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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Blog Posts

Safety First During Fire Damage Restoration in Bellmore

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Disaster may strike at any time in your area. Call SERVPRO for the fire damage restoration services needed for your property.

SERVPRO Assists with Fire Remediation in Bellmore

Any time a fire starts inside your apartment complex, the situation can be difficult. Even after the fire gets extinguished, your home can still contain several safety hazards. For example, electrical wires could have burnt, causing an unsafe electrical issue. Or, large pieces of your burnt ceiling or drywall could have fallen, creating trip and fall hazards as you walk around your apartment unit. 

When we work on fire damage restoration in Bellmore, our SERVPRO technicians take extra measures to ensure the safety of all building occupants (property owners/renters and workers alike) throughout the entire project. The first thing we always do right when we arrive at your apartment complex is to assess the working area for potential safety issues. Before any work procedures start, we can perform an extensive safety evaluation by consulting with the property's tenants and inspecting the building. After we determine what possible safety hazards exist, we can formulate a list that defines the procedures we must take to minimize the risks. 

Once our SERVPRO team mitigates all of the safety hazards to the best of their abilities, we can begin the work to return your apartment to its preloss state, "Like it never even happened."

Services offered to restore fires in apartment complexes:

  • Fire and Water Restorations
  • Fire and Smoke Remediations
  • Content Cleaning
  • Packing In and Packing Out Contents
  • Structural Deodorization Procedures
  • Fire Debris Removal and Disposal

One thing we can do to help promote safety during the work process is to maintain an organized work site. We can identify work areas and specify staging areas for all of our equipment to keep things orderly. 

If you or your neighbor in your apartment building ever suffers from a structural blaze, it is wise to call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

Three Reasons Why You Need Professionals to Restore Your Fire Damaged Seaford Home

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

Extinguishing the flames is the easier part of a fire event. Removing smoke, soot, and water damage can be a long process..

SERVPRO Avoids Common Cleanup Mistakes for Fire Damaged Homes in Seaford

Fire damage to homes in Seaford and other local communities should always be cleaned up and handled by professional and certified fire damage restoration technicians. Without taking specialized classes and utilizing equipment specifically designed to keep damage to a minimum, many cleaning companies make mistakes that cost the homeowner thousands of dollars in additional repair costs later on. SERVPRO is a highly trained and specialized damage mitigation and restoration service that can help you avoid these common complications of a fire disaster.

Long-Lasting Smoke Residues

Although fire damage in Seaford homes can produce many different kinds of smoke, each with unique properties and challenges to effective cleanup, one commonly shared trait of all smoke damage is that it requires advanced processes to remove from homes completely. Not only does the smoke coat every surface in the area of the fire and beyond, but it can even seep into the walls and floors of your home to create long-lasting odors and stains. Removing smoke particles from anything but the top of a surface requires more advanced treatments than most cleaning companies can provide. To combat these smoke odors, we employ thermal fogging technology with a unique blend of chemicals that neutralize individual particles and ensure the deepest clean possible.

Harmful Water Mixes

Water-based cleaning products may ordinarily be a critical part of any cleaning company's toolbox, but SERVPRO technicians know that mixing water with many types of smoke and fire residue can create damaging and even potentially hazardous mixes of sludge that can create severe runoff and staining problems around the home. We employ dozens of specialized mixes and cleaning tools to best combat every type of fire damage on every type of material without causing additional damage.

Improper HVAC Cleanup

Even companies specializing in HVAC cleaning may fail to remove smoke particles and odors from your vents and air ducts. We combine our extensive list of HVAC certifications with fire restoration technology to bring the best of both cleaning disciplines to your home.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh provides comprehensive damage cleanup and restoration services for homes in the local area that have suffered from the effects of a fire. Call us at (516) 809-9600 to find out how we can help.

Do You Know What is Causing Mold and Your Wantagh Home

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

It doesn't take long for mold to become out of control and cause damage to your property.

SERVPRO Technicians make a Major Difference with Mitigation of Mold Damage in Wantagh Residences

Homes in Wantagh sustain hot summers and cold winters. The differences between the two seasons can create changes inside your home. These changes may seem negligible to occupants, but they can also cause other changes. 

When a property in Wantagh begins growing mold microbial colonies, damage can become very severe if homeowners do not address the issue immediately because mold can start growing only 24 to 48 hours after conditions supporting mold growth develops, and then mold activity increases drastically. At SERVPRO, we not only train our employees, but we also learn how to handle the process of mold damage remediation. While many of our technicians have their first hands-on experiences at the SERVPRO Training House, corporate headquarters provides those who own a franchise with training on how mold damage remediation works and why it is crucial to protecting a home. 

We also learn what causes mold, how to detect these causes, and which tools help our technicians do the fastest and most thoroughly. SERVPRO invests in this equipment to ensure our technicians' work always provides our customers with the quality and expertise they deserve. Your most significant investment is most likely your home, and its condition affects your life every day. Maintaining it well is a huge responsibility, and we want to help you with it. Remediation of mold damage is one way we can provide that extra helping hand. 

When our technicians earn their certificates from the IICRC, one of the first ones obtained is the Applied Microbial Remediation (AMRT) certificate. We continually update our employees' skills and knowledge through ongoing training and education. When restoration and mitigation technology finds a new development or method, we also learn about it and implement it into our standard procedures. We always implement the latest technology and consistently use the techniques that give the most protection possible from mold damage. 

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can help you get rid of your home's mold damage situation with efficient remediation. Our technicians are always ready to start the process, ensuring your home receives the care and attention needed to get everything back "Like it never even happened." Our training and education are the basis of our extensive experience in providing remediation services to homes and any type of business in the area, including Seaford. Call us at our 24-hour service line, (516) 809-9600, any day of the year.

How SERVPRO Uses Immersion Cleaning to Restore Fire Damaged Belongings in Seaford

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

Usually, not all is lost after a fire. We use immersion cleaning to restore your belongings.

Immersion Cleaning During Fire Damage Restoration in Seaford

In the case that something burns inside your Seaford home, many of your contents can get coated in soot residues. One primary focus of a professional restoration company such as SERVPRO when mitigating fire damage is to clean all of your contents. Soils and soot residues created by smoke can ruin some of your possessions and become a source of foul aromas.

During any fire damage project in Seaford, our SERVPRO technicians can often save many of your contents by cleaning them. We can implement various methods of cleaning for the different types of materials that got affected inside your house. For example, we clean some items like clothing and other small fabric items in a washing machine using specialized detergents. Immersion cleaning works for other items.

Immersion cleaning completely submerges fire-damaged items in liquid solutions. We clean items with hard, non-porous surfaces by soaking them in certain cleaning chemicals. One example is the cleaning of soiled Venetian blinds by dipping them into a bath of the industry-approved product.

In many immersion cleaning situations, we can use a chemical called Ultra Content Cleaner. This chemical gets mixed with hot water in a sink or large basin. The affected contents then get soaked with the solution, and a brush is used to help dislodge any soils present. Once your materials appear clean, we then rinse off the remaining solution with hot water.

Another form of immersion cleaning gets completed using an ultrasonic machine. An ultrasonic machine works by getting filled up with a chemical such as our Ultrasonic Cleaning Agent and water. The affected items get placed in the tub; then, the machine uses high-frequency sound waves to create millions of bubbles that "scrub" the items and help dislodge soils.

Ultrasonic cleaning is less labor-intensive than other cleaning methods, but the technique still involves skill. Our SERVPRO technicians must know how much electrical power to use and what frequency of sound waves to utilize. We also have to use our experience to know the water temperature and cleaning solution to implement.

Immersion cleaning can help you save items like your jewelry after a fire takes its toll. For 24/7 assistance, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600, and we will return your home to its pre-damaged condition, "Like it never even happened."

Why SERVPRO is Your First Choice for Water Removal in Seaford

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

We completely restored this water damaged kitchen. Call us when your property experiences a water loss event.

Coordination of Complex Project Agendas Is Why SERVPRO Delivers Premium Water Damage Outcomes in Seaford 

When a water loss occurs after a plumbing leak or appliance malfunction in your Seaford home, the window of opportunity to complete tasks is tight. Conventional building materials are vulnerable to water destruction, crumbling, swelling, and deteriorating within hours or days of the crisis. Mold or mildew damage is also a significant risk, especially if moisture remains available for spores to absorb more than 24 to 48 hours. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster, why we report consistent success.  

Planning Supports Positive Outcomes 

As speed in responding to water damage in Seaford is critical to industry best practices, we make sure we arrive with the crew and equipment necessary. Our fully-stocked service vehicles arrive as our experienced managers assess your premises. Our team is poised to begin water removal efforts as soon as a project plan takes shape. We use submersible pumps when the water rises higher than two inches, following up with wanded extractors for surfaces. The ease with which our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained crews move from task to task shows why we can accomplish each project step and activity within prescribed timelines.  

Alternative Power Sources Avoid Delays 

A significant water loss can require electricity to be disconnected temporarily for safety reasons. Our water removal equipment has the flexibility of using gas or onboard portable generators. These options permit our crews to move forward with the work. The portable generators have the benefit of removing the hazard along with the water. The team assigned to mitigate and remediate your emergency can make adaptations that ensure rapid removal under even extreme circumstances, which is why SERVPRO completes your job to specifications. 

Skilled Moisture Monitoring Traces Water Migration 

Determining the extent of the water damage in your home includes tracking any seepage or drainage from the original leak. Porous materials and joints, and cracks permit quantities of water to move into building cavities between walls and below floors. Our employees master the operation of moisture probes and thermal imaging devices that guide us to trapped water and saturated structural components. Controlled demolition strategies like weep holes and flood cuts allow access to residual water. Drying efforts are more effective when the wet spaces are open, another reason why SERVPRO swiftly wraps up each recovery phase “Like it never even happened.” 

Careful adherence to industry best practices is why SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is a leader in the water damage mitigation and remediation business. Call us at (516) 809-9600 for a customized evaluation of your water loss and a practical project plan.

Bellmore Residents Can Minimize Damage with Expert Mold Remediation

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

Don't let mold take control of your Bellmore property. Call SERVPRO today!

Call SERVPRO to Your Bellmore Home for Skilled Mold Remediation Service

Black mold is not only ugly, but you also have to worry about possible health effects should you find it colonizing further within your Bellmore property. We may be familiar with mold festering in bathrooms, kitchen cabinets, or around your HVAC system. No matter where you find it, you need to proceed with caution, never spraying it with bleach or disrupting it on your own. Why not DIY? Because SERVPRO has the proven methods and safety protocols to ensure it gets handled right the first time. 

Handling unsightly and hazardous mold remediation in Bellmore is something we do best at SERVPRO. We arrive at your door with a detailed plan of action to minimize damage and return your property to pre-mold condition, allowing you to breathe easy once again. 

Mold Facts Every Homeowner Should Know

  • Once mold begins invading your home, it can colonize fast when given the right conditions
  • Mold spores may take under 72 hours to spread into different areas of your property
  • Contrary to popular belief, mold cannot be removed entirely from your home
  • Proper cleaning protocols and the right anti-microbials can disinfect surfaces and halt mold in its tracks

Why is SERVPRO the Best Choice for Mold Cleaning and Remediation?

We arrive within hours of your initial call so that we can assess the mold damage. Our team formulates a plan for detailed cleaning, taking the time to put containment barriers in place to limit the possibility of tracking contamination into unaffected areas. Our IICRC-certified technicians put on personal protective equipment (PPE) and get to work, carefully pulling up spores with vacuums, dry brushing, and a wide range of EPA-registered cleaning agents. 

Never leave mold remediation to DIY methods. SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh is here to help you with your cleanup and restoration needs! Reach us by dialing (516) 809-9600.

Our Accredited Professionals Are Available 24/7 To Handle Fire Damage In Seaford

4/10/2022 (Permalink)

Mitigating the situation after a fire needs to be left to professionals. Call SERVPRO 24/7 to assess and remediate the fire damage in your home.

How Much of Your Seaford Home Gets Replaced After a Fire?

As with nearly any loss situation that affects your Seaford home, the severity of this situation gets directly correlated to how quickly professional restoration professionals get involved. Fires can be a challenging situation, especially in widespread emergencies where more considerable portions of your property have gotten involved. Homeowners begin to assume their home is a total loss, but our professionals can often see things differently.

One of the most hazardous aspects of fire damage in Seaford homes is that many of our customers and clients do not recognize the full measure of these effects. From the airborne contaminants that can lead to health effects like soot particulate exposure to the combustion of specific structural elements in areas you cannot see, many factors play into how costly restoration and recovery are. Our SERVPRO professionals can help you to see this damage in full, so you are not blindsided by the work that your property needs to return to preloss condition.

Controlled demolition is a vital element of fire damage removal and the recovery of your home after a loss incident. How involved this removal process is correlates to the inspection and assessment of your residence when our professionals first arrive. Our project management and estimator walk through the property with a homeowner to determine the severity of the situation and the appropriate steps to overcome your loss. During this assessment, we can evaluate a need for demolition and build back.

The goal of our SERVPRO IICRC-certified professionals is to restore your property to its original state at the lowest possible costs with the fastest possible methods that cut no corners. We always maintain and restore before replacing. This mentality suggests if materials can get cleaned and recovered where they have gotten installed, that is preferable to removing them and replacing them with new materials. If construction is necessary, we have established relationships with reputable local contractors to help make this transition as seamless as possible.

Every fire loss situation is different, as is the amount of construction materials and structural elements that must get replaced after an emergency. With a team of accredited professionals available 24/7, you can depend on SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh to be there when it counts. Give us a call anytime at (516) 809-9600.

What Can You Do About Commercial Water Damage in Wantagh Right Now

4/10/2022 (Permalink)

Dealing with office water damage can seem overwhelming. Our SERVPRO certified professionals arrive on the scene with water removal tools to help.

Strategies Water Removal Professionals Use in Your Wantagh Business

The last thing you need when a water loss affects your Wantagh business is uncertainty among your clients or customers about your ability to weather the disaster. Engaging the assistance of a reliable water mitigation company makes all the difference, easing the concerns of not only you as an owner but also your employees and consumers of your products and services. Our team is uniquely positioned to meet your water disaster recovery needs.

Water removal within your Wantagh business must be rapid and thorough. Water can migrate from the spaces it first invades to many other locations in your commercial building. Likewise, your business can suffer initially from water transfer flowing from adjoining businesses struggling with their own water emergencies.

SERVPRO managers and technicians use sensitive devices like thermal imagers and moisture meters to delineate the extent of the intrusion. We use submersible pumps and powerful wanded water extractors to remove the bulk of the water. If we determine that the water is contaminated, grey or black water that contains substances hazardous to health or the integrity of building materials, we follow applicable rules and regulations concerning containment and appropriate disposal of the tainted moisture.

We also ensure all the water exits your commercial space. The data provided by the thermal imaging and moisture meters guides controlled demolitions such as flood cuts to gain access to otherwise hidden water pockets. SERVPRO uses extensions to wanded extractors and holes drilled in mortar joints to release water which we collect and discard. Any lingering water can encourage mold growth, so it is imperative that we find and implement the removal of all of it.

Finally, we set up structural drying configurations, using air movers and heat to move water absorbed into building materials into the air as vapor. Industrial capacity dehumidifiers condense or absorb the water vapor for removal. SERVPRO inspects for fungal infestation and uses EPA registered disinfectants to inhibit hazardous growth. We can scale our response to a commercial loss to handle water removal needs of any magnitude, including multi-building campuses.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is ready to restore commercial properties damaged by water losses. Call us at (516) 809-9600 to schedule a consultation.

The Water Heater Ruptured in My Bellmore Basement--Who Can Help?

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO professionals are trained to handle all types of water damage.

Trust the SERVPRO Team to Take Care of All Aspects of a Bellmore Appliance-Related Water Damage Crisis

When you imagine the worst kind of water loss that could happen to your Bellmore home, you probably think of the impact the tail-end of a hurricane roaring across Long Island or a backed-up sewer line can inflict on your dwelling. Although no one wants to have those hands dealt, the situation in which you find yourself when an appliance like a water heater ruptures can be incredibly devastating as well.

How Much Water Can Leak from a Broken Water Heater? 

When preparing for disruption after water damage in your Bellmore home because your water heater cracks, start your calculations with the capacity of the heater. Twenty to 50 or even 75 gallons of water can pour out of typically-sized household water heaters. Laundry and showers for the average family dictate the size you choose for a holding-tank system, and you are looking at that amount spreading across the affected space at a bare minimum.

Is the Water Damage Limited to the Capacity of the Tank?

Even though 50 or more gallons of water are daunting, the usual operation of water heaters increases the amount of water flowing into your basement or utility room. As water leaves the tank, a valve stays open to allow cold supply line water to fill the tank. This balance assures you adequate hot water for your needs. Because a ruptured tank continuously empties, the supply line also continuously attempts to refill the tank. A leak or rupture of the heater that occurs when you are sleeping or out of the house for work, school, or another reason can cause hundreds to thousands of gallons of water to invade your home without your knowledge.

Should I Turn Off the Water Supply to the Ruptured Hot Water Tank? 

If you know where the dedicated valve is located, shutting off cold water from entering the tank is crucial. When you are not sure of the location of that valve, shutting off the water at the main connection into your home is an option. When SERVPRO arrives, we check for the water shutoff, and then we move to assessment and planning for water damage mitigation and remediation. 

Why Is a Safety Assessment Essential When the Water is Clean as It Flows Out of the Heater?

Every water damage project must begin with an evaluation of the safety risks inside the specific space affected. Each home presents a different level of risk because of a broad range of elements, including:

  • The location of electrical lines
  • The location of other utility lines
  • The types and amounts of debris submerged under the water
  • The structural features not readily viewed such as steps, depressions, low walls, pipes
  • The chance of available building cavities filling with water, threatening collapse

What Are First Steps After We Manage Safety Risks?

Our crew uses submersible pumps where water is deeper than two inches. Truck-mounted extractors can efficiently remove additional standing water using onboard generators if the electricity is temporarily shut off for safety reasons. Confined spaces might hold significant quantities of water, and we use portable extractors to access those areas and clear them of liquids. During water removal, a designated crew member begins testing of structural materials with moisture detectors and meters. This data informs our managers’ projections and drying goals as they begin planning for the structural drying stage.  

What Is My Role in Structural Drying?

After aggressive extraction, the next step is using air movement, temperature adaptations, and dehumidifiers to accelerate evaporation and capture water vapor for disposal. Our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained Applied Structural Drying (ASD) technicians use the moisture data acquired during the testing phase to calculate how to dry out your property most efficiently:

  • The number of air movers needed
  • The angle by which we position these air movers to prevent secondary damage and optimize airflow 
  • The need for heaters to increase the temperature to increase the capability of the atmosphere to hold more vapor
  • The type (evaporative or desiccant), number, and positioning of dehumidifiers to remove water vapor

Your role is to permit the equipment to operate as long as necessary to hit the drying goals set. Our communication with you is precise and detailed as regards the need for sustained drying adhering to the results of our computations. If you or a family member moves or turns off equipment, the drying time will increase, and the chance for secondary damage like mold growth increases.

No matter how water invades your home, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh quickly develops a plan to extract it and dry the structure quickly. Call (516) 809-9600 to get the process in motion. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

What are the Benefits of Professional Fire Restoration Services?

3/11/2022 (Permalink)

You can contact our professionals 24/7. Our fire damage experts are trained in fire & smoke restoration, odor control, upholstery and fabric cleaning.

Wantagh Homeowners Get Prompt, Reliable Support from SERVPRO When Faced with Fire Damage

You already have a lot running through your mind after you experience a Wantagh house fire. Not only does it disrupt your living situation, but you also have a series of calls to make and decisions in front of you. Calling in the help of a trusted team for assistance with fire damage makes the process go a lot smoother. SERVPRO is proud to be a dependable resource to help with all of your restoration needs after your family suffers fire loss.

What Certifications Do You Have?

When it comes to fire damage in Wantagh, you can rest assured that our technicians are certified via The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). We have the skills and equipment to handle even the toughest cleanup projects. Once we arrive, we get to work to assess the damage and then make professional recommendations for the next best steps to take. All of our actions get thoroughly documented so that you can have the necessary details for filing the claim with your insurance provider.

How Will the Steps of Restoration Work?

After ensuring your structure is safe to enter, we use equipment to pull up any moisture left from extinguishing the flames. We also take the time to remove all unsalvageable items and charred building materials. Part of our action plan includes:

  •  Following the path of the fire allows us to determine the scope of the project. We always consider your ventilation system to determine where smoke traveled throughout the home.
  •  We pay attention to the materials burned in the fire. Man-made materials leave behind a sticky residue, while organic materials leave a finer residue behind. 
  •  We carefully address foul odors in the home, taking steps with air purification and filtration to leave your interior “Like it never even happened.”

Do you need a crew deployed to your location to begin fire damage cleanup? Give us a call at SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh today at (516) 809-9600.

Trust SERVPRO to Restore Commercial Flood Damage in Bellmore

3/1/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is prepared with restoration equipment and experienced technicians.

SERVPRO’s Scalable Flood Mitigation and Remediation Support Bellmore Businesses  

When flood damage impacts Bellmore businesses, your in-house or contracted cleaning crews try to get ahead of the water but often become overwhelmed and unable to respond rapidly and effectively enough. The reality is that a burst pipe, leaky roof, malfunctioning appliance, or storm aftermath can spill hundreds to many thousands of gallons of contaminated water into a commercial space. Even the best-equipped business building maintenance shop will not stock the industrial-grade flood removal and drying equipment in the quantities needed to contain and capture floodwaters of this quantity.

Does Flood Water Extraction Require Specialized Training?

Although your housekeeping crew might have the skills and certification to manage daily cleaning, SERVPRO focuses on worker preparation for disastrous circumstances like flood mitigation and remediation in Bellmore. General cleaning know-how is inadequate. In-depth knowledge of the many aspects of water removal and psychrometry, the science of drying, is crucial. Understanding the hazards posed by waterborne contaminants is essential. Our managers and technicians master coursework from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). In addition to a commanding proficiency in a variety of flooring and carpeting restoration niches, our team trains in Building Moisture Inspection (BMI) and as:

  • Water Damage Restoration Technicians (WRT)
  • Odor Control Technicians (OCT)
  • Contents Processing Technicians (CPT)
  • Applied Structural Drying Technicians (ASD)
  • Commercial Drying Specialists (CDS)
  • Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians (AMRT)

Are SERVPRO’s Equipment Inventories Up to the Task of Large Commercial Flooding Losses?

Our extensive investment in high-efficiency equipment is supported further by affiliation with a nationwide network of SERVPRO professionals. We have access to the resources dictated by the scale of your Bellmore commercial flooding circumstances, promptly delivered to your site for rapid flood water removal and structural drying.


Reliable and rapid flood damage restoration is a specialty of SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh, including large-scale commercial storm aftermath recovery. Do not delay -- call (516) 809-9600 24/7 to quickly ensure you are back in business.

The Advantages of Professional Restoration for Water Damage in Your Bellmore Residence

2/17/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO works swiftly to provide Fast and Efficient Water Damage Cleanup and Restoration in your home.

Bellmore Home Owners Understand that SERVPRO Provides Professional Water Removal and Cleanup Services

Many causes could lead to damages from water in your Bellmore residence. You can find yourself at the wrong end of a substantial incident with a minimal warning from the plumbing giving way at connections or an appliance malfunctioning. However, there are many benefits to choosing the right professional restoration company to help you overcome these obstacles and restore the damage to your home.

While no homeowner wants to consider the lasting effects of water damages to their Bellmore house, this is, unfortunately, something that often gets overlooked in clean-up and drying efforts. Whatever the source of the water damage in your house, homeowners often feel inclined to attempt to correct these issues themselves rather than seek the professional experience of a company like SERVPRO.

Water Damage Restoration Steps

One of the first reasons you should consider professional restoration services for the water damage in your home is the lingering effects. The clean-up and drying efforts of homeowners often prove inadequate, and moisture and dampness persist. This occurrence can worsen conditions like weakening structural elements or mold and microbial growth.

Along with this same line of thinking, our SERVPRO technicians have the right tools and equipment to assess the full scope of the damage your home faces as they work out a project plan to restore these effects. This process determines the success of drying efforts by looking into challenging or constricted areas using thermal imagery. This technology can show the presence of moisture and help determine where further attention is necessary.

Finally, our professionals can help ensure that the source of the problem gets corrected by helping you identify where the water damage originated. This discovery can help prevent further or future damages to the affected area.

While it might be a tempting thing to save money and try to clean up water damages in your home on your own, this is not always a wise decision to make. Inadequate drying and cleaning can lead to structural concerns and even mold growth, two costly occurrences that can prove time-consuming to restore and remediate. Avoid the possibilities of secondary water damage.

Instead, let our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh restoration technicians restore your home to original conditions quickly and without the added risks, "Like it never even happened." Give us a call anytime at (516) 809-9600.

How Clogged Drains Can Cause Your Seaford Home to Flood

2/11/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO understands how serious water can damage the carpeting as well as other surfaces on your property, Call us for assistance with water removal.

Salt and Other Deicers Can Leave Your Home with Flood Damage in Seaford

Keeping the roads in Seaford clear of ice means salt trucks traveling through your neighborhood. Other deicers, such as sand, merely provide traction for vehicles without melting anything. Sand accumulates near drains and mingles with any debris already present.  

When drains along the streets become clogged, homes in lower areas of Seaford can sustain flood damage from rapidly melting ice. This flooding contains high amounts of road salt, motor oils, and other contaminants. SERVPRO Franchise professionals know highly effective methods at removing the pollutants from your home, making everything "Like it never even happened." for you, quickly and efficiently.  

Flood Damage Restoration

Small amounts of flooding can make your home unlivable for different reasons. The heavy soiling caused by flooding means carpets and padding almost immediately become ruined. Lower portions of walls that absorb water can swell and develop cracks along corners, letting water seep inside the interior space. Increased humidity means microbes can begin flourishing all over your home's interior.  

Destroyed materials can retain both moisture that prolongs the drying time required, causing equipment to work harder, and pathogens that put anyone present at risk of various health effects. SERVPRO franchise professionals work in teams to mitigate the damage caused by flooding. Getting your house's interior free of waterlogged items like flooring and soggy drywall decreases the amount of moisture left after pumping out any standing water.  

Drying your home's interior to reach normal moisture content levels includes removing trapped pockets of water which can happen behind cabinetry and built-in drawers. We drill holes to drain trapped water and allow the tubing to circulate air inside the area. We use air movers for this and dry out the rest of your home.  

Our flood damage mitigation specialists ensure that all hard surfaces get a thorough wipe-down with antimicrobial cleansers. We want to make the interior space clean again for your family, so you do not need to worry about contamination.  

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh understands that winter also means melting snow and ice, which can cause flood damage in certain areas. If you experience this, call our 24-hour services number, (516) 809-9600, so we can help restore your home to preloss condition.

Problems You Might Experience at Your Wantagh House After Water Damage

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians know all the steps to take after water damage strikes in your home.

You Can Rely on SERVPRO to Evaluate and Resolve Water Damage at Your Wantagh Home

Water damage is a serious emergency that your home can experience. The damage can result from a burst pipe, overflowing appliances, or a weakened roof. The problem can be distressing and might affect your Wantagh home's value.

In most cases, severe damage from water occurs when the problem goes unnoticed, which may take days, weeks, or even months. When dealing with issues caused by water damage at your Wantagh home, time is of the essence, and you should act fast. SERVPRO provides the resources necessary for such fast actions.

A Few Negative Effects of Water Leaks

  • Growth of mold and mildew                              
  • Damaged appliances and structural wiring
  • Stains

A huge problem that can occur due to water damage is the rampant growth of mold. Water leads to the spreading of mold and mildew, which not only harm your home's structural integrity but also can have some health effects. You may try to cover up the musty odor caused by mold, but the only way you can get rid of it for good is by dealing with the root cause, which is the moisture. Our SERVPRO team dries your property and uses deodorization chemicals that completely clear the smell.

The structural damage that occurs depends on the amount of water within the affected area. The damage can happen to all types of flooring, with signs like splitting, warping, or cracking as water seeps through. Our SERVPRO technicians have the right equipment to remove water from such places and ensure the area is completely dry.

You should not ignore water damage at your home because it continues to worsen. Exposure to moisture causes discoloration on the walls and ceilings, leading to staining. Our team will also help with this.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh provides unique resources to water damage problems. You can reach us at (516) 809-9600. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Looking for Water Damage Cleanup for Wantagh Hardwood Floors?

1/23/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage mitigation services by SERVPRO are second to none. Call now for the help you need for your home.

SERVPRO’s Best Practices for Wantagh Floor’s Water Damage Mitigation and Remediation

Hardwood floors, fortunately, are more resilient than you might believe, usually out-performing engineered flooring during water damage cleanup in Wantagh. Nevertheless, it is critical that you obtain a professional assessment and authorize water damage emergency services as soon as practical.

Why Choose SERVPRO for Hardwood Water Damage Restoration?

SERVPRO shines as a hardwood water damage solution, combining our technicians’ Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training with hands-on experience and an extensive inventory of cutting-edge water remediation equipment:

  • Moisture detection and metering tools -- vital to establish and continuously monitor achievement toward drying goals
  • Truck-mounted and portable wanded extractors -- assisted with brooms and squeegees
  • Negative pressure moisture extraction systems -- floor mats and baseboard extensions to accelerate suction of liquid water and evaporation of absorbed moisture
  • Air movers
  • Heaters
  • Dehumidifiers -- evaporative, desiccant, or a carefully curated combination

What Is a Typical Hardwood Water Removal and Moisture Reduction Agenda?

The goal of water damage mitigation and remediation for wet hardwood floors is to restore the wood to its “normal” moisture level. Failing to research the moisture percentage recommended for and diligently monitoring every inch of the affected Wantagh floors can result in materials drying unevenly, remaining too wet, or losing too much moisture. Here is how SERVPRO professionals handle these variables:

  • Measure the moisture levels of similar but unaffected materials elsewhere in your home as a drying target (ranging from 6% to 8%)
  • Re-meter moisture levels across the affected span regularly, adjusting and moderating equipment used to achieve goals at recommended speeds
  • Attach during mats to wet areas and suction water from multiple layers through hoses connected to industrial extractors -- move mats as expanses dry 
  • Install hoses through holes drilled under baseboards to remove any trapped water behind the walls adjacent to the water damaged hardwood
  • Operate drying equipment  to facilitate evaporation 

Research-based interventions using top-notch equipment help SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh deliver hardwood floor water damage restoration. Contact us at (516) 670-1928 for information and an assessment appointment.

Choosing Among Wantagh Mold Removal Companies?

1/16/2022 (Permalink)

Mold damage remediation is no DIY project. SERVPRO techs use the latest equipment and technology for every job concerning mold.

Impressive Qualifications Are Why SERVPRO Tops Wantagh Mold Remediation Contractors

Rank mold removal companies in Wantagh according to how realistically and transparently they approach the task. Mold remediation is a process, not a goal, combining research-based mold abatement interventions with practical home maintenance suggestions.

What Drives Black Mold Development in Your Wantagh Home?

Your Wantagh residence is home not only to you but also to significant quantities of microscopic mold spores. Living in harmony with the spores is possible, but managing moisture is critical. Give spores a drink and 24 to 48 hours-- rapidly accelerating mold damage occurs. Where do spores find the water they need to reproduce?

  • Unnoticed leaks -- just a few drops are enough, so burst pipes are not a prerequisite
  • Condensation from AC units, on windows or exterior walls, inside poorly or non-vented bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry areas  
  • Overflows from sinks, showers, hot tubs, aquariums, houseplants, and more

Why Is SERVPRO Uniquely Qualified as Mold Remediators?

Our extensive training and experience with assessment, tracing, and remediation of water damage helps us anticipate the “where” and “why” of mold damage located in your home. We use the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mold remediation protocol, clearly linking moisture management to inhibiting mold regrowth. This connection is why SERVPRO uses its water damage expertise to help Wantagh residents control future mold damage throughout a home.

What Is the Mold Remediation Agenda?

An inventory of mold removal supplies, products, equipment, and tools arrives with our crew of IICRC-certified Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians (AMRT) as scheduled, a two-prong approach that never fails. Commitment to preparation and professionalism is why SERVPRO can move immediately to:

  • Determine the extent of the mold damage
  • Contain the work area and safeguard technicians and occupants 
  • Mechanically remove mold damage, including controlled blasting options
  • Clean up residues and dispose of hazardous waste
  • Apply antimicrobials to inhibit mold damage rebound

Viewing mold remediation as an ongoing process is why SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh delivers reliable results. Call (516) 670-1928 to discuss your options.

How Do Businesses Obtain Effective Water Mitigation in Bellmore?

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO commercial damage restoration process starts with an Emergency READY Profile for your property. We have the skills needed for fast mitigation.

SERVPRO Helps Businesses Plan Bellmore Water Damage Restoration Strategies 

If your business in Bellmore needs water mitigation services, you quite likely have no idea whom to approach. A sobering statistic business owners must consider is that nearly 50 percent of businesses forced to close temporarily because of water or other disasters never reopen. Having a well-considered plan in place before water or other disaster strikes improves the odds of your enterprise surviving the setback.

What Can SERVPRO Offer Bellmore Commercial Customers Preferring Proaction When Facing a Water Emergency?

Consider working with the team at SERVPRO to develop an Emergency READY Profile to position your business advantageously if eventually coping with a wide range of natural and human-made disasters. An experienced project manager inspects your commercial building for three interrelated reasons:

  • To gain an understanding of the physical layout, contents, and operations in your building, with particular attention to potential water incursion routes 
  • To note vulnerabilities and make recommendations for adaptations which, if completed, would reduce the chance of needing emergency services for water damage
  • To create with you a collaborative plan of action to respond most efficaciously if burst pipes, leaking roofs from storms, sewer backups, or other water catastrophes occur

This collaboration results in a concise, digital document SERVPRO crews access after a service call request, guiding their water damage remediation efforts. 

How Do Business Owners Contribute to Their ERP?

SERVPRO urges business owners to use our mobile app to add details to the water cleanup plan. Share contact information concerning vendors and contractors, beneficial for our technicians who have questions during anything from ceiling repairs from water damages to cleaning up after a sewer backup or other hazardous substance containment scenario.

Partner with SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh to head off the worst consequences of circumstances requiring water removal services or for water damage repairs. Before water or sewage cleanup demands materialize, call (516) 670-1928 for an ERP assessment.

How SERVPRO Deodorizes Your Fire Damaged Wantagh Kitchen

12/23/2021 (Permalink)

You need a team you can trust after a fire strikes in your home. Call SERVPRO right away.

Why SERVPRO Uses Hydroxyl Instead of Ozone During Fire Damage Mitigation in Wantagh

When a fire happens in your Wantagh kitchen, you quickly notice that fire damage includes more than burned walls. Fire damage also consists of the soot deposited on surfaces throughout your kitchen and adjacent rooms. Water from either your efforts at controlling the fire's spread or from the fire department also permeates your kitchen. The sludge-like substance made from soot and water adds to the damage.  

Why Should We Call SERVPRO for Fire Damage in Wantagh?

SERVPRO can help clean your fire damaged Wantagh kitchen quickly and efficiently so that it no longer keeps you from enjoying your kitchen. Soot residue can affect your cooking area, and smokey odors can change how your food tastes. Our Odor Control Technician (OCT) knows how to eliminate such odors from your home, including the ones from grease fires and other protein-based catastrophes. 

Because of the increased amount of moisture in the area, SERVPRO does not use the quicker-acting ozone gas generators like we might when handling other odor-causing disasters. Instead, we use hydroxyl gas generators to eliminate odors caused by grease fires and smoke from food that burned up in the oven.  

Hydroxyl gas is much safer to use in areas that remain damp than ozone gas. We can also continue working during its use, decreasing the amount of time required to mitigate your kitchen's fire damage and restore your home.  

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is always ready to help you by using the latest methods and technology in restoring your house, so everything is "Like it never even happened." Contact us at our 24-hour emergency line, (516) 809-9600, and we can begin working on your home at your earliest convenience.

How to Reduce Cleanup Costs From Flood Water Damage in Your Seaford Home

12/17/2021 (Permalink)

If you are faced with flood damage, call on our experts for help. We are available to assist you 24/7.

Recent Weather Can Cause Flood Damage to Your Seaford Residence

Seaford's severe weather can happen any time of the year, but the Fall brings periods of early snow, heavy rain, and days filled with temperatures that wildly fluctuate. We know homeowners want to protect their homes from the worst, so we look at our customers as our partners with the same goal. Early mitigation of damage caused by weather events beyond anyone's control can get things back to normal. The sooner work begins in this direction, the better.

