What Does IICRC Certified Mean

6/1/2023 (Permalink)

As leaders in the restoration industry, we understand the importance of a comprehensive restoration plan to help you recover in the aftermath of fire, water, or storm damage. In order to ensure we can be helpful for a variety of damages, we carry several certifications from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

The IICRC sets the industry standards for restoration technicians and is committed to making sure everyone who works in the restoration field is prepared and qualified to handle every type of damage that comes their way.

In addition to the internal SERVPRO® training we have developed with their guidelines in mind, we also carry official certifications in the following disciplines:

AMRT—Applied Microbial Remediation Technician

Designed to cover mold and sewage remediation techniques, the Applied Microbial Remediation Technician certification allows us to help with a variety of mold and moisture needs. Both mold and sewage-related floods need extra considerations due to the cleaning involved in proper restoration; the course is designed to teach both proper restoration techniques in this precarious scenario as well as how our technicians can protect themselves and other areas of your home or business from contamination.

ASD—Applied Structural Drying Technician

When it comes to water damage, drying and treating it as quickly as possible is of the utmost importance. That is why we undergo certification as Applied Structural Drying Technicians. This course has a combined structure of both classroom work and hands-on simulations that allow our technicians to learn not only how to clean up water damage effectively, but how to do it rapidly, as well.

FSRT—Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Technician

A house or business fire is devastating enough, but if there are lingering smoke odors, they can be dangerous. That is why our technicians undergo training for Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration—this course is designed not only to teach them about how to handle the direct damage from flames in the wake of a fire but also how to rid the home of smoke odors and make sure it is safe for families to inhabit once again.

If you have issues with residential or commercial damages, we’re here to help. Whether your damage is from fire, water, or something else, give us a call 24/7 for more information.

Why Choose SERVPRO?

11/7/2022 (Permalink)

Why SERVPRO?

SERVPRO of Piscataway understands your situation. Whether it be Fire, Water Or Mold related we are always here to help.

Our certified trained technicians will make you feel at ease when you speak to them regarding your concerns.

We at SERVPRO of Piscataway work with all types of claims and will work with your insurance company to give you peace of mind.

Emergency Response to Claims

Restoring property is SERVPRO of Piscataway first priority. You will appreciate the immediate response and you will know everything is being done to limit the damage.

Pretesting to Reduces Claims Expense

Restoring property is less expensive than replacing property. Claims Professionals know the rule is, "Restore whenever possible, replace only when necessary." SERVPROof Piscataway  makes sure pretesting is completed on every loss to determine restorability.

Claims Inventory Service

Hard-earned results have made SERVPRO of Piscataway is a trusted company for water, Fire and mold cleanups and restoration needs.

So Give us a call for all your water fire mold and restoration needs

SERVPRO of Piscataway 732-752-4445

Basement Flooded? We are Here to Help!

11/4/2022 (Permalink)

A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall. Basements are inherently prone to flooding because they are the lowest level of a building and are normally built partly or entirely below ground level. There are a number of reasons why your Piscataway basement could flood, including: 

• A blocked or failed sewer pipe
• Heavy rain causes surface water to pool around your home
• Storm sewer backup
• Sanitary sewer backup
• Foundation drainage failure
• Water supply-line break or hot-water tank failure
• And many more

Have Questions about Basement Flooding?

Call Today - (732) 752-4445

If flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your health and safety, and cause severe damage to your home’s structure. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse the problem will get.

The bottom line: a flooded basement can jeopardize your health, safety, and your home’s integrity. It’s worth making a call to SERVPRO of Piscataway and let our trained, professional crews handle the situation safely and correctly. We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals.

We are Flooded Basement Specialists:

• We are Available 24 hours/7 days per week
• We’re a Preferred Vendor to many National Insurance Companies
• We Bill The Insurance Directly – One Less Thing For You To Worry About
• Our Technicians are Highly-Trained  in Water Restoration 
• Advanced Inspection and Extraction Equipment

Basement Flooded? Call Us Today – We’re Always Here To Help (732) 752-4445

What is an ERP?

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Piscataway for more information 732-752-4445

Emergency Ready Profile

No one every plan’s for a disaster but you can plan to be “Ready for whatever happens”

But by developing a SERVPRO Emergency ready profile for your business you can minimize business 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.

