Attic Mold Remediation
Basement Mold Mitigation
Bathroom Mold Restoration
Black Mold Inspection
Water Extraction Services
Applied Structural Drying
As a part of the mold remediation process, we can also find the source of the leak and repair it so that your building materials and contents stop getting wet. Suppose your affected materials are still wet after the contamination gets removed. In that case, we can then set up air movers and dehumidifiers to dry out your structural components so that the mold does not return.
If you ever notice black mold growing inside your company's warehouse, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
We have crews available for emergency response 24 hours a day and will deploy our Green Fleet within hours of your call.
Mount Vernon Homeowners Can Call SERVPRO for Flood Restoration
Whenever a storm strikes your neighborhood, several things could happen to your home. Storms can cause water to rise from the ground and enter your home. Wind can also send debris flying into your roof or windows, driving a hole in your structure during the storm.
Flood damage restoration in Mount Vernon can become more severe if work is not promptly started. Everyone knows that storms travel on their own time, so you never know when your house will suffer from a disaster. Luckily, our SERVPRO technicians are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to help you after a storm floods out your home.
Services to Mitigate Flood Water Damage
Water Extraction
Structural Deodorization
Applied Structural Drying (ASD)
Water Damage Debris Removal
Restorative Carpet Cleaning
The first thing our SERVPRO crew does when arriving at your property is to take steps to make sure the work area is safe. For example, if there are trip or fall hazards, we can remove them so that the workplace is safe. Next, we figure out the source of your structure's leak and then take steps to keep more moisture from entering your building. For instance, if a broken window is the water's source, we can board it up or use tarps to seal the hole in your structural components.
Suppose the power went out during the storm. Our technicians can bring a generator with them so that your house has the electricity to conduct the restoration procedures. We can also set up heaters in your home so that the interior stays at normal room temperature. If ASD procedures are needed, we can increase the heat in your structure to speed up the drying process.
If you ever happen to step in a puddle of water inside your house after a storm strikes, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Content Cleaning During Commercial Fire Cleanup in Anacortes
SERVPRO commercial damage restoration services is top-notch. We have the manpower and equipment for every size disaster, no matter the size.
SERVPRO Can Assist with Fire and Smoke Damage Remediation in Anacortes
A fire started in your company's product storage facility, so what should you do? Even if the flames got extinguished promptly, much damage could still exist. Especially when burnt items smolder, they tend to put out excessive smoke. Since we are dealing with where your products get stored, many of your contents could have been negatively affected. The smoke can penetrate the boxes you have products stored in and possibly ruin them.
When a professional company like SERVPRO conducts commercial fire cleanup in Anacortes, cleaning contents can become a major focus. When smoke floats around your building, it can solidify when it touches cooler surfaces. Therefore, the items stored in your boxes could get coated by soot residues if they come into contact with smoke.
Anytime a fire breaks out at your place of business, our SERVPRO technicians can inspect all of your building materials and contents to see if they got negatively affected or not. Once we figure out exactly what the smoke damaged, we can then conduct the following procedures to help with the restoration process:
If smoke coming from the blaze contacted the products stored in your warehouse, we could take steps to clean all of them. We can pack out all of the contents inside your business' storage facility and clean them individually. Removing the items from your property can help speed up the process to work on remediating your structural components while cleaning your contents in a separate location.
If a fire ever sparks up where you have your company's products stored, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Benefits to Calling a Professional for Water Removal in Mount Vernon
SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians have all the training for every water damage restoration job needed for your home. Call now!
SERVPRO Specializes in Water Damage Restoration in Mount Vernon
When most people think about calling a professional restoration company for water extraction services, they imagine brutal conditions with deep standing water. However, any time water leaks or spills into your home, it must be removed, or further damage could result. For example, even if a dozen gallons or so get onto your carpets, damage can result if action to remove the moisture does not get taken.
Water removal in Mount Vernon could involve extracting H2O from a small area. Anytime moisture gets places in your house where it is not meant to be, issues can result. Saturated carpets can become delaminated when the carpet fiber separates from the backing. If delamination has already started, the carpets must get disposed of. Small amounts of water can also spur mold growth on organic materials such as paper or wood.
The bottom line is that moisture must get removed and cleaned up promptly, or the problems can get much worse. Our SERVPRO technicians can offer fast, 24/7 service whenever you suffer from a water leak. Our highly trained team is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) program, and we have vast experience in the restoration business. We can utilize the industry's most advanced technology to help you out with the following services:
Water Extraction Services
Applied Structural Drying (ASD)
Water Damage Debris Removal
Water Cleanup
Basement Flooding Restoration
Repair Leaking Roofs
When your carpets get wet, we can utilize a heavy-duty extractor to vacuum up the water that soaked into the fibers. We can use a weighted extraction tool that compresses the fibers to pull out as much H2O as possible for thicker carpets.
Anytime you have even a small amount of water leak onto your floors, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Treating Charred Studs as a Part of Fire Restoration in Mount Vernon
Fire damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. We are here to help 24/7 365 days a year, no matter the size of disaster.
SERVPRO Can Repair Fire Damaged Homes in Mount Vernon
If a fire ever spreads through your home, the ending results could look quite devastating. For example, the flames could spread throughout your home and engulf building materials like your drywall. And the worse part is, the fire could burn through your drywall and torch your wall studs that play a significant role in your building's structural integrity. However, just because the flames made their way to some of your walls, there is still a chance that some of your structural components can be saved instead of replaced.
In some cases, fire restoration in Mount Vernon can be quite straightforward. But, in other scenarios, there could be a significant amount of work that has to be completed to restore your home to its preloss state, "Like it never even happened." Luckily, our SERVPRO technicians are trained, and IICRC certified to provide the following after you suffer from a structural blaze:
Our SERVPRO team may have to remove several burnt materials in situations where severe damage is present. If a significant amount of your structural components got burnt, we might have to remove items like your drywall and wall studs.
However, we can take steps to restore some of your building materials and contents in some cases. For instance, after a fire, your wall studs could look like they got severely burnt, but the charring might not have burned deep into the wood. The general rule is that if the charring is less than a quarter-inch deep, we can save the items by sanding or sandblasting.
If you ever suffer from a structural blaze and you do not even know where to begin, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
How Does SERVPRO Clean Surfaces with Mold Damage in Mount Vernon Properties
SERVPRO goes to the root cause of your mold infestation so that we can properly remediate the issue.
SERVPRO Technicians Treat Mount Vernon Structures Requiring Professional Mold Remediation
It is vital to clean surfaces during mold remediation in Mount Vernon to inhibit the mold from returning. The key to success is that the article and surface getting cleaned needs to withstand the application. Porous objects such as sheetrock generally have a poor outcome for cleaning if mold colonies are present on the surface.
SERVPRO provides professional mold damage mitigation in Mount Vernon residential properties. When mold is suspected but not visible through visual inspections, the technicians turn to their advanced equipment. Infrared cameras are beneficial for finding collections of moisture behind walls that can also harbor mold colonies. While the cameras do not detect moisture, they can show blue areas within wall cavities that are a valuable indication of collections of humidity. Sheetrock with mold typically requires removal as it becomes deteriorated from the colonies on it and the constant exposure to moisture.
Another issue the technicians tackle during a remediation service is determining the root cause of the mold infestation. SERVPRO's Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) certified techs carefully inspect the property to determine what allows the increased air moisture levels to sustain the mold. Frequently seen problems that can lead to an infestation include slow leaks, poor ventilation, and appliance malfunctions.
Common Mold Removal Methods
The technicians use different methods for getting rid of the dried matter left behind after drying existing mold colonies.
Manual scraping by hand
Soda or ice blasting
Sponge blasting for surfaces that cannot tolerate removal by other methods
SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 stands ready to assist Mount Vernon properties with any size or type of mold damage infestation. The trained technicians use professional methods to treat and clean the house to make it "Like it never even happened."
How Are Documents and Computer Equipment Protected During Anacortes Commercial Water Removal?
SERVPRO has the training and technology to dry your water damaged documents.
SERVPRO Techs Take Special Care with Anacortes Commercial Water Clean Up
A water cleanup job for an Anacortes business property will bring numerous questions and concerns from the property owner. SERVPRO technicians work one-on-one with owners and are happy to answer questions regarding the restoration service and determine what areas of the structure are prioritized, such as:
Vital documents
Computers and data centers
Locally stored stock
When water removal occurs in an Anacortes commercial structure, the technicians arrive as soon as possible after the initial phone call and get to work. While one set of techs scope the property and seek out the migration path of the water, another crew determines if articles of importance require removal and if they can be covered in plastic and remain on-site during the restoration service.
Handling Wet Documents
While most businesses now utilize cloud storage and data centers for backups, mainly so employees can work remotely, critical paper documents are often stored on-site. These documents can get damaged by water and exposure to elevated interior humidity levels. For records that require drying, SERVPRO relies on the same methods as the Library of Congress utilizes for saving historical papers: freeze-drying. The vacuum freeze dryer used by SERVPRO carries the approval of the General Services Administration (GSA) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for document preservation.
Computer Equipment
In cases where computer equipment has been exposed to moisture, the technicians can arrange for an industry expert to inspect the units before reuse to ensure they are operational and safe to use. The devices should never be self-tested.
SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 stands ready for commercial water removal services in Anacortes businesses. The trained and certified SERVPRO techs are available 24/7 for any size water damage issue.
How Can Mount Vernon Properties Avoid Frozen Pipes and Ice Damming?
Be sure and winterize your home and pipes. An once of prevention can go a long way in deterring water damage.
SERVPRO Routinely Assists Mount Vernon Homeowners with Winter Water Damage Cleanup
Mount Vernon homes are susceptible to winter water damage that, in many cases, can be limited if not prevented. The best time to winterize a home is in the fall to avoid the costly situation of a pipe freeze or roofing issues.
SERVPRO has some recommendations for Mount Vernon homeowners to win against frozen pipes and ice dams. One of the best ways to handle this project is to get organized. Creating a checklist of areas to pay attention to inside and outside the home can make the winterization of the house easy.
Checking Outside the Home
A roof leak can quickly turn into thousands of dollars of damages in a home. Some of the most common situations leading to this type of water damage are:
Ice dams forming on the gutters
Shingles damaged by ice
Clogged gutters causing backflow
Gutters are Key to Avoiding Ice Dams
The gutters on a home get clogged with dirt, debris, pine needles, and leaves. If water flow gets restricted, snow and ice can build up on the gutters. The weight of this can cause them to pull away from the structure. Worse, when the snow melts on a roof due to lack of insulation in an attic, the water running down and hits the ice, and snow on top of gutters can cause backflow under shingles and enter the property.
Inspecting a Roof Safely
Homeowners can inspect their roofs without climbing on a ladder. Using a pair of binoculars, homeowners can look for cracked or missing shingles. If damage is found or suspected, SERVPRO techs can inspect the areas that may need attention, such as the flashing around chimneys, skylights, and roof valleys. A proactive review can pinpoint regions likely to have ice damming issues and minimize the potential.
Frozen Pipe Prevention
Winterizing sprinkler systems and outside lines is important by bleeding the pipes and shutting off the interior valves. Wrapping faucets with Thinsulate can help avoid a pipe burst when freezing temps hit.
SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 helps local Mount Vernon property owners avoid winter water damage from frozen pipes and ice damming through prevention. The technicians are available for cleanup and restoration 24/7.
Why Does IICRC-Certification Matter for Mount Vernon Homes?
Our team is highly trained to restore your home 24/7 so call us right away to prevent further damage.
This industry affiliation is a standard of excellence and knowledge for restoration services.
As one of the developers for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) who professional restorers abide by, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) offers its certification seal to specific restoration and recovery firms meeting set guidelines.
Becoming Accredited with the IICRC
The affiliations as an IICRC-Certified firm show potential customers that the team's technicians represent the highest levels of technical and industry expertise to help. Not only are professionals of our roster required to achieve individual IICRC accreditation but adhere to a clear code of ethics for customer satisfaction and quality assurance.
The professionals of our roster are encouraged to continue their education through the IICRC with coursework, training, and certifications to remain current with the latest in standards and best practices in the field. They continue to operate under the stringent standard of care expected of institute-affiliated companies.
When disasters strike, choose the IICRC-Certified SERVPRO of Skagit County team to help by calling (360) 873-8744.
How Can Homeowners Perform Storm Flood Damage Restoration in Anacortes?
Dealing with flood damage after a storm can seem overwhelming. Contact SERVPRO for effective water removal and remediation services. Call 24/7.
They Can Hire SERVPRO to Help Them Handle Storm Flood Damage in Anacortes
A storm can leave you dealing with extensive flood damage in your home if standing water levels rise at an alarming rate. Floodwater can cause serious issues in your property, such as cupping and buckling of wood floors and drywall deterioration. As a leading storm and flood restoration company, SERVPRO can remove the water in your home, clean it up and dry it. You do not have to face the hazards of dealing with storm and flood damage on your own.
Our experienced technicians can perform storm flood damage restoration in your Anacortes residence quickly and cost-effectively. Our goal is to see you completely satisfied, and we work systematically to restore buildings to their normal condition. Our SERVPRO team makes the storm flood restoration process seamless by offering:
Free thorough assessments
Water removal using highly efficient equipment
Full-service cleaning to prevent microbial growth
Dehumidification
Floodwater is usually contaminated. Therefore, we protect ourselves by wearing protective gear like masks, gloves, and rubber boots. The presence of water in a house promotes and sustains microbial growth. The main steps in remediation or mitigation are removing contaminated materials and removing moisture. Our SERVPRO team concentrates on drying the structure quickly to minimize moisture levels. We can also apply antimicrobial products before starting the restoration process to ensure safety. We use suitable pumps to remove floodwater and anything that might be in it, like mud and sand. After removing the water, we clean the affected areas thoroughly.
Drying the affected structures and contents is another essential step in flood remediation. To dry the air, our SERVPRO team uses drying equipment such as air movers and dehumidifiers to control humidity levels. We also use the science of psychometry to monitor whether the drying process is working well. We expedite the drying process by managing psychometric conditions, namely temperature, humidity, and airflow.
To handle storm damage in your residence, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.
How to Perform Fire Damage Restoration in Anacortes
When fire damage affects your home, time is of the essence. Call the certified technicians at SERVPRO to assess the situation and formulate a plan.
Hiring a Reputed Firm Like SERVPRO is the Right Way to Perform Fire Damage Repair in Anacortes
It is quite arduous to deal with a fire disaster, and the repair process is usually challenging. It is vital to take extra care and caution when restoring and reconstructing your home after a fire. It would help if you had experts such as SERVPRO restorers to lend you a hand in such a situation.
We have a team of skilled technicians who can perform efficient fire damage restoration in your Anacortes residence. We can assess the damage and then begin the restoration process by cleaning up the debris, charred remains, and the chemical agents or water used to extinguish the flames. Our SERVPRO team does this carefully without ruining the structure and contents of a home. As part of our fire repair process, we provide a complete solution for cleaning up a house with proper techniques and equipment. Our fire repair process is systematic, and it may include the following steps based on the severity of the damage.
Establishing emergency electricity
Separating salvageable items from unsalvageable ones
Removal of water and moisture
Removing soot, smoke, and odors
Rebuilding affected structures
In certain cases of fire damage, initial cleaning is beneficial. If it is necessary to move out of your residence, we can clean your contents so that you can use them in your temporary housing. Initial cleaning can also prevent secondary damage from soot residues. Our SERVPRO restorers can pre-clean furniture and carpets to eliminate the heaviest soot. We can also wipe soot residues from metals and porcelain.
We can set up water removal and drying equipment to dry the affected structures and contents if there is water damage. Our SERVPRO technicians also use moisture meters to monitor moisture content and humidity levels. Smoke and soot residues may cause unpleasant odors. We can use air scrubbers or thermal foggers to remove the odors so that your residence is habitable.
You can trust SERVPRO of Skagit County to bring your home back to normal after fire damage. Call us anytime at (360) 873-8744 for help. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.
Where Can Homeowners Get Storm and Flood Damage Restoration Services in Mount Vernon?
Facing flooding? Team SERVPRO has the experienced technicians and effective equipment to tackle the flood damage remediation task. Call us 24/7.
They Can Hire SERVPRO To Perform Storm Flood Damage Repair in Mount Vernon
Having a flooded home is frustrating and stressful, but you can clean it up with professional assistance. SERVPRO has the expertise to clean up and repair your home after storm and flood damage. Our technicians have assisted thousands of flood damage victims in restoring properties of any size to their original condition.
We get right to work employing proven strategies to deal with storm flood damage in Mount Vernon. Floodwater may contain contaminants like sewage, petrol, silt, sand, and oily substances. We can examine your home to determine which water restoration procedures and equipment are most suitable for dealing with contaminated water. Our SERVPRO restorers can perform the following procedures:
Removing standing water
Dying out the property
Cleaning contaminated areas
Fixing or replacing damaged structures
Water removal
Excess water threatens a house and endangers its contents. We take content preservation as seriously as the property itself. If two inches or more of water is standing in the affected areas, we can extract it using submersible pumps. The more water we extract, the less moisture we have to remove using dehumidifiers.
Drying out the property
Airflow is essential when drying structures. Our SERVPRO restorers know the appropriate techniques for using airflow to dry a house. We use air movers to increase the evaporation rate and dehumidifiers to remove moisture. We also create a drying goal, which indicates the conditions that contents and materials should display when we restore them to preloss dryness. Drying goals are the conditions we want to bring about in affected areas.
Cleaning contamination
We can remove the contamination in your home using germicides and disinfectants. These are antimicrobials that destroy about 99 percent of the organisms they contact on the surfaces where they are applied.
Fixing or replacing damaged structures
Our SERVPRO team can repair or replace damaged structures like roofing, siding, and walls.
When in need of storm and flood restoration services, call SERVPRO of Skagit County for help. Our 24-hour helpline is (360) 873-8744.
What Should I Do If my Home in Mount Vernon Has Burst Pipes?
Burst pipes cause major water damage to your property. SERVPRO has the experience and technology for any size disaster.
SERVPRO Can Help with Water Removal Services in Mount Vernon
During the mid to late fall season, it is common to see problems caused by pipes breaking. During the first day of the season, where the temperature drops below freezing, it is possible that your house's pipes could freeze in sections where they are not insulated or they are not staying warm enough. Once the water inside the pipes freezes, it will expand and cause a hole in your waterpipes. Even a small quarter-inch crack can dump out hundreds of gallons of H2O in a short period.
Whenever our SERVPRO technicians conduct water removal in Mount Vernon, we start with the extraction process. Once water gets into your structure, the moisture will evaporate into the air and raise the humidity levels. The moisture will also start to soak into your building materials and contents, making them harder to remove. Therefore, it is best to remove the H2O from your house while it is still a liquid before it soaks into items in your home.
If your pipes burst overnight or perhaps when you were out of town, a large amount of water could have poured into your home. Once you notice a problem, it is wise to call in the professionals such as our SERVPRO technicians. We can arrive at your property 24/7 and help you out with the following:
Depending on the situation, we can either use a portable extractor or a heavy-duty truck-mounted system during the extraction phase. We can also use various extraction tools depending on what surface needs water removal.
If you ever come home from a short trip after the temperature dropped below freezing, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Who Can Help if I Find Attic Mold in my Anacortes Home?
SERVPRO mold remediation technicians use the latest technology and equipment for every size disaster.
SERVPRO Has Mold Specialists in Anacortes
Fungi are present pretty much everywhere in nature. The outdoors contains several species, but if a fungus starts to grow in your house, it could cause you several problems. A mold only needs an organic food source, moisture, the ideal temperature, and time to develop. Unfortunately, places in your home that you don't go into very often are prime places for fungal growth. Areas like your attic are common places for mold since most people don't enter their attic daily.
During most mold remediation projects in Anacortes, our SERVPRO technicians find that a small, slow leak can be the source of moisture. Therefore, a small leak in your roof could cause mold to grow in your attic. Elevated humidity levels could also provide enough water for mold to grow on your roof trusses or the other side of your ceiling. Since attics mostly contain your wood trusses and insulation, they can become prime food sources for fungi. Once a mold forms in your attic, it can quickly spread into the entire area.
Mold can cause health effects; it is wise to call the mold specialists at SERVPRO for help with remediation. If the remediation process is not conducted correctly, the mold could spread to previously unaffected areas or come back after attempted remediation. To prevent spores from spreading or the fungus returning, we can provide the following:
If all of the wood in your attic is affected, we can take steps like sanding or sandblasting to remove it from the surface. Then we can apply a sealant paint like Killz to the wood to prevent future fungal formations.
If you suspect there could be mold in your attic, it is wise to call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Who Can I Call for Fire Damage Restoration After a Small Grease Fire in Mount Vernon?
Fire and smoke damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. Call now for fast and immediate service for your home.
SERVPRO Provides House Fire Clean-Up in Mount Vernon
The number one cause of a structural blaze is a mishap in the kitchen where a fire ignites. More specifically, unattended cooking is the number one cause of a kitchen fire starting. Most people have been in a situation where they begin heating grease for cooking, and then something distracts them, so they leave the kitchen. Once the oil gets too hot, the flames can ignite, and you could find a fire upon returning to your kitchen.
During fire damage restoration jobs in Mount Vernon, grease fires can create different conditions than other types of blazes. Even if the fire didn't spread past the pan you were cooking and didn't burn any of your contents or building materials, there could still be damage present. The smoke produced by grease fires could leave a greasy residue that is hard to remove on your walls and ceilings. Smoke also can penetrate deeply into porous materials and cause foul aromas to be present.
Therefore, even if the fire you had was small, it is still a good idea to ask for help from a professional restoration company like SERVPRO. We are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and we can help you with the following services:
Depending on what surface got affected, removing greasy residues can be very difficult. We can use various methods and chemical products to figure out the best way to clean an affected surface. We can also utilize deodorization procedures such as thermal fogging or ozone generation to remove or neutralize malodor particles.
If you ever accidentally start a small grease fire in your kitchen, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Drying Saturated Wood Elements in Anacortes Homes After Water Damage
Water can quickly damage wooden items in your home, from structural elements to furniture.
Carefully Drying Damaged Structural Elements is Critical to Restoring Anacortes Properties
Wood elements like cabinets, vanities, and flooring can all be quickly and decisively harmed by migrating moisture during a water damage incident. Immediate mitigative actions by our SERVPRO team can help reduce the destruction of exposed wood elements and the subsequent repairs necessary to restore that damage.
Water Removal Services and Surface Drying
One of the critical elements of water damage restoration for Anacortes homes and businesses is water removal services. Because pooling can destructively impact exposed property areas, our team must work quickly to manage these threats with efficient extraction equipment from our recovery inventory. While there are varying levels and types of extraction devices, these water removal tools are often submersible pumps or vacuum systems.
Removing Trapped Moisture from Wood Planks
One of the consistently positive approaches to pulling trapped moisture from wood plank flooring is floor drying mats. These large mats attract moisture to the surface for collection and disposal. Tenting can make this process even more efficient and prevent more significant destruction of the planks and flooring materials. Monitoring moisture removal is vital at this time as well.
Why Drying is Continually Monitored
It is vital to keep a close eye on the progress of water and moisture removal from flooring, fixtures, and other wood elements. It is not impossible to over-dry wood structures and contents, making over-drying as destructive as water damage. Monitoring the process of drying efforts involves several tools in our inventory, such as:
Surface moisture meters
Thermal imagery
Hygrometers
Removing trapped moisture from wood elements in your home after a water damage incident is a calculated process. We have multiple drying tools and options to help, beginning with water removal services and evaporative drying equipment like air movers and dehumidifiers. Our SERVPRO of Skagit County team can help make water damage "Like it never even happened," when you call (360) 873-8744.
SERVPRO Protects Your Belongings from Flood Damage in Mount Vernon Homes
Storms and flooding can happen at any time. Don't go it alone. Call SERVPRO!
Preventing Water Damage and Contamination is Vital for the Contents of Mount Vernon Homes After a Flood
While post-flooding recovery focuses on removing standing water and surface cleaning, protecting personal belongings caught in the destruction path is vital. We have cleaning technicians capable of responding fast with mitigative strategies designed to protect what matters most.
On-Site Relocation Services Protect Contents
The steps taken to protect personal belongings exposed to flood damage in Mount Vernon homes begin with the efforts to relocate these items to safe places on the property. Higher points in the house unexposed to infiltrating water damage can provide the ideal conditions to store contents and furniture safely until flood restoration completes.
Preventing Contamination and Microbial Growth
Contaminants are a substantial concern for flooded homes and businesses, and this exposure can permanently damage the affected contents. Specific cleaning practices and products can lessen the severity of these conditions to remove threatening microbes, pathogens, and harmful solids. Some of these methods include:
Aggressive surface cleaning
Antimicrobial products
Sporicidal products
Disinfection cleaners
Pack-Out Services for At-Risk Items
When on-site cleaning is not sufficient for the affected items, a pack-out can be the next logical step- taking these damaged items to our nearby SERVPRO facility for focused cleaning, drying, and safe storage. When cleaning and remediation are complete in the flooded house, these belongings get returned to their original positions.
After a flood loss situation, cleaning up often means focusing on necessary actions to prevent irreparable harm to personal belongings and contents. Protecting what matters most to the customer is a product of several mitigative steps taken when our SERVPRO of Skagit County team arrives. We are ready 24/7 to help after flood emergencies at (360) 873-8744.
Can Water Get Removed from Damp Engineered Wood Flooring in Mount Vernon Homes?
Water is no friend to wood flooring and needs immediate removal. Call SERVPRO for for your emergency water damage restoration needs..
Moisture and Water Removal Strategies Target Surface and Trapped Water in Mount Vernon Properties
After situations like burst pipes or ceiling leaks, common flooring elements like engineered wood can be at risk of absorbing standing water and become warped. Our experienced SERVPRO of Skagit County team works quickly to manage surface and trapped moisture to protect your home and prevent more invasive restoration needs.
Clearing Surface Water Concerns
Water sitting on the surface of engineered wood flooring can be the focal point for water removal in Mount Vernon homes. Clearing any pooling and surface moisture is vital to reducing the penetration of this water through seams and flooring pores to bloat and disfigure the planks. There are multiple water removal strategies, including:
Squeegee Wands
Light Wands
Wet Vacuums
Submersible Pumps
Removal of Trapped Moisture in Wood Plank Flooring
There are several strategies for reducing the moisture content of wood flooring after saturation occurs. Tenting isolates the affected areas making tools like drying mats operate more efficiently. This process enables us to monitor it closely for moisture content changes to ensure that over-drying the material does not occur.
Controlled Demolition and Reinstallation Where Needed
We can also help with the controlled demolition and repairs of damaged wood elements and flooring when necessary with a general contractor license. If trapped moisture in wood planks has already chemically bonded with the material, restoration is no longer possible.
Removing water from the floors of your water-damaged home can be a challenge for even experienced restoration professionals. With our fast response and leading recovery equipment, we can protect exposed elements to reduce demolition and reconstruction where possible. Give our SERVPRO of Skagit County team a call today at (360) 873-8744.
Can an Anacortes Home with Flood Damage Be Repaired?
Flooding can sometimes feel like an overwhelming emergency. Contact Team SERVPRO for certified water removal technicians and efficient services.