Reducing overall costs in repairing your Seaford home after flood damage can save you a lot of frustration and excess financial hardship. SERVPRO works with your insurance company to help make the process as easy and straightforward as possible. Flooding already causes enough stress, so we do our best to help you afterward in making everything "Like it never even happened."

How Does SERVPRO Work with Water Damage for Seaford Properties?

When flood damage happens in your home, we check to see how things are when we arrive. 

Electrical problems require a certified electrician, and we work with different qualified partners. Plumbing can also face contamination, so we also partner with licensed plumbers. These other professionals work with us on a regular basis and understand how to work with us as part of our team. Also, we can save you additional money this way instead of hiring outside professionals.

Other aspects we consider when inspecting your home after a flooding incident involve the flooring types. Tiles might require removal if too much sustained damage. Carpeting requires the replacement of the rug and padding. Wooden floors require unique drying methods to save them whenever possible. SERVPRO technicians also must use specialized cleaning techniques to ensure we restore sanitary conditions.

As we inspect, we also take readings of non-affected materials in your house. These readings and those listed on industry-standard sheets regarding moisture content of various materials help us restore normal dry conditions in your home. Mitigation of flood damage is more than tearing out sopping wet walls and carpeting and bringing in dry replacements. We treat your home as an entire unit that must receive the attention required.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can get your home back to normal after flood damage threatens to make your life unrecognizable. We understand that one event can cause uncountable changes, damages, and hardships. Contact us at (516) 809-9600, 24/7, any day of the year, so we can help you and your family get things straightened out. 

What Are the Main Threats During Cold Snaps for Bellmore Homes?

12/6/2021 (Permalink)

Winter weather can bring different types of damage to your home. Call SERVPRO if you experience water damage to your property.

Harsh Winter Conditions Can be Destructive for Affected Bellmore Properties. 

Cold snaps and harsh winter weather can be destructive and challenging for homeowners. Because of how threatening rapid temperature drops can be for ice formation and frozen pipes, our SERVPRO professionals are mitigative specialists with needs like extraction, drying, and structural repairs.

Frozen Pipes Can Burst 

Frozen pipes and ice damming damage to Bellmore homes can happen quickly and with little warning. Continual exposure from extreme temperature drops can make slow-moving water in the pipes or stationary liquid rapidly freeze. Some of the most impacted areas for damaging freeze conditions include:

  • Hose bibs
  • Exposed pipes
  • Supply lines

How SERVPRO Can Help

SERVPRO has mitigating strategies that can quickly regulate and manage water damage. Frozen pipes can burst under pressure and continue flowing hundreds of gallons of water onto the floors, into wall cavities, and within ceiling systems. Draining and extracting water can protect exposed structural elements, and controlled demolition tactics provide access for our team with a general contractor license to repair the compromised plumbing.

Roof Damage from Ice Buildup

A considerable risk after a snowfall is the possibility of ice damming on the roof. The house's eaves can become a common location for ice buildup as the snow melts off the roof, but conditions remain cold enough to freeze the water rapidly. The greater this buildup becomes, the more damage it can cause to the gutters and the roof materials.

Flood Restoration and Cleanup

Once ice damming has begun, the threat of water penetration is high. Shingled roofs can welcome water penetration into the attic space, which requires immediate attention from our experienced professionals. We work to repair the damage to the roof and restore any damage the water exposure in this upper level has caused. This includes deploying effective extraction and drying tools from our inventory. 

Frozen pipes and water damage from roof vulnerabilities can be costly and destructive. We understand the urgency of these situations and respond fast to help with mitigation and repairs. Give our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team a call today at (516) 809-9600.

Who Can Wantagh Businesses Call on for Commercial Fire Damage Cleanup?

11/14/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage to your commercial building is no easy task. SERVPRO technicians have the manpower and equipment for any size disaster.

SERVPRO Technicians Offer Rapid-Response Fire Damage Cleanup of Wantagh Commercial Facilities

Commercial fires can be distressing for a variety of reasons. After ensuring that building occupants are safe and sound, it can be overwhelming to consider the repair and replacement costs for electronics and documents. Without intact copies of essential records, reopening after a disaster can be much more challenging.

SERVPRO offers Wantagh businesses fast-acting fire damage cleanup that includes restoring commercial assets, documents, and devices. Restoration professionals can help business owners get in touch with licensed professionals for more specialized restoration needs for electronics and other items.

Fireproofing Commercial Records and Other Important Documents

While SERVPRO document restoration can preserve papers in many cases, it is prudent to ensure that the business in question has secure digital backups in place for when a fire or other disaster occurs. Owners can “disaster-proof” their documents by:

  • Keeping digital copies of documents both on- and offline. Cloud storage is a convenient method of easy access
  • Offline storage on encrypted hard drives or devices that can be opened with a hard token device like a USB key fob can add an extra layer of security for company papers
  • Owners should ensure that their business implements a consistent yet secure policy to preserve documents
  • Formulate a continuity plan based on FEMA guidelines and train employees to follow similar protocols in the event of a disaster

When a fire does occur, SERVPRO professionals can perform careful pack-outs and attempt to restore hard copies of documents to a preloss state where possible. This process includes photographs and scans of papers uploaded to cloud storage for businesses to use as needed for their insurance claims and other necessities.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can be reached for 24/7 “Like it never even happened,” quality cleanup at (516) 809-9600.

How Can Bellmore Homeowners Minimize Water Heater Water Damage Restoration Expenses?

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

When your water heater springs a leak and causes water damage to your home, SERVPRO techs have the knowledge and experience for all phases needed.

Consistent Maintenance and SERVPRO Water Damage Restoration Preserve Bellmore Residences

One of the most overlooked water damage sources in a given Bellmore property is the water heater. Without annual or semi-annual maintenance to drain the tank or look for holes and rust, failures can occur that allow water damage to proliferate on the property.

Highly-trained SERVPRO professionals implement 24/7 water damage restoration for Bellmore properties with sophisticated technologies. Restoration professionals coordinate with insurers, claims adjusters, and property owners to keep the mitigation and build-back processes streamlined and cost-effective.

Evaluating and Mitigating Water Heater Damage

Homeowners are advised to keep an eye out for the following potential signs of water heater damage, which can include:

  • Condensation and rust on the water heater
  • Water and rust stains on flooring, walls, or ceilings in the proximity of the water heater
  • Malodors and excess humidity

Bellmore residents should replace their water heaters approximately every eight to ten years and have them serviced annually to prevent sediment buildup and minimize the risk of leaks.

When water heater leaks do happen, SERVPRO professionals can respond to calls to extract excess moisture with portable units.

Techs can dry walls, floors, and subfloors with axial or centrifugal air movers and low-grain refrigerant or desiccant dehumidifiers. Restoration technicians measure the moisture content of surfaces to ensure that drying goals are met, and surfaces reach ideal moisture contents that prevent potential microbial growth or secondary damages from too little moisture.

Property owners can call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 for “Like it never even happened,” cleanup and repairs.

What Can Professional Mold Remediation Entail for Bellmore Homes?

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO uses EPA-registered biocides for all mold remediation services rendered to your property. We use appropriate chemicals for all jobs.

SERVPRO Mold Remediation Restores Bellmore Properties to a Clean, Safe Condition

Whether the mold growth is on drywall from a wall cavity pipe leak or in the HVAC system, mold spores require specialized care to keep Bellmore home occupants safe. Excess mold carries the potential to cause health effects if allowed to continually spread and requires emergency-response service to keep residences safer and more comfortable.

Bellmore mold remediation technicians at SERVPRO are trained to provide residential cleanup services that are fast-acting and thorough. SERVPRO’s dedication to comprehensive education about mold mitigation strategies and technologies also prevents potential secondary damages during cleanup.

SERVPRO Technologies Streamline Mold Remediation

Advances in moisture mitigation and mold removal technologies ensure that mold mitigation is more thorough. SERVPRO professionals utilize a broad swathe of materials during the remediation process, including:

  • Personal protective equipment (PPE), including commercial-grade respirators, which is donned and removed in designated clean rooms
  • Moisture inspection tools, including calibrated penetrating and non-penetrating sensors and meters, as well as thermal imaging, to pinpoint mold growth hotspots in a home
  • HEPA-filter vacuums and air scrubbers alter air pressure to prevent mold spores from floating up and away, allowing for more thorough disposal of microbes
  • Sanitation with EPA-registered biocides can be applied manually or with sprayers, foggers, extractors, or injection systems. This process works in tandem with odor control to eliminate odor-causing microbes and improve indoor air quality
  • Structural drying tools, such as air movers and dehumidification units, can successfully lower moisture below the threshold necessary for mold to proliferate in a home

Residents can reach a We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster team by calling SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

How Can I Clean Up the Flood Damage in My Bellmore Home?

10/24/2021 (Permalink)

Storm and flood damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. We are here to help.

SERVPRO is Here to Help You When Your Home Suffers Flood Damage!

Living on Long Island puts you adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and opens your home up to the possibility of flood damage. In particular, harsh storms can wrack your home with significant damage and leave you confused about the best course of action.

What Should I Do if a Storm Causes Water Damage in My House?

Imagine going to sleep and then waking up to find your bathroom floor covered in water. You did not think much of the rain pouring throughout the night because you forgot that you left the small ventilation window open in your bathroom. Unfortunately, the open window allowed for water to soak the windowsill and floor. You must get help for your home as soon as possible because flood damage in Bellmore should never be left to sit.

What Are Some Signs of Flood Damage?

Water has a way of getting under every nook and cranny. Wood has a habit of absorbing water and swelling, causing splitting, cracking, and bubbling. Furthermore, should flood damage sit too long, it can begin to create other problems, such as mold damage. Always strive to address damage as soon as it happens, to avoid problems such as:

  •   Swelling wooden floors, vanities, and cabinets
  •   Swelling wooden framing
  •   Soaked insulation between walls
  •   Soaked baseboard underneath the flooring

How Can SERVPRO Remediate the Damage in My Bathroom?

Our Institution of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration-certified (IICRC) technicians can rush to your home after your initial phone call equipped with advanced equipment designed to remediate the damage inside of your home. We can begin as soon as possible and use devices and tools such as:

  •   Flood drying mats
  •   Extractors
  •   Dehumidifiers
  •   Antimicrobial agents

If you suspect your home needs flood damage restoration services, don't wait. Speak with SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh by calling (516) 809-9600. We're here to help.

Do I Need Extra Help for Cleanup When My Business Suffers a Water Damage?

10/17/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO commercial damage restoration services are second to none. We use the latest technology and equipment for every size of disaster.

Specialized Training and Heavy-Duty Equipment Prepares SERVPRO to Handle Commercial Water Cleanup in Bellmore

A water emergency in your restaurant can stem from a broken supply pipe or a dishwasher overflowing. Your regular cleanup crew is ill-prepared to manage the aftermath of a significant water leak or spill. Mopping floors in the kitchen, vacuuming the dining area, and dusting and polishing the hardwood booths, tables, and chairs are more in line with their job expectations. Removing potentially hundreds of gallons of water wherever it migrated needs different skills and equipment.

What Happens During Professional Water Removal?

When our crew arrives at your establishment,  we assess the extent and severity of the damage before planning for water clean up in your Bellmore eatery. We observe your operations and strive to commence and complete our work quickly to cause minimum disruption to your business. Safety concerns are considered and managed, and then our crews begin aggressive pumping and extraction of the fluids. We must work swiftly to avoid long-term closure and prevent any secondary damage such as mold growth, devastating anywhere but particularly concerning in a food preparation area.

How Is Structural Drying Completed in a Restaurant Setting?

Some areas of your restaurant are practical--kitchens with tile floors, steel sinks, and work surfaces. Dining rooms are warm and cozy with upholstered banquettes and soft carpeting. Although the methods vary, the goal is the same. Rid the standing water spaces and check for any building materials, fixtures, or contents that retain lingering moisture. SERVPRO crews complete testing to discover hidden water and locate moisture using:

  • Moisture detectors and meters
  • Thermal imaging devices
  • The testing establishes a baseline for our Applied Structural Drying (ASD) technicians to develop drying goals. Air movers, heat, and dehumidifiers evaporate and then capture the remaining moisture. Strategies such as floating the carpets and tenting the booths and their padded upholstery ensure that all contents dry evenly and to specifications.

Business owners can count on the expertise of SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh to turn water damage into a second chance. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster, arriving promptly when you call (516) 809-9600.

The Urgency of Basement Flood Removal for Bellmore Properties

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians are ready at a moment's notice. Call now!

Clearing basement flooding in Bellmore homes gets vital restoration, and construction efforts started. 

The basement is a common location for flood damage to target, and our SERVPRO team has powerful extraction and drying tools ready to mobilize fast when storm damage strikes. Our Green Fleet can arrive shortly after you call to begin vital mitigation work. 

Removing Floodwater from the Basement Floors 

One of the initial steps and stages of restoring flood damage in Bellmore homes is to remove standing water and pooling from the house. Water collects quickly in this lower level, even when the penetration point is the main floor of the property. We must use more powerful extraction tools to overcome the longer discharge and intake lines necessary to reach this underground level. 

Identifying Damaged Structural Elements 

The presence of floodwater often indicates a vulnerability already exists in structural elements of this lower level, but further investigation is necessary to determine where other build-back and repairs might be needed. With a general contractor license, we will help perform needed building services in areas like:

  • Masonry
  • Finished Carpentry
  • Concrete
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing

Protecting Contents and Preventing Mold Growth

While it seems like restoration professionals would prioritize removing surface water and protecting exposed elements, there are other critical mitigation services necessary to preserve what matters most with content relocation. Reducing the possibility of mold damage keeps the house's occupants safe and prevents irreparable harm, so treating a surface with mold inhibitors can help. 

The basement can be a welcoming target for migrating floodwater. From vulnerabilities that might exist in the foundation elements of the property to invading surface water concerns that settle in this lowest level, our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team prioritizes a fast response to mitigate loss. Give us a call today at (516) 809-9600.

How Can I Remove Water Damage from My Launderette in Wantagh?

9/23/2021 (Permalink)

Need help with water removal? Just call SERVPRO.

SERVPRO Can Mitigate Water Damage from Faulty Appliances 

How Can I Prevent Appliances from Leaking?

Faulty appliances can lead to massive amounts of water affecting your Wantagh business. These issues can deteriorate rapidly without quick intervention. Water-based appliances connect to mains plumbing. Buildups of grime or dirt in either the plumbing system or the washing machine can cause pressure, which eventually exceeds the pipe's capacity or duct. When pressure spots occur, your business can quickly become flooded in more than two inches of standing water leading to temporary closure and adverse effects on your daily takings. SERVPRO is available to perform fast and effective water mitigation in your business to re-open sooner rather than later.

What Can I Do to Prevent Water Damage From a Leaking Appliance?

Regular maintenance is crucial to avoiding commercial water removal emergencies in your Wantagh business. Maintaining internal plumbing and the health of appliances using water can prevent leaks from getting out of control. When a leak occurs, shutting off water or disconnecting the machine can be valuable for mitigating damages. If it is too late to reduce damages, you should contact a professional water restoration technician (WRT) to prevent further damage. If flooding is limited to a specific area of your business, attempting to stem the flow of migration of water using water blocks or avoiding unnecessary foot traffic can be beneficial. Our technicians can bring sandbags to your premises to prevent water migration and block appliances to keep them above the standing water level until pumping occurs.

How do I Assess the Extent of Water Cleanup Needed?

  • Start from the source of the damage, visually noting down wet areas of the property
  • Work your way outward, repeating the same process counting rooms and areas of damage
  • Contact an emergency water technician to explain the level of damage

How Do I Get Rid of Standing Water in My Business?

SERVPRO technicians use a variety of pumping equipment to reduce standing water levels before they cause lasting damage. Most of these pumps can function when submerged beneath standing water. These pumps use a central engine to provide lift and suction via a water duct. Standard electric submersible pumps can transport water up to twenty-five feet outside of a property. High-pressure pumps can move water uphill, whereas self-priming trash pumps can transport any solid waste that may be present in the water. Some equipment can be more efficient than others, depending on the specific water damage situation. Our technicians hold qualifications from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certifications (IICRC) body, which allows us to assess a situation accurately and perform the required method to achieve quick results.

Is Water Intrusion in Business Premises a Health and Safety Hazard?

When large amounts of water intrude into a property, there can be numerous slip and trip, electrical, or bacterial health risks, even when the water supply is from a clean source. SERVPRO technicians perform a scoping procedure before restoration to ensure that any hazards or threats are neutralized. This procedure can be ideal for business owners who may require specialized repairs for appliances or electrical equipment. Our technicians can create a safe, dry, and sanitary environment for any third-party repairers to work. If you need assistance to find a specialist, our crew chiefs have a roster of trusted third-parties that can be included within your claim.

What is the Method of Water Removal From Start to Finish?

Isolate the affected area and inspect for water migration as well as potential hazards

Begin emergency mitigation by pumping or extracting water from the business premises

Establish a solid drying plan using air movers or dehumidifiers to remove residual moisture

Perform final steps of deodorization and air-filtration to return the area to its preloss condition

When something goes wrong on your business premises, it can add a massive amount of stress and take your mind away from crucial business decisions. You may also experience unnecessary damages by using non-professional restoration methods. These damages may include things like mold damage or unpleasant odors and bacteria in certain areas. 

SERVPRO aims to remove the inconvenience of water damage by communicating closely with you and efficiently performing the city's effective cleanup. We can pass our paperwork directly onto your business insurer to reduce the impact insurance claims can have on your time and business. We also have extensive experience working with companies like yours in the Wantagh area.

If your business suffers an unexpected water emergency, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

How Difficult Is It to Remove Flood Water from My Wantagh Home?

9/17/2021 (Permalink)

Storms can bring flooding and water damage. The professionals at SERVPRO are always on call to handle your water damage restoration needs.

For Professional, Thorough Water Removal in Your Wantagh Home, Call SERVPRO

Flooding can affect every home in our community. A clear sky today can turn into a major storm by tomorrow, sending water through Wantagh's entire neighborhoods, affecting everything from basements to attics. 

What Extent of Damage Can I Expect from the Flood?

Flood damage to Wantagh homes can include cracked and split floorboards, ruined carpets, crumbling drywall, and even mold when the floodwater is not removed quickly, and structural property is not cleaned professionally. SERVPRO technicians train extensively with the latest equipment to restore these and other items to their pre-flood condition. 

What are the First Steps Technicians Take in My Home for Flood Damage?

Since this is floodwater, it contains soil and other contaminants. Technicians spray the water and all affected surfaces in your home with an antibacterial agent to reduce the risk to everyone who has to step inside. After that, team members take the following steps:

Inspect every room and space that took on the water; this includes the attic if there was damage to the roof. If the water soaked the insulation, we remove and replace it after cleaning the floor and drying the crawlspace completely.

Bring in commercial-grade pumps and extractors to draw the floodwater off the floors, out of carpets, and from between floorboards. Since we cannot guarantee a clean carpet after a flood, technicians immediately remove them for disposal. 

With the Floodwater Removed, What is Next?

SERVPRO technicians bring in fans to begin forcing the damp air out of the home. Once set up, they use air movers and dehumidifiers to draw moisture out of wood floors and drywall. This preserves the structural property and reduces the amount that team members have to replace. 

If a recent storm has sent any water into your home, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 today. We are here to help out and restore your property to its pre-flood condition.

How Does Fire Damage Restoration for Bellmore Properties Remove Proteins?

9/2/2021 (Permalink)

A fire in your home can be overwhelming. Let our skilled fire remediation specialists help get your house back to feeling like a home again.

Bellmore SERVPRO Fire Damage Restoration Techs Remediate Protein Fire Residues and Odors

One of the complexities of Bellmore fire damage restoration comes from soils left behind by various types of burnt debris. Rubbers and plastics tend to leave behind oily, hard-to-remove soils that can stain without professional cleanup. Worse still, cooking fires often involve proteins, leaving greasy, nearly-invisible residues and strong malodors.

SERVPRO protein fire damage restoration services for Bellmore homes address many fire soils with professional-grade products specially formulated for the task. This restoration firm also performs odor control, structural repairs, and property restoration where possible to help homeowners save and minimize the effects of fire damage.

Protein Fire Damage Removal and Odor Control

Proteins pose unique challenges compared to other fire damage residues because of the nature and the pervasiveness of protein odors. The greasy film is easily transferred to other surfaces, which can also spread odors. These proteins may also be in vent fans or HVAC systems, which can further impact the comfort of a home

  • SERVPRO techs typically use enzyme digesters to address protein residues. These enzymes eat proteins and break them down into water-soluble byproducts for removal
  • Four main types of enzymatic systems address organic material-based soils: lipase, amylase, cellulase, and protease. The latter, protease, is used for protein soils
  • Enzyme digesters digest the fatty and amino acids that hold certain types of soils together while also emulsifying soils for more efficient cleaning
  • These enzymes are also effective at odor control because they eat away at the proteins and fats that create malodors

Property owners can call (516) 809-9600 for “Like it never even happened,” restoration services from SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh.

Become Familiar With Signs of Commercial Water Damage in Seaford

8/21/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians are trained and experienced in all phases of water damage restoration. Call now!

Overcoming Water Damage in Your Seaford Bank

The bank that you run in Seaford has been serving the community for decades, and some of its original construction materials are still looking as good as the day they got installed. Part of the reason for this is the extensive upkeep and custodial efforts of your staff to maintain the property and its cleanliness. However, some instances require more experience and specialized equipment than what is available to this staff, such as a water loss incident, and you must reach out to professional restoration technicians like ours.

While you might not consider water damage in your Seaford bank to be an extensive threat, there is much about water that you might not realize. For instance, from the source of the damages that your building sustains, the water can spread quickly through open spaces, materials, and shared walls to impact a broad region of your business in a brief period. The threat here goes beyond inconveniencing your customers.

Water Damage Restoration

One of the things that our SERVPRO professionals pride themselves on is our approach to restore before rebuilding. This approach ensures that whenever possible, we work to salvage and recover damaged construction materials throughout the affected area instead of demolition and reconstruction. With your building being a staple of the community with older components, preserving the building should remain a priority of yours.

With our extensive training and industry-leading equipment, our SERVPRO technicians can handle all facets of water restoration to allow the process to be as seamless and efficient as possible. From the moment that we arrive for the initial assessment, a plan begins to preserve the building. Clean up and restoration efforts ensure that the moisture gets entirely removed from the affected areas and that your business is safe to continue conducting business with your customers moving forward.

There are many situations that your custodial team can remedy on their own without professional intervention, but incidents like water damage require immediate attention from trained technicians with the right equipment and expertise for the job. Our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh restoration specialists are always here to help whenever disaster might strike by calling (516) 809-9600.

Roof Damages Can Lead To Flooding In Your Seaford Attic

8/14/2021 (Permalink)

Storm and flood damage restoration is no easy task. SERVPRO has the trained professionals needed for your home.

Flood Damage Restoration for you Attic

Homeowners throughout the Seaford area are very familiar at this point with the unexpected severe weather. From the harsh winter months and their heavy snowfalls to the several inches of rain expected month to month during the warmer climate, severe weather can begin to take a significant toll on the integrity of your house.

Roof materials are particularly susceptible to this kind of degradation and wear over prolonged periods of hard weather. Once there is even a single breach in this exterior defense, it now stands a significant risk for flood damages to your Seaford residence. Flooding in your attic space can cause a great deal of trouble and requires an immediate response on your end to preserve construction materials and the contents within your home from irreparable damages.

Runoff and direct torrential downpours through a breach in your roofing material can allow high volumes of water into your attic space. With the natural progression of water damage and its inevitable spread, much of the materials leading to the ceiling and walls of the floor beneath your attic can quickly begin to saturate and adversely react to the damage. Reacting quickly can ensure that SERVPRO professionals can respond to the distress and work to reduce the overall spread of the effects of this disaster.

Storm Flood Damage Restoration

Many homeowners might think that attempting to seal off this breach in their roof is a suitable first step, but this is rarely something that you should do on your own. It does not take long for saturated materials to weaken and warp, which can result in collapse for those attempting to repair the damage without a working knowledge of potential risks and hazards, like our SERVPRO technicians, get trained to assess.

SERVPRO's commitment to our clients is to respond quickly. It has become such a staple in the work that we do that we have taken to asserting that We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. You can count on our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh restoration technicians to arrive promptly and help to mitigate your loss and restore the damage the flooding has caused as efficiently as possible. Give us a call anytime at (516) 809-9600.

Do Bellmore Homes Require Extensive Fire Damage Restoration After Protein Fires?

8/2/2021 (Permalink)

When you have fire and smoke damage, SERVPRO is their team to call for all of your fire damage restoration needs.

SERVPRO Understands How to Address Other Issues Apart from Physical Destruction during Fire Restoration

It is possible to contain some minor fire incidents before burning structural materials and contents in a Bellmore house. However, problems might still arise that necessitate weighty restoration processes. Protein fires involving poultry, meat, or fish are one such example.

A casual inspection may not reveal the true nature of the required fire damage restoration for your Bellmore home since the loss may lack the typical signs of fire damage like soot-covered surfaces or charred materials. Characteristically, protein residues are amber, yellowing, or virtually invisible. The only thing you might not miss is the highly pungent smell in the affected room or the entire house. SERVPRO can help you mount the correct intervention since airing may not reverse the issue. 

Our restorative cleaning services help deliver positive outcomes during:

  • Fire damage restoration
  • Smoke remediation
  • Water & fire damage restorations
  • House fire clean up

Before starting the intervention, a thorough inspection is necessary to establish the types of residues present and how far they spread over the entire property. Such evaluation determines the best cleaning approach as well as the areas to target. 

Our SERVPRO technicians perform such tests and use cleaning approaches such as wiping surfaces with chemical sponges or cleaning with water-soluble or solvent-based cleaning agents. Elaborate deodorization procedures may also be necessary since cleaning might not eliminate all traces of the pungent odor.

Various approaches help deodorize a property, including:

  • Fogging with solvent-based deodorizers
  • Fogging with water-based deodorizers
  • Ventilating a room with box fans


SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh tailors fire damage restoration to match the loss. Call us at (516) 809-9600. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

High Humidity and Mold Damage in Bellmore

7/22/2021 (Permalink)

Moisture, including humidity, can lead to mold growth. SERVPRO can locate hidden moisture sources and remediate mold.

Why SERVPRO for Remediating Mold Infestations

Warm, sticky summers and cool, wet winters make Bellmore and the rest of Nassau County an amenable environment for fungal growth. If the indoor temperature and relative humidity move out of balance, surfaces can provide enough moisture for mold spores to adhere and begin growing. We understand the life cycle of molds commonly found at significant levels and can help abate unwanted acceleration of overgrowth.

Mold damage in Bellmore occurs because of mold spores, moisture, and an organic surface for the microbes to grow on and flourish. Humidity levels of more than 60 percent provide enough dampness for mold to begin its destructive trajectory. Troubling is the damage mold can do to a broad array of typical building materials, threatening things like wood framing, wallboard, insulation, and floors and subfloors with disintegration, weakening the strength and structural integrity of your home. Our focus is removing active mold colonies that consume materials in your home before the components give way.

Mold Damage Remediation Standards

SERVPRO adheres to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols when performing mold remediation. We locate and contain the mold, usually employing a combination of physical barriers and technological advances that prevent mold “drift” by using negative air pressure to form a vacuum sealing the containment area. Our team then dons personal protective gear to keep our employees safe during removal while also limiting the tracking of moldy debris out of the contaminated area.

Once contained, the affected area is cleared of mold growth by scraping, scrubbing with wire brushes, and using innovative techniques like soda blasting. When done correctly by our IICRC trained employees, we can save even porous materials previously thought ruined and requiring disposal. The contained space then receives disinfection with an EPA registered antimicrobial to inhibit the rapid regrowth of the fungi.

All SERVPRO hard work is in vain if the humidity issues are left unresolved. Keeping your home at a range of 30 to 50 percent humidity limits the risk of mold growth. During the summer, running an appropriately sized and maintained AC system helps; dehumidifiers assist as well, while periodically steamy spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas need exhaust fans installed and used consistently to reduce moisture.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh has the technicians and equipment ready to remediate your mold damage scenario. Call us at (516) 809-9600 to assess and plan to manage mold damage and moisture.

Call SERVPRO for Smoke and Fire Damage Cleanup and Restoration

7/15/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot can spread throughout your home. SERVPRO knows how to remove the damage.

Smoke Damage and Content Recovery for Your Wantagh Home

Emergencies rarely affect your Wantagh home in only one way. Professional restorers must overcome multiple effects to fully restore a home to preloss conditions, no matter the circumstances. This fact is especially true when it comes to overcoming the impact of a fire, as this condition leads to widespread damages throughout your home even when the actual combustion remains localized and contained.

The fire damage in your Wantagh home after extinguishment can spread far from the center and source of the affected areas. With situations like smoke, soot, and heat outracing the actual charred area, the contents of your home, open areas, and materials can all get affected adversely. Residues and odors can significantly complicate the cleanup efforts. These non-combusted by-products are acidic in nature, and harm starts from the immediate contact on surfaces, both hard and soft. Our SERVPRO technicians have the tools and expertise to overcome these consequences in your home.

Ultrasonic Liquid Baths & Ozone Chambers

Our Contents Department can remove at-risk items from your home that are either already affected by smoke damage or that stand a considerable risk of becoming impaired. Ultrasonic liquid baths can significantly assist in the recovery of possessions and personal treasures. Nearly all removed items can spend time in an ozone chamber after they have gotten cleaned, where odors can get neutralized in a clean environment. As the process is harmful to humans and pets during the initial phases, this gets performed at our SERVPRO facility as a closely monitored restoration tactic.

Thermal Foggers for Smoke Damage

Thermal foggers are another tool that our SERVPRO technicians can use on-site to permanently remove or substantially reduce smoke damage and odor to affected open spaces, furniture, fabrics, clothing, carpeting, and more. This step is often one of the final components of our restoration process following soot removal, reconstruction, water damage cleanup, indoor air quality cleaning with air scrubbers, and other necessary steps.

Taking care of your home following a fire might seem overwhelming to a homeowner, but with the proper professional assistance, it does not have to be. Our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh IICRC-certified technicians have the industry-leading equipment to overcome smoke damages throughout your home and every other effect of a fire on your property. Give us a call anytime at (516) 809-9600.

Can Storm Damaged Walls in Bellmore Be Saved?

7/8/2021 (Permalink)

Leaky roofs and summer storms can lead to water damage in your home. SERVPRO is available 24/7 to handle water damage.

SERVPRO Restores and Repairs Flood Damaged Walls in Bellmore Professionally and Efficiently

Storms can cause flooding and destruction to the interior of a home. When this happens, there is a risk of structural damage. Our IICRC technicians provide rapid mitigation to restore your home from storm damage.

Immediate Water Mitigation

If your Bellmore home has flood damage, your second call after your insurance company should be to SERVPRO. Floodwaters can hit structural elements hard. If the flooding isn’t too bad, saving the walls is as simple as replacing the drywall. More extensive work is needed in the case of more in-depth flooding.

Preventing Secondary Damage

SERVPRO stops water damage in its tracks. Our techs:

  • Use moisture sensors to find hidden moisture.
  • Flood cuts are made 6” above the water damage to help with drying.
  • Controlled demolition is employed if necessary.
  • Water extraction is the primary concern.
  • Repairing the walls comes after the home has been dried, cleaned, and sanitized. 

Trust the Water Removal Pros

When floodwaters hit, it can seem like everything is damaged and nothing can be recovered. In many cases, that is far from true. SERVPRO technicians repair and restore walls and other structural damage caused by flooding. For emergency services, water damage remediation, and more, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

How Professionals Clean Walls and Ceilings After a Fire in Your Bellmore Home

6/16/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. Call now for all the help you need.

Cleaning Soot and Smoke from Walls and Ceilings during Fire Damage Restoration

Fire damage incidents leave behind a lot of soot and smoke particles on the walls and ceilings. Since all surfaces are different, we use several cleaning procedures when attending to the surfaces. We know walls are painted or unpainted, finished or unfinished, metallic tile, acoustic tile, textured plaster, and other different forms. Some buildings also have walls covered with fabrics, carpeting, and wallpaper. We have to identify the kind of ceiling and wall surfaces in your Bellmore property and then pretest for cleanability.

Some of the factors that our SERVPRO technicians consider when performing fire damage restoration in your Bellmore property include the type of smoke particles, surface type, and if the area is dry cleanable or wet cleanable. When cleaning the walls and ceiling, we use wet cleaning, peroxide active cleaning, and a dry cleaning sponge.

Types of Cleaning Methods After Fire Damage

We prefer using peroxide active cleaning processes when attending to nonporous and porous ceiling surfaces with heavy tar soiling to clean fire damage. Because the technique is not aggressive, it cannot dissolve the coating on blown and textured ceilings. We also prefer it when cleaning acoustical ceilings. When our SERVPRO technicians are cleaning wooden, metallic, painted ceilings, we use wet cleaning procedures. The method can clean heavy soot residues, dry ash, and oil-based residues. Before we can introduce any wet cleaning procedure, we use a dry cleaning sponge. The method can work on all kinds of ceilings containing light-medium non-oil-based residues.

When our SERVPRO technicians work in a heavily soiled site, we may decide to use steel wool pads to introduce the needed aggressiveness. With time, the pads become contaminated, so we rinse them well before continuing. Using steel wool pads can scratch surfaces, so we use them when it is necessary to repaint walls or ceilings after the cleaning.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is an industry leader with highly trained technicians who respond Faster to Any Size Disaster. Call us at (516) 809-9600 to benefit from our quality emergency services.

Why SERVPRO for Water Damage Restoration In Your Wantagh Home

6/10/2021 (Permalink)

When water damage creeps into your home, SERVPRO is the team of professionals you need. Our water restoration service is top-notch.

Advantages of Fast Water Removal For Wantagh Homes

When water damage incidents occur in your Wantagh home, regardless of their source, it is not hard to notice how quickly the effects can spread throughout the property. We understand that there are many causes of these emergencies. As such, we have multiple approaches to handle varying degrees of severity and where water effects get found during our initial inspection of the property. You might have numerous choices in restoration companies, but the team that can respond quickly with the tools to help should be the one that you trust.

Our SERVPRO professionals know how vital it is to get work started immediately in your Wantagh home for water removal and drying efforts. There are advantages to utilizing a team that stays as prepared for emergencies as ours does. We have ready trailers fully stocked with recovery and mitigation tools, allowing our technicians to roll out from our warehouse at a moment’s notice with the full measure of our equipment inventory to make a difference quickly in a damaged house.

Water Damage Restoration Services

We know that there are varying levels of severity with water damage incidents but that they all possess the possibility of getting out of control and irreparably damaging materials and contents within your property. Our prompt response can get our Contents Department involved in removing at-risk contents from the affected areas and protecting these belongings from becoming unsalvageable. Likewise, we can identify water through the house with this initial inspection, which can identify the best locations for air movers and dehumidifiers to begin addressing saturation and excessive moisture.

The faster restoration specialists like our SERVPRO team can respond to water damage emergencies, the better-protected materials in your home can stay. Our technicians can prevent unnecessary tear-out and reconstruction of exposed structural elements in the house with rapid drying solutions.

We know how quickly water damage incidents can get out of control, so trust in the experience and expertise of our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh professionals. Give us a call at (516) 809-9600 to make water damage effects “Like it never even happened.”

Bellmore Fire Damage Restoration Requires Specialized Cleaning Agents

6/2/2021 (Permalink)

When a fire strikes your home, SERVPRO is the team to call. We use the latest fire damage restoration services.

Purpose-made materials aid our fire damage restoration projects in Bellmore

SERVPRO technicians use many different cleaning products and techniques when removing fire residues from a house. Some of these involve standard chemicals and brushes, but others get a bit more involved.

One of the most important strategies we use during Bellmore fire damage restoration is mechanical action. Vacuuming dry soot and ash is by far the most effective and efficient first step in fire damage restoration of building materials and contents. By agitating fire and smoke residues with brushes, metal wool, and other tools such as ultrasonic baths, we can physically shake off most particles. We substantially hasten the overall restoration process by using mechanical action before or in tandem with other cleaning methods. We also use lubricant products to help residues slide off of your home materials. However, most situations require additional cleaning techniques, such as for:

Some types of residues require unique oil-based cleaning agents to remove. Grease fires will not mix with water-based cleaning agents that work on most other types of ash and smoke. By using chemical detection technologies, we can identify which types of smoke are present in an area. Then, after determining the composition of the fire residues, we can lubricate, soak, and scrub the area as best fits the situation.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh stays open 24/7 to respond to developing fire damage situations in the local area. Call us at (516) 809-9600.

What Prevents Efficient Water Evaporation from Wantagh Building Materials?

5/18/2021 (Permalink)

Appliances may cause water damage needs for your home. SERVPRO will be on the scene within 4 hours of the initial call.

