Electrical Safety

9/8/2023 (Permalink)

Faulty Electricity is a common cause of many fires

Our local team in Forest Grove and Hillsboro is trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification to restore fire, soot, and smoke damage. Electrical fires are one of the top causes of fire damage in the United States.

Here are some electrical safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:

• Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician
• Only use one heat-producing appliance plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time
• Major appliances should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used.
• Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) shut off electricity when a dangerous condition occurs. Consider having them installed in your home.
• Use ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to reduce the risk of shock. GFCIs shut off an electrical circuit when it becomes a shock hazard. They should be installed inside the home in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements. All outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected.
• Test AFCIs and GFCIs once a month according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets. Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets, so you don’t have to use extension cords.

Call Us Today!

When your home or business experiences fire damage from a faulty electric cord or for another reason, you can rely on our local team to restore the damage “Like it never even happened.”  Call us today at 541-745-2097.

Always ready to help!

9/8/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® is always ready for when life catches you off guard.

Late at night, you may be the last one in the office…it’s quiet, it dark outside, and you begin to tidy up your desk to head home. Only when you turn off the faint noise of your 80’s music playing on your laptop do you hear it, you hear something…It sounds like a water fountain. Only you know that your office doesn’t’ have one of those…hmmm…you make the decision that each doomed horror movie expendable character makes, and you start to look and see what the noise is.

As you get closer to the source of the noise, your shoes begin squishing on the carpet below…you look down and realize you’ve walked into puddles of water. You round the corner in the hall and find the culprit - a single solitary sprinkler head spraying water in an awkward fashion onto the floor and surrounding walls. You don’t know what to do?? You worked late, and it’s now after business hours. You try to reach out to your boss, no response. You think of what to do next, and you remember the facilities man that was in to fix the overhead lights last month. You rush to the company call list and find his name and title. You try calling the manager of facilities. He picks up right away.

When you tell the facilities manager what is happening, he instructs you to turn off the water. As he walks you through how to find the shutoff switch and how to turn it off, he says he will reach out to a contact he has within the community. Someone who deals with water damages like this all the time.

You let out a sigh of relief as the water stops flowing from the sprinkler head. A moment later, your phone rings and a SERVPRO® technician gives you their ETA.

Shortly after you notice a bright green van pull up outside and several team members pile out and enter the building. They greet you, their hands full of what appear to be large green machines, with hoses and vacuum heads. Some of the other team members are carrying what appears to be large green fans.

After going over the process with you and confirming they have received the facilities managers signature to move forward, they get to work.

Like a well oiled machine they move throughout the soaked space, assessing damage, and extracting water where needed. A little while passes and the facilities manager shows up, he informs you that you can leave and head home now. He also said you did a great job calling him right away.

As you leave you feel relieved and yet a bit of adrenaline still courses through your body…it has been an exciting evening. SERVPRO® is always prepared, even when life catches you off guard.

Different Ways Water Can Damage A Home

9/1/2023 (Permalink)

Not all water damage is immediately noticeable - flooded crawlspaces often go hidden, until damage has already begun!

A Leaky Basement

One of the most common causes of water damage is a leaky basement. To make repairs, you have to find the leak. We can help address this problem.

Leaky Plumbing

Another cause of water damage is a leaky plumbing system. Unless the system is plagued by multiple leaks, you can do the repair yourself. Depending on the extensiveness of the damage, you can either patch up the leaky pipe or change one or several damaged pipes if the problem is internal. SERVPRO® can always help you with water damage repair that is out of your hands.

Fixing the Plant Root System

Did you know that plant and shrub overgrowth could cause water damage to the home too? When the root system of the plant and shrub is too close to a structure, water could penetrate its foundation. You can resolve minor water damage caused by plant overgrowth by trimming the shrubs and removing water that pools near the foundation of your home.

Damaged Drywall

For ceilings, the usual culprit is a leaky roof or a leaky toilet. For leaky toilets, we highly recommend getting a Plumber to stop the leak. Then let the Professionals at SERVPRO® repair any damages that may have occurred.  We can repair drywall, dry any moisture and help protect against mold. 