Flood Restoration of an Anacortes Home is Possible Thanks to SERVPRO’s Expertise
Flood damage to an Anacortes home may look like the house is a total loss. Debris, sludge, and the presence of bacteria may look like water restoration is impossible, but only a certified water restoration team can make that assessment. Before you give up on restoring your water-damaged home, make a call to a leading water damage restoration crew and let them recommend a course of action to save your home and belongings.
In Anacortes, flood damage emergency services are available to you by making a call to SERVPRO. Our staff is available around the clock to bring the latest in flood damage restoration and water damage repairs into your home. Once we arrive at your home, we don personal protective equipment and start to identify the extent of the damage and the steps we need to take to restore your home while mitigating your loss. Our intervention is carefully documented, and our team is ready to help with your insurance claim process.
What does flood damage restoration entail?
Each situation is unique, and our SERVPRO team handles them accordingly. However, a few core processes are common to most, if not all, flooding situations. Those include-
Extracting water from the home using powerful pumps and discarding it according to environmental and local regulations.
Cleaning each surface from sludge and removing any debris remaining in the home. As warranted, we may suggest move-out services to store or clean specific items off-site and keep them safe until the house is ready.
Application of anti-microbial solutions to control bacteria growth, especially mold, is a common consequence of any event where humidity levels rise dramatically.
SERVPRO of Skagit County is your premier flood restoration partner in your time of need. Call us at (360) 873-8744 and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”
Mold Removal in a Mount Vernon Home Is Not a DIY Project
Discovered a recent mold infestation in your home? Contact Team SERVPRO right away to investigate the extent and remediate the mold damage.
Trust SERVPRO for Mold Removal if you Live in Mount Vernon
Mold infestations can happen to any homeowner in Mount Vernon. The age of the home, leaks, and the weather can all contribute to creating a hospitable home for mold spores to grow. Mold remediation, however, is not for just anyone to tackle. As easy as it may look, mold removal goes beyond wiping down a surface with a store-bought solution. In reality, it requires expert assessment and intervention to avoid an escalation of the problem.
In Mount Vernon, call our mold removal team at SERVPRO for the best advice. When you reach our 24-hour line, you gain access to a group of experts trained to understand the repercussion of mold growth in your home. We also count on the best equipment and techniques in mold remediation, all focused on its removal and preventing a recurrence. To achieve our goal, we focus on the following throughout our work:
Addressing the source of the problem, namely the cause of increased humidity and other factors that make your home a suitable environment for mold growth.
Separating unaffected areas from your home by creating physical barriers and interrupting any house-wide ventilation that helps mold spores travel freely through your house.
Attacking mold colonies by soda blasting or sanding them. We follow their elimination with anti-microbial solutions to discourage future growth.
Once mold growth blemishes an area greater than ten-foot square, please consider professional assistance. Many homeowners pay more in the long run when demolitions and build backs are needed after an unsuccessful mold remediation.
It doesn’t matter how mold made it into your home; SERVPRO of Skagit County is here to help eliminate it. Call us at (360) 873-8744 and let our staff help protect you from the undesirable consequences of mold in your home.
Torrential Storms in Mount Vernon Can Cause Flood Damage
When your basement has flooding, secondary damages can quickly ensue. Tackle flood damage by contacting SERVPRO right away for services.
Restoring Water Damaged Homes in Mount Vernon Is Less Overwhelming with SERVPRO’s Help
Sometimes it is not only the storm's size but also the frequency with which rain falls in Mount Vernon that ends up causing water damage to its homes. Rising water levels can be behind basement flooding, and the storms can easily make their way through windows and doors, leaving you in need of a professional water damage restoration. When you need emergency services following a water event, make sure to select a team known for its knowledge and expertise.
In Mount Vernon, flood damage is no match for SERVPRO and our staff of experts. When the incident requires sewage cleanup and disinfecting, our crew is ready for it. Thanks to our training with leading experts in the industry and our past on-the-job experience, we have a clear understanding of the essential steps to conducting a successful water damage restoration in your home. Starting with industry-grade equipment and following the latest techniques, we handle the following aspects in the course of addressing flood damage in your home:
Water extraction- pumps of varying sizes along with specialized equipment such as extraction wands and drying mats help us take care of the unwanted water in your home.
Drying-air circulators, dehumidifiers, and desiccants all help us dry the air and contents of your home and restore humidity to their normal levels.
Disinfecting- flood water contains bacteria, and its spread can be not only bothersome but also harmful. Issues like mold can cause effects to your health, making swift action extremely important as soon as outside water finds its way into your home. To help, we apply antimicrobial solutions to discourage its growth.
The team at SERVPRO of Skagit County is your best ally when storms fall upon your home. Call us at (360) 873-8744 and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”
What Should I Do if I Need Water Damage Remediation in Anacortes?
When a pipe bursts, there is the potential for many gallons of water to be dumped on your floor. Contact team SERVPRO for effective water removal.
SERVPRO Can Assist You with Emergency Services for Water Damage in Anacortes
When most people think of water damage remediation, they think of major problems when a building gets flooded after it suffers from burst pipes. However, other incidents could occur that aren't as big but still cause some of your contents and building materials to get wet. For example, any of your appliances that use water, like your washing machine, could malfunction and become the source of a leak.
During water damage restoration in Anacortes, our SERVPRO technicians often find that appliances are common sources for leaks. If your washing machine breaks and leaks moisture into your home, it could just affect your laundry room. But, if the issue does not get fixed soon, the water could start to spread into other rooms of your house.
If the water leak gets any of your building materials, such as your walls or carpets, wet, it is wise to call in a professional restoration company like SERVPRO. We are available 24/7, and we can assist you with the following to help with any type of water leak:
Water Damage Restoration
Water Clean Up
Water Removal Services
Basement Flooding Cleanup
Ceiling Repairs from Water Damages
If any organic building materials like wood or paper items get wet, they can develop mold if they are not dried out in less than 48 hours. Therefore, our main goals are to extract liquids and set up drying equipment to get moisture levels down to normal as soon as possible.
If any of your appliances ever happen to malfunction and leak out water, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Who Can Help with Fire Damage Restoration at my Mount Vernon Home?
Affected by a recent fire? Contact team SERVPRO to aid in fire damage remediation in your home. Our certified technicians are standing by.
SERVPRO Can Provide Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup in Mount Vernon
During the summer months, outdoor cooking can create a risk for having a fire start on your property. When the weather is nice, many people choose to cook on outdoor grills and smokers, posing a danger if something goes wrong. If the grill or smoker is left unattended, they could ignite fuels in your yard, and then the fire could spread to your deck or home.
During fire restoration in Mount Vernon, our SERVPRO technicians will first make your property safe for workers and occupants. We can fully inspect your property and look for things that could cause electrical shorts or other hazards. If the fire started from outside your house and part of your structure is exposed, then we can board up the holes to secure your property during the work process.
Once we make sure your home is safe for our crew, we can conduct the following services:
If the fire started by a grill outside and then spread to your house, your home has a good chance of major structural damage. When this occurs, we can remove all of the burnt debris like your charred exterior walls. If structural components like your wall studs and roof trusses got affected, we can either sand them down and treat them or remove pieces to get rebuilt.
If grilling outside ever creates a fire disaster, it is wise to call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Who Do You Call for Water Damage Remediation in Mount Vernon?
Water removal is the critical step for water damage remediation. We have the necessary equipment and technicians to handle the task. Call right away.
SERVPRO Can Help You with Burst Pipes in Your Mount Vernon Home
Everyone has been in a situation where you walk through a certain part of your house, and you notice that there has been a water leak. Due to gravity, any time moisture enters a structure, and it first accumulates on your floors. Your flooring can get saturated in some cases, and you could see standing water on your floors.
During water removal in Mount Vernon, our SERVPRO technicians first extract any standing water that is found. If there are more than two inches of standing water, we can remove it using a submersible pump.
These pumps can be fully submerged in water and pump it into one of your sewer drains at a rapid rate.
Once all of the standing water gets removed, we can perform other procedures to extract water from your flooring. In rooms of your house with carpet, we can utilize a heavy-duty extractor with various extraction tools based on the type of carpet you have. For thick carpets, we can use deep extraction tools that use the operator's weight to compress carpets and the suction power from our truck-mounted extractors to remove moisture from your carpeting.
Once we get all of the liquid H2O extracted, we can then continue with our services by providing the following:
Ceiling Repairs from Water Damages
Basement Flooding Cleanup
Water Removal Services
Water Damage Repairs
If you ever step on a carpet and find that your foot is wet from a water leak, it is wise to call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
How Can Attic Flooding Impact the Entire Anacortes Home?
When your attic is flooded, quick action is required. Our team is ready 24/7 365 days a year to tackle your emergency.
SERVPRO Restorers Have Extraction and Drying Tools to Help After Flooding in Anacortes Properties
Standing water is possible in attics after water penetration following severe weather events targeting Skagit County. When water pools in finished or unfinished attic spaces, specific extraction devices must reach these upper levels with their confined space restrictions. Some of these tools include:
High-pressure pumps
Truck-mount extractors
Wet vacuums
Light wands
Water Movement Through Unfinished Attic Space
Flood damage in Anacortes homes that originates in the attic can spread to the lower levels quickly with an unfinished attic. The only lines of defense for the rest of the house after water penetrates this storage area are insulation and the ceiling system. Leaks and drips from this ceiling indicate that a problem exists with the roof and attic.
Ceiling Repairs Necessary After Leaks
With a general contractor license, our professionals can provide several repair and reconstruction services for damaged homes after flooding. Roof repairs are common in attic flooding situations, but so are the ceiling systems that can absorb a damaging volume of water as it migrates to the lower levels of the property.
Whether it is cleaning up after flooding or rebuilding the house, you can trust in the fast and reliable response of our SERVPRO of Skagit County team to help. We are ready 24/7 at (360) 873-8744.
The Importance of Content Protection After Mount Vernon Office Flooding
Was your office recently flooded? Team SERVPRO is standing by with water removal equipment and trained technicians ready to help!
We Have Methods for Protecting Vital Documents and Equipment in Mount Vernon Office Flooding Situations
After flooding in an office building, the focus is the measures possible to get the facility back up and running at full capacity. Entrusting this outcome to SERVPRO means you are getting efficient efforts from certified technicians prioritizing your pressing concerns.
On-Site Relocation Solutions and Strategies
When equipment and other vital items become victims of flood damage in Mount Vernon offices, our professionals must respond fast to help. As part of our mitigation approach, we can relocate items in the path of migrating water to prevent unnecessary loss.
Pack-Out Process and Advantages
When substantial exposure occurs and the likelihood of contamination is high, we have leading cleaning professionals and certified technicians at our nearby SERVPRO facility to offer focused cleaning and restoration efforts. Some of these actions include:
Surface cleaning
Deodorization
Disinfection
Drying
Move-Back Inspections and Actions
With the actions taken to protect documents and equipment from the office building, certain clearances are required before these items return. As is the case with mold and fire damages, flood-damaged items require staging and inspection before loaded onto transports for reinstallation in the office.
From content relocation to move back, protecting the items that matter most in a flood is a trusted action for SERVPRO of Skagit County restorers. We can help when disasters strike – give us a call today at (360) 873-8744.
Fire Damage at Your Mount Vernon Home? SERVPRO is Here to Help
Fire damage in your home can be overwhelming. Call in the experts for help. SERVPRO will make the process easier.
SERVPRO Technicians are Fast to Respond After Fire Damage at Your Mount Vernon Home
Fire damage at your Mount Vernon home can cause smoke and soot to deposit on the contents, including your expensive appliances. If you delay the restoration process, it can cause irreparable damage. SERVPRO technicians have expertise in restoring appliances after a fire incident "Like it never even happened."
The residue left on appliances after fire damage to your Mount Vernon home can be difficult to remove. SERVPRO technicians use wet cleaning agents and polishing agents to clean these surfaces in fire-damaged homes. The material used in the construction of most appliances includes metal, glass, plastic, or composite materials. SERVPRO technicians understand the chemistry of these surfaces and use various cleaning agents and techniques that are most effective for the surface involved.
How SERVPRO technicians clean appliances during the house fire cleanup of your Mount Vernon home?
Cleaning appliances after fire damage to your Mount Vernon home requires patience, expertise, and the right technique. SERVPRO restorers use the following methods during the fire restoration process-
Use Water-based Detergents- SERVPRO technicians use these cleaners if the smoke damage is mild and mostly consists of dry residue. Abrasive foam pads are often used to dislodge the particles while using these agents.
Use Alkaline Cleaners- If the residue after a fire and smoke damage is heavy and greasy, it requires aggressive cleaning agents. The high pH of these agents (pH = 13) helps to cut through the greasy residue and speed up the cleaning process.
Use Abrasive Cleaners- Technicians use these agents when the heat from fire damage has caused yellowing of the surface. The abrasive agents can gently scrub the surface, removing any stains in the process.
If your business is overtaken by water, you need to call the professionals. Call SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.
SERVPRO Saves Time and Money for Anacortes Businesses During Water Damage Restoration
Water damage restoration of your Anacortes commercial space can be expensive and time-consuming. You need professional restorers from SERVPRO who can begin restoring your property in no time to prevent any additional loss. After all, We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
Drying the property and its contents as fast as possible is the top priority of SERVPRO restorers during water damage restoration of your Anacortes property. Restorers can achieve effective drying only by establishing a proper drying system during water damage restoration. As the moisture evaporates from surfaces, the air becomes moist, and evaporation slows down. SERVPRO techs need to dehumidify the air to maintain a high drying rate throughout the water damage mitigation process to bring the moisture level to a preloss condition as soon as possible.
How SERVPRO Technicians Dehumidify Air During Water Cleanup of your Anacortes Office?
SERVPRO water damage restoration experts in Anacortes use either of the following two types of drying systems to dehumidify air-
The Open System- This system uses outside air to reduce the humidity of the indoor air. The humid air inside the structure is exchanged for drier outside air. Such a system works best if the structure has proper ventilation and the outside air has a high temperature and low relative humidity.
The Closed System- In such a system, the affected area is closed off from other areas and needs dehumidification equipment. SERVPRO technicians control the indoor air movement with air movers and dehumidifiers to make such a system effective. Such a system is effective when-
Outside conditions are not acceptable.
Leaving the structure open is risky for security reasons
Don't let mold wreak havoc in your business. Call the experts at SERVPRO.
SERVPRO Provides Mold Inspections and Documentation for Mount Vernon Commercial Customers.
With the moist conditions we experience in Mount Vernon, especially during periods of heavy rain, it is not surprising that many commercial buildings experience mold infestations from time to time. Mold colonies need warm, moist conditions with an organic food source. These conditions are prevalent in most business and commercial buildings.
SERVPRO provides mold removal services to commercial business customers in Mount Vernon. Many of our customers are unaware that local and state laws require mold inspections and documentation based on their size if mold colonies are found. Mold can cause health effects for your customers and employees.
We can help you follow the legal requirements and remove the mold colony. Our services include:
Mold Inspection
Mold Remediation
Mold Removal
SERVPRO removes the mold infestation without damaging the underlying structure depending on the infestation size, location, and surface type of the materials. We use a combination of solutions, including soda blasting and sanding and negative pressure areas, to protect the remainder of your building and contents. All materials removed from the building are bagged and disposed of in a manner consistent with local guidelines.
Call SERVPRO of Skagit County for flood damage in Mount Vernon and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (360) 873-8744.
What Does It Take For Complete Fire Restoration in Mount Vernon Homes?
Fire damaged home? Team SERVPRO can quickly assess and remediate the fire damage so you can finally get back in.
SERVPRO Helps with More than Just House Fire Clean-Up in Mount Vernon
After a fire breaks out, it can spread quickly through your home, damaging everything in its way. Even when the blaze is stopped before the structure is compromised, you have to face the challenging task of cleaning up and removing charred materials. On inspecting the loss site with every surface or item covered in residues and debris from the fire and smoke damage, you might conclude that the task is insurmountable.
Fire damage restoration in Mount Vernon is easier when adequate resources are available. SERVPRO uses a variety of tools and cleaning methods, thus simplifying the process. For better clarity when performing the restoration, we divide it into different groups of tasks like:
Pack-out and pack-back
Demolition
Structure cleaning
Content cleaning
Segmenting helps simplify the work because it is easy to focus on each stage, minimizing confusion and repetition of work. For instance, when our SERVPRO technicians pack out items, it creates room to perform demolition and structural cleaning without the need to keep shifting things out of the way. It also permits the use of potent cleaning methods such as power washing without harming vulnerable items. SERVPRO handles a variety of issues, including:
Excess water in a commercial setting can create damage for both contents and structure. Contact SERVPRO for water removal without adding any delays.
SERVPRO Simplifies Water Damage Remediation in Large Anacortes Properties
When you have a vast unused property such as a warehouse, you may hesitate to perform maintenance for every issue that arises because of its cost implications. However, when there is a case of water intrusion, delaying water cleanup and other remediation processes is likely to lead to extreme outcomes, including losing customers in the future.
Performing timely water damage restoration in your Anacortes warehouse is one way to ensure the facility is attractive to potential clients. Apart from the main features, such as the total square feet available for storage, clients also consider other aspects such as a properly ventilated property.
Delaying water damage repairs creates a chance for issues like mold development and rotting of structural materials. Apart from ruining the facility's visual appeal, such deterioration leads to the development of bad odors, which can be difficult to eliminate, causing potential clients to think the property has a ventilation problem. Our SERVPRO technicians provide sufficient resources like truck-mounted water extractors and commercial-grade air movers, and dehumidifiers to remove water and dry the building. Our service is useful when dealing with:
Burst pipes
Ceiling leaks
Cleaning up after a sewer backup
With help from SERVPRO of Skagit County, it is easy to perform water damage restoration. Call us at (360) 873-8744 when you need assistance.
Is Floor Removal Challenging After Flood Damage in Mount Vernon?
Did recent flooding affect your living space? Call our certified SERVPRO team for effective water removal and remediation services 24/7!
SERVPRO Simplifies Water Clean Up Including Removal of Damaged Materials from Mount Vernon Homes
In the central suburbs of New York City, just north of the Bronx borough, lies Mount Vernon City. It has a population of slightly over 67,000 according to a 2019 estimate, with a density of 15,330 people per square mile. Initial settlements in the area started around 1664 when families arrived from Connecticut. It became a city in 1892.
It is one of the cities named in honor of the first President of the United States. The name Mount Vernon was adapted from Washington’s plantation in Virginia, where he was laid to rest. The neighboring Wakefield, located in the Bronx, is another city named after a different plantation where George Washington grew up.
Tulip Festival and Tulip Festival Street Fair
The Tulip Festival and Street Fair are two popular yearly events that have helped make the city popular beyond the region. The events started in 1983 and 1984 respectively and focus on various aspects, including art, photography, garden, clothing, and specialty foods, among other things. The Tulip Festival Street Fair hosts over 140 artisan vendors, food trucks, live music, and children’s activities in the historic downtown area of Mount Vernon.
The fair started small, with just a small number of tables on the sidewalks but has grown to cover over half a mile with food trucks, non-profit group displays, and live entertainment. The festival is among the largest outdoor art events in the Northwest Washington area.
Where to Spend Quality Time in Mount Vernon
There is plenty to do in the city all year round, whether you are visiting or staying. Some of the distinguished things you can do include:
Enjoy A Cup of Coffee
The Ristretto Coffee lounge & wine bar is a cozy, European-styled coffee lounge located in the heart of the downtown area. It is a nice place to relax, reading a book, or meeting with friends.
Visit a Brewery
Over the years, Mount Vernon has become a beer destination with the introduction of several brewpubs. The oldest is Skagit River Brewery, located in the downtown section. Others include Temperate Habits Brewing, Farmstrong Brewing, and North Sound Brewing.
Stroll Along the Riverwalk
One great way to explore the outdoors is to take a walk along the Skagit River. You can walk along any downtown street where the wide promenade offers clear riverfront views.
How Does SERVPRO Help with Floor Removal After Flood Damage in Mount Vernon?
Floor materials are highly vulnerable when properties flood because the water tends to accumulate on such horizontal surfaces. It is difficult to salvage materials such as carpets, pads, and engineered wood since they are damaged extensively by excessive moisture and contamination.
Removing ruined materials after flood damage affects Mount Vernon properties is also challenging unless you have the right skills and equipment. SERVPRO provides such resources to guarantee better outcomes from the flood restoration exercise. Our technicians use pressure washers to clean off mud or sludge from the floors before embarking on the demolition process. For carpets and pads, we cut them into small square pieces for easier removal and disposal. Our services are helpful when dealing with:
SERVPRO has the tools to find any trapped water. We are standing by 24/7 to take your emergency water damage call.
Mount Vernon businesses can suffer from moisture damage trapped in structural cavities.
Our fast-responding SERVPRO team can work quickly to overcome surface water concerns and pooling with premier extractors. Mitigation can pave the path for efficient drying solutions, which often starts with detection devices like thermal imagery and hygrometers to track moisture migration.
What Tools Get Used for Water Damage Remediation in Mount Vernon?
We strive to overcome water damage in Mount Vernon businesses by addressing trapped moisture pockets found with discovery tools. Moisture monitoring tools can target caches trapped in structural cavities behind surface material. With metal track framework, the main moisture concerns exist with deteriorating drywall and other high porosity building materials. Several tools in our inventory or tactics play a part in evaporative drying of trapped moisture, including:
Affected by a recent fire? Contact our team for fire damage remediation and to help with any insurance claim photos or assessments.
Our experienced smoke remediation professionals can thoroughly clean Mount Vernon homes after a fire.
Fires can be a devastating force that leaves multiple layers of damage to contend with in area homes. As fast as our professionals respond to these emergencies, we still have considerable work to do from emergency services through deodorization. We can help with:
Fire damaged homes
Fire and smoke damage
Smoke remediation
Fire damage restoration
What Does Smoke Remediation Entail for Mount Vernon Properties?
We can help by cleaning soot-laden surfaces with abrasive products and media blasting to overcome harsh odors left behind after a fire. Our experienced fire damage restoration professionals can help to identify correctable fire and smoke damage and implement mitigation and restoration strategies to make it "Like it never even happened."
No matter what damage your home experiences after a fire, you can count on our experienced SERVPRO of Skagit County team to help. Call us today at (360) 873-8744.
Can Emergency Services and Water Damage Mitigation Help Anacortes Homes?
Make sure that the water damage remediation company that you hire has the equipment to do the job right. Contact SERVPRO immediately.
Our fast response to Anacortes properties can get vital mitigation efforts started quickly.
A fast response is essential to protect homes during water damage restoration. Our experienced team can provide a knowledgeable presence to protect your home and its belongings for:
Water damage remediation
Burst pipes
Ceiling leaks
Basement flooding
Emergency services water damage
Flood restoration
What Emergency Services Water Damage Helps Anacortes Homes?
When you consider water damage restoration in Anacortes properties, the first initial stages are often the most critical for restoring the house and keeping its occupants safe. Emergency services water damage encompasses the entirety of our mitigation steps, beginning as soon as our SERVPRO team arrives for water damage restoration. One of the most prominent of these actions is water removal services.
What Tools Are Best for Extraction and Water Removal Services?
Standing water presents the most direct damage possibilities to your home or business following situations like burst pipes or ceiling leaks. Because absorption is a considerable threat to high porosity materials like flooring and drywall, removing any pooling should be a priority. Our SERVPRO team utilizes multiple tools and instruments in the extraction and water removal services process. Success in this venture reduces out-of-pocket expenses for customers, and the time water damage restoration ultimately takes. Some of the equipment used in this process includes:
Is Content Relocation Needed After Basement Flooding?
Protecting your personal belongings is a priority of responding technicians during water damage restoration. To many homeowners, the state of their items and possessions can often carry more weight than the structure itself. We fixate on the most direct cleaning practices after water damage events, which begin with determining if personal belongings are within the damage path of migrating moisture. On-site relocation can often resolve these potential issues before irreparable damage occurs. Content relocation can also happen to our nearby SERVPRO facility for focused cleaning, drying, and storage. Once water damage restoration occurs, we can return these removed items to your home in their original positions.
How Does Controlled Demolition Help After Burst Pipes?
Burst pipes and basement flooding can both be almost immediately overwhelming and damaging. Directly exposed materials can begin to absorb the standing water immediately, compromising their integrity and allowing for deterioration. To combat this, our SERVPRO team must determine where and if controlled demolition is necessary. Our general contractor license can allow for a more significant number of specific services involving repairs and rebuilding a property after a water damage event. Repairs to the plumbing, interior walls, flooring, and ceiling materials can often follow:
Burst pipes
Ceiling leaks
Cracked fixtures
Basement flooding
Because water damage restoration can be such a pressing need for homes and businesses in the area, our SERVPRO of Skagit County team stays ready to respond 24/7. We have talented professionals accredited in multiple facets of water damage cleaning, drying, and reconstruction. Give us a call anytime at (360) 873-8744.
Who Can Professionally Restore a Mount Vernon Business After a Fire?
Recent fire and residual odor? Call our certified technicians at (360) 873-8744 to tackle the fire damage right away.
SERVPRO is Ready to Restore Mount Vernon Commercial Venues with the Latest in Restoration Techniques
Just as you selected the venue where your business operates, you should also take great care in choosing a professional fire restoration team to restore it. Even when the damage appears unsurmountable, taking quick action is the first and most crucial step in resuming normal operations. Review the qualifications of your selected team carefully and trust their experience and knowledge.
In Mount Vernon, fire damage restoration can be delegated to SERVPRO and our certified team of technicians. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certifies our staff in the latest techniques and industry best practices, which become available to you as soon as you call us for help. In the course of us working in your business, you should expect the following:
A thorough cleanup process inclusive of vacuuming with specialized equipment and application of industry-grade cleaning solutions on each surface
Removal of damaged items and creation of a staging area to clean and store those we salvage
Application of deodorizing techniques
SERVPRO of Skagit County works in your best interest. Call us at (360) 873-8744 and let us do what we do best.
Did your home have a water damage incident? Call SERVPRO right away for remediation services. We are available 24/7.
Explore Mount Vernon and its Natural Beauty
Mount Vernon, also known as the City of Tulips, is one of the two main cities in the Mount Vernon- Anacortes area in the state of Washington. It is also the county seat of Skagit County and the Tulip Festival Street Fair host, which happens annually. Many may not realize that the town was once named the Best Small City in America.
Mount Vernon celebrates E.G. English and Harrison Clotheir as its founders and honors George Washington by adopting his plantation's name. Life in this town grew around the Skagit River, and logging was its primary industry. However, it was also the river that stunted its growth. A log jam prevented larger vessels from traveling through it, naturally capping its potential. In the 1880s mine, activity seemed promising, but it was short-lived. It wasn’t until 1891 that the Great Northern Railway built a line through the town that the businesses and population began to boom. Main Street, a courthouse, and a schoolhouse were among the first buildings to cement Mount Vernon as a city.
From its inception, Mount Vernon has been vulnerable to flooding due to its proximity to the Skagit River. When heavy rain causes water levels to rise, city residents find themselves using sandbags and other measures to create a barrier. In 2007, city officials took it a step further by purchasing a mobile floodwall from Norway, making it the first of its kind in the U.S.
