If You Think You Have Mold, Don’t Take Care Of It Yourself!

8/28/2024 (Permalink)

We often get calls from Marshall, Hardin, Grundy, and Tama County homeowners who’ve tried treating a mold problem with a store-bought spray or bleach, only to have the mold return. They don’t realize that they’ve spread potentially toxic mold spores inside their home and used the wrong kind of cleaner for the type of material where the mold is growing. The result is a worse situation than if they had called us first.

It’s Best Not to Mess With Mold

If you think you have mold, the best thing to do is leave it alone and call us to come take a look. We’ll be there right away. If it’s not mold, which is sometimes the case, we’ll let you know, and we won’t charge you anything for the visit. It’s a courtesy our customers appreciate.

If we do suspect you have mold, we’ll offer the option to pay for mold sampling and testing to determine if the mold is toxic or a low-risk type that doesn’t present a serious health risk. Depending on the results, we’ll create a mold remediation plan and cost estimate for you to consider.

We’re Certified to Safely Remediate Mold

Once a customer approves the plan and estimate, we go straight to work. We’re trained and certified to remediate mold from homes and commercial businesses in the safest way possible. If the mold is toxic, we seal off contaminated areas from the rest of your house or business so spores do not spread. Using special HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers, we clean and disinfect the entire area. We carefully remove affected materials, dispose of them properly, and replace damaged areas with new materials, restoring your home or business to its previous condition “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Marshalltown Before You Touch That Mold

Just one quick phone call can save you from possible health risks and spreading more mold in your home or business. We deal with mold constantly and are well-trained to handle it, so you can trust us to do the job right. Because we’re a local business, we can be there quickly to give you an evaluation and recommendations for moving forward. Call (641) 758-9746 anytime, day or night.

Call SERVPRO of Marshalltown After Damage From Lightning

8/28/2024 (Permalink)

The dramatic view of lightning streaking across the sky is quintessential to thunderstorms, but it also represents extreme danger. Lightning can often cause severe injuries and damage to property when it strikes, which is why it is essential to know the dangers it presents to your home.

Information About Lightning

All thunderstorms develop an electrical charge, and thunder and lightning are the results of this. What our eyes perceive as a lightning bolt is the storm shooting off some of its electrical charge, which is manifested as a strike.

Clouds are well-insulated for electrical charge, which is why so many lightning strikes arc across the sky. When lightning strikes toward the ground instead, that’s when property damage can happen.

Three Types of Lightning Damage to Property

Fire damage. Lightning reaches temperatures around 500,000 degrees, making it hot enough to ignite buildings on impact. As it travels through a home’s wires, damage can also be caused inside the walls, raising the potential for electrical fires in the future. An electrician or the local fire department can often test for hot spots and assess the damage.
Electrical damage. Lightning has more electrical charge than most electronics are equipped to handle, so lightning traveling through wires can easily move up cables and ruin appliances. Surge protectors are the common defense against this.
Structural damage. The thunder we hear when lightning strikes across the sky is a result of shock waves created by the force. This force is still present when lightning strikes the ground, and can sometimes even shatter windows, explode foundations and crack chimneys. A thorough home inspection after the storm passes is useful in assessing the damage.
If you live in Dysart, Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Iowa Falls, or anywhere in Marshall, Hardin, Grundy, or Tama County and your home has been affected by storm damage or lightning-related fires, call SERVPRO of Marshalltown! We are experts in damage cleanup and can restore your damage quickly.

Keep SERVPRO of Marshalltown on Emergency Fire Contact List

8/28/2024 (Permalink)

As temperatures drop and fireplaces and furnaces kick in, so do the risks of house fires. According to the Red Cross, Winter is the most common time for home fires.

Though it’s not enjoyable to plan for a house fire, it is important to think ahead. Not only should you create a fire escape plan to share with your family, but you should also decide in advance what restoration company to use so you can be ready if the time comes.

Choose SERVPRO of Marshalltown for Fire Restoration

The staff of SERVPRO of Marshalltown has many years of combined experience and certified training to help restore your home and all your salvageable contents to their pre-fire condition. We do this by following three methods of deep cleaning.

Structural Cleaning

After a fire, the structural elements of your home will likely need to be cleaned, including carpets, walls, and subfloors. Our trained technicians will first perform a test to establish the extent of the damage. This helps us choose the best equipment and cleaning techniques to handle your surfaces. In some cases, we can remove mild soot buildup straight from the walls, while in other cases, we may have to completely repaint after cleaning and prepping your walls.

