Leave it to the Professionals for Fire Damage!

6/12/2024 (Permalink)

Why You Should Hire Professionals for Fire Restoration - Lodi, California

Long Winter with Bizarre Weather

6/12/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lodi: Water Damage Specialists

2019 has brought some bizarre weather and record breaking amounts of snow. With so much snow in the mountains that eventually will thaw and melt, flooding is imminent. SERVPRO of Lodi specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm/flood condition. During these crazy winter months of 2019 we're ready to help you with your emergency water damage challenges.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Lodi,CA, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,800 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams  that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call SERVPRO of Lodi 24/7 209-368-6119

Is your business, "Commercial Ready"

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

If you own a business and suddenly have a water or fire damage, would you and your employees be prepared?

SERVPRO of Lodi offers the ERP: Emergency Ready Profile, a no cost, useful tool that can help prepare your business for anything that may happen. The Emergency Ready Profile serves as a quick reference document, detailing important building and contact information. It can be an ideal supplement to any existing emergency preparedness plan. Rather than simply reacting to a disaster, businesses can be proactive by establishing a relationship with a restoration company. SERVPRO of Lodi is a leader in fire and water damage response and can help you get your property back in working order.

The Emergency Ready Profile offers the following:

A free assessment of your facilities emergency preparedness.

Secure information in one location that will help you get back into your building following a disaster.

Facility details such as, pictures with shut off valve locations, priority contact information and identification of the line of command to authorize emergency work to begin.

Be prepared by calling SERVPRO of Lodi 24/7 209-368-6119

Standards for IICRC - Water Loss

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) set a standard and reference guide for water damage restoration that SERVPRO of Lodi follows.

The guide known as the S500, provides a specific set of practical standards for water damage restoration. It is based on reliable restoration principles, research and practical experience.

The 3 Basic Categories of Water:

Category 1 originates from a sanitary source and poses no substantial risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure. However, it may not always remain clean after it comes into contact with other surfaces or materials.

Category 2 contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed by humans. It may contain potentially unsafe levels of microorganisms or nutrients for microorganisms, as well as other organic or inorganic matter (chemical or biological).

Category 3 is grossly contaminated and may contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Such water sources may carry silt, organic matter, pesticides, heavy metals, regulated materials, or toxic organic substances.

Time and temperature can also affect the quality of water, thereby changing its category.

*Refer to the IICRC S500 for complete definitions.

The 4 Primary Classifications of Water Damage:

Class 1 is the least amount of water, absorption and evaporation. It affects only part of a room or area, or larger areas containing materials that have absorbed minimal moisture. Little or no wet carpet and/or cushion is present.

Class 2 involves a large amount of water, absorption and evaporation.  It affects at least an entire room of carpet and cushion (pad). Water has wicked up walls less than 24 inches. There is moisture remaining in structural materials and substructure soil.

Class 3 involves the greatest amount of water, absorption and evaporation.  Water may have come from overhead.  Ceilings, walls, insulation, carpet, cushion and subfloor in virtually all of the entire area are saturated.

Class 4 relates to specialty drying situations.  Wet materials with very low permeance/porosity (eg. hardwood, plaster, brick, concrete, light-weight concrete and stone). Typically, there are deep pockets of saturation, which require very low specific humidity. These types of losses may require longer drying times and special methods.

*Refer to the IICRC S500 for complete definitions. 

  SERVPRO of Lodi  209-368-6119

The Pros at Air Duct Cleaning

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

While your commercial business is focused on providing a service, it’s easy to forget the services you need as well. One thing you should always put first is making sure that your employees are breathing clean air and are operating in a safe work environment. Chemicals, pollen, construction debris and dust can easily be transferred from the exterior of a building to interior through the air duct system. Here are a few advantages to having your building’s HVAC system professionally cleaned by a SERVPRO of LODI professional:

• Allergies & Dust - Having your commercial business’s air ducts cleaned by SERVPRO of LODI can help fight allergies because pollen and dust particles will be removed in the process and the affected area will become sanitized and more conducive to a safe work environment.
• Efficiency - Years of dust, hair, pests, and other pollutants in ductwork will hinder an HVAC system’s airflow. A proper cleaning will help remove the buildup and promote the proper airflow needed to run the system at peak efficiency.
• Eliminate Odor - The professional technicians at SERVPRO of LODI use their specialized chemicals to break down the molecular bonds that create troublesome odors. This helps to improve the overall air quality within the entire building and reduces the chances of your employees feeling uncomfortable from strange and unsettling odors that may linger in the air.

For commercial duct cleaning  Call SERVPRO of Lodi 209-368-6119 24/7

Constant Rain Equals Equates to a Leaky Roof!

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

With the relentless series of storms we've seen over the last two years, SERVPRO of Lodi has seen a marked increase in water damage from roof leaks. Roof leaks are a challenge! A roof leak generally happens at the worst possible time, typically during the peak of a heavy rain or windstorm.

