Tips to Stay Safe in Case of a Residential Flood

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can help with flooded floors and basements in Guelph

Damage inside of a house is always frustrating but one of the most stressful situations a homeowner can deal with is a residential flood. In the middle of a disaster like a flooded home, it can be hard to figure out where to start when it comes to cleaning up and restoring the damaged area. That is where SERVPRO of Guelph comes in. We are ready to help when called and highly trained in property damage restoration and water damage specifically. 

Here are some steps that can be taken in the event of a flooded home/room to keep you and your loved ones safe:

• Make sure the floor is secure before you start walking through the water or wet areas
• If there is an exposed plug underneath the water, do not walk in that area because electricity can travel through water
• Call SERVPRO of Guelph to help clean up the flooded area
• Wet floors might be slick so walk slowly to avoid falling and sustaining injuries

We want to make tough situations as easy as possible for the homeowner and reduce the amount of stress they may be feeling. Call SERVPRO of Guelph for help with water damage at (519) 837-8787

Flooding in Your Home? Heres Some Quick Tips to Insure Your Safety!

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

Standing water from floods and even smaller puddles in your Guelph area home can become a source of disease and possible electrocution.  All kinds of things can be found in standing water such as animal waste, rotted plants, downed power lines, household waste, sewage and even wild animals.  If the water damage is inside your home, immediately turn off the electricity to your home and watch for any sources that might be contributing to accumulating debris, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.

To help reduce your risk to certain hazards associated with floods, SERVPRO of Guelph suggests:

• Don’t drive in flooded areas.

• Stay out of floodwater to prevent yourself from getting sick.

• If you come into contact with floodwater, wash the area with soap and water as soon as you can.

• Use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer.

• Wash clothes in hot water and detergent.

• If you must enter floodwater, try to protect yourself by wearing rubber boots and gloves.

• Be wary of sharp objects in floodwater.  

• If you are wounded, see a medical professional to determine whether or not you might need a tetanus booster.

• Do not eat or drink anything contaminated by floodwater.

• Do not let children play in floodwater.

If you find yourself dealing with any type of water damage, contact SERVPRO of Guelph right away at (519) 837-8787.  We will be there and make your disaster “Like it never even happened.”

Emergency kit for Evacuation for the Deaf, Blind and Service Animals

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

Low vision or hearing loss may make a power outage more difficult in Boulder and evacuation more challenging.

SERVPRO of Guelph has these tips:

Have an evacuation emergency kit ready.

For people who have low hearing or deafness, consider the following:

• Extra batteries for hearing aids
• TTY (teletypewriter)
• If you Sign, have a pen and paper for people who do not know Sign
• Backup batteries for any augmentative communication devices

For people who have low vision or blindness, consider the following:

• Use large-print or Braille on labels
• Magnifiers or other assistive devices
• White cane (if you use one)

Storm damage makes life more difficult for service animals too.

For people who have service animals, consider the following: 

• Food, water, and other supplies
• Tell emergency responders that your service animal travels with you
• Shelters and other buildings may not refuse entry to a service animal 

SERVPRO of Guelph

(519) 820-0858

What to do if you have PTSD in Thunderstorms...

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know that almost 7% of people in the U.S. have suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

People who have PTSD may experience panic during thunderstorms. Thunderstorms and lightning can set off  a person’s alarm bells.

SERVPRO of Guelph offers these guides to coping with PTSD during storms: 

The best strategy is to be prepared.

• Take care of your emotional health. See a therapist. Learn relaxation exercises. When you feel anxious, you can relax yourself
• Know when a thunderstorm is likely. Plan what you will do during a thunderstorm  
• Take care of your physical health. Eat a healthy diet. Get enough sleep. Do not rely on alcohol or other drugs.  

During a Thunderstorm...

• Slow down your breathing
• Look around. Notice where you are. Notice that you are in a safe place
• Distract yourself from the storm. Wear headphones and listen to music. Sit in a pop-up tent
• Talk with someone you trust

All of this can be compounded if the storm generates damage to your home or office. Sometimes flooding occurs, while other times you may spring a leak. If this happens, give SERVPRO of Guelph a call and we can make the water damage “Like it never even happened.”

Fire Damage Can Happen...

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Damage to a bedroom in Guelph

Smoke and soot are very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odour. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.

The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Guelph will determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odour. 

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odour, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage? Call SERVPRO of Guelph (519) 837-8787

Has your Commercial Property suffered a loss?

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Your partner in Disaster Restoration

At SERVPRO® of Guelph we know that time is money, and when you suffer a loss at your commercial property, it is important to move as quickly as possible to minimize the disruption to your business and loss of revenue. Commercial cleaning and restoration present unique challenges, and our crews have the know-how and the expertise to tackle those challenges with unique solutions. No job is the same, and we understand that, which means that your job will be handled with the utmost care and consideration. We strive to return your commercial property back to normal and make it “Like it never even happened."