Content Cleaning

Your personal belongings are just as important as your home itself—that’s why we make sure we carefully and properly clean all the contents inside your house, too. Curtains, rugs, and furniture can be cleaned and deodorized using either wet or dry cleaning processes. We can often also restore other damaged items such as clothing, books, and more.

Deodorization Services

Fire can leave behind persistent smoke odors, but it can also leave behind hazardous soot particles that may lead to health issues. Instead of using artificial fragrances to mask the odors, we go to the source of the odors and remove them with air scrubbers and other odor-eliminating equipment. With a variety of deodorization methods available, we work with you to choose what’s best for your situation.

Trust SERVPRO of Marshalltown after a fire to help restore your home in Dike, Alden, Melbourne, Traer, or anywhere in Marshall, Hardin, Grundy, or Tama County. Keep us on your list of emergency contacts at 641-758-9746. You can call us any time, day or night!

It May Not Look Like Much Water

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

There's nothing like waking up first thing in the morning, walking out of your bedroom, and into a pool of water in your hallway. Next thing you know your socks are wet, and you just realized today might be considered a bad day. The first thing anyone does in this situation is figure out where it came from. You discover that you have a broken water line in the vanity sink in your bathroom. You turn off the valve right there under the sink and stop the water and call your plumber to come to fix it. That's not the end of the issue yet. 

So, the plumber is on his way and you're looking around at all this water on the bathroom floor, your carpeted hallway is soaked and of course, there is still water dripping out from the vanity. This is a mess most people don't know how to handle, a few towels and the dehumidifier out of your basement might not be the answer. The common reaction to water everywhere is to get some towels and maybe a fan or two. 

When it comes to large amounts of water, towels, and fans are not going to be enough to dry things below the surface. Once the water has saturated a carpet down to the pad, the subfloor is now affected. Same for walls, the outer layer of drywall being saturated means that most likely there are wet framing studs that are at risk of being wet as well. With this knowledge, you now know the next call should be SERVPRO. 

SERVPRO has certified water restoration technicians with the training and tools to make sure that everything is dry and sanitary by the time the job is done. SERVPRO will work with you and your insurance company to make sure everything is handled properly and to IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) standards.

SERVPRO of Marshalltown Is the Right Choice, Right Away

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

When you experience a disaster such as flooding or fire, you don’t have time to research restoration companies to be sure they’re the most qualified for the job. Your choice may come down to reputation or a recommendation from a trusted source.

Our Reputation for High-Level Training and Certification

SERVPRO has a long-standing reputation for training employees to meet the highest industry standards in fire restoration, water restoration, and mold remediation. In addition to training at the regional level, we developed our National Training Center to expand skill instruction to more franchise owners and insurance industry employees.

Certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC)

SERVPRO of Marshalltown technicians is IICRC-certified, which means they are “trained to operate at a higher standard within their designated certification.”

The IICRC describes its rigorous requirements for certification like this:

“Just as certified accountants, plumbers, and mechanics project a higher level of competency in their fields, and just as members of the American Medical Association and American Bar Association set themselves apart through training, experience, and comprehensive examination — IICRC Certification helps to immediately identify the cleaning, restoration, and inspection Industry’s most skilled and dedicated technicians and businesses.”

An Insurance Industry Partner

We partner with many insurance companies to handle restoration for disaster claims, and we’ve earned their trust as a recommended company for their clients. We understand the requirements of a disaster insurance claim, so we can work closely with your insurance company to help your claim progress as smoothly as possible. 

Faster to Any Size Disaster

SERVPRO of Marshalltown is a local business. Our staff is ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week to quickly respond and restore your Marshall, Hardin, Grundy, or Tama County residence, school, or business back to its original condition after a disaster of any size, “Like it never even happened.”

Call us right away at (641) 758-9746 if you experience any kind of water, mold, or fire damage. 

You can be sure you’re making the right choice with SERVPRO of Marshalltown.

SERVPRO of Marshalltown Invests in the Best Equipment for Restoration

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

We really enjoy what we do, and one big reason is that we like watching our equipment do what it does. It’s satisfying to see our extractors pull water up through a wood floor or carpet. And it’s pretty cool to use infrared cameras to detect water or use huge diesel-powered heaters to dry out a basement. 

