Tips and Tricks to Keep Commercial Spaces Cool This Summer

6/18/2024 (Permalink)

Don't let the heat get you down, follow these cool tips today!

While summer brings sunshine and excitement for outdoor activities, here in the south it also brings incredibly hot and humid weather. In large commercial spaces, it is important to keep both staff and customers comfortable when the temperature rises in the peak of the season. Here are a five tips and tricks to keep the air flowing cool and refreshing in your building all summer long: 

1. Set The Thermostat: To keep your energy bills down while maintaining a pleasant workspace, keep your thermostat set at an average temperature between 68 and 76 degrees. To maximize energy savings, you can also place fans throughout the building that have temperature automation built in.
2.  Change Air Filters Consistently: Air filters are important because they are responsible for eliminating impurities in the air such as dust, pollen and bacteria. An air-filter must be free of excessive build-up to perform properly. By replacing your air filters on a regular basis, you can improve airflow throughout your building and ensure that your AC system is operating at peak performance.  
3. Seal Windows and Doors: To maintain a consistent temperature in your commercial space, another easy tip to consider is to make sure your windows and doors are sealed properly and patch up any cracks in walls and the ceiling. By sealing any unplanned gaps or cracks, you are actively preventing the hot summer air from leaking into your space and affecting HVAC and staff efficiency.  
4. Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance: Maintaining a HVAC system in a commercial building is detrimental. It is one of the best investments a commercial facility owner can make to keep their energy costs down, while keeping building occupants satisfied. A general rule of thumb is to have your HVAC system serviced once or twice a year to maintain long-term efficiency and usage.
5. Install Efficient Lighting: Commercial spaces do not always get enough natural lighting, which is why artificial lighting is necessary. Usage of energy efficient LED lighting instead of fluorescent or incandescent lighting will drastically reduce HVAC overuse.  

SERVPRO of Columbia County is Here to Help® you keep your commercial property in tip-top shape 24/7/365. Give us a call at 706-750-0200 today for inquiries about our mold, water or fire damage remediation and restoration.  

Frozen Pipes in Commercial Businesses

6/6/2023 (Permalink)

This past December, on Christmas Eve, SERVPRO® of Columbia County experienced something new. Across the CSRA, a record number of homes and businesses experienced severe water loss within a short period of time. Over 150 calls came in between December 24^th and January 1^st, however, that number doubled mid-January, when many holiday travelers returned home or opened their businesses.

Faster to Any Sized Disaster

Our teams leaped into action with the first call of what we now call the “silent storm” came through. With our expertise in the mitigation and restoration field, our resources were first delegated to helping hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Commercial properties such as those cannot afford to be closed for too long, with unexpected durations. With the number of water supply sources, commercial properties such as these, if not winterized properly and sufficiently insulted, are at greater risk of burst pipes than even residential homes. SERVPRO® technicians worked tirelessly day and night to get many of these buildings back to working order.

In the future, if your commercial property experiences water loss due to frozen pipes, give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441. A team of trained professionals will be onsite the same day to get your business back to preloss condition.

How Your Business Can Weather a Storm

6/23/2022 (Permalink)

The increasing uptick in storms isn’t just your imagination. Over the past 20 years, there has been a steady increase in the number of dangerous weather events worldwide. The UN office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) produced a report that from 2000 to 2019, there have been 7,348 major natural disasters that resulted in $2.97 trillion worth of damage. Whereas from 1980 to 1999, there were 4,212 disasters with $1.63 trillion in damages.

Unfortunately, the odds of some sort of storm damage affecting your livelihood, and that of your employees, is increasing. Therefore, as a property manager or owner you need to not only contemplate the steps you need to take to clean and repair the damage, for the safety and longevity of your workers and business.

Create a Plan

The best advice we can give you is to have a plan and stay informed ahead of time for major storms. Here are some tips on the first steps you should take:

• Find locations suitable for employee evacuation.
• Have an emergency contact for every employee.
• Strategies to protect and access important business records.
• Off-site locations that employees can temporarily work from.
• Your company’s insurance information.
• A pre-emergency plan with a trusted emergency mitigation and restoration company.

SERVPRO® of Columbia County can provide, at no charge, an emergency plan for your company with our Emergency Ready Program. By developing an Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize workflow interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to except in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize the damage to your facility.

Interested in getting started? Give SERVPRO® of Columbia County a call at 706-868-5441. We will make storm damage look “Like it never even happened.”

The SERVPRO® Emergency Response Profile

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

What is an Emergency Ready Profile?

An Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) is a digital solution which enables businesses to have instant access to request assistance from SERVPRO® of Columbia County. An ERP is an easy to download app that a SERVPRO® Representative can set up for you, after a no-cost evaluation. It will help minimize the time that your business is closed or inactive during a loss.

Benefits of Having an ERP

In a state of emergency, your staff may find themselves easily confused and stressed; having an ERP already set in place will enable them and you to have peace of mind that any sort of disaster will be taken care of by professionals. Your ERP is personalized to your businesses’ needs and is a straightforward way your employees can get the help they need. To ensure that your teams know what to do if disaster strikes, we highly encourage everyone in the facility to download the mobile ERP app. Having a quick reference of what to do, who to call, and in what order to do so is vital in making sure your business is Ready for Whatever Happens®.

Interested in Starting an ERP for Your Business? Give us a call at 706-868-5441 and ask to speak with the marketing team. We will schedule a meeting with a SERVPRO® Representative today.

Mold Can Happen Anywhere – Even in Businesses!

4/20/2022 (Permalink)

Can Mold Happen at an Office? 

Mold in commercial properties is much more common than the average person realizes. It may be challenging to detect, quite difficult to remove, and if left alone, could cost a pretty penny to repair. Fortunately, if you are properly educated, it is simple and inexpensive to avoid!

Common Causes of Mold in Commercial Properties

Often, the presence of mold occurs unexpectedly and can appear anywhere, without discrimination. The most prevalent cause is due to unregulated moisture likely stemming from faulty plumbing or even a leaking roof. Any damp areas within the building are prone to attract mold, as the moisture is digestible and enables the pesky growth to expand, indiscriminately causing damage to the property. Mold is particularly fond of attaching itself to organic, porous objects such as upholstery, paper, and wood. Additionally, mold spores could possibly enter from the outside via air vents and HVAC systems. Fortunately, there are easy ways to prevent any type of mold from forming at your place of business.

