Dealing with a Business Fire? Read these Tips to Help Lessen the Damage

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

Proactive Tips to Help Mitigate Effects of Commercial Fire Damage

Fires in business places present several challenges including closing down to clean up and restore damages, which leads to interruptions of normal operations. If appropriate measures are taken in time, it is possible to reduce the impact such incidents have. We offer professional fire restoration services helping businesses in Chesterton resume their normal operations faster.

Prevention is better than cure even when dealing with commercial fire damage in Chesterton, which is why our SERVPRO technicians help businesses develop ERP, Emergency Response Profiles. Understanding the factors likely to cause or spread the fire quickly at your premises is part of the response plan. If it is an office, electrical equipment such as photocopiers, monitors, printers, lamps, and kettles can start fires due to malfunctions or frayed cables. Periodic inspection can help identify these issues before they lead to fires.

The abundance of combustible materials in many work environments can fuel uncontrollable fires. In offices, discarded packaging materials, loose paper, and other regular wastes can fuel small fires to uncontrollable levels. Also, the materials used to make soft furnishings, as well as the adhesives used in furniture and aerosols, create perfect fuels for fires. As part of the emergency response profile, we help businesses identify these additional dangers and adopt solutions like clean desk policy in which papers are stored in cabinets until needed.

During fires, there is a need to turn off utilities and call emergency services immediately. Most emergencies lead to confusion so delays can happen. The SERVPRO ERP can help you in many ways. We help you appoint key personnel to handle fire emergencies. We also ensure you know where utility turn-off switches are located and provide you with contacts of emergency services. The emergency response profile also equips our staff with valuable information that helps us respond properly when you call us.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

Being proactive can help reduce the impact of fire damage. Call SERVPRO of SERVPRO of Porter County to help evaluate and advise on steps that can help your business premises. You can reach us at (219) 476-1883 any time.

For more on Chesterton, click here.

When Fire Hits your Business in Porter County, SERVPRO is Here to Help

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

Supplying your B2B customers with their packaging needs requires different types of raw supplies. Storing these so your employees always have them ready means having them shipped in from other companies to your Portage location. Between their arrival and the time your workers use them to make new products, their loss can cause long-lasting problems for your company and your customers.

Factories that sustain any size of fire in the Portage area can lose a significant percentage of their inventory to commercial fire damage. When plastics and other synthetics burn, the smoke produced can ruin other materials. Hot ash can scorch other plastics as it lands. Water or foam from extinguishing the fire can also create damage of its own.

When a local company calls SERVPRO to mitigate the effects of a disaster, we collect information about the situation and any extenuating circumstances. We need to know how to ensure that our employees understand any risks on-site. We want to arrive well prepared for all aspects of the mitigation work necessary to make your facility, “Like it never even happened”. Restoring your facility to preloss and fully operational condition includes looking at the hazards that might hinder your employees' performance or cause unwanted health effects. These risks go beyond the slip, trip, and fall problems caused by a fire. When plastics and other man-made materials burn, the air becomes polluted with chemicals that can make breathing without a respirator ill-advised.

During the fire damage mitigation work, SERVPRO specialists wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators. Using air scrubbers and other means to clean the air, we eliminate particles that can cause problems for your workforce. This takes care of the smallest particles, but our crews must remove all of the damaged inventory to ensure that off-gassing from the chemical exchanges caused by fire and high heat no longer pose a risk to health.

Both this soot and the partially combusted materials continue to release gas and other substances into the air. Removing them becomes a crucial part of restoring safe conditions. We dispose of damaged materials according to local regulations, helping ensure compliance with your industry's protocols. We can inspect the air circulation system and deployed HEPA and charcoal based air scrubbers that can capture particulates as small as 0.3 microns. Improving indoor air quality is a critical segment of the fire damage restoration service.

SERVPRO of Porter County can help mitigate and restore your factory. When a fire hits your Beverly Shores or Chesterton facility, call us at (219) 476-1883. We are here to help make things safe and get your production back on track.

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SERVPRO Can Assist You When Water Damages Your Business

6/25/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO responded to a commercial business that was dealing with water damage from a sprinkler system that had malfunctioned. As a result, this high-end retail chain had lost money due to damaged merchandise sustained from the overhead sprinkler system. When the sprinkler system issue had been resolved, SERVPRO technicians arrived to begin the cleanup process. What was done immediately upon walking into the business was gathering up all the merchandise that had been damaged. Our technicians then brought in mops and high-powered vacuums to suck up all the excess water that had collected on the floors throughout the store. Air movers and dehumidifiers were brought in to dry up the moisture to prevent future mold growth from occurring. SERVPRO technicians worked hard to make sure that the water damaged areas were completely dry so that the necessary reconstruction could take place and the business could resume its daily operations. SERVPRO is available 24/7 to handle your water damage emergencies to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to put our equipment, experience and expertise to work for you!