Skagit County has some strategic advantages embodied by Mount Vernon as its County Seat. As a whole, the region has a thriving economy centered around manufacturing and agriculture, and maritime activities. Most recently, businesses focused on sustainability, and clean energy have also emerged and are gaining as an economic force. The service industry- mostly tourism and retail- also plays a pivotal role for communities throughout the County. A clear example is Sedron Technology, which focuses on providing clean water to third world countries and is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Other advantages to living and working in Mount Vernon and its surrounding areas include:
Midway point between Seattle and Vancouver
Access to several international airports
Proximity to world-class higher education
Let Mount Vernon become part of a balanced way of life. Enjoy its beautiful landscapes and thriving economy amidst like-minded neighbors.
Which steps should a homeowner take after water damage?
In a place like Mount Vernon, where water damage is a real possibility, it is reasonable for homeowners to have a safety plan in place. If you find yourself with stormwater coming into your home, enlist the help of our professional staff at SERVPRO. Through our formal training and on-the-job experience, we are familiar with the challenges of extracting water from homes in the area. Our expertise prompts us to arrive at your home with the latest equipment, including:
Truck-mounted pumps to remove large volumes of water and allow connectivity to municipal sewage
Besides our extraction equipment, our professional team guides you through any specialized drying needs you may have, such as documents and electronics. It is precisely our knowledge base that marks a difference between a short-term fix and a long-term solution.
Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 whenever you face water damage. Our expert team is ready around the clock to work for you.
Excess water and flooding? Contact Team SERVPRO at (360) 873-8744 for flood damage cleanup today!
Flood Damage is No Match for SERVPRO – Let Us Handle the Cleanup in Anacortes!
Anacortes residents feeling overwhelmed with flooding after a storm have a friend in SERVPRO. We feature skilled technicians and all the right equipment to take on the cleanup and damage restoration for you. Once you call, you will see that We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster!
To get your home back on track, initiate cleanup by calling us to address your flood damage in Anacortes. We want all area residents to know the best steps to take should you be faced with an emergency after a storm:
Place a call to SERVPRO to mobilize a team that we can send out to your property.
Take safety precautions and beware of any downed power lines, broken glass, electrical wires, and more.
If you can safely move around your property, take photographs of the damage for your insurance claim.
Do not move through floodwaters, as this can spread potentially harmful contaminants from the flood zone into other areas of your home.
Once disaster strikes, it is nice to know that you have a team waiting to help with your flood damage cleanup needs. SERVPRO of Skagit County is available 24 hours a day for emergency service by calling (360) 873-8744.
Professionally Restore Your Home After Fire Damage
Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County for fire damage remediation services. We are standing by 24/7 for your call.
Mount Vernon Residents Look to SERVPRO for Rapid Fire Damage Restoration Services
A house fire not only devastates your belongings or the structure of the building, but you also have to worry about lingering smoke odors or moisture left from water extinguishing the flames. The best way to ensure your Mount Vernon home gets the attention it deserves is by calling in the help of skilled SERVPRO technicians.
Part of our fire damage restoration efforts in Mount Vernon will be addressing your carpeting, draperies, and upholstery. Some of the common causes of damage to these porous materials include:
Saturation from water or chemicals uses to fight the flames
Exposure to fire or heat during the event
Stubborn soot and smoke residue that accumulates on surfaces
Dyes within the materials that may bleed and stain
Our team at SERVPRO is made up of technicians with training to handle all kinds of materials. We take the time to test fibers to eliminate the possibility of further damage while cleaning. This helps us to confirm if any issues may occur, including browning, shrinkage, and more.
Fire damage restoration is something SERVPRO of Skagit County excels at. If you require prompt attention after tragedy strikes during a fire in your home, call us at (360) 873-8744, and we will deploy our team as soon as possible.
Has your property been affected by flooding? Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County right away for flood damage clean up.
Your Mount Vernon Home Deserves Skilled Flood Damage Restoration After a Significant Storm
Mount Vernon is one of a pair of principal cities within the Washington Metropolitan Statistical area. Located within Skagit County, this city had a population of 31,743 when the 2010 United States Census was taken. Mount Vernon is also the county seat, and the downtown area is well-known for the popular Tulip Festival Street Fair that takes place annually. According to the New Rating Guide to Life in America’s Small Cities, Mount Vernon took the number one slot as the “Best Small City in America” in 1998.
Learning More About the Early Days of Mount Vernon, Washington
Several notable events helped to shape Mount Vernon, Washington, as it is known today, including:
In 1870, Joseph Dwelley and Jasper Gates settled on the banks along the Skagit River.
Harrison Clotheir arrived in the region in 1877 as a teacher and went into business with E. G. English, who was a former student. Later, they got recognized as pioneer businessmen and founders of the city.
In November of 1877, a post office got established where Clotheir was appointed the postmaster.
On June 27, 1890, the very first general election took place in Mount Vernon for the selection of local officials.
July 5, 1893, is when Mount Vernon became officially incorporated.
In 1912, the population was listed at 2,600 people by the Sanborn Map Company.
Interstate 5 got built throughout downtown in 1969, which opened up farmlands and severed it from a portion of the residential district.
Looking at significant events, major flooding occurred in Mount Vernon in 1892 and 1894. These floods brought about construction for a sizable levee system here in 1894. Also surrounding these flooding events, homes were constructed on what is known as “the hill” to avoid further catastrophes.
Don’t Let Flooding Overtake Your Mount Vernon Home
When storms bring floodwater to your Mount Vernon property, contacting SERVPRO gets you the prompt action and skilled technicians you want on the job. We will make it “Like it never even happened,” so that your home gets back to normal faster.
Right after you call us for flood damage in Mount Vernon, we arrive quickly and begin muck-out services to jump-start the cleanup addressing things like:
Mud
Debris
Silt
Dirt
Foliage
Our extraction efforts begin as soon as possible to inhibit the onset of potentially harmful mold and costly secondary damages. Natural flooding from a storm brings the potential of viral pathogens and bacteria. Some materials, including saturated drywall, must be removed entirely and replaced with our controlled demolition methods.
We select extraction tools depending on the severity of the situation, the solids or debris present, and location. Simultaneously, we set up dehumidifiers and air movers to help bring down the relative humidity and moisture within the home.
After a storm, never stress over flood damage cleanup. SERVPRO of Skagit County is here for 24/7 emergency service for extraction, drying, and restoration. Call (360) 873-8744, and we will have a crew deployed to your location within hours to get started.
It will be exciting to see the community visiting the Lincoln Theatre!
Check Out the Current Events at this Mount Vernon Landmark
The Lincoln Theatre began its notoriety as a vaudeville and silent movie house. It is an architectural delight in the modified Renaissance Revival style. It opened on April 21, 1926. Over time it has seen its share of vaudeville shows, silent movies, and “talkies.” It was so well known that many films would open there, including The Jazz Singer with Al Jolson and the Shirley Temple movies. The original Wurlitzer Organ, which was purchased in 1926 for $22,500, can still be seen today. There are only 98 of them still in their original theaters in the United States.
Today, with the quarantine going on, you can still see shows. They are live streaming from the theater and will resume their regular schedule as soon as possible. For more information, visit the Lincoln Theatre website or contact them at (360) 336-2858.
SERVPRO Provides Water Mitigation for Mount Vernon Residents
Something as simple as a dishwasher overflowing can cause water damage to a home. Moisture quickly seeps under flooring and cabinets. If not removed, this fluid can warp flooring, damage things like cabinets, and cause mold to grow. SERVPRO of Skagit County can take care of the problem with professional water mitigation. Contact us at (360) 873-8744.
SERVPRO is looking forward to seeing the fun at the San Juan Islands!
Anacortes Folks Can Take a Trip to the San Juan Islands
Taking a jaunt to the San Juan Islands and traveling aboard the Anacortes Ferry is a great way to spend the day. When planning your trip, you should make a vehicle reservation. This can be done from the Washington State Ferry website and is free. The actual fare depends on the size of your vehicle. Walk-ons and passengers do not require a reservation. Here are the locations the ferry goes to:
Shaw Island
Orcas Island
Friday Harbor
Lopez Island
Sidney, BC, Canada
If you want to walk on and take a trip, there are taxi and limousine services waiting on the other side. You can also rent mopeds, cars, or bikes. You can contact the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau for more information at (888) 468-3701 ext 1 for more information.
SERVPRO Provides Flood Damage Services to Anacortes
Skagit County is prone to flooding, and SERVPRO is here to mitigate the flood damage when that happens. We provide emergency services around the clock. If you have experienced flooding and need cleanup services, contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
SERVPRO Provides Professional Fire Damage Restoration for Mount Vernon Residents
Fire damage can catch you when you least expect it. Contact our experienced team to remediate right after the fire fighters leave.
When Fire Strikes Our Technicians Are on the Scene Implementing Emergency Mitigation in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, WA, is a beautiful town and the county seat of Skagit County. It is well-known for its Tulip Festival Street Fair. The New Rating Guide to Life in America’s Small Cities voted it #1 in 1998 as the “Best Small City in America.” It is a delightful place to live and visit.
The Beginning of a Town
In 1870, on the banks of the Skagit River, Joseph Dwelley and Jasper Gates decided to begin a new life. It was the first settlement in the area and would be the start of Mount Vernon. E.G. English and Harrison Clotheir came to the settlement in 1877. Clotheir arrived mainly to teach school but also went into business with English. The two men became pioneer businessmen and founders of the city. Clotheir was also appointed the local postmaster in 1877. The two men designed the plan for the city and they named it after George Washington’s plantation and resting place, Mount Vernon.
Logging & Mining Develops the Area
The first industry in Mount Vernon was logging. The area was heavily timbered, and camps were set up to clear the town of the trees. Because of the logging camps, the city grew rapidly. Saloons, hotels, and the English & Clotheirs’ store were constructed. Everything was moving along when a massive log jam stopped large ships from coming portside. To deliver mail, the mail carriers were stuck paddling canoes down-stream to the neighboring Skagit City. Other things that impacted the area included:
Ruby Creek Mining Activity – spurs growth in 1880, brought a new hotel to the town, but the mines were shallow.
Other Logging Operations – These were established but not profitable
Low Population – By 1881, the population was 75.
Steady Growth Begins
Although 1881 saw only 75 permanent residents through the rest of the 1880s, growth was steady. This decade would see the following:
The Odd Fellows Lodge, 1882
The Skagit News, the 1st newspaper, 1884
Baptist church, 1884
Mount Vernon’s future looked bright when it was chosen for the Skagit County seat, which had been La Conner.
The Railroad Comes to Town
One of the primary reasons Mount Vernon was able to expand and develop was its location. It was close to the eastern and central parts of the county, and hence their farming, mining, and logging communities. The city also had access to Puget Sound. In 1889 an appointed committee began negotiating with the railroads. In 1891 the Great Northern Railway lines were completed. They tried to get a second railroad to lay track, but that never came to fruition. With the railroad came hundreds of new businesses, and with that, folks began to move into the area rapidly.
Fire & Riverfront Eroding Causes Problems
While many cities boomed in the 1890’s Mount Vernon never experienced that because they had a stable economy. This was in great part due to the railroad. On July 5, 1893, the city was incorporated. In 1891, the first of several fires destroyed waterfront property. That year would see Front Street and part of Main Street destroyed by waterfront erosion. Thankfully, the buildings were quickly replaced due to money from the railroad’s construction. Other important events that took place were:
Brick schoolhouse built in 1891
Mount Vernon Opera House
Construction of other civic buildings
Slow growth after Panic of 1893
Large flood in 1894
First dike built following the flood
Fire Strikes Again & Again
In 1900 another serious fire struck Mount Vernon. This fire wiped out all of the original structures, including Ruby Hotel and English and Clotheirs’ Store. More downtown businesses would be destroyed in 1903 by another blaze. A water system was finally put in place in 1902.
The Historic Lincoln Theatre
If you head over to First Street, you can see the Historic Lincoln Theatre. It was built in 1926 and was a silent movie and vaudeville house. It would remain a movie theater through the 1980s. Today locals can see concerts, live theater performances, and movies throughout the year. It has an original Wurlitzer theatre organ. Only 97 other theaters across the United States still possess one of these organs. They were played to open a show.
Mount Vernon Fire Department
Early fires caused a lot of damage and loss to the city. Today the Mount Vernon Fire Department proudly protects the citizens of the city with three fire stations. Each station is manned around the clock and has both EMTs and paramedics on all shifts. They are available with:
2 Fire Engines
A Ladder Truck
A Battalion Chief
Their mission is to “protect the lives, property, and environment of Mount Vernon and to minimize losses when emergencies occur.” They strive to make a difference in their community.
SERVPRO Provides Fire Damage Restoration in Mount Vernon
Once the MVFD does its part in putting out the fire, the cleanup is left. That is where SERVPRO comes into the picture. When the go-ahead is given to enter the premises, our technicians get busy. We enact emergency mitigation, such as boarding up and dealing with safety issues. We then proceed with putting your home back to normal. It includes:
Removal and disposal of charred debris and unsalvageable content
Water extraction using truck-mounted or portable pumps
Drying the premises with industrial-strength air movers and dehumidifiers
Cleaning the home with various methods, which can include soda blasting and wire brushing
Pack out of content to our warehouse for cleaning if needed
Controlled demolition to help with drying and restoration as needed
Repair and restoration of structural elements
It is our mission to restore your home as quickly as possible. You are dealing with enough problems if you have experienced a fire. We take as much of the stress of cleaning up off your shoulders as we can. Let our experienced technicians mitigate your fire damage. Restoration is our specialty. Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
It will be exciting to see the community at the truffle making classes!
Mount Vernon’s Forte Chocolates Offers Truffle Making Classes
On Saturday, December 12, Forte Chocolates on Riverside Drive is hosting a truffle-making class that allows participants to take home a full box of handmade artisan chocolates. This course is a creative and fun way to create and take home an unforgettable holiday gift.
Forte’s confections, concocted by master chocolatier Karen Neugebauer, have won over 40 awards, including dozens of national and worldwide bronze, silver, and gold awards from the International Chocolate Awards and the London Academy of Chocolate.
Gold-medal-winning sweets include:
Rosemary caramel with orange
Dark chocolate sea-salted caramels
Lemon pepper dark truffles
Cherry almond truffles
Mount Vernon locals are warmly invited to learn about this fun yet challenging craft from one of the premier chocolatiers in the Pacific Northwest. If you find that you enjoy this craft and want to pursue it further, Forte Chocolates offers quality baking chocolate and molinillos, or chocolate frothers, for purchase.
SERVPRO of Skagit County offers rapid water damage mitigation for Mount Vernon homeowners when they call (360) 873-8744.
SERVPRO is looking forward to the annual Tree Lighting Parade in Mount Vernon!
The Mount Vernon Downtown Association is Hosting Its Annual Tree Lighting Parade
The Mount Vernon Downtown Association (MVDA) 2020 annual tree lighting ceremony and holiday parade are scheduled for December 6, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This event kicks off with the parade at 5:00. The tree lighting is to be held in Pine Square after the procession finishes.
The MVDA accepted applications for the following categories of commercial and non-commercial participants in the event:
Marching bands and other forms of live music
Drill teams
Floats
Walking groups
Pine Square is also hosting a holiday choir and a visit from Santa Claus for the kids during the tree lighting event. This annual event is packed with both local holiday traditions and family-friendly fun for all to enjoy.
SERVPRO of Skagit County performs rapid-response mold remediation for Mount Vernon properties within hours of your call. Contact the team at (360) 873-8744 to get started.
Helping Anacortes Homeowners Reduce Repair and Replacement Costs
Facing hardwood flooring water damage? Contact our experienced SERVPRO water damage remediation team for services.
SERVPRO of Skagit County Restores Anacortes Homes When Property Owners Call (360) 873-8744
The West Coast island town of Anacortes, Washington, was incorporated in 1891 after settlers moved to Fidalgo Island to promote the location as a stop for the Northern Pacific Railway in 1877. Once railroad development began in 1888, real estate and the overall economy boomed but declined once the real estate bubble burst. The industries that have historically helped Anacortes thrive most are fishing, canning, and lumber processing.
Today, this idyllic island town is home to an estimated 17,000 people as of 2019. Its largest industries rely on oil refining, ship and yacht building, and tourism. Two of Washington state’s five major oil refineries are stationed near the town, owned by Shell Puget Sound Refinery Company and Marathon Petroleum.
The location and Mediterranean climate in Anacortes allow for year-round enjoyment of a plethora of activities, which include:
Whale watching near the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Travel to the nearby San Juan Islands, including Cypress Island, which can easily be seen from Anacortes
Sailing, yachting, and other recreational boating activities
Enjoying several parks, such as Washington Park, Volunteer Park, Anacortes Community Forest North, and Cap Sante Park
Exploring scenic Mount Erie
Anacortes also derives a significant amount of its economy from providing residences for employees of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor.
The Evolution of Anacortes
Centuries before American settlers founded the town, people from the Swinomish and Samish tribes lived on Fidalgo Island. In particular, the Samish took advantage of the abundant cedar growth in the area to craft longhouses hundreds of feet in length. The most notable one existed on Guemes Island until well into the 1900s.
The name Anacortes is a neologism honoring founder Amos Bowman’s wife, Anne Curtis Bowman. Before it was coined as such by settlers, the town was referred to as Ship Harbor. Bowman’s vision for Anacortes was to turn the island locale into a “New York of the West.” Unfortunately, this dream would lead to an economic downtown that preceded the nationwide economic recession in 1893.
Over the next several decades, however, the town would recover and thrive on the abundance of fish, lumber, and other natural resources available for processing and manufacture. Shell Oil and Texaco purchased land in the area to build refineries in the 1950s. While the ownership of these refineries changed hands over the years, petroleum remains a mainstay industry in Anacortes.
Anacortes is the hometown of several notable people, such as:
Animator and cartoonist Craig Bartlett, creator of Hey Arnold!
Television personality Jake Anderson, most known for his work on Deadliest Catch
Writer Richard Bach, author of such bestsellers as Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Olympic gold medalist and rower Donald Hume
Acclaimed singer Kathi McDonald, of The Ikettes and Big Brother and Holding Company fame
Fishing in Anacortes
Anacortes’ island topography and proximity to the ocean means that fishing has been part of life for as long as humans have settled in the region. The San Juan Islands, including Fidalgo Island, is home to a diverse array of both flora and fauna, including the following fish and crustacean species:
Blackmouth salmon in the winter months
King salmon and spring chinook from late summer through autumn
Halibut and lingcod in spring and early summer
Dungeness crabs and prawns for crab and shellfish enthusiasts
While the Mediterranean climate in Anacortes is not ideal for ice fishing enthusiasts, winter fly fishing is common. One of the best spots for this pastime is easily Pass Lake at Deception Pass State Park on Fidalgo Island’s southern tip. Many of the fish in the area are caught for sport and food, particularly the salmon and crabs. Fishing charters embark all year round in the region, and one-day fishing licenses are easy for tourists to acquire. Many charters even provide equipment and aid with cleaning and dressing catches so that guests can take them home.
Some of the best bait fishing locations include Lake Padden and Campbell Lake. Fly fishers may find the aforementioned Pass Lake to be a year-round source of quality fish. Cranberry Lake at Deception Pass is another popular fishing spot. Just south of Anacortes are even more lakes to explore for fishing opportunities. Fishing aficionados new to the area can benefit significantly from procuring a copy of Terry Sheely’s Washington State Fishing Guide.
Can SERVPRO Restore Water-Damaged Hardwood in an Anacortes Home?
SERVPRO technicians perform water cleanup Anacortes with the affected materials in mind. This team’s approach focuses on restoration over replacement when feasible. Fortunately, in many instances, hardwood flooring is salvageable with the help of industrial-grade tools and the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-accredited mitigation technicians.
Hardwood flooring undergoes the following to remove moisture and ensure that the subflooring underneath is clean and dry:
If the water damage is small in scale, individual planks can be removed for drying and reinstalled. In more widely affected spaces, rubber drying mats are utilized to suck water out with the vacuum hose on a portable or truck-mounted extraction unit
Planks that experience slight warping or cupping can be sanded and refinished as needed. In cases of extreme warping, cupping, or cracking, however, replacement is recommended
Water pooling in the subfloor can be addressed with a squeegee wand
Microbial growth is treated with EPA-registered biocides
Because hardwood floors, especially those with a vapor barrier sealant, tend toward being low evaporation surfaces, extra care during extraction makes drying with desiccant dehumidification and air movers more efficient.
SERVPRO of Skagit County leaves disaster-affected homes looking and feeling, “Like it never even happened.” Homeowners in need of mitigation and restoration from certified professionals can call (360) 873-8744.
Annual Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting in Mount Vernon
SERVPRO is looking forward to Mount Vernons Annual Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting.
Mount Vernon Kicks Off the Holidays with Fun Festivities in Pine Square
Christmas is a magical time for adults and kids alike. Everyone enjoys getting out, seeing the lights, and doing some holiday shopping. The town of Mount Vernon knows how to start the holidays with pizzazz. It all starts on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 5:00 PM . This family-friendly event includes:
A tree-lighting ceremony
Holiday Choir
Festive lights
Parade
Visits with Santa
The Mount Vernon Downtown Association enjoys putting together this delightful event each year. It is a much-loved holiday tradition for the city. It all takes place in the downtown Pine Square. So grab your Santa hat and the entire family and head out for a night of festive frolicking.
SERVPRO of Skagit County provides flooding restoration to the Mount Vernon community. Our elves work hard all year round to ensure any fire and water damage is mitigated professionally. We hope to see our customers at the Tree Lighting. We can be contacted at (360) 873-8744.
Does Flooding Always Need to Be Addressed Immediately?
SERVPRO can waterproof basements and encapsulate crawlspaces to protect against flood damage in Anacortes homes.
Flooding does not always destroy an Anacortes home, but it should get dealt with as soon as possible by competent professionals.
Flooding is always a situation that can potentially cost Anacorteshomeowners a substantial amount of money and time in restoration when the situation gets mismanaged. Natural remedies for flood removal and drying are not thorough. The process needs to be more direct. As a leading flood restoration company in Skagit County, we have multiple strategies for determining water migration throughout the property and the most efficient approaches for removing floodwater and preparing the house for the drying and cleaning stages to follow.
Flood damage in Anacortes homes might not always be as recognizable and alarming as other property owners experience. With that thought in mind, it is tempting to consider allowing nature to resolve the situation instead of putting the money into professional restoration services. Unfortunately, you cannot always account for the speed or reliability of natural drying, and there are many areas of your house that flooding could impact without clear initial signs, including:
Often, homeowners are left with the impression that flooding happening away from the house's literal living space is manageable without professional intervention and experience. The crawlspace is primarily designed to keep the bulk of the property raised and protected from floodwater threats that could impact structural elements like supports, joists, and subflooring of the main level of your house. The development of microbial hazards in this area or the excessive moisture and saturation of structural elements like supports for your home present direct risks to the occupants in the main living space. Some of the ways to manage water removal, drying, and fungal threats include:
Encapsulation is one of the services that prevent moisture from becoming a recurring threat in the crawlspace. By covering exposed surfaces in plastic and installing water diversion and removal tools, homes can stay protected from the possibility of flooding.
What Makes Attic Flooding Difficult To Track?
Attic flooding often occurs in many ways, ranging from the slow deterioration of these building materials to allow water penetration to the more abrupt and unexpected structural compromise that can come from high winds, torrential rains, or even heavy snowfall. Despite how much water these vulnerabilities in the roof can allow into your home, you still might not immediately recognize a problem. You should remain diligent, especially during and shortly after powerful storm systems pass through the area, to inspect for:
Damp Ceiling Materials
Sagging Drywall
Bloating/Swelling
Visible Water Stains
Leaking
Because many homeowners have not finished their attic space and converted it into more livable square footage for the property, you might not inspect this area of the house as often as you should. If you encounter any of these indicating signals, you should notify our SERVPRO team as soon as possible.
One o the concerns with basement flooding is how many different ways that these situations can develop. Neglected and mismanaged water heaters in the basement level can malfunction and flood the area, but among the most common threats are drainage backups into this subterranean level and groundwater forcing its way through below-grade blockwork used as wall systems for the basement. When you do not recognize these situations right away, the most immediate concerns are the elevation of relative humidity throughout adjacent areas of the structure. Increased moisture content becomes a catalyst for the development and spread of mold colonies.
How Can Our Fast Response Help?
Because we can anticipate poor weather conditions that can result in natural flooding and structural damages for your home, we can mobilize quickly in these circumstances. When you discover water penetration into any part of your home, professionals must arrive promptly to begin mitigating these losses through repairs to the structure, extraction of standing water, and removing any threatened contents that might be in the way. Because we have more experience in flood restoration than homeowners, we can begin with the most pressing concerns that threaten your property.
As you can see, it is critical for you to act as soon as you suspect that flooding might occur. While it might not always be a forceful and direct loss incident, unaddressed flooding can create even more challenging circumstances like widespread mold and microbial growth. We have Water Restoration Technicians (WRT) on our SERVPRO of Skagit County roster ready to respond when you call (360) 873-8744.
Who Can Quickly and Professionally Help Mitigate Water Damage in My Mount Vernon Home?
On your bucket list, put SERVPRO for water damage cleanup and restoration of your Mount Vernon property
SERVPRO Technicians Are Highly Trusted Professionals Who Provide Timely Water Removal and Restoration for Mount Vernon Homes.
When your Mount Vernon home is unexpectedly invaded by water, it's hard to know who you can trust to respond quickly and professionally. SERVPRO uniformed professionals are highly trusted and extensively trained in water removal, cleanup, and damage mitigation.
How to Help Prevent Costly Water Damage Repairs
Not all water damage repairs in Mount Vernon are caused by unexpected major events like flooding. Harm can be the result of a leaky roof, an old pipe, a broken water heater, or other issues. These problems can require expensive property repairs without appropriate water damage mitigation. These are the signs that you may look out for to protect your home:
Moldy or musty smells in your property
Dark spots on your ceiling or walls
The sound of dripping or running water
A sudden increase in your water bills
Puddles that return after you have mopped them up
Rust on metal surfaces
SERVPRO trained technicians in Mount Vernon have expert water removal training and techniques. Many of our professionals are certified by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.) They utilize advanced water detection, removal, and drying equipment to help mitigate water damage and prevent further costly repairs.
What to Look for in a Water Removal and Damage Mitigation Specialist
How do you know you can trust the water removal company you engage to handle your water damage problems?
Water removal and damage mitigation specialists should have extensive training and continuing education.
They should understand and use IICRC best practices.
Specialists should be available 24 hours for emergency services.
Water removal and mitigation professionals must provide timely and effective services.
SERVPRO professionals match all of these qualifications. If you find water damage in your home, act before it becomes an expensive repair. Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Where Can Homeowners Go to Restore Their Fire-Damaged Residences?
The situation can feel overwhelming when your home is affected by fire damage. Call SERVPRO for effective remediation services.
SERVPRO Technicians Can Return Mount Vernon Residences to a Clean, Safe Condition Ready for Occupation Again.
Where Do Technicians Begin?
SERVPRO technicians start in Mount Vernon homes with a checklist to ensure thorough restoration, no matter the disaster. It allows our teams to carefully clean the home, remove debris, and perform other tasks as rapidly as possible.
Initial Contact – A homeowner’s call starts it all. Our operator has a set of questions that tells technicians what equipment and other resources to bring, such as generators, foggers, and cleaners.
Inspection and Damage Assessment – The team leader inspects the home to ascertain the scope of damage from the fire and how to restore the home.