Best Practices to Prevent Mold in Buildings

While mold can be a major frustration to deal with, and not a situation you want to be in, there are steps you can take to prevent growth from forming—easy ones! 

1. Repair any leaks: It is essential that any leaks are addressed as they are found. Doing so will eliminate the risk of further water damage. Roof damage, clogs, and faulty plumbing are often the culprits behind the leaks.
2. Timely repair of water damage: If there is any flooding or pooling of excessive water, it is important that the area is properly dried as the stagnant water could soak into floors, furniture, and walls. If left alone, those areas could become prime breeding grounds for microbial growth. Speed is crucial here because mold colonies can start developing within 24-48 hours after the initial water damage.
3. Invest in a dehumidifier: The humidity level of a facility should be regulated and ideally kept below 50%. This could be a difficult task manage, but an industrial dehumidifier will certainly help with that. Having a dehumidifier will aid in any instances where there is excessive moisture as well.
4. Proper ventilation throughout the property: Keep the air vents and air filters clean and well maintained. Regular maintenance will ensure that even the most enclosed areas on the property are properly ventilated and dry.

When dealing with mold, prevention is key! However, if you do find yourself faced with some troublesome fungi, SERVPRO® of Columbia County is “Here to help. ®” Our experienced team of professionals are available to help you get rid of any mold infestation and excess moisture that your building may have.

Don’t Let Your Business Suffer Because of Water Damage

12/1/2021 (Permalink)

Need Help with Burst Pipes? Call the experts at 706-868-5441

Businesses Benefit With SERVPRO

Need to open your doors after a water loss FAST? Call SERVPRO. SERVPRO reacts quickly to water losses as our crews know that timing means everything when it comes to reversing damages caused by water. Fast reaction times can help prevent further damages. Every minute that your business’ doors are closed, could mean lost revenue for you and your staff.

Crews Are Ready to Help Serve You.

SERVPRO of Columbia County offers our clients priority response at the first notice of an emergency. Fast response times almost always mean less damage affecting your business. Our crews can react and attack water damages by finding the source of damage and quickly creating a strategic plan to restore your business to help mitigate would-be extensive damages.

At SERVPRO of Columbia County we aim to respond quickly as we understand that the longer water sits, the more of a threat the water becomes at prolonging the issue. For example, its Monday morning and you unlock the front doors of your business, you start to turn on the lights as you hear a strange noise and step ankle deep into murky water. A pipe has burst overnight and now your business is completely flooded; sheetrock is being to wick moisture up the walls and disintegrate. Not only that, but all contents are soaking wet from the burst pipe above. You aren’t sure how long the water has been running, 1, 4, 24 hours? If a standard half-inch pipe breaks, in just a few hours there can be up to 10,000 gallons of water spilled.

Avoiding Business Water Damages

No one can fully prepare for a water damage emergency. However, you can try to mitigate potential risks by following a few of these expert tips.

• Perform routine checks on pipes in the home such as under sinks and behind toilets.
• Check your crawlspace semi-regularly for standing water from unforeseen water leaks.
• Locate and note where your water shut off valves are located and how to use them.
• Properly insulate your exposed pipes to prevent freezing, sweating, and other like damages.

Need Emergency Water Damage Help? Call our team of experts at SERVPRO of Columbia County at 706-868-5441.

COVID-19 Got Your Commercial Business Worried About Black Friday? Call SERVPRO®

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

How Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned Will Benefit You

The last 2 years has been strenuous for business owners all over the world. Constant fear of contracting the Coronavirus has halted festivals, gatherings, and even the modernized shopping experience. SERVPRO® of Columbia County supports local business owners and wanted to provide a way to keep businesses open and safe. That’s why we launched the CSC Program, a safe and easily manageable program that allows us to help our friends in the community do what they do best- and even better- safely. 

 The CSC Program is centered around our 3 C’s- Consult, Clean and Certify. We’ll start by scheduling a meeting with the business owner(s) and recommend ways they can improve already existing cleaning processes. Starting from that grounding we’ll offer additional SERVPRO® services that will minimize the potential threat of COVID-19 to your business and customers. We’ll also discuss how often we should perform these services should occur based on high foot traffic and lack of health screening opportunities. 

SERVPRO® Standard/Enhanced Service

SERVPRO® standard services center on disinfecting “hot touch points”, or places that are frequently touched or messed with (I.e. doorknobs, light switches, clothing racks, dressing rooms, card readers). SERVPRO® enhanced services build upon the standard but add a few extra precautionary steps such as cleaning and disinfecting less regularly touched surfaces (I.e. desks, counters, employee equipment). A printable summary of our services are available for your staff, teammates and even customers. And as an added benefit, SERVPRO® offers dated window clings and table tents from the last service date to ensure that your customers know that your building is safe and COVID free! 

With all the craziness that occurs during Black Friday every year- take COVID craziness off the table! Call SERVPRO® Professionals at 706-750-0200 today to set a consultation about our Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned Program. 

Government Buildings and Water Loss is a SERVPRO Specialty

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can help in all disasters, including water damages to buildings such as this. Call 706-868-5441 to make it "Like it never even happened."

When government buildings need to be restored after large loss water loss disasters, our crews are more than capable and confident to be able to restore structures to preloss condition.

SERVPRO teams are accustomed to handling large scale disasters with ease and respond to these situations daily. The key to controlling water damages and other like situations is through being able to select the right resources to lower recovery cost.

Another factor in successfully mitigating a water loss disaster at government and other commercial buildings is through minimizing downtime and business interruption to the public and employees. Our SERVPRO system services include, but not limited to fire, water and mold remediation, storm response, pack-outs and pack-ins, document drying, and contents claim inventorying. Additionally, cleaning services we offer are duct cleaning, biohazard remediation, carpet cleaning, and cleaning of all interior structure and fixtures and deodorization – and more!

