Christmas Safety

12/20/2019 (Permalink)

When setting up your Christmas decorations it is important to keep these things in mind when it comes to the placement of the decorations and the surrounding area around them.

•  Place the Christmas tree away from any heat source
• Pay attention to UL-listed indoor/outdoor Christmas lights
• Check that the decorations are still intact and that no damages have been done
• If there are any damages make sure to replace the decorations instead of leaving them in the area
• Don't overload sockets, no more than three light strands in a row

Make a checklist of these things to look at when setting up your decorations to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable Christmas atmosphere. Christmas can already be an expensive time, no need to make it more expensive.

Why we like to say thank you to our customers.

7/25/2019 (Permalink)

We like to say thank you to our customers as often as we can. It's a simple and polite gesture. It's very important for us to acknowledge our customers even after we have completed a job. We like to send out thank you cards and remind them that they gave us an opportunity to serve them. We also make it a point to reach out to them a few weeks after we finish our job and make sure they're not having any more issues. Our customers need to know that we are a great support team. We want our customers to know that we value them. A simple thank you card makes all the difference. Which is why we love sending them. 

SERVPRO Convention!

7/11/2019 (Permalink)

California's Capitol

SERVPRO just had its annual convention and we were there to participate in all the fun and informative workshops. This year, convention was held in Sacramento, CA. The weather and the scenery were beautiful! Convention was a week long, we attended all the discussions that focused on customer service and creating a great team! We are very excited to implement everything we learned. Convention will be held in Boston next year. We know it will be great time. We will get to explore the history of the city and enjoy new sights. I'm sure we will eat amazing lobster too. Did you know that convention is held in a different city every year? They tell us at the end of the last day where we will be headed the next year. It keeps us on out toes! 

Returning Better Than Ever!

6/7/2019 (Permalink)

Remodeled kitchen after disaster struck. Better than ever!

Once the initial damage has been mitigated, it's time to get everything back to normal. Our franchise here in Monrovia, can also handle all of your reconstruction needs. This can vary from replacing damaged drywall to a full on kitchen remodel. Discuss with us how we can turn your negative into a positive and we will do our very best to accommodate. Most customers actually get really excited when we discuss remodeling options. Some clients get brand new kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and even out door patios. When sever damages occur, it's difficult to simply replace and old aesthetic. Sometimes it's necessary for home owners to upgrade their home. It always turns out great and customers are happy to get a new appliances. 

What's a crawl space?

5/17/2019 (Permalink)

Taking pictures of your crawl space is very helpful

What’s a crawl space? Here’s what you need to know! There will be an area in your home dedicated to the wiring and plumbing for your house. These spaces can be very small or very big. It’s important to know how many crawl spaces you have. When was the last time you checked your crawl space? Your crawl space is a perfect place for a leak or a pipe to burst. It is a perfect place for mold and mildew to spread. Make a note to check your crawl space and take some pictures. Make sure that you don’t see any leaks, take note of any spots around the walls and beams. It’s also important to know the kind of insulation you have because there are a variety of materials to choose from. Water damage can start in a crawl space and it can become a costly project to fix. The best way to prevent any kind of damage is to do a routine visit about twice a year. Also, make sure you don't use your crawl space as storage, things can get ruined real fast if a pipe does burst. We've seen it all, and it's very common to loose valuables that were stored away in a crawl space. 

Essential Homeowner Tips

5/4/2018 (Permalink)

Examining Roof Shingles

Inspect your roofing to see if any shingles were damaged or lost during the winter. A leak in your roof can often times go unnoticed before the water coming through has severely damaged your home's structure and possibly your belongings. A wet spot on the ceiling or dripping water from above sometimes indicates that there might be a leak in your roof. One way to deal with this situation is a service we provide called Roof Tarping and can temporarily be installed over the damaged area of the roof to prevent any further damage to your home while major repairs are being planned and executed.

Checking your Gutters

While you're up there, it is a great idea to inspect your gutters. Out of sight and out of mind, is not always a good thing especially when it comes to gutters. Be sure to inspect all your gutters and drainage systems to make sure they are properly directing water away from your home. This happens to be one of the most common causes for water damage around the home, mainly because people never inspect their home’s drainage systems. Preventative measures can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in home repairs. It is important to recognize a drainage problem and address it as soon as possible because it can lead water into the basement or crawl space.

SERVPRO of Monrovia

• We are Available 24 hours/7 days per week
• We’re a Preferred Vendor to many National Insurance Companies
• We Bill The Insurance Directly – One Less Thing For You To Worry About
• Our Technicians are Highly-Trained in Water Restoration Techniques
• We use s500 IICRC Restoration Standards
• We have advanced inspection and extraction equipment

Have Questions? Call Us Today – We’re Here To Help - (626) 358-9200

Taking Care of Your Monrovia Home

5/4/2018 (Permalink)

Using Compacted Soil Around Your Home

Lower areas in your yard or next to your home’s foundation should be filled with compacted soil. During the rainy seasons, water can cause yard flooding, which in turn can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Signs to look for such as pooling water or run off going into your crawl spaces are often signs your yard needs some additional attention to help prevent from flooding and damage to your property.

Inspecting the Concrete

Inspect the concrete slabs around your home for signs of movement or cracks. Every exterior slab, except for pool decks, should drain away from your home’s foundation. It is a good idea to fill any cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. Also when the weather permits, like most days here in Southern California, power washing and then sealing your concrete is a great way to prevent any damage due to water.

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – (626) 358-9200

Residential Services

Whether your Monrovia home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us.  Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to strike your Monrovia commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business.