Securing the Home – Fire can damage doors, roofs, walls, and windows. Securing the home with plywood and tarps can prevent further damage from trespassing, animal intrusions, and the weather.
What Comes Next to Restore an Area Home?
Water Removal – Homeowners are surprised to discover that the water to put out the fire can also cause damage. Quickly removing it with pumps and extractors can reduce further damage to walls, flooring, and structural framework that the fire did not touch.
Smoke and Soot Removal – Technicians use sponges, cloths, water, and cleaners to remove smoke and soot residues from the floors to the ceilings, and most personal property surfaces.
Clean and Disinfect – Technicians clean and disinfect all restorable personal and structural items affected by the fire. Technicians use cleaning agents not available to the general public with industrial-grade equipment to restore the property to its pre-fire condition.
Physical Restoration – This final step is where technicians make each home look like it did before the fire. Actions include replacing carpets, hanging new wall panels, painting, and installing new plumbing.
Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 today to schedule a service call for your home. We are here to return your residence to its pre-fire condition as quickly as possible.
What are the Three Primary Phases of Water Mitigation in Mount Vernon?
Water removal is essential to mitigating the situation after a flood. Contact TEAM SERVPRO immediately. We are available 24/7.
Preparing your Mount Vernon property for restoration and recovery after a disaster requires several initial steps.
After a water disaster of any kind, your Mount Vernon home can begin to absorb moisture and adversely react to these changing conditions. Even with a prompt reaction to the situation, the recovery of these events often demands the knowledge and experience of professional restoration technicians like our SERVPRO team. Because we stay prepared for these situations at all times, we can mobilize quickly even when emergencies occur after traditional operating hours. The initial actions taken to protect your property set the tone for the entire restoration process.
Water mitigation in Mount Vernon properties is a critical element to all restoration projects. These preliminary actions reduce the potential for the situation to get out of control and prevent more materials and areas of the house from becoming impacted by unexpected emergencies like pipe bursts, appliance failures, and leaking fixtures. Mitigation involves several individual actions working as part of a whole to protect the damaged property from further irreparable harm. Stages involved in these processes include:
Job Scoping
Water Removal
Repairs/Controlled Demolition
Is Job Scoping Necessary?
A pre-restoration evaluation of the property ensures that the right measures protect and restore an impacted home. Often this assessment occurs before physical mitigation begins, as this inspection catalogs several aspects of the work area. By determining specific data points and tracking the damage's progress, our SERVPRO professionals can better understand what must get done. There are several tools used and evaluated aspects of a water-damaged property, including:
Moisture Detection Tools – Determining the severity of the moisture and dampness damages to exposed surfaces, contents, and the open environment is critical. While extraction might have to happen first, evaluations with detection devices show pockets of moisture that must get addressed before microbial growth results.
Structural Integrity – Severe water damages can often quickly compromise structural elements throughout the residence. This can be evident when materials begin to sag or collapse entirely.
Pre-Existing Conditions – Not every concern we find during our inspection resulted from the water disaster, which can be vital in finding the most efficient approach for reaching preloss conditions.
Content Damage – Your personal belongings can often hold as much importance as the entire structure, meaning that we carefully inspect and evaluate these items' conditions for restorative actions that might be necessary.
Are Different Machines Necessary for Water Removal?
Extraction is one of the foundations of efficient water restoration for your Mount Vernon home, meaning that the most suitable machines must get selected based on the current conditions. While electric submersible pumps often play the most significant role with standing water without the threat of debris and solids, extenuating circumstances could make other extractors in our inventory more suitable options instead. The position of the damaged areas, the accessibility of the work zone, the amount of standing water, and several other factors play a role in choosing the best extraction device. Some options include:
High-Pressure Pumps – When you consider the likelihood of water to migrate and collect in your home's basement, or when pipes burst on the second floor of the house, long-range pumps offer a greater lift. These units efficiently remove clean water from damaged areas without losing power.
Self-Priming Trash Pumps – Power is not always readily available after water disasters, making the management of this resource critical for our SERVPRO team responding to the situation. Self-priming trash pumps run on gas, meaning that more outlets and available electricity from portable generators are available for other tools.
Truck-Mount Extractors – These are the most powerful tools in our arsenal for removing water, and we can use these machines to extract at 300 psi. Thousands of gallons of water can get moved quickly, making these options ideal for widespread and severe loss incidents.
Why Do Repairs Happen Before Other Restoration Tasks?
Repairs must often occur before almost any other restorative actions occur because vulnerabilities continue to threaten the property otherwise. Breaches in the plumbing can continue to feed water to the damaged areas, and repairs also allow for the re-pressurization and restoration of the water service to the house.
While multiple actions describe water mitigation, this entire phase and stage of the restoration process is critical to saving customers time and money. No matter how severe damage might be in your home, you can count on the fast and experienced response of our SERVPRO of Skagit County team. Give us a call anytime that you need us at (360) 873-8744.
The SERVPRO mobile app--ERP--Emergency READY Profile Plan--can help Sedro Woolley Homeowners Prepare for Flooding and its Detrimental Effects
SERVPRO Can Remediate the Flood Damage in Your Sedro Woolley Home!
Living in Washington State by Sedro Woolley can open your home to many heavy rainstorms. Unfortunately, if you live in an older building, this can cause some issues. Visualize an older roof, finally giving way under the weight of pooling water, and allowing it to leak into your home. You notice water begins to drip down into your bedroom from the ceiling.
Our flood damage remediation services for Sedro Wooley are expert-tier. SERVPRO technicians are well trained, and we use advanced technology to ensure the best service possible. If you need flood damage remediation, get in touch with us.
If you know a severe rainstorm is on the way, you can do a few things to be prepared for the damage your home could face.
Keep a list of emergency numbers
Consider having spare water and food, in case of an extended power outage
Consider calling for assistance, anticipate flooding risks
While not all rainstorms are severe or lead to electrical utility loss, it is always good to be prepared. Having bottled water and nonperishables handy can ensure you don’t need to rush to a grocery store when everyone else is. SERVPRO suggests contacting our office to set up a scheduled appointment for demonstrating our ERP Plan. The Emergency READY Profile Plan can help prevent, or at least mitigate, damages caused by intruding water, fires, or even mold.
What Can SERVPRO Techs Do Once They're Here?
Once our highly trained technicians get to your home, they can get to work right away. We can start by:
Covering the hole on your roof with tarps, to try and stop water from getting inside
Employ wet/dry vacuums to remove water from between your walls, your ceiling, and your bedroom floor
Use air blasting tubes to get dry air into hard to reach places (injecti-dry advanced devices)
Here at SERVPRO, we are dedicated to helping you reduce excess moisture in your home and prevent mold damage. If you go through an unfortunate flood loss event, get the help your home deserves!
Get in touch with SERVPRO of Skagit County by calling (360) 873-8744. We're here for you!
Are You Prepared for Flooding with Your Handy ERP-SERVPRO'S Emergency READY Profile Plan? If not, in Mount Vernon, Call Us for a Free Consultation.
Your First Move Should Be To Contact a Reputable Mount Vernon Commercial Floodwater Removal Service.
Periodic flooding is just a fact of life in this part of the Pacific Northwest, and Mount Vernon, prone to the same excessive yearly rainfalls as the rest of the region, is no exception to this. In the spring, flood risks are especially significant as mountain snows melt and flow down into the Skagit River. However, the risk of flooding is always relatively high because of the area’s heavy rainfall throughout the year. Considering all this, it behooves local business owners to adequately anticipate and prepare for flooding, well before it happens. These measures help them avoid flood damage altogether or substantially mitigate it. With that said, if your business is ever impacted by floodwaters, contact a proven removal service for help.
What Makes SERVPRO Better Than Other Local Floodwater Removal Services?
Your neighborhood SERVPRO has built a strong reputation as one of the best Mount Vernon floodwater removal services. Time and again, we have proven both our dedication to pursuing excellence and to our customers’ satisfaction. Some of the many positive characteristics of SERVPRO are:
We are a local company, comprised entirely of caring experts who live near your business, so our technicians are faster to your location than most other services
Our experts are known for their skill in removing floodwaters, effectively dealing with biohazards, and remediating flood damage
Company workers are equipped with specialized commercial-grade remediation equipment like massive truck-mounted extractors that can rapidly remove large amounts of standing water from large commercial structures; and powerful low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers that can quickly condense moisture out of the air to levels below forty grains/pound
We offer 24-hour emergency service
These attributes have made us highly successful in handling flooding events at commercial sites. As a result, we have been able to save and effectively restore a wide range of businesses, including small retail shops, big box stores, office buildings of all sizes, and hotels.
What Specific Training and Industry Knowledge Do SERVPRO Technicians Have?
Company professionals receive both extensive in-house company training and take certification courses provided by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Our company trains them in such things as water restoration, mold mitigation, and carpet & upholstery cleaning. We also offer our employees continuing education in these subjects. Some of the various IICRC certifications they study to receive are:
Water damage restoration
Applied structural drying
Applied microbial remediation
Odor control
These highly-valued industry certifications are indicative of our technicians’ wide-ranging floodwater damage remediation knowledge.
Looking Ahead, How Can I Prepare My Business for Potential Flooding?
According to SERVPRO, there are several ways to protect your commercial site from potential flooding and mitigate damages. These preventative methods range from the innovative to the conventional and include:
Creating a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Plan (ERP) for your business, which concisely lists all contact information and critical details about your property, before disaster strikes, so that a plan of action can quickly be implemented when a flooding event occurs
Inspecting and making sure your drainage systems are in good working order to reduce the speed at which your business becomes inundated with water
Repairing any damage to your structure's foundation to reduce the chance of floodwaters seeping into your lower floors
Protecting the perimeter of your property with sandbags to divert floodwaters away from your business structures
Covering all windows, doors, and service entrances with plywood in order to prevent as much stormwater from entering your buildings as possible
Although nothing safeguards your property completely from a flood, these measures should substantially reduce your chances of suffering a flood’s maximum effects.
How Can the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile App Help Me Limit My Losses in a Flood?
The Emergency READY Profile App is one of the newest tools in our arsenal. It establishes your neighborhood SERVPRO as your remediator, sets up a plan of action before disasters strike, and helps speed up response times whenever problems do occur. On the app, you can create and store crucial information like key contacts, property floorplans, utility shutoff sites, local weather, damage photos, and other things of importance. In the end, this all enables our experts to respond to and resolve your flood issues as soon as possible, thereby saving you money in the long run.
No one likes to think about their business flooding, but it pays to do so and plan ahead. With anticipation, you can often save your commercial enterprise and limit flood-related expenses at the same time. Remember, if a storm ever inundates your business, your friends at SERVPRO of Skagit County are here to help. Call us at (360) 873-8744 for assistance.
Why Do I Need Water Damage Services After A Fire In Anacortes?
Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 for expert fire damage service.
Anacortes Homes That Experience a Fire Almost Always Need Water Damage Help – SERVPRO Can Help
Anacortes was founded in 1879 by a railroad surveyor and is part of the beautiful Puget Sound. Located on the north shore of Fidalgo Island, it has a stunning view of the Salish Sea. But being surrounded by water doesn’t mean fires do not happen. They do, and they can be deadly.
Shouldn’t I be Worried About Fire Damage?
Most people do not think about dealing with water damage when a fire rages through their home. But firefighters use gallons of waters and chemical agents to put out the flames. Yes, you are left behind with intense fire damage in Anacortes, but there is also water intrusion to worry about.
Which Do You Deal with First?
Fire damage recovery is hard enough to deal with; water incursion makes the situation even worse. Before our crews can clean up fire residue, they need to deal with water problems first. Water used by firefighters can cause:
• Water collecting in wall and ceiling cavities cause structural weakness. • Electrical risks. • Increased risk of falls, slips, and tripping. • Mold and mildew if the water sits for any length of time. • Contamination from biohazards, chemicals, and toxic substances such as lead and asbestos.
SERVPRO Can Handle Both Fire and Water Damage
While removing the excess water takes precedence many times, several crews can work in different areas. It is often possible to start working on things like charred remains removal while dealing with water. You can rest assured our professional team has a plan to take care of clean up, repair, and restoration.
A fire disrupts every aspect of your life and leaves you devastated. We understand that and are here to help. We strive for minimal disruption and to provide support by dealing with your insurance directly. We do nothing without your approval.
Fire Cleanup Helps Mount Vernon Businesses Get Back In The Game
No Mount Vernon business owner wants to face the after-effects of smoke damage to their property. Unfortunately, even if businesses take steps to prevent and remove fire hazards, there is always the risk of a blaze. Thankfully, SERVPRO of Skagit County is on hand to help with remediation.
Business owners in Mount Vernon sometimes ask if professional fire cleanup is essential, especially if it was small and easily contained. SERVPRO’s answer to that question is a resounding yes. An expert cleanup crew has access to the best equipment and cleaning materials for the job, which means a better outcome for your business.
Why Is A Professional Cleanup Service Best?
Professional cleanup is the best option after an incident because a trained cleanup crew has extensive knowledge of the task at hand. Unless you have trained to be a fire remediation professional, you cannot know all of the things you need to look for.
Here are some reasons to choose the professional option every time:
• Professional crews have access to a range of equipment for scrubbing, deep-cleaning, and thoroughly deodorizing premises after a fire • Trained teams are equipped with all the necessary breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment to clean up safely • Professionals know about the hidden effects of fire damage and can check for such effects • Experienced technicians are better judges of which items can be saved and restored which means you do not have to spend as much money on replacements
What Are Some Hidden Effects Of Fire Damage?
Soot damage is easy to see as it leaves behind a dark residue. However, there are some other effects of a fire that are not immediately visible:
• Microscopic soot particles – not all soot damage is visible, and smoke has a way of getting into materials • Strong odors – smoke leaves behind a distinctive smell which can be hard to get rid of • Corrosion – smoke, and soot, can destroy materials and cause long-term damage • Sticky residue – smoke residue can be tenacious and hard to get rid of
SERVPRO’s trained fire cleanup crews are aware of all the possible dangers and fully trained in the safest cleaning methods.
How Does SERVPRO Clean Fire Damage?
Our fire cleanup teams have a wide range of cleaning options at our disposal.
The first step in cleaning is to assess the situation and draw up an individual plan for your business. We will make your building safer if needed by boarding up windows or placing a tarp on the roof. We will also set up a staging area to use as a base for our operations and keep the rest of your premises protected.
We use vacuuming to capture loose soot particles and remove them from surfaces. Some residues are bonded too deeply to the surface, however, and vacuuming is not adequate. In such cases, we use wet cleaning to dissolve and loosen dirt, and then we rinse and dry the surface.
Our teams have a range of solvents and lubricants available to help dislodge stubborn smoke residue and leave surfaces clean. We train our technicians to assess residues and work out the more appropriate cleaning solution, strength, and application length.
Working with trained professionals, dramatically reduces the risk of corrosive damage from cleaning products, which is a genuine risk if you try and clean up the soot residue yourself.
How Can You Be Better Prepared For Fire Cleanup?
Of course, you hope you will not be in a position to need fire cleanup services. However, it's always better to be prepared for a disaster than to find yourself caught short.
One way to help your business prepare for fire cleanup is to make use of the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan (ERP).
To take part in the ERP program, simply set aside time to walk through your facility and fill out all the information we ask. You can sign up for a free account and download the ERP app to make this process easy. Once you have your profile set up, follow the on-screen prompts to capture and fill out the information about your business premises.
You can use this information to build a comprehensive file that contains all the information your staff will need in the event of a fire. Your profile includes everything you need to take fast action if there is an incident, including where to find shut-off valves and exit points, how to navigate the chain of command, and who to contact. Your ERP also establishes us as your go-to fire restoration experts so you can get the help you need quickly.
In the case of fire, time is of the essence. If you need a fire cleanup, do not wait. Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 today.
Who Do I Call for Late-Night Water Damage Mitigation?
Commercial Businesses Rely on SERVPRO's We Faster To Any Size Disaster culture to keep their doors open for business in Mount Vernon
Restoration Techs Provide Mount Vernon Businesses with Water Damage Repair
Restaurants are among the Mount Vernon businesses most commonly-affected by water damage. Whether the cause is a burst pipe in a restroom or a sink overflow in the kitchen, fast cleanup that is performed to code is a must for keeping employees and customers safe.
What Should I Avoid Doing During a Toilet or Sink Overflow?
If the toilet is the culprit, do not flush. A toilet overflow can indicate a plumbing issue that may be easily fixed by flushing. It is possible that flushing can worsen the problem.
Do not handle unclean water on your own. Even seemingly clean toilet water can hide microbes that may not be safe to handle without proper personal protection equipment.
Do not attempt plumbing repairs. While clogged pipes are a common cause for concern in fixture overflows, this may not always be the issue. Have a certified professional service your plumbing to determine the cause.
How Can SERVPRO Dry My Business?
SERVPRO utilizes two types of equipment together for structural and contents drying: air movers and dehumidifiers.
Air movers encourage the evaporation of water into the air by pushing it off of surfaces with a powerful fan. This process then allows dehumidifiers to isolate the moisture from the air for removal and replaces it with warm, dry air. This process is accelerated even more with moisture extraction tools.
Technicians use precise calculations to determine both the placement and proportion of air movers and dehumidifiers. The variables involved can vary depending on the extent of the water damage as well as the type of dehumidifier used. Some dehumidification units use refrigerant coils, while others may use desiccant materials like silica gel.
SERVPRO of Skagit County is proud to bring business owners service that is Faster to Any Size Disaster when they call (360) 873-8744.
How Can I Clean My Soot Covered Hardwood Furniture After Fire Damaged My House?
Hardwood flooring and furniture can be restored after a fire. SERVPRO has the know-how to clean your belongings.
For Fire Damage Restoration of Affected Furniture Inside Your Mount Vernon Home Call SERVPRO
Some of the most severe problems that can occur inside your Mount Vernon house after items burn are smoke-related issues. Smoke consists of partially combusted particles that can leave behind unpleasant aromas, soils, and soot residues.
How can you tell if my hardwood furniture can be cleaned and saved?
During fire damage restoration efforts in Mount Vernon, contents like your wooden furniture items can often be refinished and cleaned. The type of finish significantly affects the cleanability of an item and which methods we use. For example, unfinished wood can be porous, so it is not wise to clean it with water-based detergents. The extent of the damage can also be a factor affecting whether an item needs replacing or not. If your furniture was close to the heat source, the surface could have blistered. The exterior also could have been scorched or permanently stained by the smoke.
If my furniture is salvageable, how do you clean off the soot residues?
Dry Cleaning- When dealing with unfinished or unsealed wood surfaces, our SERVPRO technicians can clean your hardwood furniture with a feather duster, cloth, a cleaning sponge, or by vacuuming with a dusting tool.
Wet Cleaning- For finished surfaces with moderate soiling, we can use a wall and all surface cleaner or a concentrated wood oil soap.
Semi-Refinishing- Heavy smoke residues may require semi-refinishing of the surfaces of your hardwood furniture items. This method includes using a wood creme paste that is a solvent-based product. The cleaner can remove an ultra-thin top layer of the surface's finish.
Polishing- Some surfaces may require polishing to remove staining and soots that adhere well to the surface. Before applying a furniture polish or lemon oil polish, we clean all the soot off the item that we can.
If your furniture got coated in soot residues or burnt debris, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 24/7.
Certified SERVPRO Clean means floodwater removal is followed up by a disinfecting process to restore your Bremerton home to a safe place.
Bring in SERVPRO Restoration Teams to Clean and Dry Your Bremerton Home
Storms are common at this time of year in our Bremerton area. High winds are usually a limited threat, with the water flooding inside being the primary source of damage.
Why is Floodwater More Damaging than Water from A Split Washing Machine Hose?
Bremerton flood damage is worse for a home because it contains a sample of everything that the water crossed before it entered your home. SERVPRO technicians know that they have to spend additional time and resources cleaning up after the dirty water and removing any debris it carried inside.
How Much Cleaning Is Needed in My Home?
Floodwater can contain soil, animal waste, weed killer, and far more. Fortunately, our technicians have access to an extensive inventory of cleaning agents designed for every type of contaminant that might find its way into your home.
As part of cleaning, our technicians also have access to an extensive equipment inventory as well. Technicians use commercial-grade vacuums to remove contaminants from carpets before disposal and for linoleum and wood flooring to clear them for cleaning. How much and how long depends on the amount of contamination left behind by the floodwater.
What About Items Like Upholstered Furniture?
SERVPRO technicians can clean and dry those as well. They can use injectors to force a cleaning agent directly into a stain on a piece of furniture and avoid the risk of affecting the color of the rest of the fabric. Technicians also have access to devices which generate a heated, particle cloud of cleaning agent that can penetrate deeply into a sofa or recliner, attacking and neutralizing the contaminate. These devices are also very useful in eliminating odors.
To get the residential restoration process started here or on Bainbridge Island, call SERVPRO of Kitsap County today at (360) 373-1290. We are here for you.
Which Restoration Company do Landlords Use for Damp Spots in Building Hallways?
To maintain a healthy building and avoid expensive costs further down the line.
When Damp Spots Occur in your Mount Vernon Tenement, Use SERVPRO for Commercial Water Damage Restoration
How Does Damp Occur in a Building?
Tenement building in Mount Vernon can undergo significant stress during their lifetime, resulting in slow leaks or insulation deficiencies. As the owner of these blocks, you may notice damp spots yourself or receive notification from tenants and leaseholders. To ensure that you maintain good relationships with your clients, and protect your building, use a commercial water restoration service. Damp spots can lead to further issues down the line if the problem does not receive due care and attention. Our water restoration technicians have experience working with commercial landlords and can isolate the cause of dampness in your building. Once the source of moisture is under control, we can mitigate losses and restore any affected materials.
Is concrete adversely affected by moisture?
Sheetrock and concrete construction materials can crack or form fissures when there is exposure to water damage in your Mount Vernon building. These cracks can lead to mold growth or, over more extended periods, affect the building's structural integrity. Sometimes the root cause of cracking in a wall is tough to locate without using advanced water detection equipment. Our technicians place moisture sensors directly onto the surface of damp walls, floors, and surfaces, which provide a temperature reading. Using these readings, our team can assess where water may be residing and perform the necessary steps to reduce any lasting damages.
How do you dry concrete?
• Place a dehumidifier close to walls to ensure that the surrounding humidity remains low • Drill small holes into the wall to allow circulation into the cavity • Utilize advanced structural drying equipment like drying mats and Injectidry systems to remove moisture from the inner wall
To maintain a healthy building and avoid expensive costs further down the line. Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 for commercial water restoration.
How Can I Dry Up Water Losses Quickly in My Mount Vernon Gym?
SERVPRO has the equipment and experts to your business needs after a water incident occurs.
Standing water and excessive moisture can lead to hazardous conditions in your gym, so our professionals can help with efficient and effective extraction and drying solutions.
No matter how water losses originated in your Mount Vernongym, how you respond to this emergency can make the difference in how much this disaster ultimately costs. For businesses like yours, the most considerable losses happen when the structure must remain shut down to allow for restoration and recovery efforts to occur. Because we recognize how water losses can devastate your gym, we work to take whatever possible steps exist to keep your doors open to your members during the restoration the building needs.
From addressing standing water concerns to utilizing multiple drying tools, our professionals take direct actions against water damage in your Mount Vernon gym. Because of the expensive equipment throughout the main areas of your structure, as well as the costly flooring material to reduce the shock on joints during cardio, we begin our restoration of your gym with a thorough assessment of the damage and the spread of water loss effects.
What are the Benefits of Pre-Job Assessments?
In nearly all of the restoration jobs that our SERVPRO team undertakes, we ensure that all of our technicians and specialists are on the same page. Through a process known as job scoping, we can compile several pieces of critical information about the current water loss and determine what personnel and equipment are necessary to make a difference. There are specific benefits to allowing this evaluation to occur before much of the mitigation or restoration processes, and these include:
Current Conditions - The most direct benefit of a pre-mitigation assessment of the property is a determination of the existing damages to the gym. These are the immediate conditions that must get addressed.
Content Assessment - With several valuable pieces of equipment throughout the facility, our content management team can determine which of these units is in harm's way. If machines can get relocated or protected from migrating water, this can save time and money during the restoration phases.
Documentation for Insurance - Because many commercial structures like yours would lean on their insurance policies to help absorb some of the costs of this restoration, this pre-job scoping process compiles the needed documentation for these insurance adjusters to approve damage claims.
How Can I Remove Trapped Water in My Gym Floor?
Some of the most significant investments that you make in your gym is in its flooring materials. Whether you go with a rollout rubber mat floor style or textured soft tiling, it is sturdy and built to last. Ideally, our responding technicians focus on addressing these moisture concerns in the flooring as soon as possible to protect this investment. Some of the tools or processes that might be a part of this include:
Air Movers - High-velocity portable turbine units blast air to specific points where moisture and dampness are concerns. If water has moved beyond the surface, centrifugal units can get directed against the subflooring.
Drying Mats - Drying these flooring materials can sometimes prove successful with the use of our floor mat drying system. These mats draw steady moisture from the affected material, which can get continually monitored with surface moisture meters.
Controlled Demolition - In some cases where water damage is too widespread or flooring materials have begun to warp and distort with oversaturation, controlled demolition is the only suitable solution. Our in-house contractors can remove only the damaged portions of flooring to make reinstallation more efficient and less costly.
How Can I Be Sure the Problem is Gone?
There are many concerns that business owners have from a disaster, even after restoration work completes. You want assurances that the money invested in drying out the gym was well-spent and that worse conditions do not await you in the immediate future. We have several tools and devices that can provide that peace of mind by showing you the extent of our drying efforts. Also, we can ensure that we have successfully addressed the cause of the water damage so that this same situation does not threaten your gym again. We utilize several strategies to give you peace of mind after restoration, including:
With effective containment, it is possible to keep your doors open in a limited capacity while restoration and drying complete. If not, we can work around the clock to get your doors back open as soon as possible "Like it never even happened." Give our SERVPRO of Skagit County team a call today at (360) 873-8744.
Can My Mount Vernon Kitchen Be Restored From a Cooking Fire?
Fire damage can be very tricky when it comes time to restore your home back. Call the team of professional from SERVPRO in Mount Vernon.
SERVPRO Can Clean and Restore Damage Done by Kitchen Fires Using Specialized Equipment and Cleaning Agents
Kitchen fires may not do as much damage as large fires but can still leave you with a mess in your Mount Vernon kitchen. Odors can quickly spread. Residue gets left on walls, ceilings, and appliances and needs removed. Our emergency mitigation handles the fire restoration necessary in your Mount Vernon home. We leave your kitchen, “Like it never even happened.”
Do I need a professional cleaner for a cooking fire?
Cooking fires in a Mount Vernon home differ from other kinds of fires. When proteins, such as meat, catch fire, the kitchen becomes coated in a fine mist invisible to the eye. These soot particles can ruin porous surfaces and leave nasty odors. There are several steps SERVPRO accredited Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) technicians follow when dealing with fire damage like this.
Inspect the area – this determines how far the soot and smoke have extended into the home.
Identify residue – more than one type of residue can exist and can call for different cleaning methods.
Identify surface types – different cleaning agents are used depending on the type of surface. Wooden cabinets are different than metal stoves or curtains.
