How Chicago Residents Can Restore their Homes after Water Damage

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

Our entire team stands ready to provide professional cleanup and water damage restoration services day or night in Chicago.

SERVPRO Assists with Water Cleanup in the Chicago Area

Most water intrusion events occur due to appliance malfunction or problems with your home's internal drainage. Although, severe weather conditions cannot be ruled out as a potential threat to structure and contents. Reducing the impact of water intrusion relies on drying the property as quickly as possible before cleaning and restoring the existing damage.

In Chicago, restoring water damage is a highly specific task best handled by professional restoration technicians. SERVPRO technicians use a range of strategically placed equipment in affected areas to maximize drying efficiency during the drying phase. A technician may use pumping equipment or water extractors for liquid water, which are far more effective than fans, natural air circulation, and air-moving devices. Dehumidification is also an essential tool to dry a wet home. Unlike other equipment designed to shift or evaporate liquid water, dehumidifiers focus on removing water vapor from the house. Without dehumidifiers, evaporated moisture in the air can re-condense onto surfaces and promote unwanted secondary water damages like mold growth. Dehumidifiers come in two categories: a refrigerant, which removes moisture through cooling air to the dew point, and a desiccant, which uses a Silica gel to chemically separate water molecules from the air.

How Drying Equipment Fulfills Restoration Objectives

• Water extractors and pumps transport liquid water out of the property
• Air movers and fans evaporate moisture from wet surfaces
• Dehumidification removes evaporated moisture from the air to prevent recondensation

Restoring a property to its pre-incident condition includes the home structure and your belongings. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also states that returning a property to a habitable condition includes fixing essential parts of the home, such as electric or water supply. SERVPRO has several methods for restoration after water intrusion. Your home restoration includes dry cleaning wet clothing or fabrics and sanitizing surfaces to protect them from potential microbes like bacteria, mold, and viruses. In some cases, repainting walls, replacing carpets, and cleaning upholstery is necessary to restore the home to its preloss condition. Our goal is to make your water damaged home appear “Like it never even happened.”

How We Restore Home and Contents After Water Intrusion

• Packing out specific clothing, textiles, or belongings for special cleaning services such as Esporta washing
• Either drying or replacing floor materials, including wood, carpet, and concrete
• Spot cleaning to remove watermarks and stains from upholstery

Water damage is an urgent issue for homeowners. If water remains in the home, it can quickly stagnate or cause secondary damages. Using a tried and tested formula for drying, cleaning, and restoring your home is the surest way to prevent unnecessary losses. Our team holds qualifications from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certifications (IICRC), a nationally accredited and recognized institution. By combining training with equipment and commonly accepted protocols and recommendations, we can ensure your home does not become permanently damaged by faulty appliances or water leaks.

Homeowners can also benefit from our specialty cleaning services for sentimental or high-value belongings. Typical belongings reserved for specialty cleaning are essential documents, sculptures, paintings, and other artwork. Some of our practices for restoring these items include rapid freeze-drying that can help to prevent further damages occurring to belongings that are wet or otherwise have significant exposure to water. There is the option to have an art curator and specialist restore water damaged high-value artifacts.

Homes in Chicago can recover quickly from water intrusion with the right services and equipment. Contact SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / South Chicago City for quoting water damage cleanup and restoration at (773) 337-3900.

Recovery from Fire Damage for Chicago Residents

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

Our technicians use a combination of devices and machines to pluck smoke and soot particles from your home in Chicago.

SERVPRO in Chicago Has Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians for Any-Size-Disaster

Fires affect millions of homeowners each year. Common causes are unattended stoves or malfunctioning electronics. Damage can include smoke staining, odor problems, and charring. Our role is to make sure your home returns to a preloss condition while minimizing inconvenience to your everyday life.

