Different Types of Mold

2/2/2023 (Permalink)

Mold Cleanup

What do you picture when you think of mold? You might imagine old bread sitting in your basket with discoloration. Others might discover mold growing by a pool that is unkept. The most common type of mold ranking as the primary cause of allergic reactions is Alternia. Concentrations of Alternia are highest during the summer, when dry winds can carry spores indoors. Studies have found that up to 70 percent of people with mold allergies react to skin testing with Alternia.

The second most common type of mold is Aspergillus. Mold infestations in buildings are often found to be Aspergillus, as its spores are found in higher levels indoors than outdoors. Aspergillus is one of the types of mold classified as toxic mold, which is distinguished by production of mycotoxins that can cause serious health problems in humans and animals. Aspergillosis refers to a group of Aspergillus-related diseases that affect people with compromised immune systems or underlying lung disease.

Often times, mold grows in spaces the human eye cannot see such as under sinks, behind walls, and around pipes. SERVPRO of Monrovia is equipped with the proper equipment and procedures to address these situations. Dial 626 358 9200 for questions and services about mold remediation. 

Categories of Water during Floods

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

What category of water do you think this is?

What do you think about when you see the word flood? Do you imagine a bathtub overflowing and spilling into the hallway? Or do you visualize a storm pushing huge waves that crash into homes? Water is broken into three categories when dealing with water loss. 

1) Clean

2) Grey

3) Black

Clean water is water that is well... clean and does not pose harm. An example of this would be an overflowing sink. Grey water is water that is contaminated and may cause sickness if contaminated. An example would be a broken toilet bowl. Black water is unsanitary water that may harbor diseases and bacteria that will cause sickness. This includes accidents that involve sewage water. 

Regardless of which category of water you've been affected, please follow the following steps when you experience water loss. 

1) Make sure you and your family are safe. 

2) Find and address the source of the issue if possible. 

3) Call your insurance company & plumber.

4) Take pictures. 

5) Call professionals such as SERVPRO who can help with water mitigation and cleaning.

6) Take preventative measures by maintaining your plumbing and water systems. 

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

1/24/2023 (Permalink)

Water pouring out of the ceiling.

It's 6AM in the morning and the phone is already buzzing. Groggily, I roll over in my dream and hit snooze. Waking up suddenly, I realized that here at SERVPRO of Monrovia, it was a service call and we would never ignore your call. 

A frantic woman voiced that a pipe burst and was pouring out of the first floor ceiling. We advised her to turn off all water and electricity for their safety. We provided her w/ a plumber who would promptly head out to determine the source of the issue. By 9 AM, the plumber had provided us w/ a response and the SERVPRO team was already on site. Hauling out our air movers and dehumidifiers, we explained to the family about the water mitigation process and consoled them about their unfortunate series of events. We proceeded to clean up the mess and begin extracting water. We further provided the family with a summary about the ensuing process and aided them with restoring their home.

Call SERVPRO of Monrovia at 626 358 9200 for questions and services. 

Flood Warning

1/23/2023 (Permalink)

The torrential rain fall in California has caused detrimental water damage to businesses and residential alike. SERVPRO of Monrovia understands how frustrating it can be to experience water loss inside the place you call home. SERVPRO of Monrovia will walk with you every step of the way to assist you and restore your home "Like it never even happened."

During water loss, here are some preventative measures you should take.

1). Turn off the water.

2). Locate the source 

3). Contact your plumber 

4). Contact SERVPRO to begin mitigation. 

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today (626 - 358 - 9200)

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

COVID Cleanings in Commercial Spaces

1/19/2022 (Permalink)

COVID has been a huge issue for some time now, especially with the new Omicron variant. The virus has been spreading very rapidly and many workers/employees have had to take time off of work. This obviously is a problem for the workers themselves since they are sick, but it is also an issue for businesses since many are short staffed. That is why many businesses have been focusing on disinfecting their office spaces or warehouses with our COVID cleaning service. Our technicians use a disinfectant solution and wipe down all affected areas. They also use a fogger to make sure every inch of the affected space is thoroughly disinfected. Most businesses have us come in on a as needed basis while others have us come in for regular, daily cleanings. This just shows how important it is for businesses to have sanitized spaces for the well-being of the employees as well as the business itself. 

Well Trained Technicians

1/13/2022 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO we always make it a goal to have a knowledgeable crew that are experts in mitigation and remediation. One way we do this is by requiring that our technicians take IICRC certified courses. These courses train our technicians in water and fire mitigation as well as mold remediation. These courses go over important terminology, theories, and techniques that are necessary for completing our jobs. It is also great to see when our clients notice that our technicians are well trained. We see this when clients leave reviews. They are always mentioning how knowledgeable our crew members are and they are always very appreciative. We are confident that our technicians can take on any kind of job and complete it to the best of their abilities.

We Have the Equipment Needed for Large Jobs

1/13/2022 (Permalink)

When it comes to commercial jobs, it is important that we are prepared for any size job. Commercial jobs can sometimes require that we cover larger areas than normal. This is because many commercial jobs are located in large office spaces or warehouses. This also means we have to be well equipped to handle larger losses. Luckily, here at SERVPRO of Monrovia, we have a large warehouse space that holds all our equipment. These pieces of equipment include dehumidifiers, air movers, air scrubbers, etc. We also have a number of vehicles that can hold all our equipment as we go to a jobsite. We have never had a problem with working on large commercial areas. We have always been well equipped and we are ready for any job. 

What We Do When There's a Fire Job

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

Fire jobs usually require lots of work and preparation. Fires obviously cause structural damage to properties but there are other factors to take into account when dealing with fire damage. Our technicians assess all affected areas of a property. This doesn’t just mean what parts of the property have been burned. We look out for smoke that has travelled throughout the property such as rooms and vents. The smoke from a fire leaves ashes and soot that can be very difficult to remove and can require demolition and reconstruction. We assess all rooms, vents, walls, ceilings, and floors to report all damages. The tenant’s personal belongings could also be affected by smoke and soot and that would be taken care of by a soft goods cleaning service. Once all damages have been assessed, our team begins by packing all belongings out of the property. Then we begin demolition as necessary and we start to clean soot from areas that do not need demolition. Reconstruction would then take place and then a pack in.

Condos in Temple City

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

Not too long ago, there were three condos in Temple City that experienced a significant fire. The fire burned all three condos and this called for immediate help from our SERVPRO team. The condos were essentially three stories counting the garage space so the whole project took several months to finish. All belongings that survived the fire were packed out and the process began. All affected materials were removed which resulted in the condos being bare wood. The roof was also affected so that had to be reconstructed as well. Once the long reconstruction process was completed, then came the painting and remodeling phase. New floors, paint, and appliances were put in the homes. All the belongings were cleaned and packed in the condos. Once everything was set and done, the condos looked like they were new listings on a home buying site.

How Your Home Can Be Affected by a Storm

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

Storms come in all shapes and sizes. Hail can cause structural damage, flooding can affect the floors/walls of your home, rain can leak through ceilings, and wind can tear away shingles. It is important to know how a storm can affect your home so you can know how to prepare for one. Hail can cause more damage than you think. It can break windows, damage walls and ceilings, and overall ding up your home. Flooding can flow into your home and soak carpets or wood flooring. Flood water is also category 3 since it carries in all the dirtiness from outside into your home. That means all affected materials would have to be replaced. Floods don’t only affect floors but walls as well. Strong wings can tear away shingles from your roof and they would have to be replaced. This can also lead to leaks from rain since the roof won’t be properly protected. This isn’t meant to scare you but to inform you of the dangers a storm can cause so you can prepare.