SERVPRO Fire Damage Cleanup Is Here To Help!

4/10/2022 (Permalink)

Cleaning Soot and Smoke Damage from Your Portage Art Gallery

As a hub of culture and artistic expression for the Portage area, your gallery showcases national creations as well as local talent throughout the year for ongoing viewing and special events. When disaster strikes your business, it is not just the building that stands at risk of devastating damages. Fires, even indirect ones, can substantially damage artwork in your gallery. That is where you need professional cleaning and fire restoration technicians like ours to help.

While your Portage art gallery might show the effects of fire damage in multiple ways throughout the building, any savvy business owner knows that protecting the pieces in the gallery has to come before any other restorative act. Our SERVPRO professionals can help with immediate mitigation techniques beginning the moment we arrive to ensure that any painting or other artwork can get removed to a safe location and protected from the lingering effects of soot and smoke damages. Here is an important caveat. For expensive, one of a kind, or significant pieces of art, we do recommend an art curator be employed by you for cleaning and restoring the items. We can still work on the interior of the structure to prevent secondary damages from occurring.

Our contents department can remove these one-of-a-kind creations to a nearby SERVPRO facility for close evaluation and assessment. We can carefully and gently clean soot and smoke residue from paintings and sculptures using non-acidic cleansers. We can also work to deodorize these pieces in a safe manner, such as our thermal foggers or even placing them into the ozone chamber for several hours. Once they have gotten cleaned and deodorized, these works of art get stored safely in a temperature-controlled climate until it is safe to return them to your restored building.

With the sensitive nature and inability to replicate artwork you display and sell from your gallery, reaching out to our rapid response team is vital to protect these items from irreparable damage from smoke and soot effects. Our technicians are available 24/7 to offer every potential customer skilled expertise and industry-leading equipment any time that they need it.

While a fire in your art gallery could prove disastrous, you can count on the professionals of our SERVPRO of Porter County team to work to protect and preserve unique artwork you display. Give us a call anytime you need us at (219) 476-1883.

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How to Remediate a Flood Damaged

3/29/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Can Assist With Flood Damage Mitigation In Your Bar!

Your bar needs to be sanitary and inviting to your customers. Storms can bring flash flooding that can catch businesses in Portage by surprise. Flood water consists of Cat 3 Black Water, which can severely contaminate buildings and potentially cause health risks for customers, forcing companies to shut down. We know that it's crucial for you to get back on your feet as soon as possible, which is why we can rapidly address damage you may have suffered from flooding.

Our professionals are Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified and can provide commercial flood damage restoration services to your Portage bar. We can arrive at times most convenient for your company to begin the water removal process. After assessing the damage, our technicians can begin removing standing water with the assistance of industrial grade wet vacs and pumps. Additionally, they can remove debris and irreparably damaged materials such as stools, tables, and contaminated carpeting.

Unfortunately, flood water can contaminate and damage walls in your business. Our techs can drill ventilation holes to draw out and capture moisture trapped in walls with the use of air movers and dehumidifiers. Because your walls can wick flood water upwards, partial demolition of the lower section of affected walls can be done to prevent further damage. If necessary, we perform this service during lulls in your business or during off hours when your customers will be least disturbed.

To ensure that your bar remains sanitary and safe for customers, we can spray down your bar with disinfectant sprays designed to kill off any contaminants or bacteria potentially contained in Cat 3 flood water. 

Flood water can severely disrupt or even completely shut down your bar, which is why it is vital to select professionals who can quickly address all your flood-related problems. So if you have experienced flood damage, call SERVPRO of Porter County at (219) 476-1883 because we can make you feel "Like it never even happened."

Read more about Portage here.

Ask SERVPRO - My Commercial Building Is Soaked; Now What?

3/24/2022 (Permalink)

Finding your grocery store flooded disrupts any plans you have for the day since you have to remove the water to restore normal operations. The incident might also disrupt your business for days or weeks that follow as you clean up the structure and contents. Sometimes water removal may also involve tearing down and rebuilding sections such as internal walls to eliminate water trapped in concealed sections.

Following proper steps during commercial water removal in Valparaiso is necessary especially in a business that handles foodstuff. Failure to do so could lead to citations for health code violations. If there are clogged drains that lead to flooding or debris pushed into concealed areas by the water, there is a need to clean it up while extracting the water. Our SERVPRO technicians help check drains and carry out thorough cleaning as part of the water removal exercise.