When fire damage affects your Chicago home, it is vital to enlist a qualified restoration service for assessment. Fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) can use their training to reduce the turnaround time of restoration. One method is by understanding how smoke moves through a property which allows us to find and assess the most likely areas where soiling conglomerates. Convection, for example, is a rule of thermodynamics. It dictates that hot air rises above cool air. When this process occurs, it generates air movement as hot air replaces cold air. In an enclosed environment, this air displacement creates pressure that drives hot smoke into the upper portions of the room. Typically, the areas with the most damage in any fire scenario are the ceilings directly above the flames. The driven smoke can push into cooler surfaces, increasing the number of smoke deposits in your home. In some situations, it can even bond soot particles to surface material.

The Impact of Surface Temperature on Fire Damage

• High-temperature smoke attracts to cold surfaces.
• High concentrations of smoke residue are typically found on cooler external walls, windows, and inside furniture or cupboards.
• A professional must assess heavy soiling on interior surfaces before introducing water or other cleaning methods.

Carrying out a time-efficient initial assessment can be very helpful in reducing the stress of homeowners facing a fire damaging disaster. Our one-four-eight policy ensures that we arrange a service with you within one hour of notification of loss. We can send expert technicians to your property within four hours and produce a working estimate for you and your insurance adjuster within eight hours. Returning burnt homes to a preloss condition is most efficient following a thorough pre-test of different smoke residues and their response to cleaning efforts. We can then make informed choices about the necessary equipment, methodology, and time frames for restoring your home. SERVPRO always prioritizes essential areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms, to ensure you can get back to a semblance of normality as quickly as possible. 

Cleaning Products Versus Cleaning Equipment

• Mechanical equipment can include pressure washers for building exteriors and rotary machines to dislodge dry soots from furniture or upholstery.
• Household water-based cleaning products like detergents are less effective against some types of soot; that is why we provide specially formulated industrial-strength cleaners and solvents.
• Dry cleaning solvents use chemicals to break down wet or stubborn soot but inadvertently damage some materials. We pre-test to ensure there is no exacerbation of the fire damage.

Pre-testing residues, materials, and equipment is essential to our approach to fire restoration. As a homeowner, you may naturally feel obliged to begin clearing away debris or cleaning walls and ceilings. Some useful techniques for homeowners can be to ventilate the property by opening windows, allowing lingering particulates, ash, and odor to disperse. Another helpful approach can be to vacuum surfaces which helps to remove any non-bonded dry smoke. One aspect to avoid when attempting to assist in smoke removal is introducing water or cleaning products. If the smoke is greasy or wet, introducing moisture can cause further damage by spreading or setting soot. We also recommend staying clear of heavily smoke-damaged areas as foot traffic can drive soot into flooring- especially in carpeted properties.

We are here to help with your property emergency. Contact SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / South Chicago City for fire damage restoration at (773) 337-3900.

Remediating Mold Damage from Homes in the Chicago Area

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

Mold can appear in plain sight, or you can smell the musty presence of mold behind cabinets and walls. In either case, contact SERVPRO to investigate

SERVPRO Provides Expert Mold Advice and Remediation for Local Residents

Mold is a microorganism. It exists in almost all environments but often in the benign form of a mold spore. Only when these spores grow and reproduce can they become a problem for homeowners. Like most living things, spores require specific growing conditions, including a food supply, adequate temperature, and water. While spores are impossible to remove from an environment entirely, remediation can help to reduce the impact of mold and return your home to a normal condition.

We offer expert mold damage remediation to Chicago residents all year round. Lab-testing microbial growth can often be a time-consuming and inconclusive venture. The noticeable symptoms of a microbial infestation, such as a distinct musty odor, are usually enough to justify professional remediation. Remediation is a staged process that begins with an inspection of damaged areas. The inspection phase can often require temporarily lifting floors or using borescopes to analyze wall and ceiling cavities to observe how far the mold has spread. Since mold requires a source of moisture to grow, an infestation often stems from a pre-existing moisture problem. Some moisture problems are consistent such as a leaking pipe. Other moisture problems can arise from insufficient insulation, causing condensation or roofing gaps that allow rainwater. Mold can also grow from a one-time issue like a spillage that goes unnoticed for several days.