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration

What is Asbestos?

4/26/2018 (Permalink)

What is Asbestos?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that Asbestos is a mineral that is mined from the earth. It has natural properties that make it an excellent and inexpensive fire retardant. As such, it was added to many building products to make them perform better with peak use between the 1940s through the 1970s. Common building materials that contain asbestos include but are not limited to:

• Vermiculite insulation
• 9”x9” floor tiles
• Acoustic ceiling tiles
• White tape on heating ducts
• Insulation on boiler pipes and boilers
• Old asbestos cement siding
• Popcorn ceiling texture
• Glues used under flooring

Why is Asbestos Bad?

Asbestos is bad for human health when the tiny abrasive fibers are inhaled into the lungs where they can damage the lung tissue. This seems to be exacerbated by cigarette smoking and the resulting diseases are mesothelioma and lung cancer.

In general, if you are buying a house older than 1980, you can assume it probably contains at least some asbestos.

Lead in the Home

4/26/2018 (Permalink)

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that if your home was built before 1978, there is a good chance it has lead-based paint. In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint, but some states banned it even earlier. Lead from paint, including lead-contaminated dust, is one of the most common causes of lead poisoning.

Below are some helpful facts to keep you knowledgeable about paint in your home. 

• Lead paint is still present in millions of homes, sometimes under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead paint is usually not a problem. Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp) is a hazard and needs immediate attention.

• It may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as:
  • Windows and window sills;
  • Doors and door frames; and
  • Stairs, railings, banisters, and porches.

• Be sure to keep all paint in excellent shape and clean up dust frequently.

• Lead in household dust results from indoor sources such as deteriorating lead-based paint.

• Lead dust can also be tracked into the home from soil outside that is contaminated by deteriorated exterior lead-based paint and other lead sources, such as industrial pollution and past use of leaded gasoline.

• Renovation, repair or painting activities can create toxic lead dust when painted surfaces are disturbed or demolished

• Pipes and solder - Lead is used in some water service lines and household plumbing materials. Lead can leach, or enter the water, as water flows through the plumbing. Lead pipes and lead solder were commonly used until 1986.

Board-Up Services

4/24/2018 (Permalink)

We performed our Board-Up Service after a major fire in Monrovia.

SERVPRO of Monrovia can board-up your home or business for most any cause, like the ones listed below. Board-ups will help secure and protect your property.  Board-ups also will also assist in defending your property from more damage due to severe weather. Did you know, most insurance policies require that the Property Owners and Renters to protect their property against secondary damage?  This is damage that occurs because of a person not taking proper actions after the first damage occurs to secure the property.  If Owners or Renters are found to be negligent, the secondary damage might not be covered by insurance.

Board-Up Services may be necessary after...

• Smoke & Fire Damage
• Water Damage
• Flood Damage
• Extreme Weather Damage
• Natural Disasters
• Break-Ins
• Vandalism
• Auto Accidents

Having your property damaged in any circumstance can be a very stressful experience. SERVPRO of Monrovia specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – (626) 358-9200

IICRC Certified Firm

4/5/2018 (Permalink)

We are an IICRC Certified Firm

SERVPRO of Monrovia is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.

• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of Monrovia

SERVPRO of Monrovia specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Earthquake Preparedness – Tips for the Homeowner

4/4/2018 (Permalink)

Making your Home earthquake ready can greatly reduce the risk of further damages caused by an earthquake such as fire and water damage. These preventative measures can mean saving huge amounts of money in repairs but more importantly the safety and protection of family, personal belongings and property.

Consider this…

Since most water and gas lines are rigid, they can be ripped from their connection points during an earthquake. The outcome could not only be serious damage to your property but also injury to you and others.

A common method to prevent broken water and gas lines is to have flexible connection pipes installed between appliances and their supply lines. The same technique can be used for other appliances, such as a water heater, clothes dryer, stove or gas furnace. Typically, a licensed contractor can perform this service without much difficulty.

Benefits of Using This Mitigation Strategy

• Helps to prevent tearing of water and gas lines from their connections

• Helps to prevent serious damage to a structure

• Helps to prevent explosions or fires

• Helps to prevent personal injuries 

Tips

Keep these points in mind when you have flexible connections installed:

• It is important to know where your gas, power, and water line shut offs are located and how to turn them off. A gas leak could create an explosion which could cause more damage than the earthquake itself. 

• Modifications to the plumbing and gas lines in your property must be done by a licensed contractor, who will ensure that the work is done properly and in compliance with all applicable codes. This is key for your safety.

• A flexible connection will help protect against a small amount of movement but is not designed to function when the appliance it is connected to moves extensively or falls. Consider anchoring the appliance to the floor or wall.

When a disaster strikes SERVPRO of Monrovia has the training, experience, and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Experience Counts

5/11/2016 (Permalink)

Hire SERVPRO Professionals for a           Solution.                 

One out of every ten water incidents in a home is caused by a water heater or washing machine. If preventive maintenance has been overlooked, Call SERVPRO of Monrovia professionals to begin the cleanup and restoration process. 

Trained in the cleanup and restoration of your property, SERVPRO professionals utilize the knowledge and experience of 38 years of business to properly clean up damage caused by a leaking water heater or washing machine.     

Water Heater Maintenance Tips

• Before doing any maintenance on your water heater, shut off the power at the service panel.
• Once every three months, drain one gallon of water from the tank. If you have hard water, do this every month to reduce sediment collecting in the bottom of the tank.
• Once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician.
• Once every five years, have a service technician replace the anode rod.       

 Working to make it "Like it never even happened"