• Small Office Buildings
• Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
• Apartment Buildings
• Restaurants
• Hotel/Motels
• Small Retail Stores
• Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
• High-Rise Residential
• Manufacturing & Industrial
• Government/Military

We know your commercial building will require a professional restoration company. SERVPRO® of Guelph has the most resources, experience and trained personnel to restore commercial properties in Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and surrounding communities. Know that SERVPRO® of Guelph will respond 24/7/365 to mitigate the property and restore it as quickly as possible so you can get back to business. Call (519) 837 8787

When flooding hits, SERVPRO of Guelph is ready!

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Severe weather refers to any meteorological phenomena with the potential to cause damage. These could include Wind, Hail, Water, Wildfires, Thunderstorms, Downbursts, Tornadoes, Ice Storms etc.

When the flood water recede, and you are in the middle of a disaster with multiple communities damaged it can be difficult to make the right decisions. Your thoughts are usually filled with, now what? How am I going to deal with this? Who can I call for help?

Call SERVPRO of Guelph! We are centrally located and service Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and all surrounding communities. Our storm teams are always available and ready to assist.

If your community has been affected by storm damage, know the SERVPRO of Guelph will be there to help.

Call (519) 837-8787 24/7   

SERVPRO Ready Plan

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Guelph is ready to make any disaster "Like it never even happened."

Have you heard that SERVPRO offers a FREE Emergency Ready Plan App?!

You can download it from the iTunes store today!!  This SERVPRO Ready Plan “allows for the creation of an emergency ready profile containing critical property information to help speed up response time after fire or water damage.”  

We are sure that whether you are running a business or a household you have a million different decisions to make daily.  This SERVPRO Ready Plan App will help make your life a bit easier by walking you through creating a plan of action if you ever were to have an emergency disaster situation on your business or personal property.   

It's crucial to be prepared and have a plan for your business or home *before* an emergency occurs so that everyone knows what to do if a disaster were to happen.  When water is pouring through the ceiling into your workspace you don't have time to check references or read online reviews of a particular restoration company which is why we strongly encourage you to download this app.  

Choosing a Disaster Restoration Company

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Guelph, your partner in disaster restoration...

The last thing anyone wants to deal with is a disaster to their home or property. SERVPRO of Guelph understands it can create unwanted stress when it comes to choosing a restoration company. In an effort to help offset that stress you can feel, here are a few things to be on the lookout when choosing a company to restore your home or office after a disaster:

• Trained and Certified by the IICRC  
• The IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Company) sets the standard in the disaster restoration industry. Choosing a company that has been trained and certified by the IICRC ensures you are working with professionals who truly know what they’re doing. 

• Response Time
• Disasters rarely happen on the clock. This means you need a restoration company that is always available to help whether it is on a weekend, holiday, or even during pandemic shutdowns. It’s important to choose a company that is always open. SERVPRO not only remained open during the shutdown, but we also assisted other essential businesses in keeping their doors open and employees safe by providing proactive disinfection services. We pride ourselves in not only always being open but also being faster to any size disaster.

• Manpower
• Major storm events can place a huge strain on restoration companies as they try to help their communities put the pieces of “normal life” back together. If the company isn’t adequately scaled to deal with the needs of their customers, this could result in job delays and cause even more damage than the storm itself. When that happens, instead of trusting out-of-town storm chasers who are here today and gone tomorrow, it’s critical to be able to count on your local disaster restoration company to answer your call among the dozens or hundreds of others that come in as a result of these storms. Thankfully, SERVPRO of Guelph is not only capable of dealing with the needs of our customers in the territories we serve, but at our disposal are 1700+ franchises that are able to work together to serve our customers following large-scale disasters. 

The aftermath of these events, though shocking, does not have to be stressful. Whether its water, fire, or storm damage, the result of these disasters require the attention of a professional and trustworthy disaster restoration company, a company such as SERVPRO. 

SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

If disaster strikes your home or business, the SERVPRO Ready Plan app helps save time and eliminate damages. Timely mitigation is KEY...

Have you heard that SERVPRO offers a FREE Emergency Ready Plan App?!

You can download it from the iTunes store today!!  This SERVPRO Ready Plan “allows for the creation of an emergency ready profile containing critical property information to help speed up response time after fire or water damage.”  

We are sure that whether you are running a business or a household you have a million different decisions to make daily.  This SERVPRO Ready Plan App will help make your life a bit easier by walking you through creating a plan of action if you ever were to have an emergency disaster situation on your business or personal property.   

It's crucial to be prepared and have a plan for your business or home *before* an emergency occurs so that everyone knows what to do if a disaster were to happen.  When water is pouring through the ceiling into your workspace you don't have time to check references or read online reviews of a particular restoration company which is why we strongly encourage you to download this app.