Different Types of Moisture Problems and How They Connect to Mold Remediation

• If surfaces are still wet, the moisture problem stems from a consistent flow of water. It is vital to fix the leak before beginning the remediation process.
• If moldy surfaces are dry, it may have been a one-time issue. A chemical cleaning solution can be very effective in these circumstances.
• A mold that appears during certain times of the year can often indicate insufficient insulation. A vapor barrier can often correct these issues and prevent recurring growth.

The first goal of a mold remediation technician is to correct the source of the issue. Dealing with the moisture problem first ensures that the fungi do not grow back during or after the remediation service. Once the source of the problem is isolated and corrected, we can begin to work on the existing damage. Remediation techniques often disturb moldy areas, releasing spores into the environment. Correctly preparing the room or property by sealing off certain areas, establishing clean rooms, and decontaminating areas are essential to stop spores from spreading. Generally speaking, the removal of microbial growth is achievable through anti-microbial chemicals, physical agitation, or by disposing of the infested material altogether. Whether materials need to be disposed of depends on the porosity of the material and the cost of replacement. Porous materials are generally more susceptible to infestation than their denser counterparts.

Equipment for Aggressive Agitation and Cleaning of Microbials

• Metal scrapers and steel wool can help scrape mold from dense surfaces.
• Like Hardwoods or lumber, Dense organic matter can often be sanded down and refinished to remove exterior mold.
• Blasting equipment- sand, soda, or ice- helps eliminate molds without causing excessive damage to the surface beneath. Soda blasting can be ideal for valuable materials with exterior mold.

Tackling mold can be tricky without expertise. Contact SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / South Chicago City for mold remediation at (773) 337-3900.

Detection of Hidden Moisture Is Key During Water Damage Repair in Chicago

3/13/2023 (Permalink)

Trust the SERVPRO Logo for water and moisture removal in your Chicago area home. "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Does Moisture Mapping in Chicago When Restoring Water-Damaged Properties

One of the most important steps during water damage repair is determining the extent of the damage. To develop a clear picture of the level of wetness within a property, technicians might decide to perform moisture mapping. Through the process, it is possible to know where the wet areas are and where the dry regions begin.

Our SERVPRO technicians use specialized infrared cameras, moisture meters, and other tools to create visual representations during water damage remediation in Chicago. We can easily detect any hidden moisture in floors, insulation, ceiling, and walls. We then develop appropriate moisture control techniques to remove the water and perform necessary repairs.

The following are some of the benefits associated with moisture mapping:

• It helps perform a thorough assessment, which enables the water mitigation team to choose the best course of action.
• High levels of accuracy: The tools that our SERVPRO team uses are accurate and provide precise readings.
• Saves time: We quickly and efficiently identify areas that need attention and act with the urgency it deserves to lower the overall restoration costs.
• Helps prevent future challenges: The mapping helps us remove moisture and prevent possible problems such as rotting and mold growth.

A successful restoration process entails detecting and removing what you might miss with the naked eye. We recommend letting a professional water damage company do a comprehensive assessment and fix the damage. It is hard to miss hidden cracks within the building, so the water might constantly flow and cause unnoticeable damage – we advise you not to let the water sit in place for long periods.

Call SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / South Chicago City today at (773) 337-3900 for a stress-free restoration process. Our experienced team offers 24-hour emergency services and can guide you through the insurance paperwork. We're just a phone call away!

How to Eliminate Odors After a Fire Damage Incident in Chicago

2/6/2023 (Permalink)

Toy Trucks and large Chicago homes are no match for SERVPRO's fire damage restoration services. "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Neutralizes Odors during Fire-Damage Restoration in Chicago

Professional fire damage restoration services can help you overcome the overwhelming experience after the incident. Though the visible signs of the fire, such as smoke and flames, may no longer be there, the lingering odors may still be hard to eliminate. Our technicians have experience from previous incidents and use the proper techniques to neutralize them.

