Recent Posts

Fire Safety while Grilling

6/21/2023 (Permalink)

At home grilling is an activity that almost everyone enjoys and should be conducted safely with a few precautions. If one is not careful, grill fires may break out occasionally causing causalities of the food, surrounding area, and sometimes people. Here are some things you should keep in mind when grilling this summer to prevent grill fires: 

  • Don't leave the grill unattended
  • Clean the grill after use to prevent flare ups
  • Remove flammable items from around the grill
  • Keep your grill in good condition, never operating a faulty grill 
  • Keep a fire extinguisher nearby for necessary situations
  • Insure connections between the gas tank and grill are secure
  • Never cook too close to a building

Home Fires 

A grill fires that grows into a home fire can be a damaging and stressful event. The best way to recover in this situation is by calling professional fire remediation company. These companies have qualified teams prepared to restore any damage caused by smoke, soot, or fire. 

Barbecue Fires
What do you do when your barbecue catches on fire? Remain calm. Check that there is nothing flammable near the grill. It is important that the fire stay contained in order to prevent further damage. If possible, turn off the burners and the line from the gas tank. If necessary, use a fire extinguisher to quench flames, otherwise the fire should decrease naturally and go out on its own. If handled properly, a grill fire may ruin your food but at least your home is spared. 

Why Content Clean?

6/21/2023 (Permalink)

What is Content Cleaning? 

When disaster occurs, many steps must be taken to ensure the property is safe, clean, and restored. One crucial step of the restoration process is content cleaning. Many may ask, what is content cleaning? Content cleaning is the process in which belongings, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and personal items, are removed, packed, cleaned, and restored. This process removes all contaminants from items preventing potential exposure to harmful hazardous material. 

When Does Content Cleaning Occur? 

After disaster occurs, one should immediately contact a professional restoration company to inspect the situation. This company should be experienced in the field of restoration and content cleaning, possessing all of the necessary equipment, cleaning agents, licenses, and certifications to operate. The longer you wait to have your contents cleaned and restored the worse the damage will become. One should call a restoration company 24-48 hours after the loss to insure relatively fresh damage. 

The Content Cleaning Process

Once the company has been contacted, they will complete a process which goes through many stages to insure a full restoration of contents. 

1. Inspection 

In the first stage, an expert from the restoration company will be sent out to determine the extent of damage and assess the cleaning methods needed for the belongings. 

2. Pack Out

Once the items have been inspected, they will be packed out, labeled, removed, and transported from the premises for cleaning at the company's facility. 

3. Cleaning 

At the facility, the technicians will use specialized equipment and cleaning agents to remove contaminants and restore contents to the previous condition. 

4. Storage

Many times the contents have been fully cleaned before the property has been restored. In these cases, the contents will be packed and stored at the climate controlled, secure facility to await transportation to the restored property.

5. Return

The final stage is the return stage. This includes the return and transportation of cleaned content to the restored facility. The technician will unpack, inspect, and insure the proper placement of belongings. 

Disaster often occurs, when this happens one must immediately call a restoration professional to take necessary steps to insure the property is safe, clean, and restored. A crucial step in this is content cleaning. Content cleaning is the process in which belongings, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, and personal items, are removed, packed, cleaned from hazardous material, and restored. Remember, don't wait to call a professional. The damage will only increase if given time.  

SERVPRO Makes The Rounds

6/14/2023 (Permalink)

When you've suffered a fire or water, your first step is to hire an experienced fire and water cleanup and restoration company like SERVPRO.

SERVPRO maintains highly qualified and trained professionals to deal with the mitigation after a fire or water damage.  The mitigation includes specific protocols, processes, actions, and activities that are taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards and their impacts.  Once the personal property has been properly removed from the loss, the first step in mitigation is having a demolition performed correctly.  There is a proper way to remove a variety of materials without damaging adjacent materials. 

At SERVPRO, our crew chiefs and production managers have the knowledge, skill, and experience to ensure home or business mitigation needs are handled correctly.  There are seven reasons why SERVPRO removes materials:

[1] we remove materials to eliminate safety hazards,

[2] we remove materials that have suffered primary damage and are not restorable,

[3] we remove porous materials that have come in contact with contamination,

[4] we remove porous materials that are holding odor,

[5] we remove vapor barriers to assist with drying efforts,

[6] we remove materials to reduce drying time, and

[7] we remove materials to open cavities or areas to provide additional needed services. 

