SERVPRO of East Evansville for all your Storm Damage Cleanup

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

 In Winter Storms or below freezing temperatures Frequent targets often seen in the Tri-State Area:  Water Lines

• Pipes directly exposed to severe cold
• Outdoor hose bibs
• Swimming pool supply line
• Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas
• Pipes in basements, crawl spaces, garages
• Pipes that run along exterior walls
• Water sprinkler supply lines

 Tips to protect and prevent frozen pipes:

• Remove or drains lines not in use
• Avoid anti freeze in lines and follow manufacturers instructions
• Consider adding insulation in basements, attics, crawl spaces or garages
• Keep garage door shut whenever possible
• Open cabinets to allow heat to circulate around plumbing
• Running water, even a small trickle helps reduce freezing
• Avoid lowering the thermostat overnight
• Continue heating your home or business if you are away for travel or extended periods

 Keys to thawing frozen pipes:

• If water trickles when turned on it's a sign of freezing in pipes. Allow trickle to continue even if slow running it will help with thawing.
• Apply low heat to pipe by wrapping an electric blanket or using a hair dryer on low setting.
• Wrapping hot towels around pipes will help with thawing
• Avoid applying high heat or open flame
• If one pipe is frozen suspect others may be and investigate

 If you are unable to find where the frozen pipe is located or if the thawing process is unsuccessful call a licensed plumber. If frozen pipes causes water damage at your home or business call a certified water technicians at SERVPRO of East Evansville at 812-471-3132.

Preventing Flood Damage

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

Have you ever wondered what you can do as a homeowner to help prevent damage to your home during a flood caused by a storm.

There are several things to consider when you experience water damage, as well as some flood terms to help you keep informed.  Here are those terms:

Flood Watch- Flooding is possible.  Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or a local television station for information.

Flash Flood Warning- A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

Flash Flood Watch- Flash flooding is possible.  Be prepared to move to higher ground, listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or a local television station for information.

Flood Warning- Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate do so immediately.

To help prevent flooding in your home, follow these simple instructions:

Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.

Consider installing "check valves" to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.

If feasible, construct barriers to stop floodwater from entering the building and seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds. 

Above all else make sure your family has an emergency action plan prepared. 

Build an emergency kit that contains blankets, flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food items, bottled water, and any necessary daily medications.

Form a family communication packet that includes local emergency phone numbers, as well as a safe meeting place in the event of an evacuation.

For any of your water damage needs in Evansville, Indiana please do not hesitate in calling us.  We are always here to help!

Do You Know What Causes Flash Flooding?

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

Severe weather can be dangerous in many different ways—between lightning strikes, high wind and hail, there are countless ways that storms can cause damage. However, many people are surprised to learn that floods are the most dangerous severe weather incident of all. Floods are second only to heat when it comes to weather-related fatalities in the United States, and flash floods present the biggest risk.

Any type of flooding can be quite dangerous, but when it comes to flash floods, their sudden onset in addition to their ability to impact any area creates a deadly combination. Additionally, because any body of water can overflow during heavy rains, flash floods can impact any area—that is why we encourage people to always be aware of their risks and the top safety tips.

What Makes a Flood a Flash Flood?

A traditional flood will slowly begin to rise, while a flash flood must occur within the first six hours after a storm, but they often happen in as few as three hours. Flash floods tend to be more common in urban areas due to the possibility of blocked storm drains and drainage systems, and they can occur even in areas that are not situated low enough to be a regular flood concern.

What Are the Flash Flood Alert Guidelines?

Because flash floods can come about with little notice, if there is a storm and heavy rain in your area, you should always stay alert to local weather alerts so you have as much notice as possible in case waters near you start to rise.

Officials will issue a flash flood watch for a general area to encourage heightened concern, but if things progress to a warning, you will want to quickly take the proper precautions. If a flash flood emergency is issued, move to higher ground as quickly as you can, as these are rare and deadly conditions.

What Can I Do to Reduce My Flash Flood Risk Level?

It is important to prioritize safety for any severe weather event, but flash floods should be especially revered. Knowing the rules for safety can keep you and your family much safer if the waters suddenly begin to rise:

• If rain is heavy for an extended period, tune into official weather warning channels.
• Make sure you have a clear safety plan in place and that your family knows how to execute it.
• If you come across floodwater, never attempt to cross it by car or on foot.
• Avoid coming into contact with floodwater, as it can hide electrical currents and contaminants.
• When evacuating, have alternate routes in mind in case yours is blocked by water.