Remove residue – capturing and cleaning the residue. A combination of wet and dry cleaning may be required depending on how the residue has bonded with the surface.
Is Fire Loss Mitigation is Crucial?
Cleaning your walls and ceilings yourself may sound like a good idea, but using the wrong cleaning material can lead to further damage. Our IICRC technicians use the proper agents to restore surfaces and tackle other problems that can occur as well.
Airborne particulates – air scrubbers may need to be used.
Immersion Cleaning – cleans non-porous items with smoke or soot damage
Neutralizing odors – includes thermal fogging, and hydroxyl generators
Fire restoration is what we do best. Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.
Why Should I Get Professional Help to Clean My Carpets After a Water Leak in my Mount Vernon Home?
SERVPRO Has the Knowledge and Professional Equipment to Help You Quickly in Mount Vernon
Even after a minor water leak in Mount Vernon, there may be extensive damage to your carpet, especially if the moisture under the carpet pads was not detected immediately. Our professionals come in, assess the situation, address the loss, and mitigate any further damage from happening, such as warped floorboards or mold growth.
What Does SERVPRO Use to Get Rid of the Water From my Carpet?
Our Technicians Use Extraction and Drying Equipment to Clear Away Excess Moisture Our IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) technicians use best practices to deal with the water damage in your Mount Vernon home. They typically extract all standing water with portable or truck-mounted extraction equipment before going about treating and cleaning the carpet. Technicians remove the pad underneath the carpet and usually replace it.
After Extraction, What Do SERVPRO Technicians Do to Treat and Clean the Carpet?
• They treat the surfaces of the carpet, first checking to ensure there is no mold or damage. • Use deodorizers and antimicrobial cleaners to treat the flooring and carpet backing. • After putting the carpet back down, treat the front of the carpet with the same deodorizers and antimicrobials. • Extract more water if needed.
After technicians treat the carpets and flooring underneath, they set about the task of thoroughly drying the room. They place air-movers around the room to forcefully push airflow over surfaces. While air movers work, dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air and exhaust warmer air, causing the carpet to dry more quickly. Using our professional services promotes more thorough restoration in a shorter amount of time than if you were to attempt it on your own.
For premium restoration services, Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744. We make it, “Like it never even happened.”
Cleaning Your Mount Vernon Business Is More Important Now Than It’s Ever Been
Your regular cleaning staff works hard already. We are here if you need a little more help.
SERVPRO of Skagit County Offers a Helping Hand During Challenging Times
Whether you have an essential business or your business is currently not operating, consider SERVPRO if you are considering bringing in extra help to provide cleaning services. Our team in Skagit County wants you to know that you are not alone learning how to reduce the chances of spreading the virus. You can count on the fact that as a leader in the cleaning and restoration industry, we have the training and expertise required to provide emergency and disaster services in Vernon.
Here to Service Essential Businesses
Our SERVPRO team is here to support Mount Vernon and all of Skagit County. We are so grateful for the essential services you are offering in our community to help maintain the health and safety of our residents. A vital service, too, our team is available to conduct deep cleaning operations in Mount Vernon around your schedule.
Recognized by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, our crew knows how to properly clean up and apply a disinfectant to all surfaces in your business. We focus on touchpoints, including countertops, doorknobs, light switches, handles, and drawer pulls. To improve air quality, we deploy high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) scrubbers that can trap 99.97 percent of the particles in an indoor environment.
When you need us, we are here to help you. Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 to talk to us about how we can be of service.
Click here for more information about Mount Vernon.
Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program
Our defensive cleaning program gives your business a way forward by providing your employees and customers ongoing safety and assuredness.
Let us help you get back to business
As our communities re-open in Mount Vernon, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.
Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.
Extensive training and specialized products
As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned. Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities.
From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.
3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify
When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.
Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials. In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible.
Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.
Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation
We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.
Call SERVPRO of Skagit County today at (360) 873-8744 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.
* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019
Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience. Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.
How Are Flood-Related Microbial Growths and Odors Dealt with at Commercial Sites?
No matter the size or scope of the water loss event, SERVPRO can handle the restoration project.
Commercial Flood Damage Remediation Companies in Mount Vernon Use High-Tech Gear to Eliminate Microorganisms and Neutralize Unpleasant Odors
When your commercial site in Mount Vernon floods, the immediate resulting physical damage is readily apparent, but that's not all of your concern. Airborne moisture brought into your building by raging floodwaters promotes microbial growths that could cause unpleasant odors, structural deterioration, and adverse health effects. Not effectively handling microbes can cause harmful effects that could appear days, weeks, months or even years after the initial flooding. Poorly trained and less experienced remediation services are often unable to deal with these microorganisms properly. Luckily, though, there are reputable companies like SERVPRO that know how to do the job properly and have the right equipment.
What are the Potential Consequences of Failing to Eliminate Flood-Related Microbes from Your Commercial Structure?
Numerous problems could develop if flood-borne microorganisms are allowed to remain in your building. So, you need the help of a knowledgeable Mount Vernon commercial flood damage restoration service. With that said, here a few of the issues that might arise from a flood-related microbial infestation:
Persistent strong, musty odors that are hard to mask or eliminate
Black, green, pink, or white stains on ceilings, walls, and flooring resulting from mold and mildew growths
Dry rot that weakens and destroys wooden structural elements
Adverse health effects impacting you and your employees
When Dealing with Bacterial and Fungal Infestations, What Equipment Does Companies Like SERVPRO Use?
Successfully resolving or mitigating the effects of bacterial and fungal infestations takes special remediation gear. Some of the tools SERVPRO uses to sanitize and deodorize your business are:
Advanced air scrubbers that remove airborne microbes/odor particles and those on surfaces around your facility
Thermal foggers that create a fog of neutralizing disinfectants, fungicides, or deodorants inside rooms of your building
Ultra-low volume (ULV) foggers, which atomize liquid disinfectants, fungicides, or deodorants and inject them into cavities and hard-to-reach places
A host of EPA and OSHA-approved deodorants, fungicides, and disinfectants
Using this arsenal of anti-microbial weapons, our technicians in Mount Vernon can often successfully eliminate most microbes on surfaces throughout your business, those in your HVAC system, and those in other difficult-to-access areas.
How Does SERVPRO's Anti-Microbial Equipment Work?
SERVPRO's state-of-the-art microbe-eliminating gear is remarkable. Our air scrubbers draw contaminated air into their series of HEPA filters, remove particles and odor-causing molecules, and blow out the clean, filtered air. First, the pre-filters remove larger particles, and a carbon filter attracts and captures odor-causing molecules. Finally, the primary filter takes even the smallest remaining impurities out of the outgoing air. Thermal foggers are also essential pieces of equipment. These instruments heat up and vaporize large volumes of solvents, making it easier for them to bond with and neutralize odor-causing particles. ULV foggers atomize deodorants and anti-microbial agents, creating a fine mist that can access hard to reach places.
Where Have We Successfully Used Our High-Tech Hardware in Mount Vernon?
SERVPRO technicians have effectively used their advanced equipment to resolve issues at a wide range of governmental, public, commercial, and industrial sites. Some of the locations we have operated at are:
Municipal offices and facilities
Universities
Small office buildings
Large office towers
Small retail outlets
Massive retail stores
Motels, hotels, and resorts
Restaurants of all sizes
Industrial and manufacturing plants
So, whatever kind of business you operate in the Mount Vernon area, help is available if you ever experience flood damage and related microbial issues.
As a business owner, you constantly concerned with protecting your investments and continuing operations. Unfortunately, unpredictable disasters can occur at almost any time. When these events do happen, they can cause significant financial losses and potential business closure. Floods are a particularly troubling threat for businesses around Mount Vernon, because the city, located near bays, lakes, and the Skagit River, is more prone to flooding than other areas. Intense storms with torrential rains and the associated snowmelt from neighboring mountains often cause floods in the spring. When this happens, your first instinct is to have the floodwaters removed, but you should also be mindful of unseen microbes and the long-term damage they can cause.
If and when your business experiences flooding, remember that there is practical help available. There are local flood damage mitigation and restoration companies with the skills and tools to help you. If your commercial property is ever affected by flooding, contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 for assistance.
SERVPRO can mitigate your flood damaged home. No Mount Vernon home has to succumb to the struggles without any help.
After Flood Damage, You Can Trust SERVPRO to Restore Your Mount Vernon Home to Pre-Loss Condition
When your Mount Vernon house gets flooded, the water interacts with your belongings and building materials in a variety of ways. Your rugs become saturated as well as anything at the water level. This exposure means that careful measures must be taken to ensure that everything gets cleaned properly. SERVPRO has the techniques and training to address all aspects of your flooded interior adequately.
What Happens with My Contents During Cleanup?
Once we address your flood damage in Mount Vernon by extracting all of the standing water and removing any materials that have deteriorated, we begin cleaning the contents of your home. This is a challenging process, but our team has steps in place that allow us to address contamination, rusting, and other forms of degradation while working on salvaging whatever we can. Some of the steps that our skilled technicians use during the cleaning process include:
• Pre-treatment of any of the washable items. We sometimes use clean water on wet fabrics to work on removing mud and other debris. • Separation of materials – salvageable vs. unsalvageable. Our team removes any items deemed unsalvageable and dispose of them so that we can decrease clutter and focus on items to be saved. • Packout services, partial or complete. Often, cleaning salvageable contents in a designated area away from the flood zone expedites the restoration process.
We understand that each flood loss incident is unique. This is why we take the time to tailor a service plan to your needs. We take the time to assess every aspect of your home to ensure all moisture is adequately addressed and that full disinfection takes place. We get you back in your home and enjoying your daily routine, “Like it never even happened.”
To deploy a flood damage mitigation crew to your property, call SERVPRO of Skagit County 24/7 for emergency service at (360) 873-8744.
How Can I Find and Remove Safety Hazards in my House After I Suffer from Fire Damage?
Let SERVPRO handle all the hard work when it comes to your Mount Vernon home fire problems.
SERVPRO Can Find and Mitigate Safety Hazards After you Have a Fire in your Mount Vernon Home
Nobody ever plans on having a fire ignite inside their Mount Vernon house, but it can happen quickly. According to statistics furnished by the Insurance Information Institute, fire departments respond to fires in the U.S. every 24 seconds, with a home fire occurring every 87 seconds.
What is a hazard?
During fire damage restoration in Mount Vernon, hazards can be defined as anything that could pose a threat or cause harm to a person, your property, or the environment. Before any work on your house begins, our SERVPRO technicians inspect your property to identify any potential safety risks.
What types of hazards can exist in my home after I have a fire?
• Overhead risks, including burnt pieces of ceiling hanging down. • Electrical shock threats from damage to wiring. • Slip, trip, and fall hazards due to loose debris. • Inadequate lighting. • Occupant or bystander safety risks during work activities.
What can you do to fix the hazards?
• Elimination/Substitution: Sometimes, our SERVPRO crew can eliminate the item causing the hazard altogether or substitute it using a safer method that can perform the same task. • Engineering: In other cases, we can design the work activity or environment to eliminate or reduce potential safety risks. • Administrative: During certain projects, we may be able to either train the employees to complete the work at hand in a safer way or schedule the workers in a way that helps eliminate any possible threats. • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): During most restoration situations, our technicians can wear PPE that will reduce health risks by creating a barrier between the worker and the hazardous environment. For example, sometimes wearing gloves and protective clothing can protect a worker from dermal exposure to cleaning solutions. If your house in La Conner or Concrete ever happens to be one of the nearly half-million houses in the country that suffer from a structural burn every year, call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
How can I Save my Home from Further Loss after Storm Flooding?
Flooding can quickly damage your home. Contact SERVPRO for water removal and remediation efforts.
Addressing Issues That Can Lead To Long-Term Problems after Flood Damage Incidents in Mount Vernon.
Flooding can happen any time from extreme weather events such as storms or even regular events such as torrential downpour. Each flood damage incident has the potential to cause long-term problems if not adequately addressed.
Keeping proper records
Although the restoration of flood damage incidents in Mount Vernon can cost much money, your insurance cover is likely to take care of the expenses. Failure to document the loss properly can lead to problems because the insurer might not cover the cost involved fully. Documentation should start before any restoration step, including water removal or repairs. Our SERVPRO technicians help document the loss by taking photos inside and outside the structure. We also take a full inventory of the contents and indicate which ones are salvageable and unsalvageable.
Contamination remnants
Flooding incidents involving groundwater leave properties contaminated with biological agents and chemicals. There is a need to clean and sanitize all the affected areas to remove such contaminants. The use of disinfectants and other cleaning agents helps deal with most contaminants. However, some contaminants can remain hidden within materials posing health risks to your family. Our SERVPRO technicians have a deeper understanding of the decontamination process. Therefore, we know which materials can be sanitized through cleaning and which ones cannot. We remove all porous materials such as carpets, pad, drywall, and insulation directly affected by the floodwater since cleaning leaves them with traces of contamination. We clean hard surfaces such as tiles, concrete, or metal surfaces with disinfectants and anti-microbial agents to remove all contaminants.
Hidden moisture
Although most of the floodwater remains on the surface of materials, porous and semi-porous materials also absorb a significant percentage. Some of the water might also filter into cavities and other hidden locations. If left unaddressed, such water can cause several problems, including bad odor, deterioration of materials, and mold. Our SERVPRO technicians use advanced moisture detection equipment such as thermal cameras and moisture meters with probes to identify such hidden moisture pockets. We use advanced removal equipment such as drying mats, and structural cavity-drying equipment to remove such moisture, "Like it never even happened."
Problems can linger long after a flooding incident. Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 to help address them. We are available 24/7.
Trust your water damaged home to our SERVPRO technicians. We arrive quickly and make it "Like it never even happened."
What Can You do to Limit Losses When Large Bodies of Water Enter Your Home?
By contacting SERVPRO, you are reaching out to a Mt. Vernon team of expert technicians with training in all aspects of water restoration. You can trust us to get the job done honestly, on-time and on-budget.
How can I prevent a water emergency in my property?
While water spills can seem like a random event or an act of god, there are many things you can do to prevent the need or water cleanup in your Mount Vernon home. Conducting regular maintenance of your property can go a long way toward preventing water emergencies from occurring, and you should take special care during the fall or winter months to avoid a costly disaster.
What can cause water damage in my home?
Malfunctioning washing or drying appliances
Pipes with poor insulation, installation or age
Large amounts of rainfall or overflowing gutters
Sump pumps as well as crawl space vapor barriers
Human errors like leaving on faucets
Road overflow, flash flooding or other external events
What should I do in a water-related emergency?
Your safety is the priority, which is why you should call your insurance provider to check coverage and then a professional restorer to perform the cleanup. In some cases, you may be able to stem the flow of water, which can be vital. You can shut off the water supply at the source or unplug malfunctioning appliances to prevent more water from releasing into the home. Closing doors and sealing them using old towels or sheets can also help to prevent the migration of water while you wait for a SERVPRO technician.
How can you extract water from the home?
Moving water can be a challenging task that requires equipment with sufficient lift capacity as well as volume. Water can damage a Mt. Vernon home vacuum cleaner while different types of water, as well as where in the house it is, can influence the type of extraction you need. Most residential properties benefit from a combination of light and weighted extraction tools. Weighted extractors are suitable for fabrics or carpets, whereas lighter wand extractors are suitable for smaller spaces where there is limited moisture absorption.
How quickly can you extract water from the home?
The initial extraction phase is possible to complete within a day. More copious amounts of standing water that reach over two inches in height may take longer; however, by using electric submersible pumping equipment, we can remove a massive amount in a short period. SERVPRO trucks have storage tanks of up to 100 gallons for clearing away wastewater from residential properties. Usually, the extraction phase is significantly quicker than the drying stage, which takes more attention to detail and expertise.
Does water damage lead to mold growth?
Increases in moisture and humidity can lead to microbial growth issues. However, these issues are not an inevitable symptom of home with exposure to moisture. The critical factor in whether or not mold becomes an issue is a time. Mold colonies take around seventy hours to form. SERVPRO can apply safe, antimicrobial chemical products to your home during cleaning that can disrupt the stages of microbial growth. By preventing mold spores from moving through the stages of growth, we can focus on effectively drying the property and eliminating the issue.
Will the interior of my home dry naturally after a water spill?
In nature, water evaporates naturally. Natural evaporation occurs because there is air movement, temperature, and low-relative humidity in outdoor spaces. Your home is an enclosed space, which means there may be areas of the home that do not receive enough exposure to evaporating naturally. Commonly, the center of the room dries without too much input, however areas beneath furniture, wall cavities, crawlspaces, or hallways can dry slowly or become damp spots, which can lead to mold issues.
How can you dry the home thoroughly to avoid microbial growth issues?
By using a combination of various pieces of equipment and knowing the evaporation process inside-out, we can effectively dry your home. Evaporating water from wet surfaces raises the indoor humidity. With little air movement, evaporating moisture can form a barrier that slows drying at a surface level. SERVPRO uses air movement equipment in combination with dehumidification equipment and temperature to ensure that we create the optimal conditions for a reduction in drying times.
What can I use to measure dryness in the home?
Borescopes for cavities or areas that are challenging to reach
Moisture meters for walls, ceilings, and floors
Moisture sensors for testing moisture content inside materials
Thermal hygrometers to assess the relative humidity within the affected area
Thermal imaging cameras to assess water migration in cavities and floor spaces.
To test if your home is adequately dry or not, you can take humidity readings from an unaffected room of the house. This reading is your home's natural humidity, which means you can use it to measure the effectiveness of the drying setup. You may also need to use invasive measures to assess wetness within walls or other cavities within the home.
Overcoming water emergencies is challenging without the correct equipment, training, and qualifications. Contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744.
Should I Invite A Professional to Remove Water Behind A Mount Vernon Bathtub?
Each of our vehicles is fully stocked with water restoration equipment. Call us for any of your water damage restoration needs.
SERVPRO Can Help Evaluate Situations that necessitate Water Removal from Your Mount Vernon Home
In an area like the bathroom where water use is constant, you might not expect water damage since engineers construct the surfaces to contain or withstand high moisture levels. Even when you notice some signs of damage, you might dismiss them as minor and thus procrastinate on finding a solution. Delaying worsens the situation since it lengthens the period of intrusion.
What problems develop when such intrusion goes unabated?
You should not postpone water removal from your Mount Vernon home for any reason. After all, the cost of confirming whether there is hidden intrusion is not as high as remediating a problem, after waiting until the signs are apparent. A simple intrusion can lead to:
What steps does SERVPRO take for effective removal?
Water intrusion in hidden areas presents many challenges. Unlike water spilled in the open, which only requires extraction equipment, the hidden intrusion may require the demolition of the surrounding materials. Such demolition removes deteriorated materials or helps create access points for water extraction equipment.
Before starting the demolition, our SERVPRO technicians first confirm whether there is water in the bathroom wall cavity. We also confirm the moisture content in the wall materials determining whether to remove or save them through drying. We carry out such checks safely using sophisticated tools such as:
Thermal cameras
Borescopes
Moisture meters
Depending on the results, we can punch vent holes and use cavity-drying equipment for water removal. We can also demolish the entire area to access the water and replace all the materials destroyed by the intrusion.
A seemingly minor water intrusion can lead to complicated issues during restoration. Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
No matter when you make the call, we have technicians who can assist you.
SERVPRO Warns you to be Cautious of the Items in your Home and Their Placement
A house fire in your Mount Vernon residence can create a significant amount of stress for your family. Depending on how much of your property becomes a charred disaster, your family might need to seek temporary shelter elsewhere. Unfamiliar surroundings often add to the uncomfortable amount of stress. Because of this, SERVPRO wants to help make recovering and getting things back to normal as simple and stress-free as possible.
Following the well-known fire prevention tips might not protect your home in Mount Vernon from fire damage in some more unusual situations. Fire does not always start with a spark or a direct flame to combustible materials. Something as benign as a transparent glass figurine or vase in a sunny window to add a dash of color can concentrate the sun enough to start a burning circle in closed curtains, a sweater hanging on a chair, or the carpet. Before placing such decorative items in the window, keep in mind how much sunlight that area of your home receives, especially in the afternoon.
Other causes of house fires include batteries, either loosely stored or in devices. When the ends of batteries touch their positive and negative ends to the same piece of metal, it can produce sparks or intense heat. This can happen with 9-volt batteries very easily because both the positive and negative ends are so close to each other. Storing these very carefully can prevent a fire. Adding a piece of tape to the ends can make them safer for longer storage. Overcharging a device can cause it to overheat, as can leaving it in a sunny location. Charge devices only as long as necessary, and place them in shady locations, avoiding the sun.
The convenience of having a pull-chain light in a closet can also cause a fire. It is easy to forget these lights, and they quickly heat the area around them to intense temperatures. Storing things in cartons, papers, and other highly combustible items can become a very costly and destructive combination. Using a battery-operated light that sticks to the interior surface of the closet can help prevent fire damage.
SERVPRO of Skagit County is always near you, including Anacortes, WA, Sedro Woolley, WA, and Burlington, WA, ready to help your family recover fast after fire damage strikes. Call (360) 873-8744 for more information about how to prevent house fires, or to start the process of restoration and rebuilding.
Call us today, SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 and we can take a look for you!
Learn the Lingo used by the Professionals
Water can be one of the most damaging things to home in cases of leaks or overflows. Most damage occurs in the bathroom or kitchen area, which can impact textiles, upholstery, carpets, walls, and other materials within your home.
Quick and efficient water removal in your Mount Vernon home after a spill can mitigate secondary damage like warped flooring and the growth of mold infestation. Knowing some of the cleaning terms explicitly associated with the cleaning and restoration industry may assist in understanding the process to restore your home to its preloss condition.
Absorption
This is the action where gases and liquids go into the fabric or material fibers through chemical, osmotic, or capillary action. In cleaning, absorption transfers soils or liquids from fabrics and upholstery to something else like towels or stain absorb powder.
Adsorption
The transference of substance from one surface to another surface. This means that the substance does not absorb into the surface but is instead attached to the surface. SERVPRO restoration technicians use the adsorption process when applying topical treatments like fire or stain retardants.
Agglomeration
The process of agglomeration stops the re-depositing of fine particles of soil into small openings such as scratches, fibers, or pores. In agglomeration, these fine particles merge together to form a larger mass.
Agents
Oxidizing bleaching agents break down soils by adding oxygen while reducing bleaching agents to remove oxygen to counteract oxidation. Chelating agents are cleaning products like Powdered Emulsifier that reacts with hard water salts to make them water-soluble.
Dispersion
Breaking up of solid soils in order for separation and suspension to occur within the cleaning solution. This process, also known as deflocculation, suspends soils to stop re-depositing of soils onto the surface.
Foam Modifiers
Chemicals that increase or decrease foam, allowing technicians to customize detergents depending on the amount of foam needed for the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Penetration
Even the smoothest surfaces have small crevices that can hold dirty that becomes difficult to remove. Penetration ability refers to the ability of the cleaning product to get into these small crevices.
Surfactants
Surfactants lower the surface tension of water-based cleaning products. The thick-skinned surface tension in water causes it to slow penetration; a surfactant fosters faster penetration into porous materials.
For assistance after any water or fire emergency, contact SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744. We are available 24/7 and are Faster To Any Size Disaster.
We want to make sure your home is mitigated properly after your Mount Vernon water damage, don't let it get this bad.
Your Mount Vernon water loss will take vital build back efforts, let SERVPRO help.
There are many instances in which our SERVPRO professionals must respond to emergencies swiftly and implement demolition and extraction for Mount Vernon homes to help prevent further and more considerable losses. These emergency services are less calculated and precise as controlled demolition later during the mitigation phase. Cleaning technicians with cutting-edge equipment and potent cleaning agents can help to improve the look and function of your home before and after vital build back efforts.
Water cleanup for Mount Vernon homes can encompass many of the steps necessary to fully restore the property. Controlled demolition is often an essential component to recovery, as it provides access for our technicians to use positive pressure systems, low profile centrifugal air movers, and other evaporative drying techniques to manage current loss conditions.
Pre-construction cleanup involves both eliminating debris and preparing the area for the reconstruction to follow. Prepping the workspace can often begin with shoveling out any loose debris and construction material remnants such as deteriorated drywall or wet insulation. Removing this debris, along with deliberately controlled demolition techniques, allows us to remove overly saturated materials and better protect undamaged areas from migrating moisture.
During both the demolition and the reconstruction phases of this process, our SERVPRO team can employ air scrubbers and other HEPA filtration devices. These tools can help to reduce harmful contaminants or particles circulating in the environment until the rebuilding completes. Any loose dust and debris from the new construction by our licensed in-house contractors can get removed using dry vacuums. Wiping down surfaces near to newly installed components can also help to return the property to preloss condition without requiring sophisticated equipment or tactics.
Offering customers a comprehensive approach for restoration can ensure that each phase of scoping and ultimate recovery get accomplished as efficiently as possible. We can help damaged properties through the initial stages of mitigation and clean up the property both before and after build back. No matter how our SERVPRO of Skagit County professionals can help, give us a call today at (360) 873-8744.
Don't let flood damage take over your home. Call us day or night at (360) 873-8744.
Flood Damage Mitigation For Your Mount Vernon Home
Many homeowners see flooding situations and assume that their Mount Vernon property and its contents have suffered a total loss. While there are inevitably areas that cannot get restored or recovered with even the advanced techniques and products of our SERVPRO team, often properties are not total losses. Identifying the severity of the situation and the condition of the contents of your house requires the experience and training of our content management technicians.
While many structural concerns might exist after flood damage in Mount Vernon homes, saturated or potentially contaminated contents can get restored with the appropriate response. Assessing the condition of these items and personal belongings is often the responsibility of our competent project manager. During the scoping of the job, it can get determined which items must get disposed of, which can get restored on-site, and which must get focused cleaning and deodorization at our nearby facility.
Disposal
We are very conscious of items and belongings that have become exposed to hazardous or damaging conditions after a flood. Many materials like drywall must get removed, and similarly, contents that are sensitive to moisture exposure often become too severely damaged to preserve.
On-Site Cleaning
One of the most cost-effective solutions for content management is the ability to clean, deodorize, and dry contents on-site rather than packing them up and moving them to our SERVPRO warehouse. Once cleaning and restoration have occurred, the items can get safely stored in an unaffected area of the property until mitigation and restoration in the flooded portions of your residence completes.
Pack-Out / Off-Site Cleaning
There are other scenarios where there is no feasible solution on-site for the drying, cleaning, or odor removal of damaged possessions. With residues and contaminants, we can disinfect items and also utilize advanced tools for complete off-site cleaning before safely storing them to await return to your house.
Content management is an essential aspect of flood recovery, as many homeowners believe that a disaster can irreparably affect all of the belongings in their house. Our SERVPRO of Skagit County team can work quickly to protect what matters most after a flood. Give us a call today at (360) 873-8744.
Each water loss situation in Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, and Burlington is unique.
Thorough Water Cleanup in Mount Vernon to Ensure Sanitary Conditions
Water may be the most well-known cleaning agent, but uncontrolled spills lead to soiling and deterioration of contents or materials in a house. It is crucial to carry out thorough cleaning after such an incident in your property. When correctly done, cleaning can achieve several goals, including restoring sanitary conditions in the affected areas.