AN IMPORTANT REMINDER DURING WILDFIRE SEASON:  Many families choose to live in remote, wooded forests or wildland areas surrounded by trees which can create a real danger to your home due to wildfire.  It is important to know how to protect your home.  One of the many steps to consider is the fire resistance of your home, the land surrounding your home, and the nature of the vegetation that grows near it.  You can locate a homeowner's checklist on the FEMA website that will help you learn what you can do before a wildfire happens in your area.  Do not hesitate to contact your local fire department for information about local fire laws, building codes, and protection measures.  Everyone needs to be ready for emergency evacuation as it may be the only way to protect your family and business in a wildfire. Know where to go and what to bring with you. You should plan several escape routes in case roads are blocked by a wildfire.

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. 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. 

With 24/7 Services

6/14/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

  • 24-Hour Emergency Service
  • Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
  • Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
  • A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry
  • Locally Owned and Operated

Residential Services

Whether your home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

  • Water Damage Restoration
  • Fire Damage Restoration
  • Mold Remediation
  • Storm Damage Restoration
  • Cleaning Services
  • Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to strike your commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business.

  • Commercial Water/Storm Damage Restoration
  • Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
  • Commercial reconstruction
  • Mold Remediation

What Are The Steps After A Storm

6/2/2023 (Permalink)

Be careful to take certain precautions after the storm has passed. Damage to your home can have a dramatic emotional impact, and it's best to have a plan before the storm strikes for how to reenter your home. Having a plan, and being aware of certain risks, will minimize the threat of harm to you or your family.  

Keep these tips in mind:

  • Stay tuned to local news organizations, such as a radio or television station, for important announcements, bulletin, and instructions concerning the storm area, medical aid and other forms of assistance, such as food, water and shelter.  
  • Remember that you may not have immediate access to your home. Emergency rescue crews, power crews and other personnel may be attending to special needs. Roads could be blocked, power lines could be down and people may be trapped and in need of assistance.  
  • Make sure that you have current identification. You may have to pass through identification check points before being allowed access to your home/neighborhood.  
  • Avoid driving as roads may be blocked.
  • Avoid downed power lines even if they look harmless.
  • Flooding brings with it the risk of waterborne bacterial contamination.

These are just a few ideas to be thinking about before and after a severe storm hits. Remember to keep your radio tuned to a station issuing emergency bulletins and updates with the latest information.

From Red Cross They Explain To Stop Home Fire

4/18/2023 (Permalink)

The American Red Cross has gone to great lengths on their web page providing tips and suggestions on home fire prevention. 

The 7 Ways to Prepare for a Home Fire

1. Install the right number of smoke alarms. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year.


2. Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.


3. Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.


4. Establish a family emergency communications plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.


5. Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year. Press the smoke alarm test button or yell “Fire“ to alert everyone that they must get out.


6. Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.


7. Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

For more details visit:

http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire/home-fire-preparedness

If your family has just suffered a home fire, please call SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna at 916-525-1241. We are here to help you 24/7.

COmmerical Business Restoration For Companies

4/18/2023 (Permalink)

Water or fire damage on your commercial property is serious. SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna is here to help you. 

Commercial Building Restoration Services

We are available 24 hours a day to get your Elk Grove business back up and running. Our expertise includes restoration services for fire and water damage, including electronics restoration and document drying. We are also your business’s best resource for mold remediation. Learn more about our commercial restoration services:

  • Commercial Water Damage Restoration
  • Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
  • Commercial Mold Remediation
  • Commercial Cleaning Services
  • Commercial Storm and Major Events

About SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna

SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna 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.

Visit our crew page.

For more information on our company click here.

SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna is here to take care of you – call 916-525-1241. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SERVPROelkgrovelaguna/ and online http://www.SERVPROelkgrovelaguna.com.

Read what our customers are saying: http://www.SERVPROelkgrovelaguna.com/testimonials

The Average Cost of Fire Damage

4/10/2023 (Permalink)

If you are faced with fire damage, call SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna at 916-525-1241 for 24/7 emergency service.

Dealing with water or fire damage can stressful. Hopefully, you have had a chance to work with SERVPRO of Fair Oaks/Folsom to get you through that trying time. However, when it is all said and done, you may have some remodeling to do. Though it is certainly rough to deal with the damage, remodeling can be enjoyable and even fun. 