SERVPRO has a reputation for investing in the very best restoration equipment available, and that’s one reason we have such confidence that we can restore your Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Iowa Falls, Wellsburg, or Eldora home or business back to its original condition after a disaster. Here’s a list of some of the high-level equipment and technology we use:

Detection and Measurement 

Airborne Mold Testing:  Air sampling with a 24-hour turnaround on lab results and reporting to determine whether mold is present.

Infrared Camera: Based on the temperature difference of water and moisture compared to dry areas, detects the location of water, including inside walls or other hidden areas.

Water Extraction

Submersible and Gas-Powered Pumps: Used for continuous and powerful removal of high-level water.

Wood Floor Water Extractor: Suctions water from the subfloor through the wood planks and dries the subfloor, saving the wood floor from being ruined. 

Rover Water Extractor: Using the weight of the operator who stands on and steers the rover, this extraction machine pulls water up from the pad deep beneath the carpet and saves both the pad and carpet from being destroyed.

Drying 

High-Speed Air Mover: Evaporates moisture at a faster pace with powerful fans.

Desiccant Dehumidifier: Unlike refrigerant dehumidifiers that use condensation and only work between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit, desiccant dehumidifiers use a silica gel wheel to pull moisture out of the air like a sponge and work at temps as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Indirect-Fired Portable Heater: Safe for indoor operation, these powerful diesel heaters blow hot dry air into areas such as basements to evaporate all moisture, even during the winter.

Contaminant Removal

HEPA Vacuum: Captures 99.9% of particles to .3 microns to prevent contaminants such as bacteria, mold spores, or dust from disseminating into the air.

HEPA Negative Air Machine: Filters and removes contaminated air from a sealed area by exhausting it outside to create a vacuum effect that replaces contaminated air with clean air.

Knowing how much confidence we have in our equipment (and training) should also give you the confidence that we can make your home or office look “Like it never even happened.”

Give us a call at (641) 758-9746, anytime day or night. We are a local business and can be there quickly. And if you just need more information about our services, we’re available to answer your questions. You can also check out our website at SERVPROmarshalltown.com.

How to Help Prevent Furnace Fires

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

This summer, we were all thinking about how to stay cool. But with autumn upon us, it’s time to start cranking up the heat again (hopefully not too soon). If you heat your house with a furnace, a little preventive maintenance now can help prevent a fire when you do turn on your heat.

Gas furnaces are more prevalent than wood or coal. (Yes, about 130,000 households still burn coal.)

And while furnaces are generally quite safe, they can occasionally cause house fires. That’s why it’s important to properly maintain any kind of furnace.

Clean around the furnace. Move any debris or stored items at least three feet away from your furnace.

Clean the furnace itself. Dirt and grime can cause overheating. They can also prevent you from seeing any damage or other problems.

Replace dirty air filters. Dirty or clogged air filters prevent the flow of air, leading to overheating. This can increase the likelihood of a fire.

Check your chimneys and vents. Clogged vents or flues can lead to fires. Call a professional if you need help with this task.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Both should be installed throughout your house and should be tested to see if they’re working properly. If you don’t have both kinds of alarms, make that the first thing on your list.

Invest in a professional maintenance checkup. A furnace professional can identify and correct problems such as a cracked heat exchanger or incorrect pressure in the furnace. Even flame color can tell an experienced repair person how well your furnace is functioning. If you haven’t had your furnace serviced lately, make an appointment this month.

If your home has suffered fire damage, SERVPRO of Marshalltown can help. Our agents are on call around the clock so we can start helping you get back to normal, fast. Contact us at any hour for assistance.

Follow These Safety Habits to Prevent A Dangerous Grill Fire

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

Grill season lasts well into the fall, and most of us are likely making good use of our grills to cook our favorite warm-weather foods. Grilling allows you to get outside and enjoy the extra daylight summer has to offer, but they also cause many deaths and injuries as well as millions of dollars in property damage each year. No matter how frequently you use your grill, you should always practice good safety habits to avoid a fire.

Create a safe zone around your grill. While setting your grill up on your deck may be convenient, it’s not a good choice for its location. Grill fires can flare up and easily spread to surrounding property, including porches, patio railings, and decks. Grill fires can also melt vinyl siding. It’s recommended that you keep at least a three-foot safe zone around your grill at all times away from your home’s structure.

Clean your grill grates often. Food particles and fat can build up on the grill over time, creating a prime opportunity for a grease fire to break out on your grates. Giving the grill a quick brush after each use helps keep down flammable buildup.