Several obstacles can prevent fast drying of installed construction elements in Wantagh properties.

Trapped moisture can be a substantial concern for water-damaged properties, as this can result in a need for demolition and reconstruction if not efficiently addressed. Achieving a balance of humidity, temperature, and airflow happens with tools like:

  • Centrifugal air movers
  • Axial air movers
  • Portable electric heaters
  • Containment barriers

How Can Drying Efforts be Slowed? 

One of the most significant hurdles to clearing water damage in Wantagh properties is plateauing. After direct air mover activity on specific points of damaged surfaces and building materials, the evaporation process can form a cool air barrier just above the surface that can slow the production of drying tools. Moving centrifugal air movers and warming the surface can often overcome these concerns and keep steady moisture removal progress.

Efficient water clean-up and flood restoration hinges on continual moisture monitoring. Our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team is a trusted name in water restoration, and we are ready to help anytime at (516) 809-9600.

How Can Mold Damage Spread in Bellmore Businesses?

5/12/2021 (Permalink)

Mold remediation by SERVPRO is second to none. Our IICRC certified techs are trained and experienced in all size disasters.

Mold takes several paths to spread in a Bellmore facility, and our professionals can help contain this situation. 

To reproduce and spread through a structure, molds release spores that come to rest on moist, organic surfaces in area businesses and form new colonies. Among the most threatening realities of mold growth and the need for mold remediation is that when organisms germinate and begin growing, it could be a couple of weeks of deteriorating the hosting material before physical signs of colonization exist. When you notice mold growth in your building, you need:

  • Mold removal
  • Mold remediation and deodorization
  • Black mold damage repairs

Can Contents Get Protected by Mold Remediation Practices? 

Removing contents like stored wares during mold remediation in Bellmore warehouses can prevent costly irreparable damage. We can relocate at-risk items to keep them from becoming hosts for spreading microbial spores during the cleaning and removal phases.

Warehouses and production facilities in the area can become overwhelmed by rapidly spreading mold when moist conditions exist. Our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team can help with efficient mold remediation. Give us a call at (516) 809-9600.

Protecting the Unique History of Bellmore After a Fire

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot damage from a fire in your home is a job for SERVPRO. We have all the equipment and training for any size fire disaster.

With historic properties throughout our Long Island town, fire damage can take a toll on Bellmore homes and businesses.

As is the case with many communities in Long Island, there is a history and story behind how Bellmore came to be and its consistent growth. When fire damage incidents threaten some of these protected properties or the thousands of homes found in this city, we are trusted fire restoration professionals that can help. We understand the urgency of implementing emergency services and preventing irreparable harm to exposed contents and building materials whenever possible. We can help with:

From Humble Beginnings Bellmore Grew

By the mid-1600s, Bellmore had become a stable community, though much smaller than it is today. At this time, farming and fishing work the heart of the area's economic system for both trading and sustenance. There was no set name for the site at this time. Hence, the residents in the region called the land that would become Bellmore terms like "Little Neck" and "New Bridge." it would be the building of a railroad station named Bellmore in 1867 that would begin to concrete the name of The Bellmores region.

The Suburb of New York City 

Being near both Queens and Brooklyn, both offering nearly 30-minute commutes in ideal conditions, Bellmore has become a thriving bedroom community for NYC in Nassau County. Positioning on the Great South Bay also allows the Long Island community to be a destination for tourism and travelers on its own. Some of the things Bellmore is most known for include:

  • Bellmore Memorial Library – This educational center has stood since 1948, offering people of all ages access to a meager 150 volumes at that time. Now, the facility has grown to be a reliable research facility serving the more than 16,000 residents of Bellmore.
  • Sunrise Highway – This is a primary thoroughfare connecting the city to many other areas of Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens. This main roadway moving through the city is a focal point for the town's most successful businesses, restaurants, and shopping centers to cater to travelers. 

How Can SERVPRO Help with Fire Restoration? 

Fire restoration and recovery are vital services that must begin as soon as possible, especially in moist conditions often experienced with Long Island homes. Situations like wet smoke can be formidable concerns that damage and ruin underlying materials after prolonged exposure. In many fire damage situations, some degree of reconstruction is necessary.

Can Fire Damage Repairs Be Prevented?

Structure fires often lend little room to avoid some degree of repair and build-back, especially considering how fast porous materials like drywall and wood framing can ignite and burn. Our general contractor license ensures that we can provide both the fire restoration and the necessary repairs to make these emergencies "Like it never even happened."

When you need fire restoration, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is a team you can trust. Give us a call today at (516) 809-9600.

Sewage Cleanup After a Storm in Bellmore

4/19/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO uses EPA-registered disinfectants and their technicians are IICRC certified for any size storm remediation project.

SERVPRO understands how to deal with contaminated water and surfaces

During bad weather, you can end up with a leaking roof from storms, basement flooding, and contaminated water invading your home. Special water damage restoration is needed because of the biohazard conditions present in floodwaters. 

Emergency Services - Water Damage Services When You Need It

We knew the extent of the damage and put a plan in place, we began flood cleanup and decontamination in Bellmore. Homeowners should avoid entering floodwaters without the right PPE. Our goal is to salvage, instead of replacing, what we can. When it comes to cleaning and decontaminating salvageable material, we can:

  • Remove dry particles or debris with a HEPA vacuum
  • Use wet cleaning methods for other types of soil
  • Pressure wash structural components
  • Apply antimicrobial and antifungal agents to impacted surfaces
  • Spray EPA-registered disinfectants on previously cleaned non-porous surfaces

Porous materials such as carpets are typically not salvageable when a flood has occurred. We dispose of wastewater and any unsalvageable items according to all local guidelines and regulations. We do everything possible to restore your home to preloss condition. Basement flooding cleanup is when you call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 853-7946.

Emergency Services Water Damage Cleanup in Wantagh

4/12/2021 (Permalink)

There are numerous ways for water damage to intrude in your home. SERVPRO is trained and experience in a moments notice for you.

SERVPRO offers water removal services to Wantagh residents

Using a professional water damage restoration company like SERVPRO eliminates stress on the homeowner and is a valuable service to insurance companies. We understand how disruptive something as simple as burst pipes can be. 

Finding Hidden Damage

One of the aspects of water damage cleanup in Wantagh is exposing hidden materials to allow for thorough water extract and drying. Our technicians open as needed:

  • Walls
  • Stairs
  • Flooring
  • Wall base areas
  • Voids
  • Built-ins

We can then access pockets of saturation and remove unsalvageable materials and components. We can then clean and dry interior wall surfaces and other inaccessible areas. We can make flood cuts if necessary, to allow air to flow where needed. 

Providing Needed Remediation

Each circumstance is different, and we put together a job list that allows us to water damage repairs that you need. We can help with:

  • Leaking roof from storms
  • Basement flooding cleanup
  • Burst pipes
  • Ceiling repairs from water damage  

If you need water damage restoration services, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 853-7946. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Setting the Stage for Water Removal Services in Bellmore

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

When burst pipes show their ugly face in the worst time, SERVPRO is here to help. Our water damage restoration services are top-notch!

SERVPRO technicians arrive with the required tools to prove water damage remediation in Bellmore

The small hamlet of Bellmore is located on Long Island. It got its start in 1643 as a fishing community. It is close to New York City, Jones Beach State Park, and many other points of interest.

Bellmore Memorial Library

The library is now open to patrons. CDC guidelines are being followed. They also offer virtual programs such as Virtual Chair Yoga, Virtual Pajama Storytime, and Virtual Teen Chess Club. Kids can practice their reading with a pup, and there are craft kits families can pick and enjoy at home. 

Jones Beach State Park

Jones Beach is a favorite among New Yorkers and folks in the surrounding areas. It gets over 6 million visitors annually. Sunbathers can enjoy the Atlantic Ocean, take in a concert, or grab some delicious food. The park is named after Major Thomas Jones, who was part of the local militia in the 1700s. He established a whaling station near the current park. Amenities include:

• Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center

• Two swimming pools

• Boardwalk with restaurants & shops

• Jones Beach Boardwalk Bandshell

• Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

• Pitch & Putt Course

Crabbing and fishing are favorite activities of beachgoers. There are playgrounds, picnic areas, and various recreational programs. 

Great Places to Eat in Bellmore

Restaurants are back in business in many places. Take-out and curbside pickup is available every day. Like much of New York, Bellmore has a wonderful diversity of cultures which is reflected in the fantastic eateries in the area. Here are some favorites:

• All American Hamburger Drive-In

• Piccolo Pizza & Pasta

• Churrasqueira Carvalhos

• International Delight Café

• Thom Thom Steak & Seafood

• Villa D'Aquila

Famous People

For being such a small area, Bellmore has quite a few notable people who have called it home. This includes:

• Donny Brady – football player

• Tatyana Marisol Ali – actress & singer

• William Casey – Former CIA director

• George Kennedy – actor

• Laurence Traiger – composer

• Gene Larkin – baseball player

Things to See and Do in Bellmore

There is so much to enjoy in Bellmore. Mill Pond Park features biking and hiking trails for nature lovers. Families will enjoy Newbridge Road Park with its playgrounds. If you want to pamper yourself, be sure and check out The Healing Grotto. End the day by taking in a movie at the Bellmore Playhouse. Bellmore has something for everyone to participate in.

SERVPRO Provides Water Removal Service to Bellmore Residents

If burst pipes or ceiling leaks have you needing water cleanup, SERVPRO is who you need to call. Most people know they need help, but they do not always understand the process. Once the crew chief assesses the situation and determines what work activities need to happen, a staging area is set up. We get many questions about what a staging area is and why it is necessary.

Setting a Staging Area

A staging area helps with the efficiency of the job. When things are well-organized, water damage repairs can help faster. Nothing is missed. It allows all the needed water damage remediation tools to be in one place. We always ask permission before setting up the area and take care to cover the floor with drop cloths.  

The staging area is just the beginning. Once everything is in place, we can:

For expert water damage restoration, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 853-7946.

Is it Possible to Save Upholstery after Water Damage?

3/15/2021 (Permalink)

water damage is no DIY project. SERVPRO has the trained technicians needed for the job. Call Now!

SERVPRO helps Wantagh residents clean up their furniture

Water damage can happen for various reasons, including a leaking appliance, a burst pipe, an overflowing sink or tub, or bad weather. Unfortunately, water damage can spread quickly and wreak havoc in your home.

One of the frustrating aspects of water damage restoration in your Wantagh home is the damage to your furniture. Most insurance companies prefer repair over replacement because it is cheaper, so if you can restore your furniture, that is preferable. However, it is not just about your insurance company – you do not want to lose your favorite chair or couch.

Thankfully, SERVPRO’s philosophy is to restore items wherever possible and only toss them as a last resort. Even if your upholstery has visible water stains, do not write it off. Our teams can:

  • Use spot-cleaning techniques to deal with stains.
  • Apply industry-standard cleaning chemicals.
  • Send your furniture to our facility for specialist cleaning.

We pretest all material before cleaning to ensure we chose the correct cleaner for the item. We also deodorize the furniture when we are finished to get rid of any damp smells.

If you need help with water damage restoration for your upholstery, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

Why is Moisture Testing so Important for Mold Removal?

3/8/2021 (Permalink)

Mold will spread like wild fire within 24 to 48 hours. SERVPRO techs are IICRC certified for any size mold remediation service needed.

SERVPRO helps reduce the risk of Bellmore mold regrowth

If you spot fungal growth in your house, it is essential to deal with it quickly. If you see patches of fungus or water damage stains, it is best to call SERVPRO immediately to assess the situation.

If you are looking for mold removal companies in Bellmore, it is best to choose one that pays proper attention to moisture testing. Mold needs moisture to grow, as well as an organic food source which unfortunately includes:

  • Carpets and rugs.
  • Drapes and soft furnishings.
  • Paper products or canvases.
  • Wallpaper, plaster, and drywall.

Because mold can live on any of these sources, and because it occurs naturally, it is not possible to completely eradicate mold. However, it is possible to discourage it from growing back. If we can remove the water source, mold cannot grow. That is why SERVPRO techs carries out moisture testing using moisture probes and meters. We also measure humidity. Then we dry the area until the readings look good.

If you are looking for reliable mold removal companies, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

Bellmore Business Owners are Concerned about Beachside Flood Damage

3/2/2021 (Permalink)

When flood damage occurs in your home, you need the help of a professional outfit. SERVPRO techs are ready 24/7 365 days a year.

Entrepreneurs know the beach side climate can bring floods

Bellmore is a small hamlet on Long Island and the perfect place to get away for a vacation. If you love the beach, Bellmore is the right place for you. It is just five miles from a state park that boasts many beautiful beaches, and you are never far from nautical charm here.

Enjoy a seaside atmosphere near Bellmore

Bellmore is conveniently located for Jones Beach State Park, a state park situated on a beautiful barrier island. However, the park is not a natural phenomenon. When public official Robert Moses and his team discovered the island, it was low lying, swampy, and unwelcoming. They dredged sand from the bay to raise and strengthen the island, and thousands of men worked hand-planting beach grasses to create a wind barrier. Moses ordered several art deco buildings, and Jones Beach State Park quickly became a popular vacation destination.

There is plenty to see and do in the park. When you visit, why not start with these popular stops:

  • Over six miles of beautiful beaches, specially designed for bathing.
  • The Jones Beach Boardwalk Bandshell, where you can enjoy free concerts.
  • The mini-golf and putt course, or the shuffleboard and basketball facilities.
  • The West Bath House swimming pool.

If you visit in the summer, you will find plenty of concession stands dotted throughout the park, although there is no longer a permanent restaurant. If you are looking for some entertainment, be sure to stop off at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater (usually called Jones Beach Theater.) The theater is an original 1950’s amphitheatre and one of the most prominent outdoor arenas in the New York Metropolitan Area. Big names such as Aerosmith have played here, and the theater hosts a year-round program of concerts and musicals.

Explore the wonder of nature

Jones Beach State Park is also home to the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center. This innovative center uses the beachside environment as a teaching facility to show how humans can live in harmony with the natural world. The center has exhibits on:

  • The history of Jones Beach and how it changes over time.
  • The history of energy networks on Long Island.
  • Conservation and habitat restoration in the area, including the use of synthetic reefs and the importance of cleaning up plastics.
  • Natural energy sources and the use of renewable energy.
  • The importance of sustainable building practices.

The Energy & Nature Center also has a pollinator center, an outdoor classroom, a sensory playground, and an oceanside educational trail. It is an ideal place for kids to let off some steam while learning about conservation.

Flooding is a risk to local businesses

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the Jones Beach Theater and caused extensive damage. The water rushed into the lower levels and filled over half the seating area. Although the owners were able to successfully re-open the theater, it required a $20 million restoration project.

As anyone at the theater after the flooding knows, swift action is necessary after a disaster. That is why SERVPRO is Faster To Any Size Disaster. The quicker we arrive, the faster we can:

  • Secure your business, including using tarps and boarding up if necessary.
  • Deal with any health risks such as blackwater, debris, or slip and fall hazards.
  • Establish a safe electricity supply for water evacuation, or arrange for truck-mounted pumps
  • Start drying your business to reduce the risk of mold growth.

To restore your business after flood damage, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

What Can be Done to Remove the Smell of Smoke in a Wantagh Home?

2/15/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot travel throughout your home. SERVPRO has the know how to restore and deodorize your fire damaged home.

SERVPRO Helps Wantagh Homeowners Eliminate Fire Damage, Including its Smell

Most fires leave a trail behind. Even when you burn your breakfast toast, its smell lingers longer than most would think. Smoke particles travel easily throughout your home and settle upon every piece of furniture, curtain, and corner. Despite your best efforts, eliminating the acrid smell left behind by a fire is a job for a professional crew.

SERVPRO leads in fire damage restoration in Wantagh. Our expert team has access to industry-grade cleaning products and equipment to assist in the cleanup and deodorization of your home. For the restoration process to succeed, we typically need to take several steps to neutralize and eliminate smell molecules. Some of the steps crucial to the process include-

  • Cleaning your home of all soot and ashes contributing to the smell.
  • Use of thermal fogging to permeate all surfaces with deodorizing solutions.
  • Apply specialized sealant to some external areas to capture the odor and prevent its spread.

Having several cleaning and restoration options is essential to a job well done. 

When in need, call SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

Protecting Hardwood Floors After Flood Damage to a Wantagh Home

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

Have storms caused your hardwood floors to become damaged? Call SERVPRO for fast and effective remediation.

SERVPRO has the Expertise Needed to Dry and Restore Floors in Wantagh

Flood damage is overwhelming at face value, and when homeowners take inventory of each item affected by floodwaters, it gets even worse. Although some things are relatively simple to replace (bookcase, couch, etc.), others require a little bit more work. For instance, Hardwood floors benefit from a professional water restoration team's expertise.

Flood Damage to a Wantagh Home is Manageable With the Right Crew at Your Side

SERVPRO has the training and equipment necessary to address each facet of the Wantagh storm damage while striving to minimize your loss. Flooring material can absorb water and leave moisture trapped beneath it, which is why industrial-grade equipment is crucial to a successful restoration job. When you call our technicians, you can expect a professional approach to achieve the following-

  • Removal of standing water 
  • Drying of floors and subfloors and elimination of pieces beyond repair
  • Humidity control throughout the home
  • Application of disinfecting solutions

SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh is vested in making the impact of the flood a distant memory. Call us at (516) 809-9600 and let our certified team bring the best of the industry into your home.

 

Can a Wantagh Home Survive Water Damage?

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

Be sure an inspect your roof for signs of wear and tear to help prevent the need for water removal services.

SERVPRO Provides Specialty Drying Solutions to Wantagh Homeowners

A trip to Wantagh on the Long Island Railroad takes you into a town with historic relevance dating as far as George Washington's Long Island tour. Before the American Revolution and indeed European settlements in the area, the Merokee inhabited the area. History establishes the Jackson and Seaman families as some of the oldest settlers, and their names are still associated with landmarks throughout the town. 

Wantagh is commonly known as "The Gateway to Jones Beach." Although the area focused mainly on farming until the early 20th century, two events marked its deviation from a rural community. Sunrise Highway and Jones Beach's construction solidified the town as a tourist destination and a viable suburban option. The culmination of the Long Island Railroad project in 1968 added connectivity to those searching for a home in Wantagh.

Jones Beach State Park is well-known to many, and for a good reason. Just south of Wantagh, it is miles of white sandy beaches, a boardwalk, restaurants, swimming pools, and countless entertainment options. The Jones Beach Theater also draws visitors looking for artistic performances, as do the roller-skating rink, playground, and sports fields. Arriving by car is simple, as is biking on the trail adjacent to Wantagh Parkway. A little over four miles long, cyclists can enjoy the path and safely stow their bikes on the available bike racks while they explore the Park.

Transportation in Wantagh

Moving around Wantagh is quite simple, whether you are staying in the area or want to venture to neighbor communities. Below are some of the often-used services-

  • The Long Island Railroad, featuring trains to Penn Station, taking you into New York City in about 45 minutes.
  • Shuttles to JFK have you within easy access to numerous international destinations.
  • Bus service runs along the main thoroughfare and connects Wantagh with nearby towns.

No matter if you are a history fan, an avid angler, or seeking suburban life close to a big city, Wantagh may be your answer. Let the beauty of the area be the backdrop to your family life.

Controlling Excess Humidity in Wantagh Homes

Proximity to the water and the age of many homes in Wantagh make the area vulnerable to water damage. A leaky roof or a poorly sealed window can allow humidity levels to rise and trigger unwanted consequences. Each surface in your home has specific needs during the water extraction process, but we are ready with the best in the industry, including-

  • Freeze drying
  • Wand extraction
  • Injecti-dry technology
  • Drying mats

Natural materials, laminates, and even paper products have the potential of being restored if the proper tools and techniques are applied. At SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh, we are ready to bring the best in the industry into your home. Call us at (516) 809-9600 and let our professionals leave your home "Like it never even happened."

Meet Some Adorable Critters Near Wantagh This January

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

Why call SERVPRO? We have the technicians, equipment and experience for any size job concerning your home or business.

Wantagh Residents Of All Ages Will Love White Post Farm’s Petting Zoo

If you are looking for something fun to do with the family near Wantagh this January, look no further than White Post Farm’s Petting Zoo. Kids will love getting up close with adorable animals, including giraffes, lemurs, marmosets, and potbellied pigs.

  • Meet and feed the friendly goats.
  • Use coin-operated feeding stations to feed the curious squirrel monkeys.
  • Get up close to lorikeets, lovebirds, budgies, and cockatiels who are tame enough to land on your hand.
  • Ride a pony and have your photo taken with it (please note the maximum weight is 65 lbs per rider.)

White Post Farm is currently open from 10 AM – 4 PM daily. The petting zoo is open from 10 AM – 4 PM on the weekends. Admission is $19.95, and pony rides and feed bags are at an additional cost.

Mold thrives in damp, enclosed spaces, whether on the farm or at home. If you see signs of mold damage, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

Bellmore Is The Perfect Base For Fun On Long Island

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

Let skilled technicians handle the fire damage to your business. SERVPRO is the team to restore your business and get you back up and running.

From Historic Sites To Family Fun, You Will Find It All Near Bellmore

Bellmore is a lovely little hamlet on Long Island that has a long history. As far back as 1643, Bellmore was already established as a farming and fishing town. Back then, it was known as “New Bridge” and “Little Neck.” The majority of Bellmore settlers were Englishmen who had crossed Long Island Sound, including Preston Bowman, John Smith, and John Bedell.

In 1867 a railroad was built in the area, and the station was given the arbitrary name of Bellmore. Soon Little Neck and New Bridge were growing towards the railroad, and so both communities merged and adopted the name of Bellmore. The name became official in 1900, the same year the post office was established. By 1920 the hamlet had grown to a population of 3000 people, and there were several stores in the town.

These days the hamlet has a population of 16,218 and is a popular New York commuter town. It is also an ideal spot for visitors, providing a base for exploring Long Island and easy access to NYC. There are beaches and nature walks nearby, so whether you are looking for the bustle of city life or a relaxing break away from it all, you are sure to find something to love in Bellmore.

Meet The Local Fauna At Wildlife Attractions

Visiting families will love the range of wildlife attractions available near Bellmore, including:

  • Queens County Farm Museum, which sits on New York’s last undisturbed tract of farmland. Visitors can meet livestock, visit the orchards and greenhouses, and even feed the goats.
  • Queens Zoo is home to a wide range of beautiful and fascinating creatures, including alligators, bison, lynx, sea lions, bears, and elk.
  • White Post Animal Farm is a petting zoo where you can meet and even touch parakeets, ponies, marmosets, and more.

Take A Step Back In Time At Historic Sites

The Bellmore area is home to many historic sites, including Sagamore Hill, which was home to Theodore Roosevelt, and the Vanderbilt museum and planetarium.

No visit to local historic sites would be complete without a trip to Coney Island. It is just over an hour from Bellmore but well worth taking a trip out to see.

Coney Island first started getting popular as a resort in the 1830s and 1840s. It was far enough away from Brooklyn to give residents the feeling that they had been on a proper vacation, and close enough to Manhattan to provide all the excitement of visiting the big city. The advent of carriage routes and steamships meant traveling from the Brooklyn area to Coney Island was much quicker than previously, and the area became an increasingly popular destination.

In 1868, William A. Engeman started building the Brighton Beach resort. With a luxury hotel and a bathing pavilion, the resort soon attracted middle and upper-middle-class visitors to the area. By the time of the Second World War, Coney Island boasted three amusement parks and was well established as a beloved destination for those seeking sea, sun, and fun. The area fell into some decline after the war but saw a resurgence in the late 20th century and remains a popular destination for visitors from far and wide.

If you visit Coney Island, be sure to stop by these historic fairground rides, which all have Landmark status:

  • The B & B Carousell (that is how its creator spelled the name, and it is still spelled that way today) is a traditional carousel. The carousel was built around 1906 and featured a traditional fairground organ. 
  • The Coney Island Cyclone is a wooden roller coaster that opened in 1927. It is one of the oldest wooden roller coasters that is still operational today and the only operational wooden model in New York. It might be old, but it still provides plenty of thrills, including an 85 ft (26 m), 58-degree drop.
  • The Wonder Wheel is a steel Ferris wheel that opened in 1920. It can carry 144 riders and features both stationary and rocking cars.

Bellmore and Long Island Have Seen Their Share Of Fire

There have been several historic fires in the area. Some of these took place at Coney Island, and others in the Long Island Central Pine Barrens:

  • In 1995 there was a series of brush fires in the Pine Barrens. The fire closed the Sunrise Highway, burned 7000 acres of land, and threatened multiple homes and businesses. More than 400 people had to evacuate their families, and the fire wreaked havoc on the tourist economy, although thankfully, no lives were lost.
  • In 2012 a brush fire in the Pine Barrens burned 2000 acres and closed down the Long Island Expressway. It took 600 firefighters with 30 brush trucks, assisted by water drops from the New York Police, to contain the fire.
  • Coney Island has suffered multiple catastrophic fires. Steeplechase, Dreamland, and Luna Park amusement parks were destroyed or partially destroyed by fire in the early 20th century. These fires contributed to Coney Island’s decline before its more recent revival.

SERVPRO Helps Local Businesses Handle Fire Damage

The Coney Island amusement park owners learned to their peril how quickly a fire could destroy a business. SERVPRO was not around to help in 1904, but these days we are on hand to support local businesses with reliable fire damage mitigation.

Our Emergency READY Plan (ERP) helps businesses plan for the worst. Download the free app, set up an account, and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your ERP. You will be able to enter essential information such as who to contact and what to do in an emergency, and you can establish SERVPRO as your go-to fire damage mitigation company. That means that you can get in touch with us quickly in an emergency, and we can respond swiftly.

We understand that time is of the essence after a disaster. Your ERP helps you get up and running quickly and helps cut down on the losses your business will experience as a result of a fire.

Our skilled technicians take care of everything from securing your building to cleaning up soot and overseeing contents, cleaning, and building repairs. We also deodorize your premises.

If you are concerned about the fire damage to your business, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is here to help. Call us today at (516) 809-9600.

Take Your Family To A Woodland Playground Near Bellmore This January

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage can be a hassle if you don't know what your doing. Call the professionals of SERVPRO for water mitigation services.

Kids In the Bellmore Area Will Love Some Outdoor Fun

Even when the weather turns wintry, it is nice to get out of the house for some fresh air and exercise. Sands Point Preserve stands in a magnificent 216-acre park, and the stunning mansion was the inspiration for East Egg in The Great Gatsby.

However, you do not need a black-tie or a cocktail dress to enjoy their woodland playground.

  • Play on a cedar castle with turrets, tunnels, a spiral slide, and climbing walls.
  • Zoom down the zip line.
  • Explore swings and spinners, a geodesic dome, and a tetherball.

Admission costs $15 per car, and walk-in entries are $4 per person. The park is open from 11 AM to 5 PM Wednesday through Saturday and 9 AM to 5 PM on Sundays.

The woodland playground is open come rain or shine. However, water can do more damage at home than it can in the park. If you are concerned about water damage, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

Take Wantagh Gingerbread House Building to a New Level

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

Did ground water get into your basement or home? Call the professionals in SERVPRO for all of your water damage mitigation.

Adventureland Offers a Fun Getaway for Wantagh Families

Adventureland on Broadhollow Road in Farmingdale is holding a Ginger Bells event that lets Wantagh families built veritable gingerbread mansions. December 19 time slots run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Guest capacity is limited to 35% (or up to 150 guests at a time) per house building session.

Individual tickets cost $49.95 per person and include:

  • Time to build and decorate your very own gingerbread house
  • A complimentary meal of chicken tenders, French fries, and a soft drink of your choice
  • Meeting Santa Claus and taking a family photo with him
  • Four ride tickets per person for the Holiday Train, Christmas Carousel, Helicopters, and NYC Race
  • VIP and group packages are also available

Adventureland staff adhere to CDC guidelines to preserve public health and safety while allowing families an outlet for holiday fun. Photos taken with Santa Claus can be delivered digitally via Facebook.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh provides emergency-response groundwater removal for Wantagh homeowners 24 hours a day, seven days a week when they call (516) 809-9600.

New York’s Best Sneaker Convention is a Short Drive from Bellmore

12/7/2020 (Permalink)

Is your commercial building suffering from mold? Call the local SERVPRO near you, and let their experience technicians handle the problem.

Bellmore Sneaker Collectors Can Check Out This New York Convention

Sneaker Fest 2020 is mere days away and only a short drive from Bellmore. The convention opens at the Long Island Sports Complex on Mill Road in Freeport on December 13 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event houses over 100 vendors and expects over 500 attendees interested in fashion and collectible sneaker culture.

Brands showcased during this fashion- and sportswear-oriented event includes the following:

  • Yeezy
  • Adidas
  • Balenciaga
  • Supreme
  • Jordan

Other brands expected at the show include Nike, A Bathing Ape, and Virgil Abloh’s Off-White.

Sneaker Fest 2020 attendees are welcome to bring children, and kids under age ten receive free admission. Masks are to be worn at all times, and hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the venue. Temperature checks are performed at the door before entry.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh protects Bellmore businesses with commercial mold remediation services. Call (516) 809-9600 to begin the cleanup process for your property.

SERVPRO Technicians Sanitize Bellmore Homes to IICRC Standards

12/4/2020 (Permalink)

If you have storm damage to your home. Give the professionals at SERVPRO a call to get your home back to preloss condition in no time.

Call (516) 809-9600 for Fast-Acting Disaster Cleanup and Restoration in Bellmore

The Nassau County hamlet of Bellmore is a coastal getaway just east of Manhattan. It is home to approximately 20,000 residents as of 2010. This New York City suburb is situated along the southern coast of Long Island and, when grouped with North Bellmore and Merrick, is referred to as “The Bellmores.”

Bellmore got its start as two small fishing and agricultural settlements: Little Neck and New Bridge. Much of the Bellmores were occupied by English settlers. Development increased dramatically in the nineteenth century after a railroad was built in the region. The railroad station had been named Bellmore, but the town was not officially incorporated under that name until a local post office was established.

Prominent people who have hailed from or lived in Bellmore include:

  • Former CIA director William Casey
  • Taking Back Sunday frontman Adam Lazzara
  • New York Rangers player Matt Gilroy
  • Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress Tatyana Marisol Ali
  • Yemeni-American YouTube sensation Adam Mohsin Yahya Saleh

Bellmore is also home to an important Supreme Court ruling on Ginsberg v. New York. This case cemented the state’s right to intervene in the interest of regulating adult materials to prevent distribution to minors.

The Indigenous Peoples of the Bellmores

Long Island, including Bellmore, was occupied by thirteen tribes at the dawn of seventeenth-century European colonization of the Americas. Many of these names may be recognizable as namesakes of modern-day New York locales. The indigenous peoples occupying this land originally were:

  • Canarsie, Nissequoge, and Merrick
  • Montauk, Manhasset, and Rockaway
  • Matinecock, Secatoag, and Massapequa
  • Corchaug, Setauket, Shinnecock, and Patchoag

In the relatively-recent Renneiu language, Long Island was referred to as Paumanok, or “The Land That Pays Tribute.” The tribes in this region thrived primarily on hunting, fishing, and foraging. However, some crops, such as corn and beans, were also cultivated. Game and fish in the early days of Paumanok was plentiful and included:

  • Venison, raccoon, and bear
  • Turkey, quail, duck, partridge, and goose
  • Freshwater and saltwater fish, as well as crustaceans

The widely-accepted currency among many Long Island tribes was wampum, or shells strung on sinew or adhered to elm bark. European settlers fomented a peaceful dialogue with the indigenous peoples of Long Island and eventually purchased land from them. Many tribes also helped colonists learn to hunt, gather, farm, and fish in the New World.

However, not all relations were equally amicable. While Amerindian tribes peacefully traded with most English settlements, Dutch fur trading outposts often proved more combative. A smallpox epidemic in the 1650s wiped out almost two-thirds of the Long Island tribes. The expansion of European lands and farming had driven most of the remaining inhabitants of Paumanok toward the mainland by the mid-1700s.

Climate and Flooding in Bellmore

Bellmore sees more precipitation than the annual US average of 38 inches but slightly less snow than the national average. The totals clock in at 46 inches of rain and 23 inches of snow. Bellmore also averages 169 rainy days and 125 days of precipitation per year. Flooding and flash floods are relatively common in this part of Long Island due to Bellmore’s proximity to the coast and the above-average rain levels.

Low-elevation neighborhoods like those south of Merrick Road are more vulnerable to the effects of potential flooding. One prominent example is the record-breaking 2012 Hurricane Sandy; a superstorm flooded south Bellmore and Merrick with three to six feet of water. 85-mile per hour gusts caused considerable property damage to home siding, decks, and fences, not to mention damage from felled trees.

Bellmore saw the effects of Hurricane Sandy before it even made landfall in New Jersey. The downpour quickly flooded storm drains and roads in the early morning hours on October 29, 2012. The flooding subsided somewhat until the evening that day before resurging and flooding residential areas in Bellmore-Merrick, including most of Merrick Road’s business district. Superstorm Sandy also caused massive traffic jams and power outages that saturated and submerged cars and single-story buildings at the peak of the flooding, aggravated by an 11-foot storm surge.

How Do SERVPRO Technicians Restore the Contents of a Flood-Damaged Home in Bellmore?

SERVPRO provides rapid-response flood damage mitigation for Bellmore properties and their contents to minimize loss and maximize savings whenever it is safe and feasible. This restoration-focused approach minimizes replacement while ensuring that your home is cleaned to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards.

SERVPRO professionals can perform a multitude of tasks aimed at restoring salvageable belongings in your home after a flood, including:

  • Pack-outs allow technicians to carefully document and move your property offsite to a designated SERVPRO warehouse for cleaning and restoration. This process also helps homeowners bolster their proof of loss claim. Inventory can be taken on paper or electronically
  • Document and electronics restoration services are also feasible. Documents are frozen while deciding the best method for drying to prevent further water damage or staining, while electronics can be sanitized and serviced by licensed professionals
  • Wood furniture and antiques can be carefully sanitized and restored. If additional care outside of the scope of SERVPRO services is needed, SERVPRO can help homeowners get in touch with licensed professionals that can assist them

Some items are automatically considered losses in a flood situation, including mattresses, insulation made of cellulose or cotton, and carpeting. These items cannot safely be returned to a preloss state and are much more cost-effective to replace instead of repair.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh provides Faster To Any Size Disaster service for homeowners 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including all holidays. Call (516) 809-9600 to begin the restoration process within hours of your initial contact.

Safe Entertainment During the Fall and Winter Months

11/20/2020 (Permalink)

It will be exciting to see the community at the Bellmore Playhouse!

The Bellmore Playhouse Opens its Doors to Provide a Safe and Entertaining Option for Young and Old

Many of us spent most of 2020 avoiding crowds and finding entertainment in outdoor venues around Bellmore. As beautiful as our region is, there is a moment in which venturing into the cold for recreation seems overwhelming and counterintuitive. Luckily, the Bellmore Playhouse is ready to host its patrons in a safe setting while providing options for adults and families. When you visit this venue, you can expect-

  • Showings of classic and independent films
  • Comfortable seating in easily accessible theaters
  • A picturesque walk through Bedford Ave. where you can stop for a snack or meal as part of your movie outing

In November and December, you are invited to watch movies such as “The Croods: A New Age,” “Monster Hunter,” “Happiest Season,” and “Death on the Nile.” Each movie going experience is bound to be unique and welcome to break the past few months’ monotonies.

SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh is committed to protecting our community organizations, such as the Playhouse, as much as we are committed to protecting your home. Whenever you need water removal or restoration services, call us at (516) 809-9600 and let us leave the premises, “Like it never even happened.”

The Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh Brings the Magic of the Holidays to Your Car

11/13/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is looking forward to the Holiday Season event!

Welcome the Holiday Season by Joining the Magic of Lights in Wantagh, Presented by New York Community Bank

Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh is a marvelous place to visit throughout the year.  Its hikes, boardwalk and beautiful waters make it a very popular destination for Long Islanders, particularly in the summer.  In any given year, visitors can experience a variety of concerts and performances in the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater as well as explore offerings in other concert venues throughout the park.

Although many performances have been cancelled or postponed due to the health crisis, you can still enjoy the joy of the holidays by driving through the Magic of Lights holiday experience.  This event is a safe and enjoyable option for families, teens and adults looking to do something different and maintain social distance.  Here are some facts about the Magic of Lights:

  • Runs from November 13th, 2020 through January 2nd, 2021
  • Hours are 5:00-10:00 p.m. on weekdays and through 11:00 p.m. on weekends
  • The admission price is per car is $25 and no additional fee is required per person

With the holidays upon us, it is also time to look at your home and protect it from fire or flooding.  When disaster strikes, SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh is here to help.  Call us at (516) 809-9600 if you need us to come fast and leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

Removing the Smell of Fire in a Wantagh Home

11/8/2020 (Permalink)

Regardless of the extent of the fire damage, team SERVPRO can help with remediation. Contact us right away.