SERVPRO's fire damage restoration services in Chicago can return your property to its former state. Since we have been there before, we know where odors hide after a fire. Such areas include:

• HVAC system: Soot and smoke can move along the ductwork and remain in the system. If that happens, it is easy for the odors to spread throughout the building.
• Wall cavities: soot and smoke can penetrate the walls and cause odors.
• Porous surfaces: Porous materials such as carpets and fabrics can absorb smoke soot and cause lingering odors.
• Attics and crawl spaces can develop lingering odors after getting contaminated with soot and smoke.

Though some people decide to use fragrance to combat odors, it may fail to provide a long-lasting solution. When our SERVPRO technicians visit your property, we use various techniques to eliminate the odor. Some of the methods we use are:

• Ozone generators: They produce ozone which is effective at breaking odor-causing molecules. We use the method to target odors coming from crawl spaces and attics.
• Thermal fogging: Heat vaporizes a deodorizing agent in this technique, which consequently neutralizes odors. We use it to target odors existing on porous surfaces.
• Hydroxyl generators: Produce hydroxyl radicals that break down and neutralize odor-causing molecules, mostly in walls cavities and HVAC systems.
• Air scrubber: They have HEPA filters that trade odors and particles from the air. We use them in conjunction with other methods when eliminating odors.

Odor removal is a complex process since the resulting soot and smoke may have come from the combustion of different materials. However, our team is patient enough to work with you until we find the right solution.

SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / South Chicago City is a Downtown Chicago Licensed Operator with the knowledge, tools, and experience to handle all aspects of fire damage restoration. Call us at (773) 337-3900 and let us make it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Offers Premier Water Damage Repair Services in Chicago

1/15/2023 (Permalink)

Our technicians will evaluate the particular needs of the water damage situation in your home when selecting the appropriate equipment for your home.

Water Damage Repair in Chicago is Fast and Effective, with SERVPRO In-charge

An effective water damage repair of your Chicago home after a storm is essential to ensure no long-term complications happen in the future. SERVPRO techs use scientific, industry-leading methods to ensure that the water restoration of your home is efficient, quick, and safe.   

SERVPRO’s technicians follow the IICRC-S500 guidelines during the water damage repair of your Chicago home. Our technicians quickly remove any standing water from your property and create ideal conditions to speed up the drying process. We aim to restore your home “Like it never even happened.” After all, SERVPRO is a Downtown Chicago Licensed Operator. 

Creating a Drying System During Water Cleanup

SERVPRO techs aim to create a drying system that quickly and effectively dehumidifies the air in the affected structure. An effective drying system uses dehumidifiers and air movers to remove moisture from the air and speed up the rate of drying. SERVPRO techs ensure that the dehumidification system removes the water vapor from the air as fast as, or faster than, it is being added by evaporation. 

We use two types of dehumidifying systems in Chicago homes during water damage restoration-

• Refrigerant Dehumidifiers: These are the most common dehumidifiers used in water restoration projects and work similarly to air conditioners. When air is passed over the cooled copper coils of refrigerant dehumidifiers, the temperature of the air is brought below the dew point, which forces the water vapor to condense. 
• Desiccant Dehumidifiers: These dehumidifiers don’t rely on the dew point principle; they use special chemicals called desiccants that absorb moisture from the air. The advantage of these dehumidifiers is that they can dry the air to a lower humidity ratio (RH.)  

Call SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / South Chicago City at (773) 337-3900 for a round-the-clock water cleanup service.

Commercial Water Removal Stops Seeping Water in Your Chicago Shop

12/12/2022 (Permalink)

Big Chicago buildings to small retail shops rely on SERVPRO for water damage cleanup and restoration. Downtown Chicago Licensed Operator.

Water Removal Makes Working in Your Business Safer

When you have a major leak in your business, shutting off the water’s flow only slows down the already released water. It continues to spread, although a bit more slowly than it did before. For commercial properties, our water removal team ensures we perform the necessary work to protect your Chicago business.

