We Follow Strict Guidlines

12/6/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO was able to dry out and repair damages

The IICRC Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration (IICRC S500) is a procedural standard.

It is based on reliable restoration principles, research, and practical experience. In addition, there has been extensive consultation and information obtained from numerous sources.

These sources include, but are not necessarily limited to, the scientific community, the international, national, and regional trade associations serving the professional disaster restoration industry, chemical formulators, and equipment manufacturers, cleaning and restoration training schools, restoration service companies, the insurance industry, allied trades persons and others with specialized experience.

It is subject to further revision as developments occur in technology, testing, and processing procedures. The Fourth Edition of the IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide has been completely updated and rewritten with the best information and knowledge of the time.

Additional Chapters and Sections have been added to the S500 that have not been included previously. These areas include Building and Material Science, by Definition, and the Science of Drying, Limitations Complexities Complications, and Conflicts, Structural Restoration, HVAC, Contents Evaluation Restoration and Remediation, and Large or Catastrophic Restoration.

Also, note that Carpet Disengagement and Reinstallation have been moved back into the Appendix of the document. The IICRC S500 provides a specific set of practical standards for water damage restoration. It does not attempt to teach comprehensive water damage restoration procedures; rather it provides the foundation for basic principles of proper restoration practices. IICRC S500 does not attempt to include exhaustive performance characteristics or standards for the manufacture or installation of structural components, materials, and contents (personal property).

The IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide is presented using a two-part format: the standard itself and a supplementary reference guide. The procedural standard is featured in this first section, supported by the reference guide in the second section. The intent is to use the principles outlined in the reference guide as a tool to better understand and apply the standard itself.

However, the reference guide is not considered part of this standard.

Please Call Us at 631-661-3802 if you need help with water damage. Here to help®  24/7

"Like it never even happened"®

Fire Safety Concerns

12/6/2023 (Permalink)

Damage due to fire in home

The immediate life-safety concerns about fire are obvious and frightening. What many people don’t realize is that returning to fire-damaged buildings is also hazardous.

Cleaning after the fire is part of recovery, but if it is done wrong this activity may do more harm. If you’re returning to a fire-damaged community follow these fire restoration tips.

After you have dealt with the initial raw emotions of fire loss after you have contacted your insurance company and relatives and emergency personnel that are worried about you, it is time to clean up and rebuild.

Immediate Threats When Cleaning After Fire

These basic measures may save your life when you return to clean up after a fire.

• Do not re-enter a fire-stricken area or building unless a professional has verified it is safe to enter. Fires may reappear and you do not want to be stuck in the danger zone. Do not go around police/fire barricades or ignore evacuation orders.
• Do not approach downed power lines or attempt to work around electrical wires.
• If the structure has been significantly impacted and there are any concerns about the structural integrity of the building, do not enter until an expert or structural engineer okays the building.
• Do not enter areas with standing water. There may be hidden dangers in the water.
• Hire a professional fire restoration company.

SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park is Here to Help.® 

Call us 24/7 at 631-661-3802

Mold Testing

12/5/2023 (Permalink)

Mold Testing was not done in this home.

Is Mold Testing Necessary In Your Home?

Mold and mold spores are a part of our everyday living and breathing space. 

Some mold and mold spores in small amounts are generally harmless. There are certain types of mold can effect good air quality. 

Mold elimination process will begin with a mold test to determine the type of mold might be effecting the air quality.   

Identifying the type of mold in the air and where it is will help us with the remediation. Then the  appropriate method can be made for mold removal. 

How is mold testing performed? 

There are experienced and thorough testers that will determine if mold is in your home.  That is the easy part. 

Anyone claiming to be an inspector can look official, they can walk into your home with a swab and tape-lift. Anyone can wave a mold spore trap around the air and catch spores.  The Real value lies in the results and documentation that is used in the remediation process. 

The fear of the unknown when it comes to a mold issue could be very annoying and frustrating.  

The inspector comes will take a swab test or tape-lift test. These are done exactly how they sound. 

A sample of air might me taken also, put in a small plastic cassette that takes a measured amount of air so that the severity of the mold problem can be measured based on air volume. 

These samples are sent to a lab so that the lab technicians can see how many different types of spores are present and how many of them are present in your home. 

They will create a report that states how many spores are present per cubic meter. The inspector may also take an outside air sample to compare with home.

This helps determine if the fungal reserve in the home is high compared to the outside air.

Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park to help you with this process. 631-661-3802. Open 24/7

We're here to help!

Duct Mold Remediation

12/5/2023 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park for HVAC system cleaning.

Can there be mold growing In your HVAC System?

Mold can grow in dark and moist areas. This is why often the first signs you'll see are in the bathroom, especially if there is not efficient ventilation. Other common areas for mold include attics, basements, and cabinets with sinks, these are the most prone places in your home. 

Due to moisture and condensation, one of the most common places where mold grows is in your HVAC system.  Two factors come into play most commonly during the summer months of the year for obvious reasons. 

When using the air conditioning during the summer months, water vapor can make its way inside the air ducts. If you happen to live in an area that is very humid, the water will stay stuck in your system instead of evaporating like it normally would.

As external particles continue to travel through your air ducts, dust gathers, thus becoming a feeding ground for mold. Mold feeds off organic materials, allowing them to multiply at an exponential rate.

If the issue is not addressed in a timely manner it will spread throughout your home. 

Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park 631-661-3802 for HVAC system cleaning.

We're here to help. "Like it never even happened." 

Time to Call a Professional

12/5/2023 (Permalink)

Soot in Warehouse

Grease fires can spread very quickly and the damage can be very intense, so it is always imperative to call a professional.  The damage of a grease fire can most often leave a heavy scent of smoke throughout your home.  It can also leave soot covering your kitchen, including the ceiling, cabinets, and much more. No matter what, there’s going to be grease residue and soot everywhere, grease is notoriously difficult to clean.

Calling a professional like the ones at SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park that have the knowledge and experience to quickly and effectively repair damage from a grease fire, as well as the tools and solutions to get the job done, is always the best decision.  In addition, Our Team will know the proper techniques for taking care of grease fire residue on different materials. It is in your best interest to only let a professional do this. 

Residue can often find its way onto paper, wood, plastic, natural substances, etc., there’s a proven process for cleaning each.  Each process is different. A professional has the knowledge to take care of these different materials in the best way possible for each.

Be Proactive While You Wait.

If you have experienced a grease fire in your home or in your restaurant, it’s important to be proactive. Here’s a few pointers of what you can and should do immediately:

• Find a Professional: It’s likely you’ll need fire damage restoration professional like SERVPRO to help. 
• Remove Pets and Children: Smoke and soot can cause health effects in both people and animals. So until the environment has been cleaned and repaired, children and pets should be taken out of the home. 
• Replace Your Filters: Because of the smoke and soot’s ability to travel throughout your house, it’s important that you change out your air filter. Replace the filters on your refrigerator also. 
• Toss Out Food: Discard any food substances that were out when the fire struck. Soot and smoke particles most likely have contaminated your food.
• Clean Cabinets: It is most likely your cabinets are covered with soot inside and out. Wipe them down. While initially cleaning them is important, you may need a professional to sand, reseal and repaint the cabinets to fully remove the odor.
• Check Appliances: If your microwave is located close to the fire it may need to be discarded.  The smoke scent is very difficult to be removed from the plastic. Check the gasket seals on your refrigerator for damage as well. If they are impaired, it may be time to get a new refrigerator. This is another area where professional guidance can be helpful.

Never enter a structure that has been affected by any kind of fire until it has been declared safe to do so by the fire department or other public authority. If you have any doubt about the structure’s soundness, wait until a professional can assess it.

There can be Hidden Damage Caused by Kitchen Grease Fires.

You can see soot when it is clinging to your kitchen ceiling and cabinets. But a restaurant kitchen fire or a home kitchen fire can leave damage that’s not as easy to see.

If not addressed, flames from a grease fire can find their way into the ductwork and cause damage there that will only get worse.  Smoky odors leftover from a grease fire can also linger if they aren’t dealt with in a professional manner.

Hidden damage is yet another reason why it’s often a good idea to call in professionals for help cleaning up after a grease fire. If left to take care of the damage on your own, you may get your kitchen and home looking great, but the hidden damage can cause problems down the road.  This can also hurt your home’s resale value. A professional will know all the places to look. They will also know how to repair that damage.

 Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park at 631-661-3802 for any emergencies, questions, concerns, and estimates. Here to help! 