Benefits from SERVPRO of Columbia County Crews Working for You

A common situation SERVPRO professionals respond to is managing mold in commercial buildings. Commercial buildings, its structure and internal facilities are used every day – and all day. Thus, leading to more probability of a toilet overflow, mold from unresolved or unknown issues such as an unmanaged water leak. Managing mold is a task that only professionals should handle. Mold is found in every environment, and mold spores reproduce rapidly when moisture is present. Mold can cause health effects. Although not every cough or sneeze means mold - However, if this is an issue amongst the entire team, testing for mold and having a SERVPRO professional give advice is a smart decision.

Call the Cleanup team that’s faster to any size disaster at 706-868-5441, SERVPRO of Columbia County.

Demystifying Mold Removal - SERVPRO® Can Help

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

Mold can be found in countless places, like this bathroom. Spot mold like this in your business? Call your local mold removal experts at 706-868-5441.

Mold Removal for Evans Businesses – SERVPRO® has the Answers.

Mold can be a scary four-letter word. Mold can make customers that would normally patron your business, turn the other direction and quickly! To most, mold is associated with health effects and uncleanliness.

At SERVPRO® of Augusta we are able to discreetly mitigate any threat of mold, and provide mold identification, testing, location sourcing, cause, all vital in helping your commercial business gain a better understanding of the cause of a potential ongoing mold issue.

Understanding Mold and Misconceptions

It is important to be expertly educated on mold and stray from misleading advertising about mold and its potential dangers. Should you spot mold, or what appears to be mold, at your commercial business calling trained professionals to receive expert opinion and testing is ideal.

A misconception for ‘mold removal’ is all molds will forever be gone – This is false. Essentially, mold is everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold spores do float in the air and can enter your home in many different fashions. Furthermore, mold spores do thrive on moisture, thus why mold can prove to have a musty, damp smell.

Mold Damage Tips

• Stay out of affected areas. It is important not to disturb potential mold as spores can travel.
• Turn off HVAC units as this can also lead to spore disruption and spread.
• Do NOT attempt to take care of the mold area yourself, call the experts.
• Do not spray with bleach or other disinfectants.

Mold Removal Process

After making contact with your local SERVPRO® of Columbia County, we schedule an inspection of the potential mold. Next, if mold is present, containing mold is important as to help stop the further disturbance and spread of mold spores. Next, the remediation process can begin and mold-infested materials are discarded or receive anti-microbial treatment. Finally, content cleaning can begin and restoration can be complete such as repairing and replacing drywall, subfloor, and more.

Need to have your business inspected for mold? Call our team at 706-868-5441 for scheduling and expert advice.

How SERVPRO® of Columbia County Emergency Ready Profiles Save Businesses

6/18/2021 (Permalink)

Need Your ERP? Call us for scheduling at 706-868-5441

Water Damage Bringing Your Business Down? We Can Help!

No business owner wants to undergo the process of restoring a business from a water damage – But, when the unexpected happens, We Can Help.

Follow Our Pro-Tips:

First, make it second-nature to look for warning signs.

What does this mean? To be aware of your surroundings. Make it routine to check on refrigerator leaks, watch for loose pipe fittings that may drip, this could be a warning sign of a pipe burst that could cause extensive damage.

Second, begin to familiarize yourself with your building’s structure.

What does this mean? Knowing where shut-off valves are for both gas and water can mean the difference between a small water cleanup Evans or, having to stop business operations because of the large-loss water damage needs to be mitigated and restored.

What SERVPRO Can Do To Prevent Water Damage

SERVPRO® of Columbia County has the knowledge and capability to walk you through your buildings structure to identify shut-off valves for both gas and water. The more you familiarize yourself with the help of a professional restoration expert, the more equipped you will be when a water damage occurs.

SERVPRO® of Columbia County offers our Emergency Ready Profile. This program is designed to help you identify potential problem areas of your building for emergency response, familiarize you with your building, familiarize a SERVPRO representative with your building’s structure, and equip you and your team with our ERP App that includes all structure and contact information; All to hopefully prevent future extensive damage.

How an ERP Can Help You & Your Business

• Locating & Marking shut-off valves. This means quicker response times to shutting off water causing damage at the source.
• Excessing your opportunity to familiarize yourself with your building helps with safety in the event of an Emergency.
• 24/7 Access to the ERP Information through our ERP App.
• 24/7 Access to contact information for on-call Emergency contacts, HVAC, plumbers, maintenance staff, and other preferred vendors.
• Upon ERP completion, your SERVPRO® representative will be familiar with your building and can easily direct SERVPRO® crews in the event of an emergency call.
• Taking the time to complete your ERP = Less Time Later Spent Trying to Regain Control of Your Business After an emergency call.

Could You Benefit from an ERP? Call us!

Our representatives take pride in being able to equip you with the tools necessary to take control after an emergency such as fire or water damage. To be proactive, call our office at 706-868-5441 to schedule your Emergency Ready Profile.

Pipe Burst After Business Hours

6/8/2021 (Permalink)

Pictured: SERVPRO commercial drying equipment restoring a business to preloss condition.

Expect the Unexpected: Commercial Water Damage

Unforeseen accidents can leave your business at a standstill if you don’t select the right company to help cleanup the mess. If a pipe bursts after-hours you could have a mess of disintegrated ceiling tiles, saturated product, and commercial flooring and sheetrock could be experiencing stress from water damage.

Luckily, SERVPRO® of Columbia County is available 24/7/365 to answer your emergency water damage call. Our crews are always ready to help when disaster strikes. Water damage is something you may not be able to fully plan for, but you can equip yourself with a knowledgeable team that can help mitigate water damage issues.

Commercial Water Damage Removing Water

When water damage strikes, know that our teams can help extract unwanted water and can dry the structure through controlling the environment using drying equipment and dehumidifiers. To remove water properly, our expert crews use the following processes:

• Place drying equipment to extract excess moisture from the walls and flooring.
• Both wet and dry vacuums are used along with attached pumps to dry the structure more quickly
• Portable pumps and extractors may be used as well.

Fixing Commercial Carpet Floor Coverings

Low, commercial-grade carpeting and carpet pads are used in an endless number of commercial businesses. They are an ideal option for commercial flooring but can pose a hurdle when a water damage strikes your business. However, SERVPRO® of Columbia County is capable and experienced in managing a water loss over carpeting. Methods such as “floating” carpets can be a useful tactic to help dry both the top of the carpet pad and bottom of the carpet floor covering.

Need Commercial Water Damage Help? Want to Learn More?