If your home or business has been damaged due to a flood or other severe weather, you can depend on SERVPRO of East Evansville.

Tis the season for thunderstorms and water damage

5/7/2022 (Permalink)

Spring is an amazing time of year. The flowers begin to bloom. The sun shines more. Nature starts to show up in all of its glory. The issue with the last one is that sometimes its glory can be highly destructive! That's ok though, as we have tons of experience helping homes and businesses get back to "Like it never even happened." after a storm damage event! 

So if the rain leaves the inside of your home feeling soppy due to leaking in your roof or other not-so-fun experiences, give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and will help get you back to your preloss conditions! It's part of what we do here at East Evansville! 

Why SERVPRO? When Storms Hit Evansville, We are Here 24/7

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

Storm damage can pop up out of know where and at any time and can cause a massive amount of damage to your home. Strong winds can cause roof damage, Heavy rains can cause flooding and downed trees on your home or business. A lot of post-storm damage can have safety and health hazards. Having a storm plan to deal with damage will give you the ability to take steps right after the storm.

Take Safety Precautions

Strong winds and rain can create serious hazards like collapsed roofing materials, busted windows, collapsed walls or standing water in the basement or home interior. Moisture can soak your furniture, carpet, and other building materials. This is the perfect atmosphere for mold growth. Shut off the gas line if you smell gas. Be careful for Nails, broken glass, and other sharp objects that might be laying around on the property. Call a reputable restoration company like SERVPRO of East Evansville to help do basic tasks to secure your property and make it safe.

Take Pictures of the Damage

Photograph the damage so that you will have it ready for your insurance company. This action will speed the process up.

Insurance Company

Call you insurance adjuster and report the damages. The adjuster will determine the extent of the damage so that payment for repairs can be made.

When disaster hits, it may seem stressful and overwhelming, but these steps can help you to begin the process of restoring your home, and your life, getting things back to normal. We are faster to any disaster and will use our experience, expertise, and equipment to get you back to "Like it never even happened."

Call SERVPRO of East Evansville for all your restoration needs. 812-471-3132

Common Causes and Remedies for Sewer Odor

2/11/2022 (Permalink)

Having a sewer smell in your commercial building is unpleasant. While the fumes may not be harmful, they can certainly be an unwelcome nuisance. There are several reasons you may be smelling sewer gas in your building in Evansville In, and most of them have pretty simple remedies.

Smelling sewer odor does not usually mean that you have raw sewage wreaking havoc somewhere in your building. The more likely cause is the failure of one of several apparatuses that function to direct the gas outside. There are three main causes of indoor sewer smell:

• Dry traps with no wastewater to prevent gases from coming back through the plumbing.
• Blocked vents with a clog or backup that is preventing the gas from escaping through the normal channels.
• Damaged drain lines that release sewage under the property instead of carrying it away.

To get rid of the smell, you must first locate the problem. It may have an easy fix that you can do yourself, but it's important to call a plumber or sewer remediation services if you need to do so.

Solutions for the Odor-

The first thing you should try to do is pour clean water down the drain from where the smell coming from. Dry traps from underutilized drains are the most common cause of sewer odors in buildings and making sure that you use the drain frequently can help prevent the problem or help resolve it once it occurs. If that doesn't work, your drain may need to be cleaned. Disinfecting the drain takes care of any bacteria that may be causing the smell. If none of your efforts get rid of the smell, however, it is time to call in the professionals to assess a potentially larger problem.

Sewer smell can happen any time there is a backup or some other type of plumbing problem. If you can't get rid of the problem on your own, calling a plumber can help you get your building smelling fresh and clean again.

Winter storms are storms too…

11/30/2021 (Permalink)

Winter Storm

Winter storms are storms too…

Just because spring and summer is in our review mirror does not mean that we do not have to worry about storms.  Winter storms can be devastating to your home and you need to prepare for them just as aggressively as other storms.

Here at SERVPRO of East Evansville we want to help make sure you have a safe winter.  Below is a few things to help prepare your home for winter

Do These 5 Tasks to Winterize Your Home

1. Check roof tiles, shutters, siding, and other exterior materials to ensure they’re secure
2. Make sure gutters are clear
3. Seal air leaks around the home to keep it warmer (and save energy costs)
4. Insulate all exposed plumbing pipes to prevent burst pipes
5. Trim tree branches away from your roof to prevent roof damage

High winds, ice, and moisture from winter storms can easily strip off roof tiles and gutters, exposing your home to serious damage, says home improvement expert and writer John Wilder of Jacksonville, Fla. Make sure no roof tiles are loose or missing. Do the same with your gutters and siding.  