There is a need to remove standing water fast from your premises. Although resuming business might be the main incentive, there are other reasons why expedited water removal is necessary. The standing water raises relative humidity in the entire property which can lead to deterioration of the foodstuff in your stock. Our SERVPRO technicians use different equipment to expedite water remove. We have truck-mounted water extractors that can remove thousands of gallons within a few hours. We also have portable extractors with internal storage tanks which help remove water from less accessible areas.

After extraction standing water, a considerable amount remains in the form of moisture in wet materials and the air. Drying such excess moisture helps overcome the problem entirely. This process involves evaporation then extraction of the moisture from the air. Our SERVPRO technicians use air movers to increase the rate of evaporation. We then use giant desiccant dehumidifiers or portable refrigerant dehumidifiers depending on the size of the area that requires drying.

In case of water loss at your Portege, Chesterton and Kouts business, call SERVPRO of Porter County to help remove the water. You can reach our crew at (219) 476-1883 any time. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Click here for more about Valparaiso.

With SERVPRO As the Instructor, Valparaiso Aces Water Removal!

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Removes Water and Preserves Valparaiso Buildings "Like it never even happened."

Answers To The Water Damage Tests in a College Town Like Valparaiso

Several institutes of higher education make their homes in Valparaiso. Students and the businesses that support them need fast and efficient solutions to water damage that interrupts any aspect of college life. Delays and distractions are the last things students need as they complete their studies. We can help minimize the pressure to return things to normal, “Like it never even happened.”

Students off on their own for the first time can make mistakes that result in water damage to apartments or dormitories surrounding Valparaiso’s universities and other post-secondary schools. Overflowing tubs and showers or failure to notice when fixtures and appliances are malfunctioning can cause significant water incursions. Residential units stacked on several stories permit the water to migrate between floors, meaning a problem in one dorm room or student apartment becomes a crisis for many.

SERVPRO water mitigation crews are highly trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Every one of our employees is familiar with the best practices in the industry, skilled in using the specialized equipment we use to remove standing water and dry out saturated structural components. We follow the traces left by water moving throughout a building, ensuring that all spaces receive water extraction and targeted drying services.

Water damage restoration requires many steps, and SERVPRO plans for every part of a successful project. We use sensitive moisture meters and infrared scanning devices to locate all water damage and trapped moisture hiding in cavities or recesses. Water between floors or walls releases when we use a variety of strategies including flood cuts when several inches of water spreads across a level or holes in mortar joints in cinder block construction, common in multi-unit dwellings.

High power air movers, heaters, and desiccant or evaporative dehumidifiers create a balance leading to swift structural drying when positioned and adjusted by our certified psychrometry experts. SERVPRO ensures our crews are comfortable with the efforts needed to dry all building materials quickly and thoroughly, even large residences with many living spaces housing different tenants and also featuring common areas and even dining and laundry facilities.

If a water damage scenario in one room or unit of a college residence hall or student apartments spreads water damage among many living areas, SERVPRO of Porter County has the technicians and equipment to manage the problem.

Get students back to the books fast by calling (219) 476-1883.

• More about a Valpo education here

After Water Damages Your Porter County Commercial Property - What Now?

8/9/2021 (Permalink)

By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned!

Flooding and water damage events at Porter County commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO of Porter County

SERVPRO of Porter County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

When Water Damage Infringes Your Business, SERVPRO of Porter County Is Here To Help

6/11/2021 (Permalink)

There is never a good time for water damage invading your firm from a plumbing failure, but there are times it can be more disruptive to your business than others. Case in point, no time is busier in a tax preparation office than the first few months of the year until April 15th.
 
When SERVPRO is called to turn around commercial water damage in a Valparaiso business, our goal is to return daily operations to normal with as little disruption to daily activities as possible. During the initial phone call, the technician determines the type of water cleanup needed and the resources required to clean up the business, so it is ready for customers.
 
Customers physically visit tax preparation offices with their documents and the establishment needs to not only be hygienic for their health and safety, but it also needs to look and smell clean. After extracting water from the premises using truck-mounted pumps for speed, SERVPRO technicians move on to the drying step of the restoration process. High-powered fans are deployed with humidifiers at specific angles to move moist air up and out. Saturated floor mats are removed for drying and desks and chairs are elevated on blocks to allow for complete drying of the legs.
 
Once dry, surfaces are wiped down with powerful antifungal and antibacterial cleaning solutions to ensure there are contaminants or microbes left on anything wet and inhibits the potential for mold growth. Our Odor Control Technicians follow up with any necessary applications needed to neutralize any residual water odor remaining completely.
 
After the technicians are done with the restoration, a thorough inspection is conducted to ensure all remediation points have been completed and the business facility is safe for both employees and customers coming to get their taxes filed.
 
Commercial water damage does not have to interrupt productivity. Call SERVPRO of Porter County at (219) 476-1883 and our team of certified technicians can be on-site at your location within hours to remove all signs there was a problem.