To best serve you is our ultimate goal. We achieve this by quickly and properly restoring your businesses to preloss condition. Call our office at 706-868-5441 or visit our website by clicking here!

Can Dehumidification Be an Effective Tool for Mold Removal Companies in Evans?

5/21/2021 (Permalink)

If mold damage strikes your business, you’ll need a team to help you. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for professional remediation and mitigation services.

SERVPRO Has Several Types of Dehumidifiers for Mold Remediation of Evans' Businesses

The likely cause of microbial growth in your premises is moisture. Without moisture, mold cannot grow and instead lies in a dormant state, forming a natural part of the indoor environment. The solution to mold growth then is to correct moisture problems. SERVPRO has experience working with:

• Mold specialists
• Mold inspection
• Mold removal 

Does Dryer Air Reduce Mold Growth?

Mold removal companies in Evans use dehumidifiers to circulate dry air into an area continually. The dry air acts like a sponge absorbing moisture which, over time, can reduce humidity to below 60 Grains Per Pound (GPP). When humidity drops below 60 GPP, it reduces mold growth. 

• Dehumidifiers dry most efficiently in enclosed areas meaning doorways and windows should be shut or duct sealed.
• This equipment should be placed directly next to areas of mold growth to help reduce colonies. 
• Once a unit is switched on, it can be left running even overnight to ensure that microbial growth remains under control. 
• Negative pressure using air scrubbers can port interior, spore filled air, to the exterior.

Protect your business from mold. Contact SERVPRO of Columbia County for mold removal at (706) 868-5441.

Checking Evans Restaurant HVAC Systems During Fire Damage Restoration

4/16/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Helps Evans Business Owners with Fire Damage Restoration

One of the most frustrating parts about the fire’s aftermath is how the smoke and soot get everywhere. If you've suffered the misfortune of a fire in your restaurant, you will understand what we mean. It seems like smoke gets into every nook and cranny.

If you need fire damage restoration in your Evans restaurant, one thing your SERVPRO team will be sure to check is the HVAC system. Because soot particles are tiny and airborne, it is easy for them to drift into hidden places in your premises. If soot gets into your HVAC system, the system can blow those particles into the air every time you switch the system on. Obviously, this is undesirable, which is why SERVPRO will:

• Examine your HVAC system for any traces of soot or smoke.
• Use HEPA vacuums to remove loose soot and cleaning agents for greasier deposits.
• Thoroughly cleanse and deodorize inside the system so soot cannot escape into your restaurant.

If you have recently experienced a fire in your restaurant, we can help. Call SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441.

Come Enjoy The Lights of the South Near Evans

12/9/2020 (Permalink)

It's Just a Short Drive From Evans to Experience the Beautiful Displays of the Lights of the South

The Lights of the South is a Georgia tradition that takes place every year. Every year starting at the end of November, people can come and experience the event every day from 6 to 10 p.m., and it ends on December 30th, and it is closed on Christmas Day.

Once through the gates, visitors can get in the Christmas spirit by seeing over five million lights, including the world's largest vertical American Flag. Other perks of taking the trip include:

Hayrides through the light displays.

Visit Santa Claus to give your kids a chance to tell him what they want for Christmas

Take a train ride through candy land and experience the candy cane light displays.

Roast marshmallows around a fire pit.

Our technicians at SERVPRO of Columbia County are proud to serve Evans and surrounding areas for all of your mold remediation needs. If you ever notice mold inside your house, call  (706) 868-5441 24 hours a day.

Enjoy Weekly Wine tasting and Cooking Classes at Evans' Cork and Flame.

11/17/2020 (Permalink)

Cork and Flame's Unique Dining Experiences are Running with Wine Tasting Every Thursday and Saturday or Cooking Classes on the Weekend.

Cork and Flame is the culmination of Roger Strohl's Vineyard Wine Market and Justin Hayes' Argentinian-inspired tapas. Evans' residents are invited to learn and enjoy a selection of curated wines alongside complementary tapas. On Saturdays, locals can create a delicious light lunch before cooking a full main using the Argentinian-style open fire oven on Sundays under the guidance of expert chef Justin Hayes.

Cork and Flame offer:

• Chef's experience of a tailor-made menu alongside complimentary wines from the Vineyard Wine Market
• A weekly wine tasting event featuring a curated selection of reds and whites sourced from all over the world.
• A two-day cooking class led by experienced head chef Justin Hayes runs every weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
• Private bookings are available while the promising and new Sunday brunch menu is now serving between 11 am and 2 pm.

SERVPRO of Columbia County invites you to take part in this delicious community fare and sample a curated selection from Evans' finest wine market. Commercial Fire Cleanup is available for local businesses experiencing fire-related damages. Contact us immediately at (706) 868-5441.

SERVPRO® of Columbia County Acts Quickly for Your Business

11/5/2020 (Permalink)

An asst. living facility was inoperable after water damage displaced residents. SERVPRO® worked tirelessly to complete the project within a few days.

SERVPRO® of Columbia County Responds Confidently

SERVPRO® of Columbia County understands what it means to act promptly, while still retaining the best customer service. When an emergency such as water damage or fire damage affect your business, we are here to help. With highly trained crews and advanced equipment, we are more than ready to serve you and your business.

Flooding and water damage are events that can affect your normal business operations and worst-case scenario — Your business will need to temporarily close to be restored. Water damage can be complex and almost always goes beyond what you can see on the surface. It is vitally important to select SERVPRO® of Columbia County to fully restore your property to preloss condition should you need us. Otherwise, there are secondary issues that can develop such as mold.

Understandably, large scale losses are often daunting to a business owner. To SERVPRO® professionals, our experience and knowledge base equips our crews to be prepared to confront losses like these confidently. Our franchise has been in operation since 1983. Our Large Loss Division specializes in organizing equipment, equipment monitoring hours that work in conjunction with your businesses schedule, convenient drying times, and communication to finish the project swiftly.

Worried that you may need professional advice and help, but aren’t sure? Give us a call and we can help guide you towards the "next steps" you will need to take to get your business back to preloss condition.

SERVPRO® of Columbia County (706) 868-5441

How Can Augusta Business Owners Minimize Disruption During Mold Damage Cleanup?