Discouraging microbial growth The likelihood of microbial growth and mold is high after water intrusion. When carried out properly, water cleanup exercises in Mount Vernon can help nip such proliferation at the bud. Our SERVPRO technicians ensure this by using cleaning agents with antimicrobial properties or applying such agents on the cleaned surfaces. For example, after cleaning carpets, we apply the antimicrobial agents on the backing of the carpet and on the floor surface where it is laid. Antimicrobial agents stop or limit microbial development.
Stain removal and prevention Intruding water affects materials and contents in different ways. Fabrics materials such as carpets, draperies, and upholstery items can stain easily because of running dyes or residues deposit by the water on these materials. Our SERVPRO technicians take various steps to fight stains. Inspecting the affected materials helps establish their properties to ensure the cleaning agents used do not react with them, causing stains. If we notice any stains, we remove them promptly to prevent them from setting.
Removing stubborn residues Water can soak up residues such as dust in the house, leaving stubborn soiling on items. Alternatively, if the leaking water is not from a clean source, it might contain dissolved residues, which it transfers to the areas it affects. Removing such residues takes effort, including considerable levels of agitation. Our SERVPRO technicians use sophisticated tools, including rotating brushes and power washers, to remove such residues.
Each water loss situation in Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, and Burlington is unique. Call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873-8744 to help perform the appropriate cleanup exercise to restore sanitary conditions making it, “Like it never even happened.”
This flooded basement came after a storm and the water was ankle deep, we arrived right away to start the restoration process.
Fast Extraction Strategies for Flooded Mount Vernon Homes
When flooding occurs in a Mount Vernon home, there is a finite time before irreparable damage happens to exposed materials and contents. Addressing these concerns with a prompt response and effective water removal and drying strategies is the foundation of our SERVPRO water restoration process. This approach is the same strategy we utilize when flooding has occurred as well.
It is undeniable how quickly flood damage in Mount Vernon residences can get out of control without direct intervention from qualified personnel like our water restorers. While one of the initial needs of your house involves board up and tarping from our in-house team of general contractors, how the mitigation of your property gets handled is also a top concern. While emergency construction services and temporary fencing get established, our restoration technicians work on containment and mitigation strategies.
As you might expect, water removal is one of the most vital elements of flood damage recovery. Direct exposure to flooring, trim, wallboard and other materials can lead to structural compromise. We can deploy practical extraction tools like our electric sump pumps, truck-mount extractors, and trash pumps for any standing water that might also contain solids and debris.
Specialty water removal tools are also essential to restore many of the more challenging materials that water can affect after clean water flooding in your house. Carpets can quickly absorb standing water to the subflooring and padding materials, making their drying a vital task to protect underlayment and supports like the plywood and 2x6 framework. We have weighted extractors that utilize the natural weight of our SERVPRO technicians to force moisture to the surface for collection by an onboard powerful vacuum system.
Drying your home might also be a vital component to making flood losses “Like it never even happened,” but that cannot happen until water removal and surface water hurdles have gotten overcome. With premier equipment and experienced technicians, our SERVPRO of Skagit County team can help. You can reach our emergency response team and licensed general contractors 24/7 by calling (360) 873-8744.
Each vehicle in our Green Fleet is stocked with equipment to restore you flood damaged building. We are always on call and ready to go!
Removing Floodwater from a Mount Vernon Museum
The Pacific Northwest is rife with history and culture, and with so many stories and folklore of the region, it is no wonder that places like your Mount Vernon museum experience so much foot traffic. With nearly forty inches of annual rainfall expected throughout the state, there are also causes for concern with conditions like natural flooding, flash flooding, and structural damage that allows for water penetration.
As the steward of historical artifacts and relics, you must act quickly to protect your business from the destructive power of flood damage to Mount Vernon buildings. There are some steps that you can take initially to help, but ultimately the recovery should get left to the qualified and fast-responding hands of our SERVPRO flood recovery team. We have years of experience and can respond with the right equipment to get extraction and drying efforts started within hours of your initial call.
We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster, but there are some steps that you can take while our technicians are en route to help best protect the items in your possession at risk from the current flooding. The first of these steps is to install any temporary damming or sandbags to prevent the movement of water effects, especially to susceptible areas with valuable cultural exhibits. You can also work to remove items likely to come into contact with migrating floodwater to a safe, elevated location or another site entirely.
Extraction is a crucial element to the work that we do after a flood, and our SERVPRO team has multiple options. From our light wands and wet-vacs that can work around tight spaces and confined areas to our trash pumps offering continual draw on the water more than 2 inches in depth, we have solutions that can get us to the crucial drying phases as promptly as possible.
The exhibits of your museum can capture the eye and the wonder of those passing through the museum, but they are also among the first to suffer damage from spreading flood effects. Let our SERVPRO of Skagit County team help with our experience and premier equipment. Contact us 24/7 by calling (360) 873-8744.
Don't let mold send you packing! Contact SERVPRO to evaluate the situation and remediate any damage.
The Advanced Guide to Damage Remediation Services in Mount Vernon
Through a blend of honesty, hard work, and advancements in the technology of restoration services, our SERVPRO team has become a trusted name for Mount Vernon homes and businesses over more than a decade. Skagit County properties experience damaging effects of fire, storm, mold, and water losses. Our professionals have training and accreditations through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to become knowledgeable assets of our growing brand.
Fire
Cleaning is one of the strong suits of our fire recovery team. As challenging as fire loss effects can be in Mount Vernon homes or businesses, we have a full division of qualified employees that can help. Through the application of modern restoration techniques and cutting-edge tools and equipment designed for deodorization, cleaning, and residue removal, we can make more fire emergencies “Like it never even happened.”
Our SERVPRO team focuses on caring for the contents of your Mount Vernon home, beginning the moment that we arrive. Soot and other particulates can threaten your belongings swiftly, so our contents department can work to protect these possessions right away. As much as possible, our team works to restore these items on-site and return them to their original location. If the effects are too severe, we might pack-out belongings to our nearby facility for cleaning and storage instead.
Part of providing our customers with the full-service experience after fire damage in Mount Vernon homes is offering reconstruction and repair. Fires can quickly cripple structural elements, and part of returning your property to preloss condition hinges on controlled demolition, debris removal, repairs, and even full-scale reconstruction of destroyed areas.
Storm
As part of the Pacific Northwest, our communities remain susceptible to the severe weather that we can experience both from our neighbor to the north and what hits the west coast from the Pacific Ocean. These powerful weather events can quickly compromise Mount Vernon homes ranging from several feet of heavy snow on roofs to hurricane-strength winds that can break windows and tear off the siding. These situations can be unsettling without a plan, but our SERVPRO team is here to help.
Flooding is an unfortunate effect of structural breaches and prolonged rainfall typical to Washington. With this threat looming for many properties, our professionals have developed fast response plans that have our IICRC-Certified Water Restoration Technicians (WRT) and our Applied Structural Drying (ASD) specialists in route and arriving quickly. With our effective mitigation strategies, we can remove standing water and eliminate saturation to Mount Vernon construction materials and contents.
We have a focus on protecting flooded properties from bacteria and microbial growth when possible. The use of sporicides and disinfectants can help us to eliminate threats on contact and reduce the need for material removal if the contamination levels are not at the highest rating. In situations where demolition and build back is necessary, we have a full-service team of general contractors ready and able to help return Mount Vernon homes to pre-flood condition.
Mold
Mold damage in Mount Vernon homes and businesses is a more common threat than many property owners might realize. With the higher humidity levels and excessive rainfall expected throughout the year, homes can easily encounter persistent damp conditions that lead to mold production. Our objective as a remediation team is not only to remove the colonies discovered on the property but to provide lasting solutions that prevent similar recurrences in the future.
As with any mold situation, containment is one of the first steps to protecting your property and its occupants from the effects of colonization. Mold can emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) that can exasperate respiratory problems for those exposed and lead to other detrimental health effects without the appropriate intervention. By containing the damaged area, we can regulate the concentration of spore activity and begin filtering out threats as our team works inside the zone to remove the mold colonies spreading in your Mount Vernon residence.
Debris removal and controlled demolition are both effective processes that can reduce the concentration of harmful particulates and debris circulating. Through the oversight of our licensed contractors, we can remove damaged portions of drywall and other organic material to make cleaning easier and faster. When remediation completes, these same professionals can perform full-scale build back and reconstruction for recovered Mount Vernon homes.
Water
Much of the success that we have had in the water recovery niche comes from our commitment to the best tools and equipment available in the industry. Our connection with the larger SERVPRO organization warrants us access to the latest machines, cleaning products, and techniques that set our restoration services apart from the competition. Water loss incidents are an everyday concern somewhere in Mount Vernon, and our IICRC-Certified WRTs can help.
We have a firm reliance on the changing scope of technology to bolster our efficiency and productivity addressing water damage in Mount Vernon properties. Because so many parties become involved in the restoration of a home after a loss incident, we have developed unique software exclusive to our brand called DryBook that documents the drying process and milestones that our professionals reach in the restoration of a home. We can also utilize this same information to coordinate efforts with insurance companies and our customers to keep everyone knowledgeable about the process and what is still to come.
Cleaning is a vital element to the work that our team does following a water loss incident, as residues and debris can be a challenging situation to overcome. Much like the personnel that we provide to address the water damage effects and structural drying, we also have IICRC-Certified technicians endorsed for Carpet Cleaning (CCT) and Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning (UFT.) These accreditations help our technicians to address nearly all hurdles in getting you back in your Mount Vernon property as quickly as possible.
Restoration services are not exclusive to one company or another, but when disasters strike, you have a small window of time to make a decision that best for your property. Our SERVPRO of Skagit County restoration specialists can help with a prompt response and confident recovery approach. Give us a call today at (360) 873-8744.
There are multiple points of concern when even minor water loss incidents occur in your hotel.
Reducing Water Migration with Fast Drying of Mount Vernon Hotels
One of the most challenging threats of a water loss incident that originates in a guest room of your Mount Vernon hotel is how quickly this situation can spread. With rooms adjoining the problem unit beneath and to each side, the likelihood of multiple areas experiencing loss effects is higher than you might think. Ideally, the best approach for these emergencies is to reach out to our rapid response team to have our skilled professionals implementing mitigation tactics as quickly as possible.
Identifying the source of water damage to Mount Vernon hotels must be something that your staff works to locate before our SERVPRO team even arrives at your building. Isolating the breach in your system could affect multiple guests as well in the plumbing grid, but staying ahead of this crisis would have likely had you moving these guests to a different area of your hotel until mitigation and restoration efforts completed.
Fast-drying solutions are the foundation that our successful water recovery team builds our reputation upon, and our SERVPRO team can mobilize quickly with equipment to help. The inspection of your damaged areas is critical to determining the right tools and tactics for drying and even extraction if necessary. A loss on the fourth floor of your facility can get much easier handled with our self-propelled weighted extractors, air movers, and dehumidifiers than attempting to move bulkier and noisier equipment like our gas-powered trash pump.
The application of these drying tools to the outer limits of the spread of water loss effects can reduce the migration of these effects and prevent further exposure to your guests. Because of how susceptible drywall, stucco, and other common construction staples for hotels are to moisture damage, we can work tirelessly to reduce the bloating and deterioration of these structural elements.
There are multiple points of concern when even minor water loss incidents occur in your hotel. With paying guests to care for, our SERVPRO of Skagit County can fixate on drying and restoring all affected areas to make the incident “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (360) 873-8744.
This flood in a daycare kept them closed for several days. They were in a rush to get open again and we arrived right away and began restoration.
Picturesque Transforms to Flood Damage in Mount Vernon
The propensity of the Skagit River to flood keeps Mount Vernon businesses near its beautiful banks on their toes. Torrential autumn rains in recent years caused officials to close Skagit Riverwalk Plaza when the waters rose to dangerous levels. If the newly installed floodwall does not protect your downtown restaurant, our highly-qualified team of managers and technicians have the training, skills, experience, and equipment to respond.
Equipment Inventories Beyond Compare
Because you need fast and reliable flood damage recovery in Mount Vernon, we invest in high-efficiency, commercial-grade water removal and structural drying equipment. Some businesses try to clean up flood damage using their contracted or in-house cleaning staff. The intensity and specialized nature of the need are often beyond what housekeeping services can support. We select and purchase our submersible pumps and extractors for their ability to clear large spaces of vast amounts of water.
Attentive Assessment of Contaminants and Rapid Removal
SERVPRO commits to mitigating any flood damage activity in your commercial building, followed by remediation of the effects quickly so you can return to serving delicious meals and drinks without disappointing your customers. Floodwaters are by definition Category 3, risking occupant exposure to blood and fecal-borne pathogens, dead animals, mud and sit, and chemicals. Our technicians are skilled and certified in containing the tainted water safely and disposing of it as required by local regulation. Submersible pumps and truck-mounted extractors assist in rapid removal. Our service vehicles provide power generation if electricity is temporarily unavailable.
Final Safety Steps
When water removal is complete, the SERVPRO crew moves on to thorough cleaning and disinfection of the spaces affected. Our crew uses EPA-registered products approved for use around food preparation. Once the surfaces are disinfected, applied structural drying commences. Air movers and heat facilitate the movement of moisture absorbed by your commercial building’s structural components into the air as vapor. Our dehumidifiers capture the airborne water for permanent disposal outside the premises. Technicians measure and monitor moisture levels throughout the process, ensuring that when your wait staff takes their next order all is clean, dried, and disinfected.
SERVPRO of Skagit County has the capacity to manage commercial water losses, including overland and waterway flooding. Call us day or night at (360) 873-8744. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.
How Costly Recovery Efforts Can Be For A Mount Vernon Warehouse
Mount Vernon warehouses provide a stable location for merchandise, products, and equipment to get stored when they are not yet ready for distribution or awaiting purchase. With so many facilities like this throughout the area, you have a dedicated list of clients that you support. Those that depend on your facility can become alarmed at the discovery that flooding or other disasters have taken place, and the best approaches involve saving the most money.
With a facility full of someone else’s belongings, flood damage in Mount Vernon can be an overwhelming circumstance. We strive to provide our commercial customers and residential properties with the same levels of attention and care. As part of a large loss recovery crew, we can ensure that even substantial properties like a warehouse spanning several thousand square feet have the right equipment, personnel, and products to restore.
Content management is a considerable element to flood recovery by our SERVPRO technicians, especially when many of the stacked and stored items can get safely stored offsite. Reducing these pressing threats to the items in your care can allow our specialists to get to work unhindered by a fully-stocked facility. The items removed get unique QR codes, allowing us to immediately tell our customers where the items are and escort them to these storage pods in our facility right away. Our cataloging of items and their condition can help with insurance claims as well.
Attempting to recover flood loss on your own can initially seem like it is a time and money-saving solution, but this is rarely the case. Our efficient professionals have state-of-the-art equipment and tools to remove standing water and to thoroughly dry the entire building in a matter of days. We can even track our progress to provide transparency to your insurance provider to ensure that as much of the work gets paid for by your provider as possible.
Flooding can be stressful and hit quickly to your entire facility, and that is why our SERVPRO of Skagit County professionals stay prepared for these emergencies 24/7. We can help you when you call (360) 873-8744. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.
Fire damage can wreak major havoc in your home. Call the professionals at SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.
What You Can Expect from Professional Fire Damage Remediation in Mount Vernon
Thankfully significant residential fire losses are rare. When it happened in your Mount Vernon home, it can be a life-changing event. Successful recovery from fire requires a partnership with an experienced disaster response team. Our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained managers and technicians have a solid foundation of fire mitigation and remediation theory, on the job experience, and state-of-the-art equipment that transform post-fire chaos to “Like it never even happened.”
Water Damage Resolution is Job One
Because of the quantities of water used to limit your Mount Vernon fire damage our crews need to address that first. Water can be just as destructive to structural components and contents as fire, plus it is a major safety hazard. Slip and fall accidents and electric shock risks quickly decrease as the water evacuates. We are a full-service disaster recovery company making the transition from water to fire remediation seamless.
Secure Pack-Out Procedure for Contents
Fire damage mitigation and remediation are easier to accomplish if furnishings and personal possessions are relocated to our production facility. Our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) creates a digital listing of the affected property, very helpful when corresponding with your insurance company. Specialized contents technicians evaluate the packed-out items’ conditions and recommend and implement efficient strategies to clean, dry, deodorize, and disinfect them.
Customized Soot Removal
Fire residues or soot are found not only in the immediate burn area but also in rooms and floors far away. Soot deposits on surfaces cooler than the smoke that carries it away on air currents or through HVAC systems. One fire can challenge SERVPRO technicians with several kinds of sooty deposits. Each kind needs cleaning products, tools, and methods to match its consistency.
Our IICRC-trained Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) are uniquely qualified to customize soot removal. Dry, ashy soot vacuums and dry sponges away. Thick, sticky soot needs loosening with wetting agents and surfactants, with agitation to facilitate wipe off. Protein-based soot from kitchen fires spreads widely, smells strong, and might need abrasive tools and products plus agitation for removal.
SERVPRO of Skagit County has the tools, techniques, and training needed to clean up after residential fire damage. Contact us at (360) 873-8744 immediately after the firefighters release your home so we can assess, plan, and get to work.
We have state of the art equipment to restore your home 24/7 so call us right away to prevent further damage.
Why SERVPRO Is the Mount Vernon Water Damage Industry Leader
The cause of a water crisis in Mount Vernon can be dramatic or mundane. Regardless of what event exposed building materials or fixtures to excess moisture, the crucial issue is how you respond. A misstep at the onset of a water loss can result in progressive deterioration of structures and secondary damage such as mold growth. Mitigating and remediating the harm water brings requires skill, Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training, experience, and appropriate equipment.
Expert Assessment and Project Planning
Our focus on hiring and supporting highly-qualified managers and technicians is why we deliver industry-leading results to Mount Vernon homeowners facing water damage emergencies. Because our team continually prepares our response is fast and effective. As our crew lead evaluates the damage done by burst pipes, malfunctioning appliances, negligent overflows, and more, our technicians are poised to implement the plan immediately.
Comprehensively Stocked Service Vehicles
We avoid delays because all the water removal and structural drying equipment needed accompany our IICRC-certified Water Damage Restoration Technicians (WRT) to the job site. The signature green trucks our crews drive carry commercial-grade submersible pumps, truck-mounted water extractors, air movers, heaters, dehumidifiers, and power generators. Sensitive probes, meters, and thermal imaging technology help us detect moisture levels and trapped water hidden behind walls or in other recesses. Our team’s expertise with the state of the art equipment is why SERVPRO can halt further damage and begin remediation efforts within minutes of arrival.
Restoration Industry Best Practices Structure Our Response
You can rely on us to follow research-based protocols proven to limit permanent damage to your precious home and its contents. The IICRC is an international standard-setting organization, committed to developing reliable and efficacious responses to even the most challenging water damage scenarios. Adherence to these standards is why SERVPRO delivers consistently successful results.
Dedicated Employees On-Site and at Our Production Facility
Outcomes are better when everyone works well together, why SERVPRO values the team approach. We might recommend a pack-out of water-damaged contents for specialized care while the crew at your home concentrates on water removal and drying. Throughout your water damage recovery project, you can count on our management and office staff representing your best interests with insurance carriers and governmental entities.
Premium customer service during every step of recovery is why SERVPRO of Skagit County stands head and shoulders over other disaster recovery companies. Call (360) 873-8744 for an assessment and rapid transition from water damaged to “Like it never even happened.”
Natural disasters can be devastating to businesses. While damage caused by some types of natural events—such as lightning or wind—will usually be covered by commercial property insurance, you need a special policy if you want protection from flood damage. This Q&A will help you understand this type of coverage and determine if your business needs it.
Frequently asked questions about flood insurance
Q. Does my commercial property insurance include flood coverage?
A. No. Damage from flooding, including flooding generated by hurricane-generated storm surge, typically is not covered under a standard commercial policy, including a Commercial Package Policy (CPP) or a Business Owners Policy (BOP). Flood insurance is available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Q. What does flood insurance cover?
A.Flood insurance covers damage to your building and contents caused by flood. This includes losses resulting from water overflowing rivers or streams, heavy or prolonged rain, storm surge, snow melt, blocked storm drainage systems, broken dams or levees, or other similar causes. To be considered a flood, waters must cover at least two acres or affect two properties. Generally if water comes from above—for instance from rain or melting snow overflowing gutters and leaking onto your inventory—you’ll be covered by your standard commercial property insurance.
Q. What isn’t covered by flood insurance?
A. Property outside your building generally will not be covered. For instance, landscaping and septic systems will not be covered. In addition, flood insurance will not cover damage to your business vehicles, but this can be included in the optional “comprehensive” portion of your business vehicle insurance. Financial losses caused by business interruption or loss of use of insured property are also not covered.
Q. Do I have to purchase flood insurance?
A. If your commercial property is located in a high-risk flood area and you have a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, you are required to purchase a flood insurance policy.
Q. How do I determine my risk for flood damage?
A. Location is the most important factor for weighing your risk for flood damage. Is your business located in or near a flood zone? (Flood map search tools can be found online.) In what part of the building is your businesses equipment and inventory located? Anything housed on a lower floor, for instance, will be at greater risk.
Q. Where can I purchase flood insurance?
A. Flood insurance is available from the NFIP and some private insurers. However, NFIP coverage can only be purchased through an insurance professional; you cannot buy it directly from the federal government. To find a local insurance professional who is familiar with the National Flood Insurance Program, contact the NFIP at 888-379-9531 for an agent referral.
Q. How long does it take to get flood coverage?
A. Typically, there’s a 30-day waiting period from date of purchase before your policy goes into effect.
Q. Does my flood policy cover mold?
A. Damage from mold and/or mildew resulting from the after-effects of a flood is covered, but each case is evaluated on an individual basis. Mold/mildew conditions that existed prior to a flooding event are not covered, and after a flood, the policyholder is responsible for taking reasonable and appropriate mitigation actions to eliminate mold and mildew.
Q. How much flood coverage can I get?
A. Commercial flood insurance provides up to $500,000 of coverage for your building and up to $500,000 for its contents.
Q. What if I need more coverage?
A. You can purchase what’s called excess insurance coverage to rebuild properties valued above National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) limits. Excess coverage includes protection against business interruption.
From furniture to antiques to artwork and appliances, we'll treat your treasures with the care they deserve. While some items can be cleaned on-site, in many cases we'll need to inventory, pack out and transport the contents of your property to our state-of-the-art facility to ensure the best care possible.
Key Issues
Contents may need to be cleaned off-site
Contents inventory
Determine replacement and restoration
Pack
Ozone treatment
Cleaning
Odor removal
Secure
Return
Contents Inventory
We arrive on-site and inventory all of your personal belongings.
We carefully pack all salvable items to transport to our secure warehouse and cleaning facility.
Unsalvageable contents are inventoried and discarded.
Contents Valuation
We have trained professionals to help you establish replacement values versus restoration costs. We are also available for pricing of non-salvable inventory items.
If you are indoors, stay away from windows, doors and fireplaces.
You may want to go to the sheltered area that you and your family chose for your emergency plan.
If you are advised by officials to evacuate, do so. Take your emergency kit with you.
You can use a cellular telephone during a severe storm, but it's not safe to use a land-line telephone.
Never go out in a boat during a storm. If you are on the water and you see bad weather approaching, head for shore immediately. Always check the marine forecast before leaving for a day of boating and listen to weather reports during your cruise.
If you are in a car, stop the car away from trees or power lines that might fall on you). Stay there.
What to do during
Blizzards
When a winter storm hits, stay indoors. If you must go outside, dress for the weather. Outer clothing should be tightly woven and water-repellent. The jacket should have a hood. Wear mittens - they are warmer than gloves - and a hat, as large portion of body heat is lost through the head.
In wide-open areas, visibility can be virtually zero during heavy blowing snow or a blizzard. You can easily lose your way. If a blizzard strikes, do not try to walk to another building unless there is a rope to guide you or something you can follow.
If you must travel during a winter storm, do so during the day and let someone know your route and arrival time.
If your car gets stuck in a blizzard or snowstorm, remain calm and stay in your car. Allow fresh air in your car by opening the window slightly on the sheltered side - away from the wind. You can run the car engine about 10 minutes every half-hour if the exhaust system is working well. Beware of exhaust fumes and check the exhaust pipe periodically to make sure it is not blocked with snow. Remember: you can't smell potentially fatal carbon monoxide fumes.
To keep your hands and feet warm, exercise them periodically. In general, it is a good idea to keep moving to avoid falling asleep. If you do try to shovel the snow from around your car, avoid overexerting yourself.
Overexertion in the bitter cold can cause death as a result of sweating or a heart attack.
Keep watch for traffic or searchers.
Hail
Take cover when hail begins to fall. Do not go out to cover plants, cars or garden furniture or to rescue animals. Hail comes down at great speed, especially when accompanied by high winds. Although no one in Canada has ever been killed by hail, people have been seriously injured by it.
When a hailstorm hits, stay indoors, and keep yourself and your pets away from windows, glass doors and skylights which can shatter if hit by hailstones. Avoid using the telephone during a storm, and do not touch metal objects like stoves, radiators, metal pipes, and sinks.
When a hailstorm hits, find shelter and avoid underpasses or any low lying areas that may flood.
Ice storms
Ice from freezing rain accumulates on branches, power lines and buildings. If you must go outside when a significant amount of ice has accumulated, pay attention to branches or wires that could break due to the weight of the ice and fall on you. Ice sheets could also do the same.
Never touch power lines. A hanging power line could be charged (live) and you would run the risk of electrocution. Remember also that ice, branches or power lines can continue to break and fall for several hours after the end of the precipitation.
When freezing rain is forecast, avoid driving. Even a small amount of freezing rain can make roads extremely slippery. Wait several hours after freezing rain ends so that road maintenance crews have enough time to spread sand or salt on icy roads.
Rapid onsets of freezing rain combined with the risks of blizzards increase the chances for extreme hypothermia. If you live on a farm, move livestock promptly to shelter where feed is available. Forage is often temporarily inaccessible during and immediately after ice storms. Animal reactions to ice storms are similar to that of blizzards.
Lightning
Always take shelter during a lightning storm.
There is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm. Safe shelter can be found either in an enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle.
If you can see lightning or hear thunder, you are in danger of being hit. Seek shelter immediately.
Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike in a severe storm before venturing outside again.
Do not ride bicycles, motorcycles, tractors, or golf carts. These will not protect you from a lightning strike.
Thunderstorms
During thunderstorms, you should also stay away from items that conduct electricity, such as corded telephones, appliances, sinks, bathtubs, radiators and metal pipes.
Don’t drive in flooded areas — turn around, don’t drown!
Floodwater can pose a drowning risk for everyone— regardless of their ability to swim. Swiftly moving shallow water can be deadly, and even shallow standing water can be dangerous for small children.
Always follow warnings about flooded roads.
Don’t drive in flooded areas—cars or other vehicles won’t protect you from floodwaters. They can be swept away or may stall in moving water.
Stay out of floodwater.
Floodwaters contain many things that may harm health. We don’t know exactly what is in floodwater at any given point in time. Floodwater can contain:
Downed power lines
Human and livestock waste
Household, medical, and industrial hazardous waste (chemical, biological, and radiological)
Coal ash waste that can contain carcinogenic compounds such as arsenic, chromium, and mercury
Other contaminants that can lead to illness
Physical objects such as lumber, vehicles, and debris
Wild or stray animals such as rodents and snakes
Exposure to contaminated floodwater can cause:
Wound infections
Skin rash
Gastrointestinal illness
Tetanus
Leptospirosis (not common)
It is important to protect yourself from exposure to floodwater regardless of the source of contamination. The best way to protect yourself is to stay out of the water.
