Protecting Your Home in Extreme Weather

1/16/2025 (Permalink)

Ice formed from a water loss on the floor above.

When temperatures approach record lows for the northeast region, it is important home and business owners take steps to protect their structures from the extreme weather. Frozen pipes can lead to breakage, damaging personal property and essential heating systems which can create a major disaster at your home or property.

Be sure to keep all living spaces at a minimum low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes are often those exposed to the cold weather, such as those outside your house, or in cold areas such as basements, attics or garages. A frozen pipe can burst due to the backflow pressure between the blockage and water source. Some additional prevention methods include:

- Draining pools, sprinkler lines, and shutting off the water source to outside spigots.

-Opening kitchen cabinets to let warm air reach the pipes beneath.

-Daily use of faucets whose source might come from an outside pipe.

In the event of a winter weather emergency, SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to respond to quickly get your property back to normal! Give us a call 24/7 at 732-530-9009.

Always Here to Help!

Fire Spreads Quickly

1/7/2025 (Permalink)

Damage to the house caused by the fire.

Fire has the unique ability to spread rapidly and cause an enormous amount of damage. In light of recent wildfires in the west, it is important to remember many structures can be restored with proper remediation efforts. The restoration team at SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to respond to home or business owners who have suffered a loss due to fire.

This damage resulted after a lawn mower caught on fire right outside the house. The owners were not at home at the time and the damage was extensive as the fire spread from the machine to the house very quickly. Our SERVPRO team was able to assess the site quickly and began remediation efforts immediately. Inside, the team removed sheetrock, removed affected contents, and performed smoke and soot remediation. HEPA vacuuming, deep cleaning of remaining materials and air purification were also performed after the demolition. Water from the fire department was removed via extraction and our effective drying equipment. After a building affected by fire is thoroughly cleaned, it is ready for our building services crew to repair the structure.

Clean It Right The First Time

12/21/2024 (Permalink)

Mold caused by moisture in the basement due to a water loss.

Always make sure you hire an emergency service company with expert knowledge and experience. A frantic customer in Manasquan, NJ called us at SERVPRO of Middletown after another restoration company failed to properly dry out his home. Instead of taking care of a general water loss, our team needed to perform a mold remediation on her entire home. Mold is provided with an ideal growing environment when wet building materials are not dried correctly.

The water technicians here at SERVPRO of Middletown always use special meters to verify wet materials progressively dry within a few days to prevent mold from growing. We encourage our customers to understand the drying process so they can be confident a job is being done correctly.

The home in Manasquan was returned to safe breathing levels following the cleaning of the mold. The customer was relived and extremely pleased with the job completed by our mold remediation team.

SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Restoration After Fire and Water Damage

12/7/2024 (Permalink)

The completed kitchen after the restoration.

Fire and water combined cause a seemingly catastrophic situation. SERPVRO of Middletown was called following a kitchen fire to help this apartment building get their tenants back in their units. Our professional cleaning staff worked their magic in 24 hours to extract and dry the water damage before our construction department replaced the sheetrock, kitchen cabinets, painted the walls and finished the floors within 2 weeks. The property manager was thrilled with the results and the tenants were able to move back into their units quickly. Small kitchen fires can cause an incredible amount of damage in a short span of time in an apartment building when the sprinkler systems go off. There were over 5 units in the building, including the main hallway which were flooded following this unit’s fire loss. Our SERVPRO team is always ready to respond to an apartment complex which has a large-scale loss due to fire.

How Electrical Outlets Are Affected By Floods

11/29/2024 (Permalink)

When floodwaters rise to the height of electrical outlets, a common result is loss of power. However, in some cases the resulting sparks and damage can create a fire in a house, apartment, or commercial building.

There are restoration companies that specialize in water damage, but very few have the experience that can handle fire damage and water damage like SERVPRO of Middletown. For decades we have been in the business of restoring homes to original condition. Our expert response teams can pump out a basement and scrub away smoke residues with equal ease.

Fortunately, fire damage that is caused by a flooded outlet is usually small and is mainly just smoke damage. In either disaster, removal of drywall is critical so that the workload is not as difficult to deal with. However, the rising smoke can leave residue higher up on the walls, requiring more panels to be removed. Ceiling tiles can also require cleaning after a fire as well.

When an outlet is damaged by water, it needs a replacement from the hardware store, which typically costs less than $5 apiece. The spot where the fire begins, the point of ignition, would be the outlet in this case. The wires leading to the outlet are melted to the outlet box and may require cutting from above where there is any damage. It is important to inspect the rest of the building as well to ensure that the fried wires did not compromise any other building materials.

If the damage runs very far back along the wires, then they require replacing so that the new outlet is in the original location. Our technicians are trained to run new wiring from any point in the structure back to the breaker box if it is needed to rebuild the wiring system of your home or business. This task is extremely easier once a different team member removes the drywall for easier access.

Dealing with damage from a flood can be a very difficult and stressful process. Restoring your home and property from both requires professional treatment and care from experts with a nationwide support network or equipment. We are ready to help you whenever disaster strikes.

Importance of Cleaning Up After Storm Surge

11/18/2024 (Permalink)

The flooded home after demolition.

After this extremely active Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, it is important to understand how to calmly react to the tremendous damage which is left after a storm.

This photo was taken after the demolition of a flooded house in Manasquan, NJ. Our SERVPRO® crew was called immediately after ocean surge flooded this home within a block of the beach. Our team responded on the scene within an hour. During inspection, the crew determined all of the drywall and insulation needed to be removed as well as most of the flooring due to the contamination of the ocean water. The remaining stud beams and subfloor were sprayed with an anti-microbial solution to kill any lingering contaminants. Drying equipment was placed to remove any additional moisture to prevent further damage and/or the formation of mold.