ARE YOU READY?

Preparation is the key component for making it through any disaster, whether it’s a small water leak, a large fire or an area flood. The best time for planning is not when the event happens, but well before it happens. 

THE SERVPRO EMERGENCY READY PROFILE ADVANTAGES:

• A No cost assessment of your facility. -This means there is no need to allocate funds, giving you a great value at no cost.
• A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency. - It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from current projects. It will save you a lot of time if ever needed in future.
• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster. -This can help minimize the amount of time your business inactive by having an immediate plan of action.
• Establishes you local SERVPRO Franchise Professionals as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. –You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader and is close by.
• Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin. –This saves time and so we can begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money.
• Provides facility details such as shut- off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. – Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in advance of an emergency so that during the emergency you are

“Ready for whatever happens”

Call us Today to Get Started!

24 hours a day 7 days a week

732-752-4445

Fire Safety in Businesses

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Piscataway 732-752-4445

As a business owner, you are legally and ethically responsible to keep your employees safe. Fire safety is one way to do that. No matter how big or small the business, you are legally obligated to follow fire safety laws. 

Here are 5 things your small business should be doing to keep your property, employees, and customers safe.

Fire Exits

If there is a fire, you need to be sure there is a way for employees and customers to get out of your building. OSHA requires all workplaces to have at least 2 fire exits that are not located in close proximity to each other, and these exits must be kept clear. 

Fire Extinguishers

OSHA requires all workplaces to have the proper type of fire extinguishers based of the type of fire hazards present. For example, a kitchen would have a fire extinguisher that would need a fire extinguisher for grease fires. The fire extinguishers must be kept in good working order and tested and inspected regularly.

Emergency Evacuation

Employers should provide written emergency plans for employees to be sure all employees know where the exit routes are. Employers and managers must have a plan in place to account for all employees during an evacuation. 

Make sure your employees are trained on what to do in the event of a fire and review training every 6 months. Host regular fire drills to allow employees to practice the evacuation procedures.

Fire Suppression Systems

Finally, OSHA requires all workplaces to have fire suppression systems, such as automatic sprinkler systems. When a fire is detected these systems automatically spray water, sound the alarm and alert the authorities. 

These are important steps to follow for all small business owners. Take some time to be sure your business is operating within the current OSHA guidelines. 

If your business sustained fire damage, call SERVPRO of Piscataway at 732-752-4445 to speak with one of our certified Fire Restoration technicians. 

Technology and Water Restoration

8/15/2022 (Permalink)

Flood Removal Inspection Equipment Can Speed Up Recovery of your Piscataway Home

Floodwater can cause significant damage to a home environment. These situations can be even more painful when restorers need to remove further components to repair harm. Interference with structure and contents can increase the amount of time it takes for the home to make a full recovery. Demolishing sections of drywall, for example, creates further damage and lengthens the procedure because restorers must then cut and replace the area.

At our company, we seek to use non-invasive measures in your home as far as possible during flood removal recovery in Piscataway. This approach leads us to use advanced analytic equipment during the inspection phase. When your home soaks in floodwaters, there are visible elements you notice like standing water levels or staining. However, there are also invisible elements like water migration, cavity saturation, and rising moisture content of materials.

Here at SERVPRO, we can assess the invisible elements using inspection equipment. Thermal imaging cameras use infrared light frequency bands to measure temperatures of a surface. While these do not detect moisture, they can detect the after-effects of moisture on a surface, which is useful in assessing whether rising moisture content or migration is occurring. If water is residing in wall cavities, for example, it is likely that the surface temperature drops, which can then be picked up on by a thermal imaging camera.

As far as non-invasive methods are useful, SERVPRO seeks to use them. Unnecessary removal of structural components during inspection can increase the turnaround of a restoration significantly. While it is often necessary to remove the structure to thoroughly dry property and reduce secondary water damage, SERVPRO can use thermal imaging to ensure we only remove structure when needed. In some cases, we can use non-invasive drying tools such as injectidry systems to restore the property.

Make sure your recovery time after a flood is as short as possible. Contact SERVPRO of Pisctaway at (732) 752-4445.