SERVPRO is the Expert in Fire Odor Removal in Wantagh

Many who love living in bustling cities hesitate before moving to a suburb. However, Wantagh is far from the cookie-cutter vision of suburbs usually portrayed in the media. Instead, it is a mere train ride away from Manhattan and enjoys much of the rich cultural and entertainment benefits of living in the city. Known as “The Gateway to Jones Beach,” Wantagh is a hamlet within the town of Hempstead in Long Island, and its proximity to the water makes its landscapes inspiring and peaceful.

It may come as no surprise that Wantagh is an affluent area, accompanied by a reputable school system and low crime rates. Many families choose to live in Wantagh, making its demographic composition mainly households with young children. This youth makes for a one-of-a-kind lively and close-knit community and places the school district as one of the best. Most homes are multi-story homes close to the water, which adds some challenging aspects to each house's general upkeep.

Jones Beach State Park is widely popular for New York residents and is known as one of the most popular destinations during the summer. Its boardwalk and concert venue makes it ideal for a weekend outing enjoying the outdoors. The Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater often presents some of the largest names in music, and its 15,000-seat capacity is just ideal for music without the stress of larger venues. Smaller performance venues can also be found in Wantagh proper and surrounding towns, such as Bellmore.

To find out where Wantagh’s name comes from, you would have to learn about the Merokee, which inhabited the area before the Europeans’ arrival. “Wantagh” was the sachem, or chief, of the Merokee people, and his name continues to live today. Through a series of treaties and negotiations, both Dutch and English had rights to this part of the state until Long Island became a part of New York. Before becoming Wantagh, the town was known as Jerusalem, and Ridgewood and even George Washington visited the area in 1790. Some salient points in Wantagh’s history include:

  • The Jerusalem Purchase of 1661 made by Captain John Seaman’s which includes parts of today’s Wantagh, Levittown, and Seaford
  • Indians, slaves, and freedmen inhabited the area in the colonial era
  • Germans came into the area along with the Long Island Railroad System in the late 1800s
  • Further growth was attained with the creation of state parkways in the early 20th century 

Much like other cities in New York state, the legacy of the original settlers is still evident. For example, Cherrywood Shopping Century pays tribute to Captain John Seaman’s estate, named Cherrywood. Wantagh’s suburban nature was a relatively new development between 1950 and 1970 when housing developments flourished. Before then, it was mainly a farming community, and it wasn’t until the early 1900s that fishing and tourism started playing a role in its economy.

To gain even greater insight into the area and its history, one can visit the Wantagh Museum, run by the Wantagh Preservation Society, which seeks to highlight the community's history. Visitors and residents can also visit the Twin Lake Preserve to learn more about the natural landscape and the importance of environmental preservation. You can also deepen your environmental understanding while visiting the dunes and appreciation of plants and animals within the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center. When the weather is not suitable for outdoor adventures, you may visit the many restaurants in town, including Cleary’s Bar & Café, a traditional Irish pub ideal for fun and entertainment.

The beach is not all Wantagh has to offer. Its dining offerings are plentiful and diverse, suitable for all palates. Neighboring Nassau County communities are a few minutes away and also provide numerous entertainment options to the hamlet’s residents. From street fairs to seafood festivals to performances, a simple ride on the Long Island Railroad or a quick car ride can find you enjoying music and food like no other. If you are missing the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, you can easily hop on the train and arrive in the heart of NYC momentarily.

Even though Wantagh has the best suburban life, you don’t need to forsake city life forever!

Those who love the outdoors may consider visiting the Wantagh Mill Pond, a 15-acre pond located along Merrick Road and run by Nassau County Recreation and Parks. Over a dozen fish species live in the Pond, making it a popular spot for fishing. It is also an excellent spot for birdwatchers and walkers who wish to be one with nature. Authorities are mindful of protecting the Pond’s ecosystem, so anglers are encouraged to practice catch and release. There is also an active project to restore the Pond’s shoreline after years of erosion.

Wantagh and Flooding

The sheer beauty of Wantagh requires the close attention of its residents. Rising sea levels cause flooding with increasing frequency, and Superstorm Sandy in 2012 put a spotlight on the structural deficiencies in our community. Even though many homes have undergone substantial construction in recent years to raise and repair them after Sandy, the risk of water damage and storm surges remains real. As Mother Nature continues to challenge our way of life, we need to be ready to restore our homes whenever disaster strikes.

As a matter of protection, Wantagh's property owners should keep SERVPRO in mind for any incidents requiring restoration. Our team is certified to handle both water and fire damage, which can occur at any time.

By making our team available around the clock, we can be faster to any disaster and conduct an efficient restoration process while mitigating your loss. Industry expertise and training make us the best choice in your time of need. 

Make SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh part of your emergency plan by calling us at (516) 809-9600 and letting us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

How can Soda Blasting Help with Mold Remediation in Your Riding Stables?

10/26/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can utilize soda or dry ice blasting to remove mold infestations from raw lumber in commercial and residential properties in Wantagh

Equestrian Centers in Wantagh need Effective Mold Remediation

Wantagh is beautifully situated, being within an hour of NYC, yet still small enough to feel cozy. The area supports several riding stables and equestrian centers – and the owners know that customers demand a professional and sanitary environment.

If you notice fungus in your stables, call a Wantagh Mold Remediation company such as SERVPRO immediately. If mold is left untreated, it can quickly spread – some spores can propagate in as little as 48 hours. Mold can cause health effects, and it can also cause damage to wood.

Why does mold grow in stables?

Mold is a naturally occurring substance that needs four things to grow:

  • A food source
  • Moisture
  • Darkness
  • Oxygen

Unfortunately, stables provide plenty of dark corners, and they can quickly become damp. They also offer ample food sources for fungus, including wood, hay or straw, and natural fabrics such as cotton and leather.

Why does SERVPRO use soda blasting?

Soda blasting uses high-pressure hoses to blast surfaces with baking soda particles (yes, this is the same thing you use in your kitchen!) Soda blasting is particularly well suited to large areas of wood or brickwork, and it has several advantages:

  • It is faster and easier when it comes to cleaning large areas
  • It is non-toxic, which is especially important in a place that houses animals
  • It is gentle enough to rub away mold without damaging wooden surfaces
  • It has deodorizing properties which help to get rid of moldy smells
  • It is easy to wipe away the residue afterward and leave your stables “Like it never even happened.”

Soda blasting is also relatively cost-effective, which is good news for you as a business owner.

What happens after soda blasting?

Our technicians know that mold growth happens because the conditions are ripe. If we do not alter the conditions, mold can quickly regrow, especially in an area with high footfall and plenty of access to the open air.

We measure moisture and humidity in your stables and use fans and dehumidifiers to reduce levels. We can also advise you on steps to take to prevent it from coming back.

For help with mold in your business, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

Should Wantagh Homeowners Take Photographs of the Damage to Their Home?

10/25/2020 (Permalink)

Assessing the damage in your home after a flood is a dangerous job. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for professional remediation and mitigation services.

How to Find a Flood Damage Remediation Company in Wantagh

Many homeowners are incredibly concerned when their home is damaged after a storm in Wantagh. There is a tendency to rush back into their homes. They want to take stock of how much water has entered the house and if anything can be saved. Taking pictures of the damage is a great idea. However, there are other concerns they should be aware of before entering.

SERVPRO has a great deal of experience helping homeowners in Wantagh recover from flood damage after a storm has passed through the area. Our team has seen many situations where it is unsafe to enter a home that has been flooded. For example, check the following before entering:

  • Is the building structurally safe to enter?
  • Are there live electrical wires that could pose a hazard?
  • Mud and debris can cause floors to be very slippery.
  • Floodwaters often contain toxic chemicals as well as bio-hazards.

Once your home has been inspected for these potential hazards and is safe to enter, homeowners should take photographs to record everything in the house and possibly damage it.

Is Throwing Out Damage Items a Good Idea Before the Adjuster Arrives?

SERVPRO has found that insurance adjusters are usually onsite very quickly, however in situations where there is widespread damage, it may be a few days before they arrive due to the number of homes damaged by the storm.

Once the home is safe to enter, our team can provide advice regarding:

  • Items can be cleaned and restored vs. those that should be thrown out.
  • Recording everything that has been destroyed is always a good idea.

Our SERVPRO team can assist in recording everything that is removed for insurance claim purposes. A photograph of each item helps substantiate the damage as well.

Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh (516) 809-9600 to assist with flood damage removal and restoration of your home.

Click here for more information about Wantagh.

What Advanced Fire Damage Cleaning Practices and Tools Exist?

10/6/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage is one of the most stressful events a homeowner can experience. When the unthinkable happens, call SERVPRO.

SERVPRO has Always Been a Leading Team in Innovative and Advanced Technologies to Recover and Restore Fire Damaged Levittown Homes 

Because hundreds of potential sources and origin points for fire losses in Levittown homes, the restoration of these situations varies from one site to the next. Instead of universal cleaning approaches and recovery solutions, each plan to repair and return damaged properties to preloss condition is tailored to the individual property. Pre-job scoping collects the necessary data to efficiently ensure that we have the appropriate tools and equipment to manage the loss incident efficiently.  

Devastating fire damage in Levittown homes often calls upon many practices and advanced technologies available to our SERVPRO team. We continue to be leading restoration professionals in the area, contingent upon our fast response and the efficient equipment used to restore fire-damaged properties to their original condition as soon as possible. Our most significant obstacles include removing soot and smoke residues, content cleaning, and air quality control in most situations.  

How Can Soot Get Removed from Installed Materials?  

There is often much more to the supposed cleaning of damaged and coated surfaces than you might initially believe. As experienced cleaning technicians for smoke residues and other similar threats, we have several practices that can help: 

  • Agitation – Actions like dry vacuuming heaps of soot particles on surfaces can reduce these conditions' severity and ultimately make cleaning easier.  
  • Solvents – Cleaning products can react with soil types differently. We sample clean small portions before beginning a more massive undertaking to ensure that our efforts provide the ideal results.  
  • Abrasive Cleaning – Actions like soda blasting can remove surface soils often without damaging the underlying substrate. A combination of high-pressure water or air with a media like baking soda can thoroughly clean soiled surfaces of structural elements and contents.  
  • Emulsification/Dissolving – With the use of potent cleaning products chosen by their composition, such as water-based solvents for oil-based soils, we can promote either emulsification or dissolving depending on the product/soiling relationship.  

What Off-Site Cleaning Approaches Exist for Contents? 

Content relocation through our pack-out process can free up space inside of the house for efficient mitigation. Our removal of these items to the nearby SERVPRO facility allows several specialty cleaning processes to begin. Some of the advanced restoration options off-site include:  

  • ESPORTA Wash – Soft materials can get cleaned using this portable washing system. This gentle approach can reduce the irreparable harm abrasive cleaning methods can cause sensitive textiles.  
  • Ultrasonic Tank – Submersion cleaning introduces millions of microscopic bubbles exploding on the surface of soiled contents submerged in the solution. This process cleans soot and other residues from hard materials.  
  • Ozone Chamber – As typical of a need as deodorization is, having a large room to pack with multiple items from a damaged address to treat them simultaneously saves time and money.  

What Tools Can Reduce Airborne Contaminants After a Fire?  

Airborne contaminants are not uncommon in a house after a fire loss in Levittown. Between circulating soot and smoke particles to debris and ash, breathing in these particulates can threaten those exposed. Before extensive mitigation work, preemptive filtration and air scrubbing are often necessary to remove most of these airborne concerns through HEPA filters in many of our air treatment equipment. Some of the tools familiar to this approach include: 

  • Hydroxyl Generators
  • Air Scrubbers
  • Negative Air Chambers 

What Programs Help Us to Monitor What Work Must Occur? 

Through our initial inspection and throughout the mitigation process, we have several software tools that can help us manage and monitor our progress. These options include:  

DryBook 

DryBook might not seem like software commonly used in fire restoration, but water damage effects are more common in these situations than homeowners expect. Extinguishment can leave parts of homes flooded and highly damaged by excessive water. This software ensures that we can monitor the effectiveness of drying throughout mitigation to implement the right restoration strategies.  

Xactimate 

Estimates and determining construction, repair, and other property needs after a fire loss can be challenging to keep streamlined. This software ensures that every party has the right information when they need it. The restoration project's progress does not slow down—using this industry-wide program that expedites claims and helps establish budget limits. 

Knowing the great lengths to expect from our fire restoration professionals responding to your home is beneficial. You can see how experienced technicians like our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team can utilize powerful tools and technologies to restore and recover fire-damaged properties more efficient and cost-effective. You can reach us anytime by calling (516) 809-9600.

How Can Water Damage Restoration Services Salvage a Wet Subfloor?

9/12/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO offers advanced drying equipment like these mats to salvage water damaged hardwood flooring in Wantagh, delighting our customers.

SERVPRO technicians can tell you if there is moisture within your Wantagh subfloor through the use of their equipment

It can be a little jarring to dig into a subfloor that has signs of water damage but not for sure that there is actually a problem in there. That is why SERVPRO techs rely on their diverse selection of moisture detection devices that allow them to "see" into the subfloor of Wantagh homes and determine if removal of the flooring above is necessary for extraction and drying purposes. 

What Are Signs My Subfloor Needs Water Mitigation? 

The subfloor in each room of your Wantagh home has a low-key way of announcing there is a problem with moisture. Be alert for any of the following signs you need help with a water problem: 

  • Loosened tiles
  • Cupping or flaking hardwood floorboards
  • Damp, musty odors emanating from the floor
  • Visible water stains on the carpet

In cases of hardwood flooring, the boards get inspected by the SERVPRO techs for potential reuse after drying and cleaning. In many cases, they can save the homeowners the cost of replacement through their drying applications that pull all the embedded moisture out of the wood. 

Drying a subfloor is a step-by-step process. The techs use portable pumps to pull any residual moisture and then move on to the drying phase. The use of professional air movers works to direct warm, dry air into the subfloor. Some situations have the best outcome through the use of specialized drying equipment such as drying mats that lay flat on the subfloor and suction embedded or hidden water from the wood. Dehumidification equipment stands at the ready to grab moisture as it rises and ports it off-site. In this way, a subfloor that has water damage can get dried in place.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 supports the local community by provided water mitigation for all types of damage. The trained, certified techs are available 24/7 to extract, dry, and restore properties.

How Can I Rid Smoke Odor From Furniture?

9/11/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO professionals are trained to handle every level of fire damage, Including the odors that follow. Call us today, we are always available.

SERVPRO Fire Damage Restoration Technicians in Seaford Can Help to Recover your Home and Contents After Fire.



How do professionals restore fire odor from contents?

A house fire in your Seaford home can be a debilitating experience. Often, fire's unpleasant smells can remain in furniture, carpets, draperies, and textiles for weeks after the event. Odorous contents do not always require wholesale replacement or refinishing. SERVPRO technicians are often capable of thoroughly cleaning, drying, and deodorizing your possessions to a preloss condition following a fire. Professional cleaning can be advantageous for a homeowner because it allows them to retain many of the possessions and can keep the expense of a claim low. We thoroughly pre-test contents to determine which are salvageable and need replacing when carrying out a fire restoration service.

Is it better to dry clean or wet clean contents with smoke and odor damage?

Performing fire damage restoration in your Seaford home relies on a varied approach. Usually, we begin with dry cleaning, affected furnishings or materials. Dry cleaning can often be complete using household items like dusters, dry sponges, and vacuums. The goal of dry cleaning is to remove non-greasy soiling from the surface of contents, which may otherwise become embedded in a surface with moisture. Wet cleaning is useful for contents that have oily deposits or are not entirely restored using dry cleaning methods. A wet cleaning method can use either water-based or oil-based chemicals to suspend and remove soots. As far as odor control in any property, one of the most effective methods is to remove any residual soot or smoke residues thoroughly. 

How can I reduce smoke odors in a property?

- Thoroughly dry clean contents then, if necessary, proceed to wet cleaning

- Conduct tests on materials to ascertain if smoke residues remain

- Use deodorization solvents through fogging or spraying of contents

Cleaning a property can be an exceptionally effective method of controlling odor. Contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 now.

More information about Seaford.

Why Is Moisture Testing Such An Important Part of Mold Removal in Wantagh?

9/7/2020 (Permalink)

Don’t panic when facing mold damage in your home. Our experienced technicians can be on the scene within hours to mitigate the situation.

Wantagh Homeowners Want The Mold To Go Away and Stay Away

Residents of Wantagh want to take good care of their homes. The key to home maintenance is to handle issues as soon as they arise. If you see a loose tile, call someone to fix it. If you notice a tree in your yard leaning too close to your house, call a tree surgeon to deal with the overhanging branches. If your gutter is leaking, get it mended.

Should you notice the need for mold removal in your Wantagh home, call SERVPRO as soon as possible. We are Faster To Any Size Disaster, and we are on call 24 hours a day for all your mold needs.

The quicker you call us, the faster we can remediate your mold situation and prevent further spore spread.

Do I need mold removal?

If you see signs of mold in Wantagh, you need a mold removal service. Signs of spore growth in your home include:

  • Black, dark green, or pinkish spores growing on surfaces or soft furnishings
  • Damp patches on wallpaper, walls, or ceilings
  • A moldy odor, which often smells musty

It is much harder to remediate mold if you do not have the necessary training. That is why SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh recommends calling us immediately instead of trying to handle the growth by yourself. Our teams have the know-how and training to handle any size of a mold outbreak.

Why do I have mold?

Mold is a naturally occurring fungus that is found throughout nature. Mold grows by consuming a food source such as paper, fabric, drywall, cotton, or even documents or painting canvas. If there is an available food source, oxygen, and moisture, the spores have everything they need to grow and spread.

There are so many things in a home that mold can munch on. Add moisture, and you will soon see fungi appearing.

Mold can quickly grow in damp areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. It can also grow in uninhabited areas such as the basement or attic. A broken door or window seal, cracked window frames, and ill-fitting doors allow moisture into your home and mold the water it needs.

What is moisture testing, and why does it matter?

Moisture testing shows how much moisture is in a specific area of your home. This is an essential part of SERVPRO’s mold removal process.

If we remove the mold but do not test for moisture, there is no way to know if the conditions are ripe for mold to come back. Moisture testing lets us see potential problem spots and deal with them before they become home to a new mold colony. Because damp can hide behind walls and in unseen corners, testing helps us find hidden mold growth.

We also use moisture testing at the end of the mold remediation process, to double-check that we have dried your home to the correct standards.

How does SERVPRO test for moisture?

Our technicians use a range of testing equipment:

  • We use moisture sensors if we suspect damp in a carpeted area – these penetrate carpet or padding and let us know if there is moisture present
  • We use thermal imaging cameras to check for signs of moisture on walls – these give us an infrared image of the temperature across the surface which can provide clues to moisture underneath
  • We use penetrating moisture meters to check for moisture inside surfaces such as wood or gypsum
  • We use non-penetrating moisture meters on materials we do not wish to cause surface damage on, such as drywall
  • We use thermo-hygrometers to measure the relative temperature and humidity in the affected area

What happens after moisture testing?

After moisture testing, our teams set up containment around the affected area, to discourage mold spores from spreading further. Then our technicians set to work remediating mold. We choose the best tools for the job, including HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers, negative air machines, dry ice or baking soda blasting, or good old-fashioned scrubbing.

When we have cleaned all visible mold, we use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out your home. We continue to monitor moisture levels throughout the drying part of the process. We also deodorize your house when we are finished with remediation to eliminate moldy odors.

We understand that homeowners want the mold to get gone and stay gone. Unfortunately, it is impossible to remove all mold from a structure because mold is naturally-occurring and can re-enter your home at any time. However, by drying your home and moisture testing to check levels of moisture and humidity, we can make your home much less welcoming to mold.

If you need help with mold removal, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

Why Should I Use a Professional Restoration Company after a Flood?

8/16/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can use trash pumps, portable extractors and other advanced equipment to extract floodwater from a Wantagh basement. Then we dry it!

Our Knowledgeable Wantagh SERVPRO Team Oversees Your Project from Start to Finish

Flooding in your Wantagh home is a serious issue. No matter how diligent you are during your cleanup, it can still be challenging without proper knowledge, professional equipment, and products. Floodwater is black water (contaminated), making it even more challenging to remove safely. The last thing a property owner wants is for potentially-dangerous black water to remain behind after a flood, potentially causing long term issues like strong odors and mold growth. Professionals like our SERVPRO team take care of your disaster situation, helping to alleviate some of your stress.

What Should I Expect from a Professional Restoration Company?

SERVPRO Uses Knowledgeable Restoration Specialists for Flood Cleanup

Our flood damage team in Wantagh has the knowledge and expertise to create an individualized cleanup plan for your home based on your home's amount of damage and structure. Our team members have the (IICRC) Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, making them well-equipped to handle your unique situation. For instance, floodwater in your basement presents a different set of challenges than floodwater in your living room. In the basement, you are more likely to have more than two inches of standing water, requiring a submersible pump with the ability to lift water out of your home.

What Types of Professional Equipment Does SERVPRO Use for Extracting Floodwater?

  • Portable extractors including a built-in heater, pump, and vacuum system to effectively remove water and rinse clean the impacted areas.
  • High-velocity centrifugal air movers direct air across the impacted area an angle. Technicians use multiple air movers, placing them every 10 to 16 feet across the wall.
  • Technicians position dehumidifiers around the impacted area to deliver dry, warm air around the room while removing excess moisture.

For assistance after a flood, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh any time, day or night, seven days a week at (516) 809-9600. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How Can I Get Rid Of A Foul Smoke Smell Lingering in My Home After a Small Fire?

8/12/2020 (Permalink)

Fires of all sizes cause significant smoke and soot damage. Leave the restoration to professionals. Call SERVPRO!

For Fire Damage Deodorization After a Small Fire Burns Inside Your House in Wantagh Call SERVPRO

Even the smallest blazes can cause smoke to get released into the airflow inside your home. Smoke can travel throughout your entire structure and leave behind soot residues or unpleasant aromas. Smoke can also penetrate porous items inside your building and cause foul odors to linger after residues, and burnt debris gets removed.

How can you remove foul odors if they still exist after all burnt materials have been cleaned and removed?

During fire damage restoration in Wantagh, our SERVPRO technicians can utilize various chemicals, tools, and techniques to deodorize your structure. The following kinds of equipment are often used to remove pungent aromas that exist after items inside your house burn:

  • ULV Foggers: Sometimes, the best way to remove burnt smells is to dispense a chemical product into the air so it can react in the same way the smoke. Ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging machines can break down water-based deodorizers into small particles that can penetrate many porous materials deeply.
  • Thermal Foggers: Thermal fogging machines can break deodorants into even smaller particles than ULV machines. Thermal foggers use oil-based products that can penetrate most materials deeply to deodorize them.
  • Air Filtration Devices: Air scrubbers can pull contaminated air through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. These machines can be used to clean out malodor particles that are lingering in the air.
  • Photocatalytic Oxidizer: A photocatalytic lamp works by shining ultraviolet rays onto a surface of titanium dioxide, which produces hydroxyl radicals. These particles then immediately oxidize and break down malodor particles into CO2 and H2O.
  • Ozone Generator: These devices generate unstable O3 particles that get released into the air. The O3 molecules then give off an oxygen atom that oxidizes and neutralizes malodor compounds.

If you ever need professional assistance removing foul odors after a structural blaze, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 24/7. 

More about Wantagh.

How Can I Find a Water Restoration Firm in Bellmore I Can Trust with My Home and Family?

8/4/2020 (Permalink)

You can trust that your home is in good hands with our experienced team of experts at SERVPRO. Give us a call today.

We Have Stood in Your Shoes In Need of Emergency Help -- This Is  Why SERVPRO Water Damage Restoration in Bellmore Is More Than a Job to Our Management and Technicians.

We understand how hard it is to hand over the reins of responsibility when a disaster affects your Bellmore home. The owners, managers, and technicians making up our team commit to our community, living and working in the same place as our customers. We strive to develop a robust team of highly qualified restoration experts who bring to every project premier disaster mitigation and remediation skills and empathy and compassion for the stress homeowners suffer. The full-spectrum of services and commitment to your comfort and concerns are why we are a local restoration leader.

What Kinds of Skills and Training Do Reputable Water Damage Restorers Possess?

Water damage restoration professionals in Bellmore must follow the industry’s best practices for optimum results. They have to be ready to respond to urgent emergency needs as well as having the knowledge and background to complete the followup tasks needed. We believe the rigorous coursework offered by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) meets both requirements. Only restoration firms and their employees who are certified by the IICRC should be on your shortlist when selecting a company to return your home to preloss condition. Our crews can hold certificates in the following IICRC specialties, among others:

  • Water Damage Restoration Technician
  • Applied Structural Drying Technician
  • Odor Control Technician
  • Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
  • Building Moisture Thermography

What Can I Expect When the Water Damage Restoration Crew Arrives?

We know we are in your home at a particularly difficult time, and that you and your family are likely under considerable stress because of the water loss and the chaos it caused. These not inconsiderable circumstances are why SERVPRO stresses clear communication and respectful delivery of services. You often hear that "knowledge is power," and we want to share the power with our customers, residential or commercial. Because of this dynamic, we spend uninterrupted time with you, listening intently to your story, worries, and requests. The more we know about the crisis that caused the water damage and any details about your home or its construction, the more appropriately we can respond. After the initial conversation, our project manager conducts a safety assessment. We must ensure the health and well being of occupants and our workers before assigning emergency tasks to our awaiting crew members:

  • Live electricity shut off
  • Signage and barriers set up to keep non-affected areas safe
  • Securing of structural damage 
  • Hidden moisture detection and measurement
  • Careful release of trapped water above ceilings and between walls
  • The positioning of submersible pumps for water deeper than two inches
  • Truck-mounted extraction of remaining visible water

Note: Pumps and truck-mounted extractors use gas to operate or work off on-board power generators, avoiding delays in the urgently needed tasks if electricity is unavailable.

Are You Finished with the Job When the Visible Water Is Gone?

We are aggressive in our extraction of the water invading spaces inside your home because research shows that liquid water removal is far more efficient than drying strategies alone. If needed, we employ tactics to access and remove hidden water as well. When we are sure all fluids are contained and disposed of, we move on to the next phase. 

Can You Explain Structural Drying? 

Many of the contents and the building materials in your home absorbed water that we could not remove by extraction. Structural drying is a vital second phase of water damage restoration, why we discuss how we plan to accomplish it, and what we need from you as the homeowner to achieve optimal results. Drying requires the following to be most effective:

  • Moisture detection and measurement completed during the extraction phase provides a baseline for dying goals, and:
    • Testing of an unaffected space in your home provides a valid comparison point
    • Testing of materials repeats periodically throughout the drying to avoid under or overreach
  • We manipulate and balance air movement, temperature, and humidity to reach drying goals, carefully positioning:
  • We count on you and your family to allow the equipment to work undisturbed until the drying goals are met

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is ready to earn your trust by providing prompt, professional, and practical assistance when you need water damage restoration. Call us at (516) 809-9600 as soon as you suspect a significant water loss.

Is Junk Mail in Wantagh a Fire Damage Hazard?

7/27/2020 (Permalink)

Fires happen often and can negatively affect the people living in the home they occur in. Call SERVPRO today to get professional remediation.

Wantagh Homeowners Risk Fire Damage With Too Much Junk Mail

SERVPRO wants all Wantagh homeowners to be as fire-conscious as possible. It is far better to protect your home and remove potential hazards than deal with the aftermath of a blaze-ravaged house.

Wantagh residents looking to cut their fire damage risks in their home can start with a simple action: Cutting down the amount of junk mail in their home.

Is junk mail a fire hazard?

Most training on home fire hazards focuses on apparent risks such as cooking, open fires, or heaters with exposed elements. However, anything that is flammable is a potential fire risk, as flammable materials give the fire plenty to burn and help it spread further.

A handful of letters on your dresser is probably not going to cause you an issue. However, if you have circulars and newspapers and advertisements and junk letters piled in corners, it might be time to tidy up a bit.

The less clutter in your home, the less chance it has to cause a fire damage hazard.

How can I make junk mail less risky?

SERVPRO suggests taking some simple steps to reduce the fire risk from excess junk mail:

  • Unsubscribe from mailing lists that you no longer want to be a part of
  • Put a “no junk mail” sign on your mailbox
  • Dispose of unwanted junk mail as soon as it arrives – preferably by recycling
  • Divide piles of papers into smaller piles, so there is less material available to burn

How can SERVPRO help me if something does go wrong?

In the unfortunate event of a home fire, call us. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster, and we train our cleanup crews to cleanse and restore your home as quickly as possible. Our crews will:

  • Assess the fire damage in your home
  • Clean away unhealthy and unsightly soot residues using a range of scrubbing, submersion, chemicals and deep cleaning
  • Use air scrubbers and air movers to deodorize your house and leave it smelling fresh again
  • Repair structural damage to walls and ceilings, so your home is safe

 If you are concerned about fire damage in Wantagh, do not delay – call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.


Click here to learn more about Wantagh.

What’s the Best Way to Get Standing Water Out of My Wantagh Basement?

7/17/2020 (Permalink)

If you don’t act quickly, water damage in your home can escalate. Contact our experienced SERVPRO team right away.

SERVPRO Uses a Variety of Water Removal Equipment

Standing water in your Wantagh basement can cause damaged floors, walls, electrical and mechanical components, and musty smells. It is paramount to suck out the water, access underlying problems, and begin the drying out process in your basement. SERVPRO provides professional and friendly residential water removal services.

How Do I Shut the Water Off From a Broken Pipe?

Find the Water Mains

The first step for a broken water line in your home is to shut the water mains off. Water mains are typically located on the concrete wall in your basement nearby boilers, hot water tanks, and other components or on the exterior side of a structure close to the ground. 

Use the following steps below to shut the water supply off from a broken pipe safely:

For starters, do not step into standing water where electrical components are present without wearing protective equipment such as gum rubber boots.

Next, shut the main breaker off from your electrical panel. Which will prevent the risk of being electrocuted while making your way to the water supply valve.

Lastly, find the water mains and shut it off. Most water mains typically have a large wheel-shaped valve, turning it clockwise until it stops will shut the main water supply off coming into your home.

What’s the Best Method for Water Removal?

Depending on the water depth, a variety of water extraction tools can be used. For example, if you have water in just certain areas, you can use a wet/dry vac. For standing water 2-inches or more, a submersible pump can get the job done. However, if your home is severely flooded, a disaster mitigation specialist such as SERVPRO is generally recommended.

Anytime you deal standing water in your home, it can create havoc and disrupt your way of life. For fast and reliable water removal services, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 today and get your home restored, “Like it never even happened.” 

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How Much Damage Can a Clogged Gutter Do to a Bellmore Home?

6/4/2020 (Permalink)

If you ever do need help with a water cleanup, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 for help.

A Simple Clogged Gutter Could Cause Substantial Damage to Your Home and Necessitate the Assistance of a Good Water Cleanup Service

Many times, in life, seemingly insignificant things can eventually cause major problems. This is the case with blocked gutters in Bellmore. When they are clean and doing what they should, we never think about the important function they serve. Normally, when they are in good working order, gutters conveniently convey rainwater off your roof and away from your house. When tree leaves and debris clog them, water remains on your roof and in your gutters. Eventually, this liquid causes roof leaks and seeps down into your attic and behind your walls. This unnoticed situation could cause thousands of dollars in damage over time, without you even realizing it.

What Can I Do?

There are a few things you can do regarding gutter-related water cleanup in Bellmore. First, you should periodically check your roof for leaks and its drainage system for blockage. This is especially necessary after storms and during the fall season when trees shed their leaves. Many homeowners, busy with work and family life, simply forget to clean their roof’s drainage system, and they fail to detect problems early. A second thing you can do, if you suspect there is a water leak, and you have damage associated with it, is to call a good water cleanup and remediation service like SERVPRO for an inspection. We have extensive experience in and state-of-the-art tools for detecting and dealing with just about every water-related issue:

• Our firm’s workers are trained to follow the standards set by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
• Technicians are individually certified in, among other things, applied structural drying and water damage restoration
• We use only the most advanced moisture detection equipment, like thermohygrometers and water sensors/meters, to find moisture in carpets, baseboards, walls, and home furnishings

If you discover standing water or obvious water damage in your home or we find it during our inspection, you can have us clean it up for you.  SERVPRO’s highly-trained Bellmore technicians are ready to help you 24/7 and can often be on-site within four hours of your call. They have an arsenal of high-tech equipment to perform whatever cleanup is necessary. Their gear includes:

• Wet vacs, submersible pumps, and portable and truck-mounted extractors
• Refrigerant and desiccant dehumidifiers
• Injectidry systems
• Industrial-strength fans and air movers
• Thermal and ultra-low volume foggers

Using their experience and tools, SERVPRO’s technicians can clean and restore your home to pre-damage condition quickly and cost-effectively.

What are the Signs of a Leaky Roof and the Water Damage Associated with It?

Detecting the early signs of a roof leak and related water damage can be difficult, especially if the leak is minor. Of course, it is always much easier to spot the effects of a major or long-term issue. With all that said, there are some telltale signs of a leaky roof. These signs are:

• Musty odors
• Wood rot or discoloration in attic rafters
• Moldy attic insulation
• Water stains on walls or ceilings
• Wall or ceiling discoloration
• Floor and ceiling buckling
• Wall warping
• Moldy growths on baseboards or walls
• Deteriorating plaster or drywall
• Bubbling wallpaper or paint

Whenever you notice any of these issues, it is best to take action. Call for a home inspection in Bellmore as soon as you can to locate the precise source of your water problem before it develops into something even worse.

How Does SERVPRO Work to Resolve Your Dilemma?

After you notify us of your issue, we are at your Bellmore home within a few hours. After SERVPRO’s experts evaluate your property for damage, they plan a course of action and set a drying goal. Once the leak(s) are found, and your roof is repaired, workers use moisture meters and sensors to determine which structural elements and furnishings have been affected by moisture. We then dry attic areas, fiberglass insulation, and other impacted parts of your home’s interior with dehumidifiers, air movers, and fans. Any standing water is usually vacuumed up with a wet vac. Liquid and wet spots behind ceilings and walls are dried with Injectidry systems. After everything is dried to the drying goal, our technicians inject disinfectants, fungicides, and deodorants into affected places.

As a Bellmore homeowner, there are certain maintenance needs you should be aware of. The lush green, tree-lined streets of our suburban hamlet produce loads of fallen leaves during the fall season. Coupled with debris, carried by the strong winds of our frequent coastal storms, these leaves can quickly clog your gutters. So, you should routinely make sure your gutters are not blocked.  If you ever do need help with a water cleanup, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 for help.

How Can I Get Rid of Water Under my House?

5/28/2020 (Permalink)

When water enters your Bellmore crawl space, call SERVPRO right away.

Why is there so much water beneath my house?

Periods of heavy rainfall can see groundwater levels rising, which can flood crawlspaces and lower regions of your home. Rising water levels beneath your property are a significant cause of concern, and you should reach out to professional water removal experts in Bellmore as soon as possible. SERVPRO technicians can adapt extraction equipment to tight spaces and perform efficiently at draining and drying subterranean areas of the home. 

Can I leave a flooded crawlspace to dry naturally?

Lack of light and ventilation can result in slow evaporation of water in your Bellmore crawlspace. Furthermore, as water evaporates, it can penetrate the underside of your subfloor or the structural frame. Without careful intervention, water in your crawl space can lead to dry rot or water damage on the lower floors of your home. There may also be microbial growth concerns which can spread rapidly through the cavities in your property. 

How can I prevent a flooded crawl space damaging my home?

- Install a vapor barrier to prevent moisture reaching the subfloor

- Proactively reduce standing water levels in a crawlspace using pumps

- Deploy dehumidifiers into the crawlspace to bring relative humidity under control

How do you dry a crawl space?

Crawlspaces are tricky to dry because they frequently have limited or restricted access. You may need to adapt traditionally drying equipment to use in a crawlspace. SERVPRO technicians attach flex hose to the return side of air-moving or extraction equipment to allow us to reach the affected area while keeping the bulkier equipment outside of the crawlspace altogether. By installing ducting and exhausting boards to the crawlspace, we can thoroughly dehumidify it and reduce secondary harm.

If standing water resides underneath your home, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

To learn more about Bellmore, click here.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program

5/20/2020 (Permalink)

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 Bellmore, 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 Bellmore / Wantagh today at (516) 809-9600 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.

Bellmore Public and Private Schools Are Facing a Difficult Challenge.