Call SERVPRO® today if your home or business is experiencing Water Damage our number is (541)745-2097.

Electrical Fire Safety

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

Electrical fires are no joke. Know what to do in the event of an Electrical fire.

Electrical fires can not only catch us off guard, but can also be tricky to deal with. There are warning signs that you may be at risk for an electrical fire. Knowing the signs to look for can help protect you from an electrical fire disaster.

The warning signs include:

• Circuit breakers that repeatedly trip
• Shocks or tingling feelings as you touch an electrical appliance
• Flickering lights
• Discolored electrical wall outlets
• A burning smell of smoke or “hot plastic” coming from wiring, a plug or an appliance

If you happen to experience an electrical fire, there are steps to take to help lessen the damage, as well as help keep you and your family safe.

• Take action with an appliance by unplugging it immediately and cutting the power at the electrical panel.
• Pay attention to the voltage of the appliance you are plugging in.
• Use a Fire Extinguisher, or smother with baking soda if no Fire Extinguisher handy on a smaller fire

NEVER try to extinguish an electrical fire with water. Water conducts electricity and you could be badly shocked. 

If you have electrical fire damage we can help you at SERVPRO®. We will come out and assess the damage for you. Then we can get to work to make it like it never even happened. 

Keep those Storm Drains Clear!

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

Blocked Storm Drains can lead to flooding, causing severe damage to nearby structures

The Central Willamette Valley region of Oregon is hit with rain storms every year. Beginning in late August the leaves from trees start to drop, which is a leading cause of clogged storm drains.

While, yes, it is primarily the city’s responsibility to maintain our streets and sidewalks, storm drains near a residential or commercial property can become a hazard if clogged during a storm. As the fallen leaves cover a drain, the rain water collects in the streets, and can cause small rivers, which then wash even MORE debris down streets which can completely block up the drains. The increased water build up can flood streets and rise to impact nearby structures. Anytime water damage occurs from flooding, even with minimal flooding, the water needs to be extracted.

Standing water along a street can even weaken the ground surrounding tree roots, putting everyone at risk for a fallen tree! So, if you notice a storm drain covered in leaves and/or debris near your property, help keep your property safe by carefully clearing it off.

If water damage does occur after a storm, SERVPRO® technicians are highly trained in water mitigation. They use state-of-the-art equipment such as powerful pumps and truck-mounted vacuums that will remove hundreds or thousands of gallons of water from your property.

No matter the size of the disaster, SERVPRO® is quick to respond and prepared for anything. In case of a water disaster call 541/745-2097

The Importance of ERPs

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

ERPs are extremely useful tools provided by your local SERVPRO Team to help your business be better prepared for any emergency

Being a business owner can have many responsibilities, and you may have to take on multiple roles.

In most cases, disaster is the last thing you are thinking about, but every business owner, regardless of how new or old your business is, should have a plan and guide for what to do in the event of a disaster.

SERVPRO® of Benton County offers a free community service called the "Emergency Ready Plan", or an ERP.

ERPs are handy little guides that we make at SERVPRO that contain basic information regarding your property, who owns the property, and where your emergency shut off locations are.

We document and photograph where your electrical, water, and gas shut offs are, as well as your sprinkler system and security system. We also have the contacts for those utilities companies in the event that you must make contact.

Key contacts are also listed in the ERP, such as the owner, the insurance agent for the property, the SERVPRO® representative, and the managers of the building.

The emergency contacts and services page has the fire department and police department's emergency and non-emergency numbers as well, that way, if contact is needed, you know where to find all those phone numbers and contact points.

It's very beneficial to have an ERP because although the business owner might know where everything is and who to contact, your employees might not. Having a guide like this can help so much if the business owner is not present.

ERPs are very convenient as well, we are able to provide a paper copy, and we can provide a digital version on the Ready Plan app! Which makes ERPs very easy to access in times of need.

When you run a business, it's good to prepare for not just the next day's shift, but for the things that happen unexpectedly.