10/10/2020 (Permalink)

Augusta Business Owners Do Not Want Mold Damage Cleanup To Disrupt Their Operation

Any business owner in Augusta knows that even a short business closure can create havoc with their profits. Every day a business is closed is terrible news, and entrepreneurs want to get back up and running quickly.

Mold remediation in Augusta businesses does not always mean a full closure, but there are times when this is necessary. Even if the organization does not need to close, there is no doubt that mold remediation disrupts daily operations.?

SERVPRO of Columbia County understands the concerns of the local business community. Our Franchise is affiliated with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, and we are dedicated to helping maintain a thriving business economy here in our city.

How badly can mold disrupt a business?
The extent to which mold disrupts a commercial enterprise is affected by several factors:

    •    Which area of the building the fungus is growing in
    •    How far the mold has spread
    •    Whether the damage is severe enough to warrant structural repairs in addition to mold damage cleanup

We often deal with smaller patches of mold without disrupting staff and customers, but more difficult situations mean closing off all or part of a building. This can leave some staff members unable to carry out their duties.

Does mold automatically mean closing down?
Not necessarily. For example, if we are working in an office block with three staff bathrooms and only one has mold growth, we can use containment to seal it off while we work, and the rest of the office can carry on with business. You may be able to move some staff to another location from where they can continue working.

If, however, there is extensive fungal growth in a shop or warehouse, it might be necessary to close for a short time until the problem is solved.

SERVPRO technicians will assess the mold situation by:

    •    Visually examining the fungal growth
    •    Using thermo-hygrometers to measure humidity in the area
    •    Using infrared cameras to track the movement of moisture across walls and ceilings
    •    Using moisture meters and probes to measure moisture in wood, plaster, drywall, carpets, and even furniture

When our assessment is complete, we will discuss with you the best steps to clean up the mold damage, how long it will take, and whether closure is necessary.

How can entrepreneurs minimize disruption?
The best way to minimize disruption is to call SERVPRO as soon as you suspect you have a mold problem. Fast action prevents the fungus from spreading further and thus causing more problems. We are available 24 hours, so do not hesitate to call us if you see or smell mold in your premises.

When you call us, please make sure your staff does not:

    •    Attempt to clean the mold themselves, as this can make it worse
    •    Blow, brush, or disturb the mold
    •    Walkthrough the affected area more than necessary

Please switch off HVAC systems and fans.?

How does SERVPRO minimize disruption?
We know you need to get back to business as soon as you can. Our technicians will use plastic sheeting to set up containment around the affected area to focus our work there. We will also set up a decontamination area if needed. These steps minimize the risk of spreading mold to other parts of your business.

We understand that the key to effective remediation is excellent planning. We agree on the course of action with you before we begin, and then we ensure each team member has the equipment necessary to work quickly and efficiently.

We can also liaise with insurance adjusters on your behalf if needed. If remediation calls for plumbing, construction, or electrical services, we will hire and supervise the correct people. Working with others on your behalf makes things go more smoothly and minimizes the amount of time you need to spend dealing with the situation.

Is it possible to plan for mold remediation?
We highly recommend setting up a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP). The ERP is free to use – download the app, set up a profile, and follow the instructions. Your ERP includes an assessment of your facility, critical information about your business, a note of the line of command and emergency contact details, and a plan for getting your company back to work following a disaster. You can even set your local Franchise as your go-to remediation specialists.

An ERP means your staff knows who to call and what to do in an emergency, including mold growth. You must share it with other decision-makers in your business.

If you are concerned about mold damage in your business, call SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441.

What Does It Take to Reopen My Evans Business After a Major Water Spill?

8/10/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO for A Full-Service Response to Your Flooded Evans Business

What Kind of Damage Can I Expect from A Water Spill?

Most commercial water damage repair to Evans businesses (a real estate office, for example) SERVPRO technicians deal with involve drying the structure to avoid replacing items like drywall and carpets. Primarily these result from split inlet pipes or a failed appliance like a water heater and do not usually include contaminants that pollute floors and walls.

What Are the First Steps Response Teams Take?

Our initial actions mitigate the situation. That means we stabilize the environment to minimize potential damage and prevent further damage to the business. These actions include:

    •    Extract excess water with pumps to reduce the amount of water absorbed by drywall, floor trim, and other structural property. It reduces the amount of crumbling, cracking, and splitting, which reduces the amount of property that needs replacing.
    •    Extract water from carpets and pads with extraction wands prevents carpet rot and stops the layers of carpet from separating. Since pads quickly deteriorate, technicians dispose of them immediately after extracting water and lifting the carpet out of the way.
    •    Extract water off linoleum in breakrooms using a squeegee wand to reduce the chance of water getting under the surface and softening the glue holding it in place.
    •    Provide humidity control by placing fans throughout the facility to increase air circulation and dehumidifiers to draw water from the air, which lowers humidity to a comfortable level.

How Long Before I Can Reopen My Business?

That depends on the size of your facility and how many days each action takes to complete. In some buildings, there may be odors from soaked paper and other ruined materials that SERVPRO technicians have to remove from the building.

To learn more about what SERVPRO of Columbia County can do for your business here or in Augusta, call our office at (706) 868-5441 today. We are here for you.

For more about Evans click here.

How Do I Resolve Mold Colonization in My Evans Bakery?

7/8/2020 (Permalink)

You might not realize the steam and moisture generated through hours of baking and cooking in the kitchen of your bakery, but if these conditions are not alleviated, it could result in mold.

Due to the hustle and bustle of yourEvansbakery, it can be easier than you might think to overlook situations that could lead to more significant structural concerns. Moisture and dampness created from steam and baking in the small kitchen in the back of your building can lead to lingering dampness that facilitates colonization of mold spores present in the environment. This colonization can happen with little warning, but its spread and severity can overtake the entire bakery if you do not address it as soon as it gets discovered.

There are many mold removal companies forEvanscommercial properties struggling with microbial growth, but there are few with the experience and ongoing training that our SERVPRO professionals provide. Because the presence of mold can be devastating to your reputation, and likely force your doors to close until the situation gets resolved and cleared through the local health bureau, remediation should happen as quickly as possible. Our presence and action shortly after mold gets discovered can limit how the organism spreads and make the entire situation more manageable.

Where Is Mold Damage the Worst in My Building? 