5/11/2020 (Permalink)

When your business is not sure what products and supplies are best to clean and disinfect, call SERVPRO.

Protecting Our Children is Critical

With New York being a state that is most directly impacted by the spread of this virus, schools and other public facilities in Bellmore have been temporarily suspended. During this time, many choose to find the most effective and efficient methods for thorough cleaning and applying disinfectants to surfaces and furniture throughout their facility before children, teachers, and staff return.

The standards and protocols we use to clean and apply disinfectants in our Bellmore schools were developed in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using cleaning products registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These same standards are followed by SERVPRO in all the work we do. If you have a commercial/public facility that is currently closed or open and operating, SERVPRO professionals can provide this same level of advanced cleaning services that were developed for cleaning our Bellmore schools:

  • Follow CDC Guidelines
  • Use only EPA registered cleaning and disinfection agents
  • Follow worker safety guidelines per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

When it comes to fighting bacterial and viral microorganisms, we can provide real-time preventative and containment strategies to help keep any physical location in a safer condition. We have specific strategies for cleaning open or closed locations.

The SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team of trained and certified specialty cleaners can help. Give us a call today at (516) 809-9600.

To find out more about Bellmore, click here

Advice from the medical and scientific community regarding how to deal with the coronavirus is based on present knowledge, which is subject to change as the situation continues to develop. There can be no assurance that disinfectants alone will be adequate to fully eliminate the virus. We are not physicians or infectious disease professionals. Consult your medical professionals for individual medical advice.

Do Carpets Need Cleaned After Water Damage in Wantagh Homes?

4/16/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage in your Wantagh home? Don’t let moisture take over, call SERVPRO right away.

Our SERVPRO Teams know exactly what your carpets need after a water incident.

Water damages can be an overwhelming experience for Wantagh homeowners, especially when it comes to the cleaning that is necessary after the drying completes. Even with clean water incidents, saturation and standing water concerns can leave residues and even staining on sensitive surfaces and contents in your home. Carpets can often show the worst of discoloration or residues after water damage, and that is what makes proper cleaning of this flooring a wise investment after restoration.

While water cleanup for Wantagh homes can encompass dozens of tasks, the way that your property looks after a loss incident is as important to homeowners as ensuring that structural elements get protected. Therefore, our SERVPRO team always fixates on all of the necessary cleaning steps necessary to return your house to preloss condition after any loss incident. For carpeted flooring, this could mean a few different approaches.

Removing the water from the carpeted floors might not have been a complicated procedure between the use of our powerful carpet wands and floating the flooring by placing air movers between the upper layer and the padding, but what remains now needs a deep cleaning to improve the look and feel of the fibers on the floor. While many tools and products can fit into this niche of our premium cleaning services, deluxe pretreatment and hot water extraction are often the most thorough choice.

Preconditioning the carpet allows for residues and any sediment compacted against the base of the carpet fibers to loosen before hot water extraction begins. Using a powerful pressurized blast of water combined with a forceful vacuum, we can push water into the farthest point of the carpet and remove it as quickly. After the residues and even discoloration that water damages can leave behind, this treatment can overcome these lingering effects.

While there are many levels of cleaning up after a water loss incident, improving the look and feel of carpeted floors can leave a lasting impression for your business once our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team completes the restoration. Give us a call anytime at (516) 809-9600.

Find out more about Wantagh.

What is a Good Water Removal Service in Bellmore?

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

When the water comes inside, we have the equipment to take it out. Call us today!

There Are Several Water Removal Services in Bellmore, but SERVPRO is One of the Best 

Recently, a local homeowner experienced a standing water issue in his second-floor bathroom. A pipe behind the sink cabinet had burst, saturating the cabinet, flooding the bathroom floor, and soaking the carpet in his upstairs hallway. The resident had to act fast to prevent the water from leaking down and damaging his first-floor. Not immediately knowing whom to call, the owner searched online for reputable water removal and restoration service. This was when he chanced upon SERVPRO and decided to give them a call.            

What Makes Certain Services Better than Others?

Not all Bellmore water removal services have the requisite qualifications or equipment to effectively handle all of your water-related issues. Also, many of them are not able to quickly arrive at your residence on short notice. Service providers like SERVPRO, however, are highly qualified, well-equipped, and can be on-site within four hours of your initial phone call. Our experienced technicians are certified in Applied Structural Drying (ASD) and Water Damage Restoration (WRT). Moreover, they have advanced equipment that can rapidly eliminate your water woes. Among other things, this equipment includes:  

 Portable and truck-mounted extractors

 Submersible pumps

 Wet vacs  

 Injectidry systems

 Air movers

 Refrigerant dehumidifiers

 Desiccant dehumidifiers

 Thermal Foggers

 Ultra-Low Volume Foggers

How is Water Removed and Your Home Restored?

The Bellmore resident surprised one night by a ruptured bathroom pipe that flooded his upstairs bathroom was amazed by how quickly SERVPRO was able to fix his problem. After returning from a long day at work and discovering his seemingly ruined bathroom, the homeowner contacted us for help. Although it was late in the day, our technicians were soon on-scene to evaluate the situation and limit further damage. We took fast action to prevent water from affecting the first-floor of his home. Our workers soon discovered the source of the problem, turned off the water, and vacuumed up the bathroom water pools with a wet vac. Using a portable extractor and a wand, we dried the hallway carpeting.  

Once they completed this initial work, SERVPRO professionals further dried the air and bathroom environment by:

 Using air movers and a dehumidifier to more fully dry the hallway carpet

 Drilling half-inch holes behind the sink cabinet and using an injectidry system to dry the area behind the wall

 Monitoring and reducing overall airborne and material moisture to appropriate levels

What Was SERVPRO Able to Save?

In this recent Bellmore case, we were able to rescue quite a few items and save the homeowner a considerable amount of money. Among other things, our technicians saved his home’s:

 Subfloor

 Bathroom tilework

 Bathroom furnishings

 Hallway carpeting

The key to accomplishing all this was knowing the exact thing to do, having the right tools for the job, and acting quickly.

How Important Is Fast Handling of the Issue?

Fast action is exceedingly important when trying to limit water damage. The longer it takes a Bellmore water removal and restoration service to arrive and do the work, the more extensive and costlier damages could become. Such destruction could include:

 Significant structural damage

 Promotion of future issues from dry rot

 Warping and buckling of wooden flooring and furniture

 Fungal growth, including mold and mildew, in carpeting and upholstered furniture

 Promotion of an unhealthy breathing environment that could cause negative health effects.

In a relatively short period of time, standing water could cause all of these severe problems. It is for this reason that finding a fast-acting company, like SERVPRO, with 24 hours, year-round service is essential. Such a company could end up saving you thousands of dollars in future repair bills.  

What Was the Ultimate Outcome for the Bellmore Homeowner?

In the Bellmore ruptured pipe case, the resident was lucky. The issue only involved clean water, and the water removal service fixed the problem in record time. As a result, the owner’s home just experienced minor damage that workers soon repaired. No structural injury to his home resulted, the subfloor was unaffected, the tilework was ok, and his carpeting could be dried in-place. Ultimately, the resident did not have to suffer extended restorations. Moreover, he incurred minimal overall expenses, which was a welcome surprise in this challenging economy.

Homeownership is a blessing, but sometimes, when the unexpected happens, it can seem like a curse. From day to day, the chances of water-related issues occurring is not all that remote. This is especially true if you own an older home. At any time, your happy American dream could rapidly become a waterlogged nightmare. If this happens to you, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 for help.

Want to know more about Bellmore?

Why We Are The Leader In Bellmore After A Fire

3/13/2020 (Permalink)

We have the equipment, training, and experience to restore your home to pre-damage condition after a fire. Call us day or night, we are ready.

Why SERVPRO Uses a Special Technique to Cleanup Spider Tags as Part of Fire Damage Restoration of a Bellmore House

When the wide variety of things burn during a house fire in Bellmore, a large amount of static electricity builds up on surfaces. This can increase the attraction between those surfaces and the millions of soot particles in the air. Even though SERVPRO uses different machines and techniques to trap these particles, the air continues to hold many of them. Decreasing the static bond on surfaces, especially corners, can help keep surfaces clean.

This is why SERVPRO uses more than just our special sponges to clean homes in Bellmore of stubborn soot tags. Soot from fire damage can cause these to appear repeatedly, making a home look unkempt and dirty. They look very similar to spider webs but with significant amounts of black or very dark gray dust. However, these webs come from long chains of soot bonded together by static electricity, and not any arachnids hiding in your house. 

When we wipe soot-covered surfaces down, we often produce a small amount of static electricity, especially if this involves dry surfaces. Because soot removal requires the use of dry sponges (wet ones would make a terrible mess), we need to do something extra to eradicate any static in the area. Corners formed at the junction of two walls and the ceiling often contain the worst spider tags inside a house with fire damage

SERVPRO uses different chemicals to restore a house, depending on the situation. After using a dry sponge, we might choose a degreaser or a detergent-based agent for painted surfaces. Paneling may require a sealant or an oil soap, instead. These chemicals can also make the area smell much more pleasant, as well as break the bonds that trap soot particles. We can discuss these choices with you to ensure that you are comfortable with the options available.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh provides fire damage restoration services to residents in and near Seaford, NY, and both North Bellmore, NY and South Bellmore, NY. If soot tags continue to reappear and make your home look unclean, call our 24-hour services line at (516) 229-8019. We can mitigate the damage and keep it from returning.

See more about Bellmore.

Commercial Flood Damage In Bellmore

3/2/2020 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened.”

Dealing with a Commercial Flood Damage Incident in Bellmore Involving Sewage Backup

A bout of heavy rain can turn small water bodies like the cedar swamp creek or even regular driveways into rivers of flowing water that flood property causing significant losses. One such incident within Bellmore led to sewer backup and other problems that affected a local dry cleaner, forcing it close down for cleanup and other restoration steps.

Although losses are expected after commercial flood damage incidents in Bellmore, sewage backup aggravates the situation. At the dry cleaner, rising groundwater had gained entry into the property in many ways, including the door, and also forced its way through the backed-up sewer line. Our SERVPRO team had to extract water, cleanup, and carry out other steps to sanitize the property since sewage is a biohazard.

The rows of clothes, lining up the storage area, presented the first challenge because they made it difficult to perform most of the restoration processes, including cleaning and drying. Our SERVPRO crew chief had anticipated this problem and brought a storage pod, allowing us to store the items safely within the shop during restoration.

After moving the contents out of the way, we embarked on the restoration process. We sprayed an EPA-registered disinfectant directly into the pools of floodwater to control the level of contamination. We then embarked on water removal using a self-priming trash pump since the water was included sold wastes. We also shoveled the remaining solid residues into heavy-duty plastic bags for disposal.

We finalized the process by deep cleaning all surfaces with a mixture of hot water, professional cleaning agents, and vigorous agitation with rotating brushes to remove any traces of the sewage. We also extracted the water used during cleaning and run air movers and dehumidifiers to help dry the property faster, reducing the chances of microbial growth.

Flooding involving sewage can pose serious health issues. Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 to help clean up and restore all areas damaged by the incident in your property, “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Bellmore click here.

Winning Strategies to Restore Your Flood Damaged Wantagh Home

2/19/2020 (Permalink)

When floodwaters invaded this home, SERVPRO answered the call. We quickly dried and restored the home.

How Flood Damage Can Affect your Wantagh Residence and How to Handle it

Flood damage can happen in your home because of a host of reasons, including hurricanes, storms, or a leaking roof during a torrential downpour. Flooding can affect many areas of your home, and it is challenging to clean up the debris and remove the water and moisture. Therefore, it is vital to call a restoration company to deal with the disaster.

Where there is flood damage in your Wantagh home, you and your family can face many hazards. For instance, water from heavy rain can cause the ceiling to sag. Contaminated water in your home can expose your family to health risks. The other ways that flooding can affect your home and life include:

  • Structural damage
  • Electrical system damage
  • Blocked sewage and drainage systems
  • Emotional hardship

When disaster strikes, it is vital to be safe. Significant flooding can even force you to relocate temporarily. If you need to enter your house, wear protective clothing like gumboots and gloves to avoid getting electrocuted or coming into contact with harmful chemicals, sharp glass or metal, and sewage.

Taking fast action can prevent floodwater from seeping further into your home. An experienced restoration company such as SERVPRO can offer speedy remediation to restore your home to its preloss condition. We can remove all furniture and other valuable belongings from the vicinity of floodwater to reduce water absorption and to pave the way for efficient water extraction. We have advanced equipment like self-priming trash pumps that remove floodwater effectively.

High moisture content in the air can cause the paint to peel and encourage mold growth in areas that did not flood. We offer quick drying services using air movers and dehumidifiers. This equipment expedites the drying process by eliminating moisture from structural materials and contents. We can also evaluate the effects of flood damage on contents and organize for the restoration of salvageable items.

Our SERVPRO crew can also use antimicrobial products to treat your property after cleaning the contaminated surfaces. Antimicrobial products work better as disinfectants when they contact microorganisms on clean surfaces. Our skilled staff ensures the efficient and smooth remediation and restoration process. We can make the flood damage look “Like it never even happened.”

When you experience flood damage, you need to hire a certified restoration company. SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can help you in removing the floodwater, drying, and sanitizing your home. Contact us any time any day at (516) 809-9600 for quick remediation services.

More about Wantagh.

We Get You Back In Business In Bellmore After A Flood

2/17/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO’s large loss units, are available on an emergency basis when disaster strikes. Call us right away to prevent further damage to your property.

Standard Extractors for Flooding in Bellmore Boutiques

Despite your preparations when you get warned that a flood is going to affect your Bellmore store, such as removing your wares and putting up sandbags across door openings, you rarely can avoid the damage entirely. While you might have ultimately protected one of the most considerable investments of your shop by temporarily relocating your wares ahead of time, it is still vital to work quickly to remove standing water and potential contaminants from the floors of the shop.

When our SERVPRO team first arrives, we can assess the perceived flood damage to your Bellmore boutique shop. To thoroughly inspect the property and determine what must happen to restore it, we must focus first on extraction during the mitigation phase of recovery. We have multiple extractors in our inventory that can help to address the saturation and standing water in many areas of your building. The right tool for the right location can ensure that extraction happens as efficiently as possible.

Trash Pumps

Because of the likelihood of debris and other solids in the standing water on the main shop floor, the bulk of this threat must get removed with trash pumps or our truck-mount extractors. These both have larger intake hoses and discharge lines to better manage the removal of smaller solids and debris within the water.

Wet Vacuums 

Wet vacuums are vital to remove smaller amounts of standing water from the main carpeted shop floor and off the linoleum tiling of the stock area in the back of the shop. Tiled portions of the shop can also benefit from the use of squeegee wands, which can lessen the time air movers require to dry out the remaining moisture.

Carpet Wands 

Carpet wands require attachment to extractors like vacuums or pumps, but they are ideal for the shop floor surrounding your display cases, racks, and register. Carpet wands can pull up a fair amount of moisture and can slow the migration of flood damage into the subflooring, so it is helpful to use even when our SERVPRO team determines that the carpet in the front of the store must get removed and replaced.  

Flood losses present a substantial threat to your business and can be a costlier situation the longer you wait for professional assistance. Give our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team a call anytime to help at (516) 809-9600.

See more about Bellmore.

Excessive Flood Damage In Your Bellmore Home

2/7/2020 (Permalink)

If you ever notice that water has leaked into your house after an ice dam forms, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh.

Ice Dams Can Cause Excessive Flood Damage In Bellmore

During the wintertime, it is possible that the Bellmore region could see a significant amount of snowfall. Once more than one snowstorm hits, sleet and ice can build up on your roof and eventually cause you extensive flood damage. When a large amount of frozen rain falls onto your roof, it can cause a section of snow to freeze up.

In some cases, the flood damage inside your Bellmore home could have been caused by an ice dam. An ice dam can occur when the snow on the edge of your roof freezes and turns into a solid block of ice. When this occurs, the phenomena is considered an "ice dam" because of how it blocks liquid H2O and keeps it from flowing off of your roof. Once the natural flow of water gets blocked, moisture can then soak into your roof and find its way into your structure.

Ice dams get caused by the surface temperatures of your roof not being uniform. When ice dams form a loss of heat from the house, the amount of snow cover and the outdoor temperatures all play a role. In order for the water to get blocked by ice, there must be a section of the roof that remains below freezing for some time and an area of the roof that is above freezing.

If an ice dam stays on the edges of your roof for too long, it could eventually saturate your structural components, such as your roofing materials or trusses. Once exterior materials get saturated, water can find its way into your attic and then possibly flow into your structure from the ceiling. Whenever dealing with problems caused by ice dams, our SERVPRO technicians know that the moisture will be coming from the top of the building and heading down.

If moisture stays inside your wooden structural components for too long, it is possible that mold could form. However, if the moisture inside your home gets removed by a professional company such as SERVPRO promptly, secondary problems can be prevented.

If you ever notice that water has leaked into your house after an ice dam forms, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 24/7. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Bellmore click here.

Winter Storm Damage can Lead to Additional Problems Affecting Your Seaford Home

1/29/2020 (Permalink)

After a storm, you will need the professionals to assist with storm damage on your property. Call us any time.

Thorough Water Damage Restoration in Your Seaford Home Can Prevent Further Damage

As the last storm blows cold, damp air around your Seaford residence, and your family stays warm and dry inside, the shell or envelope of your home works hard to maintain this interior environment. Modern building techniques allow for the exchange of air to aid proper ventilation while still keeping moisture from entering your property. Harsh weather can cause physical changes to the exterior that affect the interior, and your family’s comfort, later.

When winds gust through narrowed spaces between homes and buildings in your Seaford neighborhood, storm damage can happen when trees fall on your house, siding or gutters loosen or twist, or when flooding because of backed-up drains or streets clogged with debris occurs. A single storm is capable of creating different problems at a single time. SERVPRO can help with scalable services and get your home restored. “Like it never even happened.”     

A fallen tree can rip either wide gashes in your roof or make what seems minimal damage to shingles. Rainwater that enters attics or upper floors, either in large rivulets or tiny trickles, travels downward, dampening building materials and personal belongings. Immediate damage can happen, especially to books, wall hangings, and art. 

Even without seeing such destruction, undetected problems might develop. Damp conditions lead to dry rotting of wood frames, mold infestations, and overworked HVAC systems. SERVPRO technicians use infrared technology to pinpoint these dampened places and then follow-up with moisture meters that reveal how high the moisture content is elevated.

Finding these areas assists us in keeping costs low for you. When we dry only what needs our attention, we also can finish much faster than if we had dried your entire house and its contents. Our goal is to provide you with service tailored to your specific situation and restore as much as possible, reducing the need to replace as many items as we can.

Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 when storms and flooding damage your North Bellmore, North Wantagh, or South Bellmore house and its contents. We can work with you to make things safe and habitable again, quickly, and affordably.

See more about Seaford.

Mold Remediation in Municipal Buildings in Bellmore Can Be a Challenging Task--Even for SERVPRO

1/15/2020 (Permalink)

Mold Remediation for Bellmore Commercial Buildings Needed? Contact the Professionals from SERVPRO

Ventilating School Structures in Bellmore with Commercial Mold Damage Concerns

Commercial Mold Damage Bellmore
Mold growth can adversely affect the indoor air quality (IAQ) of a school's environment. There is a growing body of concern about the health consequences of mold. This is an essential consideration for a safe school structure. Bringing in an independent hygienist to assess the scope of harm is equally crucial. These specialists are often called upon to verify the IAQ after mold remediation has completed. Building construction pre-1980 can often inhibit ventilation, which makes mold growth issues less likely to go away by themselves.

You may need to get professional commercial mold damage remediation into your Bellmore school if there is significant growth. The environmental protection agency (EPA) has a list of guidelines available to property managers of schools that can go alongside the report of an independent hygienist. Together these guides can help decide whether or not mold growth is manageable in-house. If there are widespread mold growth and a lack of proper ventilation, you may benefit from SERVPRO mold remediation technicians that have access to industrial equipment for creating airflow and dehumidification in school structures.

Mold is a living organism that feeds on materials common to indoor structures. The presence of moisture can result in the rapid reproduction of mold colonies, which then causes issues with indoor air quality as well as sanitation standards. Wiping away the visible signs of mold damage does not address the underlying problems, which is why many building managers find that mold issues can return after cleaning. SERVPRO technicians can locate and address moisture concerns in school structures that have little natural ventilation. Often, mold remediation requires the dispersal of anti-microbial agents using foggers, sprayers, and HEPA filtered air scrubbers.

One effective method of removal is to create artificial ventilation throughout the structure. SERVPRO achieves this by placing box fans or axial air movers at open points of the structure. These draw in a supply of dry air from outside. By strategically placing additional air moving equipment throughout the structure leading to an exhaust opening, we can exchange damp air for dry air. This method is exceptionally effective at removing both microscopic spores from the area and unwanted moisture, which prevents mold from returning after service. This is an open system that can be very effective under the right weather conditions.

Making a careful assessment of your mold remediation requirements should be done at the first sign of microbial infestation. Contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.

Fire Damage Cleanup In Bellmore

1/10/2020 (Permalink)

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Small Fires In Your Bellmore Apartment

Small fires that begin in one apartment can sometimes spread to adjacent units. The fire department must also ensure that the fire is not smoldering between units inside wall cavities and in the ceiling before the firemen leave the site of the fire. A fire can easily restart if there is even one live ember left inside a wall or ceiling cavity. Tenants or condo owners may be allowed back into their units only to find holes in the next unit or even into the ceiling.

SERVPRO can assist tenants and condo owners with fire damage cleanup in Bellmore and surrounding areas. We can work closely with the tenant, the owner, and the condo board members to explain the cleanup process. Damage restoration can be coordinated with insurance companies as well to help manage claims and return the unit or units to their original condition.

Ceiling Board Up
If the fire has spread to the ceiling, the fire department must confirm there are no embers in the ceiling or on the roof it the unit is on the top floor. The firemen may have to chop holes in the roof to gain access to the cavity between the ceiling and the roof. The interior of the apartment is open to the outside elements. We can provide tarps to cover the openings.

There can be a great deal of debris created from opening walls or ceilings. SERVPRO removes all of this debris, taking care to preserve contents that can be cleaned and restored. We document all items that are thrown out for record purposes. After removing all of the debris, we can begin the restoration process, removing fire damaged appliances, cupboards as well as removing smoke odors from fabrics and clothes.

SERVPRO can restore the apartment or condo to its original condition, “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 for 24/7 service. We proudly serve Merrick, Seaford, and surrounding areas. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

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Proven Tips for Commercial Mold Damage Remediation in Seaford

12/23/2019 (Permalink)

If your business if overtaken by mold you need to call the professionals. Call SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.

Mold Containment Protocols Protect Your Seaford Office

Because you do not always have staff in your Seaford office building, it can be easier to overlook microbial and mold threats than you might think. In most cases, property owners do not realize the full extent of lingering water damage after leaks, or might not recognize when active leaks exist that could present persistent moist conditions. To gain control of active mold colonization, when it eventually does get discovered, begins with effective containment protocols.  

Your office space features open working areas for dozens of full-time employees, which can showcase how detrimental mold damage to Seaford buildings can be. When underlying moisture issues develop into microbial threats, this organism can spread quickly through available avenues to affect materials like short pile carpeting, shelving, drywall, and even ceiling tiles. Addressing the situation quickly requires effective containment to regulate mold remediation tactics and maximize their efficiency.

Because of how compromising this situation can become to the contents of the area and the staff of your office space, we employ full-scale containment protocols. These designs feature the primary sealing of the damaged region but also can have additional areas built into the devised structure, including decontamination and equipment rooms. Sealing off the work area prevents active mold spores from traveling to new areas in the office and making the situation worse.

Thick 6-mil plastic sheeting gets used to seal any openings such as vents, windows, and doorways. Because of the open areas of office space, this plastic can span from the ceiling to floor and get temporarily reinforced. The entire bullpen area does not need to get sealed unless that whole working area has become damaged by present mold. Once sealed by our SERVPRO remediation professionals, we can fixate on the critical elements of mold control – including airflow, air quality, and drying out the damaged area.  

Depending on the severity of the situation, there are many instances where even full-scale containment does not threaten production. No matter what mold damage means for your office, our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh remediators can get you back in business. Give us a call today at (516) 809-9600.

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When Floodwaters Enter Your Bellmore Home

12/9/2019 (Permalink)

Storms can bring floodwater and storm damage. The professionals at SERVPRO are always on call to handle your water damage restoration needs.

Call SERVPRO when You Need Swift Removal of Flood Water from Your Bellmore Home 

When water from the East Bay gets pushed into Bellmore, neighborhoods in the area can find themselves underwater. Basements can trap water, especially if electrical outages happen. Sump pumps might tip over during the initial incident from the force of the water, leaving them unable to perform typically.  

Once this happens to your house in Bellmore, the faster flood water removal happens, the less impact your family experiences overall. SERVPRO's specialists can help your family recover from any amount of flooding because our services are scalable to fit your needs, no matter where floodwater sits inside your house.  

Getting the water removed from your house happens quickly with our extraction equipment. We use the power of our truck-mounted pump to boost our InjectiDry mats, submersible pumps, and mid-size units. Depending on the type of extractor we use, the water removed from your property range from a few gallons to over a hundred gallons per minute. 

When we remove floodwater from a property, we  use highly efficient water extraction equipment sized to the specific area we are working on at that time. We also use high tech devices to help us find trapped pockets of water. These areas, if left alone, might become the starting point of microbial infestations, seep into areas otherwise assumed dry and cause water damage, and continue to create odors or cause problems with your electrical system. 

Our infrared imaging devices reveal hidden floodwater and our moisture meters and other moisture monitoring equipment show when your property achieves appropriately dry conditions. Because moisture content readings are essential in providing you with industry-standard service, our moisture readers play a role from start to finish.  

To get there, we do more than extract the water and rinse your floors, remove damaged, waterlogged drywall sections for the future reinstallation of new materials, and deodorize your home. We also bring in highly efficient air movers to keep evaporated water in the air so our desiccant machines can trap it and force wet air outside on warmer days. During the winter, however, this is often counter-productive. Our team is highly trained and utilizes the most effective approaches to get your house restored "Like it never even happened."  

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh also coves neighborhoods in and near Seaford, Levittown, and Merrick when residents need flood water removed from their property. Call (516) 809-9600 for fast service from skilled mitigators. 

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Did You Know That SERVPRO Specializes in Fire Damage Remediation in Bellmore?

12/8/2019 (Permalink)

The situation can feel quite overwhelming when your home is affected by fire damage. Contact SERVPRO for effective remediation services.

Correct Disposal and Fire Debris Removal of Solid Waste for Bellmore Homeowners

Dealing with the aftermath of a house fire can be emotionally draining. Not only is there a sizable task ahead, but often homeowners may need to be temporarily relocated while services are underway. The sight of non-salvageable items being stripped from a burnt-out building while remodeling and restructuring work is ahead can be a challenge. We are a trusted restoration service that can enter your property in the immediate aftermath of a fire, perform vital loss reduction tasks, and help you toward a stress-free claim. Contact us immediately after a fire to arrange service.

One of the larger tasks to carry out is fire debris removal from your Bellmore home. Restorers need to assess which items are salvageable and which require replacement. SERVPRO technicians work with a restore over replace mentality, meaning you can trust us to do everything we can to restore your belongings. Heavy-duty tasks, such as the removal of larger furniture, are included within the restoration service. Our goal is to restore your home after fire from start to finish. That goal includes arranging for contractors or other third-parties to ensure you only have to deal with one company throughout the restoration.

Solid waste that is non-salvageable must be disposed of at particular sites. SERVPRO can transport building materials, demolition debris, and concretes to landfills on your behalf. We can also take damaged appliances or electronic materials to the correct recycling facilities. Inside the home, our team can make use of soda and sand-blasting equipment to remove charring from structural materials and help to restore the property where possible.

Understandably, a homeowner may not want all fire-damaged items to be removed for disposal. SERVPRO technicians offer a range of specialist restoration procedures for electronics, document recovery as well as some furniture restoration. Where possible, we can mitigate losses by holding items in stasis until specialist restorers can be brought in- for example, by keeping electronic equipment above the dew point or rapid-freezing precious documents and books. We can create an inventory during service to be handed over to your insurer to complete a stress-free claim.

Solid-waste can be unmanageable without human resources and transportation. Contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600. 

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We Are Available 24/7 To Restore Your Seaford Home After A Fire

11/26/2019 (Permalink)

We have the experience, specialized training, and state-of-the-art equipment to restore your home to pre-damage condition.

When Fire Hits Your Seaford Home 

When you experience fire damage in your home, it is traumatic, no matter the size of the fire. Fire can be very damaging to the house, not only from the fire itself but from smoke permeates throughout the residence. Even if the flames never left the kitchen, the residual effects of the smoke can damage the rest of your home. Fire extinguishing efforts can further add to the damage. 

If fire damage hits your Seaford home, the specialists at SERVPRO are ready to come in and help you with whatever you need to begin the restoration process. We Are Faster To Any Size Disaster. Our quick response is the key to damage reduction and saving money. We understand that dealing with a fire is overwhelming and quite upsetting. 

You may not know what to do first. We help you take action to restore your home and quickly prepare an estimate for you to submit to your insurance company. Typically, we communicate with your insurance adjuster or property manager within eight business hours of our arrival at your home. 

A SERVPRO professional assesses the damage, checking for restorability. They check from the fire source, where there is the most significant damage, and then outward within your home. Technicians look at everything, including the structure of the home, furniture, electronics, and artwork. Using Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) technology, they create a room by room inventory as they assess the damage. This process accounts for every item in your home and categorizes them as salvageable, non-salvageable, and questionable. This not only helps guide the technicians through the restoration process, but it also helps with contents claim settlements.

Following the damage assessment and inventory, SERVPRO trained technicians take the required steps to restore your home to preloss condition. We may need to use vendors to assist in specific types of cleaning, such as using a conservator in fine art restoration, or dry cleaner for fire damaged clothing. We clean surfaces throughout the home and deodorize thoroughly, provided that technicians already removed and cleaned all any sources of odor. Ultra Low Volume Foggers produce a mist to attack odor-causing residues. We make it, "Like it never even happened." 

If fire damage impacts your Seaford home, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600. We are available to assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

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We Are The Leader In Seaford Water Damage Removal

11/26/2019 (Permalink)

We have the equipment and training to restore your home to pre-damage condition after water damage has struck.

Why You Can Trust SERVPRO to Restore Your Water Damaged Seaford Home

After a water intrusion incident has left devastation, you need to deal with the challenging task of bringing back the allure of your home. The mishap may have affected your prized appliances, furniture, or building materials like drywall. It is easy to get distressed about restoring your home. However, this should not be the case because SERVPRO can use rigorous methods to remove water and moisture.

When your Seaford home has water damage, you can trust our technicians to bring things back to normal. We have certification from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). This means that our technicians have the training and experience required to care for your home correctly throughout the restoration process. Our technicians have undergone full training on the theory and remediation techniques of every type of water damage, regardless of the cause and severity. Whether the water loss results from leaking appliances, faulty pipes, or overflowing bathtubs, we can use advanced equipment and methods to restore your home.

Moisture affects materials in different ways. Our restorers know how humidity affects different materials. The primary variables that determine the extent of moisture damage materials may sustain are exposure time and permeance. Permeance refers to how readily materials absorb water, while exposure time refers to how long the materials were exposed to moisture. When you call us, we can get to your property in a short time and begin the remediation process quickly to minimize exposure time. Removing the water quickly helps prevent severe primary and secondary damage.

Our on-site experience also enables us to handle any situation. This minimizes the threats of continued destruction to a house. Sometimes, water gets into dense assemblies or materials that do not facilitate water movement. In such a case, we can use heat drying. Our restorers can use portable heaters to increase room temperature and air movers to increase evaporation.

Our SERVPRO crew also understands how buildings are constructed. Therefore, we can identify materials and assemblies, perform detailed moisture inspections, and establish a drying plan based on the needs and challenges of your water damage repair project. We understand the uncertainty involved when dealing with any disaster and can guide you through the process of resolving the problem. We have a genuine goal of restoring your property to preloss condition.

Water damage can create several issues in your home if you do not take care of it speedily. The technicians at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh are ready to put their training and experience to work for you. Call us today at (516) 809-9600 for water restoration services in Bellmore, Wantagh, and Levittown.

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Our Experts Arrive Right Away To Restore Your Seaford Home After A Flood

11/7/2019 (Permalink)

The stormwater soaked into the drywall of this home causing extensive damage. Our technicians created a "flood-cut".

Why Initial 48 Hours is Vital for Flood Recovery in Seaford Homes

You might often hear that the first 48 hours after a flood loss incident is the most vital period for restoration and recovery of your Seaford home. Part of the reason that our SERVPRO team commits that We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster is that we also believe that these initial two days are the most important to adequately protect our customer’s property and reduce the ultimate costs of restoration. From overcoming standing water to drying out saturated materials, we must work quickly to protect your house. 

Knowing what makes this period so critical can help motivate you to secure professional restoration and recovery services for flood damage in your Seaford home immediately. Just saying that we are fastest to disasters proves nothing, but knowing the steps we take to mobilize our team quickly when you need us most can show you how committed the entire brand is to inspiring loyal customers for life. We have ready trailers and production trucks stocked with drying and extraction equipment from air movers to wet-vacs and light wands to help. 

The spread of bacteria is one of the most significant concerns with natural flood damage in your home in the first 24 hours after exposure. With prompt response to your house after a disaster, our structural drying technicians can begin removing moisture and dampness to allow for cleaning agents and germicides to get applied to surfaces, structural elements, and any fixed features of the house that do not require removal and reinstallation. 

The migration of standing water can lead to the saturation and deterioration of drywall, baseboards, and carpeting. The faster that our SERVPRO team can get notified of a flood disaster in your home, the more efficiently extraction devices like our portable sump pumps and trash pumps can get deployed in the house. In areas where direct exposure has not occurred and started the degradation of the construction materials present, we can often utilize air movers and dehumidifiers to protect the structure and reduce the spread of dampness and moisture. 

Flood losses can get more challenging to restore and recover after the first 48 hours. Let our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team help you make it “Like it never even happened.” by calling (516) 809-9600.

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What Can You Do About Mold Damage in Wantagh Right Now

10/13/2019 (Permalink)

Finding mold damage in your home needs not be a cause for alarm. Contact SERVPRO to find the cause, contain and remediate.

Mold Damage is a Symptom of Larger Issues in Wantagh Homes

Finding out your home has mold damage is not something anyone wants to hear. There are many myths about mold, but the bottom line is this: it is unhealthy, and removal should happen as soon as possible. 

When SERVPRO technicians handle mold damage remediation in Wantagh homes, they do more than show up, remediate the issue and leave. They know that mold infestations are a signal of a more significant problem in the home, allowing conditions for mold to thrive. 

Why SERVPRO?

Technicians go through extensive training to become certified in a broad array of the restoration sciences. They learn through classes and hands-on training to acquire skills by doing. They adhere to the tenents and teachings of the IICRC, (The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) the standard-setting non-profit organization that establishes the best practices for the restoration services industry.

Scoping the Premises

SERVPRO technicians know when mold exists in a home, and it is not due to a known sudden water damage event such as a plumbing issue or flood loss, there is a contributing factor. They use their moisture detection equipment to pinpoint areas of excessive moisture. Familiar places mold colonies infest are frequently found within wall cavities, under flooring and attic spaces with poor ventilation. 

Eliminating Mold-Friendly Conditions

Once technicians determine the problem creating conducive conditions for mold growth, they halt the issue by rapidly lowering ambient humidity levels and recommending repairs, so the infestation does not return. Existing mold, once dried, undergoes careful removal by gently lifting away by hand or using small hand vacuums fitted with HEPA filtration to capture airborne spores and diminish cross-contamination. In cases where dried mold residues do not come off cleanly, mildly abrasive abatement techniques such as soda blasting remove all visible traces. 

When you find signs of mold damage, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600. The technicians have the specialized equipment and expertise to stop infestations and inhibit their return, so it is "Like it never even happened."

Click here for more information about the city of Wantagh.

Ultimate Solution for Effective Water Damage Remediation in Levittown

9/15/2019 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO for your water damage or flooding emergency. We are available 24/7 to take your emergency call.

What to Do Before Our Water Restorers Reach Your Levittown Home

Knowing how to manage a water loss situation is not something that our restoration specialists expect Levittown residents to handle on their own. While we can offer fast and reliable service for these emergencies, we cannot show up instantaneously to disasters. Much of the work that we must do once our SERVPRO team arrives can get lessened by the efforts homeowners take in the period between their emergency call and when our technicians reach the crisis.