Ask The Experts: Where is the water shutoff in my business?

4/9/2021 (Permalink)

Many workplaces always call on the boss or the maintenance man when something goes wrong. What if they were homesick, or in a meeting and you need to locate the water shutoff, where do you start?

SERVPRO can help commercial property managers in planning for water, fire, storm damage. How? With a free Emergency Response Profile created by the SERVPRO Marketing Department.

By having a plan of action, and including it in your regular training at your office, you can minimize the cost of an unplanned event happens like a busted pipe, fire or any other type of disaster.

Some property managers use this as a tool to keep everything organized in one central location.

Is your business ready for a disaster? Even a simple pipe burst can cause a lot of damage and headaches. A SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile can have the critical information to minimize damages, provide the resources for the employees of the company, and provide property details and information. This is a FREE service that we provide to commercial properties.

Make an appointment today to get started!

If the unthinkable happens, call your local SERVPRO seven days a week 24/7 to help you avoid the cost and hassle of secondary damages. We are faster to any disaster and will help make it "Like it never even happened." 

Ask The Experts: What Happens After Water Attacks My Commercial Building?

3/14/2021 (Permalink)

If your roof leaks or a pipe breaks inside your Valparaiso distribution warehouse, it could be of benefit to your business to call in a professional restoration company such as SERVPRO. Our commercial water removal specialists can arrive promptly to your company's disaster and begin work immediately. We know that removing moisture while it is in liquid form is much quicker and easier than removing it once it has soaked into your building materials or contents or evaporated into the air. To accomplish this, we utilize the industry's best extraction equipment and advanced technology. We know that completing commercial water removal at your place of business quickly is vital to reducing the overall cost of the disaster.

Before our SERVPRO technicians begin any mitigation procedures, we make sure that the building is safe for our workers and your employees. After your warehouse is deemed safe, we start the commercial water removal process in Valparaiso with the extraction phase. Depending on the situation, we can use either a portable or truck-mounted extractor to work as the vacuum motor. For tight spots and smaller projects, we can bring the portable extractor into your home and extract your contents or building materials. During most situations, we use a truck-mounted extractor because they provide more suction power.

When using truck-mounted units, we can attach a variety of tools to the vacuum. For extracting smaller carpeted areas and for upholstered furniture we often use a handheld water claw tool. These tools have handles on them that our technicians can use to apply pressure to the item they are extracting.

For larger carpeted areas like your warehouse office, we can utilize large weighted extraction tools. To use these units, our technicians stand on them when vacuuming. The unit uses the weight of the operator to compress the carpet and pull up more moisture. When extracting water damage from hard surface floors, our crew uses other types of tools that have rubber to stick to the floor when extracting.

If you ever notice excessive moisture inside your distribution warehouse, call SERVPRO of Porter County at (219) 476-1883 right away.

Discover the Dunes click here for more details.

SERVPRO Tips: What to do when flooding hits your business

8/30/2020 (Permalink)

A flooding incident has the potential to drive you out of business or force you to start from scratch. It probably took you long to build a customer base and make all the customizations that make clients love your store. Watching as all that disappears in a moment and your customers seek services elsewhere is very disheartening. Help from a professional restoration team can keep your business afloat after commercial flood damage. 

One thing an incident of commercial flood damage affecting your Valparaiso clothes store can create is uncertainty. Even when it is possible to save the store, knowing when normal operations can resume is hard. From site assessment and experience in handling similar situations, our SERVPRO technicians can help estimate the likely restoration timeline. This way, you can inform your customers when to expect the resumption of full services. 

Removing all excess moisture from the premises fast should help save more items. In a clothes shop, the moisture not only affects the building materials but also the clothing items you have in your stock. Such damage can come from exposure to actual water or higher than usual levels humidity. In a moist or heavily humid environment, problems like mold can start developing in less than 48 hours affecting all items made from organic materials, including clothes. Our SERVPRO crews utilize advanced procedures, including making flood cuts and vent holes to remove water. We also have a range of specialized equipment to dry excess moisture, including:

• Injecti-dry Systems
• Desiccant Dehumidifiers
• Venting Box Fans
• Wall ventilating Systems 

Restoring the shop to its preloss state is necessary. The process might involve rebuilding areas such as floors and parts of walls demolished when removing the floodwaters. Even in cases that do not involve any teardown, resetting contents moved during the flooding can be a tedious process. Our SERVPRO technicians help carry out these finishing steps quickly so that you can resume normal operations faster. 

A flooding incident can push you out of business, but professional assistance can help you recover faster. Call SERVPRO of Porter County at (219) 476-1883 to help. We have the resources to deal with any incident "Like it never even happened."

More about Valparaiso.