SERVPRO® to be here to help! 541/745-2097

Create a Defensible Space

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

Creating a Defensible Space around your property can help protect your home in the event of a Forest Fire near you

Unfortunately during Summer and into Fall, Forest Fires ravage the West Coast.  Thousands of acres of timber are lost.  And, sadly, so are many homes.  While a wildfire is beyond our control, as a homeowner there are certain steps you can take to help reduce your property risk in case of a Forest Fire.

• Install a fire-proof roof. A metal roof is ideal here in the PNW due to the heavy rain and also provides excellent fire protection. Contact your local Roofing Professional for all your options,
• Create a ‘defensible space’ around your home – in some areas, it is required by law. Think ‘Lean, Clean and Green’ – remove all flammable vegetation within 30 feet of your home.
• Clear debris from the yard – this includes dead branches, twigs, any old building material, etc.
• Stack wood piles at least 30 feet from your home, and remove vegetation from within 10 feet of the woodpile.
• Remove lower branches, at least 6 feet from the ground.
• Trim any unhealthy looking trees. Remove dead branches, and clean out dead leaves/dried debris from under the trees.
• Consider removing any trees that are too close to your house – many fires jump tree top to tree top, as well as Emergency Vehicles need to be able to work all the way around your home in the event of a fire.
• Store any fuel tanks, propane or butane, at least 30 feet from the house.

For more information on Fire Safety & Prevention, you can visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/FirePrevention.aspx

If your home is damaged by a Wildfire, or sustains any kind of fire damage, please contact your Fire Restoration Specialists at SERVPRO®!

Professionals at work

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

Your SERVPRO® Team has been train by the IICRC to provide you with the utmost highest industry standards

SERVPRO® is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry, as well as provides training and certification directly to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.
• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.
• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.
• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops THE Standards for the Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO®

SERVPRO® 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 and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO® Corporate Training Facility to IICRC-Industry Certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

SERVPRO can help your business during Wildfires!

7/21/2023 (Permalink)

There are steps you can take to protect your business during Wildfire Season. And SERVPRO can assist you!

Even states as wet as Oregon and Washington are affected by wildfires several times a year. When the Eagle Creek fire shut down businesses our phones rang off the hook with concerned business owners. In times like these SERVPRO® is the first to call as we are faster to any size disaster. 

Some tips from FEMA to protect you and your property from hazards are as follows:

• Wear protective clothing 
• Lock up your business
• Choose a route away from fire hazards
• Close windows, vents, doors, and blinds
• Shut off all utilities, if possible
• Move flammable items to the center of the building
• turn on a light in each room to increase visibility of your property
• Turn off gas lines and propane tanks
• Connect the outside house to water taps
• Gather fire tools

These tips along with preparation and quick thinking can and will protect your investments!

How to protect your home from flooding...

7/5/2023 (Permalink)

Heavy rains can cause water to seep into your home, cause damage and mold

A flood will occur when experiencing excessive rain, this causes rivers or streams to overflow. A flooding in a basement can be caused by water pooling around your home, this allows water to get into your home. A few tips can help prevent this. 

• Properly maintain your property. The slope in your yard and flower bed placement can direct the flow of the water towards your home, causing the water to pool at the base of your home. In some cases, it may be a good idea to install a French drain.
• Maintain the gutters and downspout. It is important to maintain your gutters and downspout as the debris will stop the flow of the water thus making the water run down the side of the building instead of flowing away from your home.
• If your home has a sump pump, it is a great way to help prevent your basement from flooding. This doesn't mean you can just forget about your pump, you will still need to maintain the pump to make sure it is still in working conditions. if you know a storm is coming, make sure you test your pump that it is still working. Having a second sump pump can be handy if your pump does fail. Also having a backup generator can keep your pump running even after the power goes out.

We're faster to any disaster

At SERVPRO®, we are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. A fast response lessens the damage, limit further damages and reduces the cost. Our professionals make disasters, "Like it never even happened."

If your home or business suffers from an emergency, call 541/745-2097