Clean your gutters. If you don’t, you risk an ice dam.

What’s an ice dam? Ice dams occur when ice melts off the roof during the day and then re-freezes as it drips into a clogged gutter. This can force water back under the roofline and cause serious leaks, often thousands of dollars (!) in damage.

While you’re insulating your pipes, remind yourself where all water shut-off valves are so you can turn off the water supply in case of any leaks.

Overgrown tree branches are a risk to your home, vehicles, and loved ones. But trimming and removal can be dangerous, too, so don’t attempt it on your own. Best to hire a pro.

Now you’re ready for a snow day!

Spring Flooding

4/27/2021 (Permalink)

May is almost upon us here in Southern Indiana and with it comes the good, the bad, and the ugly.  The good being the beautiful colors from the trees and flowers.  The bad being from the thunder storms that will definitely roll through our area, and the ugly being from the flooding and damage those storms will cause.

SERVPRO of East Evansville unfortunately cannot do anything about the rain, but the following is a list of some items that will help lessen the impact on your home from those torrential rain falls.     

1. Slope soil away from your home's foundation. Don’t forget to fill and slop soil under decks and porches.
   
   2.Water from your roof, downspouts, and eaves troughs can find its way to your home if they are clogged, leak, or don't carry water far enough from your home. Clean out eaves troughs and downspouts in the fall and spring. You can also use downspout extensions to carry water far enough away from your foundation as an effective flood control.
   
   3. Set up a downspout to empty into a rain barrel. Using rain barrels for rain water storage reduces the cost of watering shrubs, flowers, and vegetables.
   
   4. Plug holes or cracks in your eaves troughs, downspouts, downspout extensions and seal these with silicon caulk. Even a trickling leak can let plenty of water into your basement to become a mold problem.
   
   5. Look for holes or cracks in your foundation and completely fill these with vinyl concrete patching

Hopefully this spring will be filled with lots of color and very little storms, but if disaster does strike SERVPRO of East Evansville will be there to help and make it “Like it never even happened.”  

Preparing for Spring Storms

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO East Evansville we understands that server weather can be upon us in minutes.  We sure cannot stop the weather, but we can be better prepared for it. At SERVPRO East Evansville we want families and home to be prepared for the worst.   Here are a few tips to help everyone have a safe, happy spring!

-Remove winter's debris from your gutters, drains and downspouts so that heavy rains can flow freely off your roof. Be sure that downspouts are secure and that water is draining well away from your home and not toward your foundation. Add extensions if necessary.

-Prune lanky limbs and branches so they don't snap off in a windstorm and land on your home or a power line.

-If your home has a sump pump, test it to make sure it's clean and operable and that the outflow is draining properly. Consider adding a battery-powered backup sump pump to keep the system working if the power goes out. Furthermore, an automatic standby generator can ensure your sump pump and other electrical systems continue to run during power outages.

-When strong winds are forecast, secure patio furniture and other yard items or put them in your garage or a shed so they don't become dangerous projectiles.

-Close and secure storm shutters if your home has them. Keep blinds and shades drawn and tape or tack window coverings around the edges to help protect you from broken, flying glass. Tie thick blankets over vehicles that are exposed to the elements to diminish damage from hail.

-If power outages are common in your area, prepare an emergency kit and keep it in a central location in your home.

Basic supplies should include:

• Three-day supply of canned or dried food and water.
• Flashlight and fresh batteries,
• Battery or solar-powered weather radio and/or transistor radio,
• First aid supplies,
• Hand sanitizer or wipes.

S-T-O-R-M Ready

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

Helping you weather the storm is SERVPRO of East Evansville (812) 471-3132.

SERVPRO of East Evansville is at your service in the Southern Indiana Tri State area.

Trained fire and water mitigation professionals serving you after the storm. SERVPRO of East Evansville professionals will work neatly and efficiently to help you regain control after the storm.

On site within four hours, to assess the storm damage, and to determine the proper course of action. Our professionals will walk you through the job process, explaining what to expect and the anticipated outcome.

Ready to start the process immediately after assessing the storm damage for the proper course of action. “You can be ruined by the storm or you can be ready!”

Mitigation process will begin quickly and efficiently by minimizing secondary damage with trained professionals, specialized skills, and equipment.

The key to reducing damage and saving you money is responding quickly to your storm damage.

Let SERVPRO of East Evansville help you weather the S-T-O-R-M, by calling us at (812) 471-3132.