If you come in contact with floodwater:
Wash the area with soap and clean water as soon as possible. If you don’t have soap or water, use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer.
Take care of wounds and seek medical attention if necessary.
Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent before reusing them.
If you must enter floodwater, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles.
Prevent injuries.
Floodwater may contain sharp objects, such as glass or metal fragments, that can cause injury and lead to infection. Prompt first aid can help heal small wounds and prevent infection.
If you receive a puncture wound or a wound contaminated with feces, soil, or saliva, have a health care professional determine whether a tetanus booster is necessary based on individual records.
Open wounds and rashes exposed to floodwater can become infected. Vibrios, for example, are naturally occurring bacteria that live in certain coastal waters and can cause skin infections when an open wound is exposed to them. This can happen during floods. To protect yourself and your family:
Avoid exposure to floodwater if you have an open wound.
Cover clean, open wounds with a waterproof bandage to reduce chance of infection.
Keep open wounds as clean as possible by washing well with soap and clean water.
If a wound develops redness, swelling, or oozing, seek immediate medical attention.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible if:
There is a foreign object (soil, wood, metal, or other objects) embedded in the wound;
The wound is at special risk of infection (such as a dog bite or a puncture by a dirty object);
An old wound shows signs of becoming infected (increased pain and soreness, swelling, redness, draining, or you develop a fever).
Protect yourself and your loved ones from diarrheal diseases.
Be aware that floodwater may contain sewage, and eating or drinking anything contaminated by floodwater can cause diarrheal disease (such as E. coli or Salmonella infection). To protect yourself and your family:
Wash your hands after contact with floodwater. Also be sure to wash children’s hands with soap and water often and always before meals.
Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas.
Do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated by floodwater and have not been disinfected.
Do not bathe in water that may be contaminated with sewage or toxic chemicals. This includes rivers, streams, or lakes that are contaminated by floodwater.
Floods can cause containers of chemicals to move from their normal storage spots.
Don’t attempt to move propane tanks you might find— they’re dangerous and can cause a fire or explosion. If you find any, contact the police, fire department, or your State Fire Marshal’s office immediately.
Be extremely careful when removing car batteries. Even if they are in floodwater, car batteries may still have an electrical charge. Use insulated gloves and avoid coming in contact with any acid that may have spilled from the damaged car battery.
Avoid electrical hazards inside or outside your home.
After a hurricane, flood or other natural disaster you need to be careful to avoid electrical hazards both in your home and elsewhere.
Shut off electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks in your home to avoid fire, electrocution, or explosions.
NEVER touch a fallen power line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines. Avoid contact with overhead power lines during cleanup and other activities.
Do not drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water.
If you believe someone has been electrocuted, call or have someone else call 911 or emergency medical help.
Winter is here and temperatures are fluctuating, moisture is making its way into our homes in the most unexpected areas. As moisture sits and humidity rises within the home, mold begins to find its place to grow. According to Houselogic.com, the 5 most unexpected places for mold to hide in your home are chimneys, refrigerator drip pans, front-loading washing machines, dishes, and windows sashes and seals.
1. Chimneys
As rain and snow collect down in the chimney, they combine with the dirt and other particles within the brick to create a breeding ground for mold to grow.
2. Refrigerator drip pans
The drip pan collects moisture and food spills over time and goes unnoticed from being located under the refrigerator where most people don’t think to clean or even look.
3. Front-loading washing machines
The seal around the door of the front-loading washing machines often stay wet from being closed when not being used, which creates a great environment for mold growth.
4. Window sashes and seals
This is the time of year when the chill of the cold weather combine with the warmth of the inside to create condensation along windows and walls. The dirt and dust particles left on these surfaces mixed with the moisture create the perfect surface area for mold to grow.
5. Air conditioners
The air conditioning units hold the dust, pollen and moisture from the air. With the AC sitting throughout the winter, it gives mold the chance to grow and still be hidden away.
Mold is prominent in the news. But why now? This article summarizes some salient issues involving mold, including: (a) the current status of mold “science” and regulations; (b) what causes mold within indoor environments; (c) how the presence of mold is evaluated, and its implications for exposure; and (d) basic considerations in mold remediation projects.
Media attention and the public’s perception or fear of “toxic mold exposure” hit a peak in 2001 when a Texas couple was awarded $32 million in a lawsuit {(Ballard v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, No. 99- 05252 (Travis Co., Texas, Dist. Ct)]. A December 19, 2002 Appeals Court verdict disallowed $17 million for mental anguish and punitive damages; however, the Court still awarded $4 million plus interest as well as lawyers’ fees. An appeal is expected.
Mold is prominent in the news. But why now? This article summarizes some salient issues involving mold, including: (a) the current status of mold “science” and regulations; (b) what causes mold within indoor environments; (c) how the presence of mold is evaluated, and its implications for exposure; and (d) basic considerations in mold remediation projects.
Mold: Why Now?
Actually, “mold” is a general, conversational term for visible fungal growth. It is roughly equivalent to a gardener’s use of the term “weed” for a plant growing where it is unwanted. The term “fungi” includes molds, bacteria, and viruses. Molds are the largest component of the fungal classification, so the two terms are often used interchangeably and indiscriminately. The earliest reference to mold contamination and remediation can be found in the Old Testament (Leviticus 14:33-47]). Mold is ubiquitous in the environment, and is commonly due to construction defects that cause water intrusion in buildings. Fueling media attention and the public’s concerns is the relatively poor understanding of health effects by general medical practitioners, and the lack of comprehensive regulations or standards concerning allowable exposure criteria for the numerous, known genera of fungi that are known. Add this factor to the various known species of fungi, and the research that needs to be done is staggering.
The Basics
The very presence of mold spores is normal in the environment. However, the presence of mold growth indoors is not normal and may pose health and/or comfort risks to some exposed occupants. Mold growth requires spores (“seeds”), favorable temperatures, a food supply, and moisture. Like plants, mold grows by spreading, and the release of spores. Mold easily spreads outward under favorable conditions. However, if conditions are unfavorable for growth, mold will go dormant and release spores into the air so they can find a suitable environment for survival.
Moisture, nutrients, and favorable temperatures can lead to mold growth in water-damaged materials in 24 to 48 hours. Affected materials should be dried promptly to prevent germination and subsequent mold growth. Relative humidity levels less than 30% yield little growth. Humidity levels greater than 70% yield optimal growth. Nutrients include dust, dirt, soiled surfaces, and organic building materials (e.g., wood, latex paint, drywall, and carpet). Ideal temperatures for mold growth range from 40° F to 100° F. Since this range encompasses comfort temperatures for occupied spaces with ordinary nutrients already available, it is no wonder that mold has many opportunities to propagate. This growth can result from inadequate design, installation, operation, and/or maintenance of the site, building envelope, HVAC system, and/or building. In fact, we can only really control moisture.
Status Of “Mold Science” And Regulations
Unlike workplace exposure levels for physical and chemical agents, no regulations, comprehensive standards, or guidelines currently exist for determining safe levels of mold. There is a lack of information on specific human responses to mold contaminants. Current exposure assessments are based on the judgment of an experienced industrial hygienist, or other qualified indoor air quality professional, using indoor and outdoor comparisons of fungal counts and types.
This may change shortly as a number of possible organizations emerge to shape the science of mold. They include the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), guidelines such as the “Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments” published in April 2000 by the New York City Department Of Health, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission/Americans with Disabilities Act, and the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s (AIHA) May, 2001 “Report by the Microbial Growth Task Force.”
The lack of well accepted regulations, standards, and guidelines is the largest reason why mold litigation has faltered. Daubert/Frye challenges have been successfully used to prevent fungal testing and medical testimony from being admitted into many court cases (the Ballard case was ultimately based on insurance bad faith issues).
However, recent developments may change the information and facts that we use. The US Toxic Mold Safety & Protection Act of 2002 (HR 5040), a/k/a the “Melina Bill”, was sponsored by J. Conyers, Jr., (DMich.). The bill was introduced into Congress on June 27, 2002, and addresses mold in residential homes and government buildings. The full text is available at www.house.gov/conyers/Mold_Bill.pdf. The bill’s basic provisions include (a) establishing guidelines and defining acceptable mold levels; (b) establishing minimum training levels and requirements for the licensing of environmental inspectors and environmental laboratories; (c) providing funds to the CDC and NIH to conduct extensive research and testing to determine the range and magnitude of the black mold infestation problems; (d) providing a 50% tax credit to home owners who pay for a mold inspection, and the creation of a national database of homes found to be infested with toxic mold; (e) requiring the EPA to establish construction standards and techniques; (f) establishing mold remediation criteria; and (g) establishing a national toxic mold insurance program to protect homeowners who are victimized by toxic mold.
Various states have introduced regulatory initiatives regarding mold or indoor air quality in general. With the exception of California’s Senate Bill 732, which became effective in January 2002, these initiatives have largely stalled.
Also lacking are comprehensive standards for mold testing. In April 2002, the “Standards of Practice for the Assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality” was published by the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO). The first five standards in this document reflect commonly accepted guidelines for sampling mold on surfaces, in air, and within carpets. The last two sections, however, contain new criteria for evaluating mold colonization on surfaces, and for inspecting residential structures for mold contamination. These documents are the first of what may become a family of standards for mold investigations. ASTM International has recently announced plans to develop a “Standard Practice for Transactional Screening of Readily Observable Mold in Commercial Buildings” through its E50 Committee. The goal is to define standards of care that will: (a) establish the indicated industry standard practice; (b) improve the quality and consistency of mold screening reports; and (c) ensure that the practice of mold screening is appropriate, reasonable, and reflective of good industry practice. The E50 Committee is just forming. Their first meeting is scheduled for April, 2003, so it is unlikely that a new standard will emerge soon.
A standard exists for mold remediation. Published by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), their “IICRC S500, Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration, 2nd Edition (1999)” serves as the written body of knowledge in the water damage restoration industry.
Causes of Interior Mold Growth
Building defects leading to moisture intrusion include non-continuous vapor retarder installation; substandard flashing, roofing, waterproofing, or window installation; poor wall waterproofing; storage and handling of construction materials that contributes to their exposure to rain; the presence of construction debris; and the formation of ice dams. These defects cause moisture inside the structure which then contributes to mold growth.
A number of potentially responsible parties may be involved in building defect claims involving mold. For example, construction managers, project architects, mechanical engineers, and subcontractors may be responsible for improper design or maintenance of buildings and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems; specifying improper materials or methods; and poor workmanship. Product manufacturers may be responsible for the design and operation of equipment or building materials. Landlords, and property management companies may be responsible for failing to properly maintain the building or its systems, allowing tenant actions that lead to mold growth, or failing to disclose facts relating to water events that caused mold growth. Tenants that fail to maintain their HVAC systems properly, or engage in activities that foster mold growth are also potential parties. Water extraction (“remediation”) companies may not completely remove all moisture or mold, resulting in additional growth and contamination. Property inspection companies may fail to discover mold propagating conditions.
What Are The Potential Health Effects From Mold Exposure?
Health effects of fungal exposure are reported to include sensitization, infection, irritating effects (rashes, etc.), Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS). Other reported toxic health effects include headaches, respiratory ailments, inhibition of the immune system, lung disease, cognitive memory loss, and brain damage. The lack of dose-response data, as well as time variability of exposure, makes it difficult to establish exposure limits such as those that currently exist for workplace chemicals. However, the Mayo Clinic and others have published studies associating dampness with cough, wheeze, asthma, and respiratory infection. Exposure may be due to spores, or the mycotoxins that fungi emit. Mold’s characteristic “musty odor” is due to these microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) released by fungi.
Why Test?
How should one approach a mold situation to determine its impact on the health of these exposed occupants? If mold is visible, some investigators suggest that sampling is not necessary, and remediation should begin as soon as possible to correct health, structural, or aesthetic concerns. Testing during fungal investigations may be expensive. However, not performing environmental sampling leaves unanswered questions of what types (genera and species) and levels of mold were present. This information may be especially important if adverse health effects to occupants are known or suspected.
Therefore, a simple visual inspection should not be equated with a competent investigation. Mold sampling attempts to characterize typical and worst-case exposure assessments to develop a building baseline. Sampling may also be useful to maintain acceptable levels while a remediation project is on hold, or to challenge the effectiveness of a remediation project.
At best, sampling involves acquiring random grab samples. Practical considerations for environmental sampling involve: (a) making sure that the sampling actions are repeatable; (b) the availability of time, people, and appropriate sampling equipment; (c) whether the investigation should test for viable or nonviable organisms and, if viable organisms are important, whether data at the genus or species level is important; and (d) expenses.
Using an accredited laboratory services is key. Over 120 laboratories participate in the AIHA’s Environmental Microbiology Proficiency Analytical Testing Program (EMPAT). However, currently only 14 laboratories (12 in the US and two in Canada) have successfully achieved accreditation under the AIHA’s Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation Program (EMLAP). A list of EMLAP laboratories is available at http://www.aiha.org/LaboratoryServices/html/emlap.htm.
A basic sampling protocol generally involves at least one air sampling location outdoors, indoors in an anticipated high exposure (“complaint”) area, and indoors in an anticipated low exposure (“noncomplaint”) area. Air samples may be complemented by surface samples, carpet dust samples, and wall cavity samples (as appropriate) to adequately characterize mold presence. Surface sampling is a nondestructive technique that allows for the determination of possible surface contamination on walls, and content items such as furniture. Carpet dust samples help determine if poor carpet maintenance and water incursions provide organisms with moisture and a nutritional substrate to proliferate to problematic levels. Wall cavity sampling is a minimally intrusive method for determining if mold growth has occurred within walls, even though mold may not be visible.
Interpreting the Test Data
The generally accepted guidelines for interpreting mold sampling data are: (a) indoor levels should not be significantly greater than outdoor levels; (b) non-complaint areas should be less than complaint areas; and (c) in complaint areas, mold types should be consistently present. Relative levels and their relative orders of magnitude are also important. The analysis should consider the rank order assessment of mold found (e.g., those with health effects versus those that are relatively common and benign), and the presence of dominant species. Data interpretation should be performed by an industrial hygienist or other qualified indoor air quality professional.
Mold Remediation
Mold spores can be easily dispersed. Correcting significant mold conditions, which is not a job for the home handyman. Renovation is not equivalent to remediation. In addition to the standards for water restoration and remediation, some guidelines exist for mold remediation. Examples include the previously mentioned NYC DOH “Guidelines” and “Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: a Guide to Recognition and Management” published by the Federal-Provincial Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health, Environmental Health Directorate, Health Canada ( June 1995). However, their guidance is not without controversy.
Mold remediation should only be attempted after the conditions that caused mold growth have been identified and corrected. Porous materials that show extensive mold growth should then be removed. Nonporous materials should have their surfaces cleaned to typical background levels. Moisture levels should be reduced to and maintained at levels that do not promote mold growth. The amount of contamination governs the level of containment (use of critical barriers), work practices (HEPA vacuuming, negative pressurization, wet methods), and personal protective equipment (respirators, fullbody covering) necessary to prevent the release of mold spores into unaffected areas and protect human health. Mold contaminated materials are not considered as hazardous waste.
Post-remediation validation (a/k/a “clearance”) testing should be performed after remediation activities have ceased, but before critical barriers have been removed. The first step in testing is a visual inspection to ensure that no visible dust or fungal growth exists. If it does not meet this and other qualitative criteria, the job “fails” and recleaning is required. Only if all visible mold and dust ahs been removed should environmental sampling be performed. Typically, more extensive testing is done than in pre-remediation mold testing to ensure that building occupants will have a healthy environment in which to live.
Summary
Molds are complex and can form large colonies indoors under appropriate conditions. Human exposure data causally linking health effects to molds is currently unavailable. Is the fear of “toxic mold” being overblown? Only additional scientific studies will answer that question. But one must not ignore the significance of properly managed building environments to prevent the aesthetic, structural, and potential health effects of mold growth, and the need to promptly and properly evaluate and remediate conditions where mold growth is suspected or known.
SERVPROs number one priority is restoring as much of your home as is possible, not only to keep your home “home”, but also to cause minimal disturbance to your day to day life. One of the many techniques that we use to make sure that your home remains as intact as possible during the mitigation process is the Directed In system. The Directed In system is an attachment for one of our air movers that allows for the connection of many small tubes. The tubes are run through an affected wall or tow kick, which grants access to an area that would otherwise be accessed with demolition The air mover then blows warm, thirsty air (created by our dehumidifiers) into the affected space, creating an environment that is optimal for drying. The Direct In system is another way that SERVPRO of Skagit County – SERVPRO of Marysville/Arlington ensures that your home is restored to preloss condition in a timely manner.
We’re thrilled to be partnered with the American Red Cross as a Disaster Responder because here at SERVPRO of Skagit County, we’re always “Ready for Whatever Happens” and we want you to be too! You never know when a disaster may strike, so it is important to have an emergency preparedness kit ready to go at a moment’s notice to use at home or to take with you in the event you must evacuate.
According to our friends at the American Red Cross, you should, at minimum, have the basic supplies listed below:
Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home).
Flashlight
Battery powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
Multi-purpose tool
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
Emergency blanket
Maps of the area
You should also consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit as needed. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:
Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc)
Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
Two-way radios
Extra set of car keys and house keys
Manual can opener
Additional supplies to consider keeping at your home or in your emergency supply kit:
Whistle
N95 or surgical masks
Matches
Rain gear
Towels
Work gloves
Tools/supplies for securing your home
Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
Plastic sheeting
Duct tape
Scissors
Household liquid bleach
Entertainment items
Blankets or sleeping bags
You never know when a disaster might arise.
Keep your Emergency Kit somewhere easily accessible for if and when the time comes that you need it. You should also practice fire drills with your family and plan out multiple evacuation routes should you ever need to evacuate your home.
Make sure that everyone knows what to do in case of emergency. Whether it’s the Big One, a house fire, or an unexpected storm, we want you to be “ready for whatever happens!”
Air movers are a great tool. They are similar to fans in that they circulate the air of the spaces in which they are placed. Unlike fans, however, they have the ability to start and stop immediately. They also blow over a more concentrated area rather than a wide space. Most commonly they are used for drying dampened areas after water has seeped in, however, commercial air movers have many uses for any workplace environment.
Drying
The most common use for an air mover is drying out water damaged areas. An air mover is considered a water damage restoration piece of equipment. It is designed to blow lower to the ground at high speeds, forcing water to quickly evaporate from floors and carpets. Being lower to the ground, it can be directed under cabinets or other heavier pieces of furniture. A huge benefit of reduced drying time is the prevention of mold growth. They can also be used to dry paint or other applications.
Cooling
As air blowers are similar to fans, they make excellent cooling devices. They can be used to ventilate stuffy work zones. They can also be directed onto specific objects that may get hot while being worked upon.
Removing Fumes
Depending on the type of work being done, contractors may want to buy a commercial air mover to help their employees. Workers could be subject to working in a poorly ventilated area with equipment and chemicals that produce unpleasant and even harmful fumes. In this instance, an air mover makes a great tool in directing these fumes away from and out of the area, creating a safer work environment.
Blowing
Since air movers circulate air at high speeds, they make great tools for removing unwanted debris, dust, dirt or leaves for instance, from a work area. They also work well for keeping insects away. For example, when placed high above grocery store doors and directed downward, the draft created prevents insects from entering the building.
There are several uses for an air mover. While similar to a fan, it is much more effective. It has the ability to start immediately at the desired speed and stop just a fast. It can quickly remove unwanted fumes from a poorly ventilated work space as well as keep it cool. It can also help dry damp areas, preventing possible water damage. All of these show the air mover as an invaluable tool for any site.
Black water is waste water loaded with biological material such as grease or feces. It is colloquially referred to as "sewage" and contains highly dangerous materials that can pose real health hazards to you and your family.
Not a problem, right? Just avoid it. However, some people are deeply unaware of how easy it is to come into contact with this dangerous water type. One of the most obvious sources of black water is the toilet. Human waste, fecal matter, is generally regarded as a biohazard, especially when people are sick: it can contain bacteria and pathogens that could potentially be passed on to others with improper handling. Kitchen sinks can also be a source of black water as they contain grease, oils, and food chunks that can decay and carry germs with them. Even laundry water from a sick person's house can be considered black water, for reasons already stated above: airborne bacteria and pathogens.
Black water can also contain a large amount of pharmaceuticals, especially if it is coming from a home in which a sick person resides. This water should never ever be released into the environment, as its toxic makeup can harm the ecosystem.
Algae is a phytoplankton that feeds directly on fertilizer and reacts the way plants do when exposed to that fertilizer: it grows rapidly, creating algal blooms. Not all of them are harmful, but some are deeply detrimental to one's health and can cause diarrhea, memory loss, nausea and vomiting, and liver failure. Toxic algal blooms can be found in black water.
Black water should be left strictly for a professional to handle in the Indianapolis area: it is too dangerous and toxic for the average homeowner and homemaker to tackle by themselves. Specialized equipment is required in order to clear an area of black water and black water damage safely without causing harm to the health of both the humans and animals who reside in the space. Extended exposure to black water can lead to infections, illnesses, and long-term respiratory problems, while coming into contact with it exposes a human to even more serious health risks and even death in certain cases. The money you think you might be saving is clearly not worth the grave danger to your health.
Mold and fungal spores occur naturally outdoors, where fungi are the earth’s most important recyclers. Indoors, mold needs moisture to grow; it becomes a problem only where there is water damage, elevated and prolonged humidity, or dampness. Common sources of excessive indoor moisture that can lead to mold problems include:
flooding from surface waters (i.e., overflowing rivers) or from severe storms;
roof leaks from damaged or missing roofing materials, ice dams or blocked gutters;
storm-driven rain through window frames, exterior walls or door assemblies;
leaking pipes, sewer back-ups or overflows;
damp basements or crawl spaces due to a high water table or poorly managed rainwater drainage; and
condensation on cold surfaces.
Call SERVPRO of Skagit County today for a mold inspection
Water damage restoration training is one of the important skill sets that a team of professional cleaners need in order to offer comprehensive services. This is a service that involves going into a home or business after a wet disaster, such as flood, burst pipes, or snow destruction, and not just cleaning up the mess, but actually drying and repairing the substructures that high volumes of moisture will affect, such as plaster and drywall, wood, concrete, and metal. Mold is a concern, of course, but there can be many other problems related to moisture damage; crumbling drywall and plaster, weakening beams and supports, rusting metal surfaces, and more. If the moisture is left to sit long enough, it will eventually bring the house to ruin. By having professional water damage restoration training, a cleaning crew will be able to properly assess the situation and devise the best plan for repair.
According the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification), which sets the standards for the cleaning industry and water damage restoration training, there are several different levels and classes involved in liquid destruction. From the IICRC’s S-500 standards, there are three categories describing the type of liquid involved.
• Category 1. This is liquid from a clean and sanitary source, such as faucets, toilet tanks, drinking fountains, etc. But, category one can quickly degrade into category two. • Category 2. This category of liquid used to be called grey water, and is described as having a level of contaminates that may cause illness or discomfort if ingested. Sources include dishwasher or washing machine overflows, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine but not feces. • Category 3. This is the worst classification and is grossly unsanitary. It could cause severe illness or death if ingested. It used to be called black water, and sources include sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, toilet overflow with feces, and stagnant liquid that has begun to support bacterial growth.
Next are the classes of destruction.
• Class 1. The lowest and easiest to deal with, this has a slow evaporation rate. Only part of a room or area was affected, there is little or no wet carpet, and the moisture has only affected materials with a low permeance rate, such as plywood or concrete. • Class 2. With a fast evaporation rate, this level affects an entire room, carpeting, or cushioning, the wetness has wicked up the walls at least 12”, and there is moisture remaining in structural materials. • Class 3. This class has the fastest evaporation rate, and ceilings, walls, insulation, carpet and sub-floors are all saturated. The liquid may have come from overhead. • Class 4. This class is labeled as specialty drying situations, which means there has been enough liquid and time to saturate materials with very low permeance, such as hardwood, brick, or stone. The education involved in water damage restoration training teaches the technician to tell the difference between all the classes and categories and form a restoration plan based on those factors. Whether the work is done with a professional, broad-spectrum cleaning company, or if it’s a company limited strictly to moisture damage work, it’s important to make sure the technician has the right knowledge and tools for the job. Infrared probes are used to tell the extent of the destruction, as well as air movers, air scrubbers, different sizes and types of dryers and blowers, special hardwood dryers, and dryers designed specifically for drying the sub-floor and inner wall cavities. Armed with water damage restoration training and the proper tools, most situations are salvageable.
What are damaging winds?Damaging winds are often called “straight-line” winds to differentiate the damage they cause from tornado damage. Strong thunderstorm winds can come from a number of different processes. Most thunderstorm winds that cause damage at the ground are a result of outflow generated by a thunderstorm downdraft. Damaging winds are classified as those exceeding 50-60 mph.Are damaging winds really a big deal?Damage from severe thunderstorm winds account for half of all severe reports in the lower 48 states and is more common than damage from tornadoes. Wind speeds can reach up to 100 mph and can produce a damage path extending for hundreds of miles.Who is at risk from damaging winds?Since most thunderstorms produce some straight-line winds as a result of outflow generated by the thunderstorm downdraft, anyone living in thunderstorm-prone areas of the world is at risk for experiencing this hazard.
People living in mobile homes are especially at risk for injury and death. Even anchored mobile homes can be seriously damaged when winds gust over 80 mph.
Fires can be especially devastating to your home or business. After the fire trucks leave, your property will likely suffer from not only fire and smoke damage, but also widespread water damage and flooding from firefighting efforts. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have specialized fire and water damage restoration training and experience to quickly clean up and restore your home to pre-fire condition. They also can remove the pervasive smoke odor and deep-clean soot from upholstery and carpet.
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Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call Today 1-800-SERVPRO
Why Choose SERVPRO Franchise Professionals?
They’re Faster to Any Size Disaster
SERVPRO Franchise Professionals are dedicated to responding immediately when you need help with a fire or water damage event. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces cost.
They specialize in fire and water damage restoration, the cornerstone of our business. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have extensive training and equipment to get your property back to pre-fire condition.
SERVPRO Franchise Professionals clean and restore your property using specialized equipment and cleaning techniques. Their “restore first” mentality reduces interruption and gets you back to your life.
SERVPRO Franchise Professionals know just how devastating a fire can be. Fire and water damage can leave your house unsafe and unlivable. They’re trained to clean and restore your home with as little disruption as possible. Learn more about the fire damage restoration process.
Step1: Emergency Contact
Step 2: Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment
Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service (if needed)
Step 4: Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)
Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces
Storms and inclement weather can bring wind damage, heavy rain, and flooding that can devastate any business in a matter of minutes. There’s never a convenient time for flooding or water damage to strike, and storms don’t just strike during regular business hours; that’s why SERVPRO Franchise Professionals offer 24 hour emergency service 365 days per year.
Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give our Professionals a call and they’ll be there fast with the help you need.
The SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team can provide help whether it’s a tornado, hurricane, blizzard or flood. The SERVPRO System has a network of strategically positioned storm teams on standby should a disaster strike near you. Available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, SERVPRO Franchise Professionals are prepared for the unpredictable. Learn more about the Disaster Recovery Team.