According to ImproveNet.com there are quite of few things to consider when repairing after fire and smoke damage:

Average Cost of Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Repair 

The average cost of repair and restoration services after fire and smoke damage is $2,950. The total cost that a homeowner pays for such repairs will depend on the location and extent of the damage. For example, fire damage to a kitchen may cost more to repair than damage to a closet due to the expense of replacing costly cabinets and appliances. The out of pocket amount that a homeowner pays to have fire and smoke damage repairs might be reduced by homeowner's insurance coverage. 

Types of Repairs for Fire and Smoke Damage 

Water used to extinguish a fire can saturate the walls and floors of the home. The water can quickly cause mold growth and wood rot if the water isn't removed and the home thoroughly dried. Soot from the fire can saturate and stain anything upholstered. Professional restoration is needed in order to salvage the furnishings as well as linens, draperies and carpet. Smoke discoloration and odors can pervade almost everything in a home, including furnishings, carpets and rugs, linens and clothing. Professional restoration is essential in order to save those items. The smoke can also damage the home's air ducts, resulting in foul odors each time the furnace or air conditioner turns on. Restoration and repair services are needed to clean the ducts before the HVAC system is used again.

Visit: http://www.improvenet.com/r/costs-and-prices/fire-damage-restoration for more details.

Visit http://www.SERVPROelkgrovelaguna.com/fire-smoke-damage-restoration to find out how SERVPRO can help you during a fire emergency. 

If you have fire or water emergency be sure to call SERVPRO of Elk Grove/Laguna 916-525-1241 - we can help you today. 

Being Storm Ready

2/23/2023 (Permalink)

Technology is a great tool to help prepare for emergencies or disasters, as well as a great way to stay informed of the situation and in communication with others. The following tips will help you be ready in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Store Information Online

There are many online services that offer free ways to store different types of files, from photos to images of important documents. It’s a good idea to save an electronic version of insurance policies, identification documents, medical records, and even information on your pets.

Follow the News

Stay informed by following local news channels and community groups online. You can also sign up for free electronic alerts to the most up-to-date information in a disaster situation. 

Mark Yourself Safe

There are many organizations and social media platforms that offer ways to list yourself as safe or find family and friends in situations where communication is difficult to establish. Facebook also has a feature called Safety Check that is activated after natural disasters or a crisis. You will receive a notification from Facebook if you’re located in the affected area at that time.

Keep in Touch

Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in your phone and e-mail for communication with family, friends, business contacts, and others whom you may need to get in contact with before, during, or after an emergency or disaster.

Charge Up

Keep a portable charger in your car and home in case of an emergency. You can also buy solar-powered chargers.

Get an Emergency READY Profile®

SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna offers Emergency READY Profiles® (ERP) for free to help prepare your business for an emergency. By developing a SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna Emergency READY Profile® for your business, you can minimize interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business.

Contact us today at 916-525-1241for more information on developing an ERP for your business, and SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna will be there to help make it “Like it never even happened.” 

Your Possessions After The Fire

2/23/2023 (Permalink)

Your valuable possessions may look ruined after a fire or water event but that’s not necessarily true. An ultrasonic cleaning system from SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna may restore your possessions. It’s a most efficient and effective way to restore your smoke, water, soot, and mold damaged property.

Ultrasonic systems use a process known as cavitation. Our ultrasonic systems can perform intense cleaning. They create millions of microscopic bubbles to help remove dirt, mold, and soot even from hard-to-reach crevices. The bubbles are repeatedly formed and immediately collapse. This action causes the bubbles to penetrate into every niche and crevice. There’s no scrubbing or abrasive chemicals. The process involves submerging your items into a pre-wash station, then a wash station, then a rinse station.

The ultrasonic process at SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna uses ultrasound (usually from 20–400 kHz) and an appropriate cleaning solvent (sometimes ordinary tap water) to clean items. While the ultrasound works with just water, using a solvent appropriate for the item to be cleaned and the type of soiling present enhances the cleaning.

Some Restored As Good As New

Fire is terribly destructive. Items that are physically burned or melted cannot be restored. But SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna can restore property that has been engulfed in smoke, covered in soot, stained or discolored by water or contaminated by chemicals or molds. With ultrasonic cleaning we can restore some items to be functional or even to good-as-new condition: Like it never even happened.

Among the items ultrasonic cleaning might save without removing them from your home or property are:

  • Children’s toys
  • Dishes
  • Golf clubs
  • Knick-knacks
  • And more

A different cleaning process at SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna can save some:

  • Computer monitors
  • Electrical appliances
  • Industrial parts
  • Televisions
  • And more