SERVPRO of East Evansville Proud!

1/29/2021 (Permalink)

When it comes to your property SERVPRO of East Evansville and our SERVPRO "Disaster Recovery Teams" mean business.

SERVPRO of East Evansville is proud to be part of a company where more than 1,500 franchises specialize in fire and water cleanup, and restoration. SERVPRO also has special teams who specialize in disaster recovery.

“Disaster Recovery Teams” offer…

• Large Scale Water and Fire Mitigation
• STORM response
• Disaster Recovery Plans
• Building Stabilization
• Mechanical Restoration
• Commercial and Residential Demolition
• Document and X-ray Restoration
• Structural and Mechanical Engineering
• Bio-Hazard Cleanup
• Mold Remediation
• HVAC Decontamination

Thanks to our “Disaster Recovery Teams” we are part of a company that loves to help any community in desperate need.  We here at SERVPRO of East Evansville are proud to be part of a company that loves to help any community in desperate need.  After helping one of our own in “Hurricane Sally”, here is what SERVPRO of Pennsacola professional technician Brendan had to say; “We are not just a number here we are a family.”  

Tips To Prevent Water Leaks

2/24/2020 (Permalink)

Being prepared

  With spring showers right around the corner, SERVPRO of East Evansville would like to share a few tips to help prevent water from entering your home uninvited. 

1. A major component from keeping unwanted moisture from your home is to keep your gutters clean and making sure the water is being diverted far enough away from the foundation of your home.  If it is not, water can easily make its way into your homes crawlspace, and if that goes untreated, the likeliness of microbial growth in your home increases dramatically, putting your health at risk. 
2. To follow up on the first tip, regularly check your sump pump in the crawlspace. It doesn’t take long for water to accumulate if the pump is not working properly.  Make sure to check the area immediately surrounding the pump, make sure the ejection hose is clear and lead far enough away from your home.
3. Knowing the integrity of your roof. A typical roof lifespan is roughly 5 years, after that, your shingles begin to degrade at a more rapid rate.  A sunburnt shingle can allow moisture from a heavy rain to penetrate to the wood and into your attic.  Once moisture enters your attic, you run the risk of your insulation becoming saturated, sometimes even soaking through and causing extensive drywall ceiling damage.  Fortunately, SERVPRO of East Evansville can help prevent this damage.  If you cannot get a roofer out to fix or replace your roof before a storm, SERVPRO of East Evansville can have technicians on location and place a tarp on the roof to keep water from entering your home. 
4. Make sure your siding is securely fastened to your home. Strong winds can unfasten your siding, especially over a long time.  If water gets behind your siding and becomes trapped, mold can begin to form as well as compromising the structural integrity of the wall. 

SERVPRO of East Evansville suggests performing an annual inspection of your home and keep the provided tips in mind.  By spending around an hour at the beginning of every season, you can prevent costly storm damage repairs.  Getting on the roof (or having a professional come and inspect if you aren’t comfortable with heights) you can ensure that water won’t make its way into your house through a loose or damaged shingle.  While up on the roof, or on a latter, you can take a quick look in the gutters to make sure water can flow to the downspouts. Checking the downspouts and making sure the water is flowing away from the house to keep water from entering the crawlspace.  Taking a quick look at the sump pump to make sure it isn’t clogged and that it is properly placed.  Finally, inspecting the siding to make confirm that strong winds haven’t unfastened your siding.

From everyone here at SERVPRO of East Evansville we wish you all a happy spring!

Storm Damage

2/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Evansville specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit the tri-state area, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call SERVPRO of East Evansville Today At 812-471-3132

Hurricane Florence

9/16/2018 (Permalink)

Here to Help^®

Hurricane Florence has made landfall causing significant flooding and wind destruction in North and South Carolina. In addition to the 90 local Franchises in the Hurricane Florence affected areas, SERVPRO also has a national network of over 1,700 Franchises across the country. Our designated Disaster Recovery Teams have been deployed to the affected areas bringing hundreds of crews from across the nation to help.

You Can Help By Making a Donation Today!

The American Red Cross is working around the clock along the East Coast to help the thousands of people whose lives have been affected by Hurricane Florence.

Click HERE to make a donation

When Storms of Floods hit Evansville, Indiana, SERVPRO of East Evansville is ready!

5/11/2016 (Permalink)

Our highly trained crews are ready to respond 24/7 to storm or flood damage in Evansville, Indiana.

SERVPRO of East Evansville specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit the tri-state area, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 812-471-3132