Water cleanup in Levittown homes is an aspect that you might believe gets exclusively left to the qualified hands of our professionals. In truth, there are many steps that you can take before our technicians arrive that can help to better protect your property, its contents, and its occupants from the hazards and risks of worsening water exposure. After you have reached out to our rapid response team, here is what you should do next:

Shutting Down

Often, water loss incidents can stem from breaks in the plumbing or the malfunction of attached fixtures to the supply lines. Modern plumbing is segregated into multiple areas, allowing you to shut off water to a specific set of lines rather than shutting off your entire service collectively. You can look for a flat piece of metal affixed to the pipes with a colored handle. Turning this valve so that it runs perpendicular to the pipe severs the flow of water.

Content Management 

Protecting your belongings is another step that you can begin before our SERVPRO team arrives. Depending on the severity of the damage, water losses can spread fast through a home. Your possessions, including your furniture, can absorb this moisture and damage and allow for irreparable damage if you do not relocate these items quickly.

Initial Assessment 

You can, when it is safe to do so, walk through the property to assess the present damage and to take pictures if you intend to file a damage claim with your insurance provider. Your knowledge of the situation and what you expect your home to look like after restoration can help our professionals better address threats as soon as we arrive.

While we can handle almost every obstacle that your property faces after a water loss incident, you can be a valuable asset to the work your home needs as well. Our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can help to make any loss incident “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (516) 809-9600.

Click here for more information about Levittown.

Seaford Business Owners Turn to SERVPRO for Mold Cleanup and Remediation

9/5/2019 (Permalink)

Mold-Infested Door Leading to a Seaford Restroom, Make It Better By Calling SERVPRO!!

Teamwork the Key to Successful Professional Mold Remediation for Your Seaford Repair Shop

Your Seaford business is practically surrounded by water, and the work you do introduces moisture into the air and on surfaces as you complete cleanings and repairs. Because of the dampness, it might not be unexpected that dealing with mold growth is a constant battle inside your shop. You do not want your customers to believe you are losing the battle, considering taking their business to your competitors because the mold growth is visible and malodorous. Our remediation experts can help.

Mold Remediation Alone Is Not Enough

Successful mold remediation in Seaford requires a team approach. Our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained employees offer the highly-effective Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol to remediate mold damage. The EPA developed the methodology to respond effectively to mold damage in schools and commercial buildings. Your mold challenges perfectly fit the scenarios anticipated by the protocol. If we follow the prescribed steps of containment, removal, and disinfection, current mold colonies should disappear. The catch is, if your business returns to previous habits, the mold will recur.

Control the Moisture--Control the Mold

When SERVPRO investigates a commercial mold problem, we look persistently for the moisture source fueling the fungal growth. If remediation proceeds without also resolving the moisture issue, we have not met our commitment to you. It is impractical to attempt to remove all mold spores from your business, and even if we could your next customer would bring in a fresh supply. Mold spores are everywhere, unnoticed as long as they remain dry. Our joint effort is better used finding and eliminating the moisture that nurtures the mold.

Common Moisture Sources That Facilitate Mold Damage

Obvious causes of excess moisture include leaky pipes and spills. Poorly maintained roofs and gutter and downspout systems can allow water to intrude, often in high and difficult to reach areas in your shop. Elevated humidity levels alone can accelerate mold growth. Take the time to arrange for repairs of leaks, clean up spills, and consider installing exhaust fans or using dehumidifiers to keep relative humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent.

You and the team at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can work together to reduce the possibility of continued mold growth after our remediation efforts. Call us at (516) 809-9600 for mold abatement and recommendations on how to limit you reinfection risk.

Our Team Is Prepared And Will Respond Right Away To Fire Damage In Seaford

9/4/2019 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO we provide 24-hour emergency, and our experts will arrive quickly to your home. We have the experience and expertise to handle any job.

Fire Damage Seaford – Extensive Burned Plastic and Smoke Damage 

Consumers often try to complete many tasks at the same time. A distraction can cause problems, especially when cooking on the stove and trying to look after several children at the same time. Sterilizing plastic baby bottles on the stove, taking a phone call, and keeping the children amused led to extensive smoke damage in one consumer home.

She called SERVPRO about fire damage in Seaford looking for advice and help about what she should do. The water had boiled dry, and the plastic melted in the pot and had started to burn. She shut the stove off and moved the pot off the burned. After quickly getting the kids out of the house, she was frantic regarding what was happening inside. The fire crew arrived and determined that there was no ongoing fire situation, aired out the house, and checked the condition of the children and the owner.

Our SERVPRO team took the call and prepared to respond. Fire damage and smoke experts assessed the situation over the phone, indicating that she should remain outside the home. In situations such as this, the homeowner was very fortunate. However, the contamination can be extensive, and the particles from the burned plastic usually contaminate everything in the home. Porous items must be cleaned outside the home, while all hard surfaces require cleaning and wipe downs.

We anticipate that the carpeting can be decontaminated and cleaned. All clothing, fabrics such as curtains and upholstered materials must be removed and cleaned offsite. We would ventilate the home after removing everything, and all hard surfaces washed. Deodorizing procedures can be utilized to remove all remaining odors. The main focus is on the kitchen area. Further away from the kitchen, deodorization can be reduced.

Finally, the HVAC system must also be treated and cleaned to prevent the system from spreading odor throughout the home.

Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 for 24/7 serve. We serve Levittown, Merrick, Freeport, and surrounding areas. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. We can restore your home, "Like it never even happened."

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We Have The State Of The Art Equipment To Restore Your Seaford Home After A Flood

8/13/2019 (Permalink)

A "flood-cut" by our technicians minimized the demolition as our equipment worked hard to dry out the affected areas of the house.

What to Expect With Storm and Flood Damage Cleanup in Seaford

From the look of a home after it has a large amount of storm and flood damage, you might not feel that the house could return to its preloss condition. With the right equipment and restoration knowledge, it absolutely can. 

When SERVPRO handles storm and flood damage to homes in Seaford, we arrive quickly after the initial call. A statistic from FEMA states a mere inch of floodwater in your home can result in an average of $27,000 in loss to the property. To further compound the issue, groundwater carries a rating as a category three biohazard. It ruins most porous things it comes into contact with and is unsafe for humans and pets. Our technicians test the water to determine the nature of any toxins or sewage and wear protective gear during mitigation to avoid any kind of contamination.

Common actions include: 

  • Removal of debris brought in by flood damage.
  • Controlled demolition techniques to remove damaged sheetrock
  • It is common for delamination of tile to occur as most adhesives are unable to hold through prolonged exposure to excessive moisture.
  • Removal of all the damaged room items such as carpet, padding, trim, and baseboards as needed. 

If the material that makes up the baseboards is hardwood, they may have the potential for cleaning and reuse on a case by case basis. As we remove items from the house, they are photographed and cataloged for use by the homeowner to expedite their loss claim. We also document and photograph possessions that have restoration potential. Our exclusive Contents Claim Inventory System (CCIS) report is designed to lessen the stress on property owners during the insurance claim process.

SERVPRO has several different types of moisture detection equipment, and one of the most beneficial for scoping damaged sheetrock is our thermal imaging so we can easily find waterlines and leave undamaged building materials intact. Water extraction and drying happen as fast as possible to minimize damage. Afterward, our technicians clean and disinfect all water-affected surfaces remaining in the property. 

Floodwater has its own distinctive scent that often needs help to go away. If there are any residual water odors, we address those from among many different applications ranging from gel pellets for light scents to ultra-low-volume fogging to neutralize more intense odors.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 is ready to assist residents with cleanup and restoration services from storm and flood damage and make it, "Like it never even happened."

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Seaford Home All Wet from a Water Loss? Don't Wait or Hesitate--Call SERVPRO!!

8/5/2019 (Permalink)

Time to Ask for a Visit from SERVPRO to Your Seaford Home--Time to Take Control of the Water Damage

Simple Actions That Go a Long Way during Water Removal in Your Seaford Home

When there is a water loss incident in your Seaford home, the best solution is to take quick action. However, for that quick action to be truly useful, having the necessary resources is crucial. Such resources include equipment and enough people.  Some simple actions can also help cover the lack of resources or boost their efficiency. Our professional water removal services offer both resources and specialized knowledge that improves efficiency.

Weighted Extraction Equipment
The floor materials in the affected areas can lengthen the water removal in your Seaford home. For example, carpets are porous and therefore absorb the water immediately. In many cases, drying the area requires removal of the carpet and pad, which can create several disruptions. It is possible to carry out efficient in-place drying using tools such as water claws and Rover HVE, High Volume Extractors because the weight of the technician presses down on the carpet helping lift more water at a time.  

Temporary Ducts for Air Movement
Sometimes drying the affected areas of your property can lead to secondary damages in other areas due to moisture transfer. Typically, this happens when moisture spreads through air movements.  When running air movers and dehumidifiers to dry your property, our SERVPRO technicians create temporary ducts using lay-flat plastics to ensure moisture-laden air does not lead to secondary harm in unaffected areas. Often this warm, moisture air is vented to the exterior.

Choosing and Placing Equipment
Having enough air movers and dehumidifiers can help expedite the drying process. The proper placement of this equipment is necessary to achieve positive results. Typically, our SERVPRO technicians place an air mover every 10 to 16 linear feet along a wall. For in-place drying, we place an air mover for every 50-60 square feet, ensuring we have sufficient air movers in the affected areas. Additional actions such as placing the air movers at a 45-degree angle to the walls and exhausting hot air from dehumidifiers into the back of the air movers help boost efficiency. Of course, this service is monitored, and corrections and changes can be made on the fly.
 
A highly trained and experienced team has more to offer than just advanced water removal equipment. Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh if there is a spill on your property. You can reach us any time at (516) 809-9600. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Click here to see the map of our Long Island area 

What Should Homeowners do After Discovering Water Damage in Their Levittown Property?

7/23/2019 (Permalink)

The damage was caused by an HVAC System overflow. SERVPRO had the tools to restore this home.

Remediating Water Damage in Levittown

Levittown homeowners can get hit with weather coming off the Great South Bay.  However, they know that most of their water damage over time often comes from a failed, high-level shut-off valve or broken pipe.

Remediating Levittown water damage requires equipment like commercial grade pumps and other extraction devices to remove the water from behind walls and under floors. If the leak was overhead, there could be water in the attic as well. SERVPRO technicians use these and other devices like air movers, exhaust fans, and dehumidifiers to dry each home thoroughly and carefully to avoid further damage to the home.

That’s not to say a homeowner has to wait for one of our restoration teams to arrive. There are efforts each one can take to prepare their residence before our first technician sets foot inside the home.

First, turn off the leak when possible. If the source of water is a split hose or a broken pipe, then turn off the water at the break. If not possible, then turn it off leading into the home. It may be necessary to have the water department do it. The less water in the home means the fewer time technicians have to spend removing it.

Second, have insurance documents and phone number ready. Each company has lists of property they replace or repair. The sooner technicians have this information, they can begin to remove furniture and other property from home for disposal.

Third, don’t try to make things easier for SERVPRO response teams. It is not necessary to remove anything before our teams arrive on site. Each team member is trained to inspect and remove property so that it does not accidentally cause further damage to the home. If there is an item that might need special care, please point it out, but don’t try to do it yourself.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is proud to serve this community and others like Merrick, North Bellmore, and Seaford. For assistance with any water damage, call us immediately at (516) 809-9600. We are here to help you return home.

More about Levittown.

Let the Professionals Handle Mold Damage Remediation at Your Wantagh Business

7/16/2019 (Permalink)

Mold damage to your business can cause chaos to deal with properly. Contact the professionals at SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.

Show Mold Damage the Door at Your Wantagh Gym

Working out is a passion for your clients in Wantagh, and you strive to have a clean and well-appointed facility available for them. You have high expectations for your cleaning staff, and they work hard, use products they believe are effective, and are reliable. Despite your commitment to providing a sanitary space for gym members, you notice musty smells and visible mold growth. The strategies you and your staff tried are not working. We can help.

Mold damage in your Wantagh fitness center persists despite vigorous cleaning because moisture is available to fuel their growth. Mold spores are present in all spaces inside and out, but until they absorb water, no excessive growth occurs. 

Unfortunately, some of the methods your cleaning staff uses when trying to get rid of mold might add water. Diluted bleach solutions are often a go-to for disinfection and microbial control, but they often merely lighten surface stains without penetrating deeply enough to kill all the branching filaments of hyphae making up the entire mold organism. SERVPRO’s Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained technicians use industry best practices to remediate your current mold infestations. 

SERVPRO mold remediation crews use protocols developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove active colonies appropriately and take steps to minimize microbial growth in the future. We contain the mold-infested area using heavy plastic sheeting and setting up a sealed workspace with negative pressure air scrubbing equipment. The scrubber filters and exhausts air from the work area to the outside.

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), our technicians mechanically remove mold colonies, scraping and brushing solid surfaces. To access mold deeply embedded in porous materials, including tile grout, we employ soda blasting, which penetrates deeper and incapacities the mold organism while removing moldy debris. 

The remediation crew bags the colonies and vacuumed up residues for legally compliant disposal. SERVPRO employees apply EPA-registered antimicrobials and consult with you and your staff concerning the sources of excess moisture you must control to prevent a rebound of mold growth. 

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh has highly-qualified mold remediators to help you when conventional cleaning techniques fail to manage microbial overgrowth/ Contact us at (516) 809-9600 for an assessment and implementation of an abatement plan.

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Bellmore Cleanup and Restoration after Natural and Man-Made Disasters and Mishaps Are Cornerstones of SERVPRO Services

7/2/2019 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO Green Fleet Brings a Sigh of Relief to Our Customers--Bellmore Homes Get the Restoration Services They Need

Personal Disaster Experience Explains Why SERVPRO Is Committed to Helping Our Bellmore Neighbors

When the owner of our Bellmore SERVPRO experienced the fear and disruption of a significant water loss in his own home, his life was forever changed. The perspective we bring to every water, fire, mold and storm emergency sharpens as we remember the roller-coaster of emotions endured by a homeowner and the hard work and dedication of recovery technicians needed to make disasters “Like it never even happened.” Now it is our turn to help.

Water Damage
We know first hand the chaos and helplessness of Bellmore water damage. Life as usual cannot proceed until the water source is found and fixed, followed by rapid water removal, cleaning, disinfection, and structural drying. Our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified crews are well-versed in research-based water mitigation and remediation best practices. Each job we take on is assessed individually, with careful consideration of the particular circumstances of the loss and transparent communication with you, the homeowner.

No delay is needed between our assessment and planning and the implementation of the project agenda. Our project manager arrives with the crew and equipment needed in our well-stocked service vehicles. If your water loss features complications such as electrical outage we have you covered with gas-powered submersible pumps and truck-mounted extractors powered by onboard generators. Each task follows the last seamlessly, our team’s training and experience inspiring confidence and illustrating why SERVPRO is an industry leader.

Getting the job done swiftly and to the highest standards is crucial, but treating you and your family with care and compassion during this trying time is equally important. After the water evacuates and we move on to structural drying, we keep you informed. We act as a liaison with your insurance company to help shoulder that burden and offer specialized water damage remediation services for your possessions at our production facility.

Fire Damage
The aftermath of household fire damage in Bellmore can trigger overwhelming emotions. Soot covered and waterlogged rooms are impossible to imagine clean, dry, and comfortable again. Fears about the costs and disruption intrude into every thought. If there were ever a time you need a reliable recovery company standing by your side, it is after the raging blaze has been extinguished.

We listen carefully to your concerns and can relate to your worries, evidence of why SERVPRO can be trusted while guiding you through the trauma of fire damage recovery. An experienced project manager assesses the scene and designs a workflow agenda. Our crew members immediately jump in, removing the firefighting water and drying out the interior. Soot residues are evaluated, and techniques and products matched to remove them most efficiently. Air scrubbers filter and exhaust the contaminated air during the work, reducing safety and health concerns for you and your family.

As each phase of the project completes, we keep you in the loop, consulting with your and working with your insurance carrier to ensure your out of pocket expenses are limited. Fire damage can include severe charring, and we use innovative techniques to remove it from the surface and seal it for final restoration whenever possible. We consult with you about the safety of foods and personal care products exposed to fire, heat, and water and help with disposal if indicated.

Mold Remediation
If despite your best efforts at vigilance in keeping your home clean and tidy, you notice mold damage in your Bellmore home know that we offer mold abatement services. Mold growth and the harm it always causes links to a source of moisture. If water damage is caught early and mitigated and remediated within 24 to 48 hours, mold growth potential is minimized. Unfortunately, not all water incursions are visible with pipes hidden in walls and cabinets. Seemingly inconsequential leaks in roofs or cracks in foundations can invite unnoticed water inside as well.

The reason why SERVPRO added mold remediation as a core service is simple. If mold spores are nearby the tiny fissures that water leaks through, growth and damage are almost inevitable. We consider mold remediation as a two-fold opportunity to help our customers. First, we use the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved procedures to contain and remove the mold safely without spreading the fungi to other areas of your home.  

Second, our knowledge of the life cycle of the range of molds and mildews that can infest your home helps us recommend practical tips that help you avoid mold damage. We cannot eliminate mold spores, but we can suggest you search for water sources and eliminate them. Fixing plumbing and roof leaks are a good start. Maintaining interior humidity between 30 and 50 percent and keeping AC units well maintained also help.

Storm Damage
The chance of heavy precipitation and storm surge are realities year round in Bellmore. Combine snow, ice, sleet, hail, rain, and salt water with a straight line or rotating winds, and you have a situation brewing that might need professional aid before it blows over. Utility poles, trees, and their branches, and other debris can take out a roof, windows, doors, or siding. Overland flooding mixes with the riled up ocean, and water pours in through holes and cracks in the foundations.

We monitor severe and overwhelming weather patterns, knowing that the assistance customers require is why SERVPRO trains and prepares diligently year round. Our comprehensive services include tarping and board-up to keep the elements in check while we assess, plan, mitigate, and remediate. The response we offer during the aftermath of a storm is scalable to the level of the disaster. You are not a number or item on a list when you engage our storm recovery services.

Often the waters involved in storm damage remediation are contaminated. Our technicians are skilled in evaluating water categories and contain and dispose of flooding per local regulations. We are familiar with complications of storm surge, requiring fresh water flushing to prevents defibration of structural components. Household goods and personal possessions might be packed-out to our secure production areas to facilitate fast remediation at your home and permit specialized restoration efforts.

Let SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh demonstrate why we provide the highest quality disaster mitigation and remediation after any kind of property loss. Call us at (516) 809-9600 to transform devastation to “Like it never even happened.”

The Bellmores

Broken Appliances, Water Running Wild in Your Seaford Home? SERVPRO Swifty to the Rescue

6/25/2019 (Permalink)

When Your Seaford Home Needs Water Damage Restoration--SERVPRO Says--Call Us First! We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Water Removal Seaford - Leaking Laundry Hoses

Every year water damage to homes causes millions of dollars in repair and restoration costs to consumers. A water loss can occur from many different factors. However, a common one is a leaking or burst laundry hose. Most people forget how old these hoses are until one day they come home to a lot of water spraying out from a cracked hose connected to your washing machine. Within a very short time, a hundred gallons of water can be covering your home. Floors, walls, furniture, and even structural elements can be compromised.

This sudden flooding of your space is where SERVPRO can make a difference. We are available on a 24 / 7 basis to deal with water emergencies. We can minimize the water damage in your Seaford home by quickly removing all water and moisture from the floors and walls of the structure. The first step is to shut the water off. Once the water is shut off, the damage can be checked. Call us, and we can respond quickly to assess the situation and prepare an action plan for you and your insurance company.

SERVPRO’s protocol always involves standing water removal before drying, cleaning, and sanitizing. Once the water is extracted by vacuuming or pumping, it is essential to locate and dry all areas where there may be moisture remaining. This includes hard to get at places. We use moisture detectors like meters, thermal imaging cameras, and then drying equipment to get at even the most difficult to access places quickly and efficiently to prevent the growth of mold. Rapid return to normal moisture content levels, for example, a hardwood floor is about 12%) mitigates the damage and stifles the degradation of building materials and contents.

In some situations, either due to water damage or the growth of mold, flooring, and drywall may need to be removed. The final step involves the restoration of your home to its preloss condition whenever possible. "Like it never even happened."

We are strategically located to respond quickly to your damaging water event. Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 for 24/7 service. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

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A Leaky Sink In Your Bathroom Can Spell Big Trouble For Your Wantagh Home

6/6/2019 (Permalink)

If water damage hits your home, always get help right away. Get in touch with SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh by phoning (516) 809-9600.

A Leaky Wantagh Bathroom Sink Can Cause Water Damage To Your Floor

Sometimes your plumbing can be finicky, and leaks that break out can lead to water damage. It is an unfortunate situation that no homeowner ever wants to deal with or be in, but it is imperative for you to know that you can do when accidents happen on your property. Fortunately, no matter the size of the damage, help is never far from you.

In the case of the water damage inside of your Wantagh bathroom, a leaking sink had gone unnoticed for some time, because the leak was quite minor. However, over time, the steady leak has caused water damage to the tile flooring. If the damage is left unchecked, it can actually create even further problems. Leaving water damage to its own devices can lead to the formation of mold damage, and mold can cause health effects. It is better to deal with water damage as soon as you find it, rather than leaving it to its own devices.

When you call SERVPRO to remediate the water damage in your house, our technicians always make an effort to respond as swiftly as we can. We understand that home-damages of any kind are time sensitive. However, water damage can be especially time-sensitive, as it has the disposition to create more problems. For this reason, SERVPRO always sends our technicians within hours of your initial call.

When our skilled professionals arrive at your property, we can get to work remediating the water damage straight away. Using thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters, we can determine how out of hand the moisture-levels have become, and check for any hidden pockets of water under your floor. From there, SERVPRO can use heaters, dehumidifiers, and drying mats, which use an intense suction to pull water away from the floor, to create an environment that supports evaporation. Once finished, SERVPRO can hopefully return your home to you in its preloss condition.

If water damage hits your home, always get help right away. Get in touch with SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh by phoning (516) 809-9600. Day or night, we're always open and ready to help.

Click here for more about Wantagh.

We Are Prepared For Any Water Damage Emergency In Seaford

5/27/2019 (Permalink)

We have the equipment and training to restore your home to pre-damage condition after a water damage disaster.

Water Removal Services in Your Seaford Home

Learning ahead of time how to prevent water damage in your Seaford home before you have a disaster can prevent you from costly and stressful repairs. The bathroom is the room in your home that sees the most water usage and from several different sources. Without proper maintenance and upkeep, you could have a leak on your hands that can create a large mess that needs to be cleaned up quickly.

When you experienced a leaky sink or toilet in your Seaford home, you may need water removal and restoration services. It is always best to hire the professionals such as SERVPRO because, with our training and tools, we can look for any hidden water damage besides the apparent damage. You can trust us to work quickly and efficiently to get your home looking as if nothing ever happened.

Keeping an eye on your bathroom sink is essential to avoiding a problem. The pipes hiding underneath your sink need to be periodically checked for any leaks. An issue like this can go undetected for an extended period otherwise and create a huge issue.

Once SERVPRO technicians have taken care of the water damage, part of the restoration process includes deodorization. The hard surface flooring in bathrooms can be mopped with an appropriate EPA registered disinfectant, or we can fog with the correct odor control. We use a ULV fogger for any larger surface areas that are severely damaged. Walls and ceilings are usually deodorized with a ULV fogger or pump sprayer for applying the disinfectant.

Your toilet is another appliance that should be closely monitored. A leaking toilet can easily cause a great deal of damage to the flooring underneath. Plus, if it is in an upstairs bathroom, you are at risk for damaging the ceiling and the room below.

Pay attention as well to any soft, bubbling, or warping drywall and musty smells. If you find soft drywall, we need to replace it. The source of the leak or water damage has to be found and fixed, or mold can begin to grow. We need to dry the materials behind the drywall as well before it can be replaced.

SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh can handle any water damage emergency in the bathroom in your home in Levittown, Merrick, or Seaford. Call us at (516) 809-9600 for help as soon as you realize there is an issue.

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Let Our Certified Technicians Restore You Seaford Home After Flood Damage

4/22/2019 (Permalink)

Stormwater can quickly wick up into sheetrock rendering it non-salvageable. Our technicians can do a "flood cut" that limits the demolition.

Black Water Emergencies caused by Flood Damage in Seaford

Heavy rainfall during the year can result in nearby road overflow. In some cases, these flood waters can enter your property causing significant damages. Older sewer systems can often become backed up by the increased level of rainfall. We provide emergency services to residents who need assistance with flooding or standing water in the home and can be contacted twenty-four hours a day by phone.

The likelihood of water containing harmful pathogens like animal carcasses or raw sewage is high. It is therefore vital that you seek professional assistance for flood damage in Seaford. Our technicians have access to the correct PPE for dealing with these type of damages including Hazmat suits. SERVPRO employees are also trained to recognize different levels of water contamination and respond appropriately.

The scale of water contamination ranges from clean water emergencies to black water emergencies- where water is heavily contaminated and poses a risk to health. In a black water scenario, the affected area may need to be quarantined. If damages are widespread, it may be necessary to relocate you temporarily while work is undertaken.

The types of services that SERVPRO use to remedy a black water emergency may seem extreme. Unfortunately, given the potential health risks, it is entirely necessary to exercise caution. Drywall must be removed and demolished. Carpets and subfloor also must be disposed of in line with federal and state guidelines. We have the necessary licenses and training required to dispose of Biohazardous substances correctly.

Once flood water has been removed, SERVPRO can replace carpets, subfloor pads as well as any sections of drywall that were treated. Using biocides in combination with disinfectant bleaches we can make your home safe from contamination. However, these chemical agents create a thick odor. Using thermal foggers, we can thoroughly deodorize your home removing both the smell of contaminated flood water and disinfectant cleaning products.

Exposure to black water is a severe health risk, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 for professional assistance.

Click here for more information about how you can get involved in Clean Up Week.

How Water Damage Can Cause Your Wantagh Business to be Underwater

4/8/2019 (Permalink)

Is water damage causing downtime at your business?

Specialist Teams for Commercial Water Removal in Wantagh

Property managers need to keep their work environment safe for employees and staff. Sometimes, an unforeseen event can lead to temporary closures which affect revenue. In times like these, it is essential to have a restoration service that you can rely on which is also based locally. We offer our business communities an exceptional, professional service to help get their property back to its best and keep closures to a minimum.

Choosing a service that offers commercial water removal in Wantagh is relatively simple. You need qualified technicians, based locally with an immediate point of contact. SERVPRO operates an emergency call line for businesses twenty-four hours a day. We also host a commercial response unit led by an experienced crew chief whom we send your property.

Our response units hold IICRC certificates in water damage (WRT) as well as applied structural drying (ASD). Standing water in a property requires expertise to classify the contamination grade and how best to remove it. Acting fast is a critical factor given that water can stagnate who become increasingly contaminated when it contacts another soiling such as mold, dirt or grime.

SERVPRO can mobilize gas pumps to remove large quantities of standing water. Usually, we deploy this equipment when water levels reach above two inches. The equipment uses pumps to create pressure and move water into an open sewer point. These offer a practical solution to larger areas as the amount of water they can remove is virtually limitless.

Our next step is to dry residual moisture in the affected zone. Residual moisture can cause all sorts of harm in property including mold. Our water extraction units can cover a large surface area quickly and combine vacuum power with a heating element to draw moisture from carpet or hard floors. These are hundreds of times more effective than dehumidifiers or rapid air movers and make a real difference to the efficiency of service.

Our final step is to conduct a walkthrough with you to show all the areas where work has been carried out. Contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 today for an assessment and service.

Wantagh is called the ‘Gateway to Jones Beach.’ Read more here.

After A Heavy Snowfall, Our Crew Can Restore Your Bellmore Home

4/6/2019 (Permalink)

Give our crew a call anytime disaster strikes at (516) 809-9600.

Heavy Snowfall Can Lead To Flooding In Your Bellmore Home

With winter setting in for Bellmore residents, homeowners in the area are awaiting the consistently heavier snowfall to come. With these storm systems passing through the area, several inches of snow can fall throughout a day, putting a great strain on external elements of your house like its roof. While this occurrence alone can often allow water penetration from vulnerable points in the roof, ice damming and another phenomenon like it can compound this likelihood and cause significant structural damages on top of the water penetrating the attic of your house.

Every homeowner does not actively inspect their roof and its structural integrity before the winter sets in, but once flood damages have affected your Bellmore home, you need immediate action to preserve the threatened elements of your home and its contents. Our SERVPRO professionals can arrive quickly at the initial signs of flood damage in your house and have effective mitigation techniques to help protect saturated materials and prevent the spread of the penetrating water throughout new areas of the property.

Even for circumstances where the water damage does not spread beyond the attic space, many steps must get taken to prevent irreparable damage to stored items in this portion of the property. Many areas homes also have their HVAC systems and heaters in their attic space, and excessive water can cause these elements to short out and fail, which can be a dangerous situation in the middle of the winter.

Our SERVPRO professionals have fast extraction equipment that can pull excess water from the affected area quickly, and we also have many portable options to fully remove the floodwaters in an area of your home that is not always easily accessible.

Our franchise offers emergency board up and tarping for damaged roofs, and have the expertise for full reconstruction efforts once restoration work begins. Give our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh rapid response team the opportunity to show you how our advanced equipment and experienced personnel can overcome water damages throughout your property. Give our crew a call anytime disaster strikes at (516) 809-9600.

Click here for more about Bellmore.

Don’t Host Water Damage in Your Seaford Hotel

3/18/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage in hotels can easily spread to adjacent units.

Guest Mistakes Can Cause Water Damage in Your Seaford Hotel

While you can offer travelers a comfortable stay when visiting Seaford or passing through, the unpredictability of these steady guests can also potentially damage your facility. Water loss incidents are among the most common threat that guests can pose to individual rooms throughout your hotel, and this is often directly correlated to their forgetfulness or lack of awareness. Overflowing tubs and sinks can often flood the bathroom area, and without a fast response to the situation from trained professionals, this damage can spread throughout the room and adjacent units.

When you first discover water damage in any one of the rooms in your Seaford hotel, you need to reach out to trained restoration specialists and not rely solely on your custodial staff. While these employees have skills to handle smaller spills and the upkeep of the facility, our SERVPRO professionals have advanced equipment designed to handle substantial water loss incidents with minimal tear out and replacement.

From the time that our team first arrives at your facility, we work to establish an understanding of the full spread of the water damage. We have an inspector that goes throughout the damaged areas and utilizes advanced tools like our thermal imagery and moisture detection equipment to establish a baseline of where restorative efforts are necessary. With the right response and set up of our drying and extraction equipment, we can often preserve saturated materials like wood flooring, carpeting, drywall, and other affected elements.

Our SERVPRO team arrives with gear like our injecti-dry system which can help to penetrate beneath flooring, into wall cavities, and into ceiling spaces with a minimalistic approach. Our goal has always been to limit our interruption on your business, and our industry-leading equipment helps us to restore water-damaged units efficiently. If necessary, our team can also establish the source of the damage and repair any broken plumbing or fixtures.

While you have your custodial staff to handle messes that occur on your property, water loss can spread too quickly for untrained professionals to manage and recover. Our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team has the expertise and training to make water loss incidents “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (516) 809-9600.

Read more about Seaford here.

Our Technicians Explain The Dangers That Follow A Fire Damage Disaster In Your Bellmore Home

3/5/2019 (Permalink)

Call us at (516) 809-9600 as soon as your property has been released back to you for remediation.

Unanticipated Hazards Of Fire Damage Cleanup In Bellmore

When your Bellmore home suffers from the effects of a fire, there are a vast number of concerns you must understand to live comfortably and safely in your dwelling again. Ordinary cleaning methods often fail because of the characteristics of soot damage. Your safety during the remediation can be affected negatively as many of the residues, airborne and on the surface, are toxic. Our trained and well-equipped technicians take necessary precautions during restoration.

Things you might not have previously considered during a fire damage cleanup in Bellmore might include food and personal care item safety. When cleaning out the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer, a homeowner might believe items are fine that are contaminated or spoiled. The fine particulates of smoke and soot obviously make their way through paper packaging and into opened bags. What many homeowners might not comprehend is that soot and firefighting chemicals can move up the threads of jars and taint the contents. Heat during a fire raises the temperature of the food in cans and bottles to levels where microorganisms can grow, spoiling the food.

The SERVPRO team is familiar with the potential for food in refrigerators and freezers to become unfit for consumption during a fire. If the power goes out while the disaster continues, the temperature in these appliances can rise, encouraging the food to rot. Seals on older units may not prevent soot and moisture from invading, making the food inside inedible.

Health and beauty products also can change in chemical composition as the result of the heat and seepage of soot, chemicals, and water during a blaze and its extinguishing. Rely on the expertise of IICRC-trained SERVPRO technicians to guide you as to what is safe to retain and use on skin and hair as cleansers, conditioners, moisturizers, and cosmetics. Toothbrushes, combs, razors, sponges, and many other household and personal care goods might be better off replaced.

The professionals at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh are ready to answer all your fire damage cleanup questions. Call us at (516) 809-9600 as soon as your property has been released back to you for remediation.

Click here for more about Bellmore.

For Your Wantagh Enterprise, Call SERVPRO to Mitigate Water Loss

2/18/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Saves Your Wantagh Business Money By Working Fast for Water Removal

Preventing Water Damage in Your Wantagh Business

No matter how cautious you are, water damage in your Wantagh boutique is sometimes inevitable. It can be a devastating occurrence, no matter what caused it. The cost alone can be troublesome, and it can also slow or even shut down your business for a time. Therefore, you need to act fast as soon as you realize there is an issue.
 
Commercial water damage in your Wantagh business is something that should be handled by professional remediation specialists, so the problem is managed correctly and in a timely fashion. At SERVPRO, our staff is trained and equipped to help you any time you need, no matter how small or large your water damage emergency is.
 
The primary goal of SERVPRO technicians is to dry and restore your building as soon as we can so you can get back to business as usual. We specialize in water extraction, drying and dehumidifying, deodorizing and disinfecting, and content restoration. If there is structural damage, such as to flooring or drywall, we take care of that as well, ensuring that everything affected is dry again before we leave.
 
Some routine maintenance can be done to try and prevent significant water damages. The pipes and drains of your structure can be a major culprit. Sinks and toilets may become plugged and create flooding. Therefore, keeping up with the maintenance to your plumbing helps to keep your system correctly flowing.
 
Your roof is another area where water intrusion can occur. Even a small amount of damage can create a steady leak which might go unnoticed for a long time. By the time you find the issue, much damage can be done already. Missing shingles or old roofing can cause a great deal of destruction during a massive storm. Check on your roof regularly, especially if there has been frequent inclement weather in the area. If your place of business is in a strip center, make sure the maintenance department periodically inspects to keep your business secure.
 
Active leak detection systems can help keep your business safe by emitting an alarm, but also by performing a function which stops the flow of water during an emergency. Most of these devices use moisture sensors to detect leaks. Passive lead detection systems are meant to alert you to a possible leak. They usually sound an audible alarm and are usually battery-operated and inexpensive to get.
 
SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh works quickly but efficiently, so your business in Merrick, Levittown, or Seaford is thoroughly dry. We are easy to reach any time you need by dialing (516) 809-9600, so please do not hesitate, day or night, to ask us for help.

The History of our area by clicking here

At Last, the Secret to Levittown Fire Damage Remediation is Revealed!

2/8/2019 (Permalink)

Regardless of the extent of the fire damage, team SERVPRO can make it "Like it never even happened." Call us right away for best results.

Fire Damage Technicians in Levittown Talk About How Fire Ruins Structural Components

It could happen when you least expect it that suddenly you see or smell smoke and notice that something inside your Levittown home has caught on fire. The first thing you should do after you know everyone in the building is safe is to extinguish the fire with water or an extinguisher as quickly as possible to reduce the overall amount of fire damage. Once flames ignite, the heat can start consuming many of your contents and building materials as fuel. Many of these items combust or turn from a solid to a gas when heat is applied, but some substances only combust partially and enter the air in the form of smoke. This smoke can then cause many different fire damage related problems itself.

Even if the burnt region of your house is small, it is still wise to call in a professional restoration company such as SERVPRO. Our team has experience in completing fire damage projects in Levittown that are both big and small. During most scenarios, our technicians are tasked in dealing with issues that are caused by both heat and smoke. Once something inside a building ignites, the flames rise with the heat and can then start spreading to other areas away from the initial source.

If the blaze burns hot enough it can use just about any type of material in your home as fuel. These fuels can burn at different temperatures and thus put off various types of smokes and soot residues. Fires that burn slowly at lower temperatures and get starved for oxygen can produce wet smoke that leaves behind thick residues that can be difficult to remove. Fires that burn quickly at higher temperatures and have plenty of oxygen often produce dry smoke that is more easily cleaned from surfaces. During most projects, our SERVPRO technicians know that there are likely both wet and dry smoke present after a burn.