Large floods are never too difficult for our SERVPRO of Middletown team as it is imperative to clean and dry the extensive moisture the water deposits into the structure. When dealing with a loss from storm surge, it is imperative to contact your local SERVPRO to properly clean and restore your property "Like it never even happened."

Do Not Let Sewage Turn Into Mold

10/30/2024 (Permalink)

Mold growth on the floor due to sewage loss.

Left untreated, the moisture and bacteria from a sewage loss may cause microbial growth.  SERVPRO of Middletown has experience with remediating a loss in which sewage was left untreated, causing mold to form on the drywall and floor. In such an instance, all flooring, drywall, doors and trim must be removed. Dehumidifiers are placed and remaining stud beams, subfloor, and stationary objects are cleaned and sanitized. A special antimicrobial solution can be painted on the affected areas to prevent mold from reforming on the cleaned areas. This is usually the most important step in the mold process.

In an effort to prevent the timely remediation of mold, a sewage loss must be mitigated immediately. Our team of SERVPRO® professionals are trained to extract and clean the discharge from the area before placing drying equipment to remove any remaining moisture. Faster to any disaster, SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to take on even the largest sewage losses.

Being Prompt After A Fire Is The Key to Safety

10/11/2024 (Permalink)

Fire spreads very quickly!

A fire in your home or workspace can get out of hand if it’s not attended to quickly.

Commercial fire damage can come in the form of lingering smoke, soot damage, and smoke damage. It’s important to take serious action in the event that a fire spreads from the home to the business. The number one thing to do is respond as fast as possible. Though you may be in complete shock after viewing the damage, it is important to shift your focus towards finding a solution before it becomes an even bigger problem. The steps to bringing your space back to life after the fire needs to happen quickly. As a home or business owner, it is critical to follow these steps in the event of a fire.

Speedy Response

Acting quick with the help of a restoration company can be crucial in the event of a fire. The damage to the space can be less severe if a board is up. Being prompt can help the owner stay in business. It truly shows the character of a restoration business that is helping the owner get back on their feet by completing everything in a quick manner. They understand how important it is to get it running again, no matter what kind of damages occurred. The customers will also realize this and be very appreciative of it. An owner that works closely with a restoration company that specializes in responding to damage after a fire is one that puts their employees and customers before anything else. This shows they can truly overcome any obstacle that might arise in their business.

Damage Done

A fire doesn’t have to be huge to make an impact; any size fire can be harmful. It’s very easy for a fire to spread, which can cause smoke and soot damage. Smoke smell can travel from one area to another in just a few seconds. This is why it is so important for the owner to contact fire restoration and cleanup as soon as they realize the problem. They will learn that many other issues arise from commercial fires. The smoke smell is so strong that if it gets into any kind of inventory, it will make it nearly impossible to sell again. Not only will this ruin the inventory, but it will also turn customers away from the strong smell. Fire damage restoration and cleanup should begin with a board up then analyze the other parts of the property. Contracts with restoration companies are crucial when it comes to help with problems such as smoke smell, fire cleanup and a board up.

Taking Initiative

The owner of a company can exhibits their leadership qualities by knowing what to do in the situation of a fire. A fast response to a big problem can show the leadership qualities to the rest of the employees and motivate them follow in the same footsteps. “Leaders aren’t self-made; they are driven” as stated in entrepreneur.com by Arnold Schwarzenegger. A fire is the time to step up and take that initiative as a boss to be the leader of your business. Display what should be expected from everyone in your business. Having the damages cleaned up immediately by a restoration company will avoid the risk of any long-term damage to your employees, property and surroundings.

Latest Technology

10/7/2024 (Permalink)

Using an infrared meter to detect water behind the wall.

SERVPRO of Middletown uses the latest technology in disaster recovery to ensure fast and efficient service for all emergency projects. Mastering industry standards, utilizing advanced equipment and providing continuous training to team members allow our business to be a leader in the emergency service industry.

When on site at various losses, our technicians use a range of energy-saving equipment to dry, deodorize, and purify air and structural materials as needed. Specialized machines and environmentally- friendly cleaning agents are used to properly disinfect structures affected by fire, water or mold.

Advanced monitoring tools allow our technicians to accurately determine the moisture level of building materials affected by water. The tools make it simple to confirm the materials are successfully dried at the completion of the job. Our team utilized the infrared camera pictured on a commercial loss in Middletown NJ to check for moisture behind a wall which did not appear to be wet from the outside.

All technicians receive ongoing training and certifications in accordance with IICRC standards, which are a series of guidelines and processes necessary for performing emergency mitigation services. The training also updates the staff about the availability of innovative new equipment and tools which can provide them with greater capability in the field. Additional training is provided whenever equipment is updated.

SERVPRO of Middletown is dedicated to obtaining cutting-edge technology as it continues to become available. Equipped with innovative tools and knowledge, the franchise is always ready to take on emergencies of any size with expert precision. 

Mold In The Laundry Room With A Baby On The Way!

9/30/2024 (Permalink)

The visible mold growth on the laundry room wall.

SERVPRO of Middletown received a frantic call from a homeowner who was concerned about mold after watching a show explaining how it grows. He suspected he had some mold in the basement and felt he needed to have it taken care of considering his wife was pregnant. He called SERVPRO of Middletown for an estimate. Our office staff learned the customer's wife was being induced within 3 days and he wanted to take the new baby home to a clean house. They immediately worked with him to get a mold testing company over to his home to verify mold was present. Once the mold removal scope of work was provided by the tester, our mold remediation crew was dispatched to get started.

The team was able to get the job done in one day! The house passed the clean air test just in time to take the baby home. Great Job guys!

SERVPRO® is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us at 732-530-9009, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.