Recent Why SERVPRO Posts

What To Expect During Mold Remediation

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Man wearing protective gear Mold remediation in Schaumburg, IL.

The Following Steps Will Take Place During The Remediation Process

If you have experienced a storm in Schaumburg,IL, or have had trouble with a leaky or broken pipe, then the resulting water damage may have caused black mold growth in your commercial building. The following steps will take place during the remediation process to remove the fungus and return your building to its previous condition.


1. Inspecting the Building
Before anything else can be done, the mold remediation company will inspect the building. Once the professionals have located all affected areas and assessed the damage, they can determine how to proceed.


2. Containing the Contaminated Area
Black mold spores can easily spread throughout the building during cleanup if the area is not properly contained. Negative air chambers are often used to prevent this. HVAC systems and fans will also be turned off to reduce airflow.


3. Removing the Mold
Once the area has been isolated, mold cleanup and removal can begin. Depending on the severity of the growth, absorbent materials may need to be removed. Surfaces will be treated to prevent mold from returning.


4. Cleaning Damaged Belongings
The building itself may not be the only thing affected by the black mold. Surfaces, paper documents and objects made with absorbent materials may also have mold growing on or inside them. In many cases, these can be salvaged by professional cleaning techniques. However, if the damage is too severe, these items may need to be replaced.


5. Making Repairs
After the building has been cleaned, repairs may need to be made. Materials like drywall, insulation and carpeting can absorb large amounts of water. If this happens, it is difficult to remove or prevent mold growth. During restoration, these items may be replaced. Some areas may also need to be repainted.
It is important that mold cleanup and restoration is done properly to prevent the fungus from spreading throughout the building or returning in the future. While it may seem time-consuming, these steps are necessary to keep your building in its best condition.

SERVPRO Restores Water-Damaged Documents

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

Wet documents The SERVPRO Document Restoration Team is available at a moment’s notice for your document drying needs

Why Should You Choose SERVPRO?

Every commercial building is susceptible to some form of water damage, whether it’s a flood, sewage backup or fire sprinkler malfunction. Unfortunately, most of your building’s contents probably won’t be waterproof. After a water disaster, time is of the essence. You need to start restoration right away. This is especially true for paper-based items, including irreplaceable documents and photos. So, why should you choose SERVPRO? They use the latest state-of-the-art document restoration equipment to:

1. Dry

SERVPRO’s restoration team is proud to offer the same vacuum freeze-drying method that’s approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). In fact, the Library of Congress uses this method to dry invaluable books and historical documents. Vacuum freeze-drying works by using sublimation, which turns a solid into a vapor, skipping the liquid state altogether. This avoids the possibility of causing more water damage during the restoration process.

2. Clean and Disinfect

Paper-based materials that have been exposed to substances such as sewage or toxic chemicals will need to be disinfected. Gamma irradiation is a very effective technique used for sterilizing these materials.

3. Deodorize

After water-damaged paper-based materials are dried, they may have a lingering musty odor. This smell can be especially pronounced if mold has occurred. Eliminating foul odors is an important part of the document restoration process.

4. Re-jacket

A severely water-damaged book may be falling apart. Along with drying the inside, replacing the cover may be necessary to keep it bound.

5. Digitize

While it may be preferable to have some hard copies of important documents and photos, digital copies will make sure that they’re not a total loss should a disaster occur. SERVPRO restoration professionals can convert them to digital formats. The loss of these documents could severely impact your business.
When water damage occurs at your building in Roselle, IL, the remediation process needs to start as soon as possible to limit unnecessary loss. The SERVPRO Document Restoration Team is available at a moment’s notice for your document drying needs.

How SERVPRO Helps Both Insurance Agents and Their Clients

4/24/2022 (Permalink)

Drying equipment placed in the lobby of a hotel SERVPRO of Central Schaumburg/West Bloomingdale is Here to Help.

SERVPRO Can Help You and Your Clients

SERVPRO is a preferred emergency restoration company for many insurance providers. That is because SERVPRO's experts understand what you need as an insurance adjuster. Here are some ways SERVPRO's Central Schaumburg/West Bloomingdale, franchise can help you and your clients.

1. Reduced Costs

The franchise professionals understand that an immediate response is key after a tornado, fire or flood. Once your client contacts the franchise, a representative will respond and tour the property right away. This limits the damage and thus makes the cleanup less expensive.
These experts additionally realize that restoring assets is cheaper than completing replacing them. Franchisees have been trained to restore as much as possible and to only replace what cannot be salvaged. The mitigation pros will pretest every affected item to determine what can be saved.

2. Quality Work

While an insurance adjuster needs to keep restoration costs low, he or she must also make sure the cleanup is done properly. SERVPRO thus trains its franchise professionals to meet standards set by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Both insurers and franchisees can also add to their knowledge with continuing education classes at an IICRC-approved facility.
All of the vendors who service customers are also fully qualified for their positions. They meet vehicle and crew standards, and they must pass yearly compliance checks.

3. Constant Updates

An adjuster should additionally know the exact status of each insurance claim. Franchises let you do just that with the electronic Claims Information Center. It includes an estimate of the loss, photos of the damage and scanned paperwork.
A good insurance adjuster needs to offer commercial clients a reliable yet affordable restoration. SERVPRO's franchise professionals can help you do just this. Their trained experts respond quickly to any emergency and aim for restoration over replacement whenever possible. Franchises also provide agents with a Claims Information Center that lets them track the progress of each project. This knowledge should just add to your competitive advantage.

3 Reasons To Use SERVPRO’s Claims Information Center

2/24/2022 (Permalink)

Flooded basement with drying equipment placed in damaged area. Water damage restoration in a Bartlett, IL residential property.

3 Reasons To Use SERVPRO’s Claims Information Center

When you are working on processing an insurance claim for a client’s Bartlett, IL, home, you will have quite a bit of information to deal with. Using the Claims Information Center to help keep track of everything will allow you to do your job more efficiently. Here are a few ways that it can make your work a bit easier.

1. Everything You Need Is in One Place

The SERVPRO Claims Information Center allows you to keep all of the information you need in one easily accessible location. This will allow you to find what you are looking for more quickly. You can spend the time that you would have used looking through stacks of papers on helping your client and moving through the claims process faster.

2. You Can Access It Whenever You Want

Processing an insurance claim can take a lot of time, so you don’t want to waste any waiting around for access to important information. With this electronic claims service, you can access the documents you need at any time, allowing you to continue your work right away.

3. Accurate Information Helps You Make the Best Decisions

Deciding how to move forward with a claim requires you to have the most accurate information. As the insurance agent, you want to make the best choices for both the client and the insurance agency. With the Claims Information Center, you have access to a complete electronic job file that includes photos of damaged items, a detailed estimate of repair costs and scanned paperwork and forms. With this information, you can be sure you are making the right decisions.

Using a damage restoration company with an electronic claims service can make it easier for you to complete the insurance claim process. You won’t need to sort through piles of documents, and you will have accurate information at your fingertips whenever you need it.