Therefore, in most cases, your structural contents can get damaged by either soot residues caused by smoke or the heat and flames coming from the fire itself. If you ever have a small burn inside your home, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 any day of the week.

Click here for more about Levittown.

SERVPRO Utilizes Advanced Technology to Restore Fire Damage Homes in Wantagh

1/31/2019 (Permalink)

Smoke odors penetrate building materials and your possessions and can linger for a long time.

Fire Damage Experts In Wantagh Describe The Advanced Technology They Use During Restoration

Any time something burns inside your Wantagh home, the situation can become quite devastating. Even if the fire damage is small, it is still wise to call in a professional restoration company like SERVPRO. Once something burns inside a building, smoke can cause problems including creating soot residues and foul odors. Once smoke penetrates building materials, unpleasant aromas can linger for a long time. A significant part of any fire damage restoration project is to deodorize your contents and structural components. 

Deodorization is usually the last step to any mitigation process. The first step in any fire damage project in Wantagh is the initial inspection and estimate process. As soon as we answer your call, our SERVPRO team gets their testing kit and other equipment together and heads over to your residence promptly. We offer fast 24/7 service so that we can quickly begin working on mitigating your problems. We know that issues can get worse as time goes on, so we try to begin restoration work as quickly as possible. 

During the initial estimate process, our SERVPRO technicians use their testing kits to test clean surfaces to see which items we think we can clean and restore and which items we cannot. Our highly trained team is IICRC certified, and we have a vast amount of experience in dealing with a variety of different situations. We use the combination of our training and experience to determine at the beginning which items we know are replaceable and which items we think there is a possibility that we can clean and restore. 

Once we determine our plan of attack, we begin removing any materials that got severely charred. Next, we begin the soot removal process and clean items that got affected by soot or soils. Once all smoke and fire damaged items get cleaned and removed we use advanced technology to complete the final cleaning and deodorization process. Depending on the situation, we can use machines like ozone generators or ultra-low volume foggers to help with smoke odor elimination. If you ever notice problems created by fire or smoke inside your house, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 any day of the week.

Click here to read about Wantagh.

Flood Damage Remediation Blueprint in Seaford - Rinse and Repeat

1/25/2019 (Permalink)

The amount of water that enters your home during a flood can be overwhelming. Contact our SERVPRO team for effective water removal efforts.

Why SERVPRO Helps Overcome the Challenges of Flood Extraction in Seaford

Extracting floodwaters can be a difficult task that in most cases requires assistance from a professional. If the thought of wading into murky contaminated water is not revolting, then the volume of water that needs removal breaks the resolve of many Seaford property owners after a flooding incident. Our professional restoration service lifts the burden because we undergo IICRC training. We also have a variety of equipment to deal with any challenges that arise.
 
Contamination is a serious risk during flood extraction in Seaford. Before the water reaches your property, it flows over different areas where it collects different types of contaminants. For example, wastewater trenches might have different biohazards including raw sewage while open fields might have pet wastes or dead animals among other contaminants. Exposing yourself to such water poses a health risk. Our SERVPRO technicians take precautions like spraying EPA-registered disinfectants immediately after arriving at your premises and wearing protective clothing like rubber gloves and full body suits, among others.
 
Water volume is another severe challenge in flooding incidents. Besides, it is not possible to turn off the source unlike in regular water spills. Therefore, extraction and cleanup can only happen if the rising water subsides. However, our SERVPRO crew can help in many ways even when extraction is not possible. We handle content move outs to a different location within the property or an offsite warehouse. We can also dismantle cabinets and other wooden fixtures to limit the time they remain submerged.
 
After a flood, there is lots of debris to remove. Sometimes the floodwaters dump silt and other debris from outside the property. The water also damages contents like books and fabrics within the house. Also, due to the risk of contamination, removal of porous materials like drywall, carpets, and pad is necessary. All these lead to a high volume of debris that needs removal. Our SERVPRO technicians handle the process efficiently working as a team. We also have special tools like molding lifters and prybars for easy removal of carpets without damaging baseboards, door frames, and other fixtures.

Hiring a professional to extract floodwaters from your property eases the process. Call SERVPRO of Bellmore/ Wantagh to help. You can reach us at (516) 809-9600 any time.

Click here for more about Seaford.

Why You Need Professional Flood Cleanup for Your Seaford Residence

12/20/2018 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO when the storm waters enter your home.

Flood Cleanup Experts in Seaford Talk About Problems With Contamination

Any time a storm blows through Seaford, there is a chance that your property suffers from damage. Many factors created during severe weather can cause water to start filling up your home, making flood cleanup by a professional company like SERVPRO a requirement. Water entering your home from the outside can produce several problems inside your home. Water can ruin building materials inside your houses such as your carpet, drywall, and other flooring materials. If moisture stays inside any structure for too long more problems result making quick flood cleanup a necessity.  

Our SERVPRO restoration team offers fast 24/7 service, so we respond quickly after a storm causes damage to your building. We are located close so that we can respond fast and get to your flood cleanup project in Seaford to start mitigating issues right after they take place, so they do not get worse. We are on call every hour of the day and every day of the week so we can help you with issues that take place even in the middle of the night. The faster we can remove moisture from your building, the less likely your contents and building materials suffer from secondary damage. Secondary problems include those caused by water vapor in the air and mold contamination.  

If moisture finds its way inside your home from the outdoors, there are a few health issues that could arise. Rainwater coming into a structure is considered "grey" or category two water. Grey water damage is treated differently than problems with clean sources because there is a chance the moisture contains harmful bacteria. If the water that affects your home is extremely muddy, then it is dealt with as "black" water or a category three situation. When mitigating problems involving black water, most of the materials that come into contact with the moisture necessitate removing due to the high possibility of it containing harmful microorganisms.  

If you notice that water has entered your house after a storm hits town, called our highly trained team at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 as soon as you notice an issue.

Cedar Creek Park is located in Seaford. Click here for more information.

Molds Love Water and Moisture, But Hate When SERVPRO Remediates the Damage in Seaford Homes

9/17/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Says Moisture from Leaks Leads to Mold Damage in Seaford Properties

Seaford's Mold Remediation Technicians Talk About Common Causes of Fungal Growth

A fungus only needs an organic food source, moisture and temperatures ideally between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit to develop inside your Seaford residence. Most houses are built with several different types of organic substances such as wood and drywall backing, and they are kept at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, making mold proliferation likely once moisture is added. Often when a pipe breaks or water gets spilled inside the house, we notice the problem and take action to mitigate the leak damage by calling in a professional restoration company like SERVPRO. However, sometimes moisture may have made its way inside your structure, and you do not notice it until it is too late. As time goes by, mold damage can grow, spread and get more severe.
 
Microbial issues are the one type of problem that can be sneaky and you may not know that something is wrong. However, all cases of mold damage in Seaford can be traced to some sort of water-related problem that sat without being rectified for too long. Therefore, if our SERVPRO technicians find the source of the water leak, then they can figure out how to prevent the fungi from growing and spreading to other parts of the building. Once the original problem is fixed so that no sufficient moisture can fuel mold colonization in organic building materials, we can then work on removing the contamination that already exists.
 
One very frequent cause of mold problems is a leaky roof. Hail or wind can damage roof shingles allowing moisture to get in from above when it rains. In other cases, a fungus can form by there being improper ventilation in your attic. With improperly vented attics, moisture can build up in the eves and insulation.
 
Having poor ventilation in your bathroom can also be a source for mold problems. When people shower humidity in the room increases and water vapor needs a place to exit or fungi can start growing on your bathroom walls and other places. Leaky window seals can also be a problem that helps fungal contamination take place. Water can get into the wall cavity and make structural components in your walls wet. A working exhaust fan can significantly reduce the humidity levels in heavy water-usage rooms of your home.
 
If you ever see or smell mold in your house, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 immediately.

A historic tale of this town by clicking here

Preserving Your Seaford Home with Water Cleanup Services

9/16/2018 (Permalink)

When your hardwood flooring gets affected by water damage, contact SERVPRO to dry it out correctly and reduce any warping.

Team SERVPRO Brings Their Experience and Tools to Every Water Damage Remediation Job

There are some incidents which occur in Seaford residences that the homeowners do not have the expertise or appropriate equipment to clean up or restore on their own. In these circumstances, professional restoration services can help you to not only get the situation resolved quickly but also ensure that the job gets done to industry standards to prevent further concerns in the immediate future.

When situations call for water cleanup services in your Seaford home, many homeowners fail to see the pressing need for professional restorers. Water damages, even on a smaller scale, begin to affect materials and surfaces immediately upon contact. The longer that these situations persist, the more damage that these materials sustain and the more saturated they become.

Hardwood floors are a serious concern for our SERVPRO technicians, as much as they are a staple in so many area homes. When water damage occurs on top of or in the vicinity of hardwood planking, this material begins to absorb the moisture and dampness of the area in a brief period. The more saturated this material becomes, the more warped and distorted it also becomes. If our professionals cannot get to material like this in time, in many cases, partial or entire removal of the flooring is necessary to make the incident “like it never even happened.”

Mitigation and fast action are two staples of the SERVPRO services that we provide. We work hard to ensure that the impact of an incident on your home is as minimal as possible, and get to work quickly upon arrival to preserve materials and contents that could be in harm’s way. We have the tools and equipment to help draw out water from sensitive materials and work to continually promote our approach of preservation and restoration over replacement and rebuilding.

While you might not consider a water cleanup job to have a severe impact on your home, even a smaller scale water incident could cause multiple issues for the structure of your home. Trust in our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh team of restoration specialists to respond quickly and get to work on cleaning this mess up to our high standards. Give us a call anytime at (516) 809-9600.

Click here for more information on the city of Seaford.

Expediting The Fire Restoration Process For Your Wantagh Bar

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damages are one of the worst things for a Wantagh business owner to contend with and still attempt to keep their bar open to the regular patrons.

The Fire Restoration Process

As the owner of a Wantagh bar, you likely take care of most of the problems and maintenance requirements of the establishment on your own. When a significant disaster threatens your business, many owners find setting things back to the way they used to be requires more expertise and specialized equipment than they have to offer. In these circumstances, professional restoration can help you by working directly with your insurance company to expedite the process.

Fire damages are one of the worst things for a Wantagh business owner to contend with and still attempt to keep their bar open to the regular patrons. There are too many variables and potential hazards to navigate following the extinguishing of the blaze. It's for this reason that so many business owners conclude to call SERVPRO and allow our experienced technician's space and time to work as efficiently as possible to restore their building back to preloss conditions.

As one of the first calls that you make following the conclusion of first responder efforts, your insurance company is going to need some proof to your claim about the damage and documentation to detail the full scope of what needs to get restored and what items got ruined in the blaze. We have a SERVPRO estimator that comes out along with those dispatched initially to begin the thorough assessment of the facility. This process details the full extent of the damage to the structure, the contents of your bar, and a rough estimate of the cost.

Working directly with your insurance adjuster not only saves you time and legwork, but it expedites the entire claims process to ensure that restoration happens quickly. The faster that our experienced team can get to work on the damage that your building sustained, the less time that you have to spend with the doors closed to your customers.

Fires are never easy disasters to overcome, especially when there are structural damages to face. Our SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh fire restoration technicians have the tools and expertise to overcome any of the obstacles we face in bringing your building back to the way it used to be. Give SERVPRO a call anytime at (516) 809-9600.

Click here for more about Wantagh.

You come home from vacation to find water in your finished basement.

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

Who can you call to help you?  You may think of calling a contractor, but there are differences between contractors and professional Water Restoration Companies. As a professional Restoration Company, we try to restore, rather than replace, whenever possible.

A contractor’s job is to replace everything that is affected. This will often include all flooring, walls, cabinets and even furniture. SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh technicians are certified in drying and cleaning water damage to industry standards. We will not remove materials unless it is necessary. The average time to dry is 3 days. This prevents further interruption to your daily life and also saves you money.  We try to mitigate the water damage, and restore when possible. Restoring your home is less expensive than replacing materials in your home.

Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600. We are available 24/7.

What should you Do if your Pipes Burst!

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

If you are unfortunate enough to have a burst pipe, follow these steps:

Turn off your water supply at the main valve. Your main water valve can be located in a variety of places. If you have a home with a basement or crawlspace, it is probably located on an interior wall near the front of the house. In this case, it is most likely hiding in plain sight. If your home was built on a slab, the valve might be located near the hot water heater or inside your garage. It may also be located in an underground cement box near your front curb. To learn where your main water valve is, consult your property inspection report or call your local utility company or plumbing professional.

If the burst pipe is a hot water line, make sure to also turn off the water valve at the top of your hot water heater.

Once you have turned off the main water valve, call a plumber.
If your water meter is frozen, contact your local Water Department. 

 If your broken pipe has caused water damage to your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 to dry it out before it causes more damage.

How to Identify & Treat Unseen Water Damage

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

Everyone knows that the water damage that you can clearly see is causing damage to your home is not good and should be fixed as quickly as possible. However, do you know that even the smallest water damages have the potential to cause serious structural and indoor air quality issues over time. SERVPRO Professionals have the equipment, training and experience to find and dry unseen water before secondary damages occur. Having the right equipment to use makes a significant difference when dealing with water damage. Here are a few examples of what our team uses to help any unseen water damage in your home:

Moisture Sensors are used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards and walls.

Moisture Meters are used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials.

The moisture tester provides accurate readings, allowing SERVPRO Professionals to monitor the drying process.

Thermohygrometers measure temperature and relative humidity. When armed with this information, SERVPRO Professionals can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized.

Ultra Low-Volume (ULV) Foggers will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas. Thermal Foggers dispense solvent-based products by creating a dense fog. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attach to and neutralize odor-causing particles.

If you are having any problems dealing with water in your home or property, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600. 

Keep an Eye on Your Roof to Prevent Costly Repairs

6/20/2018 (Permalink)

Avoid the Financial Burden of Unexpected Roof Repairs | Homes.com

Having to replace the roof on your home is a serious affair. Even if you choose to do the work yourself and buy the cheapest materials available, it can still cost thousands of dollars and many hours of grueling, dangerous labor. So, rather than only worrying about your roof when leaks start to show up after years of neglect, take the time to do some regular maintenance.

Even tile, slate, and metal roofs don’t necessarily last forever if they aren’t taken good care of. But, a well-maintained roof should last you between twenty and thirty years, depending on its composition. Here’s a short list of things that you can do to ensure that you’re getting as much longevity out of your roof as you possibly can.

Keep Your Shingles or Tiles in Good Shape

Get up on your roof at least once a year and inspect the quality of your shakes, shingles, tiles, or other roofing materials. Be safe while you are up there, and if you don’t believe that you can accomplish the inspection safely, then hire a professional to do it for you.

Replace any cracked or broken tiles, shingles, or shakes. Try to color-match any replacement roofing materials that you use, and remember it’s always a good idea to buy extra materials when you replace a roof. Last, be sure to re-anchor any loose roofing materials.

Inspect Your Chimneys, Replace Missing or Cracked Sealant and Damaged Flashing

While you are conducting your yearly roof inspection and maintenance, it is a good idea to take a good look at your chimneys, too. Inspect the chimneys and plumbing vents that emerge from your roof to make sure that they are not blocked or failing in some way.

Take a close look at where each of your chimneys and vents emerges from your roof. Inspect the flashing and sealants used to integrate them into the water flow off your roof, looking for cracks or other damage. Also, inspect the junction point of anything mounted to your roof—cooling units, telecom or television equipment, and any skylights.

Keep Your Gutters Clean and Your Roof Free of Tree Litter

It is a good idea to inspect and clean your gutters at least twice per year: once before the fall season, and once before the spring. Accumulated leaves, tree branches, and other detritus can damage the eaves and overhangs of your roof if water backs up behind them during a strong rain.

Make sure that you remove any downed tree branches from your roof as soon as possible. Do not let serious snow accumulation damage your roof either, especially if it is not pitched to handle such heavy loads. Also, make sure that you do not let moss, ivy or other plant material grow on your roof, as the root systems of such plants can cause irreparable damage.

Get the Maximum Amount of Years From Your Roof

Time and elements will eventually have their way with your roof. But, with a little due diligence and either a little elbow grease or the (comparatively) small expense of hiring a roof maintenance professional, you should be able to get two to three decades out of most roofing materials.

One last thing — never try to save money by roofing over old materials. Doing so decreases the life of the new materials, and increases the cost of eventually replacing the roof. It also increases the weight of your roof and makes it more likely to fail during severe weather events.

When was the last time your Ducts were cleaned?

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

A building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) and subsequent ducts are the key component to air quality. HVAC and duct cleanliness have a direct impact on the functionality of the equipment as well, a clean system ought to function at maximum capacity. If your system is clean and properly functioning, it should provide you with positive indoor air quality and a lower monthly cost of running your HVAC system.

You can keep your commercial ducts in a row by changing the filters within the system regularly - it is recommended to change them every 90 days. Check any connections for damage. If you can see any damage to the connections, wires, or motors then the damage needs to be repaired immediately in order to keep your HVAC system safe and properly functioning.

You should annually inspect your HVAC system and ducts to see if there is visible mold, a surplus of dust and/or debris, and rodent infestation. Signs of a rodent infestation would be feces and odors in your system or noises occurring in the system. If your HVAC system and ducts have any of these signs then it is time to call in the professionals. SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh has highly trained cleanup and restoration technicians that will provide you with a free estimate for your HVAC system and ductwork.

If you notice that your system isn’t working as well as it normally does such as an increase in electrical bill costs or the system is running more often than usual then it may be time for a cleaning as well. If your system is regularly providing you with maintenance issues such as improper temperature or humidity issues, these may be signs or symptoms of your HVAC system needing a checkup.

What to do when you have a Commercial Fire Damage?

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Restoring a Commercial Property in the Wake of Fire Damage

If you've ever experienced a fire damage event, you know how frantic the immediate aftermath of a fire can be. With emotions running high and a chaotic scene, it is always best to have a game plan laid out ahead of time so that you are not caught off guard by fire damage. And this is particularly true for anyone who owns commercial property.

Each year in the United States, fire damage accounts for more than $350 billion in total losses to property owners. This makes fire damage the single most important cause of property losses in the country and one of the most frequent and serious catastrophes that everyday Americans have to deal with. And the majority of these losses are due to commercial fire damage, affecting businesses, landlords and the ability of employees and owners to continue earning a livelihood.

Fortunately, almost every town in America has a professional fire restoration company that can be quickly deployed to the scene of commercial fire damage. But it is absolutely imperative that property owners understand that the single most important thing they can do to ensure a good outcome after a fire is, the second the firefighters declare that the fire is put out, to call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh and get the ball rolling. In the event of commercial fire damage, time is always the most important factor.

For more information on commercial fire damage, please give SERVPRO Bellmore / Wantagh a call (516) 809-9600.

Your Business Can’t Afford to Shut Down?

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

No job is too big, No job is too small!

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can get you back on your feet!


Cleaning and restoring commercial properties require a unique blend of training, experience, and equipment. SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh has the resources and expertise to give you excellent results while minimizing the disruption to you and your clients. We can help make it “Like it never even happened.” SERVPRO has serviced small office buildings, large and high-rise office buildings, apartment buildings, restaurants, hotel/motels, small and large retail stores, high-rise residential, manufacturing & industrial, and even government/military facilities! 

We are available 24 hours a day to get your business back up and running. Our expertise also includes electronics restoration and document drying and we are also your business’s best resource for mold remediation. When the dirt, odor, and moisture challenges go beyond the scope of your regular janitorial staff, you need SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh. You can depend on us to get the job done right and get it done quickly. Our highly trained technicians use top-of-the-line equipment to make your business shine again.


SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh utilizes advanced equipment and technology to quicken the restoration time and to minimize cost. We proudly serve our communities and surrounding areas with 24/7 emergency availability. Give us a call today and we'll make it "Like it never even happened." (516) 809-9600.

Drying Out Your Hotel After Plumbing and Water Damage

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Almost every business owner has had to deal with minor plumbing emergencies at some point. However, when your hotel has experienced significant water damage from a more substantial plumbing issue, such as a burst pipe, you need to act fast. Once the water is shut off, you might have a big mess on your hands to clean up.

Since you cannot afford downtime in your business, you want to get the help of professionals for your commercial water damage. We have the staff and tools you need who can come to your aid any time you need. We move quickly and do our best not to disturb any of your guests who are already in the hotel in other areas.

Drying out your hotel and the contents quickly is essential. Four things determine the amount of time needed for drying which includes the amount of water that needs to be evaporated, the temperature, humidity, and air movement.

Drying happens faster when rooms are heated between seventy to ninety degrees since hot air holds more moisture. If heat is not available, we may use portable heaters. The temperature in the affected areas should ideally be between seventy and eighty degrees. Temperatures over eighty-five degrees on the first days of drying could create too much moisture in the air, causing secondary damage if there are not enough dehumidifiers.

The more water SERVPRO techs can extract or pump out of the structure, the less we need to remove with dehumidifiers. Liquids are easier and faster to remove than gas, and extraction physically is twelve hundred times as efficient than dehumidification is. We use a submersible pump if the water is two inches deep in the area affected. We spend extra time extracting, as it reduces drying time considerable.

Relative humidity is how much moisture the air currently is holding at a given temperature. For us to lower the RH to a comfortable and correct percentage, some of the water in the air has to be moved. We use dehumidifiers to do so, as it is the most efficient way of lowering relative humidity. They remove the evaporated moisture from the air.

Air movement is also crucial for drying. In a water-damaged room, air usually is humid and damp, slowing evaporation. Blowing damp air out and bringing in warm, dry air speeds up the process. We use air movers set in the proper positions to do so and move where the air movers are as drying progresses to ensure thorough, even drying.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh are experts at drying out water-damaged buildings and move quickly so that your hotel has as little interruption as possible. Give
SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh a call at (516) 809-9600.

Are You Prepared for Severe Weather?

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Severe weather can happen anytime, anywhere. Being prepared to act quickly can be critical to staying safe during a weather event.  In 2013, there were more than 440 weather related fatalities and nearly 2,800 injuries. Deadly weather caused more than $8 billion in property damage and many businesses affected by major disasters never reopen–especially if they do not have an emergency plan in place. Knowing your risk of severe weather, taking action and being an example are just a few steps you can take to be better prepared to save your life and assist in saving the lives of others.

KNOW YOUR RISK. The first step to becoming weather-ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you, your business and your family or employees. Check the weather forecast regularly, obtain a NOAA Weather Radio, and learn about Wireless Emergency Alerts. Severe weather comes in many forms and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazards.

TAKE ACTION. Take the next step in severe weather preparedness by creating a communications plan for your home and business. Put together or purchase an emergency kit. Keep important papers and valuables in a safe place. 

BE AN EXAMPLE. Once you have taken action to prepare for severe weather, share your story with co-workers and family and friends on Facebook or Twitter. Your preparedness story will inspire others to do the same. 

Preparation is the key to making it through any size disaster and having a plan in place may help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive and get you back in the building faster following a disaster. Don’t wait until disaster strikes. Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh t 516 809-9600 to establish an Emergency READY Profile® for your property and be “Ready for whatever happens.” [1]

Build an Emergency Supply Kit

Suggested items to include in basic emergency kit

  • Water (one gallon per person per day)
  • Food (non-perishable 3-day supply)
  • Manual can opener
  • Battery operated radio, preferably a NOAA Weather Radio
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Clothing
  • Dust masks or bandanas
  • Plastic sheeting, garbage bags and duct tape
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Hygiene items
  • Important documents; copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account information
  • Cash
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container

Slight Flood Damage Can Cause Secondary Water Damage

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Water Damage from Flooding Can Expand Without Treatment

There are many different projects that homeowners and landlords can do to save substantial amounts of money. There are a few that should be left in the care of expert professionals. One of these is flood damage. Flood damage, once it has begun to occur, escalates and spreads in extremely expensive ways. The longer you wait to clean up flood damage, or any water damage, the more expensive it becomes.

Flood damage creates risks such as secondary water damage that do-it-yourselfers accept, even if they don't want to, or realize they are doing so. Secondary water damage is multi-faceted and can affect almost every area of a home or business which has had water or flood intrusion. Secondary water damage includes mold growth, bacterial colonies, fungi, and other infectious pathogens developing, and also structural problems with decay and other changes to the materials used in the structural components of the home or building. Flood damage is much more hazardous that clean water from a leak within your home, to begin with, but both can create substantial amounts of secondary water damage.

In addition to the health risks posed by living pathogens such as mold and fungi growing and eventually releasing spores into the air you and your family breathe, structurally, your home or business can suffer, as well sewage backup is often a result of flooding.

Warping of hardwood flooring is a common occurrence, but the buckling and curving of stairwell treads can also happen. This deterioration can create a dangerous climb up the stairs, and can make coming downstairs especially perilous. Door frames can also crack, or swell causing the closing of doors, both interior and exterior, impossible, creating security risks for your family and your possessions. Cabinets can also become warped and panels can buckle and crack. Doors and drawers can swell, sealing them shut, or keeping them from closing correctly. Other flooring types commonly found in bathrooms and kitchens, such as tile and linoleum, can lose their adhesive and mold can begin to grow on their undersides.

All of this is preventable when trained, and experienced professionals are employed to carry out IICRC approved measures to clean up flood damage. It only takes a tiny amount of leftover water to allow the problems above to develop, but SERVPRO the professionals at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh have that training. Along with that, we have the equipment and the experience to deal with any level of contamination from flood water. To prevent secondary water damage, and to clean up current flood damage, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600, 24/7.

Information About Flood Damage

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Flooding is important to take care of quickly.

Rivers, streams, and lakes are almost always overflowing their banks, given a couple of rainy days. 

With only a few inches of water, you can have many hundreds to thousands of dollars’ worth of flood damage in your home or commercial building. A flash flood can often bring a wall of water that is 10 to 15 feet high. New construction in your neighborhood can change runoff patterns in the area and can increase our flood risks. Most insurance plans do not include flood damage, and this must be purchased separately, in most cases. 

Prevention Tips:

 The average cost of flood damage is around $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the type of damage and where the water came from, so any tips that can help prevent this has to be worth the time to try them.

  • An inspection and flushing your water heater once a year, by a plumber, can contribute to preventing it bursting on you and flooding the area.
  • Replacing the rubber hoses on all appliances that use water with metal braided ones can help to avoid the failing of the rubber ones as they can get hard and burst. Check all hoses; even the metal braided ones every year. 
  • Leaks from toilets are often indicated by a little leakage from the base. Ask everyone in the family to stand in the bathroom, after flushing and watching for any tell-tale leaks. 
  • Do you know where to locate the main water shut-off? If a pipe burst, inside, you need to be able to get it turned off quickly. 
  • If you have a sump pump, now is a good time to get it checked and think about a backup unit. 
  • Always be looking for signs of plumbing leaks, such as on ceilings and walls; you are looking for stains and moisture on those walls and floors. 
  • Leaking or even broken pipes are often gushing water, and it is not noticed because it might be hidden. Check out your water usage when no faucets are turned on; locate the water meter and take a reading, then use no water for an hour or so and read it again. Has it moved? If so, you have a leak someplace, so get a plumber to check it out. 
  • Always monitor your monthly water bill. If it goes up a lot one billing cycle, you might have the need for a plumber to come in and check all connections. 
  • Since a lot of water comes from inside your home and can damage many walls, floors, furniture and provide the moisture needed for molds to grow, doing whatever can be done to prevent leaks is a good exercise to undertake. 

Most Common Types of Storm Damage?

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

What Are the Most Common Types of Storm Damage?

Storm damage can occur in a variety of ways including flooding, wind damage, and even fire. Flooding rains can cause extensive amounts of damage to your home, lightning strikes can cause fires, and high winds can cause a number of structural issues.

But which is the greatest risk to your home and homes around the country?

The risk for each of these depends on the areas in which you live. If you live in low-lying areas or coastal areas prone to tropical systems, flood damage is going to be the mostly likely cause for concern. Fire damage from lightning strikes can occur anywhere at any time.

The Most Common Type of Storm Damage

Annually, flooding is the most common and extensive form of storm damage that occurs in the United States. Even during high wind events like tropical storms or hurricanes, the majority of the damage comes from the flooding rains from the storms and not the destructive winds.

Every year, insurance companies pay out billions of dollars to repair flood damage in the U.S.–and that number is only rising as property values increase and the number of homes in high risk coastal areas rise.

The amount spent on flood damage could continue to rise significantly in the future–especially if sea levels rise as predicted. If sea level rise occurs, thousands of homes in the United States will be at risk and potentially hundreds of billions of dollars will have to be spent to mitigate that damage.

Damage from flooding rains can penetrate every part of your home of business structure, requiring the gutting and replacement of much of the structural components inside, including walls, floors, ceilings, and more.

Commercial Fire Damage Restoration in Bellmore / Wantagh, NY

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Restaurant kitchen fire

If you have a commercial building in that has been damaged by fire, it can be hard to know what to do once the fire has been put out. Not only will the premises be damaged by the fire, but the property may also have suffered water damage from the firefighting team and or sprinkler systems efforts to stop the fire. Other damage to your property may include:

  • Discoloration of surfaces
  • Corrosion (particularly of porous material)
  • Soot damage
  • Smoke damage
  • Structural weakness or damage

Can I clean the property myself?

First if you must enter the premises ensure that you know it is safe to enter but do not be tempted to try and start cleaning the property yourself. Not only could this be hazardous to you, without specialist equipment and materials you could end up causing more damage which can add to the restoration costs further down the line. If at all possible try to limit the amount of movement within the premises to ensure the minimum amount of soot and ash being entrenched in soft furnishings and carpets which may render them unsalvageable.

The best thing to do is to call our specially trained team who will ask you a few questions to ascertain the extent of your damage and find the best solution to restore your fire-damaged

What do Commercial Fire Damage Restoration companies do?

Fire damage is devastating and can cause extensive damage to windows, walls, and roofs. This means that it is imperative that your property is properly protected from the elements while the work is taking place.  SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh will make sure that all openings to the outside are boarded and covered up as well as covering any holes in the roof of your premises.

If your premises is also water damaged, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantaghwill use their specialized equipment to remove all water and moisture from your property using a combination of pumps and dehumidifying units to rid the premises of water before secondary water damage causes further issues.

Once we are sure that there is an acceptable moisture level in the property, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh will get to work removing the damage to the surfaces of the property removing all soot and smoke damage. Once this is completed, we can then clean and sanitize all recoverable items to pre-fire damaged conditions where possible using both wet and dry-cleaning methods and give advice where an item is beyond repair. During this process SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh will use industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment to remove any lingering odors caused by the fire. If we can save and restore an item, we will, which will save you paying for costly replacements.

What to do after a home or business fire?

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Fire does not discriminate - it can happen to anyone.

The first 24 hours after fire damage can make the difference between restoring versus replacing your property and personal belongings.  SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can help prevent fire damage from creating long term problems.  

Under normal circumstances, within one hour from notice of a loss, a SERVPRO professional will contact you to arrange a service.  Within four hours of loss notification, a SERVPRO professional will be on site to begin mitigation services.  Finally, within eight business hours, a verbal job briefing will be communicated to the appropriate person.  

Until a trained professional arrives, there are several things you can do to lessen long term damage.

  • Limit movement in the home or business to prevent further damage.
  • Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on carpeted traffic areas to prevent more soiling.
  • Wipe soot from chrome on faucets and appliances then protect with a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
  • Do not attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces.
  • Do not attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture.
  • Do not attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire or water.  

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh professionals provide timely response with mitigation services ranging from fire, smoke and soot removal to contents claims inventory and document restoration.  These services help ensure your property and belongings are restored to preloss condition when possible.

Bellmore / Wantagh Fire Damage Remediation

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Bellmore / Wantagh Fire Damage Remediation

Kitchen fire

Fire damages not only the structure and contents of your home, but the event can be frightening and affects your sense of refuge and safety. Homeowners who face the chaos after a fire need the compassion and experience an established leader in the remediation industry brings to the scene of their disaster.
 
Just a few minutes of inattention can result in kitchen fires from an overheated pan bursting into flames in your residence. Smoke and soot fill that room and move through your home very quickly. Even if you have a functioning fire extinguisher nearby, it takes a few minutes to find and engage it to extinguish the flames, permitting the substances created by the combustion to spread in the meantime. Once the fire is out, you now confront the chemical residue from the extinguisher in addition to the damage from the fire itself. Highly skilled and IICRC trained remediation technicians employ effective strategies to clean all surfaces coated with fire damage and chemical residues.
 
SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh fire damage remediation crew members swiftly assess the damage to the kitchen and the rest of your home. A seasoned manager devises a plan accounting for all the tasks needed to clean the walls, ceilings, floors, appliances, furnishings, and other surfaces soiled or otherwise harmed by the fire and its extinguishing. The team matches appropriate cleaning solutions and tools to the residues throughout all spaces in your dwelling.
 
Ash and light, dry soot responds well to cleaning techniques like vacuuming, with HEPA filter equipped models, and dry sponging. Stickier coatings require wisely chosen cleansers or solvents sprayed on the damaged surfaces and then wiped or scrubbed clean. Fixtures or objects featuring intricate details like blinds or chandeliers may require immersion cleaning. SERVPRO workers are familiar with a broad range of methods that leave the structure and contents or your home cleaned and refreshed after fire damage.
 
An inspection and cleaning of the HVAC system in your fire-damaged home may be recommended by SERVPRO if the fire blazed and smoked near open vents. This step helps assure that the cleaning done eliminates as much of the fire damage residue as possible and prevents the continuous spread of hidden soot when heating and cooling occurs.
 
Rely on SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh to respond to your fire damage remediation needs with professionalism and empathy. One call to (516) 809-9600 delivers the help you need fast any hour of the day or night.

Untreated Fire and Smoke

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage that sat for a while before being cleaned up.

Fire and smoke damage can wreak havoc to your personal property and structures. A quick reaction can help you minimize the impact of the destruction as some of your household goods can be cleaned and salvaged if treated immediately. You should, therefore, hasten the process of hiring a professional to help you manage the damage in a correct manner. Conversely, if left untreated, smoke and fire damage can be more devastating in the following ways:

The restoration cost increases

When the treatment process is extended, the damages begin to get worse and more difficult to deal with. If smoke goes untreated for long, the odors become more persistent and more difficult to neutralize. These challenges make the treatment process harder and more time consuming and ultimately more expensive.

Extensive damage

Smoke and ash can mix with water to produce a very corrosive element. If not cleaned quickly, this corrosive substance begins to slowly corrode away walls, floors, ceilings and any other surfaces in your home. Cleaning up quickly with soap and water is not enough. The substance requires proper cleaning with appropriate chemicals to remove it completely in order to contain the damages.

Soot deposits

Neutralizing of soot residual and deposits is an effective first clean up step. If left for long, soot can easily travel and penetrate into other rooms that weren't affected by the fire, staining the wall paint, carpet, furniture, drapes, clothing and any other household items.

Permanent damage

Your property can suffer permanent damage if not treated in a timely manner. Damage begins to set in within hours and prolonged exposure may cause permanent harm to your walls which turns yellow, metal surfaces begins to corrode, clothes stain permanently and wooden furniture which may need refinishing. It also damages the floor which may need replacement.

Following a fire, it is necessary to seek smoke treatment immediately to save yourself from the effects of prolonged exposure to smoke and to make it easier for you to restore your home. In case you suspect some smoke damage in your residence and need smoke cleanup, water damage cleanup or storm damage repair contact your SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at 516 809-9600

Benefits of a Mold Remediation

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

As spring approaches so does the humidity and that creepy mold that shows up. Sometimes it shows up around our windows or even on our walls. Many people wipe the mold down with their average household cleaner, while others do a more thorough job and call the professionals. Which one is the better option and why?

Cleaning up mold yourself isn’t uncommon and yes, it is cheap. In my case in the past it always seemed to come back with a vengeance, and I would find myself doing it all over again. In addition, my home began to smell musty over the years. The reason: the mold spores were spreading into the air at a rate higher than normal every time I wiped them. This caused the spores to spread once they found a new surface. I wasn’t doing myself any favors, I was making the mold worse.

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh specializes in mold and the containment of spores. We have equipment that can collect those spores in the air and clean the air. Also, the anti-microbial that we use is commercial grade, it is not something you can find at your local hardware store. The techs are certified in mold remediation. Yes, it may cost a little more than the household cleaner but in the long run you are protecting your family’s health and a larger bill by not getting the mold taken care of correctly.

Going to the professionals to take care of a hazardous clean-up all in all seems like the correct decision to make especially when it comes to your family. Do your research, get estimates, and don’t wait! Taking care of that fuzzy little black stuff correctly could be the smartest thing you do for yourself and your family.