Never leave the grill unattended. Just as you would not leave your stove top unattended, you should never walk away from a lit grill, even if the lid is down. Fires can start in an instant. As a rule, you should keep your eye on the grill at all times and keep a fire extinguisher nearby so you can immediately stop a fire from spreading if it occurs.

Inspect the grill regularly. While charcoal grills pose fewer hazards, you need to be extremely vigilant about frequently checking the gas lines of a propane grill. The seals around the propane tank and the lines that transport the gas can become worn with time and allow gas leaks that can potentially lead to dangerous explosions. If you see any signs of wear on the tank or the lines, carefully and safely replace them.

If a grill fire damages your home in Alden, Traer, Dysart, Melbourne, or anywhere in Marshall, Hardin, Grundy, or Tama County, call SERVPRO of Marshalltown at (641) 758-9746 any time, day or night. We’ll be there quickly to protect your property from further damage and restore it to its original state, “Like it never even happened.”

Emergency Ready Plan

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

What is ERP? It stands for Emergency Ready Plan. Now that we know the acronym, what does it mean and why do we need it? Below are the reasons why an ERP is so important for a business and how SERVPRO of Marshalltown can help you.

An emergency-ready plan is a genius way to identify very important locations of your business. Whether you are looking for water shut-off, electrical breaker boxes, phone panels, or internet, you name it, SERVPRO will tag it! Giving your staff the tools to identify where things are located could be a lifesaver.

Let’s look at an example. You own a three-story hotel and a pipe burst on the second floor in the middle of the night. What should you do? First, locate the main water shut-off. Easy right? Well, maybe, but does the entire staff know where to find the shut-off? Water is now flooding, and employees are scrambling to find the main stuff which could take minutes or much longer. With an ERP in place for your business, we put together an action plan that all employees can access in case an emergency should arise. Included in the ERP is a map layout of your entire building, with all the main shut-offs identified. This could end up saving you thousands of dollars in secondary damages the faster you can shut off the source and limit your damages.

Along with identifying important shut-off points, we also log your provider's information for every service such as phone company, internet provider, water, electric, cable, etc. In this log you can find the service name, address, and phone number for easy access. When you receive your plan, we can make multiple copies so they can be spread throughout the building for any employee to access at any time if needed. You can also download an app with all the information already stored making it available anytime and anywhere. The app also makes direct contact calls with SERVPRO of Marshalltown in case of an emergency!

Right about now you are probably asking yourself “This sounds great, but how much will my company be charged for such a great service as an ERP?”. Guess what….it’s FREE!! Contact SERVPRO of Marshalltown now to start the process of creating your business Emergency Ready Plan and be prepared for any unexpected event.

SERVPRO of Marshalltown Takes on Any Size Commercial Disasters

6/27/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Marshalltown takes on commercial disasters, no matter how large, whether from a tornado, hurricane, fire, flood, or a derecho like we recently experienced here in Iowa. We’re part of a nationwide network of more than 1,700 strategically positioned SERVPRO franchises on standby and ready to mobilize when large disaster teams are needed.

We Have the Right Team for Big Jobs

We start by assessing the damage. In the event we need more feet on the ground and extra resources, we contact the SERVPRO Commercial Large Loss Division, staffed by elite large-loss specialists who are prequalified to handle any size disaster. They immediately dispatch any needed personnel to the site and set up a local command center with a commercial operations manager to supervise the loss and ensure communication is seamless and remediation is completed as quickly as possible. 

For example, we recently received a call about a large commercial fire. We immediately contacted the SERVPRO Large Loss Division to help complete an assessment and put together a scope of estimated work. SERVPRO was there within hours and was the first company on the scene with a large loss project manager to work directly with the client and the insurance company and quickly present an evaluation and estimate. 

Our National Team Knows What It’s Doing

When you call SERVPRO of Marshalltown with a large loss, you’re also calling a national disaster team — one of the best you can get. We’re different than other large response teams because we quickly and efficiently dispatch professionals who have the same high-level training, and we cut costs through the strategic placement and oversight of temporary labor. That’s why so many hotel owners, property managers, universities, municipalities, and even the Pentagon have relied on SERVPRO for recovery from large disasters. 

Call us right away at (642) 758-9746 if your commercial business, school, city, or township in Marshall, Hardin, Grundy, or Tama counties experiences a large loss. You can be sure we’ll respond immediately with all the staff, resources, and experience needed to handle the recovery process smoothly and efficiently.