Many business owners and managers in Chicago rely on water removal services after a disaster. We designed our B2B services to reduce restoration costs while promoting a strong recovery. Many times, we help a business avoid interruptions or closing. We are a designated “Downtown Chicago Licensed Operator,” fully qualified to minimize disruptions.

Shutting off a valve or tarping your roof isn’t enough. We have the machinery to remove the water from wherever it migrated. There are different types of equipment we use to eliminate water, including:

• A truck-mounted pump system,
• Smaller-sized units for extracting water in specific areas, and
• Desiccant machines that pull moisture from the air.

As we perform water removal tasks with these machines, we also take readings to confirm that everything is drying at optimal speeds.

Our largest pumps can remove thousands of gallons of water from your business. Hopefully, smaller water intrusions are the case. These pumps can run continuously, only needing to stop to empty them at a designated facility.

We employ additional units that are less powerful but much more aligned with removing water from enclosed areas. We use tube-style extraction units that reach behind large furniture or immovable equipment and inside walls. Our water removal experts are skilled with the InjectiDry system for floors and other materials.

Drying out the air keeps moisture from settling on surfaces that can absorb and trap that moisture. Heat and air currents also play a role in drying the air, so it reaches normal humidity levels. We place air movers, so they not only push air toward a desiccant machine but also force air along walls and other surfaces, helping pull moisture from anything with a damp surface.

Our aim is to protect your inventory, equipment, and workplace and rapidly allow your doors to reopen if the closure was necessitated. For water removal services that can protect your business, call SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / South Chicago City at (773) 337-3900. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

The Challenges of Mold Remediation in Chicago

11/13/2022 (Permalink)

When mold spreads, time is certainly of the essence. Contact SERVPRO for knowledgeable technicians and equipment for the mold remediation job ahead.

SERVPRO is Chicago's Mold Damage Specialist

Mold growth usually results from a moisture problem in your property. As water restoration experts, our technicians take extra care to ensure soaking materials are dried quickly to prevent the growth of microbes. But molds can sometimes occur without a significant water intrusion and result from benign problems like slow leaks or insufficient insulation. It may be signs of an internal infestation if you notice grey, black or green spots on walls or ceilings. SERVPRO has expertise in:

• Mold removal
• Mold damage repair
• Mold assessments

The purpose of mold remediation in Chicago is to bring microbes to a manageable level. Microbes exist naturally in all home environments, so it is only when these microbes conglomerate and begin to reproduce that there is a problem. Infestations can decompose household materials and possessions if left alone for long periods. To rectify a mold issue, our technicians begin by establishing containment to prevent the spread of mold. Once containment is set up, we can start the removal process.

Removing mold infestations from the home

• Porous materials are removed, including carpets, drywall, insulation, and organic fabrics.
• Non-porous materials are cleaned using High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (HEPA) fitted vacuums or wiping surfaces with detergents.
• Wooden materials are generally salvageable unless long-term exposure has caused dry rot. 

Stubborn infestations may require the usage of more aggressive cleaning methods. These situations can be resolved using steel sponges or blasting and pressure cleaning equipment. The use of agitation in remediation can disrupt mold spores causing them to settle on nearby surfaces. To combat settled spores, it is vital to clean the structure at regular intervals working from top to bottom or pushing spores in the direction of negative air-pressure machines. We recommend allowing several hours between cleaning rounds, allowing spores time to settle, to ensure that all surfaces are cleaned properly.

Microbial infestations rarely go away by themselves. Contact SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / Chicago City for mold remediation at (773) 337-3900.

IICRC Certification: Chicago Water Damage Restoration

10/1/2022 (Permalink)

Chicago Water Damage Restored by IICRC Certified SERVPRO Crews

Whether you experience Chicago water damage due to flooding or a plumbing issue, it's important to hire a team of remediation specialists to get your property back in pre-water damaged condition. As you search for the right team of water damage restoration specialists, make sure that the company has the Clean Trust logo. This logo is a quality certification granted by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). SERVPRO suggests that you learn more about the IICRC and why certification from this company is important.