Understanding the Mold Process

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Every mold damage scenario is different and requires a unique solution, but the general mold remediation process stays the same. The steps listed below illustrate the “typical” process:

Step 1: Emergency Contact (516) 809-9600

The mold cleanup and restoration process begins when you call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh. Our staff will ask a series of questions to help us determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel.

Step 2: Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh will carefully inspect the area for visible signs of mold. Mold feeds on cellulose and water and can be hidden from plain view. We use various ways to detect mold and hidden water sources.

Step 3: Mold Containment

We use various containment procedures to prevent the spread of mold. We may use advanced containment procedures like negative air chambers to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep the mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process. All fans and heating and cooling systems will be turned off to prevent the spread of mold.

Step 4: Air Filtration

Our specialized filtration equipment allows our Professionals to capture microscopic mold spores out of the air. We utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in process.

Step 5: Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on the amount of mold growth and the types of surfaces on which the mold appears. We use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. Removing and disposing of mold-infested porous materials, like drywall and carpeting, may be necessary to remediate heavy mold growth.

Step 6: Cleaning Contents and Belongings

SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh will clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, clothing, and other restorable items affected by mold. We use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings. We are also trained to remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

Step 7: Restoration

Depending on the level of mold damage, drywall, sub-floors, and other building materials may be removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.

What Is Black Mold?

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Hazardous Black Mold

Stachybotrys chartarum is the type of mold often called “black mold” or “toxic mold”. Sensational news reports warn about the dangers of black mold and these stories can be alarming and confusing. Any mold in your home should be treated with caution – stay out of affected areas and don’t touch or disturb the mold.

How Do I Tell If It's Black Mold?

Since many types of mold can produce allergens and irritants, you should contact a qualified mold remediation company regardless of the color or type of mold. In many instances, multiple types of mold can exist in the same house or structure. If you suspect that you have a mold problem, contact SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh immediately at (516) 809-9600

Places to Check for Mold

6/1/2018 (Permalink)

this mold was found growing behind paneling that was placed directly over drywall.

The best strategy to fight mold is to try to prevent it in the first place. In order to do that we need to understand that mold needs three things in order to grow; Oxygen, Food, and Water. These ingredients are virtually anywhere therefore it is necessary to take pay attention to those places in your home where it could appear and spread. Some places in your home where you should keep an eye for mold are:

The Walls; Mold can appear in the walls of your home due to plumbing leaks. It can growth from the inside, behind the wall or on the wall itself where it can be visible. The problem with the first two is that it can happen without you knowing is even there, by the time that is visible it usually means it is pretty bad and it can be dangerous (Mold is taking over).Therefore, try to check your walls for signs like discoloration and peeling of the paint.

Basement; some of the reasons for mold to growth in your basement may be flooding issues or the condensation from the pipes created from the cold during winter. The exposed beams, the walls, (sometimes carpet), and furniture are usually the items where mold can grow in your basement. We recommend to check this area of your home once a month or as often as you can, to avoid having issues with mold due to not knowing what is happening there.

Carpet;  Mold can growth in carpets due to leaks in the house, flooding, and even pet urine. The problem with the carpet is that sometimes the mold grows beneath it and when it becomes visible it means that it is severe by that moment. You should inspect your carpet around the house to make sure that no water, or any moisture is in it to prevent mold to growth and spread.

Finally, our last recommendation is to always address any water problems that you have right away, leaks, floods, or standing water, because these scenarios are the perfect opportunity for mold to growth. If you ever experience a water loss please consider a professional restoration company like SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh to help you to restore your home and to prevent mold to appear. Remember prevention is the key to keep mold away from your property and your health.

Eliminating Smoke Odors After a Fire

5/4/2018 (Permalink)

Keep the Fresh-Baked Aromas without the Odors--Call SERVPRO

Fire damage is devastating for any business, but if it occurs in your bakery, the odor alone can be a huge problem. The smell of burnt wood and plastic can linger on in your establishment, and if it is not promptly and efficiently removed, it can cause havoc. Not only do you stand a chance to lose a ton of business during the restoration process, but you also might have to deal with customer dissatisfaction if the odor is not eliminated.

Thankfully, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can help you combat the odors after the fire. We can use some of the latest odor eliminating equipment and a proven strategy to combat odors in the least possible time. Here are a few examples of odor eliminating equipment that we can use.

Pressure sprayer
One of the essentials when it comes to odor management after fire damage, the pressure sprayer is a small hand-held tool used to dispense deodorants. These are used to deodorize the surfaces that are easy to reach. Since direct spraying can wet the surfaces, this instrument is usually not used where discoloration is likely. It is an excellent technique for a bakery where there are a lot of table-tops and counters that need to be deodorized.

Ozone machine
As the name suggests, this machine generates ozone gas, an unstable form of oxygen --O3--that can eliminate the odor-causing molecules. Ozone combines chemically with many odor-causing molecules thereby changing their chemical composition. Once they are ‘oxidized' by ozone, the molecules lose their odor. As ozone is not suitable for breathing, all people, animals, and pets must be evacuated from the premises while doing this treatment. The ozone typically dissipates within an hour of usage.

Air scrubbers
An air scrubber is a piece of equipment that physically eliminates odor-causing particles from the air. It works on the principle of HEPA filtration and can trap odor-causing particles as small as 0.3 microns. There is also a series of activated charcoal and potassium permanganate filters that also eliminate odors.

Call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600 today to learn more about fire damage restoration and odor elimination.

Things in Your Home That Should Be Cleaned Regularly

5/1/2018 (Permalink)

Studies have identified plenty of easy-to-overlook spots in your home and among your belongings  that are popular havens for bacteria and fungi.

We’re surrounded by a multitude of bacteria and viruses, and it’s important to know not all of them will make you sick. But if you’re looking for germy places that might need a little extra attention because you’ve never thought to clean them, any of these could be a good starting point.

Your Dishwasher

The dishwasher washes the dishes, but who washes the dishwasher?  Cleaning Tip: use a 10 percent bleach solution to clean your dishwasher’s bottom, sides and area around the seal.

Your Kids’ Bath Toys

Cleaning Tip: Since it’s usually hard to clean the inside of these toys, replacing them might be the way to go. If your kid is attached to the toy, there’s hope: Drying off the toy as soon as possible after bath time is the key to preventing gross buildups.  The toys should remain upright in a dry place away from the bathroom. If you’re past that stage, there are also cleaning agents just for toys.

Your Toothbrush Holder

Good on you if you remember to replace your toothbrush regularly, but don’t forget to clean the holder it sits in all day. 

Cleaning Tip: Whatever cleaner you use, a small bristled brush can help with cleaning out the individual slots. Don’t forget to wipe down the outside too. 

Your Lamp & Light Switches

Hard surfaces that many people touch are ideal for microbes.  So your own light and lamp switches could probably use a wipe-down or two.

Cleaning Tip: Use a microfiber cloth to clean up any gross fingerprints. For the actual switch, use a cotton-tip swab.

Your Cellphone

That thing you hold up to your face every day likely needs a good cleaning, too.

Researchers have found a high level of contamination with potentially pathogenic bacteria. 

Cleaning Tip: Clean that phone, gently. Disinfecting the device a few times a day and remembering to remove the case every once in a while to clean it can prevent buildups. Wipe down your phone with a soft microfiber cloth to take care of a lot of the germs. Also, wash your hands frequently and keep the device out of the bathroom. Your hands and face will thank you.

Your Wallet

Even if you pretty much only use credit or debit cards to pay for things, your wallet has probably seen paper money a few times. And those bills are pretty filthy. Those bills, of course, can contaminate the other cards and various items in your wallet.

Cleaning Tip: Double-check the material of your wallet. Leather, a popular choice, shouldn’t be cleaned with harsh products.  But there are leather soaps and other products available.

Your Yoga Mat & Gym Equipment

That yoga mat you lug to the gym is probably a haven for bacteria. 

If you’re using your own mat instead of one from the gym, you’re already a step ahead of the game. But that doesn’t get you out of cleaning it regularly.  It’s not a bad idea to disinfect your mat ? and perhaps your other gym equipment ? after a sweaty class. 

Cleaning Tip: Use a Lysol spray or bleach diluted in water to clean their mats, and to be sure to dry it thoroughly.

Electrical Panel Safety

5/1/2018 (Permalink)

It's Electric! What You Need to Know about Electrical Panels | Homes.com

A home’s electrical panel is the kind of thing that most people don’t typically think about, that is until they really have to, and then suddenly it becomes one of the most important things in your home! At the very least, be certain that your electrical system is a part of your initial home inspection when buying a new property. Faulty electrical wiring isn’t just extremely expensive to fix but it may even pose a significant fire risk.


Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of your electrical panel, there are some incredibly important safety tips to keep in mind to avoid a fatal mistake:

  • If you feel uncomfortable or lack the experience of dealing with a certain electrical project, call a licensed electrician.
  • Remember that even shutting down the main breaker will only shut down part of the service panel. The terminal points for the power line coming into the house will remain live and their high voltages can be fatal.
  • Never insert any metal tools like a knife or screwdriver into the panel.
  • Do not attempt to remove the cover of the breaker as this will expose powerful high voltage components.
  • Keep an eye out for evidence of scorching or rust as these can be signs of a serious problem with electrical arcing or a water leak in the area.

Location is Key

Your electrical panel is probably located in your garage, basement, utility room, laundry room, or possibly even inside a closet. It’s very important that everyone in your family knows where it is and to verify that it has been labeled correctly, as you may need to get to it quickly to shut the power off to the whole house. If you have kids, take the time to familiarize them with the electrical panel as well so that they know how to safely reset a circuit. Be sure that the area around the panel is clear and not being used for storage so that you can access it quickly. A good idea is to also keep a flashlight hanging near the panel for use during a power outage.

Older homes built before 1960 may have a fuse box that serves the same purpose, with a series of threaded sockets protecting each circuit. Unlike today’s re-settable circuit breakers, old style fuses have to be completely replaced after they trip. Using the wrong type of fuse can pose a very serious fire risk so it’s very important to keep the correct types on hand and to utilize a licensed electrician when repairs are needed. Today’s modern units are significantly safer but can still pose a risk if not handled properly.

Labeling

One of the most valuable things you can do is to take the time to make sure that your panel is accurately and clearly labeled, tracing each circuit to the specific area of the house that it serves. Have a friend or family member help and call out to each other to figure out which circuit feeds each outlet or appliance. You can then use a pen to label each switch or pick up one of those handy packs of labeled magnets to affix to each circuit.

Circuit Breakers

If you suddenly lose power in just one room or on one outlet, you’ve almost certainly tripped that circuit breaker. Circuit breakers are designed to be tripped to prevent a more powerful overload that might do permanent damage to your system. If a circuit breaker trips, unplug everything on that circuit and reset. To reset, find that specific switch in your electrical panel, push it to “off,” then push it back to “on.” You may also hear a click as the circuit resets. If the circuit trips again with nothing plugged in, there’s likely an electrical short somewhere along the line. A licensed electrician will be needed to identify the problem and safely repair it. If the circuit stays active, plug things in one at a time and test them to make sure that power is flowing to the outlet.

Overloading

If you are finding that one or more circuit breaker get tripped on a regular basis, check to see how much demand is being placed on that circuit. Appliances sold in the U.S. are required to have labels that report their average amperage, you can add these numbers up to determine how much strain you are putting on any one circuit at a time. Your larger high wattage appliances like refrigerators and washing machines typically have a dedicated 30 to 50 amp circuit that handles only their needs. Most of the other household circuits are 15 to 20 amps and should be labeled as such in your electrical panel. After assessing your amp demand, you may find that you need to change what draws from where, such as plugging your microwave in a different outlet from your coffee maker to avoid an overload when both are used at the same time. If the circuit continues to be frequently tripped, call an electrician to rule out an underlying problem with the wiring.

Maintenance

Many homeowners will assume that your home’s electrical system requires no maintenance and as long as nothing breaks nothing needs to be done. While that might work for some homes some of the time, a little preventative maintenance can dramatically improve the lifespan of your electrical system and reduce the likelihood of failures at inopportune times.

What Does Insurance Usually Cover On Water Damages?

5/1/2018 (Permalink)

Dealing with the repercussions of a flood or a pipe burst in your Bellmore, NY home can lead to one massive headache. However, it helps to know what your homeowner’s insurance coverage entails and what you can expect to gain from your policy. Whether you have minor or severe water damage, here’s what many insurance companies will cover to help repair and restore your home.

1. They should cover the cost of the damage caused by a broken pipe, but not necessarily the pipe itself.

When it comes time to fix a broken pipe, some insurance companies believe that if a leaking pipe has carried on for a significant amount of time without being treated, then it’s considered ‘homeowner negligence.’ This means they might not cover the cost of the new pipe replacement. However, almost all insurance providers will cover the costs for the extent of the damage that occurred to your home after the pipe burst, including building materials, structural supports and so on.

2. Once a pipe bursts and a resulting flood ensues, that kind of extensive damage will generally be covered.

If a sudden pipe burst happens without any knowledge of leaks beforehand and such an occurrence leads to a massive flood, your insurance company will cover the damage if you have an all-perils policy. This can include anything from carpeting and paint to drywall, as well as the cost of any professional services required to come in and clean up your living space to make it safe for habitation. However, coverage for full-blown flooding versus less-severe water damage can differ depending on your policy, so it pays to be extra cautious when considering which plan to choose for preventative measures.

If a considerable flood occurs in your Wantagh, NY home, it’s important to seek professional guidance before trying to make any repairs or restoration yourself. This is especially true when it comes to your insurance policy, as you might be covered for more damages than you know.

For more information about water damage visit www.SERVPRObellmorewantagh.com

Preparing Your House for Spring

2/26/2018 (Permalink)

This winter has been pretty brutal for many of us and while we may not be out of the woods yet, Spring and warmer temperatures are in sight. Even for those of us that’s keep our houses in tip top shape, a particularly cold winter can wreak havoc on the best of home maintenance plans. Following are some the easiest and most effective ways to prepare your home for Spring showers and the warmth we are all looking forward to. 

First, start with a thorough inspection of the roof. Even if it is relatively new, the weight of snow, expansion and contraction due to temperature variances and wind driven rain can expose the smallest of defects. A thorough inspection of the roof can find problems that, if left unresolved, could potentially turn into significant water intrusion issues later on. Making repairs before the problem gets too big cant extend the life of the roof and save you money in the long-term.

Now is also the time to check vents, gutters and openings around the house. Dryer vents should be clean to avoid the potential of a dryer lint fire, gutters should be free of debris to ensure that rainwater is routed to appropriate areas and any openings at or near ground level should be checked for holes in the protective wire to ensure that pests cannot get in or under the house.

Spring cleaning is not just for the kitchens bathrooms and closets. After a long winter indoors, air quality can really suffer and a cleaning of carpets drapes and upholstery can offer a breath of fresh air to welcome Spring. Not only Will a good fabric cleaning make your house feel fresher, but it may also extend the life of your carpets and upholstery making it look newer for longer.

Now is as good a time as any to double check your fire prevention plan. Make sure you have fire extinguishers in the proper places around house and fresh batteries in the smoke detectors. Replace any old or damaged equipment and double check the expiration dates. Unfortunately, there are times were even the most vigilant of us cannot prevent a home fire, so best to be prepared.

One final tip that many homeowners overlook is the health of their windows. They may be cleaned and crystal clear, but are they letting water into the house? Caulking around windows does not come with a lifetime warranty and, depending on the weather, can degrade rather quickly. If you notice holes or cracks in the caulking around your windows, contact a home improvement professional like SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh. You won’t want to run over the old caulk with a new bead – rather, removing the caulk entirely and re-caulking the window is always the best option.

Small maintenance items handled now can often prevent much bigger problems from occurring in the future. Of course, the professionals at SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh are here to help with any of your maintenance needs. Let’s help you get your house in top shape today!

The Lowdown on Home Insulation

2/26/2018 (Permalink)

Have you ever suffered through a particularly cold winter or hot summer wondering why in the world your house is so much colder/hotter than your friend or family member’s brand-new house? Chances are it has to do with insulation. Insulation comes in many shapes, sizes and materials and can be applied to many different locations. Some insulation options are cheap while other solutions are quite expensive – there’s a lot to consider.

Most of us with older homes do not even think about insulation unless we are embarking on an extensive remodel or if you’re building a new home. However, insulation can be very beneficial even in an existing home. Let’s explore some of the common insulation upgrades existing home owners can embark upon to make their lives more comfortable and even save money over the long-term.

Attic insulation is one of the easiest and most cost-effective upgrades to your home. Chances are that over time, the original installation your home has degraded to the point where it does not offer enough protection from the elements. New insulation products are thinner and more efficient than ever before, and they are even spray on products that can be applied with almost perfect coverage. Not only does replacement of insulation improve comfort in the home, but it is a perfect time to look for defects in the roof or attic often caused by weather extremes for animal intrusion.

Installation can also come in the form of windows. Newer windows often offer much better insulation then windows from just a couple decades ago. If you live in a hurricane prone area such as Long Island, hurricane wind resistant windows not only offer protection from projectiles (and even burglars) but can also make the home more comfortable during temperature extremes. If you’re not ready to replace your windows quite yet, take a look around your windows and doors to make sure there is weatherstripping. Having new and well-fitting weatherstripping around the house can eliminate costly drafts.

Basement wall and floor installation can also eliminate a big source of energy loss. Not only will it make your basement more comfortable to hang out in – especially during cold weather– But it will also help the rest of the house dampen temperature extremes.

Lastly, but not least is checking your air ducts, if you have central air and heating. Over time, these ducts can develop holes and tears that allow cool or hot air to escape, reducing the efficiency of your home’s central air system. Improving insulation of these same ducts can further improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling unit. While some ducts will be hard to access, others can be easily repaired or replaced by a qualified professional.

A note on wall insulation. While older houses typically have subpar wall insulation, which allows a great deal of hot or cold air to be lost, it is not often practical to replace it.

Whether you’re looking for a small for significant installation upgrade, improved insulation offers one of the clearest and most immediate benefits to your comfort and even wallet - in the form of lower heating and cooling costs. Insulation improvements and replacement are also on the cheaper end of the home-improvement cost spectrum. Feel free to call us and learn more about how insulation and other improvements and repairs to your home can protect you from intrusion from the elements.

The Art and Science of Grout Cleaning

9/6/2017 (Permalink)

Every tile job, even those with the most precise and small grout lines, can be ruined by stained and dirty grout. Going online or to the DIY store yields a multitude of tips and tricks, some of which may work and others that are simply useless. Today, we discuss the different types of grout and what can be done to keep it clean.

Unlike many tiles, grout can be porous and over time begins to absorb both the liquid and dirt that falls to the floor through regular home use. Light grouts can turn dark very quickly and require the most care. Similarly, larger grout lines make dirt retention much more obvious. Lastly, rough grout is more susceptible to trapped dirt then smoother grout options.

If your grout is currently in good shape or if your tile has recently been installed, it may make sense to seal your grout. Sealing grout lines retains the new look while repelling liquid and dirt. However, you should be aware of a few important considerations.

  • First, sealing the grout may change its color, rendering it darker. Some grout sealant is specially formulated to avoid this issue.
  • Second, sealing the grout does not mean that it will be perfectly protected. Some liquid and dirt may still be able to penetrate the sealant.
  • Lastly, the sealant must be reapplied on a regular basis, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, otherwise it can’t begin to break down.

There will be times where professional help is needed to bring grout back to a better condition. SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh has the experience, tools and equipment to clean grout in a way that consumer products often cannot.

  • Steam cleaning may be appropriate for most low-traffic applications that are not extremely dirty. Using a combination of the heat and clean water, our commercial grade equipment can effectively extract hard-to-remove stains. This method can also be effective in cleaning the tile in the room.
  • For deeper, less manageable stains, sanding the grout lines and applying new grout on top may be an option. This requires far more labor and, ultimately, cost, however it can improve the aesthetics of the grout tremendously.
  • Lastly, if there is no saving the grout, a complete grout removal and replacement may be the only option. This is a good time to consider replacing the tile as well, especially if it is very old and the homeowner has been considering a remodel.

Here at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh, we are proud to offer cost-effective options for floor and grout cleaning. Homeowners that stay on top of the maintenance of their floor will almost invariably reap rewards in the form of a better-looking floor for a longer period of time. We are here to help.

Practical Tips for Keeping Your Carpet Like New

8/18/2017 (Permalink)

The North Bellmore Fire Department needed to freshen up the fire house and used SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh to clean the carpets in their lounge and

Virtually every home has a carpeted area. Carpet offers a host of benefits, however of all the floor coverings available today, it is one of the most difficult to keep fresh and clean. However, with some diligence and effort, homeowners can maintain their carpets in “like-new” condition for a long time. Following are some practical tips to help homeowners make the most of their flooring investment:

  • Choose a high-quality carpet. While a low price may seem tempting, A better quality of carpet may last longer. Speak to your flooring professional to understand the differences between carpet types and brands.

  • Choose the carpet type that suits your home habits. For example, those with young children or pet may wish to avoid berber or loop carpets that can easily come undone.

  • Consider a carpet with built-in stain protection. These carpets have a special coating that acts to repel spills and dirt for an easier cleanup. While the stain protection is not perfect, it can certainly help.
  • Clean stains as soon as possible.  The best way to clean the stain is to blot with a carpet-specific cleaning solution. Do not rub this stain as it may make a bad situation worse. No matter what carpet cleaning solution you use, test a small spot in an inconspicuous area to be sure that it does not adversely affect the appearance of the carpet. There are also many organic and natural options carpet cleaning.
  • Vacuum often. Depending on how heavily the carpet is used, you may wish to vacuum twice a week or more. Removing deep seated dirt sooner rather than later helps prevent the breakdown of carpet fibers as well as slowing the buildup of unseen dirt within the pile.

What About Professional Help?

A deep cleaning once every 9-12 months is it appropriate for regular carpet use. Hiring a professional like those at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh can keep your carpet smelling and looking great. 

In the interim, homeowners with lots of activity may want to invest in a consumer-level deep cleaning system. These wet-vac systems range from low to moderate in price and can be very helpful when a smaller spill needs to be cleaned up right away.  Of course, these systems often lack the cleaning power of a commercial system, so they are rarely appropriate for whole-house cleaning. For maintenance and larger spill, give us a call.

And of course, prevention Is always easier than a cleanup. Small, common sense moves, like removing shoes at the door can make a huge difference in the life of your carpet.

When Dusting Doesn’t Cut It

8/18/2017 (Permalink)

Dust is a part of everyone’s home life. It simply cannot be avoided no matter how hard we try. And while we work hard to eliminate it by dusting frequently, we may still find ourselves and our loved ones sneezing and reacting to allergens in the air.

One of the most common culprits is an often unrecognized and underappreciated system – our HVAC. Our central heating and cooling units rarely receive the attention and maintenance they need – it is often assumed that the HVAC unit is a sealed and contained such that it only spits out clean, filtered air. This is not always the case: 

  1. Depending on the quality of the filter being used, small particles can still pass. The HVAC filter simply cannot filter out particles of that size. Of course, when choosing a filter with lower tolerances (higher filtration), it is important to remember that it will add strain to the system as less air is able to pass.
  2. Small dust particles as well as moisture can begin to collect in the air ducts and on the vents. While dust on the vents can easily be identified and cleaned by removing the vent, dust within the ducts requires a lot more work.
  3. Mold spores that pass through the HVAC system may become trapped in the ducting. Like the above, the accumulation of mold in the ducting can cause spores to dislodge regularly and cause the homeowner respiratory discomfort.

Regular service on your A/C unit can help it run at peak performance and an evaluation of your air ducts can improve the quality of the air you breathe.

Here at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh, we can evaluate your HVAC system including ductwork and offer a plan to keep it in top shape. While your ducts may or may not need a thorough cleaning now, they will sometime in the future. When it comes time to call a professional duct cleaning service, we look forward to being there for you.

While We’re There

On a related note, homeowners often overlook the cleaning of another important air duct – that of their clothes dryer. Lint builds up in the exhaust system since the lint trapper in the unit is not 100% efficient. Flexible dryer hoses only exacerbate the problem with their lint-trapping ridges. Cleaning the ductwork can be difficult depending on location of the duct and the venting. Further, excessive lint build-up can eventually cause a house fire. 

If you notice that your clothes are taking longer to dry, or are not drying at all, give us a call to inspect and clean your dryer ducts for your safety and convenience.

Preparing Your Business for A Disaster

5/16/2017 (Permalink)

You may just be starting out with your own business or have an established well-oiled machine. Either way, you work hard planning for the future. One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of running a business, is disaster preparedness. After all, most businesses will never experience a serious disaster, so why worry? 

Planning is Not Hard

Luckily for business owners across Long Island, planning for the possibilities of a disaster is not as hard and time consuming as it seems. Here are a few tips to help ensure the continuity of your business, even in the event of a disaster:

  • Develop a comprehensive preparedness plan that covers, fire, flood, natural disasters, criminal behavior and terrorism. Templates for these plans can be found in various places around the Internet including ready.gov, a service provided by the US Department of Homeland Security.
  • Test your program to make sure that employees and contractors know what to do in case of an emergency. Proper testing can identify gaps in your plan and makes for a calmer and more organized response during a real disaster.
  • Backups – At the very least keep crucial documents backed up offsite or in a secure location. Ideally, documents and other paperwork is scanned and backed up securely on the Internet.
  • Train employees in critical skills such as how to handle an active shooter or CPR. These are training programs that save lives.
  • While you may have business insurance, does it cover all disasters? Some policies have exclusions that can mean denied coverage.
  • Have a list of known contractors and disaster preparedness companies such as SERVPRO of Bellmore/Wantagh that can respond quickly to your business needs.

Are You Ready?

You can learn more about being ready by visiting our very own SERVPRO website here: https://ready.SERVPRO.com - see if you are truly prepared for an emergency.

The bottom line: It’s never too late to implement important contingencies to help ensure the continuity of your business.  Not only does an emergency plan help you get back on your feet after a significant event, but it can also save time, money and most importantly, lives. Be prepared!

Practical Tips to Avoiding a Flooded Home

5/3/2017 (Permalink)

Flooding always seems to happen when you least expect it. And oftentimes, it’s while you’re away, making a bad situation so much worse. Fortunately, there are some often overlooked practical tips to help prevent flooding, or to detect and correct it quickly if it does.

First, many of the water delivery systems in your house, such as your faucets and toilets, have individual valves. These valves are typically used to service the system or cut off water flow in an emergency or when you plan to be away for an extended period of time. Over time, these valves can deteriorate, themselves causing a flood. The corrosion can also cause the valve to not shut off, making it that much harder to control the water flow. If you see that your valves are beginning to corrode, or when testing your valves see they do not completely shut off water flow, a plumber or a knowledgeable DIYer can easily replace the valves with little effort.

Shower valves can also be a source of in-wall leakage that may not be readily detectable. Shower valves degrade over time and use, and since these are hidden within the wall, it is hard to inspect them. Speak to your plumber about the shower valve and consider replacing it when remodeling the bathroom, shower or tub.

Many large appliances such as our washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators also get old and may show their age with a water leak. Tubing can leak, and depending on the pitch of the floor beneath the appliance, water may pool in corners of the room that are out of sight. Inspecting your appliances on a regular basis, or as recommended by the manufacturer, can help predict and avoid serious water issues.

You will also want to make sure that the main water shut-off valve (usually found outside of the house) is working properly as well. This valve system should be identified and tested as appropriate, and the valve should be replaced if it does not fully cut off water to the home.

Water heaters are a major source of water leakage. As they age, they tend to corrode and rust from the inside out. This, combined with potential build-up of pressure, can cause the water heater to leak or rupture once it reaches the end of its life. Water heaters should be serviced by a qualified technician on intervals suggested by the appliance manufacturer. If your current water heater is worse for wear, a new water heater is not only more reliable, but will likely heat water much more efficiently, giving you more hot water for less money.

There are various gadgets available in home improvement stores, some which can be connected to some security systems, that can detect water pooling on the floor and notify you via an audible alarm, an app or phone call. These devices can be strategically placed throughout the house, based on where they are most effective.

Once again, prevention is key in avoiding a water leak. But should you find yourself in this situation, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is here to help.

Fire Safety Is A Year-Round Concern

4/19/2017 (Permalink)

When it comes to keeping your family safe, fire prevention is at the top of the list. And while there have never been as many resources as there are today, many families are still unprepared for the possibility of a home fire. Fires kill an average of over 2,500 people every year according to the NFPA and destroy countless homes. Most fires are preventable.

The first key to fire safety is proper preparation. Having a plan and making sure each family member knows it well is key to safety. You can start with the resources found here: http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/resources/safety-tip-sheets.

Purchase fire extinguishers and place them strategically throughout the home. Fire extinguisher instruction sheets typically have a map showing where fire extinguishers should be placed to maximize safety.

Purchase or replace smoke detectors. Smoke detectors are the primary alerting system for fires in the home. There are different types of smoke alarm sensors and some confusion over which is better. Ideally, have a dual sensor smoke alarm in each suggested location, or one of each sensor at that location. If the smoke detector has a heat sensor and/or carbon monoxide detector built in, even better. Refer to the smoke alarm instruction manual for proper placement and locations throughout the home. Your smoke alarm system may also be hardwired with an intercommunication line. Many recently built homes will be wired in this manner. This means that if one smoke alarm triggers, every smoke alarm in the house will trigger with it, alerting everyone in the home and not just where the smoke or fire originates.

Many security systems now offer the ability to add a monitored smoke alarm for a small added fee. The peace of mind knowing that someone is monitoring your home whether you are there or away may be worth the small extra charge.

It is also important to remember that it is often the thick, toxic smoke created by a fire that ultimately overwhelms and disables occupants of the house. Be mindful of this when choosing fabrics and floor coverings, as you may have the option of picking items that are either fire resistant or less toxic. Check for fire ratings when furnishing your home.

Of course, if a devastating fire were to occur, once you have secured your family members, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is here to help with the cleanup. From fire to smoke damage and more, our advanced cleaning capabilities can help you bring your home back to its original condition.

How Your Roof Can Lead to Costly Home Repairs

3/10/2017 (Permalink)

The roofs above our heads represent a physical barrier from the elements as well as an important psychological comfort. Yet, even though a roof represents one of the largest investments in our home, most homeowners do not maintain it as diligently as they would their car. This all-too-common problem, can lead to significant damage inside the home.

Roof maintenance needs to be on the annual to-do list for every homeowner and especially for those of us that live in climate with four seasons. During a harsh winter, our roof is exposed to the cold causing its components to contract. Hot summers have the opposite effect making the roof components expand and placing additional strain on its integrity. Dry and alternately rainy spells can all accelerate the degradation of the roof. 

When a roof fails there can be very obvious leaks from the ceiling. Far more insidious is the leak that is not readily apparent, usually as a result of a defect in a seam. Water may drip into the space between the walls and collect under tile, carpet or wood. By the time the defect is found, it may have already caused extensive damage that went largely unseen. Not only can this water intrusion cause physical damage to the home, but it can also create a mold contamination problem that can cause significant ill effects to occupants.

Some practical tips on maintaining your roof include 

  1. Get an annual inspection from a licensed, experienced roofer
  2. Ensure that all seams, especially those around chimneys and where a flat roof meets the pitched roof or a wall, are watertight
  3. Ensure that any structures attached to the roof including trellises, gutters and more are not rotting and are appropriately fastened
  4. Ensure that there is sufficient airflow into and out of the attic
  5. Ensure that any roof cleaning is performed by a professional with extensive experience. For example, using chlorine bleach to clean a roof can cause the degradation of the nails or screws used to fasten the roofing material to the deck as well as degradation of the roofing material itself
  6. Of course, do not wait to repair or replace the roof when needed

In the end, a minimal investment in ensuring that your roof is well maintained can go a long way toward helping avoid a disaster in the future.

Leave Us a Review!

3/6/2017 (Permalink)

All of us here at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh want to thank you for inviting us into your home and trusting us with its repair. Your satisfaction is of utmost importance to us and we hope that your experience with us was nothing less than excellent.


We know your time is important, but we’d like to ask you to take a moment of your time to review us online and tell other potential customers about your experience. Please leave us a review at your favorite website, including: 



If you have any questions or concerns, or our work did not meet your expectations, we want to hear from you. Please call Raymond Norowski, Owner of SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600.  We are always here to help.

Critters in the Attic Can Cause More Trouble Than Just Ripped Insulation.

12/31/2016 (Permalink)

Racoon entering home through roof hole.

As the cold weather approaches and we start to prepare our homes for the long winter season, we need to be aware of the rodents and pests in the area that are looking for lodging too.  Our homes and garages look like opportunities for shelter for raccoons possums, squirrels and birds.  We have to take a second look and make sure that there are no easy entrances that these creatures are able to use to get into our homes and cause damage. 

The damage that they can cause can be as simple as ripping up some old insulation,  all the way up to chewing up electrical wires and destroying HVAC systems.  Calling an exterminator is essential to get these vermin out as soon as possible so that the damage that they inflict is as minimal as possible.  Once the intruders are removed the job is not quite done. 

Now is the time to call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh.  The waste products that these animals leave behind can be toxic if they become airborne transmitting the Norovirus to everyone in the home.  Calling the experts at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh will allow them to come and clean up the biohardous waste that the animals leave behind.  Once the area is properly cleaned the area should be properly closed off so that the animals don't come back.

The Day It Rained in the Kitchen

12/15/2016 (Permalink)

It was February break, we were coming back from a week of skiing.  The car ride home was long and traffic was brutal.  We all hoped that dinner would be soon.  When we entered the house something was wrong... VERY wrong.  It was raining in the kitchen!  We had forgotten to turn off the water in the house and to leave the faucets on a slow trickle while we were away, so when the pipe in the upstairs bathroom froze at the joint and pulled apart, everything went crazy.  Water went everywhere.  It soaked my cabinets, my kitchen furniture, the hardwood floors, and then went into the finished basement.  It took out the entertainment area.  The TV, video game systems, the stereo, carpets- EVERYTHING!!!!  We called our insurance company and they sent over the SERVPRO representatives to help.  They came right away, they took away what was wet, dried what could be saved, and helped us to tell the difference.  They explained the craziness to us and made us realize that this was going to be alright.  My advice to anyone is- don't go on winter vacation without leaving your faucets on a slow trickle.  And if you ever do have a pipe burst, call SERVPRO first!

Mold Remediation

5/31/2016 (Permalink)

Customer was on 2 week vacation and came home to find the floor joists in his basement covered in mold.

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

  • Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
  • Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
  • Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
  • Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
  • Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
  • Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 516-809-9600

Belmore / Wantagh / Seaford 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

5/2/2016 (Permalink)

Flooded basement

 


SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.


We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - 1-516-809-9600


We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.


What to Expect


When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.


Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:



  • Your name and contact information

  • Your insurance information (if applicable)

  • The street address of the water-damaged home or business

  • When did the flooding or water damage occur?

  • What caused the water damage (if known)?

  • Is there electricity available (on-site)?


About SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh


SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or 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.

Are your gutters properly installed?

6/12/2015 (Permalink)

Plywood and framing damaged from wet rot.

Gutters are an important and often overlooked part of our houses. But, we take them for granted at our own peril. Gutters direct rainwater run-off to help avoid basement flooding and to maintain the integrity of the home’s foundation amongst other things. 


Gutter maintenance is often emphasized, especially during the fall months, when leaves clog gutters and cause improper redirection of water. However, not much is said about the installation of gutters in the first place. A significant number of gutter systems are installed improperly, either by well-meaning DIY homeowners or poorly trained or inexperienced handymen and contractors. Ultimately, any money saved could end up costing much more than the homeowner bargained for. Some of the most common issues with gutter installations include: 



  1. Gutters that do not divert water far enough away from the home’s foundation causing either a) flooding or b) foundation problems. This can either be caused by improper initial installation, degradation of the gutter system or missing components

  2. Poorly installed drip edge that does not divert water into the gutter but rather allows water to rot fascia and roof sheathing. Roofing and gutter installation are two different specialties. Don’t rely on a roofing contractor to properly handle your gutters – make sure a specialist inspects the work

  3. Improper installation or maintenance and/or improper sizing can cause leaking seams, stagnating water and serious consequences

  4. Missing or damaged flashing, a metal barrier meant to prevent water from rotting wooden components of the roof, can lead to significant exterior and interior damage.


In the case of the house featured in this blog post, water made its way into the house, running between the exterior and interior walls. The exterior sheathing, framing and drywall had completely deteriorated requiring complete replacement at significant cost. All of this damage could have been prevented if the flashing behind the gutter was properly installed.


It may seem like an inconvenience, but understanding your gutters, maintaining them properly and making sure they are properly installed can, for a relatively small cost, avoid major repairs down the road.

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