Roofs will leak for a number of reasons, including shoddy construction, holes made by animals, missing shingles thanks to intense wind and rain, problems with plumbing vents, damaged flashing, and clogged and overflowing gutters. Consider the age of the roof, too. It may be so old and worn that it’s time for a proper replacement. Additionally, skylights and chimneys traditionally leak because they’re essentially sealed holes in the roof! There's a phrase: there's 2 types of skylights, those that leak and those that will....

Typically you’ll see a stain on a wall or ceiling that’ll give you an idea you have a leak coming from somewhere. In extreme cases SERVPRO of Lodi has been called out when the ceiling has already come crashing down. The insulation in attics is very absorbent and can hold quite a bit of water; a slow leak can sometimes take weeks to reveal itself, usually with a loud crash and ceiling drywall and insulation covering everything in the house!

The best time to trace where the leak is coming from is to examine its trail as best you can when it’s raining outside. SERVPRO of Lodi has the tools to help track the leak to its source. Once it's found a roofer can come by and either temporarily tarp the roof or get it repaired if the rains stopped!

SERVPRO of Lodi 209-368-6119

Why SERVPRO for Construction Protection

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

Every construction project, no matter how large or small, will create a cleaning project. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep post construction cleaning to a minimum, all of which SERVPRO of Lodi can provide. We work with numerous local remodeling contractors to be sure your home is kept clean and dust free throughout the rebuilding process.

Pre-construction site protection certainly has some financial benefits. It will reduce required labor, prevent incidental damage to unprotected areas, and shorten project lifetime. Containment also has some safety benefits – it creates a safety barrier to keep non-construction people away from the work area and it will help prevent the spread of airborne particles/construction dust, some of which may be toxic and difficult to clean completely.

Overtime these particles settle over surfaces and belongings, traveling through HVAC systems and permeating throughout the home. It is possible to suffer from post construction dust for months or even years, especially if the HVAC system has not been properly sealed or cleaned. This can negatively affect the occupants, chiefly those with compromised immune systems or those sensitive to allergens.

Our IICRC certified team creates a site protection plan in accordance to each customer’s unique needs. Construction and site protection can at times be obstructive to those who choose to occupy the home throughout the project. However, our team strives to design contaminate shields that won’t compromise the occupants’ use of the home. By utilizing our vast range of materials to protect HVAC systems, carpeting, walls, ceilings, and everything in between, SERVPRO of Lodi can save you time and best of all money.

SERVPRO of Lodi 24/7 209-368-6119

Why SERVPRO of Lodi for Fire Protection

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

There are a number of causes of fires in homes and businesses. Depending on what materials burn, this can produce different types of smoke and soot.

Below is a list of the types of smoke and soot and their characteristics:

Wet Smoke – Caused by burning plastics and synthetic materials; Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary.

Dry Smoke – Caused by burning paper and wood; Fast burning, high temperatures, dry, powdery, non-smeary residues.

Protein – Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.

Fuel Oil Soot – Furnace Puff Backs. Other Types – Tear gas, fingerprint powder and fire extinguisher residue.

What to do after a fire:

• Keep hands clean and wear gloves so as not to further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas to avoid spreading soot.
• If the electricity is off, empty the freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open to avoid odor from rotting food.
• Clean and protect chrome with a light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
• Wash houseplants gently on both sides of leaves.

What NOT to do after a fire:

• Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting SERVPRO of Lodi.
• Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat, or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
• Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
• Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may result in permanent damage.

SERVPRO of Lodi 209-368-6119 24/7 

What is the Meaning of Acronym, WEA?

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government- alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. Government partners include local and state public safety agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Weather Service. 

Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. WEA alerts can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harms way, without need to download app or subscribe to a service. WEA may be used to share: 

• Extreme weather warnings
• Local emergencies requiring evacuation or immediate action. 
• AMBER Alerts
• Presidential Alerts during a national emergency

Visit www.ready.gov/alerts to learn more about Wireless Emergency Alerts, including how to determine if your mobile device is WEA-capable.

SERVPRO of Lodi 24/7 209-368-6119

Smoke Alarms Saves Lives!

6/10/2024 (Permalink)

For the past 3 weeks as I've stood in my front yard of my home I've heard an annoying chirp of one of my neighbors smoke alarms letting them (and me!) know that the batteries are low. While we joke that the alarm battery usually runs down at 3:00 AM, there is a reason behind the madness!

Smoke alarms play a vital role in saving lives, and when properly installed, can reduce the risk of fire injury in half. The National Fire Protection Association recommends smoke alarms be installed in every bedroom, outside all sleeping quarters and on every level of the house. Business owners should consult the local Fire Marshall to ensure specific building fire codes and smoke detector requirements are met. 

Smoke alarms work best when paired with a fire escape plan. A plan allows your family, employees or clients to escape quickly and safely in an emergency situation. 

Smoke Alarm Safety Tips

• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including the basement. 
• Smoke alarms should be installed away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet from a cooking appliance. 
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. 
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm "chirps", the battery is low and should be replaces right away. 
• Replace smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

SERVPRO of Lodi 24/7 209-368-6119