What Is The IICRC? As a non-profit organization for the restoration, inspection, and cleaning industries, the IICRC serves over 25 countries. Some of the countries include New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, and the United States.

IICRC Certification. To obtain IICRC certification, organizations must meet several expertise standards while also conforming to ethical business principles. The list of standards includes:
• Training. Each technician has to have formal training and pass all required tests.
• Integrity and Honesty. The company must offer consumers accurate information while also providing services in a transparent, straightforward manner.
• Education. Each technician has to participate in ongoing educational courses to remain current regarding industry changes, technological advancements, and methodological shifts.
• Complaint policy. Each firm has to have a clear, concise complaint policy in writing. The firm must also agree to the dispute resolution process outlined by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Additionally, the firm must accept recommendations regarding arbitration.

By securing the services from a team of IICRC-certified technicians, you increase the likelihood that you'll be working with a group of trained, experienced professionals who can expedite the water damage remediation process of your Chicago residential property.

Other Considerations. While IICRC certification is important, there are several other factors you should consider when it's time to find your right team of restoration experts. Some of the attributes you should look for in a professional water damage restoration company include:
• an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• fair prices
• excellent customer service
• 24/7 emergency services
• a 100% satisfaction guarantee

Call SERVPRO Immediately. If you find yourself experiencing substantive water damage to your Chicago home due to fire, water, or some other disaster, it's time to call the professionals of SERVPRO. With our top of the line equipment, fleet, cleaning agents and chemical products, our IICRC-certified technicians will provide you with the detail-oriented, speedy services necessary to get your home back into a dry and safe condition.

Highly-Trained Water Restoration Specialists

As leaders in the water damage industry, we have advanced training and expertise, and a tremendous amount of hands-on experience. We use our expertise to quickly dry your home and restore it back to pre-water damage condition. Our process includes documentation of the drying process to validate your property is dry. Learn about our water damage training and certificates. Call 24/7 for great service. (773) 337-3900

Fire Damage Restoration Services You Can Count On To Save Your Chicago Home

10/1/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Salvages Chicago Fire Damaged Homes Swiftly

A home fire can be one of the most damaging experiences a homeowner can face, something no one should ever face alone. Fire does not simply cause damage to your home; it disrupts your life, destroys personal belongings, and often leads to loss of fond memories that you can never get back.
 
You can help prevent fire damage in your Chicago area home by learning more about various events that happen in your neighborhood. By discovering more about these incidents, you can eliminate common causes that affect you in your home. Remember, every home is susceptible to fire damage making it necessary for you to understand how to protect yourself properly.
 
Having an experienced, licensed, and IICRC certified fire damage restoration technician on your side would not hurt, SERVPRO can help put the pieces back together after disaster strikes. We can fully manage your restoration process and provide you with any additional services required to return your property to normal working order after an event occurs.  
 
Consider this; fires cause much more than heat and smoke damage. You would need to include water extraction, various types of cleaning, sanitation, deodorization, and many repairs to that list to be more accurate in your evaluation. SERVPRO technicians can provide you with each of these services, including repairs that often include replacement of framing materials, drywall, painting, and finish work necessary to return your home to normal.   
 
It is a firefighter's job to put out fires and save lives, leaving additional damage and water in their wake, they are not concerned with saving the contents of your home. It simply is not in their job description. However, every SERVPRO technician takes the time to address items individually, taking a restore versus replace mentality that often returns damaged items to a quality condition you can enjoy for years to come.  
 
Making the call to SERVPRO of Evergreen Park / South Chicago City puts your home in expertly trained hands that you can count on to put every effort into restoring your home properly after a fire. Learn more about what our technicians can do for you, call our office and begin your homes recovery, today. (773) 337-3900

For more info please visit: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en.html