Faster to Any Size Disaster

8/15/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Piscataway 732-752-4445

Residential and Commercial Restoration Services

SERVPRO of Piscataway is a leader in the restoration industry and our professionals are faster to any size disaster. SERVPRO of Piscataway professionals are available 24 hours/7 days a week and are ready to restore or clean your property.

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals

• Provide 24/7 Emergency Service
• Highly Trained Water Restoration Specialists
• Faster to Any Size Disaster
• A Trusted Leader in the Industry with over 1,700 Franchises
• Preferred Vendor for Many National and Local Insurance Companies

Have Questions? – We’re Here to Help^® 732-752-4445

Residential Services

Whether you need emergency flood damage restoration or top-to-bottom home cleaning, you can trust SERVPRO of Piscataway professionals to make your house feel like home again. They have the training, experience, and equipment to quickly get your home looking its best. Our residential services include the following:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services

Commercial Services

Your commercial property’s appearance speaks volumes to your clients. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services, SERVPRO of Piscataway professionals have the training and expertise to help make it “Like it never even happened.” Our commercial services include the following:

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

Fire Extinguishers 101

8/15/2022 (Permalink)

6 Hidden Dangers in Your Home That You Need to Know About

You saved for years to afford your dream home. It has the kitchen you've always longed for, the perfect number of bedrooms, and a backyard that would make any space-loving squirrel jealous. However, lurking inside your home are dangers, hidden like villains ready to strike. Check out these ways your house might actually be trying to kill you and get some ideas for stopping it in its tracks.

1.Beware of Your Window Treatment Cords

The convenience of on-demand, natural light is something many of us never give a second thought. You pull the cord to open the blinds in the morning and go about your day. But one of the most dangerous places in your home is hiding in plain sight. Each month, a child dies due to strangulation from window cords.

If possible, houses should transition to cordless blinds and window treatments. If switching to a cordless option isn't in your budget, make sure cords are tethered and kept out of reach of children. Install a simple bracket to tie off window treatment cords; make it a habit to keep the ends wrapped up.

2. A Dangerous Oasis in the Desert — Humidifiers

For those living in particularly dry climates, humidifiers area a lifesaver and in a lot of ways can be good for your health. They add much-needed moisture to the air inside your home and help soothe dry,irritated sinuses. What's not to love?

However, without proper use and maintenance, your beloved humidifier can turn your home into a breeding ground for toxic mold. If you run your humidifier continuously, the additional moisture can build up on surfaces — leading to accelerated mold growth. Try to limit the use of your humidifier to a few hours each day and take care to clean surfaces with mold-killing cleaners. There are also germ-killing humidifiers that use UV light to zap the mold spores and stop them in their tracks.

3. Poor Quality Work and Lack of Permits

Beware of home improvement quotes that sound too be good to be true. When gathering bids for home repairs, it can be tempting to go with the lowest quote. After all, you think, it's just a simple addition to my garage — why would I need to pull a permit?

"The risk with unpermitted work is that if there is an issue down the road, even years later, and the homeowner files a claim, an insurance company will investigate, "If they discover that the problem originated in unpermitted work, they will most likely deny the claim, leaving the homeowner on the hook for all the damages."

In addition to racking up a serious bill for you, unpermitted work can also pose serious safety hazards.

4. The Aftermath of Leaking Pipes

"One of the biggest dangers that homeowners often forget about is behind the walls. Those pipes that send water throughout the home are susceptible to freezing or bursting,"

And due to their hidden nature, you may not realize you have a problem with a burst or leaking pipe until a decent amount of water accumulates. In addition to the thousands of dollars of damage and loss of valuables, leaking pipes also pose a longer lasting hazard: mold.

Mold can form in a home in as little as 24 to 48 hours after water contact.. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to minimize the potential for damage. A water sensor, like the Z-Wave water and flood sensor, alerts you the second leaking water is detected — helping to mitigate, or even prevent, water damage and subsequent mold.