Your commercial property’s appearance speaks volumes to your clients. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services, SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have the training and expertise to help make it “Like it never even happened.”
We are available 24 hours a day to get your business back up and running. Our expertise includes restoration services for fire and water damage, including electronics restoration and document drying. We are also your business’s best resource for mold remediation. Learn more about our commercial restoration services:
Whether your need is removing an odor problem or deep cleaning flooring or carpets, you can depend on a SERVPRO Franchise Professional to get the job done right the first time. They’ll respond promptly and make your workspace look its very best. Learn more about our Commercial Cleaning Service.
Company Prepares: The mold remediation company will park a truck as near as possible to the doorway, lay down plastic sheeting, and run hoses through the house to the mold area. If the mold area is accessible from the outside (such as a crawlspace), so much the better. A good mold remediation company will take care to keep your house clean while they do the work.
Suiting-Up Process: As with any other potentially hazardous process, such as the removal of lead-based paint or asbestos, mold remediation workers fully suit up for action: head-to-toe white suits, booties, respirators, and goggles. This does not necessarily mean that the mold remediation company will be removing toxic mold. This is the usual procedure for any job they are dealing with.
Spray Down: The first step of this two-step process is to spray the mold area with biocide. Biocide is an EPA-approved liquid which kills mold. Note that bleach is not approved by the EPA for killing mold. Typically, this first step should take less time than the second step.
Wait: After the workers leave, the biocide goes to work, killing the mold spores.
Day 2: Spray Mold Area with Encapsulant
Next day, the mold remediation company returns. Again, clear access is needed.
Encapsulation: The workers will spray the area with a type of paint or whitewash that encapsulates the remaining mold spores. The mold remediation company should spray well beyond the moldy area to ensure that no more mold grows. For example, if only a limited area of an attic exhibits mold, the company will probably still spray down the entire attic. This is more desirable, and you should confirm with the company that they will do this.
Before entering a building where flood damage may have occurred, make sure it’s safe: check for electrical hazards and structural damage, and use proper protective gear like boots, gloves and respirators. Before you start any construction or repairs, check for common hazardous materials like lead paint and asbestos, which may require help from professional and State-licensed contractors.
Then, follow these tips:
Act quickly The severity of damage escalates the longer water sits and building components and contents stay wet, so time is of the essence in the aftermath of a flood. In fact, mold will grow within 48-72 hours, so aim to start removing water and drying the environment within 48 hours. Have a list of professionals on hand to call, and understand your insurance policy, as some only cover mold damage up to a certain amount, while others don’t provide any reimbursement for mold.
Ventilate affected areas to prevent mold growth Mold loves moisture and organic materials such as paper or particleboard. In order to mitigate or slow damage, open windows if weather permits and place fans inside of them to keep air moving and maintain moderate temperatures. Work toward the fan as you clean to minimize cross contamination.
Assess damage to items and materials Assess the type of water absorbed by items, such as rainwater, water from broken pipes, contaminated river water or bacteria-filled sewage. There are ways to salvage specialty items but the decision on whether to save or trash an item will vary depending on the dollar and sentimental value to the owner. It may not be worthwhile to salvage drywall, carpets and pads, mattresses, pillows, box springs and particleboard. On the other hand, it might be worthwhile to restore costly Persian rugs, leather couches and antiques or heirlooms. Wet clothing and many household fabrics may be salvageable through machine washing, and a 10-minute soak in detergent and hot water, to remove contamination and stains. The IICRC strongly recommends that in water damages where there are contaminants present (e.g., bacteria, sewage, mold) or where small children or immune-compromised individuals are present that an inspection be conducted by an appropriately trained restorer and remediator.
Expose pockets of saturation Hidden and concealed pockets of saturation need to be opened for cleaning and drying. Layers between building materials hold water that must be discovered and removed or dried. On walls, find the water line and inspect at least a foot beyond it to make sure all damage, wet materials and mold are discovered. Remove and discard the damaged drywall and wet wall insulation. Wet carpets can usually be dried by professionals with the right equipment, but carpet padding, which is like a big sponge, should be discarded. Wood base trim and hardwood can also be saved with the right equipment if they can be accessed and completely dried on both sides. Remember to investigate concealed cavities such as behind walls, in mechanical spaces, under cabinets and furniture, and in crawl spaces.
Conduct a thorough cleaning Durable, non-porous or semi-porous materials, such as studs and joists, hardwood flooring and vinyl products, can be cleaned with common cleaning products or specialized products with detergents. During cleaning, take care to protect areas that are unaffected by the water or mold. After a thorough cleaning of salvageable materials, a disinfectant solution may need to be applied in case of harmful bacteria from sewage, river water debris or even standing water that has gone bad. Professionals like water restoration and mold remediation contractors and indoor environmental professionals can help you decide what is best for your situation. Once you’ve cleaned the wet materials, conduct another round of cleaning. If you choose to vacuum, use a HEPA-filter vacuum to remove allergens, fine dust and spores.
Confirm drying before reconstruction In order to prevent dry rot and structural damage, it’s important not to reconstruct or cover wood and other wet materials until the moisture content has been adequately reduced. A water restoration professional can confirm proper drying before reconstruction.
Water damage can be deceptive. Water penetrates into structural cavities creating trapped pockets of saturation. The detection of water in these areas can often only be discovered with sophisticated moisture detection meters. Undetected moisture will continue to cause damage. This damage, at a minimum, will cause odors. Greater damage will surface when materials delaminate, shrink, split and further deteriorate to where costly repairs are required.
More than just removing excess water, IICRC-certified restorers have the knowledge and equipment to further dry a home or facility (including substructure materials) completely back to preloss conditions. Through timely response and the careful monitoring of water damage, mold and other health issues can be prevented. If water damage has been present too long, mold will occur.
All IICRC-certified professionals have the training and experience to identify moisture sources, evaluate mold growth (visible or suspected), contain damage, remove contamination and dry materials to ensure that mold will not return.
Professional restoration technicians understand the need for quick response. Immediate remediation is key to controlling any escalating costs. The longer the remediation is delayed, the higher the cost of restoration. Certified restorers have the knowledge to test materials and apply the restoration techniques required to return the items to their preloss condition.
Make sure safety and health precautions are taken by cleanup professionals and occupants. Mold-contaminated buildings can be associated with a number of health problems. Anyone involved in the mold remediation process must be protected from exposure through a combination of practices and controls.
A post-cleanup assessment by an independent environmental expert. An effective mold remediation cannot be developed without first determining the extent of the contamination to be removed. To ensure that remediation work is being properly performed, it is highly recommended that appropriate documentation of the remediation process be kept by project management
Control of mold before it spreads further. Eliminating mold at the source of contamination is essential. Once mold spores spread through the air, it will be much more difficult to capture.
Oversee the proper physical removal of the mold. The mold must be physically removed from the structure. Attempts to isolate mold or remove signs of mold on the surface are not adequate. Note that bleach alone cannot kill mold.
Ensure that moisture is controlled to limit future contamination or recontamination. Mold growth is virtually inevitable if moisture is not controlled. Moisture problems must be identified, located and corrected or controlled as soon as possible.
Application of these principles may involve multiple disciplines and professionals from a wide range of restoration and indoor environmental fields
Mold becomes a problem inside a home or business when there's excessive humidity or moisture for an extended period of time. The problem can originate from sudden water releases, like a burst pipe or large spill that goes untreated, or from a chronic condition, such as a leaking roof or plumbing. Even high humidity or warm, moist air condensing on cool surfaces can trigger mold problems. It's always best to have the mold evaluated and removed by a certified professional.
Mold can grow almost anywhere in a home or business if conditions permit. If there is visible growth on painted wall surfaces, property owners should be concerned about what may be growing on the wall's opposite side. The environment inside the walls of a house often differs drastically from the outside and could create a perfect haven for mold. If the wall remains wet for a prolonged period, it's almost guaranteed that the mold growth on the back side will be worse than on the front. At that point, containing the work space and removing moldy materials, followed by cleaning of salvageable framing, are the best options.
Certified professionals have the training and experience to:
Identify moisture sources
Evaluate mold growth (visible or suspected)
Contain damage to the smallest area possible
Physically remove contamination
Dry materials to ensure that mold will not return
Perform or recommend procedures for returning property to a preloss condition
Flooding, whether it occurs as a flash or from a slow buildup, is a common occurrence in many parts of the country. If you're wondering how to prepare your business for a flood, the post below highlights some key steps you should consider in your flood disaster planning.
Flood Planning Need-to-Knows
National Flood Safety Awareness Week took place from March 16 to March 22 and with the recent flooding we've had along the east coast of the country, it's a perfect reminder of the importance of flood preparedness for your business.
Even if you think the flooding risks are low in your area, it’s important to be vigilant. For example, during the 2013 floods in Colorado, a very rare weather event hit Boulder County and surrounding areas hard. A stalled weather front dropped 21 inches of rain very quickly, and the resulting damage to businesses, homes and civic infrastructure was devastating and widespread.
The first step to prepare for flooding is to understand your potential exposure. Fortunately there are some convenient resources. For example, the NOAA Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service provides quarterly updates and maps showing areas that are higher risk during certain times of the year. Historic flood maps are also a great resource for understanding the potential risks in your area. Knowing how high water could potentially rise and how long it will take to drain are valuable insights for developing a response plan.
In addition to getting flood insurance, here are some other important steps to keep in mind for preparedness:
Safeguard key information—be sure you keep copies of flood insurance and other key business information in a safe place where it won’t be damaged or swept away by flooding.
Prepare your building—depending on your building layout, it may be worth getting a sump pump to help minimize potential damage. Be sure to keep gutters and drains clear of debris, and to anchor fuel tanks. Also, if possible, minimize storage of especially valuable assets in the lowest-lying areas of the building.
Develop an emergency plan—design a flood evacuation route and share it with employees so they can get themselves and customers to higher ground, if it becomes necessary. Also, be sure to have an emergency kit onsite, in case people are stuck in the building.
Key Take-Away
And take it from the experts—preparation pays. "Flooding is dangerous and costly, killing nearly 100 people and causing an average of eight billion dollars in property damage in the United States each year," said Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, director, NOAA's National Weather Service, which produces an array of flood outlooks and forecasts, including watches and life-saving warnings. "A weather-ready nation is a prepared nation; one that will reduce flood losses by planning ahead, staying abreast of weather forecasts, and heeding the warnings."
Your plan for disaster preparedness should include flood information and outline how to prepare for floods. Read on for information about floods and flood safety tips, and how to make them part of your emergency preparedness plan as you prepare for a flood.
Types Of Flooding
Topography and weather conditions play a prominent role in the impact different types of flooding have on specific locales. The following are some examples of specific types of flooding.
Rising water may be the greatest risk to inland areas away from a river bed after a heavy snow pack begins to melt or after heavy rainfall.
Moving water is a serious risk in areas near rivers or in coastal storm surge areas because it creates significantly larger lateral forces on a building.
Overtopping, breaching or opening of dams, levees, and other flood control mechanisms, which are designed to divert the flow of water to provide protection, can lead to flood damage that may be more significant than if the levees were never installed. The Mississippi and Missouri River floods of 2011 included breaches of levees, as well as controlled flooding by the opening of various flood gates on levees. The result was thousands of acres of farmland, crops, livestock and fish farms being destroyed to protect urban areas.
Flash flooding can occur in every region as a result of slow-moving thunderstorms or excessive rainfall from any storm system.
Large, slow-moving tropical storms can dump excessive amounts of rain on coastal locations and then move inland to continue the devastation, resulting in widespread flood damage.
Floods can occur anywhere, often with little or no warning, and with devastating consequences. Protecting the bottom line in order to remain open, or to re-open quickly after a flood disaster, requires taking steps now to prevent or reduce flood damage should your business be in the path of rising water. Below is a brief overview of issues that small businesses must address to reduce the likelihood of flood damage and to prepare financially and operationally should a flood occur. Many of the topics covered here involve complex issues that are best addressed by hydrological, engineering, regulatory or insurance experts; the goal here is simply to outline the basics in order to help business owners understand why they need to mitigate against flood risk and some of the challenges they may face.
Tropical Storm Allison (2001): A Case Study in Flooding
Often, businesses and homeowners let down their guard when a tropical weather system does not result in hurricane-force winds. Tropical Storm Allison is a good example of how rains associated with a tropical system can be equally devastating. The storm dumped approximately 32 trillion gallons of rain (enough to meet U.S. water needs for an entire year), according to the Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project. This included 28 inches of rainfall during a 12-hour period just northeast of downtown Houston, and rainfall amounts ranging from 10, 20 and 30 inches in locations throughout the Southeast—earning Allison the infamous distinction as the costliest tropical storm in U.S. history.
Understanding Your Flood Hazard
There are several flood principles that should be considered to determine your facility’s exposure to flood waters and the type of protection to be deployed:
Duration: It is important to know if flood waters are expected to recede quickly or may be trapped due to the slope of the land. The longer a facility is exposed to flood waters, the greater potential for flood-proofing failures due to a breach in the protection.
Depth: Flood waters greater than 3 feet create hydrostatic pressure on walls that can cause cracks in masonry and greatly increase the potential of collapse to unreinforced masonry. When estimating the potential depth of flood waters, it is always best to include a safety factor to account for inaccuracies in the estimate.
Velocity: As flood water velocity increases, so does the pressure exerted on flood protection. River flooding can be very fast moving water at first and then may settle down. Coastal locations may be exposed to wave action from storm surge.
Water Condition: Many times flood waters are dirty, brackish or contaminated with biological and chemical materials including waste water, sewage, pesticides, industrial waste, toxic and non-toxic chemicals, or oils. Debris that is churning in the water can impact buildings and flood protection systems, create breaches in the protection and cause extensive damage.
Location, Location, Location
Proximity to water is the number 1 risk factor for flooding, but property owners should not assume being out of the floodplain will help you entirely avoid the possibility of flooding. It is always a best practice to locate your property as far away from bodies of water as possible. Flood maps available from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) identify 100-year and 500-year flood zones throughout the United States. The flood zones also delineate participation in the NFIP, as well as permitting and other requirements that communities adopt in order to meet NFIP standards and qualify their citizens for lower flood insurance rates. By definition, the 100-year and 500-year flood zones mean there is a 1 (.20) percent chance of flooding annually in an area based on topography and historical data; it does not mean that flooding will occur only once in a century (or 500 years). There also are other important points to consider.
Floods can and very often do occur outside the 100-year flood zone. In fact, approximately 25 percent of all flood damages occur in relatively low risk zones commonly described as being “outside the mapped flood zone.”
Specific boundaries on some flood maps may be arbitrary or include inaccuracies. For example, a property lying just outside the 100-year flood zone is almost equally likely to be flooded as one just within.
Obstructions or landfill can change the topography, storm-water drainage patterns, and flow of water over natural floodplains. Although permits are required for flood zone fill (and must be based on engineering assessments demonstrating “no impact”), it is possible that non-permitted work has occurred near your property.
Floods show no respect for the estimated probabilities. As Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Craig Fugate observed following a spate of natural disasters, “It just seemed like it was back-to-back and it came in waves. The term ‘100-year event’ really lost its meaning this year.”
The Importance of Elevation
When it comes to flooding, there really is no better solution than adequate elevation, aside from choosing a location well outside of a 500-year flood plain. If such a location is not possible, the best way to increase the safety margin against flood damage is to raise the elevation of your building above the 500-year flood elevation. Flood-proofing your building is another option to reduce damage. Through the NFIP, there is extensive regulation of floodplain development at the community level.
Permits are needed for a wide range of activities including construction of new buildings, additions to existing buildings, and substantial improvement to the interior of existing buildings that are within the most hazardous flood zones. Part of the permitting process involves whether your building site is higher than the base flood elevation (BFE), which is the elevation at which your property has a 1 percent chance of flooding annually, as indicated on the NFIP flood maps. Major storms and flash floods can cause waters to rise higher than the BFE—therefore, it is always a good investment to build in a safety factor several feet above the BFE. This safety zone is called “freeboarding.”
For example, IBHS’s FORTIFIED for Safer Business™ Standards, a package of enhanced voluntary construction standards that greatly increase a new light commercial building’s durability and resilience to natural hazards, requires FORTIFIED buildings to be at least 3 feet above the BFE or above the 500-year flood elevation. There are also ways to retrofit your existing building so that it meets or exceeds BFEs. While only a structural engineer/design professional can determine what is right for your property, the options include raising foundation onto pilings or columns or adding landfill, as long as “no impact” floodplain requirements are met.
When elevating a building so that the walking surface of the lowest floor is at the minimum elevation, areas under the BFE can be used only for parking and limited storage—under-floor bathrooms, utilities, and ductwork are not allowed.
Equipment, utility connections and all interior utility systems including ductwork must be elevated above the BFE. In addition, fuel and propane tanks must be properly anchored, since they can become buoyant even in shallow water.
What is “Dry Flood-Proofing”?
Sealing a building so that water will not enter is called “dry flood-proofing” or “flood-proofing.” Flood-proofing protects your building by coating the exterior with a membrane to prevent flood waters from entering. NFIP regulations allow flood-proofing as an alternative to elevation above the BFE for newly constructed or substantially improved non-residential structures only—new and improved homes must be elevated above the BFE to meet NFIP requirements. It is important to determine whether dry flood-proofing will provide the protections your property needs before choosing this option. This also applies if your business is located outside the 100-year flood zone, but you want to invest in additional flood protection. Dry flood-proofing is a complex procedure that should be done by professional experts. If done incorrectly, it may not protect your property and can lead to decay, mold, or termite damage:
As a general matter, dry flood-proofing is best suited to areas with clay soils where floods are short in duration and less than 3 feet deep.
Buildings in poor structural condition should not be dry flood-proofed, as the exterior walls will be under extreme pressure during a flood.
There are a variety of dry flood-proofing measures; a professional can help to determine whether any of them are right for your situation:
Applying a waterproof coating or membrane to exterior walls
Sealing all wall penetrations including where utilities enter the building
Installing waterproof shields over all openings, including windows and doors
Anchoring the building to resist flotation
Strengthening walls to withstand flood water pressures and flood debris
The Vulnerable Basement
Even above the BFE or outside the floodplain, basements are prone to floods because water may flow down into them. They also may have an increased hydrostatic pressure exerted upon them when the surrounding ground is saturated. Recognizing that elevation is the best form of mitigation, there are a number of additional measures business owners can take to reduce the likelihood and scope of basement flood damage.
Thoroughly inspect your basement and the surrounding property for evidence of water entry and sources of water flow and leakage.
Correct potential problems—for example, extend and redirect downspouts, re-grade sloping landscape, and caulk any interior wall cracks.
Basement walls should be designed to resist hydrostatic pressure.
Use flood-resistant materials where possible, including floor coverings, wall coverings, and wall insulation. Most flood-resistant materials can withstand direct contact with water for at least 72 hours without being significantly damaged.
Do not store valuable equipment, documents, or inventory in any crawlspace or basement where flooding is possible.
The “Green” Factor
In addition, there are steps you can take now to reduce health and environmental damage should a flood occur.
Anchor fuel and propane tanks to prevent them from being swept away. When they break away, the contents may leak, creating fire, explosion and pollution risks that can adversely affect health and the environment.
Install sewer backflow valves to block drain pipes from sewage back-up, which can occur if there is flooding in your area.
If you are supplied by well water, protect your well from contamination. A licensed well drilling contractor can inspect your well and suggest improvements.
Although many of us go through great efforts to fireproof our home, we rarely bring this outlook into the workplace. While there’s no replacement for a little bit of forethought and diligence, a fire at your place of business doesn’t have to mean the end of your company altogether. In fact, approximately 60 percent of all U.S.-based businesses reopen their doors after a disastrous fire. Some companies have even gone on to achieve a great amount of success and profitability after such an event.
Determine the Responsible Party
The first thing you should do in the wake of a fire at your business is determine the responsible party. This depends on a number of different factors, including whether you lease or own the building, the exact cause of the fire and even your specific amount of insurance coverage. Keep in mind that some insurance policies only cover the contents of the structure and not the materials used in the actual construction of the building.
Sometimes, you may need to wait until an investigation has been completed by your local fire department, police department or insurance company. If this is the case, make sure to maintain communications for further information and instructions.
Safeguard and Secure Your Remaining Property
If the fire has caused significant damage to the exterior walls, doors, windows or roof of your building, you’ll want to act quickly in order to safeguard and secure your remaining property. Smoldering remains should be fully extinguished and any large holes should be temporarily patched. Not only will this prevent vandalism after the fact, but a little bit of effort can go a long way towards minimizing the overall amount of damage caused.
Contact Anyone Who May Be Affected
Next comes the daunting task of contacting anyone who may have been affected as a result of the fire. This includes employees, board members, external partners and, in some cases, customers. If any activities or services need to be postponed or suspended, make sure to communicate that news, too. The last thing you want to do after a fire is to leave your valuable employees and business partners in the dark about the future of your company.
Furthermore, don’t forget to contact your insurance agent as soon as possible. A simple call or email will typically suffice, though large claims may require face-to-face consultation or even an on-site inspection of the damaged property.
Get Your Documentation in Order
Your insurance company will require proof regarding any claimed losses as a result of the fire, so be sure to have any pertinent documentation, including receipts, user manuals and credit card statements, at the ready. You may even want to take digital pictures or video of your property. Not only can this be used in determining your overall losses, it could serve as hard evidence in case any court proceedings should follow.
Repair and Restore Damage
If the structure isn’t a total loss, you might be able to rebuild, repair and restore your business back to its original state. Calling a reputable restoration company like SERVPRO of Skagit County can save you a lot of time.
Initiate the Recovery of Sensitive or Critical Data
Depending on your exact case, you may need to take steps to recover any sensitive or critical data that was lost in the occurrence. Damaged servers, hard drives and even personal computers can all hold data critical to the day-to-day operations of your business.
If the situation warrants, you may even consider hiring a third-party that specializes in data recovery and restoration, specifically in the event of fire. Such individuals are more likely to be equipped with the right hardware and software tools than a company that offers general disaster recovery services. Most data recovery experts will also be able to work with you in order to introduce techniques in disaster recovery planning and data loss prevention.
Getting Back to Business
Once everything has been restored to order, it’s finally time to get back to business. Make sure to outline a comprehensive fire safety plan when moving forward, just in case your business experiences another fire. You might also consider increasing your insurance coverage for the future. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
A fire can cause severe damage to business equipment, materials, and structures. As a business owner, focusing on fire risk assessment, fire prevention, and staff education can help reduce your chance of fire and smoke damage. Here are three tips to help.
Assess the risk of fire hazards : The National Fire Protection Association offers handbooks and other publications on the fire safety code in place for businesses. If your local government offers it, a visit from a fire marshal is a great step for your fire prevention plan. If a marshal visit isn't available, ask for workplace fire risk assessment guidance from your building's property manager.
Have fire protection equipment : If you have an automatic sprinkler system in place, this will provide primary fire protection for your business.
Standard fire safety practices call for smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on every floor. Your best bet is multipurpose extinguishers, which will douse most small fires with ease, without shorting out your electronics.
Protect your people : Your employees are your most important business asset. These tips can help prevent them from being injured in a fire.
Fire Plans: Make sure your employees know what to do if there's a fire, including calling 911 immediately. Conduct a fire drill at least once a year to keep employees aware of your workplace fire safety protocol.
Evacuation Plan: In larger buildings, post a fire evacuation plan in several spots around the workplace. Never include elevators in an evacuation plan; always use the stairs.
First Aid: In case of fire injuries, your employees should be familiar with the location of the first-aid kit, which should be kept where possible hazards can occur most-such as in the kitchen.
Fire and smoke damage can be devastating to personal property and structures. Quick action is the only way to minimize the destruction. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, IICRC, is a globally recognized organization whose mission is to establish higher industry standards. As a referral source for consumers, IICRC certified firms are more likely to provide a faster, better service than non-certified competitors.
Restoration costs increase and damages escalate when the cleaning process is extended. By hastening the hiring process and using an IICRC certified technician, owners will be rewarded by having the damage stopped so repairs can begin.
What happens only minutes after the disaster?
Immediately after a fire, soot residue settles onto the property. Discoloration of porous materials is permanent, but other surfaces may be properly cleaned to remove the discoloration. Acidic soot begins staining other surfaces if not treated quickly.
Within hours all surfaces begin to suffer from fire and smoke damage. Wooden furniture may require refinishing. Metal begins to rust, pit and corrode. Painted walls begin to yellow. Clothing can become permanently stained. And finally, flooring may require refinishing or replacement.
If left untreated, within weeks the restoration process will take longer and cost more. Prolonged soot exposure permanently harms all surfaces and embeds in fibers. Replacement of property may be the best option at this point. The structure may continue deteriorating if not properly restored.
IICRC suggests the following steps after the incident:
Remember safety comes first. Do not enter the property without proper work gloves and appropriate respiratory protection. Exposure to soot residue causes respiratory distress and other medical emergencies.
Bring along a few box fans. Upon entering the property open the windows and place the box fans in the windows to force out the contaminated air and dust. Proper ventilation helps to prevent further smoke damage and reduces potential injury to people.
Remove loose smoke contamination with a professional dry cleaning soot sponge.
Clean every surface with soap and water. Begin at the top and work down to the floor. Be sure to get inside cabinets and cupboards.
Using a high efficiency vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) Filter, vacuum upholstery and carpet. A good filtration system on a high efficiency vacuum prevents the soot from being blown back into the cleaned space. Clean or change the filter regularly.
Launder bedding, clothes, curtains, and other washable materials. An alkaline cleaner neutralizes the acid found in the soot. Fine materials should be professionally dry-cleaned by a dry-cleaner who is experienced in smoke damaged articles.
Clean the exterior walls and eaves using a water hose attached to the proper cleaner. Agitate and loosen stuck-on soot. The smoke damage to the outside of the property will continue until the soot is removed.
Though heavy residues require the assistance of professional restoration technicians, a certified technician may be contacted for any amount of smoke damage. Improper processes can further harm the property or belongings.
Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in all cases it is recommended to call a reputable mold mitigation company:
If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.
If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, for instance, or there is mold near the intake to the system), consult EPA guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout the building.
If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.
If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.*
Is Your Company Prepared For When Disaster Strikes?
Did you know that upto 50% of businesses that close due to a disaster never reopen? Are you, and your property prepared for an emergency or disaster situation? Don't worry SERVPRO of Skagit County is Here to Help.
SERVPRO of Skagit County is offering Emergency Ready Profiles (ERPs) to local businesses and community members. The ERP is a no cost assessment, all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save your business in the future.
What is the ERP you ask? The ERP is a compliation of everything you may need handy when disaster stirkes.
The information incudes (but is not limited to):
Emergency Tips
A facility overview
Emergency Contacts
Facility entry points.
Utility shut-off locations
Other crucial source information.
Fire extinguisher locations.
Urgent Contacts
As you can see, the ERP is a great resource for when disaster occurs. The better prepaired you are the better you are able to minimize business interruption in a disaster situation. Feel free to call SERVPRO of Skagit County at (360) 873 - 8744 to schedule an ERP appointment!
24/7 Emergency Service
Call SERVPRO for rapid water removal to mitigate the damage. For our Mount Vernon neighbors, We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.