You might not be able to tell just how severe the situation has become when you first notice mold growth in your bakery. While there are signs that might indicate the organism within specific organic materials throughout the kitchen area, much of the damaged area may be out of sight. Without sophisticated tools and experience in mold inspection, property owners do not get the full story that their building tells about the severity of microbial threats. Some of the indicators that our professionals and even property owners can utilize to determine how severe mold growth has become include:

• Moisture Detectors – Advanced detection tools can indicate surface water threats and moisture/dampness pockets existing beyond this top material. The presence of moisture pockets often indicates a place suitable for microbial growth.

• Harsh Odors – Mold growth often gets discovered because of a distinct odor emitted from active colonization. Musty scents stand out above even the aromatic baked goods in your shop, which could indicate where mold growth is at its worst.

• Visible Growth – Spotting and full mold growth can be a clear indicator of where active colonization is occurring, and combined with these other signs, can help track the organism's migration. 

Why Should Remediators Solve the Issue? 

Remediation is different from mold removal in that it seeks only to remove active colonization and the effects of this threat. Removing mold is a misleading statement that many organizations cannot validate because mold spores exist naturally in almost every environment. It is only when damp conditions exist that these otherwise harmless mold spores seat into organic materials and begin to form colonies that can threaten those exposed. Professional remediators like our SERVPRO team should handle this emergency for several reasons:

• Health Hazardous – The development of colonies in your bakery can threaten your customers and staff. Volatile organic compounds are emitted from active colonization, which is why your business must temporarily stop to address these concerns.

• Continually Spreading – Without addressing mold growth quickly, the situation can get much worse. Active colonization spreads quickly throughout organic materials and contents in the bakery.

• Damaging to Your Reputation – The discovery of mold halts your ability to serve food to your customers temporarily while remediation completes. The longer that this problem persists, the more people know about why your doors are not open. 

How Does Remediation Work? 

Remediation hinges on removing active colonization through direct action. Surfaces and contents throughout the property, such as cabinets and drywall, can host mold colonies. To protect these items and construction materials, several strategies exist. There are varying approaches based on the material affected, location of mold colonies, and the severity of the damage. Some of the typical methods for removing active organisms include:

• Surface Cleaning
• Sanding
• Soda Blasting
• Controlled Demolition

Understanding mold remediation and recovery efforts can help you appreciate the acquisition of our certified Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians (AMRT) whenever colonies are discovered. No matter how we can help, it is our business to get you back in business. Give our SERVPRO of Columbia County team a call 24/7 at (706) 868-5441.

My Bakery is Flooded. What Can I Do?

6/15/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Columbia County For Water Removal Services! 

Sudden accidents can leave your Augusta bakery in need of water removal services in mere seconds. For example, envision a scenario where a pipe burst in the ceiling of your store. Water can quickly leak down your walls, pooling on the tile floors and making your store inoperable.  

Suddenly finding your Augusta bakery in need of water removal services can be overwhelming. You may worry about the expensive kitchen equipment and the rust that could form due to the exposure to water. You may worry about the structural integrity of the building materials in your shop, such as the framing and drywall. No matter the concern, trust SERVPRO to help you. We're water damage experts.  

The Pipe Burst During Closing at Eight PM, Can You Work Through the Night?  

Here at SERVPRO, we're available when you need us. For this reason, we are:  

• Open twenty-four hours a day, so we're available when disaster strikes 
• We operate every day of the week, including Sundays
• Our technicians are available to work whenever you need us, day or night, for your convenience  

No matter the time or the day of the week, we're here for you. SERVPRO understand that water damage waits for no one, and your schedule is as busy as ours is. Foot traffic is essential, and it is our goal to restore it as soon as possible.  

What Can You Do to Remove the Water from My Industrial Kitchen?

We understand you would be concerned about the longevity of your industry-grade equipment. For this reason, SERVPRO uses advanced technology to remove water damage from your property. To remove water damage, we can:  

• Set up portable pumps and extractors
• Use wet/dry vacuums along with running pumps, to speed up the removal process 
• Use drying equipment to extract excess moisture from your kitchen swiftly  

It is always our goal to leave you feeling, "Like it never even happened."  

If your store needs water removal services, get them today. Contact SERVPRO of Columbia County by dialing (706) 868-5441. No matter the time of the day, we're open.  

More about Augusta.

Why Professional Restoration is Necessary for Water Damaged Dorms in Augusta

3/19/2020 (Permalink)

Do you now how to dry water damaged carpets? SERVPRO does! We are always available to take your call.

Removing Water from Carpets in Your Augusta Dormitory 

With several community colleges and universities here in Augusta, the possibility of water loss incidents and other disasters becomes a nearly constant threat during school semesters. With many of these institutions offering to board for students out of the immediate area, emergencies that involve these dormitories must get addressed right away. Water losses, for example, can migrate quickly from one area throughout the building to affect dozens of residents in the dorm. 

Carpeted floors are one of the ideal flooring options for dorm rooms, but these can pose problems for restoration professionals implementing water removal for Augusta campuses. To avoid prolonged relocation of several students, our SERVPRO professionals must act quickly with removal tools and drying techniques to manage the disaster and prevent any further migration of water loss effects. 

Once students have picked up their belongings from the wet floors and relocated them to a safer area in the building, our professionals can get to work on what needs to happen with removing standing water from the floors. Using wet vacuums and carpet wands, we can remove much of the moisture from short pile carpeting and prepare the flooring for focused drying efforts to come. We can also utilize weighted extractors to push padding and the carpet layer together to squeeze moisture to the surface against the concrete subflooring. 

Floating carpets can be an effective way to preserve the flooring material without requiring removal and replacement. This drying often must be done in several separate stages as individual rooms feature their own cuts of carpeting along with the longer solid strip found in the hallways. By placing a centrifugal air mover between the top layer and the padding, the forced heated air can maximize evaporative drying. 

When water losses occur at your dorm, our SERVPRO of the Columbia County team can help with sound equipment and experienced professionals. We understand how many students can become affected by migrating water, so we can ensure that we respond quickly 24/7 to these emergencies. Contact us anytime that you need us at (706) 868-5441. 

More about Augusta.