Mold vs. Mildew

12/5/2023 (Permalink)

Mold on back of Chair

Mold in Basement

12/5/2023 (Permalink)

Mold on Basement Ceiling

Call a Professional Water Removal Company

12/5/2023 (Permalink)

Drying out Basement

This is a summation of the general drying techniques after an area has experienced water damage. It is recommended that if, one has experienced a great amount of water damage. They consult, with an IICRC-certified professional to have restoration work completed on the property. 

The IICRC which is an acronym for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, has certain guidelines that are followed by mold and water restoration companies. Updated editions are often released that keep industry professionals appraised of the most pragmatic and efficient remediation tools and exercises. 

In the 3rd edition, the s500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration, there are references to the appropriate amount of drying equipment to use on a property, relative to the damage experienced. Various algorithms are used to calculate the appropriate amounts, which are delineated in the following classes:  

•  Class 1 (Smallest volume of water, absorption, and evaporation): An area or portion of the property that is only minimally affected by the water There is no observable damp carpeting in the area. 
• Class 2 (A large amount of water, absorption, and evaporation): An entire room or large area can be affected by the water including damp carpets
• Class 3 (Greatest amount of water, absorption, and evaporation): Large areas are saturated by water: this includes ceilings, walls, and any other overhead areas. 
• Class 4 (Specifically drying situations): These consist of wet materials with very low porosity (e.g. hardwood, plaster, brick, concrete, lightweight concrete, and stone). These types of losses may require longer drying times and special methods.   

  The appropriate drying method would be determined based on an inspection. According to industry experts, the most common 'class' documented is Class 2. The following levels of drying are associated with each class: 
  
  

  • Class 1:  Closed drying system i.e. not requiring outside air, whilst employing a dehumidifier.
  • Class 2: Water is first extracted from porous materials and materials which have absorbed water by using a sub-surface extraction tool. Dehumidifiers should be installed in the immediate area. Create a drying chamber and install air movers in the room. Ensure all wet materials are completely removed and heavily damaged materials (such as heavy water-damaged carpeting), are removed and replaced. 
  • Class 3: Consult with a certified professional since this type of damage is considered 'severe'. 
  • Class 4: Consult with a certified professional since this type of damage is considered 'severe'. 

Call SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park at 631-661-3802. Water Remediation Specialist. 

Here to help!

After a Storm hits in West Babylon

11/7/2023 (Permalink)

Water Came Through Foundation

When returning to your home after you experience damage from a storm, take some time to document all inventory in the home and valuing all damages and costs to repair or replace your property. If your home or business is insured for flood damage, there are differences in how a flood works versus a home insurance claims that get adjusted and settled.  Wind damage will be covered under your homeowner's policy. Flood damage caused by storm surges should be covered under your flood policy.

Check your home owners and wind policies for special deductibles or coverages related to hurricanes, wind, hail, and other damage.  We're rooting for your recovery and SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park is here to help!

Here are a few Tips:
Take photos of the damage before any clean-up or repairs are done.

• Keep notes of any of conversations with insurance, repair, government, and other professionals. To prevent any confusion.
• Focus on drying/cleaning out, avoiding further damage, while getting all damage inspected, measured, and estimated by qualified, reputable, and independent experts such as SERVPRO of Babylon/Deer Park.  
  Flood insurance policies have different rules than home insurance policies.
• Start working on a detailed and itemized "proof of loss" form but don't rush and leave things out.

Different Types of Water Damage in W Babylon

10/16/2023 (Permalink)

Water damage caused floor to buckle due to water and moisture left on flooring before dry out began.

Water damage in our local area can originate from different sources. A dishwasher hose, washing machine issue, burst pipe, storm flood and toilet overflow or toilet clog. The EPA reports 13.7% of all water used in the home today can be attributed to plumbing issues. That is approximately 10,000 gallons of water per year wasted by leaks for each US home. A tiny, 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can release up to 250 gallons of water a day. Sources, in August 2000, stated broken water pipes ranked second to hurricanes in terms of both the number of homes damaged and the number of claims.  Experts suggest that homeowners inspect and replace worn pipe fittings and hose connections to all household appliances that use water at least once a year. This should include washing machines, dishwashers, kitchen sinks, bathroom toilets, refrigerator ice makers, and humidifiers. A number of insurance companies offer policy holders reduced rates for installing a whole-house leak protection system.

As far as insurance coverage is concerned, most damage caused by bad weather is considered flood damage and normally is not covered under homeowners' insurance. Coverage for bad weather would usually require flood insurance.  Please contact your insurance company with regards to your own policy.