5. The Stuff in Your House

You love the layout and just-so accents of your living room. You painstakingly picked out the hand-woven wool rug that compliments the rugged armchair passed down from your grandparents. Everything has its place and looks amazing— until you catch your foot on the edge of the rug and go flying head-first into your perfectly positioned coffee table. Every year people are hospitalized due to a fall in the home. Most falls are preventable with a few simple adjustments:

• Secure rugs and carpeting to the floor
• Remove clutter and unnecessary items
• Store shoes, bags, and coats in a closet
• Create proper spacing between furniture and decor
• Ensure adequate indoor lighting
• The Everyday Scents You Love

Who doesn't enjoy the lemony-fresh scent of clean dishes? Or the crisp-linen smell that comes from spraying your favorite air freshener?

However, you need to consider what creates those lovely scents: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are present in nearly every fragranced home product (cleaners, detergents, and air fresheners). High levels of VOC exposure can cause nose, throat, and eye irritation. Additionally, they have been known to cause cancer in humans and animals.

"Most people don't realize that when something containing VOCs goes into a dishwasher that it can be a disaster, "As much as you want sparkling glasses, that awesome dishwasher liquid is toxic when heated. The more concentrated and scented the product, the bigger problems you're going to have. The water transforms those chemicals into gas in your nice, airtight home."

What can you do? switch to natural cleaners, like borax, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, lemons, vinegar, and hot water. And explore the use of natural scents like eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree oils, and cinnamon to achieve the aromas you desire.

With a great home comes great responsibility. There are potential harms and risk around nearly every corner, but you don't need to be afraid. Armed with knowledge, you can karate-chop these dangers and keep your home the safe haven it should be for you and your entire family!

Any question feel free to contact us.

SERVPRO of Piscataway

732-752-4445

How to Avoid Mold in the Summer Months

8/14/2022 (Permalink)

Hot & humid summer months are conductive to mold growth.  Here are some key tips to help reduce the risk of those unwanted guests.

Keep Your Home Clean

Keeping your home clean is important for a number of reasons. The number one thing mold needs is moisture. Once it has this, it can easily grow on a number of surfaces within the home. Regular cleaning of these areas can be instrumental in preventing mold from growing. Cooking oils, soap scum, and dirt can all facilitate mold growth. Eliminate these elements from the home through regular cleanings.

Control Humidity

Because mold needs water to grow, humidity in the home can be detrimental. This can be an especially big problem during the summer months when humidity in the air is especially high. Whether the moisture is coming from outside air, water coming in, cooking, showering, running the dishwasher, or even breathing, it is important to reduce the amount that remains in the home. Wipe away excessive moisture on the walls and ceiling. Make sure fans in the kitchen and bathroom are functioning properly to remove the moisture. For those living in especially humid areas, investing in a dehumidifier may be necessary.

Control the Temperature

For mold to grow, the ideal temperature needs to be reached. The ideal temperature is between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. During the summer months, temperatures are often higher than normal inside the home. Make an effort to keep temperatures inside the home lower during the summer months. Setting the thermostat to the low 70s makes it more difficult for mold to grow. Be conscious of the temperature of your home. Even if you are away from your home for an extended period of time, keep the temperature fairly low to prevent against mold.

Keep Air Circulating

Stagnant air breeds mold. Keeping air circulating through your home will help prevent mold from growing. Keep all the vents in your home open, even if you don’t often go in that room.

Protect your home against mold, even during the humid summer months. By keeping your home clean, controlling the humidity, controlling the temperature, and keeping the air circulating, you can better prevent mold from growing in your home.

Should you find mold in your home, call the experts at SERVPRO of Piscataway. 732-752-4445

Water Damage in Office Buildings

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

When water enters an office space that houses office equipment, supplies, furniture and computers that could be affected, the resulting damage could be costly. Not only is there the potential of damage to office items and important documents, water can seep into the wall cavities and become trapped behind common building materials.  This would only create ongoing moisture problems long after the water damage incident.

All building are different, but each is at a risk for water damage.  Even the most carefully operated office building will likely experience a water damage event at some point.  With hopes it will never have to be used, the building staff should have a well practiced emergency response plan. The speed of response to a water loss is the most vital key to getting back to normal day-to-day operations quickly.

About SERVPRO of Piscataway

WWW.SERVPROpiscataway.com professionals have the training, experience and equipment to manage water and flooding damage. Whether you have a large water emergency or a small water damage event, we will respond quickly to mitigate the damage and manage the restoration project through it completion.

SERVPRO of Piscataway 732-752-4445