Cracking the Commercial Flood Damage Remediation Code in Augusta

2/16/2020 (Permalink)

Temperamental Weather Patterns Require Proactive Flood Damage Help Year-Round for Augusta Businesses

The timing of flooding issues has become impossible to predict for businesses in Augusta. “Once in a century” storms and the presence of flood-prone conditions are far more common than memory serves, occurring with little warning. Savvy business owners plan for the unpredictable in other aspects of day to day operations. We offer a way to anticipate and respond to disasters like overland floods.

Share and Collaborate with a Disaster Recovery Leader

Augusta flood damage can turn your thriving business into an empty shell of a building. Competition in your industry takes advantage of any slowdown or temporary closure you suffer. Reassure your customers, encouraging them to stick with you during a recovery agenda that we help you develop, inspiring the confidence of your loyal base.

Flood Damage Emergency? We Have an App for That

SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Plan and Profile (ERP) merge as a concise, digital document we build together with you to protect your business. Long before flooding threatens, invite one of our experienced project managers to assess both your physical space and how your business operates. We draw on training obtained from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and decades of experience among our employees to craft a plan that minimizes the effects of flooding. You help personalize your plan by using our mobile app to share your priorities during a disaster and list details on the vendors and contractors who constructed your space and systems. 

Preparation Is Possible

Your business is critical not only to your financial success but also provides salaries and security for your employees. The community relies on your unique products and services. SERVPRO pledges to prepare you, your staff, and your reputation to weather flood damage. After our assessment, we suggest adaptations that protect your equipment, inventory, documents, and other elements vital to your operations from flood waters. Designate trusted employees or other individuals to act on your behalf if you are out of town or otherwise unavailable to ensure zero delays in our response.  

SERVPRO of Columbia County looks forward to collaborating with you on an ERP designed to streamline flood damage disaster recovery. Call us at (706) 868-5441 today to schedule an assessment.

Click here for more information about Augusta.

The Untold Story on Augusta Water Damage Remediation that You Must Read

12/29/2019 (Permalink)

Get Commercial Water Damage Cleanup for Your Augusta Waiting Room

Between 2013 and 2017, 1 in 50 homeowners filed a water damage claim each year. This 2.05% frequency is a more than 50% increase from the 2005-2009 rates, which hovered around 1.44% per year. Despite other types of claims decreasing in frequency, water damage claims have only increased their rates of occurrence. This can mean more costs for businesses affected by water damage without thorough professional mitigation that is focused on preserving structures and assets.

If a waiting room or lobby in your Augusta practice has been affected by commercial water damage, IICRC-certified professionals from SERVPRO are ready to assist you in restoring your business to a preloss condition. Technicians and franchise owners alike receive extensive training in water damage mitigation to ensure that you can go back to business as usual. 

What Not to Do When Commercial Water Damage Strikes Your Business

Avoid removing water with a standard household vacuum cleaner. While these vacuums are useful for cleaning everyday dirt and debris off of carpets, they are not made to handle water and can easily be broken or short-circuited.

Do not use electronics in the affected area. Using electronics near water-damaged walls or floors can cause appliances to short out or otherwise fail. Using appliances in areas where outlets have been affected by water can significantly increase the risk of further disaster.

Do not lift carpet without professional help. Not only is wet carpet extremely heavy, but it is also 50% weaker than when it is dry. Doing this on your own can hurt you during lifting and also put you at risk of sustaining injury from tacks holding carpeting to the floor.

If you see mold, do not touch or disturb it. Not only is mold capable of causing health effects, but it can spread very quickly if you make contact with it or spread spores through the air while attempting to clean on your own.

Avoid entering rooms with standing water until electricity has been turned off. If a bathroom leak or other severe water-related disaster has occurred with the electricity still on, turn it off as soon as possible to minimize risk.

How SERVPRO Can Help

When you call SERVPRO to eliminate water damage from your lobby or waiting room, they can come in with their own equipment so that yours stays intact. Technicians have a wide variety of extraction equipment available, from rovers and large pads made to suck water out of carpeting, to extraction wands for removing water from hard-to-reach areas. 

SERVPRO of Columbia County supports local businesses by ensuring any disaster looks, "Like it never even happened." Call (706) 868-5441 for a commercial mitigation team today. 

Click here for more information about Augusta.

Our Water Damage Experts Can Save Your Augusta Commercial Property

11/5/2019 (Permalink)

We Can Have You Open For Business After A Commercial Water Damage Disaster In Augusta

Whenever there is water damage in a commercial building, it can be catastrophic for the business. Often owners cannot allow employees to enter or have customers in the building. Aside from critical safety issues, their computer systems are not working, and their products may be wet or unavailable due to the water. Every day the business cannot operate, means lost revenue, and perhaps even lost customers with corresponding long term impacts.

SERVPRO responds to commercial water damage events in Augusta and surrounding areas in less than a four-hour time frame. We understand how important it's to remain open for business. Operations and sales may be disrupted while recovery is underway, whatever your business focus is. Many of your products may also be damaged.

Leaky Pipes, Faulty Sprinklers, Accidents
Water damage can be caused by any of these situations, as well as many others. Regardless of the cause, employers must suspend operations, perhaps send employees home and stop customers from entering the building.

SERVPRO crew chiefs arrive on-site and immediately assess the situation. Crews and equipment are dispatched to remove the water and begin drying operations as quickly as possible. Our professionals can work through the night if needed to remove the water and moisture. We mobilize water extractors for all types of situations. We have truck-mounted pumps as well as mobile water extractors that efficiently remove water from carpets, hardwood, and tile.

Air movers push the moist air out of the building and draw in dry air to absorb moisture. It the water damaged area is an enclosed area, we deploy air movers in conjunction with dehumidifiers to reduce the humidity to acceptable levels. All hard surfaces are wiped down and dried. Some items may need special treatment to restore them to their original condition, if possible.

With the business owner's agreement, SERVPRO can establish a staging area for our team's equipment as well as for items removed from the water damaged site. These steps reduce drying time and protect your supplies and products. We aim to help return your business to full operation as quickly as possible.

Call SERVPRO of Columbia County at (706) 868-5441 for 24/7 service. We proudly serve Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, and the surrounding areas. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Augusta click here.

We Can Save Your Damaged Documents In Your Augusta Clinic

9/23/2019 (Permalink)

Give us a call anytime at (706) 868-5441.

Document Drying in Augusta Clinics after Flooding

Hard copies of patient records and the reams of documentation required to treat patients or to operate your Augusta clinic are all critical to the function of the facility. Even with the jump to the digital age and the efforts to having this same paperwork accessible through the computer network of the administration, the storage of these vital and sensitive documents can leave them even more susceptible to situations like flooding.

Flood damage in Augusta medical facilities can already be a dangerous situation with the personnel and the patients that could become affected. While your building does not typically have patients in the facility more than short bursts for check-ups and testing, it is still important to appreciate the effect that flooding can have on those who have upcoming appointments. Recovering this situation as promptly as possible helps your clinic from losing money and your reputation with the community.

The content management division of our SERVPRO team has the qualifications and experience to protect many of the exposed instruments and devices from exposure to the flooding by relocating these items to a different area of the clinic or our nearby facility for storage. Documents that have already become exposed to even elevated humidity levels can benefit from our freeze-drying process. We have mobile equipment that can help us to recover the paperwork on-site, making sure that sensitive information does not leave the grounds.

Our machine works by keeping these affected documents under vacuum pressure after freezing them. When heat is introduced to melt the ice, it turns to vapor and leaves the document dry and restored. This sublimation is an effective process to keep your paperwork and records safe from deterioration or degradation.

We strive to provide our customers, both residential and commercial, with services that can protect their belongings and vital possessions during a crisis. Freeze-drying documents can help to protect the hard copies of your records from quickly spreading flood effects. You can count on our SERVPRO of Columbia County team to provide this and other approaches to protect what matters to your business. Give us a call anytime at (706) 868-5441.

For more about Augusta click here.

We Can Preserve Your Water Damaged Historical Property In Augusta

8/19/2019 (Permalink)

Preserving Water Damaged Historical Properties In Augusta

Between the aging plantation farm structures and other buildings teeming with historical significance throughout Augusta, many properties require a skilled and steady hand to restore when disasters strike. Some of these structures feature their original plumbing from when the homes were upgraded along with the changing of the times, making many of these service lines copper, brass, lead, and other metallic compositions. Standing water in metal pipes can be a recipe for degradation and leaks.

Water damage to Augusta historic properties can be even more threatening and devastating than the same circumstances with new construction. Many of the older farmstead properties feature original hardwood construction for areas like flooring, staircases, banisters, mantles, and shelving. Loss incidents, even without being enough to collect on the flooring, can raise humidity and moisture levels enough to compromise the composition of the material and ultimately require it to get removed.

While you may not be able to prevent the potential water loss disasters that could take place in one of these tourist attractions, you can choose the best approach to resolving these issues promptly and correctly. Instead of leaving the drying and recovery to your custodial or maintenance team, you can choose SERVPRO. Our professionals have extensive training in both Water Restoration and Applied Structural Drying through the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). That education helps our professionals to respond immediately to protect installed materials with penetrative drying approaches like drying mats and the InjectiDry system.

As a location that offers a strict touring schedule for travelers and residents of the area looking to brush up on their 19th-century history, a water loss incident of any kind could compromise the full tour and threaten critical elements that make the structure historically significant. Having a team of professionals that can move quickly to mitigate loss and to make all of these affected areas “Like it never even happened,” we offer property owners the chance to not only protect their structures but to protect the contents of exhibits as well.

Drying out the damaged property requires the fast and confident response of our SERVPRO of Columbia County team. We have a deep inventory of extraction and drying tools, helping us to gently and intricately clean and restore saturated elements in your historic location. Give our professionals a call anytime that you need us at (706) 868-5441.

For more about Augusta click here.

We Can Help If Your Evans Sports Bar Is Plagued By Fire Damage

5/20/2019 (Permalink)

We are available 24/7 to serve our local community at (706) 868-5441.

SERVPRO Assists Sports Bar With Commercial Fire Damage In Evans

Commercial fire damage can affect a business in numerous ways besides the obvious loss of revenue from closure during cleanup. Employees suddenly have a loss of income, and there are times unhappy patrons leave reviews that can hurt a business regarding an unexpected closure without knowing the circumstances.

SERVPRO was called one evening to mitigate commercial fire damage in Evans from a flash fire in a sports bar kitchen. The bar owner was frantic because he had a large gathering booked for the following night and the mess and odor left behind from the dry powder fire suppressant looked daunting to him as far as being able to open for business the following evening.

SERVPRO emergency response teams are available around the clock, and we arrived at the location prepared to work through the night to enable the bar to open on schedule. The dry residue left behind from the fire extinguisher was light and mixed with soot. It can travel through foot traffic and air, so to avoid any spread, the technicians contained the kitchen area while they were working and shut off the HVAC. We used handheld vacuums with HEPA filters to remove the dry residue. The HVAC ducts were inspected and thoroughly cleaned so lingering odors would not be a problem when the bar reopened.

Technicians hand wiped the kitchen surfaces with our specially formulated cleaners to eliminate smoke residues left behind by the fire and disinfect the area, so it was sanitary and ready for use to prepare food items. Once completed, our technicians walked the bar owner through for his approval and he was pleased and relieved, his sports bar was not going to have any more downtime from the kitchen fire.

SERVPRO of Columbia County knows business owners need commercial fire damage mitigated as soon as possible, so there is no disruption to the business. We are available 24/7 to serve our local community at (706) 868-5441.

Click here for more about Evans.

Commercial Water & Fire Restoration In the Augusta-CSRA Region

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

There are many reasons to quickly restore a commercial business to its normal daily operation after a water or fire loss.  The reason that is most prevalent on the minds of company stakeholders is simple:  profitability.  The longer a business remains idle due to a loss, the faster that losses from lost opportunity will mount.  It is critical to respond quickly. 

SERVPRO of Augusta is a large-loss team that routinely mitigates water and fire damage losses in office complexes, medical buildings, university buildings, large hotels and other commercial structures throughout Augusta.  Whether you are in need of board-up services, commercial drying, or the mitigation of massive amounts of water from a factory floor, we have the knowledge, equipment and proven expertise to deliver fast, proven results for our commercial customers. 

Don't hesitate to call SERVPRO of Augusta for your Commercial Restoration needs.  Call (706)868-5441.